Undergraduate Catalog 2024-2025

Psychology, Bachelor of Arts (760)


Program Coordinator

Steven R. Wininger, steven.wininger@wku.edu, (270) 745-2696

Psychology Major: The Bachelor of Arts (BA) Degree in Psychology

The Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in Psychology is a great program for those interested in helping others and who want to understand why people behave the way they do.  The BA program is suitable for those interested in pursuing specific career paths in psychology including clinical, counseling, and school as well as other related applied areas of psychology like forensic and sport psychology.  The BA program offers students flexibility in their programs of study allowing them to select courses specific to their future interests that will make them more attractive to employers and graduate programs.  The BA program also maintains a liberal arts focus by exposing students to coursework in related fields like Gerontology, Family and Consumer Sciences, and Philosophy.  Ultimately, students pursuing the BA degree in Psychology develop objective and deep understanding of human behavior and mental processes as well as strong critical thinking and data analysis skills, all of which are valuable in any field one chooses to enter following graduation.

Concentrations

  • General (No Concentration)
  • Forensic Psychology (PSFP)
  • Sport Psychology (PSSP)

Program Requirements (34-53 hours)

A baccalaureate degree requires a minimum of 120 unduplicated semester hours. More information can be found at www.wku.edu/registrar/degree_certification.php.

Students who began WKU in the Fall 2014 and thereafter should review the Colonnade requirements located at: https://www.wku.edu/colonnade/colonnaderequirements.php.

The general major in psychology requires a minimum of 34 semester hours and leads to a Bachelor of Arts degree. A minor, second major, or the sport psychology concentration is required. At least half of the program must be in upper division courses (numbered 300 or above).

Core Courses for Major and Concentrations

PSY 100Introduction to Psychology 13
PSY 210Research Methods in Psychology 13
PSY 211Research Methods in Psychology Laboratory 11
PSY 313Statistics in Psychology3
PSY 481History of Psychology3
Total Hours13

Additional Required Course for Psychology Major

Select one of the following:3
MATH 183
Introductory Statistics
PHIL 215
Symbolic Logic
Another mathematics course that satisfies the Colonnade: Quantitative Reasoning requirement 2
1

A "C" or higher is required in PSY 100, PSY 210, and PSY 211.

2

Excluding MATH 109. 

General Psychology (without Concentration)

The general psychology major requires 34 hours. The following courses are required in addition to the core courses:

Applied Development and Behavior
Select one of the following:3
PSY/PSYS 220
Introduction to Lifespan Developmental Psychology
PSY 422
Adolescent Psychology
FACS 191
Child Development
GERO 100
Introduction to the Aging Experience
Foundations of Behaviors
Select one of the following:3
PSY 331
Psychology of Learning
PSYS 333
Cognitive Psychology
PSY 412
Psychology of Motivation and Emotion
PSY 436
Applied Cognitive Psychology
PSYS 363
Sensory and Perceptual Systems
PSYS 450
Psychology of Personality
Group Behavior
Select one of the following:3
PSY 350
Social Psychology
PSY 355
Issues in Cross-Cultural Psychology
PSY 371
The Psychology of Sales Behavior
PSY 470
Psychology and Law
Behavioral Change
Select one of the following:3
PSY 340
Sport Psychology
PSY 440
Abnormal Psychology
PSY 442
Beginning Skills in Psychological Interviewing
PSY 443
Behavior Modification
PSY 445
Introduction to Clinical and School Psychology
Psychology Electives
Select any courses with at least 6 hours in courses numbered 300 or above 19
Total Hours21
1

With the exception of PSY 175 or PSY 310

Forensic Psychology Concentration

 The forensic psychology concentration requires 40 hours. The following courses are required in addition to the core courses:

