Psychology, B.S. (Capital)

Program Code: PSYC_BS

Program Description

The Psychology major emphasizes the scientific study of human behavior in areas such as cognition, development, learning, physiology, personality, and social processes. The curriculum is designed to provide students with a broad background in psychological theory and research and to develop the analytical and critical thinking skills necessary to be good consumers of scientific information.

The Psychology program exposes students to a number of areas of psychology but allows flexibility in the specific courses that are taken in each sub-area. Students are also required to obtain applied experience by completing an internship or by assisting faculty with their research. Elective credits can be used for additional internship or research experience.

The Psychology program prepares students for careers in local, state, and federal government and for entry-level psychological services positions in human service, applied behavior, human resources, and related fields. The Psychology program also provides a strong background for graduate education at both the master's and the doctoral level in counseling, social work, and many areas of psychology.

What is Psychology?

Psychology is the scientific study of thought, behavior, and experience. Many people associate psychology with psychological therapy and the practice of clinical psychology. There are also many other important areas of scientific psychology, such as cognitive, developmental, industrial/organizational, and social psychology. What these subfields of psychology have in common is the use of the scientific method to understand human behavior and apply that understanding to the development of theory and practice. Psychologists are increasingly making use of neuroscience methods and theories to understand psychological phenomena. As a profession, psychology is related to fields such as health, education, marketing, human resources, social work, and more. The principles of psychology are relevant to almost all areas of human endeavor, and the career paths of psychology students reflect this wealth of possibilities.

You Might Like This Program If...

  • You are people-oriented and naturally curious about human behavior and mental processes.
  • You want a better understanding people’s thoughts, feelings, and behavior.
  • You are considering a career as a psychologist, counselor, social worker, or other human services professional.
  • You desire a broad understanding of human behavior and mental processes, as well as valuable interpersonal and analytical skills that will help you in a variety of career paths, such as business, law, and medicine.

Entrance to Major

Entry to the Psychology major requires a 2.00 cumulative grade-point average and an average of C (2.00) or better in any courses already taken in the major.

Degree Requirements

For the Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology, a minimum of 122 credits is required:

Requirement Credits
General Education 45
Electives 9
Requirements for the Major 74

6 of the 45 credits for General Education are included in the Requirements for the Major. This includes: 3 credits of GN courses; 3 credits of GWS courses.

Requirements for the Major

To graduate, a student enrolled in the major must earn a grade of C or better in each course designated by the major as a C-required course, as specified by Senate Policy 82-44.

Prescribed Courses
Prescribed Courses: Require a grade of C or better
ENGL 202AEffective Writing: Writing in the Social Sciences Keystone/General Education Course3
PSYCH 100Introductory Psychology Keystone/General Education Course3
PSYCH 301WBasic Research Methods in Psychology4
Additional Courses
Additional Courses: Require a grade of C or better
Select 3 credits from the following:3
Introduction to Human Physiology Keystone/General Education Course
Human Anatomy and Physiology I - Lecture Keystone/General Education Course
Human Body: Form and Function Keystone/General Education Course
At least 15 credits of the following courses must be at the 400 level:
Select 4 credits from the following:4
Category 1 (Statistics)
Elementary Statistics in Psychology Keystone/General Education Course
Elementary Statistics Keystone/General Education Course
Select 6 credits from two different developmental categories (3 credits each category):6
Category 2a (Lifespan)
Introduction to Developmental Psychology Keystone/General Education Course
Category 2b (Adult)
Development Throughout Adulthood
Category 2c (Child)
Child Development
Category 2d (Adolescence)
Adolescence
Select 6 credits from two different individual difference categories (3 credits each category):6
Category 3a (Social Psychology)
Introduction to Social Psychology Keystone/General Education Course
Advanced Social Psychology
Category 3b (Personality Psychology)
Introduction to Personality Psychology Keystone/General Education Course
Personality Theory
Category 3c (Personal Adjustment)
Introduction to Well-being and Positive Psychology Keystone/General Education Course
Psychology of Adjustment and Social Relationships
Category 3d (Health Psychology)
Health Psychology
Select 6 credits from two different clinical categories (3 credits each category):6
Category 4a (Physical Disabilities)
Psychology of the Differently-Abled
Category 4b (Childhood Disorders)
Child Psychopathology
Category 4c (Abnormal Psychology)
Introduction to Abnormal Psychology
Abnormal Psychology
Category 4d (Behavior Modification)
Behavior Modification
Category 4e (Developmental Disabilities)
Treatment and Education in Developmental Disabilities
Select 6 credits from two different experimental categories (3 credits in each category):6
Category 5a (Physiological Psychology)
Neurological Bases of Human Behavior
Physiological Psychology
Category 5b (Cognitive Psychology)
Introduction to Cognitive Psychology Keystone/General Education Course
Learning and Memory
Advanced Cognitive Psychology
Category 5c (Learning Theory)
Introduction to Psychology of Learning Keystone/General Education Course
Advanced Conditioning and Learning
Select 3 credits from applications in psychology:3
Category 6 (Applied Experience)
Internship
Research Projects
Internship
Select 12 credits of any PSYCH courses not used above, with the exception that only one course selected from any Category 1 through 5 will count for the major12
Supporting Courses and Related Areas
Complete 18 credits from department approved list18

