Psychology
People–and animals–often seem unpredictable; their motives, mysterious. Is it possible to understand why human beings think, feel, and act as they do? Explaining behavior, emotions, and mental processes is the goal of the science of psychology.
The study of psychology has immediate practical value. Do you want to learn more about yourself, get along better with others, improve your job performance? Psychology courses can enhance your insight into human behavior and motivation, and are likely to increase your awareness of multicultural and multinational issues.
Psychology is a popular undergraduate major. It provides an ideal foundation for career starts, graduate study, and personal growth.
Careers
Available indicators suggest that students who graduate with a psychology major will continue to find themselves competitive in a variety of employment settings. Psychology courses provide a good general background for many jobs involving analytical skills and interaction with people. Employers often seek psychology majors because they generally have good communication skills. The study of psychology is highly recommended for those planning careers in mental health, rehabilitation, counseling, law enforcement, corrections, and human resource management. The completion of a degree in psychology also provides a strong foundation for graduate study in the social and behavioral sciences, and business administration.
For more information on career opportunities, see the Occupational Outlook Handbook, Peterson’s Job Opportunities for Business and Liberal Arts Graduates, and other specialized guides such as the booklet Psychology: Scientific Problem Solvers–Careers for the 21st Century, published by the American Psychological Association.
Bachelor's Degree in Psychology
Students must choose one course in each of the three major categories (natural science psychology courses, social science psychology courses, and clinical science psychology courses).
Major in Psychology
- First Courses (to be taken within the first 18 credits)
- Introductory Courses (to be taken within the first 30 credits)
- Foundation Courses (to be taken within the first 60 credits)
- Additional Required Courses (to be taken after introductory and foundation courses)
- Capstone Course for Major (to be taken in the last 15 credits) (3)
- Minor and/or Elective Courses (to be taken in the last 60 credits along with required major courses) (43)
- Detailed Degree Description
LIBS 150 Introduction to Research (1)
WRTG 101 Introduction to Writing (3)
or WRTG 101S Introduction to Writing
MATH 103 College Mathematics (3)
or MATH 107 College Algebra
or a higher-level math course
Total credits for BS in Psychology: 120
Minor in Psychology
Earning Your Degree with UMUC
Employers and the military recognize a college degree as a major academic achievement. An associate or bachelor's degree from UMUC distinguishes you as a graduate of one of America's leading public universities.
UMUC participates in the Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges (SOC) Degree Programs for Military Personnel, so you can complete your degree in Asia or at a future duty location.
Your UMUC degree may be closer than you realize. Learning acquired through military experience, examinations, and course work from other schools may be applied to your degree. UMUC may accept as many as 45 credits from these sources toward an associate degree and up to 90 credits toward a B.A. or B.S. degree.
A wide variety of online courses in computer studies and other fields are available through UMUC's distance education (DE) programs, and are helping many students make progress towards UMUC degrees. For lists of courses offered, visit the UMUC Asia DE Web site and click on “Schedule of Classes.”
Contact a UMUC Academic Advisor to arrange for an evaluation of your course work and experience to determine where you stand in your degree program.
Getting Started
- Enroll first in PSYC 100. This foundation course introduces a variety of specialties in psychology, including social psychology, experimental psychology, abnormal psychology, child psychology, personality, and learning. PSYC 100 is the prerequisite for most other psychology courses.
- Along with PSYC 100, take basic courses in English, history, sociology, mathematics, and biology. These courses will provide a foundation for all your subsequent psychology course work. They also help fulfill UMUC’s General Education Requirements.
- Take statistics early in your college career. A statistics course will help you understand the material covered in many psychology courses and is required for both the psychology major and minor. Statistics is also a prerequisite for PSYC 305 Experimental Methods in Psychology, a required course for the psychology major.
- To make yourself more marketable with a psychology major, select a minor that is compatible with and complementary to psychology. For example, with a minor in management studies, you increase your preparation for job opportunities in business, personnel, and human resources.
Academic Advisors
UMUC Asia Academic Advisors are based at Yokota, Kadena, and Yongsan, and also travel frequently to most education centers. They advise students in person, by telephone, and by e-mail, and prepare evaluations of students’ academic progress. Your local UMUC Asia Field Representative can put you in touch with an Academic Advisor.
UMP-104 (4M 9/06)