Applied Development and Behavior
Select one of the following:3
PSY/PSYS 220
Introduction to Lifespan Developmental Psychology
PSY 422
Adolescent Psychology (recommended)
FACS 191
Child Development
GERO 100
Introduction to the Aging Experience
Foundations of Behaviors
Select one of the following:3
PSY 331
Psychology of Learning
PSY 412
Psychology of Motivation and Emotion
PSY 436
Applied Cognitive Psychology
PSYS 333
Cognitive Psychology
PSYS 363
Sensory and Perceptual Systems
PSYS 450
Psychology of Personality
Group Behavior
Select one of the following:3
PSY 350
Social Psychology
PSY 355
Issues in Cross-Cultural Psychology
PSY 371
The Psychology of Sales Behavior
Behavioral Change
Select one of the following:3
PSY 340
Sport Psychology
PSY 440
Abnormal Psychology
PSY 442
Beginning Skills in Psychological Interviewing
PSY 443
Behavior Modification
PSY 445
Introduction to Clinical and School Psychology
Forensic Psychology Concentration Courses 1
PSY 470Psychology and Law3
PSY 472Advanced Forensic Psychology3
Restricted Electives
Select three of the following:9
CRIM 101
Introduction to Criminal Justice
CRIM 330
Criminology
CRIM 456
Homicide and Serial Homicide
PHIL 211
Why Are Bad People Bad?
PHIL 427
Philosophy of Law
PS 220
Judicial Process
PS 328
Criminal Justice Procedures
Total Hours27
1

Concentration courses may not be counted as category courses

Sport Psychology Concentration

The sport psychology concentration requires 53 hours. The following courses are required in addition to the core courses:

Applied Development and Behavior
Select one of the following:3
PSY/PSYS 220
Introduction to Lifespan Developmental Psychology
PSY 422
Adolescent Psychology
FACS 191
Child Development
GERO 100
Introduction to the Aging Experience
Foundations of Behaviors
Select one of the following:3
PSY 331
Psychology of Learning
PSYS 333
Cognitive Psychology
PSYS 363
Sensory and Perceptual Systems
PSY 436
Applied Cognitive Psychology
PSYS 450
Psychology of Personality
Group Behavior
Select one of the following:3
PSY 350
Social Psychology
PSY 355
Issues in Cross-Cultural Psychology
PSY 371
The Psychology of Sales Behavior
PSY 470
Psychology and Law
Behavioral Change
Select one of the following:3
PSY 440
Abnormal Psychology
PSY 442
Beginning Skills in Psychological Interviewing
PSY 443
Behavior Modification
PSY 445
Introduction to Clinical and School Psychology
Sport Psychology Concentration Courses 1
PSY 340Sport Psychology3
PSY 412Psychology of Motivation and Emotion3
PSY 290Supervised Study in Psychology3
or PSY 390 Field Experience in Psychology
or PSY 490 Research, Readings or Special Projects in Psychology
Additional Required Courses
BIOL 131Human Anatomy and Physiology4
PE 311Exercise Physiology3
PE 313Motor Development3
HMD 211Human Nutrition3
HMD 360Advanced Nutrition3
or HMD 364 Sports Nutrition
or HMD 368 Dietary and Herbal Supplements
COMM 315Sport Communication3
or LEAD 300 Leadership Theory and Application
or SOCL 324 Sociology of Sport
Total Hours40
1

Concentration courses may not be counted as category courses.

Finish in Four Plans

On This Page

Psychology, General (760)

First Year
FallHoursSpringHours
ENG 1003COMM 1453
HIST 101 or HIST 1023MATH 183 or PHIL 2153
PSY 100 or PSYS 1003World Language 102 (if needed) OR General University Elective3
Colonnade: Natural & Physical Sciences3Colonnade: Arts & Humanities 3
World Language 101 (if needed) OR General University Elective3Colonnade: Natural & Physical Sciences with lab3
 15 15
Second Year
FallHoursSpringHours
PSY 210 or PSYS 2103PSY 313 or PSYS 3133
PSY 211 or PSYS 2111PSY Category Course3
2nd Major/Minor/Elective Course3PSY Elective (numbered 200 or above, not PSY 175 or PSY 310)3
2nd Major/Minor/Elective Course22nd Major/Minor/Elective Course3
Colonnade: Literary Studies32nd Major/Minor/Elective Course3
Colonnade: Connections (Systems)3 
 15 15
Third Year
FallHoursSpringHours
PSY Category Course3PSY Category Course3
PSY Elective (numbered 300 or above, not PSY 175 or PSY 310)3PSY Category Course3
2nd Major/Minor/Elective Course3PSY Elective (numbered 300 or above, not PSY 175 or PSY 310)3
Colonnade: Writing in the Disciplines3Colonnade: Connections (Social and Cultural)3
Colonnade: Connections (Local to Global)32nd Major/Minor/Elective Course3
 15 15
Fourth Year
FallHoursSpringHours
PSY 48132nd Major/Minor/Elective Course3
PSY Category Course32nd Major/Minor/Elective Course3
2nd Major/Minor/Elective Course32nd Major/Minor/Elective Course3
2nd Major/Minor/Elective Course32nd Major/Minor/Elective Course3
2nd Major/Minor/Elective Course32nd Major/Minor/Elective Course3
 15 15
Total Hours 120

