The goal of the Department of Psychology is to provide students with an understanding of the methods and content of scientific and applied psychology.
The primary means of attaining our mission is classroom instruction. We offer courses across a wide range of disciplines within psychology; some of our courses also include laboratories that focus on experimental and statistical work. Some of these courses are beginning to be offered as fully online and as hybrid courses (partially online and partially in the classroom). Further learning opportunities are made available through field work, the Honors Program, Experiential Learning, Independent Study, and Internships. Our Internship Program consists of supervised work placements for which students earn academic credit; potential sites include human service organizations as well as community and industrial settings.
Bachelor of Arts Psychology majors must select one of the six B.A. concentrations: Standard, Human Development, Human Services, Industrial/Organizational, Community, or Comprehensive Evening Program. Students are limited to only declaring one concentration.
There is an option to complete the BA in Psychology online, with no face-to-face classes on DePaul Campuses (see "Special Programs" for prerequisites). Students who qualify and wish to pursue the BA in Psychology online may complete either the Standard or Human Development concentrations.
After completing any one of the concentrations, a psychology major should be able to understand key concepts, principles, and overarching themes in psychology, read and understand behavioral science data, design and conduct rudimentary psychological research studies, and apply research findings to everyday situations. These skills are applicable to a wide variety of occupations and professions. Psychology as a major provides excellent opportunities for students planning to go to graduate or professional school. Psychology as a minor provides a flexible complement to other majors.
| Program Requirements | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|
| Liberal Studies Requirements | 64-80 |
| Major Core Requirements | 24 |
| Major Concentration Requirements | 32-104 |
| Open Electives | 0-56 |
| Total hours required | 192 |
Learning Outcomes
Students will be able to:
- Describe key concepts, principles, themes, and applications across a variety of content domains in psychology.
- Use scientific reasoning and critical thinking to interpret psychological phenomena.
- Design, conduct, and interpret basic psychological research, accounting for sociocultural factors.
- Apply ethical standards to evaluate psychological science and practice.
- Write a paper applying cogent scientific argument that includes presenting information using a scientific approach, discussing psychological concepts, explaining the ideas of others, and expressing their own ideas with clarity.
College Core Requirements
Modern Language Requirements
Students who intend to graduate with the Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree will be required to demonstrate competence in a modern language equivalent to the proficiency attained from one year of college-level language study. Such competence may be demonstrated in one of several ways:
- completing the last course in the fourth-year high school sequence of any language
- completing the last course in the first-year college sequence of any language
- completing a college course beyond the first-year level in any language
- achieving a satisfactory score on any of the Modern Language placement examinations administered at DePaul
- achieving a satisfactory rating in a proficiency examination accepted by DePaul
- achieving a score of 3 or higher on the Advance Placement (AP) test for any language
- achieving a score of 5 or higher in the Language B assessment from a Standard or Higher Level International Baccalaureate (IB) program
- achieving a satisfactory score on the CLEP examination
Please note: Modern Languages courses with an E-designation are taught in English and may not be applied to the Modern Language Requirement.
For further information regarding satisfactory scores and possible credit from the DePaul placement, AP, CLEP, or IB examinations, please contact Student Records.
Students who complete an Inter-College Transfer (ICT) to the College of Science and Health will abide by the College of Science and Health Modern Language Requirement in place on the effective date of the ICT.
BA students who meet College requirements and wish to pursue further work in the language may elect the “Modern Language Option” of the Liberal Studies Program. While Bachelor of Science (BS) students are not required to demonstrate competency in a modern language, the “Modern Language Option” is available to them for language study at any level. Modern Languages courses with an E-designation are taught in English and may not be applied to the Modern Language Option.
Major Declaration Requirements
All students in the College are required to declare a major field prior to beginning their junior year. After researching College programs, the student should declare a major field by visiting Campus Connection and using the Declarations and Inter-College Transfer tool. The student will then be assigned a faculty advisor or staff advisor in the department or program and should make an appointment to see that advisor at his or her earliest convenience.
To change major fields, or to declare a minor or concentration, the student must use the Declarations and Inter-College Transfer tool described above. However, for the purpose of exploring the possibility of changing a major field, the student should consult an academic advisor in the College or an academic advisor in the Office for Academic Advising Support.
Liberal Studies Requirements
Honors program requirements can be found in the individual Colleges & Schools section of the University Catalog. Select the appropriate college or school, followed by Undergraduate Academics and scroll down.
| First Year Program | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago Quarter | ||
| LSP 110 or LSP 111 | DISCOVER CHICAGO or EXPLORE CHICAGO | 4 |
| Focal Point | ||
| LSP 112 | FOCAL POINT SEMINAR | 4 |
| Writing | ||
| WRD 103 | COMPOSITION AND RHETORIC I 1 | 4 |
| WRD 104 | COMPOSITION AND RHETORIC II 1 | 4 |
| Quantitative Reasoning | ||
| MAT 120 | QUANTITATIVE REASONING 2 | 4 |
| Sophomore Year | ||
| Race, Power, and Resistance | ||
| LSP 200 | SEMINAR ON RACE, POWER, AND RESISTANCE | 4 |
| Junior Year | ||
| Experiential Learning | ||
| Required 4 | 4 | |
| Senior Year | ||
| Capstone | ||
| Select one of the following: | ||
| PSY 361 | HISTORY AND SYSTEMS OF PSYCHOLOGY 1,3 | 4 |
| PSY 389 | PSYCHOLOGY SENIOR SEMINAR 1 | 4 |
- 1
Students must earn a C- or better in this course.
