Program Contact: Paul LoCasto 203-582-3725
Psychology explores phenomena from multiple perspectives and is an ideal starting point for many careers. Our students go on to graduate-level work in psychology and pursue careers in a wide range of fields including school psychology, industrial-organizational psychology and many mental health fields. This degree also prepares students for success in fields such as law, education and business, which require strong critical thinking skills and a solid understanding of interpersonal relationships. In this program, students work with experienced faculty members who research intriguing topics, such as how we read stories, workplace relationships, aggressive behaviors and mindfulness.
Academic studies will be augmented by lab courses that involve designing psychological studies and collecting data. Students can participate in supervised fieldwork in one of our concentrations to gain experience applying their knowledge of psychology to a real-world setting. Quinnipiac provides real-world experience based on students’ interests. In addition to participating in summer research projects at institutions across the country, our students have interned at a battered women’s center, psychiatric in-patient clinics and national corporations. Our psychology majors graduate well prepared to enter the workforce or to pursue an advanced degree.
Students majoring in psychology must complete a psychology concentration, a minor, or a second major in addition to the following requirements for graduation:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| University Curriculum 1 | 46 | |
| Modern Language Requirement | 3-6 | |
| Professional Development | ||
| PS 190 | Career Development Through Psyc Literacy | 1 |
| Developing Psychological Literacy | ||
| PS 101 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| Methods of Knowing in Psychology | ||
| PS 206 | Introduction to Statistics in Psychology 2 | 3 |
| PS 307 | Introduction to Research Methods in Psychology with Lab 2 | 3 |
| Perspectives in Psychology | ||
| Take a course in four of the following perspective areas 3 | 12 | |
Biological Perspective | ||
| Learning and Memory | ||
or PS 252 | Biological Psychology | |
Clinical Perspective | ||
| Health Psychology | ||
or PS 272 | Psychopathology | |
Cognitive Perspective | ||
| Cognitive Psychology | ||
or PS 235 | Communicating Effectively: A Cognitive Perspective | |
Developmental Perspective | ||
| Child and Adolescent Development | ||
or PS 250 | Parenting Science | |
Social Perspective | ||
| Psychology of Prejudice | ||
or PS 261 | Social Psychology | |
or PS 286 | Psychology and the Law | |
Work & Occupations Perspective | ||
| Psychology in the Workplace | ||
or PS 268 | Occupational Health Psychology | |
| Additional Requirements | ||
| PS elective at the 200 level or higher | 3 | |
| PS elective at the 200 level or higher | 3 | |
| PS elective at the 300 level or higher | 3 | |
| Diversity or multi-cultural course | 3 | |
| Demonstrating Psychology Literacy | ||
| PS 401 | Integrative Capstone for Psychology and Behavioral Neuroscience Majors | 3 |
| Total Credits | 86-89 | |
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All students must complete the 46 credits of the University Curriculum. Students in the psychology major must complete MA 140 or higher. MA 170 is recommended if a student earns a score of two or higher on the placement exam.
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Students must earn a grade of C- or higher before moving on to the next course.
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Students must take three of the four required perspectives at Quinnpiac University.
Psychology majors also have the opportunity to engage in supervised fieldwork and intensive study within one of three concentrations.
Applied Clinical Science Concentration
Students may apply to enroll in the applied clinical science (ACS) concentration within the psychology major. The program prepares students for careers related to clinical psychology and provides the basis for graduate work in fields such as social work, counseling and school psychology. A minimum 3.00 overall GPA is required to participate in the ACS concentration fieldwork courses. Space is limited in the fieldwork courses and, therefore, in some years enrollment in the concentration may be awarded on a competitive basis.
ACS students must take:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PS 272 | Psychopathology | 3 |
| PS 371 | Clinical Psychology | 3 |
| PS 391 | Applied Clinical Science Seminar (SL: Service Learning) | 3 |
| PS 393 | Fieldwork in Applied Clinical Science (SL: Service Learning) | 3 |
| PS 394 | Fieldwork in Applied Clinical Science (SL: Service Learning) | 3 |
| Total Credits | 15 | |
The ACS program emphasizes:
- Mental health fields as possible careers.
