Mar 28, 2024  
2020-2021 Academic Bulletin 
    
2020-2021 Academic Bulletin [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Psychology, Pre-Professional BA


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Within the BA in Psychology there are two options available - the General Program and the Pre-Professional Program. The Pre-Professional Program is for students planning a graduate degree. Whichever program students choose, they should consult their advisor in regard to their psychology classes, general or elective classes, and an elective minor. Classes should be chosen with occupational goals in mind. Students planning on graduate school should choose classes related to that area of specialization. As a BA degree, students are also expected to take an international language to at least the intermediate level.

Total Credits - 124


Concentration


Capstone


Electives


Electives may be chosen from psychology courses not required within the core and concentration requirements, or those approved by the advisor/chair, to meet the minimum of 31 credits in psychology.

Additional Requirements


Majors are required to take the Major Field Test in Psychology. The exam assesses the following areas: memory and thinking, sensory and physiology, developmental, clinical and abnormal, social, and measurement and methodology.

Students graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology at Andrews University must complete 21 credits from courses numbered 300 or above. Transfer courses taken at the lower division level will not count towards the upper division requirement.

Cognates - 19-35


Additional Information


Field Experience and a reading knowledge of a foreign language are strongly recommended, particularly for students who plan to take graduate studies in Psychology.

Computer Policy


In the behavioral sciences, the computer is an indispensable tool for collecting and working with data, accessing scientific reports, and for writing and critical thinking. As a result, the Department of Behavioral Sciences requires students to have a laptop computer in order to meet the requirements of the curriculum; this computer must be purchased by the student’s second year in the program or the semester of the first research class, whichever is earlier. Students are responsible for maintaining their computer with the required software appropriate for the courses that they are enrolled in as they progress through the curriculum. A list of required software and minimum specifications that a laptop must meet is available in the Department of Behavioral Sciences office; use of the computer varies by course.

Occupational Therapy


For those interested in occupational therapy, the following psychology classes are often required for entry into occupational therapy programs:

Psychology: PSYC 101 - Introduction to Psychology , PSYC 301 - Human Development , PSYC 450 - Social Psychology  

Statistics: BHSC 230 - Research Methods I: Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences  and PSYC 434 - Research Methods IV: Advanced Statistical Analysis and SPSS  

Research Design: PSYC 432 - Research Methods II: Introduction  and PSYC 433 - Research Methods III: Advanced Research Design  

Sociocultural: SOCI 119 - Principles of Sociology , and ANTH 200 - Cultural Anthropology  

Anatomy and Physiology: BIOL 221 - Anatomy and Physiology I  BIOL 222 - Anatomy and Physiology II  

English: ENGL 115 - College Writing I  and ENGL 215 - College Writing II 

Some programs may want a class (or classes) in other areas such as Biology, Chemistry, Physics, or others. If you know which program(s) you may be interested in for graduate school, it is recommended that you look at their program and see which prerequisite classes they require. It is recommended that students consult with their advisors in regards to which courses should be taken.

Student Learning Outcomes


At the end of the program a student will be able to:

  • Think critically about human thought and behavior in individuals, sociocultural and ecological systems
  • Select credible sources of evidence from the behavioral sciences, and specifically in the area of psychology science
  • Conduct effective research projects from design through data interpretation
  • Apply ethical standards to scholarship and practice in Psychology
  • Apply principles and skills from Psychology to serve their communities
  • Write effectively about theories, data, and practice in Psychology
  • Speak effectively about theories, data, and practice in Psychology
  • Prepare a professional plan for life after graduation
  • Apply principles from Psychology to understand and influence the development of faith across the life span
  • Know the key themes in relevant disciplines in Psychology

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