General Education

Connecting career and curiosity, the General Education curriculum provides the opportunity for students to acquire transferable skills necessary to be successful in the future and to thrive while living in interconnected contexts. General Education aids students in developing intellectual curiosity, a strengthened ability to think, and a deeper sense of aesthetic appreciation. These are requirements for all baccalaureate students and are often partially incorporated into the requirements of a program. For additional information, see the General Education Requirements section of the Bulletin and consult your academic adviser.

The keystone symbol Keystone/General Education Course appears next to the title of any course that is designated as a General Education course. Program requirements may also satisfy General Education requirements and vary for each program.

Foundations (grade of C or better is required and Inter-Domain courses do not meet this requirement.)

  • Quantification (GQ): 6 credits
  • Writing and Speaking (GWS): 9 credits

Breadth in the Knowledge Domains (Inter-Domain courses do not meet this requirement.)

  • Arts (GA): 3 credits
  • Health and Wellness (GHW): 3 credits
  • Humanities (GH): 3 credits
  • Social and Behavioral Sciences (GS): 3 credits
  • Natural Sciences (GN): 3 credits

Integrative Studies

  • Inter-Domain Courses (Inter-Domain): 6 credits

Exploration

  • GN, may be completed with Inter-Domain courses: 3 credits
  • GA, GH, GN, GS, Inter-Domain courses. This may include 3 credits of World Language course work beyond the 12th credit level or the requirements for the student’s degree program, whichever is higher: 6 credits

University Degree Requirements

First Year Engagement

All students enrolled in a college or the Division of Undergraduate Studies at University Park, and the World Campus are required to take 1 to 3 credits of the First-Year Seminar, as specified by their college First-Year Engagement Plan.

Other Penn State colleges and campuses may require the First-Year Seminar; colleges and campuses that do not require a First-Year Seminar provide students with a first-year engagement experience.

First-year baccalaureate students entering Penn State should consult their academic adviser for these requirements.

Cultures Requirement

6 credits are required and may satisfy other requirements

  • United States Cultures: 3 credits
  • International Cultures: 3 credits

Writing Across the Curriculum

3 credits required from the college of graduation and likely prescribed as part of major requirements.

Total Minimum Credits

A minimum of 120 degree credits must be earned for a baccalaureate degree. The requirements for some programs may exceed 120 credits. Students should consult with their college or department adviser for information on specific credit requirements.

Quality of Work

Candidates must complete the degree requirements for their major and earn at least a 2.00 grade-point average for all courses completed within their degree program.

