Bachelor of Science in Psychology (Graduate School Preparation)

Website: https://twu.edu/psychology-philosophy/undergraduate-programs/

The Graduate School Preparation Track in Psychology prepares students for graduate-level work in Psychology and other Social Sciences.  Through the inclusion of specific coursework and research team opportunities, this degree plan provides students the opportunity to gain key knowledge and skills necessary for success at the graduate level.  Students must maintain a 3.0 GPA to remain on this degree plan. If GPA requirements are not met, students will be moved to the B.S. in Psychology degree plan.

Research Team is a recommended elective for students on the Graduate School Preparation Track. Students interested in Research Team can review faculty research interests on our website. Students can email individual faculty to inquire about Research Team availability and application process.

Marketable Skills

Defined by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board's 60x30 Strategic Plan as, "Those skills valued by employers that can be applied in a variety of work settings, including interpersonal, cognitive, and applied skills areas. These skills can be either primary or complementary to a major and are acquired by students through education, including curricular, co-curricular, and extracurricular activities."

  1. Identify and utilize a variety of sources of information to solve problems; be able to apply different methods to collect and analyze data; apply analytical skills to summarize and draw findings from data.
  2. Present ideas in a clear, organized fashion both in writing and oral communication. Develop coherent written and oral arguments.
  3. Professional development skills, including project management and the ability to work in a team; ability to work collaboratively on complex projects; divide complex tasks down and monitor progress to completion; problem-solve effectively with group members when obstacles are encountered.

Admissions

All applicants must meet the general undergraduate admission requirements.

The Application deadline for each semester is 5:00 p.m. the last day of finals as published on the Registrar’s Calendar. Applications will be processed within three weeks of this deadline. Applications will not be accepted after the deadline and failure to meet this condition will require the applicant to wait until the next semester’s processing-cycle for consideration. Please ensure your application has been submitted successfully by checking your TWU email for a confirmation of submission. If you have not received a confirmation email, please resubmit your application.

Additional admission requirements for the undergraduate psychology program are as follows:

  1. completion of 45 semester credit hours,
  2. completion of PSY 1013, PSY 1603, and PSY 2513 with a grade of C or higher; and PSY 2013 with a grade of B or higher.
  3. consistent adherence to the Psychology Program Code of Professional Conduct policy and,
  4. completion of the Psychology Major Application.

Students will initially enter as pre-psychology majors. Acceptance into the Psychology program is contingent upon meeting departmental requirements. Many psychology courses require that students be a Psychology major prior to enrollment.  Therefore, it is important that students complete the departmental admissions process as soon as admission requirements are met.  Continued enrollment in the program is contingent upon completion of psychology and philosophy coursework with a C or higher and continued adherence to the Psychology Program Code of Professional Conduct policy

Students must maintain a 3.0 GPA for the Bachelor of Science in Psychology (Graduate School Preparation) degree plan. If GPA requirements are not met, students will be moved to the B.S. in Psychology degree plan.

Degree Requirements

Total Semester Credit Hours (SCH): 120-121   

Major: 44 SCH  Minor (optional): 21 SCH

Program Code: PSYCH.BS.GRADSCHOOL  CIP Code: 42.0101.00

Texas Core Curriculum

ENG 1013Composition I3
ENG 1023Composition II3
Mathematics3
Life & Physical Sciences6
Language, Philosophy, & Culture3
Creative Arts3
HIST 1013History of the United States, 1492-18653
HIST 1023History of the United States, 1865 to the Present3
POLS 2013U.S. National Government3
POLS 2023Texas Government3
Social & Behavioral Sciences3
CAO: Women's Studies3
CAO: First Year Seminar, Wellness or Mathematics3
Total SCHs42

Courses Required for Major

PSY 1603Developmental Psychology3
PSY 2013Professional Development in Psychology3
PSY 2023Social Psychology3
PSY 2133Physiological Psychology 3
PSY 2303Applied Statistics3
PSY 2513Abnormal Psychology3
PSY 3354Experimental Psychology4
PSY 3943Psychological Tests and Measurements3
PSY 4103
PSY 4101
Cognitive Psychology
and Cognitive Psychology Laboratory
4
PSY Electives (2000 level or higher) - Recommended3
Research Team I
Research Team II
Research Team III
PSY Electives (3000 level or higher) - Recommended3
Research Team IV
Research Team V
Research Team VI
PSY Elective (3000 level or higher) 9
Total SCHs44

