Major Requirements
Ten courses are required including 101; 310; one seminar; and 400, 401, or 402. Two courses must be methods courses: one must be 301, 302, 303, 304; and one must be 314, 315, 316, or 318. Of the ten courses, students must take at least one in each of the following areas:
Cognitive/Neuroscience courses: 276, 282, 284, 295*, 296*, 301, 302, 303, 304, 324
Clinical/Developmental courses: 230, 231, 234, 241, 243, 245, 297*, 314, 315
Social/Industrial-Organizational courses: 232, 254, 260, 298*, 316, 318
The seminar requirement may not satisfy any area requirement.
In addition, all seniors must satisfactorily complete an oral interview conducted by a psychologist who is not a member of the department.
*Course reserved for transfer credits.
Honors Requirements
The Department of Psychology considers for honors those senior majors who meet the general college requirements with a minimum 3.2 GPA overall, meet the stated requirements for a major in Psychology with a minimum 3.5 GPA, complete a third course from the research method series (301-318), and complete a senior thesis (PSY 400). Completion of these courses does not guarantee a recommendation for graduation with honors. The student’s work must be of superior quality. Evidence for such superior quality consists of generally high degrees of proficiency or exceptional creativity in course work, thesis, papers and projects.
Note on Prerequisites
Occasionally, under extraordinary circumstance, the department chair may waive a specific prerequisite for a particular course.
Rationale for Course Numbering
Psychology 101 is open to all levels of students and is the prerequisite for all other courses in the department.
The 200-level courses except 290 (Practicum) are survey courses suitable for all levels of students who have had PSY 101.
The 300-level courses numbered between 301 and 349 focus on research methodology and/or participation in doing research. These are designed for majors, not open to freshmen, and generally are taken after a few 200-level courses. The 300-level seminars (numbered between 350-380) are generally restricted to juniors and seniors but not necessarily to psychology majors.
The 400-level courses are capstone experiences open only to senior psychology majors.
Davidson-Broughton Summer Program
Each summer, if there is sufficient enrollment, the department offers an internship in abnormal psychology (Practicum in Psychology - PSY 290) during an eight-week period, with the students living and working at Broughton Hospital in Morganton, N.C. There students have direct contact with patients and staff members while studying with an adjunct lecturer. Credit for Psychology 290. Prerequisites: Psychology 231 and consent of instructor. Inquiries may be directed to Department of Psychology, Davidson College.
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