Nov 03, 2024

Xavier University Undergraduate and Graduate Catalog 2024-2025

Psychology, B.S.

The Department of Psychology endeavors to acquaint students thoroughly with the content and methods of scientific psychology. While emphasizing the scientific approach to the understanding of human behavior and human personality, the psychology courses aim to show the student that this branch of science is complementary to and compatible with a sound philosophy of human nature. In addition to the program leading to the Bachelor of Science, the department provides courses in the University Core Curriculum. The Bachelor of Science program in Psychology aims to provide a general background for career and/or advanced studies in fields which presuppose understanding of human behavior, such as clinical/counseling psychology, industrial-organizational psychology, medicine, education, social work, and law.

Requirements for the Psychology Major

Undergraduate core curriculum requirements:

48-63 Credit Hours dependent on courses taken, including:

Mathematics

Philosophy:

An additional Philosophy 300 level elective of 3 credit hours beyond core requirements.

Science:

BIOL 102 - Life: Human Biology

Along with the following included in the major:

Major requirements:

38 credit hours, as follows

26 hours of required psychology courses from:

9 hours of psychology electives selected from:

PSYC 232-498. One elective must be a 400 level course.

3 hours of Psychology Capstone

PSYC 499 - Capstone in Psych Science

Note(s):

The minimum overall GPA requirement for switching to/adding/remaining a Psychology major is 2.75. Majors whose cumulative GPA drops below 2.75 will have 2 semesters to get it back above the 2.75 threshold; failure to do so will require a change of major. Before switching to a Psychology major, students must have taken at least 1 PSYC course or have AP PSYC credit.
Majors must attain a C- or above in Statistical Techniques lecture and lab (PSYC 210/212), and Research Methods and Design I (PSYC 221/223) and BIOL 102/132, . Students who fail to earn a C- will have to retake the course(s).
Majors must attain a grade of C in PSYC 130, and PSYC 131
Students should consult the department’s “Careers in Psychology and Course Electives” for recommendations about which elective courses to consider for different career tracks (i.e., graduate school, social service employment, general business, etc.). Students should also discuss their career aspirations and elective choices with their faculty advisor. Students must maintain contact with a departmental advisor each semester to aid in course selection, planning, and scheduling.

TOTAL Minimum Hours Required for Degree: 120 Semester Hours

B.S. Psychology

This block serves as a guideline for progress toward a degree. See your academic advisor.

Freshman Year

First Semester

BIOL 102 Life: Human Biology
BIOL 132 Life: Human Biology Lab (Natural Science Perspective) OR
PSYC 130 Psychology Science Perspective
PSYC 131 Psych-Science Perspective Lab (Scientific Perspective)
CORE 100 First Year Seminar
CORE 101
MATH 105 or 120

140 (if tested into 150 or 170)

Second Language
ENGL 101 English Comp OR 115 Rhetoric

Total (15)

Second Semester

BIOL 102 Life: Human Biology
BIOL 132 Life: Human Biology Lab (Natural Science Perspective) OR
PSYC 130 Psychology Science Perspective
PSYC 131 Psych-Science Perspective Lab (Scientific Perspective)
PSYC 200 Orientation to the Major
PSYC 231/261/277 Dev/Soc/Ab Psych (Social Sciences Elective)
MATH 140 Concepts of Calculus (Mathematical Perspective)
Second Language (up to 201 level)
CORE 102
Creative or Historical Perspective

Total (16)

Sophomore Year

First Semester

PSYC 210 Statistical Techniques (Quantitative Flag)
PSYC 221 Research Methods & Design I
PSYC 223 Research Methods & Design I Lab (Writing flag)
PSYC 231/261/277 Dev/Soc/Ab Psych
PHIL 100 Intro to Ethics
Creative or Historical Perspective

Total (15)

Second Semester

PSYC 212 Statistical Techniques Lab
PSYC 222 Research Methods & Design II
PSYC 224 Research Methods & Design II Lab (Oral flag)
PSYC 231/261/277 Dev/Soc/Ab Psych
THEO 111 The Ignation Imagination
ENGL 205 Lit & Moral Imagination OR CLAS 205 Class. Lit & Moral Imagination
PHIL 200 Elective

Total (16)

Junior Year

First Semester

PSYC Elective
PSYC 460 Learning & Behavior OR PSYC 427 Cognitive Psych
THEO 200 Elective
Diversity flag elective course
General University elective

Total (15)

Second Semester

PSYC Elective
PHIL 300 Elective (Humanities elective)
General University elective
General University elective/Minor
General University elective/Minor

Total (15)

Senior Year

First Semester

PSYC 301 History & Systems in Psych
PSYC 499 Senior Comp. Revie (f or sp)
General University elective/Minor
General University elective/Minor
General University elective/Minor

Total (15)

Second Semester

E/RS elective course
CORE 499 Reflection on XU Core
General University elective/Minor
General University elective/Minor
General University elective/Minor
General University elective/Minor

Total (15)

Scheduling Notes:

Consult the “Undergraduate Core Curriculum ” requirements of the Catalog.
The E/RS Focus Elective requirement may be used to satisfy another element of the core or the major.
The University core Social Science electives are fulfilled within the major requirements.
* See section “Requirements for the Psychology Major.”