Limitations on Source and Time for Credit Acquisition

The college dean or campus chancellor and program faculty may require up to 24 credits of course work in the major to be taken at the location or in the college or program where the degree is earned. Credit used toward degree programs may need to be earned from a particular source or within time constraints (see Senate Policy 83-80). For more information, check the Suggested Academic Plan for your intended program.

Program Learning Objectives

  • Content Knowledge: Content Knowledge: Demonstrates familiarity with the major concepts, theoretical perspectives, empirical findings, and historical trends in psychology. Understand and apply psychological principles to personal, social, and organizational issues.
    • Demonstrate knowledge of major psychological concepts, theories, and empirical findings.
    • Demonstrate the ability to apply psychological concepts and theories to research and real life situations.
  • Research Skills: Understand basic research methods in psychology, including research design, data analysis, and interpretation.
    • Differentiate among the research methods used in psychology and apply the designs in evaluation or development of a research study.
    • Demonstrate the ability to analyze and interpret quantitative psychological data using statistics, graphs, and data tables.
  • Thinking Skills: Respect and utilize critical and creative thinking skills.
    • Use critical and creative thinking, skeptical inquiry, and the scientific approach to solve problems related to behavior and mental processes.
    • Demonstrate critical thinking in the analysis and evaluation of information to distinguish scientific from nonscientific claims related to psychology OR Demonstrate critical thinking in the analysis, evaluation, and interpretation of information in the scientific literature to distinguish the scientific literature from other sources.
  • Communication Skills: Demonstrate the ability to communicate effectively in a research project, or capstone clinical or research experience.
    • Communicate effectively (in writing and/or orally) the results of a project or internship.
    • Demonstrate the ability to effectively extract central points and summarize psychological research literature and to write in the format of psychological research.
  • Diversity and Ethical Considerations: Be able to tolerate ambiguity, act ethically, and reflect other values that are the underpinnings of psychology as a science.
    • Show evidence of knowledge and appreciation for cultural diversity and relativity in human experience and for the complexity of human behavior and interactions.
    • Demonstrate knowledge, and the application of, basic principles of scientific and professional ethics.
    • Demonstrate sensitivity to ethical concerns and professionalism (including cultural considerations) in settings where applications of psychology and/or psychological research occur.
  • Career-related Skills: Knowledge of different career areas that are appropriate for psychology majors.
    • Demonstrate knowledge of professional options and required training for careers in the major subfields of psychology.
    • Demonstrate the ability to identify personally-relevant career options to implement their psychological knowledge, skills, and values in occupational pursuits in a variety of settings.

Academic Advising

The objectives of the university's academic advising program are to help advisees identify and achieve their academic goals, to promote their intellectual discovery, and to encourage students to take advantage of both in-and out-of class educational opportunities in order that they become self-directed learners and decision makers.

Both advisers and advisees share responsibility for making the advising relationship succeed. By encouraging their advisees to become engaged in their education, to meet their educational goals, and to develop the habit of learning, advisers assume a significant educational role. The advisee's unit of enrollment will provide each advisee with a primary academic adviser, the information needed to plan the chosen program of study, and referrals to other specialized resources.

READ SENATE POLICY 32-00: ADVISING POLICY

Harrisburg

Cobi Michael, Ph.D.
Program Coordinator
Olmsted Building, W311
Middletown, PA 17057
717-948-6036
cmk292@psu.edu

Suggested Academic Plan

The suggested academic plan(s) listed on this page are the plan(s) that are in effect during the 2024-25 academic year. To access previous years' suggested academic plans, please visit the archive to view the appropriate Undergraduate Bulletin edition.

Psychology, B.S. at Harrisburg Campus

The course series listed below provides only one of the many possible ways to move through this curriculum. The University may make changes in policies, procedures, educational offerings, and requirements at any time. This plan should be used in conjunction with your degree audit (accessible in LionPATH as either an Academic Requirements or What If report). Please consult with a Penn State academic adviser on a regular basis to develop and refine an academic plan that is appropriate for you.

First Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
ENGL 15, 15S, 30T, or ESL 153CAS 100A or 100S3
Quantification (GQ)3Quantification (GQ)3
General Education Course3General Education Course3
PSYCH 100*3General Education Course3
General Education Course (GHW)1.5BIOL 141, BISC 4, or BIOL 161*†3
 13.5 15
Second Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
General Education Course3ENGL 202A3
General Education Course3General Education Course3
General Education Course3General Education Course3
PSYCH 200 or STAT 200 (PSYCH 200 recommended)*4PSYCH 301W*4
PSYCH 221 or PSYCH 420; PSYCH 238 or PSYCH 438; PSYCH 243, PSYCH 471, or PSYCH 441*3PSYCH 212, 410, 412, or 416*3
 16 16
Third Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
PSYCH 212, 410, 412, or 416*3General Education Course (GHW)1.5
PSYCH 270 or PSYCH 470; PSYCH 443, PSYCH 476, PSYCH 370, or PSYCH 473*3PSYCH 221 or PSYCH 420; PSYCH 238 or PSYCH 438; PSYCH 471 or PSYCH 441*3
PSYCH 260 or PSYCH 462; PSYCH 261 or PSYCH 461; PSYCH 256, PSYCH 452 or PSYCH 456*3PSYCH 270 or PSYCH 470; PSYCH 443, PSYCH 476, PSYCH 370 or PSYCH 473 *3
Select from supporting list #1 (See Program Notes)3PSYCH 260 or PSYCH 462; PSYCH 261 or PSYCH 461; PSYCH 256, PSYCH 452, or PSYCH 456*3
Select from supporting list #2 (See Program Notes)3Select from supporting list #2 (See Program Notes)3
 15 13.5
Fourth Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
PSYCH 495 or 494*3Select any PSYCH courses not used above*6
Select any PSYCH courses not used above*6Select from supporting list #1 (See Program Notes)3
Select from supporting list #2 (See Program Notes)3Select from supporting list #2 (See Program Notes)3
Elective3Elective3
 Elective3
 15 18
Total Credits 122
*

Course requires a grade of C or better for the major

Course requires a grade of C or better for General Education

#

Course is an Entrance to Major requirement

Course satisfies General Education and degree requirement

University Requirements and General Education Notes:

US and IL are abbreviations used to designate courses that satisfy Cultural Diversity Requirements (United States and International Cultures).

W, M, X, and Y are the suffixes at the end of a course number used to designate courses that satisfy University Writing Across the Curriculum requirement.

General Education includes Foundations (GWS and GQ), Knowledge Domains (GHW, GN, GA, GH, GS) and Integrative Studies (Inter-domain) requirements. N or Q (Honors) is the suffix at the end of a course number used to help identify an Inter-domain course, but the inter-domain attribute is used to fill audit requirements. Foundations courses (GWS and GQ) require a grade of 'C' or better.

Advising Notes

  • GWS, GQ, GA, GH, GS, GN and GHW are codes used to identify General Education requirements.
  • US, IL, and US;IL are codes used to designate courses that satisfy University United States/International Cultures requirements. All students are required to take one IL and one US course before graduation. A course designated as US;IL may be used as a US or an IL, not both.
  • W suffix signifies the course satisfies the University Writing Across the Curriculum requirement.

Program Notes

  • Students must complete a 3-credit course in “United States Cultures (US)” and a 3-credit course in “International Cultures (IL).”
  • At least 15 credits from supporting list courses must be at the 400 level.

Supporting Course List #1 (select 6 credits)

  • AAA S, AM ST, ARAB, ART, ART H, BRASS, C ART, C HIS, CAMS, CAS, CHNS, CMLIT, COMM, COMMS, DANCE, ENGL, FR, GER, GREEK, HEBR, HIST, HUM, I HUM, INART, IT, J ST, JAPNS, KOR, LATIN, LING, LIT, MEDVL, MUSIC, PHIL, PORT, RL ST, RUS, SP ST, SPAN, STS, THEA, THTRE
  • WMNST 101 - African American Women (GH;US) (3)
  • WMNST 102 - Women of Color: Cross-Cultural Perspectives (GH;IL) (3)
  • WMNST 104 - Women and the American Experience (GH;US) (3)
  • WMNST 117 - Women in Modern History (GH;US;IL) (3)
  • WMNST 137 - Women and Religion (GH;US;IL) (3)
  • WMNST 194 - Women Writers (GH;US;IL) (3)
  • WMNST 205 - Women, Minorities, and Media (US) (3)
  • WMNST 270 - Race and Gender in Literature Translated from French (3)
  • WMNST 407W - Women and Theatre (US) (3)
  • WMNST 438 - Feminist Philosophy (3)
  • WMNST 455 - Gender Roles in Communication (US) (3)
  • WMNST 462 - Reading Black, Reading Feminist (US) (3)
  • WMNST 466 - Lesbian and Gay History (US;IL) (3)
  • WMNST 490 - Women Writers and Their Worlds (US;IL) (3)
  • WMNST 430 - Women in Politics in the U.S. (US) (3)
  • WMNST 489 - British Women Writers (3)
  • WMNST 491 - American Women Writers (3)

Supporting Course List #2 (select 12 credits)

  • ADM J, AAA S, AFRAS, ANTH, BE SC (except BE SC 302), CRIMJ, ECON, HCM, HD FS, PLSC, PUBPL, R SOC, SCLSC, SO SC, SOC
  • WMNST 1 - (GS;US) (3)
  • WMNST 103 - Racism and Sexism (US) (3)
  • WMNST 110 - Sociology of Gender (GS;US) (3)
  • WMNST 116 - Family and Sex Roles in Modern History (GS;US;IL) (3)
  • WMNST 136 - Race, Gender, and Employment (US) (3)
  • WMNST 202N - Gender Dynamics in Africa (GS;IL) (3)
  • WMNST 250 - Sexual Identity over the Life Span (US) (3)
  • WMNST 423 - Sexual and Domestic Violence (US) (3)
  • WMNST 424 - Women and Sport (US) (3)
  • WMNST 428 - Gender and Politics (US;IL) (3)
  • WMNST 452 - Women's Health Issues (US) (3)
  • WMNST 453 - Women and the Criminal Justice System (US) (3)
  • WMNST 456 - Gender, Occupations, and Professions (3)
  • WMNST 471 - The Psychology of Gender (US) (3)
  • WMNST 476W - Anthropology of Gender (3)
  • WMNST 464 - Feminine and Masculine (US) (3)

Career Paths

The American Psychological Association's Center for Workforce Studies reported in 2013, that 94% of people holding bachelor's degrees in psychology are employed. According to projections by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, most bachelor's-level Psychology graduates will move toward positions in human services, where an increase of 13 percent in job growth is expected in some areas. Other employment fields for psychology graduates, including entry-level management, human resources, and sales, anticipate growth between 5 and 7 percent.

Careers

Penn State Harrisburg's B.S. in Psychology degree provides students with a variety of skills that are exceptionally valued in the mental health and social services fields, basic and applied research, applied behavior, human resources, social work, medicine, business, law, and careers in local, state, and federal government.

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT POTENTIAL CAREER OPTIONS FOR GRADUATES OF THE PSYCHOLOGY PROGRAM

Opportunities for Graduate Studies

The Psychology program also provides a strong background for graduate education, including Penn State's Master of Arts programs in Applied Behavior Analysis or Applied Clinical Psychology. The Master of Arts degree in Applied Clinical Psychology includes optional preparation for the Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) credential.

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT OPPORTUNITIES FOR GRADUATE STUDIES

Professional Resources

Contact

Harrisburg

SCHOOL OF BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES AND EDUCATION
Olmsted Building, W311
Middletown, PA 17057
717-948-6034
jsf5@psu.edu

https://harrisburg.psu.edu/behavioral-sciences-education/psychology-bs