B.A. or B.S. with Major in Psychological Science

Program Overview

Students should choose a B.A. or a B.S. based on their interests and aptitudes. If you plan on pursuing graduate studies in psychology or a related field, the B.S. option may be best for you. This program places a stronger emphasis on math, science, and lab science courses. However, preparation for a particular career comes with the courses you choose to take, not the degree that you earn. For example, students routinely enter medical school having earned a B.A. degree and having taken courses in physics, chemistry, biology and mathematics. Similarly, students frequently earn a B.S. degree having also taken a large number of courses in the social sciences or humanities. What is important for your career aspirations is good grades at UVM! Good grades are likely to come from courses you find most appealing.

Curriculum

B.A. Credit Hours to Graduate

At least 32 credits in major courses, including: 

• PSYS 1400, PSYS 2000, PSYS 2010 
• 12 credits in PSYS 2100-2500 
• 2-3 courses/6-9 credits in PSYS 3100-3990 or PSYS 4990

Up to 3 credits from the following:

• PSYS 1010-1029
• PSYS 2995 (Undergraduate Research)
• PSYS 3991 (Mentored Clinical Internship)
• PSYS 4996 (Honors)

B.S. Credit Hours to Graduate

At least 43 credits in major courses, including: 

• PSYS 1400, PSYS 2000, PSYS 2010 
• 15 credits in PSYS 2100-2500

3 courses/9-10 credits from at least 2 of the following categories:

• Category A (Biobehavioral): PSYS numbered 3100 to 3299
• Category B (Social & Developmental): PSYS numbered 3300 to 3499
• Category C (Clinical): PSYS numbered 3500 to 3699

1-3 courses/3-9 credits from the following:   

• PSYS numbered 3100 to 3989
• LING numbered 2300 to 2399
• Special Topics: PSYS 2990, PSYS 3990, PSYS 4990

Up to 6 credits from the following:

• PSYS 2995 (Undergraduate Research) 
• PSYS 3991 (Mentored Clinical Internship) 
• PSYS 3993 (Independent Study) 
• PSYS 3994 (Teaching Assistantship) 
• PSYS 4996 (Honors)

Outcomes

Outcome 1: Students should understand core concepts, theoretical perspectives, empirical findings, and historical trends in most of the subdisciplines of psychology (social, developmental, clinical, biobehavioral, learning and memory, and history of psychology).

1.  Students should be able to identify the key theories, research findings, and sociocultural contexts that have shaped the subdisciplines over time.
2.  Students should be able to identify what makes each subdiscipline of psychology unique and be able to generalize/transfer psychological knowledge across the core areas.
3.  Students should understand the reciprocal relationship between theory and hypotheses on the one hand and research methods, results, and the interpretation of the results on the other.

Outcome 2: Students should be able to understand and evaluate critically the primary and secondary literature in the science of psychology.

1. Students should be able to articulate and distinguish between distinct theses and arguments in the scientific literature.
2.  Students should be able to identify strengths and weaknesses of methodological design as described in the literature, as well as recognize when conclusions are appropriate to the data presented.
3.  Students should be able to identify the broader implications of research findings based on their critical evaluation of the scientific literature.

Outcome 3: Students should be able to understand, synthesize, and communicate psychological material both orally and in writing.

1. Students should effectively distinguish between evidence and opinion.
2. Students should be able to summarize, synthesize, and interpret main ideas.
3. Students should be able to develop a clear thesis, justify its importance, and support it with evidence.
4.  Students should effectively present quantitative information.

Careers

• Project Coordinator
• School Psychologist
• Clinical Social Worker
• Hospital Administrator
• Nurse

Where Alumni Work

• Alaskan AIDS Assistance Association
• Boston Children’s Hospital
• Hebrew Senior Life Institute for Aging Research
• Naples Nursing, Inc.
• San Francisco Child Abuse Prevention Center