- Conceptions of mental illness, both past and present.
- Evidence-based treatment techniques in clinical psychology and related fields.
Applied Cognition Concentration
The applied cognition concentration focuses on providing students with the opportunity to gain job-relevant skills while exploring cognition. Students are exposed to major theories and methods in cognitive psychology, along with applications of cognitive psychology to the workplace (e.g., design thinking, task analysis, survey design) and careers that use insights and methods from cognitive psychology (e.g., behavioral engineering). Because cognitive psychology draws on a range of disciplines, students will also have the opportunity to explore cognition from a different field.
Applied Cognition students must take:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PS 233 | Cognitive Psychology | 3 |
| PS 333 | Applied Cognition | 3 |
| Elective from a related discipline 1 | 3 | |
| Skill-Building 2 | 0-3 | |
| Total Credits | 9-12 | |
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Elective from a related discipline (e.g. computer science, philosophy, industrial or software engineering) to be decided upon by student in consultation with a faculty member in the cognitive perspective.
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Skill-building through internship, independent research or relevant training (e.g. certification of technical skill) to be decided upon by student in consultation with a faculty member in the cognitive perspective.
The Applied Cognition program emphasizes:
- Applying theories and methods from cognitive psychology to real-world contexts.
- Exploring and experiencing multidisciplinary careers in cognitive psychology.
- Building marketable skills that are relevant for a range of careers (e.g., public speaking, collaboration), as well as specific skills that are relevant for jobs in cognitive psychology (e.g., task analysis, survey design).
Applied Work and Organizational Psychology Concentration
Students may elect to enroll in the applied work and organizational psychology program within the psychology major. The program exposes students to career possibilities in industrial-organizational (I-O) psychology areas and provides the basis for further study related to fields such as I-O psychology and management. Applied work and organizational psychology students must take:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PS 265 | Psychology in the Workplace | 3 |
| Take one of the following | 3 | |
| Advanced Personnel Psychology | ||
| Advanced Organizational Psychology | ||
| PS 397 | Fieldwork in Industrial/Organizational Psychology | 3 |
| Total Credits | 9 | |
The applied work and organizational psychology program emphasizes:
- Using psychological principles to study and improve working conditions.
- Developing and practicing marketable skills that are relevant for a range of careers (e.g., public speaking, collaboration), as well as specific skills that are relevant for jobs in industrial-organizational psychology or human resource management (e.g., job analysis, test validation, training design).
- Gaining relevant, hands-on experience in careers related to industrial-organizational psychology and human resource management.
Student Learning Outcomes1
- Breadth of Knowledge of Psychology: Use and evaluate various psychological perspectives to evaluate and predict complexities in affect, behavior and cognition; understand the history of the field and how psychology fits with other disciplines.
- Scientific Reasoning: Conduct, interpret and evaluate scientific studies in terms of the reliability, validity and generalizability of the research designs; develop open-mindedness, curiosity and amiable skepticism toward claims.
- Ethical Responsibility: Apply ethical standards to research and practice situations; demonstrate interpersonal sensitivity in work and communities.
- Communication Skills: Demonstrate flexibility and clarity of argument in both written and oral communication.
- Personal Development: Apply psychological thinking to issues encountered in work and personal life, such as using evidence to solve problems; engage in teamwork as well as self-reflection and self-management.
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*Note, our discussion draws upon APA Guidelines for the Undergraduate Psychology Major.
Admission Requirements: College of Arts and Sciences
The requirements for admission into the undergraduate College of Arts and Sciences programs are the same as those for admission to Quinnipiac University.
Admission to the university is competitive, and applicants are expected to present a strong college prep program in high school. Prospective first-year students are strongly encouraged to file an application as early in the senior year as possible, and arrange to have first quarter grades sent from their high school counselor as soon as they are available.
For detailed admission requirements, including required documents, please visit the Admissions page of this catalog.