Departmental Requirements

Select one of the following3
Ethics
Bioethics
Ethics and Feminism
Natural Science w/Lab for Major (see advisor)4
Labs for core Life/Physical Sciences (if co-requisite of core science course)2
PHIL 2033Logic and Critical Thinking (may be applied from core)3
PSY 1013Introduction to General Psychology (may be applied from core)3
WS 3733Psychology of Women (may be applied from core)3
or PSY 3733 Psychology of Women
Electives 16
Total SCHs34

Recommended Plan of Study

First Year
FallTCCNSCHs
PSY 1013Introduction to General Psychology PSYC 23013
Life/Physical Science Core3
ENG 1013Composition I ENGL 13013
Math or Wellness CAO Core2
HIST 1013History of the United States, 1492-1865 HIST 13013
UNIV 1231Learning Frameworks: The First Year Experience EDUC 1100, EDUC 1200, EDUC 13001
 SCHs 15
SpringTCCN
ENG 1023Composition II ENGL 13023
PSY 1603Developmental Psychology PSYC 23143
Math Core (MATH 1703 recommended)3
PSY 2013Professional Development in Psychology 3
Life/Physical Science Core3
 SCHs 15
Second Year
FallTCCN
Select one of the following Natural Science sequences3-4
Human Biology BIOL 1308 
Principles of Biology I
and Principles of Biology I Laboratory
BIOL 1406
& BIOL 1106
 
General Life Science II BIOL 1309 
Introductory Chemistry
and Introductory Chemistry Laboratory
CHEM 1305
& CHEM 1106
 
General Chemistry I
and General Chemistry Laboratory I
CHEM 1311
& CHEM 1111
 
General Life Science I BIOL 1408 
Human Anatomy and Physiology I
and Human Anatomy and Physiology I Laboratory
BIOL 2401
& BIOL 2101
 
Human Anatomy and Physiology II
and Human Anatomy and Physiology II Laboratory
BIOL 2402
& BIOL 2102
 
HIST 1023History of the United States, 1865 to the Present HIST 13023
POLS 2013U.S. National Government GOVT 23053
PHIL 2033Logic and Critical Thinking PHIL 23033
PSY 2513Abnormal Psychology PSYC 23203
Elective (PSY 2061 recommended)1
 SCHs 16-17
SpringTCCN
POLS 2023Texas Government GOVT 23063
PSY 2023Social Psychology PSYC 23193
PSY 2303Applied Statistics PSYC 23173
Minor or Elective3
Creative Arts Core3
Elective (PSY 2071 recommended)1
 SCHs 16
Third Year
FallTCCN
PSY 2133Physiological Psychology PSYC 23303
PSY 3354Experimental Psychology 4
PSY 3733Psychology of Women 3
Psychology Elective (2000 level or above)3
Elective - 1 SCH (PSY 3061 recommended)1
 SCHs 14
SpringTCCN
Psychology Elective (3000 level or above)3
Minor or Elective3
Psychology Elective3
Minor or Elective3
Elective (PSY 3071 recommended)1
 SCHs 13
Fourth Year
FallTCCN
Psychology Elective (3000 level or above)3
Psychology Elective (3000 level of above)3
Minor or Elective3
Minor or Elective3
Minor or Elective3
Elective (PSY 4061 recommended)1
 SCHs 16
SpringTCCN
Select one of the following3
Ethics  
Bioethics  
Ethics and Feminism  
PSY 3943Psychological Tests and Measurements 3
PSY 4103
PSY 4101
Cognitive Psychology
and Cognitive Psychology Laboratory
4
Minor or Elective4
Elective (PSY 4071 recommended)1
 SCHs 15
 Total SCHs:  120-121

Note: The 3 SCH Global Perspectives graduation requirement must be obtained through core courses, PSY 4183, or elective. Must meet 36 advanced semester credit hour requirement.