Psychology
Mission Statement
The mission of the Psychology program is to provide students with transformative learning experiences that foster academic achievement in the psychological sciences, instill ethics and values, promote service, and lead to post-graduate success.
The Bachelor of Science in Psychology Program at Cumberland University offers students a chance to explore the many fascinating topics in the field of Psychology, while also having the option to add emphasis to a particular area of interest in more depth. These areas include:
Clinical Psychology - The practice, application, and techniques of counseling and psychology.
Developmental Psychology - The stages of life development from a mental health perspective.
Experimental Psychology - The physiological, cognitive, and behavioral research that most contributes to the field.
Applied Psychology - The study of prejudice, aggression, attraction, and altruism in human interactions.
The ultimate goal of Cumberland's Psychology program is to graduate students with an in-depth understanding of the field, experiential opportunities (in academia, research, and clinical practice), professional connections in their personal areas of interest, and an eagerness to begin their careers. It prepares undergraduate students for careers in areas such as social work, personnel training, administration, nursing/physician assistant, top and mid-level management, sales and marketing. The program also prepares students for graduate study in fields such as law, business, and various areas of psychology, including counseling, clinical, school, industrial/organizational, and or experimental specializations. Advanced courses at this University allow students to become some of the most competitive applicants for further educational experiences within the field.
Psychology faculty members are dedicated to providing learning experiences that inspire student achievement, foster academic excellence, instill ethics and values, promote service, and facilitate lifelong learning. Courses are approached in an array of styles, from lectures and collaborative assignments to experiential activities and discussion forums.
Degree Requirements
Area I – Foundation Skills - 3 hours
| FSL 101 | Foundations of Scholarship and Learning | 3 |
| or | |
| HON 101 | First Year Honors Seminar | 3 |
FSL 101 is required for all new and transferring freshmen with less than 24 credit hours. Students must earn a "C" or higher in FSL 101 or HON 101.
Area I - Rhetoric and Communication - 9 hours
Students must earn a "C" or higher in ENG 101 and ENG 102 or HON 110.
Area I - Mathematics - 3 or 4 hours
Choose one from the following:
Students must earn a "C" or higher in MATH 110, MATH 111, MATH 112, MATH 119, or MATH 121.
Area I - Computer Literacy - 3 hours
Choose one from the following:
| CIS 170 | Introduction to Microcomputer Applications | 3 |
| or | |
| ED 190/CIS 190 | Introduction to Computers for Instruction | 3 |
Area II - The Arts - 3 hours
Choose one from the following:
Area II - Literature in English - 3 hours
Choose one from the following:
Students must earn a "C" or higher in ENG 215 or ENG 216.
Area II - Social Science - 6 hours
| PSY 201 | General Psychology | 3 |
| PSY 211 | Psychology of Human Growth & Development | 3 |
Students must earn a "C" or higher in PSY 201 and PSY 211.
Area II - History - 6 hours
Choose one sequence from the following:
| HIS 111 | History of Western Civilization I | 3 |
| and | |
| HIS 112 | History of Western Civilization II | 3 |
| or | |
| HIS 191 | World Civilization to 1500 | 3 |
| and | |
| HIS 192 | World Civilization since 1500 | 3 |
| or | |
| HIS 201 | History of the United States I | 3 |
| and | |
| HIS 202 | History of the United States II | 3 |
Area II - The Natural Sciences: Biology - 8 hours
Choose one from the following:
Students must earn a "C" or higher in BIO 100 or BIO 111 and BIO 111L.
AND choose one from the following:
Required Psychology Core Courses - 36 hours
Choose one Clinical Psychology course:
Choose one Developmental Psychology course:
| PSY 311 | Child Growth and Development | 3 |
| PSY 340 | Psychology of Adolescence | 3 |
| PSY 461 | Psychology of Adulthood and Aging | 3 |
| PSY 463 | Psychology of Death and Dying | 3 |
Choose one Experimental Psychology course:
Choose one Applied Psychology course:
Students must earn a "C" or higher in all Psychology courses.
Psychology Electives - 9 hours
Choose nine hours from psychology at the 300 level or higher.
Students must earn a "C" or higher in Psychology electives.
General Electives - 30-34 hours
Select sufficient courses from any academic discipline to bring the total hours for graduation to a minimum of 120.
Total GEC Credit Hours (41-45 hours)
Total Psychology Core Requirements (36 hours)
Total Psychology Electives (9 hours)
Total General Electives (30-34 hours)
120 minimum hours required for graduation.