Psychology, B.A.
About the Psychology Bachelor’s Program
The undergraduate psychology curriculum is designed to provide a core of knowledge of the subject matter in experimental, theoretical, and applied psychology. Sufficient curricular flexibility is provided to permit students to emphasize the acquisition of useful vocational and personal skills for later life and to prepare students for a graduate degree program in psychology, related fields, or both.
All undergraduate psychology majors must complete the following core program: PSY 1300, PSY 2400, and PSY 3401 (with PSY 2400 as a prerequisite). All majors also must select at least one course from each of six groups:
GROUP 1, Learning and Cognition:
GROUP 2, Individual Differences, Personality, and Social Processes:
GROUP 3, Biological Bases of Behavior:
GROUP 4, Developmental Bases in Behavior:
TCCNS: PSYC2308
GROUP 5, Applied Professional Psychology in Community and Practice Settings:
GROUP 6, Additional Courses in Psychology:
Note:
The required number of hours for the major is 35, including two writing intensive courses in psychology. Courses designated as writing intensive are PSY 3301, PSY 3318, PSY 3401, PSY 4300, PSY 4310, and PSY 4336. Other courses are designated as writing intensive on a rotating basis. The writing intensive courses must be taken at Texas Tech University. At least 21 hours of the total credits toward the major must be taken from 3000- or 4000-level courses. Transfer students who major in psychology must complete at least 9 credit hours in psychology at Texas Tech. All psychology majors must have a minor.
In addition to offering regularly structured courses, the department provides opportunities to participate in various research and service activities of faculty members. These are particularly valuable for the student who intends to pursue a career in psychology. Interested students should confer with an advisor or any of the faculty. Such activities may contribute to the completion of major and/or minor requirements through enrollment in PSY 4300 during the junior and senior years. Six hours of PSY 4300 may be counted toward the major and 12 hours may be counted toward the degree.
Recommended Sample Curriculum
First Year
Fall
TCCNS: PSYC2301
TCCNS: ENGL1301
TCCNS: MATH1332
OR
TCCNS: MATH1314
TCCNS: HIST1301
TCCNS: GOVT2305
Total: 15
Spring
TCCNS: ENGL1302
(Choose from Arts and Sciences General Degree Requirement list.)
TCCNS: HIST1302
TCCNS: GOVT2306
(This model assumes completion of PSY 2400 with a grade of C or better.)
Total: 16
Second Year
Fall
(Choose from Arts and Sciences General Degree Requirement list.)
Total: 16
Spring
- Life and Physical Sciences 4 Semester Credit Hours (Choose from the Life and Physical Sciences section of the Arts and Sciences General Degree Requirement list.)
- PSY Group 3 - 3 Semester Credit Hours
- English Literature 3 Semester Credit Hours
- PFW Elective 1 Semester Credit Hour (Choose from the Personal Fitness and Wellness section of the Arts and Sciences General Degree Requirement list.)
- PSY Elective* 3 Semester Credit Hours
Total: 14
Third Year
Fall
- PSY Group 4 - 3 Semester Credit Hours
- Foreign Language 3 Semester Credit Hours
- Minor Electives 6 Semester Credit Hours
- PSY-Group 5 - 3 Semester Credit Hours
Total: 15
Spring
- Foreign Language 3 Semester Credit Hours
- Language, Philosophy, & Culture* 3 Semester Credit Hours
(Choose from Arts and Sciences General Degree Requirement list.) - Creative Arts* 3 Semester Credit Hours *
(Choose from Arts and Sciences General Degree Requirement list.) - Minor Elective 3 Semester Credit Hours
- PSY-Group 6 - 3 Semester Credit Hours
Total: 15
Fourth Year
Fall
- PSY Elective* 3 Semester Credit Hours
- Creative Arts* 3 Semester Credit Hours *
(Choose from Arts and Sciences General Degree Requirement list.) - Minor Elective 6 Semester Credit Hours
- Foreign Language 3 Semester Credit Hours
Total: 15
Spring
- Minor Elective 3 Semester Credit Hours
- PSY Elective* 3 Semester Credit Hours
- Life and Physical Sciences 4 Semester Credit Hours (Choose from the Life and Physical Sciences section of the Arts and Sciences General Degree Requirement list.)
- PFW Elective 1 Semester Credit Hour (Choose from the Personal Fitness and Wellness section of the Arts and Sciences General Degree Requirement list.)
- Foreign Language 3 Semester Credit Hours
Total: 14
Total Hours: 120
* PSY 3398 and some Language, Philosophy, and Culture and Creative Arts courses also count toward the Multicultural requirement.
NOTE: PSY 3401 is always Writing Intensive. Another Writing Intensive PSY course is required.
Foreign Language
A student must complete 6 hours at the sophomore level or above in a single language. The prerequisite for all sophomore language courses is credit for the freshman level. This credit can be determined through a credit by examination. The score attained on the exam will determine whether the student is placed in a second-year course, a 5-hour review course, or in some cases the first or second semester of a beginning (first-year) language course. See Arts and Sciences General Degree Requirements for further explanation.