1 What I need to do to g r a d u a t e w i t h a degree in Psychology This guide was prepared to help you major in psychology and graduate with minimum trouble(not counting study time.) Step 1: Go see your advisor If you do not know who they are find out by going to see Dr. Gregory Sloan Center Office 13 phone ex 4178 home 657-1034 Dr. Provost Sloan Center Office 14 B phone ex 4197 Dr. Rhoads Sloan Center Office 14 phone ex 4179 home 886-7706 In fact if you have any questions see Dr. Gregory, Dr. Provost or Dr. Rhoads. Step 2 :Take your general education courses There are certain courses you must take in order to graduate as part of your liberal arts education. Everyone must take the following courses-this is called your General Education requirements. The sooner you take these course the better off you will be. Do not wait to take them your Junior or Senior years, that s too late. Take them your freshmen and sophomore years, they will not just go away if you wait.
2 General Education English Composition I English Composition II World lit I World lit II Humanities (Choose two of the following ) Art Appreciation 2143 Music Appreciation 2143 Theater Appreciation 2153 Philosophy 2253 Speech (Sp2183) New Testament Old Testament U.S. History HT2233 Or HT2243 Western Civilization HT1133 Or HT1143 2 social science courses Intro to Sociology Any other Sociology course Physical science Biology 1 math course If you are Track I College Algebra If you are Track II College Algebra or Contemporary math 4 hours of PE (Two of which must be activity courses) Step 3: Enroll in General Psychology your first semester at Williams. General psychology is the prerequisite for all other psychology courses and the sooner you take it the sooner you move forward. In addition it introduces you to the psychology faculty. It is recommended that your second semester you take Positive Psychology. In addition all Psychology majors must take the following courses. However, not the first semester. You advisor will help you to decide what to take and when to take it. See Step 1
3 All Track I & II psychology majors must take the following courses. General Psychology Requirements General Psychology Child Development Adolescent Development Abnormal Psychology History and Systems of Psychology Personality Theory Synthesis of Psychology Step 4: DECIDE ON A TRACK IN PSYCHOLOGY Eventually you must decide upon a specific area of psychology to major in. At Williams there are three possible choices: Track I if you are planning to go to graduate school. Track II if you are planing to go to law school, seminary, directly into the work force or other work that does not require an advanced degree, or Family Psychology if that is your area of special interest. Deciding upon a track does not have to be done immediately but by the end of your sophomore year it will be become more and more difficult if you are undecided. Track I Track II Family Psychology Statistics Experimental Learning Testing and Measurement Neuroscience +One psychology Elective of Your Choice Positive Psychology Social Psychology Counseling Psychology +One psychology Elective of Your Choice Sociology Marriage and Family Theories of Learning Positive Psychology Social Psychology Introduction to Counseling Parenting Family Systems Health and Safety
4 Step 5: Decide on a minor If you are Track I or Track II eventually you must decide upon a minor.(family psychology has no minor but it has more required courses which equals the same thing.) This does not have to be done immediately but the sooner the better. It is advisable to decide upon a Track before you decide upon a minor. Your advisor will be happy to help you decide upon a minor. Different minors have different requirements. Look in the catalogue to determine what is required. I.e. To minor in sociology requires any 18 in sociology. However, other minors has very specific requirements. See your advisor and check you catalogue. Step 6: Pass your courses. You are going to have to have a C average, at the minimum, to graduate. Step 7: Take English proficiency exam You will need to take and pass the English proficiency exam. It is strongly recommended that you take this as soon as you have completed Com I and Comp II. A) this gets it out the way, b) this gives you extra time to take it if you should fail it the first time. The times of this exam will be announced. If you should have trouble qualifying see your advisor. The best preparation is to take your 6 hours of composition and 6 hours of literature very seriously. You can take it more than once. Start early. Step 8: Fill out a degree plan No later than you re the end of your Sophomore/beginning of your junior year fill out a degree plan. This is your plan to graduate and how you are going to do it. It lets you know if there are going to be any conflicts. Conflicts that we find out about early can be worked out. Conflicts that we find out about late are far more difficult. A degree plan has been enclosed. The degree plans are also available in disk form if you would like to complete it directly on the computer. The degree plan can be obtained from your advisor and must be approved by your advisor. It is then approved by the Registrar s office. Degree plans can be changed after they have been approved if circumstances change. Step 9: Fill out an intent to graduate Go to the Registrar s office and fill out an intent to graduate. This will be done your senior year. Step 10: Order graduation robe - Congratulations!!!
