Psychology | Bachelor of Arts: Psychology
The Psychology Department offers flexibility by allowing students to choose either the Bachelor of Arts or the Bachelor of Science route. Although the core coursework is the same for both, there are some slight differences.
Whether you pursue a BA or BS, you'll also need to complete FHSU's General Education requirements (34 hours).
Students also have the flexibility to complete the BA or BS degree in Psychology online via FHSU Online. GetEducated.com recently named the online undergraduate degree a "Best Buy."
Program Summary
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education | 34 | |
| Bachelor of Arts Language Requirement | 10 | |
| Psychology Major Requirements | 36 | |
| Open Electives 1 | 40 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
- 1
Open electives are the credit hours required to reach a minimum of 120 total hours and 45 upper division hours. The number listed assumes all courses are completed at FHSU as listed. This number may vary if students transfer courses, or have individual substitutions allowed. Students should speak with their advisor if either situation applies to determine if the number will vary, and to ensure they enroll in a minimum of 45 upper division hours.
Students entering within 1 year of high school graduation will take UNIV 101 Freshman Seminar and may apply that hour in the open elective category.
Program Requirements
General Education
All undergraduate degrees require completion of the Kansas Systemwide General Education.
Courses identified with GE on this page may satisfy a general education requirement in addition to the identified degree requirement. Students who apply a degree requirement to satisfy a general education requirement will typically add an equal number of hours to the university elective category. This flexibility may allow you to complete a minor or certificate within the 120 hour degree. Transfer students are especially encouraged to select these courses in completing General Education requirements to maximize the likelihood of completing the degree with 120 credit hours.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education | 34-35 | |
Effective in Fall 2025 the math pathway course identified below is required for this degree.
The General Education Math Pathways course identified for this major is MATH 250 Elements of Statistics . All students pursuing this degree program will be required to complete this course or the corequisite support course. Students who place into a higher level math course may be able to satisfy this requirement; consult with your Academic Advisor for additional information.
Placement measures for MATH 250 Elements of Statistics include:
- Math ACT: 19 or higher OR
- Math SAT: 510 or higher OR
- ALEKS PPL: 30 or higher OR
- Accuplacer QAS: 255 or higher OR
- HS GPA and Course Grade: 3.00 cumulative GPA (unweighted) and C- or higher in Second Semester Algebra 2 or Integrated Math 3 OR
- Institutional Measure
Students who do not meet any of the placement measures listed above will need to register for the corequisite support course: MATH 245 Elements of Statistics with Review
BA Language Requirement
All FHSU students pursuing a BA degree are required to take two consecutive non-English language classes. These classes total 10 hours at FHSU. Courses accepted in transfer must be a minimum of 8 credit hours and determined to be equivalent to the FHSU sequence or additional credit hours must be taken. Students taking beginning Spanish or French classes may be able to apply the first class to the Arts and Humanities area of the general education requirement.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor of Arts Language Requirement | 10 | |
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Psychology Major Requirements | ||
| PSY 100 | General Psychology | 3 |
| PSY 101 | Psychology As a Discipline and Profession | 1 |
| PSY 201 | The Science of Psychology | 3 |
| PSY 480 | Applied Statistics in the Behavioral Sciences | 4 |
| PSY 498 | Experimental Psychology Laboratory | 4 |
| PSY 668 | Neuropsychology | 3 |
| Breadth: Choose 1 course from each area | ||
| Social Cognitive Content Area | ||
| PSY 340 | Social Psychology | 3 |
| or PSY 334 | Introduction to Cognitive Psychology | |
| or PSY 425 | Personality | |
| Developmental Content Area | ||
| PSY 400 | Child and Developmental Psychology | 3 |
| or PSY 415 | Adolescence | |
| or PSY 420 | Psychology of Aging | |
| Applied Mental Health Content Area | ||
| PSY 310 | Introduction to Therapeutic Skills | 3 |
| or PSY 300 | Abnormal Psychology | |
| or PSY 355 | Drugs and Behavior | |
| Psychology Emphasis | ||
| Select one of the following options: | 9 | |
| May not count the class used for the breadth requirement | ||
| Option A: Applied Mental Health | ||
Select 9 credits of the following: | ||
| Abnormal Psychology | ||
| Introduction to Therapeutic Skills | ||
| Drugs and Behavior | ||
| Forensic Psychology | ||
| Criminal Psychology | ||
| Case Management in a Mental Health Setting | ||
| Sport Psychology | ||
| Behavioral Addictions | ||
| Eating Disorders | ||
| Behavior Therapy 3 | ||
| Current Issues in Psychology | ||
| Apprenticeship in Psychology I (Approved Topic - 3 hours max) | ||
or PSY 476 | Apprenticeship in Psychology II | |
| Option B: Social Cognitive | ||
Select 9 credits of the following: | ||
| Industrial Psychology | ||
| Elements of Learning | ||
| Introduction to Cognitive Psychology | ||
| Social Psychology | ||
| Evolutionary Psychology | ||
| Psychology of Intimate Relationships | ||
| Personality | ||
| Perception | ||
| Judgement and Decision Making 3 | ||
| Current Issues in Psychology | ||
| Apprenticeship in Psychology I (Approved Topic - 3 hours max) | ||
or PSY 476 | Apprenticeship in Psychology II | |
| Option Developmental Cultural | ||
Select 9 credits of the following: | ||
| Psychology of Human Sexuality | ||
| Child and Developmental Psychology | ||
| Social and Emotional Development | ||
| Adolescence | ||
| Psychology of Aging 3 | ||
| Current Issues in Psychology | ||
| Apprenticeship in Psychology I (Approved Topic - 3 hours max) | ||
or PSY 476 | Apprenticeship in Psychology II | |
| Total Hours | 36 | |
- 1
With a grade greater than or equal to D (FHSU Grading Scheme).
