Psychological Sciences, Bachelor of Science
- Available Emphasis Areas:
- Clinical/Health Psychology - Emphasis (ending Summer 2022)
- Developmental Psychology - Emphasis (ending Summer 2022)
- Neurosciences - Emphasis (ending Summer 2022)
- Psychological Sciences Coursework (ending Summer 2022)
- Social/Personality Psychology - Emphasis (ending Summer 2022)
If you find yourself fascinated about why we think, feel, and behave the way we do, consider pursuing a degree in psychological sciences. Psychologists take a scientific approach to studying behavior and mental processes, researching the ways in which life experiences, environment, culture, and biology all work together to shape mind and brain. Our psychological sciences majors explore a wide range of subjects across the psychological disciplines and master the major research techniques that professional psychologists use. As an undergraduate, you also have the opportunity to perform research and fieldwork with faculty and graduate students.
Beginning in Fall 2022, the program requirements are being updated. Please see the Bachelor of Science in Psychological Sciences.
The BS in Psychological Sciences, and the BS in Psychology degrees provide students with opportunities for focused study in this quintessential behavioral science and builds research skills necessary for scientific inquiry within this discipline.
The Department of Psychological Sciences enables students to develop understanding and knowledge about human behavior from several perspectives in psychological science, the ability to apply and synthesize that knowledge within specific psychological domains (research and statistics, developmental processes, social and personality, cognitive and behavioral neuroscience, learning theory and behavioral health), and research method skills in order to become critical evaluators and producers of knowledge of human behavior.
The department’s learning goals for the undergraduate major in Psychology reflect the American Psychological Association’s Learning Goals (2013) and NAU’s Thematic Global Learning Outcomes. To accomplish these goals, the course of study in psychology focuses on understanding the methods, ethics, and sociocultural context of research in psychological science through coursework, associated laboratory experience, and opportunities for application. Students develop the ability to critically evaluate existing psychological knowledge, assumptions, and application in order to demonstrate literacy, proficiency, and efficacy in informational, technological, and communication (written and oral presentation) skills. The ability to engage in critical analyses of psychological ideas and scientific evidence constitutes a valuable personal asset, and is a key to success in many professions, including academic and clinical psychology, business, education, law, medicine, behavioral health, and human services. Further, our Department strives to tie our departmental goals explicitly to learning outcomes in such a way that students are aware of the skills they have developed and how these skills are relevant to their professional success. To accomplish these goals, the Department engages in timely and relevant assessment of student learning outcomes at all levels of the curriculum and uses those data for program refinement.
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Career Accordion Open
Career opportunities that might be pursued:
- Marketing
- Human resources
- Working with children and adolescents
- Social work
- Research
- Organizational Development
With further education, one of these paths is possible:
- Counselor
- Mental health professional
- Social services professional
- Academic professional
- Genetics Counselor
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University Requirements
To receive a bachelor's degree at Northern Arizona University, you must complete at least 120 units of credit that minimally includes a major, the liberal studies requirements, and university requirements as listed below.
- All of Northern Arizona University's liberal studies, diversity, junior-level writing, and capstone requirements.
- All requirements for your specific academic plan(s).
- At least 30 units of upper-division courses, which may include transfer work.
- At least 30 units of coursework taken through Northern Arizona University, of which at least 18 must be upper-division courses (300-level or above). This requirement is not met by credit-by-exam, retro-credits, transfer coursework, etc.
- A cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0 on all work attempted at Northern Arizona University.
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Overview
In addition to University Requirements:
- At least 46 units of major requirements
- Up to 9 units of major prefix courses may be used to satisfy Liberal Studies requirements; these same courses may also be used to satisfy major requirements
- Elective courses, if needed, to reach an overall total of at least 120 units
Please note that students may be able to use some courses to meet more than one requirement. Contact your advisor for details.
| Minimum Units for Completion | 120 |
| Major GPA | C |
| Highest Mathematics Required | MAT 125 |
| Fieldwork Experience/Internship | Optional |
| Research | Optional |
| University Honors Program | Optional |
| AZ Transfer Students complete AGEC-A | Recommended |
| Progression Plan Link | View Progression Plan |
| Emphasis, Certificate or Coursework Required | An emphasis, certificate, or coursework is required for this major. |
Purpose Statement
The Bachelor of Science degree in Psychological Sciences enables students to develop an understanding of and knowledge about human behavior from several perspectives in psychological science, the ability to apply and synthesize that knowledge within specific psychological domains, and the research methods skills necessary to become critical evaluators and producers of knowledge of human behavior. The BS in Psychological Sciences is distinct from the BS in Psychology because it provides students with the opportunity for focused study in behavioral science through four emphases and one certificate program, and trains students in the more advanced research skills necessary for scientific inquiry within this discipline and for entry into a Ph.D. program in Psychology, if a student chooses to continue in an academic track. Psychological Sciences majors complete a core sequence of courses including introductory psychology, a set of lower division breadth courses, introduction to statistics, research methods in psychology, a set of upper division depth courses, and a capstone course. Psychological Sciences majors also receive additional research training through completion of an advanced research methods course and a minimum of 6 units of research experience. Additionally, Psychological Science majors have the opportunity for in depth study in a specific area of psychology through completion of a certificate in human resource management, or an emphasis in social/personality, neuroscience, clinical/health, or developmental psychology.
