Psychology (BA)

Description

Please note: Psychology majors must follow the curriculum for the catalog year upon admission.

Psychology is the scientific study of behavior and mental processes. It differs from other fields that are concerned with the human condition in that it uses the scientific method. Psychologists attempt to understand the workings of individuals, animals and groups. Psychologists work in a variety of settings including universities and colleges, clinics and hospitals, business and industry, government agencies, law enforcement and the military. Psychology can be an academic or research discipline or an applied science.

The Department of Psychology offers three majors in three areas: Psychology, Developmental Psychology and Industrial/Organizational Psychology. All Psychology students are required to take a common core of courses in the foundations of psychology. The Bachelor of Arts with a major in Psychology is for students who intend to pursue careers in psychology. Such careers usually require at least a master's degree for entry-level employment. This major is designed to provide a strong foundation for graduate study.

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    Degree/Major Requirements - for majors prior to Fall 2020

    To obtain this undergraduate degree, the student must fulfill the requirements of the University Core Curriculum, the requirements for the program major and have completed a minimum of 120 credit hours.

    Requirements for the Major (36 credits)

    Core: Topics and Methods to Illustrate Concepts, Principles and Theories in Psychology (12 credits)

    • PYC 1000 Introduction to Psychology (3 credits)
    • PYC 2010 Research Methods I (3 credits)
    • PYC 2020 Research Methods II (3 credits)
    • STA 2250 Statistics (3 credits)

    Basic Processes (6 credits)

    One of the following courses with lab:

    • PYC 3070 Biopsychology (3 credits)
    • PYC 3080 Advanced Psychobiology Laboratory (3 credits)

    OR

    • PYC 3090 Perceptual and Cognitive Processes (3 credits)
    • PYC 4100 Perceptual and Cognitive Process Laboratory (3 credits)

    OR

    • PYC 3140 Learning and Behavior (3 credits)
    • PYC 3150 Learning and Behavior Laboratory (3 credits)

    Developmental Psychology/Family Life (6 credits)

    • PYC 2500 Developmental Psychology (3 credits)

    And one of the following:

    • PYC 2560 Adult Development and Aging (3 credits)
    • PYC 2750 Human Sexuality (3 credits)
    • PYC 3400 Family Development and Parenting (3 credits)
    • PYC 4510 Psychology of Death and Dying (3 credits)

    Clinical Processes (3 credits)

    One of the following:

    • PYC 3410 Psychology of Personality (3 credits)
    • PYC 3420 Abnormal Psychology (3 credits)
    • PYC 3430 Health Psychology (3 credits)

    Social Issues/Group Dynamics (6 credits)

    • PYC 2600 Social Psychology (3 credits)

    And, one of the following:

    • PYC 2620 Exploring Leadership: Yourself, Your Profession and Your Community (3 credits)
    • PYC 2650 Psychology of Environment (3 credits)
    • PYC 3500 Psychology of Religion (3 credits)
    • PYC 3540 Sex Differences and Sex Roles (3 credits)
    • PYC 3700 Industrial and Organizational Psychology (3 credits)
    • PYC 4400 Cross-Cultural Socialization (3 credits)
    • PYC 4890 Group Dynamics (3 credits)

    Capstone: Integrative Experience (3 credits)

    One of the following:

    • PYC 4120 History and Systems (3 credits)
    • PYC 4200 Psychological Testing and Measurement (3 credits)
    • PYC 4620 Leadership Capstone (3 credits)
    • PYC 4950 Special Projects (3 credits)
    • PYC 4990 Advanced Issues in Psychology (3 credits)
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    Degree/Major Requirements - for students adding the major Fall 2020 and after

    Foundation Psychology Courses for all Psychology majors (18 credits)

    • PYC 1000 Introductory Psychology (3 credits)
    • PYC 2010 Research Methods I (prereq: Detroit Mercy Core Statistics Course) (3 credits)
    • PYC 2020 Research Methods II (3 credits)
    • PYC 2500 Developmental Psychology (3 credits)
    • PYC 2600 Social Psychology (3 credits)
    • PYC 3420 Abnormal Psychology (3 credits)
    ONE course in the Social or the Industrial/Organizational area (3 credits)

    ONE additional course in the Clinical area (3 credits)

    ONE additional course in the Developmental area (3 credits)

    • PYC 2550 Child Development: Infancy through Adolescence; OR
    • PYC 2560 Adult Development and Aging; OR
    • PYC 2750 Human Sexuality; OR
    • PYC 3400 Family Development and Parenting; OR
    • PYC 4510 Psychology of Death and Dying
    ONE Basic Processes + Lab sequence (6 credits)


    • PYC 3090 Perception and Cognitive Processes; AND
    • PYC 3100 Perception and Cognitive Processes Laboratory; OR

    • PYC 3140 Learning and Behavior; AND
    • PYC 3150 Learning and Behavior Laboratory

    Psychology Capstone (3 credits)

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    Minor in Psychology

    The Psychology minor program is a minimum 18 credit-hour (six course) program designed to give students broad exposure to psychology as a scientific and professional discipline. This program is relevant to students pursuing academic majors that involve working with people, ideas, and/or social and communications systems including (but not limited to) nursing, biology, business, communication studies, law, philosophy, political science, social work, counseling, education, English, engineering, and religious studies.

    Beginning with introductory psychology, students in the Psychology minor program are required to take courses from at least three of four content areas: Basic Processes, Development/Family Processes, Clinical Processes, and Social Issues/Group Dynamics.

    At the completion of the Psychology minor program, students are expected to be able to: discuss the role of psychology in interdisciplinary collaborations; demonstrate appropriate breadth of knowledge in selected psychology content areas; apply their broad knowledge of psychology to formulating career choices, and; appreciate the importance of lifelong learning for professional and personal development.

    Visit the Psychology minor page for more information.

Program Contact Information

B.A. Program Director and Department Chair: Linda Slowik, Ph.D.
Reno Hall, Room 244
McNichols Campus

Email: slowiklh@udmercy.edu
Telephone: 313-993-1623
Fax: 313-578-0507

Psychology Minor Program Advisor: Harold Greene, Ph.D.
Reno Hall, Room 202
McNichols Campus

Email: greenehh@udmercy.edu
Telephone: 313-578-0456
Fax: 313-578-0507 

Department Website