Transfer into the Psychology Major
Seamless Transfer Agreement with Gateway Community College (GCC), Housatonic Community College (HCC) and Norwalk Community College (NCC)
Under this Transfer Agreement, GCC, HCC and NCC graduates will be guaranteed admission into a bachelor’s degree program with third year (junior) status at Quinnipiac University on the condition that they:
- Graduate with an associate in arts, an associate in science in business, College of Technology engineering science, nursing or an allied health degree with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (this may be higher in specific programs).
- Satisfy all other Quinnipiac University transfer admission requirements and requirements for intended major.
Quinnipiac University agrees to accept the general education embedded in these associate degree programs in accordance with Quinnipiac preferred choices for general education as meeting all the requirements of its undergraduate general education except for the Integrative Capstone Experience and where courses are encumbered by the major (e.g., General Chemistry for the Disciplinary Inquiry Natural Science requirement for a Biochemistry major).
Suggested Transfer Curriculum for BS in Psychology
A minimum of 60 credits is required for transfer into the BS in Psychology program. Below is a recommended plan of study for the first two years prior to matriculation at Quinnipiac University.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Credits | |
| English I | 3 | |
| Statistics | 3 | |
| General Psychology I | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| English II | 3 | |
| Psychology Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3-4 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 15-16 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| Abnormal Psychology | 3 | |
| Elective | 3-4 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 15-16 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| Psychology Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Total Credits | 60-62 | |
Please note: The BS in Psychology program at Quinnipiac University requires at least 50% (24 credits) of the psychology major requirements to be taken at Quinnipiac.
Shown below is one of many possible paths through the curriculum. Each student's individual academic plan is crafted in consultation with their academic adviser.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| First Year | ||
| Milestones: Earn 30 credits, meet with your adviser at least once a semester and have a GPA of 2.00 or higher. | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| PS 101 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| MA 170 | Probability and Data Analysis | 3 |
| EN 101 | Introduction to Academic Reading and Writing | 3 |
| FYS 101 | First-Year Seminar | 3 |
| University Curriculum course or Language at the 101 level | 3 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| Psychology Perspective Course | 3 | |
| EN 102 | Academic Writing and Research | 3 |
| University Curriculum course or Language at the 102 level, Satisfies CAS language requirement | 3 | |
| University Curriculum course | 3 | |
| Open Elective | 3 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Milestones: Earn 60 credits and a GPA of 2.00 or higher. Meet with your adviser at least once per semester to discuss academic, experiential learning, career and co-curricular opportunities. | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| PS 206 | Introduction to Statistics in Psychology | 3 |
| Psychology Perspective Course | 3 | |
| University Curriculum Natural Science course | 4 | |
| University Curriculum course or Language at the 101 level | 3 | |
| Open Elective | 3 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| Psychology Perspective Course | 3 | |
| Psychology Perspective Course | 3 | |
| PS 190 | Career Development Through Psyc Literacy | 1 |
| University Curriculum Course or Language at the 102 level (Satisfies CAS Language Requirement) | 3 | |
| Open Elective | 3 | |
| Open Elective, Minor, or Concentration | 3 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Milestones: Earn 90 credits and a GPA of 2.00 or higher. Meet with your adviser at least once per semester. Participate in study abroad, complete internship or research opportunities. | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| PS 307 | Introduction to Research Methods in Psychology with Lab | 3 |
| Psychology Perspective course at the 200 level | 3 | |
| PS required Diversity/Multicultural course | 3 | |
| University Curriculum course | 3 | |
| Open Elective, Minor, or Concentration | 3 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| Psychology Perspective course at the 200 level | 3 | |
| Open Elective, Minor, or Concentration | 3 | |
| University Curriculum course | 3 | |
| Open Elective | 3 | |
| Open Elective | 3 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Milestones: Earn 120 credits and a GPA of 2.00 or higher. Complete possible minor or double major and prepare for graduation. | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| Psychology at the 300 level | 3 | |
| University Curriculum course | 3 | |
| University Curriculum course | 3 | |
| Open Elective, Minor, or Concentration | 3 | |
| Open Elective | 3 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| PS 401 | Integrative Capstone for Psychology and Behavioral Neuroscience Majors | 3 |
| Open Elective, Minor, or Concentration | 3 | |
| University Curriculum course | 3 | |
| University Curriculum course | 3 | |
| Open Elective | 1 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |