Psychology

Psychology

Professors: William B. Flynn, Jr.
Associate Professor:  Jennie R. Brown
Assistant Professors: Leslie Buddington, Brandi Klein

A Bachelor of Arts degree and a Bachelor of Science degree are offered in Psychology for traditional students.

Three minors are offered in Psychology: Experimental Psychology, Forensic Psychology, and Psychology.

The mission of the Franklin Pierce University Psychology program is to prepare undergraduates for a wide range of careers in which the understanding of behavior and mental processes is beneficial, or for further study in graduate and professional schools. The program adheres to a scientist/practitioner model and is compliant with American Psychological Association (APA) guidelines for undergraduate education in psychology. The program’s curriculum is designed to help students achieve mastery in each of the five goal areas delineated by those APA guidelines:
• knowledge base in psychology,
• scientific inquiry and critical thinking,
• ethical and social responsibility in a diverse world,
• communication, and
• professional development.

The program provides students the opportunity to engage in research and internship experiences. Students who intend to teach Psychology (Social Studies) in high school should refer to the School of Education for information on the Secondary Teacher Certification program. See Course List and Course Descriptions.

Note: For the B.A. degree in Psychology, it is highly recommended that students take one of the following sequences: BI101 and BI102, or BI101 and AN102, or CH101 and CH102.

Note: For the B.S. degree in Psychology, students are required to take one of the following sequences: BI101 and BI102, or BI101 and AN102, or CH101 and CH102, plus an additional semester of mathematics (MT151 or higher, excluding MT260).

 

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Major Requirements

In addition to all graduation requirements, the following courses must be completed successfully to fulfill the major requirements:
PS101 Introduction to Psychology
PS230 Child and Adolescent Development or
PS231 Adult Development and Aging 
PS260 Statistics for Behavioral Science
PS261 Research Methods in Psychology (laboratory) 
PS303 Psychology of Learning (laboratory) or  
PS306 Cognitive Psychology (laboratory)
PS304 Introduction to Neuroscience (laboratory) or
PS308 Evolutionary Psychology (laboratory) 
PS322 Social Psychology or
PS320 Theories of Personality
PS489 Senior Thesis in Psychology (Literature Review) or 
PS490 & 491 Senior Thesis in Psychology (Empirical Study) or 
PS495 Senior Internship in Psychology
PS494 Psychology Senior Seminar: Systems and Theories in Psychology 

Nine additional elective credit hours in Psychology or other Psychology-related courses approved by the major advisor.

Required for Graduation
Please note that the Psychology major includes a required sequence of four courses: Statistics for Behavioral Science, Research Methods, and two additional 300-level laboratory courses. Because Statistics for Behavioral Science is a prerequisite for Research Methods, and Research Methods is a prerequisite for the two additional laboratory courses, this sequence requires a minimum of three semesters to complete. Failure to organize this sequence in a timely manner will delay graduation beyond the usual four years.

Recommended
PS260 Statistics for Behavioral Science by end of Fall semester, sophomore year 
PS261 Research Methods in Psychology by end of Spring semester, sophomore year 
Two laboratory courses (PS303, 304, 306, or 308) within the junior year

Minor Requirements— Experimental Psychology
Students may not be Psychology majors.

Requirements (24 credits)
PS101 Introduction to Psychology: 3 credits 
PS260 Statistics for Behavioral Science: 4 credits 
PS261 Research Methods in Psychology (laboratory): 4 credits
One of the following four laboratory courses:
PS303  Psychology of Learning
PS304  Introduction to Neuroscience
PS306  Cognitive Psychology
PS308  Evolutionary Psychology

Nine additional credit hours of Psychology electives

Minor Requirements— Forensic Psychology
The mission of the Forensic Psychology minor is to allow students to explore the field and their interest in pursuing graduate programs that would prepare them to be scientist-practitioners of clinical and forensic psychology. This program prepares students to understand the many ways psychology plays a part of the American Justice System including criminals, victims, juries, witnesses and judges, assessment and profiling, family and workplace law, and the effectiveness of punishment and social advocacy. Students will develop skills in analysis, writing, critical thinking, research, and communication. 

Program objectives include:
• Apply psychological science to understand cognitive processing errors of victims, juries, witnesses and judges, assessment and profiling, family and workplace law, and the effectiveness of punishment, and criminal behavior.
• Apply critical thinking skills to forensic issues (from psychological, anthropological, and/or sociological perspectives).
• Develop skills in behavioral research and statistical analysis, and apply those skills to forensic issues.
• Critically evaluate research involving forensic issues and behavioral science.
• Understand the ethical issues that arise in forensic contexts.

Communicate effectively in a variety of formats (written communication, oral communication, and interpersonal communication).

Requirements
PS101 Introduction to Psychology or CJ101 Introduction to Criminal Justice 3 credits
PS235 Forensic Psychology 3 credits
PS260 Statistics for Behavioral Science or MT260 Statistics 4 credits 

Four of the following courses (12 credits):
PO110 Political Violence 3 credits
PO332 Disinformation and Propaganda 3 credits
CJ345 Criminology 3 credits
PS270 Psychology of Terrorism 3 credits
PS319 Case Studies in Espionage 3 credits
PS323 Seminar on Addiction 3 credits
PS330 Child Abuse and Neglect 3 credits
PS345 Crisis Intervention 3 credits
PS405 Family and Intimate Partner Violence 3 credits

Minor Requirements— Psychology
Students may not be Psychology majors.

Requirements (21 credits)
PS101 Introduction to Psychology 3 credits
Eighteen additional credit hours of Psychology electives, including at least two courses at the 300-level or higher.

Recommended Curriculum Guide - Psychology

*PS494 must be taken concurrently or subsequent to PS489, PS490 or PS495.

**One or more additional electives may be needed to fulfill general education requirements. See General and Liberal Education (GLE).

***PS490 and PS491 are both required to complete the empirical thesis option.

+ Mathematics elective at the MT151 level or higher (excluding MT260) required for those students pursuing the B.S. degree in Psychology.

Accelerated 3 Year Recommended Curriculum Guide – Psychology

*PS494 must be taken concurrently or subsequent to PS489, PS490 or PS495.

**One or more additional electives may be needed to fulfill general education requirements. See General and Liberal Education (GLE). 

++ for the B.S. degree in Psychology, students are required to take one of the following sequences: BI101 and BI102, or BI101 and AN102, or CH101 and CH102

***PS490 and PS491 are both required to complete the empirical thesis option. 
+ Mathematics elective at the MT151 level or higher (excluding MT260) required for those students pursuing the B.S. degree in Psychology. 
++ for the B.S. degree in Psychology, students are required to take one of the following sequences: BI101 and BI102, or BI101 and AN102, or CH101 and CH102