Psychology Overview

General information
Psychology is a discipline devoted to understanding the thought and behavior of people, and then channeling that knowledge into social and psychological services. The program at Marygrove offers a sequence of courses, which take you through the areas of psychological development, personality theory, socialization, learning, dysfunctional behavior and experimental psychology. The program is intended for day or night students. The psychology major prepares you to be an informed and engaged citizen in our ever-changing world with respect for diversity and social justice issues.

Specific Information
The Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology offers a choice between two specializations, one designed for students planning on future graduate study (Pre-Graduate School) and the other fashioned for the student interested in direct application of psychological principles with employment after the B.A. (Applied).

The Bachelor of Arts in Social Science with a concentration in Psychology is a group major. It requires 36 total hours. Eighteen credit hours are in Psychology. The remaining 18 credit hours are from the other four areas of Social Science: History, Economics, Political Science, and Sociology. This program is particularly appropriate if you come to Marygrove with courses you have already taken in the Social Sciences.

The Bachelor of Arts with an interdisciplinary major in art and psychology allows you to prepare for graduate study in art therapy. Required psychology courses contribute 30 credit hours to the interdisciplinary major. A minor is not required.

The minor in psychology provides knowledge of human behavior, which complements your major area of study. If you choose this option, you are required to take a minimum of 20 credit hours in psychology.

Career Information
At the B.A. level, psychology graduates can work in business or mental health/social services. In business, positions include work in advertising, customer relations, job analyst, marketing researcher or representative. In mental health, positions include rehabilitation counselor, group home coordinator, social service director, employment program manager, corrections and parole officer, and family service worker.

At the M.A. level, psychology graduates can do vocational, marriage, family, school or industrial consulting and psychological testing.

At the Ph.D. level, psychologists can be administrators, consultants, or college professors.

Special Elements of the Program

Academic Performance
Only psychology courses with a grade of C or better can be applied to fulfill the major requirements.

Transfer Students
The Department of Psychology generally accepts transfer credits from accredited institutions of higher learning. For psychology majors, at least 15 credit hours in psychology must be earned at Marygrove. For the minor, you must take a minimum of nine psychology credit hours at Marygrove.

Sequence of Courses
Required and elective courses are offered on a rotating basis.