Basic Major Suggestions
Model Program
Checklist

Basic Major Suggestions

Calvin's major in psychology consists of a minimum of 10 courses, and a minimum of 32 semester hours of psychology course credit (this could mean some students need 11 psychology courses to fulfill the requirement). Structure is built into the program by requiring certain courses at certain levels, but flexibility is also achieved by allowing student choice from among a large array of courses at intermediate and upper levels.

If a student has not indicated their interest in pursuing a psychology major, their A.E.R. may not provide this information. If this is the case, they should talk to an advisor in the psychology department.

• Students must complete a minimum of 10 psychology courses and a minimum of 32 semester hours of psychology course credit.
  
• Students must have a minimum grade point average of 2.00 in psychology courses to declare a psychology major.
  
• Not more than one interim may be included in the ten-course major nor may Psychology 390 or any interim be counted as a 300-level elective.
  
• Due to overlapping content in some of the developmental courses, students may apply toward their major:

a) only one couse from courses numbered 201-205

b) Psyc 207 OR Psyc 322 but not both, unless Psyc 322 was taken before year 2006.

• Students should ordinarily take Psychology 255 during their sophomore year and Psychology 256 in the semester following completion of Psychology 255.
  
• Your choice of courses for the psychology major obviously will depend in part upon your present interests and future plans. You will be advised by a faculty member prior to each semester's registration, and you should use this time to discuss any questions or concerns you have about your program. In addition, you should feel free at any time to solicit the advice and counsel of faculty members about such things as selection and sequence of courses, career opportunities, etc.
  
• Students intending to do doctoral work in psychology should include Psychology 356 in their program of concentration and should plan their program with a deparmtneal advisor. These courses are less important for masters and/or counseling programs.
  
• All majors must complete the Psychology Department Senior Assessment during their last semester on campus.
  
• NOTE: Canadian graduate schools typically require more undergraduate coursework in psychology than do American graduate schools; check their catalogs carefully for entrance requirements.) For those with aspirations towards clinical or counseling psychology, 212 (Psychopathology) and 311 (Theories of Personality) are recommended. Students with interests in developmental, school, or educational psychology are advised to include at least one of the intermediate level developmental courses: 201 (Lifespan), 204 (Child), 205 (Child), 207 (Adolescent).
  
• Many students who desire to enter occupational therapy, physical therapy, or various social service positions (e.g., social work, recreation, rehabilitation) major in psychology prior to entering more specialized post-graduate programs, as do those enrolled in pre-seminary, pre-law, or business courses.
  All such students should confer with academic advisors whose interests and training are in appropriate areas.

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Model Program Plans for Psychology Majors

I. Model four year plan

II. Model two year plan (for those who declare a Psychology major later in their college career and have already completed Psychology 151).

III. Frequently asked questions

Q. For what sequences of classes do I need to plan ahead?

A. The Psychology department has two “sequenced” sets of courses that require students to plan ahead.

The research methods sequence consists of Psyc 255, Psyc 256, the 330-level lab courses and, for students intending doctoral work in Psychology, Psyc 356.
Psyc 255 must be completed prior to taking Psyc 256; Psyc 256 must be completed prior to taking Psyc 356. It is recommended, but not required, that students postpone taking 330-level lab courses until they have completed Psyc 256. Psyc 356 and 330-level courses can be taken simultaneously.

The counseling sequence consists of Psyc 212, Psyc 311, and Psyc 314.
Psyc 212 serves as the pre-requisite for Psyc 311; Psyc 311 serves as the pre-requisite for Psyc 314 which is only offered in the fall. In order to take Psyc 314 during the Fall of the senior year, students need to take Psyc 212 Fall of the junior year and Psyc 311 Spring of the junior year at the latest.

In addition to planning sequences of courses, students will also want to decide whether or not they intend to fulfill their core CCE requirement within the major. Psyc 205 (Child) meets the CCE requirement, but Psyc 204 (Child) and Psyc 201 (Lifespan) do not. Students who desire to take Psyc 205 should not take Psyc 201 or Psyc 204, as only one of these three courses can be counted toward a Psychology major. Psychology 205 is not offered every year.

Q. What is that latest I can switch to a Psychology major and still graduate “on time”?

A. Generally speaking, the latest a student can switch to a Psychology major is Spring of the junior year. Assuming the student has taken (or is taking) Introductory Psychology (Psyc 151), the student can then complete Psyc 255 before or during the Fall of the senior year and Psyc 256 during the Spring of the senior year. Because Psyc 255 and 256 must be taken in succession (not simultaneously), students need to complete Psyc 255 by the Fall of the senior year to graduate “on time.”

Q. How important is it to follow the model 4 year plan?

The four year plan is just that, a model. Because students declare their major at different times in their college careers, students and professors go off-campus for a semester, and not every course is offered every semester, each student must work out an individualized plan in consultation with a departmental advisor.

Q. How many Psychology courses should I take?

A. The Psychology major is small compared to other majors because many of our students are double majors. Students with other concentrations often take only the 10 courses / 32 semester hours required for the major. Students who major only in Psychology are strongly encouraged to exceed the minimum requirements, therein better preparing themselves to pursue employment or advanced study in Psychology. Students who intend doctoral work in Psychology are strongly encouraged to take Psychology 356 and more than one 330 lab course. (Some graduate schools value disciplinary breadth and many undergraduate institutions require students to take at least two of the following three: physiological, cognitive, and learning.)

Checklist

The following is a checklist which should be reviewed by those who wish to attend graduate school immediately after their senior year. The list is neither binding nor exhaustive. It is merely suggestions that previous psychology majors at Calvin have found important.

• Take Psych 255 during your sophomore year.
  
• Take Psych 256 the semester immediately following taking Psych 255.

• Take Psych 356 and Psych 311 before your senior year because this information is extensively covered on the "subject" test of the Graduate Record Exam (GRE).

• Take Psych 356 during the second semester of your junior year so you will have research experience when applying to graduate school.
  
• (When planning your "long-range" schedule for psychology classes, make sure that the classes you want are offered during the particular semester or years for which you are scheduling.)
  
• Investigate the GRE and other possibly required tests during your junior year to allow time for preparation. (Information is available in the registrar's office and preparation guides are available in the bookstore). Also see: www.gre.org
  
• Investigate APA's Graduate Study in Psychology as well as other books found in the department library, during or before your junior year.
  
• Request information and applications from graduate schools during August proceeding your senior year. (Addresses and websites can be found in APA's Graduate Study in Psychology which is available in the department library.)
  
• Make requests concerning written recommendations from professors as early as possible to assure adequate time for completion.
  
• Keep aware of deadlines for applying for the GRE tests and for graduate programs.
  
• NOTE: more of the doctoral programs are moving their application deadlines up. Some are as early as December 1 or 15.

Remember that this page is only a brief introduction. More information is available in the College library (e.g. university catalogs), in the Career Services Center (e.g. occupational information, career counseling) and in various sources mentioned on this site, many of them in the department library.

Faculty members are very willing to discuss these matters with you. The roster on page four listing specialties and universities attended may suggest which faculty members will be able to help you most. Keep in mind that there are diverse opinions on many of these matters; e.g. using your electives for additional psychology vs. other courses, going to graduate school directly after graduation or waiting a bit, etc. When possible, get second and third opinions.