Student Learning Outcomes
The degree program in Psychological Sciences has four distinct emphasis areas and one certificate program. Students completing an emphasis or certificate will work closely with an advisor. Students will work with faculty to tailor their intensive, hands-on research or internship experiences to their specific interests.
Students in the learning emphasis areas will have had the opportunity to:
Social/Personality Psychology
Students will complete advanced coursework and engage in research that facilitates investigation of how individuals affect and are affected by other people and by their social and physical environments. Graduating students will be able to:
- Demonstrate depth in their knowledge and application of psychological concepts and frameworks to complex problems in the area of social/personality psychology.
- Demonstrate mastery of critical thinking and research skills through completion of a research placement in the area of social/personality psychology.
- Produce a research study or other psychological project related to social/personality psychology that meets writing standards of the profession, explain scientific results, and present information to a professional audience.
Neuroscience
Students will complete advanced coursework and engage in research at the intersection of neuroscience and psychology, including the relationships between brain and human cognition, emotion, and behavior. Graduating students will be able to:
- Demonstrate depth in their knowledge and application of psychological concepts and frameworks to complex problems in neuroscience.
- Demonstrate mastery of critical thinking and research skills through completion of a research placement in the area of neuroscience.
- Produce a research study or other psychological project related to neuroscience that meets writing standards of the profession, explain scientific results, and present information to a professional audience.
Clinical/Health Psychology
Students will complete advanced coursework and engage in research that applies scientific knowledge of the interrelationships among behavioral, emotional, cognitive, social and biological components in health and disease to the understanding, promotion and maintenance of health. Graduating students will be able to:
- Demonstrate depth in their knowledge and application of psychological concepts and frameworks to complex problems in clinical/health psychology.
- Demonstrate mastery of critical thinking and research skills through completion of a research placement in the area of clinical/health psychology.
- Produce a research study or other psychological project related to clinical/health psychology that meets writing standards of the profession, explain scientific results, and present information to a professional audience.
Developmental Psychology
Students will complete advanced coursework and engage in research on human growth and lifespan changes, including the intersection of physical, cognitive, social, intellectual, perceptual, personality and emotional changes across time and context. Graduating students will be able to:
- Demonstrate depth in their knowledge and application of psychological concepts and frameworks to complex problems in developmental psychology.
- Demonstrate mastery of critical thinking and research skills through completion of a research placement in the area of developmental psychology.
- Produce a research study or other psychological project related to developmental psychology that meets writing standards of the profession, explain scientific results, and present information to a professional audience.
Human Resource Management Certificate
Students will complete advanced coursework from both the business and psychological sciences departments and an internship in order to prepare them for a career in human resources or the area of industrial-organizational psychology. Graduating students will be able to:
- Demonstrate depth in their knowledge and application of psychological concepts and frameworks to complex problems in human resources.
- Demonstrate mastery of core tenets of human resources management and industrial-organizational psychology through completion of an internship.
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Details
Major Requirements
This major requires 46 to 52 units distributed as follows:
- Psychological Sciences Common Course Requirements: 34 units
- Select One - Emphasis, Certificate or Individualized Study: 15 to 21 units
- Clinical/Health Psychology Emphasis: 18 units
- Developmental Psychology Emphasis: 18 units
- Neuroscience Emphasis: 20 to 21 units
- Social/Personality Psychology Emphasis: 18 units
- Human Resource Management Certificate: 15 units
- Individualized Study: 15 units
Take the following 46 - 52 units with a Grade of "C" or better in each course:
Psychological Sciences Common Course Requirements
Emphasis, Certificate or Individualized Study (Select One)
You may not use the same course to satisfy more than one degree requirement.
Human Resources Management Certificate (15 units)
Clinical/Health Psychology Emphasis (18 units)
Developmental Psychology Emphasis (18 units)- PSY 240 (3 units)
- Select from:
- Select from (3 units):
Neuroscience Emphasis (20-21 units)
Social/Personality Psychology Emphasis (18 units)
Individualized Study (15 units)
In consultation with your advisor, select courses that support the focus of an individualized plan of study. Must include at least 12 units of upper-division PSY coursework.
Please note that of the 46-52 units required for this major, 15 units must be upper-division courses. In addition, individualized courses (PSY 401, PSY 485 and PSY 497) will not meet this 15-unit upper-division requirement. Three units of PSY 408C will count toward the 15-unit upper-division requirement. Finally, you can only count up to 6 units of individualized courses within the 46-52 unit major.
In addition, at least 15 of the 46-52 units required for this major must be from courses offered by Northern Arizona University. These 15 units may not include individualized courses.
The Department of Psychological Sciences prohibits dual majors within the department.
General Electives
Additional coursework is required, if, after you have met the previously described requirements, you have not yet completed a total of 120 units of credit.
You may take these remaining courses from any academic areas, using these courses to pursue your specific interests and goals. We encourage you to consult with your advisor to select the courses that will be most advantageous to you. (Please note that you may also use prerequisites or transfer credits as electives if they weren't used to meet major, minor, or liberal studies requirements.)
Additional Information
Be aware that some courses may have prerequisites that you must also take. For prerequisite information click on the course or see your advisor.
