Bachelor of Science in Psychology – West Virginia University
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology – West Virginia University
Undergraduate Programs in Psychology
The Department of Psychology is one of the most prestigious units at WVU. Several faculty members are among the leaders in their areas of scholarship. Psychology is the science of behavior. Courses in this discipline convey the principles, methods, and theories that are necessary for a better understanding of human and animal behaviors. Students who choose this subject as their major are expected to fulfill certain requirements, but the program is structured to allow considerable flexibility. Studying psychology at WVU allows students to work toward a liberal arts degree rather than a specialized degree that prepares students for a specific type of job. Typically, individuals tailor their schedules according to the career paths they choose. These decisions generally fall into three categories: pursuit of graduate studies, pursuit of a career applying principles of psychology to human problems, or pursuit of a career in a non-related field.
General Education Curriculum
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ENGL 101 & ENGL 102 Composition and Rhetoric and Composition and Rhetoric or ENGL 103 Accelerated Academic Writing
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GEC 2A – Mathematics
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GEC 2B – Natural and Physical Science
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GEC 2C – Additional GEC 2A, B or C
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GEC 3 – The Past and Its Traditions
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GEC 4 – Issues of Contemporary Society
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GEC 5 – Artistic Expression
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GEC 6 – The Individual in Society
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GEC 6F – First Year Seminar
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GEC 7 – American Culture
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GEC 8 – Western Culture
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GEC 9 – Non-Western Culture
Degree Requirements
Students must complete WVU General Education Curriculum requirements, College B.S. and B.A. requirements, major requirements, and electives to total a minimum of 120 hours.
Departmental Requirements for the B.S. and B.A. in Psychology
Students wishing to graduate with a B.S. or B.A. in Psychology must comply with the following:
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Calculation of the GPA in the Major: Students must maintain an overall cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher. Students must also earn an overall cumulative 2.0 GPA in all courses with a PSYC designation. If a course is repeated, all attempts will be included in the calculation of the GPA unless the course is eligible for a D/F repeat A minimum grade of C or better in PSYC 101 is required for the degree.
Statistics Requirements: Students must complete either STAT 201 or STAT 211 with a C or better. Students who complete ECON 225 prior to becoming a psychology major may use the course to satisfy their STAT requirement. Students having completed ECON 225 may enroll in PSYC 202 without having to take STAT 201/211.
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Writing Course Requirement: The General Education Curriculum requires the successful completion of a writing course (“W”), preferably in the major. Psychology majors are encouraged to take PSYC 362, PSYC 363, PSYC 370, PSYC 382, PSYC 423, PSYC 426, PSYC 474, PSYC 495, or PSYC 498, to fulfill their writing requirement.
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Capstone Requirement: The General Education Curriculum requires the successful completion of a Capstone course: PSYC 490A, PSYC 491A, PSYC 495A, PSYC 498A.
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Residence Requirement: To graduate from WVU with a major in Psychology, a student must have successfully completed (with a passing grade) a minimum of 10 credit hours of 300- and 400-level psychology coursework at WVU, not including PSYC 490, PSYC 491, PSYC 495, and PSYC 498. Online courses taught by WVU may be counted toward the 10 credit hours of coursework at WVU.
