Mar 19, 2024  
2023-2024 Undergraduate Bulletin 
    
2023-2024 Undergraduate Bulletin

Psychology Major, B.A.


Total minimum number of credits required for a major in Psychology leading to the B.A. degree - 120.
Total minimum number of credits for a minor in psychology -18.

The Psychology major at Wilkes University emphasizes a scientific approach to the content, methods, and theories of human and nonhuman behavior. Wilkes students are prepared to pursue professional careers in psychology or related fields such as medicine or law, obtain employment immediately upon graduation, or attend graduate school in psychology.

Psychology Major

Coordinator: Dr. Jennifer Thomas

The Psychology major must complete a minimum of 120 credit hours. In addition to satisfying the University’s General Education requirements, the student majoring in Psychology completes a minimum of 40 credits in psychology, including PSY 101(General Psychology), eight breadth area courses, two applied psychology courses, a capstone course, and a career mentoring course. Students must also complete a psychology course which fulfills a self-growth and cultural competence requirement. (Please see the course listings for the specific course requirements.) PSY 101 is a prerequisite to all other psychology courses. The Psychology major must take either BIO 105 (Human Biology) or another biology course approved by the department in partial fulfillment of their Area II General Education requirement. It is also strongly recommended that the student take a foreign language.

Students are encouraged to consult the Undergraduate Bulletin for all information regarding degree requirements. Each student should also meet frequently and work closely with the faculty advisor in order to make the optimal course selections based upon the student’s interests and career goals. With numerous free elective credits, many Psychology majors choose to major or minor in a second discipline.

There are three t options for satisfying the capstone requirement in psychology. For students who are interested in pursuing graduate studies in psychology or psychology research in their career, the advanced research methods capstone (PSY 410) will provide an excellent opportunity for hands-on research experience. The advanced topics in psychology capstone class (PSY 498) will allow students to more intensively study an area of psychology for which their instructor is an expert and complete a final capstone project (e.g., research project, service project). For those who are more interested in pursuing a career immediately after graduation, or are pursuing non-research based careers, or graduate school in an applied area, the applied capstone (PSY 401) will provide valuable experience in real-world settings, and with additional guidance and structure, will enhance the student’s applied skills.

All students majoring in psychology must complete a common set of courses in the major.

Breadth Area Courses (31 cr.)


Psychology majors must take all of the following courses:

Applied Topic Area Courses (Minimum 6 cr.)


Psychology majors will also choose at least two psychologycourses from the following list of applied topics.

Capstone Sequence (3-4 credits)


Psychology majors must choose one of the following capstone options:

Self-Growth & Cultural Competence


One psychology course must also be a self-growth and cultural competence designated class. This includes PSY264, PSY266, PSY351, PSY395, PSY396, and PSY399. Study abroad experiences will also fulfill this requirement.

Recommended Course Sequence


First Semester


Total Credits: 15-16


Second Semester


Total Credits: 15-16


Third Semester


Total Credits: 15


Fourth Semester


Total Credits: 16


Fifth Semester


Total Credits: 15-16


Sixth Semester


Total Credits: 14-16


Seventh Semester


Total Credits: 15-16


Eighth Semester


Total Credits: 12-13


Total Credits: 120