5 Additional requirements for Track I students Must take Algebra or high math course (i.e. Calculus) to fulfill math requirements Must design an experiment in Experimental Psychology class Must conduct this above designed experiment and analyze the results Must attend Arkansas Psychological Symposium or Southwestern Psychological Association meeting Must present the results of your experiment in synthesis class your senior year Words of caution for everyone You must obtain a grade of C or better in Composition I and Composition II The last 24 of your 30 hours must be completed at the institution you wish to graduate from (WBC). If you are wanting to go to graduate school you should do the following! Need at least a 3.0 grade average over all and a 3.25 in your major " A doctoral program will require higher grades than a master s program! Take Track I! Take the practicum! Sign up to take the Graduate Record Examination(GRE) fall of your senior year " You will have to take the test in Jonesboro, Memphis or Little Rock. " Preparation - There are practice booklets you can purchase at any good bookstore - Check the psychology office to see if it has any old ones. - Read outside of your field to increase your vocabulary(good novels). - If you have the time and grades take an advanced math course.! Decide " Upon the area of graduate work you want to do(child psychology, clinical, personality, social, etc). " Decide upon the areas of the state/country where you would like to study.! The psychology office has a complete list of all psychology schools in the nation along with description of their requirements and addresses. Go by.! Write off for applications the summer before you are to graduate.! If you are graduating in May, begin filling out your application forms the December before you graduate.! It is strongly advisable that you apply to more than one graduate school, at least 5-7.
6 Quick Check list I know who my advisor is I have met and talked to my advisor I have signed up for General Psychology and successfully completed it I am getting my General Education requirements out of the way Comp I and I made a C or better Comp II and I made a C or better Literature Literature Humanities Humanities Speech Old Testament New Testament Western Civilization U.S. History Social Science Social Science Physical Science Biology Math(Algebra if Track I / Algebra or Contemp Math if Track II) 4 hours of PE I have signed up for and taken my basic psychology requirements Child Development Adolescent Development Abnormal Psychology History and Systems of Psychology Personality Synthesis of Psychology I have signed up for and taken my specific psychology requirements Track I Statistics Experimental Learning Neuroscience elective Track II Positive Psychology Social Psychology Counseling Elective Family Psychology Sociology Marriage and Family Theories of Learning Positive Psychology Social Psychology Introduction to Counseling Parenting Family Systems Health and Safety
I have filled out my degree plan I have taken and passed the English proficiency exam as soon as you complete Comp II If I am Track I have taken care of my special requirements Algebra Designing and conducting an experiment I have filled out an intent to graduate I have ordered my graduation robe and sent out invitations I have contacted the alumni office 7
8 Instructions for filling out a degree plan.! On form A starting with your first semester in college list all the courses you took that semester. " If that semester was at another school still list the classes your took - If you only took one class list it by itself. - Each block represents a single semester. If one semester you took only one class then it is listed all by itself. - Summer classes are also listed by themself. Do not combine semesters " List the class by Prefix (ie. Py 3233) and by name (ie. General Psychology) - Standard abbreviations may be used (ie. Gen. Psy for General Psychology) - Do not create unique and undecipherable abbreviation. " If you took the class at another school list it by the prefix and name used at that school! Every class you list on form A should be listed or checked off of form B (below) " Form B is basically a check list of all the classes you are suppose to take. " In addition you need a minor. Check the catalogue for the requirements for your minor. (I.e. if you want to minor in history look under the history department for that minor) " Any class that is not required or part of your minor is listed as an elective! Make sure you sign the form
