Bachelor’s Degree (B.A. or B.S.) in Psychology
THE SCIENCE OF THE PERSON
When you study psychology at Belmont Abbey College, you will explore the dynamics of the human person as an individual and a member of a community. Coursework will familiarize you with psychological theories, behaviors, and mental processes within a framework of ethical principles and the Catholic liberal arts tradition. You will learn how to conduct professional research and a credible psychological study and articulate your findings. This will enable you to comprehend and evaluate psychological research presented in the world around you.
Possible career paths:
Counseling, psychiatrist, social work, clinical or industrial psychologist, school or sports psychologist, teaching, behavior tech, law enforcement, human resources
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$62k
Average Salary For Psychology Majors
Curriculum
In addition to the specific requirements listed in the section below, all students at the Abbey are required to earn credits in our core liberal arts curriculum.
B.A. in Psychology
(This option requires day courses.)
In addition to the other Core Curriculum requirements, the following are specific core requirements:
PC 201: Introduction to Psychology
MA 135: or higher (prerequisite for PC 300)
Major Requirements:
PC 215W: Science and Practice of Psychology
PC 225: Integration of Psychology
PC 300: Statistics for Psychology (Fall)
PC 301: Developmental Psychology
PC 307W: Research Methods for Psychology (Spring)
PC 308: Theories of Personality
PC 313: Abnormal Psychology
PC 360: Social Psychology
PC 407: Testing and Assessment (Spring)
PC 410W/411W/412W :Senior Capstone (Fall of senior year)
PC upper-level electives (18 hours)*
*Or 9 hours of PC upper-level electives and 9 hours in a supplemental cluster of 200+ courses (beyond the core) from one department other than PC
Other Courses :
Internship is encouraged (1-6 hours)
General elective hours (13-18 hours)
(Taking a Minor is encouraged)
*It is the student’s responsibility to verify that all degree requirements for graduation are fulfilled.
Notes
1. Several courses have prerequisites; please see course descriptions for other details.
2. PC 215W and PC 300 (Fall course) are prerequisite for PC 307W (Spring course) and for PC 407. PC 307W is a prerequisite for PC 410W, PC411W, and PC412W (senior year). PC 407 is a prerequisite for PC 411W (senior year).
3. Although an internship is not required, it is strongly recommended for (and counts as) a PC upper-level elective for the B.A. in Psychology, B.S. in Psychology and the minor in Psychology.
4. Any course numbered above PC 201 is considered an upper-level PC course.
B.S. in Psychology
(This option requires day courses.)
In addition to the other Core Curriculum requirements, the following are specific core requirements:
PC 201: Introduction to Psychology
MA 135: or higher (prerequisite for PC 300) (N.B.: MA 151 is often a prerequisite for students taking CH, PY, MA courses)
Major Requirements:
PC 215W: Science and Practice of Psychology
PC 225: Integration of Psychology
PC 300: Statistics for Psychology (Fall)
PC 301: Developmental Psychology
PC 305: Biological Psychology
PC 306: Cognitive Psychology
PC 360: Social Psychology OR PC 308: Theories of Personality
PC 313: Abnormal Psychology
PC 307W: Research Methods for Psychology (Spring)
PC 407: Testing and Assessment (Spring)
PC 410W/411W/412W: Senior capstone (Fall of senior year)
Two PC upper-level electives
Other Courses :
BI, EV, CH, PY, SC300, or MA courses beyond core requirements (8 hours)
Internship is encouraged (1-6 hours)
General elective hours (14-19 hours)
(Taking a Minor is encouraged)
*It is the student’s responsibility to verify that all degree requirements for graduation are fulfilled.
Notes
1. Several courses have prerequisites; please see course descriptions for other details.
2. PC 215W and PC 300 (Fall course) are prerequisite for PC 307W (Spring course) and for PC 407. PC 307W is a prerequisite for PC 410W, PC411W, and PC412W (senior year). PC 407 is a prerequisite for PC 411W (senior year).
3. Although an internship is not required, it is strongly recommended for (and counts as) a PC upper-level elective for the B.A. in Psychology, B.S. in Psychology and the minor in Psychology.
4. Any course numbered above PC 201 is considered an upper-level PC course.
Biological Psychology
In addition to learning fundamental physiological principles that underlie normal and disordered behavior, mental processes and emotion, students engage in well-informed critical and civil discussion of how bio-psychological knowledge and principles can be used ethically to understand and influence a wide range of problems. In addition to two exams, students do an assignment on differences in sex development such as Turner Syndrome and Complete Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome (AIS) and short multimedia presentations on cutting edge topics such as sensory substitution devices or deep brain stimulation
Special Topics
We regularly offer Special Topics courses. Recent offerings have included Cultural Psychology, Research on Financial Literacy, and Psychology and Film
Social Psychology
This course is popular with both majors and non-majors. Students examine psychological theories and research that sheds light on group behavior and the effects of social environments on individual behavior. Specific topics include cognitive attribution, conformity, gender roles, interpersonal relationships and prejudice. Along with exams and papers, class assignments may also include an analysis of a popular film.
The Psychology Club
The Psychology Club provides opportunities for students both on campus and beyond. It organizes student travel to professional conferences such as the Southeastern Psychological Association meetings in Orlando, Atlanta, Charleston, and other cities in the southeast. Members of the Psychology Club also raise funds to co-sponsor the annual Central Carolinas Conference in Psychology, a local undergraduate conference put on by a partnership of BAC, UNCC, Queens, and Johnson C. Smith University. The Psychology Club also sponsors events on campus such as a movie night where a film is followed by a discussion led by a psychology professor, as well as educational programs such as Eating Disorder Awareness or national depression screening events.
Here are a few other degrees available if you are interested in this field of study:
More about the experience
“My experience at the Abbey has been the biggest blessing and truly a life changing experience. The Abbey has helped me prosper as a person in so many ways but most importantly, I’ve learned the importance of one’s mind, body and soul in which I can confidently say that I have experienced the greatest growth and success. My four years here at The Abbey have given me lifelong friendships and countless beautiful memories that I will hold with me forever.”
BRIGID WILSON 2015
Psychology Major
Royal Oak, MI
