Department of Psychology >> Undergraduate Program Overview

Overview

Courses in the psychology department concern human nature: What are people like? How do they use information? What motivates them? How do they develop and change? Students learn critical thinking and scientific methods in order to help solve human problems in the workplace and in the community.

THE PSYCHOLOGY MAJOR: The psychology major is designed to allow students to pursue individual interests, but it ensures the solid preparation needed for employment or graduate studies. The aims of the undergraduate major in psychology include the following:

Develop a scientific understanding of human behavior and experience,
Learn how psychological knowledge is generated, and
Apply psychological principles to the solution of human problems.

Students majoring in psychology also take courses in a minor field of concentration such as communication, sociology, biology, English, or art. Also, students may substitute an interdisciplinary certificate program for a minor field. Certificates are granted in African American studies, classics, creative writing international studies, journalism studies, legal thought, museum studies political philosophy, visual studies, and women's studies.

RESEARCH: Students are encouraged to pursue research in collaboration with faculty members in order to develop their skills and gain experience. Psychology faculty members are involved in research in the areas of personality, cognitive, industrial/organizational, social, developmental and clinical psychology. As a result of these collaborative experiences with faculty members, undergraduate students have co-authored at state, regional, and national professional conventions. Professors are also actively engaged in projects aiming to solve local, national, and international social problems. Students are invited to get hands-on experience under faculty supervision in a variety of community settings.

ORGANIZATIONS: An active psychology club, Psi Chi, and a colloquium series featuring distinguished speakers round out the excellent and varied opportunities for undergraduate psychology majors. Students can also be involved with Ethnic Minorities in Psychology, an organization that promotes the development of minorities in psychology.
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Majors in Psychology

Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
Bachelor of Science in Psychology

A student who completes the psychology curriculum receives a B.A. or B.S. degree and excellent preparation for a career in human services, as well as for graduate work in clinical, applied, or academic psychology. A psychology minor complements any line of study.

Beyond their formal course work, undergraduate majors are encouraged to take part in ongoing faculty research projects, departmental colloquia, and service learning in community settings.

Requirements for the Psychology Major

Both the B.A. and B.S. in psychology require a total of 36 credit hours in psychology, excluding those counted toward general curriculum requirements. At least two-thirds of these credit hours must be 3000- or 4000-level courses, and no more than 39 hours may be counted toward the degree. Given that the major allows flexibility in course choices, students are strongly urged to check with their advisors to select courses in a meaningful order and in relation to their own career plans.

Foundation Courses (12 credit hours, all required)
Psy 2023, Statistics for Behavioral Sciences
Psy 2253, Foundations of Psychology
Psy 3013, Research Methods
Psy 3023, Assessment of Individual Differences

Core Courses (12 credit hours)
Choose four of the following:

Psy 3033, Abnormal Psychology
Psy 3053, Social Psychology
Psy 3063, Developmental Psychology
Psy 4003, Theories of Personality
Psy 4013, History of Psychology
Psy 4033, Cognitive Psychology
Psy 4083, Biological Foundations of Behavior

Elective Courses (12 credit hours)
Choose four of the following:

Psy 3073, Industrial/Organizational Psychology
Psy 3083, Clinical Psychology and Behavior Change
Psy 4023, Psychology of Women
Psy 4043, Aging and Society
Psy 4063, Multicultural Community Psychology
Psy 4093, Children and Families with Special Needs
Psy 4183, Topics in Psychology
Psy 4213, Advanced Cognitive Research Methods
Psy 4223, Health Psychology
Psy 4771, Clinical Psychology Practicum
Psy 4871-3, Community Psychology Practicum

TOTAL HOURS: 36

Additional Bachelor of Arts Requirements:

Four semesters of a language

Additional Bachelor of Science Requirements:

Math 1163, Pre-calculus Mathematics
Math 2014, Calculus I
AND
Math 2024, Calculus II
OR
Stat 2013, Introduction to Statistics

For more information, please contact:

Dr. Joanne Davis
Director of Undergraduate Studies in Psychology
The University of Tulsa
600 South College
Tulsa, Oklahoma 74014
(918) 631-2875
joanne-davis@utulsa.edu

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Minors Available

Minor Field for Psychology

Twelve hours, six of which must be at the 3000 level or above, in subjects taught by a faculty or faculties outside psychology. To be selected in consultation with the student's psychology advisor.

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Undergraduate Admissions

Application Deadline for Fall '08

Students who plan to apply to The University of Tulsa are encouraged to complete an application as early as possible during their senior year. Notification of admission is made on a rolling basis beginning October 1. Applicants have until May 1 to finalize their decision.

Students seeking need-based financial assistance must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as soon as possible after January 1. Candidates who wish to be considered for academic scholarships should apply for admission by February 15.

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Financial Aid

American Psychological Association Undergraduate Scholarships

University of Tulsa Financial Aid

Professional Opportunities

The curriculum prepares students for graduate studies in clinical, applied or academic psychology. Also, because psychology courses are related to everyday life and because psychology is concerned with almost every aspect of human affairs, psychology majors pursue careers in a wide variety of fields including business, law, medicine, government, advertising, social services, and education. Employment possibilities within the domain of psychology are also good, particularly in behavioral medicine, organizational psychology, and community mental health programs.

For more information, these resources may help:

Murray, B. Good News for Bachelor's Grads. Monitor on Psychology, Vol. 33, No. 6, June 2002.

American Psychological Association Early Career Psychologists Web Site

* Appleby, Drew. "The Handbook of Psychology," (Longman Publishers, Addison Wesley Longman, 1997.)

* DeGalan, Julie & Lambert, Stephen. "Great Jobs for Psychology Majors." (VGM Horizons, NTC Publishing Group, 1995.)

* Morgan, B. & Korschgen A. "Majoring in Psych?: Career Options for Psychology Undergraduates." (Allyn & Bacon, 1998.)

* Sternberg, Robert J. "Career Paths in Psychology: Where Your Degree Can Take You." (American Psychological Association, 1997.)

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