Degree Plan BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN PSYCHOLOGY TRACK I 127/128 Hours Semester and Year of Completion Year of Graduation Student Advisor GENERAL EDUCATION (55 Hrs) HUM ANITIES (22 Hrs) Semester Grade EN 1113 Eng Comp I EN 1123 Eng Comp II EN 2213 World Lit I EN 2223 World Lit II SP 2183 Speech & Communication Humanities elective (choose two) (AR 2143, MU 2143, SP 2143, PH 2253) HL 1001 Higher Learning SOCIAL SCIENCE, HISTORY, RELIGION (18 Hrs) RL 1113 Bible History OT RL 1123 Bible History NT HT U.S. History before 1865 OR U.S. History since 1865 HT World Civ I OR World Civ II CORE REQUIREM ENTS (21 Hrs) Semester Grade PY 1113 General Psychology PY 3113 Child Development PY 3213 Adolescent Development PY 3253 Abnormal Psychology PY 3103 History and Systems PY 3103 Personality Theory PY 4413 Pynthesis of Psychology GENERAL ELECTIVES (17 Hrs) Semester Grade (Geometry is recommended for graduate school.) Semester Grade Social Science elective (Choose any two sociology courses) NATURAL SCIENCE (11 Hrs) PS 1114 Physical Science BS 1114 Biological Science MT 1133 College Algebra or higher HEALTH & PHYSICAL EDUCATION (4 Hrs) PE PE Activity PE PE Activity PE 2213 Health and Safety OR PE 2212 Care of Injuries TRACK I (17/18 Hrs) Semester Grade PY 3334 Statistics PY 3133 Theories of Learning PY 3143 Experimental Psychology PY 4244 Neuroscience Psychology Elective: PY M INOR (18 Hrs) Semester Grade TOTAL HOURS APPROVED BY: NOTES: Advisor Department Chair Academic Dean
10 Degree Plan BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN PSYCHOLOGY Semester and Year of Completion TRACK II 127/128 Hours Year of Graduation Student Advisor GENERAL EDUCATION (55 Hrs) HUM ANITIES (22 Hrs) Semester Grade EN 1113 Eng Comp I EN 1123 Eng Comp II EN 2213 World Lit I EN 2223 World Lit II SP 2183 Speech & Communication Humanities elective (choose two) (AR 2143, MU 2143, SP 2143, PH 2253) HL 1001 Higher Learning SOCIAL SCIENCE, HISTORY, RELIGION (18 Hrs) RL 1113 Bible History OT RL 1123 Bible History NT HT U.S. History before 1865 OR U.S. History since 1865 HT World Civ I OR World Civ II CORE REQUIREM ENTS (21 Hrs) Semester Grade PY 1113 General Psychology PY 3113 Child Development PY 3213 Adolescent Development PY 3253 Abnormal Psychology PY 3103 History and Systems PY 3103 Personality Theory PY 4413 Synthesis of Psychology GENERAL ELECTIVES (22 Hrs) Semester Grade Semester Grade Social Science elective (Choose any two sociology courses) NATURAL SCIENCE (11 Hrs) PS 1114 Physical Science BS 1114 Biological Science MT 1133 College Algebra or higher HEALTH & PHYSICAL EDUCATION (4 Hrs) PE PE Activity PE PE Activity PE 2213 Health and Safety OR PE 2212 Care of Injuries TRACK II (12 Hrs) Semester Grade Py 2413 Positive Psychology PY 3223 Social Psychology PY 3233 Counseling Psychology Elective: PY M INOR (18 Hrs) Semester Grade TOTAL HOURS APPROVED BY: NOTES: Advisor Department Chair Academic Dean
11 Degree Plan BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN FAMILY PSYCHOLOGY 127/128 HOURS Semester and Year of Completion Year of Graduation Student Advisor GENERAL EDUCATION (56 Hrs) HUM ANITIES (22 Hrs) Semester Grade EN 1113 Eng Comp I EN 1123 Eng Comp II EN 2213 World Lit I EN 2223 World Lit II SP 2183 Speech & Communication Humanities elective (choose two) (AR 2143, MU 2143, SP 2143, PH 2253) HL 1001 Higher Learning SOCIAL SCIENCE, HISTORY, RELIGION (18 Hrs) RL 1113 Bible History OT RL 1123 Bible History NT HT U.S. History before 1865 OR U.S. History since 1865 HT World Civ I OR World Civ II CORE REQUIREM ENTS (45 Hrs) Semester Grade PY 1113 General Psychology PY 3113 Child Development PY 3213 Adolescent Development PY 3253 Abnormal Psychology PY 3103 History and Systems PY 3103 Personality Theory PY 4413 Synthesis of Psychology PY 2413 Positive Psychology Semester Grade SC 2253 Intro to Sociology SC 3283 Marriage & Family NATURAL SCIENCE (11 Hrs) PS 1114 Physical Science BS 1114 Biological Science MT 1133 College Algebra OR higher HEALTH & PHYSICAL EDUCATION (5 Hrs) PE PE Activity PE PE Activity PE 2213 Health and Safety Semester Grade PY 3133 Theories of Learning PY 3223 Social Psychology PY 3243 Psychology of Religion PY 3313 Parenting SC 4113 Family Systems BA 3123 Consumer Finance PY 3233 Counseling GENERAL ELECTIVES (27 Hrs) Semester Grade Semester Grade TOTAL HOURS APPROVED BY: NOTES: Advisor Department Chair Academic Dean
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Psychology Year Semester Form A
Student s Name
Advisor Department Chair Dean s Office 3/19/2008