- 2
With a grade greater than or equal to D.
- 3
With a grade greater than or equal to D (Data Conversion Grading Scheme).
Degree Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor of Arts Degree Language Requirement | ||
| Two consecutive semesters of a non-English Language | ||
| All bachelor degrees require: | ||
| GPA of 2.0 on FHSU courses & 2.0 on all coursework (Higher program requirements prevail over the 2.0 when set) | ||
| A minimum of 30 hours earned from FHSU with a grade of D, C, B, or A | ||
| Successful completion of an upper division Writing and Information Literacy course (Most majors contain a course designated) | ||
| A minimum of 45 hours of recognized upper division credit | ||
| A minimum of 120 hours of recognized college credit | ||
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | |
| PSY 100 | General Psychology (suggest Gen Ed) | 3 |
| MATH 101 | Contemporary Mathematics | 3 |
| ENG 101 | English Composition I | 3 |
| COMM 100 | Fundamentals of Oral Communication | 3 |
| UNIV 101 | Freshman Seminar | 1 |
| Open Electives | 3 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| PSY 101 | Psychology As a Discipline and Profession | 1 |
| ENG 102 | English Composition II | 3 |
| SGE070 - Institutionally Designated Area: Personal and Professional Development | 3 | |
| PSY 340 | Social Psychology | 3 |
| SGE070 - Institutionally Designated Area: Critical Thinking | 3 | |
| Open Electives | 3 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| PSY 201 | The Science of Psychology | 3 |
| PSY 300 | Abnormal Psychology | 3 |
| SGE060 - Arts Humanities Discipline Area | 3 | |
| SGE050 - Social Behavioral Sciences Discipline Area | 3 | |
| SGE040 - Natural Physical Science Discipline Area | 4 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| PSY 400 | Child and Developmental Psychology | 3 |
| PSY 310 | Introduction to Therapeutic Skills | 3 |
| SGE060 - Arts Humanities Discipline Area | 3 | |
| SGE050 - Social Behavioral Sciences Discipline Area | 3 | |
| Open Electives | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| PSY 355 | Drugs and Behavior | 3 |
| Bachelor of Arts Language Requirement | 5 | |
| Open Electives | 3 | |
| Open Electives | 3 | |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Spring | ||
| PSY 480 | Applied Statistics in the Behavioral Sciences | 4 |
| Bachelor of Arts Language Requirement | 5 | |
| Open Electives | 3 | |
| Open Electives | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| PSY 498 | Experimental Psychology Laboratory | 4 |
| PSY 357 | Forensic Psychology | 3 |
| Open Electives | 3 | |
| Open Electives | 3 | |
| Open Electives | 3 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| PSY 668 | Neuropsychology | 3 |
| Open Electives | 3 | |
| Open Electives | 3 | |
| Open Electives | 3 | |
| Hours | 12 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
Academic Degree Maps are term-by-term sample course plans that specify milestones, courses, and special requirements that are necessary for facilitating on-time completion. Degree Maps are examples and are not prescriptive. Individualized choices such as concentration options, transfer credits, optional minors, advisory programs (certificates), etc. can alter the recommended coursework. Course offerings are subject to change. Students should consult with their academic advisors for additional guidance on course planning.
To determine courses to take in the directed choices (often listed as Program Elective Course) and directed elective course blocks see the overview tab for courses. Open electives indicate the student is free to choose courses from any subject, but students should discuss with their advisor how many of these hours must be upper division. To locate approved courses in General Education areas (Undergraduate Programs) see the general education section of the catalog.
The undergraduate course maps typically advise the most efficient route for students to complete the general education requirements. Courses that are required in the major may be listed as fulfilling relevant general education requirements. This will result in more open elective course hours in some maps than is listed on the degree overview page.