Psychology, Forensic Psychology Concentration (760) 

First Year
FallHoursSpringHours
ENG 1003COMM 1453
HIST 101 or HIST 1023MATH 183 or PHIL 2153
PSY 100 or PSYS 1003World Language 102 (if needed) OR General University Elective3
Colonnade: Natural & Physical Sciences3Colonnade: Arts & Humanities 3
World Language 101 (if needed) OR General University Elective3Colonnade: Natural & Physical Sciences with lab3
 15 15
Second Year
FallHoursSpringHours
PSY 210 or PSYS 2103PSY 313 or PSYS 3133
PSY 211 or PSYS 2111PSY 4403
CRIM 1013PSY Category Course3
PS 220 (fulfills major and Colonnade: Connections (Systems))32nd Major/Minor/Elective Course3
2nd Major/Minor/Elective Course32nd Major/Minor/Elective Course3
Colonnade: Literary Studies3 
 16 15
Third Year
FallHoursSpringHours
PSY 4703PHIL 211 (fulfills major and Colonnade: Connections (Social and Cultural))3
PSY Category Course3PSY 4723
2nd Major/Minor/Elective Course3PSY Category Course3
Colonnade: Writing in the Disciplines32nd Major/Minor/Elective Course3
Colonnade: Connections (Local to Global)32nd Major/Minor/Elective Course3
 15 15
Fourth Year
FallHoursSpringHours
PSY 48132nd Major/Minor/Elective Course3
CRIM 45632nd Major/Minor/Elective Course3
PSY Category Course32nd Major/Minor/Elective Course3
2nd Major/Minor/Elective Course32nd Major/Minor/Elective Course3
2nd Major/Minor/Elective Course22nd Major/Minor/Elective Course3
 14 15
Total Hours 120

Psychology, Sports Psychology Concentration (760)

First Year
FallHoursSpringHours
ENG 1003COMM 1453
HIST 101 or HIST 1023Colonnade: Arts & Humanities 3
MATH 183 or PHIL 2153PSY 220, FACS 191, or GERO 100 (Psychology Applied Development & Behavior Category)3
PSY 100 or PSYS 100 (Need C or better)3BIOL 131*4
2nd Major/Minor/Elective Course32nd Major/Minor/Elective Course3
 15 16
Second Year
FallHoursSpringHours
Colonnade: Literary Studies3PSY 3133
HMD 211 (fulfills major and Colonnade - Connections: Systems)*3PSY 350 (fulfills major and Colonnade - Connections: Social and Cultural)3
PSY 210 or PSYS 210 (Need C or better)3PE 313*3
PSY 211 or PSYS 211 (Need C or better)1COMM 315, LEAD 300, or SOCL 324 (choose one; concentration required course)*3
Colonnade: Natural & Physical Sciences (CHEM 109 recommended)32nd Major/Minor/Elective Course3
2nd Major/Minor/Elective Course3 
 16 15
Third Year
FallHoursSpringHours
PSY 340*3PSY 412*3
Colonnade: Writing in the Disciplines3PSY 440, PSY 442, or PSY 443 (Psychology Behavioral Change Category)3
Colonnade: Connections (Local to Global)3HMD 360, HMD 364, or HMD 368*3
PSY 331 or PSY 436 (Psychology Foundations Category)32nd Major/Minor/Elective Course3
PSY 290, PSY 390, or PSY 490*1-32nd Major/Minor/Elective Course3
PE 311*3 
 18 15
Fourth Year
FallHoursSpringHours
PSY 48132nd Major/Minor/Elective Course3
2nd Major/Minor/Elective Course32nd Major/Minor/Elective Course3
2nd Major/Minor/Elective Course32nd Major/Minor/Elective Course3
2nd Major/Minor/Elective Course32nd Major/Minor/Elective Course3
2nd Major/Minor/Elective Course32nd Major/Minor/Elective Course3
 15 15
Total Hours 125
*

Sport Psychology Concentration Required Course