Mar 28, 2024  
2018-2019 Undergraduate Academic Catalog 
    
2018-2019 Undergraduate Academic Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Psychology, BA


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College Social and Behavioral Sciences
Academic Award Bachelor of Arts
Credits Required 125 semester credits
Faculty Lead Kevin Leach
CIP Code 42.0101

The Psychology major enhances our understanding of the human condition in light of a distinctive Christian worldview. Our theoretical framework synthesizes broad-based knowledge drawn from the fields of psychology, anthropology, sociology, and cultural studies to provide the student with a sound social sciences foundation. Students are challenged and equipped to become change agents, accepting the responsibility to truly make a difference in the lives of hurting individuals within a global context.

The Psychology major is designed to prepare individuals for graduate work in the social sciences of for entry-level post-baccalaureate occupations including work in human services or cross cultural settings.

Graduates with a degree in Psychology will be able to:

  • demonstrate understanding of major theories, principles and approaches of Psychology to peoples, systems and organizations;
  • demonstrate understanding of Psychology as a science by applying the scientific method to the formulation and analysis of psychological theories and issues;
  • apply scholarly skills through the development of APA-style research, writing, and presentations;
  • understand cross-cultural differences and their impact on psychological development through participation in a first-hand international cross-cultural experience;
  • analyze and articulate how their understanding of both Christian faith and Psychology inform one another.
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Entrance to the Psychology Major

Entrance to major has several critical objectives:

  • the formal process assists students in clarifying educational and professional goals;
  • students are better able to organize their course schedule; and
  • students learn to identify their academic and vocational strengths and weaknesses.

Freshmen, sophomore, and transfer students who desire to major in psychology formally apply to the Psychology Department for entrance to major during their sophomore year. 

Entrance Steps

  1. Obtain an Entrance into the Psychology Major packet, available in the Psychology Department main office or online at the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences web site.
  2. Fill out the Completion of Class Requirements form in the Entrance packet.
  3. Submit the above forms to the Administrative Assistant of the Psychology Department.
  4. The Administrative Assistant of the Psychology Department will then contact you to schedule an entrance meeting with at least two departmental professors.
  5. Schedule and attend an interview appointment with the Psychology Department.
  6. The student must complete the above Entrance Steps prior to his or her junior year of study or during the junior year of study for students who transfer into Northwest University with junior standing.

Core Curriculum Requirements: 60


Humanities: 9


  • 6 credits in this area must be from Writing Practice courses* (see course descriptions  for applicability)
  • ENGL xxx3 Any Literature course 3 credits
  • HIST xxx3 Any Course in History 3 credits
  • 3 additional credits selected from the following 3 credits
    Art (ARTE), Bible (BIBL), Drama (DRAM), English (ENGL), History (HIST), Language (LANG), Music (MUSI), or Theology (THEO)

Social Sciences: 9


  • 6 credits in this area must be from Writing Practice courses* (see course descriptions  for applicability)
  • Select a minimum of two disciplines from the following:
    Business Administration (BUSM), Communication (except COMM 1213), Economics, Education (EDUC), Geography (GEOG), Health & Fitness (PEDU), Management (BMGT), Marketing (BMKT), Philosophy (PHIL), Political Science (PSCI), Psychology (PSYC), or Sociology/Anthropology (SOCI)

Science and Mathematics: 7


  • MATH xxxx - College-level Mathematics 3 credits
  • SCIE xxxx - Science course with Lab 4 credits

Formation and Calling: 5


Core Electives: 9


Any college-level courses

Psychology Major: 60


Choose Practicum or Thesis: 3


Psychology Concentrations: 12


Select from one of the following concentrations, detailed below

Select one (3-credits) from the following: 3

Cultural Psychology: 12


(Select one of the following options)

Option One:

12 credits of the following courses:

  • 3 credits
  • 3 credits
  • 3 credits
  • Elective oriented to Cultural Studies 3 credits (advisor approval required) ** The following graduate-level GLST courses can be used to fulfil this elective requirment.
  • GLST 6383   Peacemaking and Reconciliation 3 credits **
  • GLST 6573  Children, Poverty, and Development 3 credits **
  • GLST 6593   Disaster Relief and Development 3 credits **
  • ** Graduate level courses: students with junior or senior standing may take a maximum of one of these courses as an undergraduate student. In addition, student who earn a grade of B- or above in the selected course have the option of applying credit earned toward the MAICD degree after graduation. Student enrolled in the 5-year ICD BA-MA program, however, may not apply any of these three option courses toward their graduate degree.

Option Two:

Participate in one of the following Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU) Off-Campus Study Programs  :

  • Australia Studies Centre
  • Latin American Studies Program
  • Middle East Studies Program
  • Oxford Scholars Semester
  • Uganda Studies Program

Research: 12


  • 3 credits
  • PSYC 4902 - Research Lab 2 credits (or two semesters at 1 credit each)
  • SCIE xxxx - Science course with Lab# 4 credits
  • Recommendation: General Biology, Human Biology, or Anatomy and Physiology

Select one (3-credits) from the following#:

General Psychology: 12


Select four (3-credit) Psychology courses or listed within the Psychology Concentrations**, unduplicated from the major requirements

  • PSYC xxxx - Psychology Electives

* Taken as part of major core

**GLST courses may also be permitted as fulfilling the Psychology Elective requirements.

General Electives: 5


Any college-level courses or additional Psychology Concentration

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