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Departments & Programs

Department of Psychology
Plans of Study

Although there is no single semester-by-semester plan of study for either the B.A. or the B.S. degree, one possible sequence of courses for each of these degrees is given below. Variations from these examples should be made, based on the student’s academic history and career plans, through consultation with an academic advisor. For career and graduate school information related to psychology, please refer to relevant sections of the psychology department’s website www.psych.iupui.edu.  To graduate in four years, a student generally must take at least four semesters of 15 credits and four semesters of 16 credits.  Students with heavy outside commitments (e.g., work and/or family) may want to decrease their course load each semester.  By taking additional courses each summer, it may still be possible to graduate in four years.

Bachelor of Arts Sample Program (120 cr. required)

Freshman Year
First Semester
SCI-I120 Windows on Science 1
PSY-B110 Introduction to Psychology 3
ENG-W131 Reading, Writing and Inquiry I 3
World Language (Cultural Understanding) 4
BUS-F151 Collegiate Personal Finance (Social Sciences) 1
MATH-M118 Finite Mathematics* 3
Total 15
Second Semester
COMM-R110 Fundamentals of Speech Communication 3
World Language** 4
Life and Physical Sciences (choose from approved list)*** 3
PSY-B203 Ethics and Diversity in Psychology 3
Arts and Humanities (choose from list) 3
Total 16

Sophomore Year
Third Semester
ENG-W231 Professional Writing Skills 3
PSY-B303 Career Planning Psychology Majors 1
Psychology Foundations course (choose from approved list) 3
Life and Physical Sciences (choose from approved list) 4
PSY-B305 Statistics 3
BUS-F152 Finance and Investment Planning (Social Sciences) 1
Total 15
Fourth Semester
CSCI-N207 Data Analysis Using Spreadsheets 3
PSY-B311 Research Methods in Psychology 3

Psychology Foundations Course (choose from approved list)

3
BUS-F251 Personal and Financial Risk Mgmt.  (Social Sciences) 1
Arts and Humanities/Social Sciences (choose from list) 3
Elective RISE Course (Internship) 3
Total 16

Junior Year
Fifth Semester
Psychology Foundations course (choose from approved list) 3
Psychology Foundations course (choose from approved list) 3
Psychology Content course (choose from approved list) 3
Life and Physical Sciences (choose from approved list) 3
Elective/minor course 3
Total 15
Sixth Semester
Psychology Content course (choose from approved list) 3
Psychology Content course (choose from approved list) 3
Life and Physical Sciences (choose from approved list) 3
Elective/RISE course 3
Elective/minor course 3
Total 15

Senior Year
Seventh Semester
Psychology Content course (choose from approved list) 3
Elective/minor courses 12
Total 15
Eighth Semester
Psychology Capstone course 3
Elective/minor courses 10
Total 13

* Students who do not test successfully into MATH-M118 must complete one or more lower-level math classes to develop the skills necessary to perform well in MATH-M118. Credits earned for these remedial math classes do not count as part of the required 120 credit hours to graduate.

** For students needing courses to establish first-year proficiency in a modern foreign language. Otherwise, other courses may be taken to fulfill area requirements or electives.

***Students should check with their Academic Advisor or the Psychology Peer Advising office for the approved list.

Bachelor of Science Sample Program (120 cr. required)

Freshman Year
First Semester
SCI-I120 Windows on Science 1
PSY-B110 Introduction to Psychology 3
ENG-W131 Reading, Writing and Inquiry I 3
MATH-M119 Brief Survey of Calculus 1* 3
Life and Physical Science (choose from approved list)** 4
BUS-F151 Collegiate Personal Finance (Social Sciences) 1
Total 15
Second Semester
PSY-B203 Ethics and Diversity in Psychology 3
COMM-R110 Fundamentals of Speech Communication 3
Arts and Humanities (choose from list) 3
MATH-M118 Finite Mathematics* 3
Life and Physical Science (choose from approved list) 3
BUS-F152 Finance and Investment Planning (Social Sciences) 1
Total 16
Sophomore Year
Third Semester
ENG-W231 Professional Writing Skills 3
PSY-B305 Statistics 3
PSY-B303 Career Planning Psychology Majors 1
Psychology Foundations course (choose from approved list) 3
CSCI-N207 Data Analysis Using Spreadsheets 3
BUS-F251 Personal and Financial Risk Mgmt. (Social Sciences) 1
Total                         14
Fourth Semester
PSY-B311 Research Methods in Psychology 3
Psychology Foundations course (choose from approved list) 3
Arts and Humanities/Social Sciences (choose from list) 3
Cultural Understanding (choose from list) 3
Elective course (RISE/Internship/Research) 3
Total 15
Junior Year
Fifth Semester
Psychology Foundations course (choose from approved list) 3
Psychology Content course (choose from approved list) 3
Psychology Content course (choose from approved list) 3
Life and Physical Science (choose from approved list) 3
Elective/minor course 3
Total 15
Sixth Semester
Psychology Foundations course (choose from approved list) 3
Psychology Content course (choose from approved list) 3
Life and Physical Sciences (choose from approved list) 3
Elective (RISE course) 3
Elective/minor course 3
Total 15
Senior Year
Seventh Semester
Psychology Content course (choose from approved list) 3
Elective/minor courses 12
Total 15
Eighth Semester
Psychology Capstone course 3
Elective/minor courses  12
Total 15

* Students who do not test successfully into MATH-M118/MATH-M119 must complete one or more lower-level math courses to develop the skills necessary to perform well in MATH-M118/MATH-M119. Credits earned for the remedial math courses do not count as part of the required 120 credit hours to graduate.

** Students should check with their Academic Advisor or the Psychology Peer Advising Office for the approved list.