- 2
Depending on a student's program of study, they may need to take MAT 120 QUANTITATIVE REASONING. Readiness for MAT 120 is determined by the math placement test taken online after admission. Students may need to take developmental coursework prior to MAT 120. The MAT 120 requirement may be waived by passing a dedicated proficiency exam, or by credit earned for advanced math coursework at DePaul (MAT 135, MAT 136, MAT 147, MAT 148, MAT 149, MAT 150, MAT 151, MAT 152, MAT 155, MAT 156, MAT 160, MAT 161, MAT 162, MAT 170, MAT 171, MAT 172, or equivalent) or any transfer, CLEP, IB, or AP Calculus credit. Calculus course(s) may be used to fulfil any of the three QR/MCD requirements.
- 3
Students with a primary major in Psychology are required to complete the Capstone offered by the Psychology department. Students double majoring or pursuing dual degrees with the primary major or primary degree in Psychology are required to complete the Capstone offered by the Psychology department. Psychology students in the University Honors Program shall take the University Honors Capstone. They are not expected to take both the Honors Capstone and the primary major or primary degree Capstone.
- 4
Students taking either the Standard - Combined Occupational Therapy (MS) or the Human Development - Combined Occupational Therapy (MS) concentrations must complete this requirement by taking OT 412 and OT 422.
Learning Domains
Arts and Literature (AL)
- 3 Courses Required
(See notes below)
Historical Inquiry (HI)
- 2 Courses Required
Math and Computing (MC)
- 1 Course Required
[1 CR Course]
Philosophical Inquiry (PI)
- 2 Courses Required
(See notes below)
Religious Dimensions (RD)
- 2 Courses required
Scientific Inquiry (SI)
- 2 Courses Required
[1 Lab Course and 1 SWK Course]
(See notes below)
Social, Cultural, and Behavioral Inquiry (SCBI)
- 1 Course Required
Notes
Students taking either the Standard - Combined Occupational Therapy (MS) or the Human Development - Combined Occupational Therapy (MS) concentrations have a one course reduction in the Arts and Literature (AL) and the Philosophical Inquiry (PI) domains. In addition, Scientific Inquiry (SI) domain courses are waived for students in either of these concentrations.
Courses offered in the student's primary major cannot be taken to fulfill LSP Domain requirements. If students double major, LSP Domain courses may double count for both LSP credit and the second major. Students who choose to take an experiential learning course offered by the major may count it either as a general elective or the Experiential Learning requirement.
In meeting learning domain requirements, no more than one course that is outside the student’s major and is cross-listed with a course within the student’s major, can be applied to count for LSP domain credit. This policy does not apply to those who are pursuing a double major or earning BFA or BM degrees.
Psychology BS Healthcare
The BS healthcare concentration requires a different set of Liberal Studies Program requirements. Please refer to the healthcare concentration requirements for details.
Major Requirements
The program consists of the common core plus eight additional courses in a concentration area. Bachelor of Arts students are required to take fourteen general electives which may be psychology and/or other department courses. Students may choose to complete a minor or double-major. Bachelor of Arts students must fulfill the Modern Language requirement.
Common Core
| Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|---|
| PSY 105 | INTRODUCTORY PSYCHOLOGY I | 4 |
| PSY 106 | INTRODUCTORY PSYCHOLOGY II | 4 |
| PSY 240 | STATISTICS I | 4 |
| PSY 241 | RESEARCH METHODS I | 4 |
| PSY 242 | RESEARCH METHODS II | 4 |
| Select one of the following: | 4 | |
| HISTORY AND SYSTEMS OF PSYCHOLOGY (Liberal Studies Program Capstone) 1 | ||
| PSYCHOLOGY SENIOR SEMINAR | ||
- 1
University Honors students are not required to complete the capstone in PSY, however it is recommended as a psychology elective for them.
Upon faculty approval psychology majors may register for the following psychology courses as psychology electives:
| Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|---|
| INDEPENDENT RESEARCH IN PSYCHOLOGY | ||
| DEPARTMENT HONORS THESIS 1 | ||
| HONORS IN PSYCHOLOGY 1 | ||
| EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING/PSYCHOLOGY RESEARCH | ||
| TUTORING AND MENTORING IN PSYCHOLOGY | ||
| INDEPENDENT STUDY |
- 1
Students accepted into the honors program must register for PSY 391 and PSY 396 for 3 quarters (autumn, winter, spring) and a maximum of 4 credits total for each course.
PSY 105 and PSY 106 are not sequential, i.e., one is not a prerequisite for the other. They may be taken in either order.
For the research sequence, PSY 240 must be taken first; PSY 241 and PSY 242 may be taken in either order. A special note: PSY 340, an elective course, may be taken immediately after the completion of PSY 240.
Concentration Requirements
Students must complete the requirements from one of the following concentrations: Standard; Human Development; Human Services; Industrial/Organizational; Community; or Comprehensive Evening Program. Students are limited to only declaring one concentration.
Students are advised to talk with their advisor before double majoring, because some major combinations are prohibited. No more than 50% of the credits that apply to one major may be drawn from another major.
Students are advised to talk with their advisor before double majoring, because some major combinations are prohibited. No more than 50% of the credits that apply to one major may be drawn from another major.
Concentrations, tracks and specializations provide focus to the major. In addition to any college core requirements, liberal studies requirements and major requirements, students are required to choose one of the following:
- Community Concentration, Psychology (BA)
- Comprehensive Evening Program, Psychology (BA)
- Human Development Concentration - Occupational Therapy Combined, Psychology (BA)
- Human Development Concentration, Psychology (BA)
- Human Services Concentration, Psychology (BA)
- Industrial-Organizational Psychology Concentration, Psychology (BA)
- Standard Concentration - Occupational Therapy Combined, Psychology (BA)
- Standard Concentration, Psychology (BA)