Bachelor of Science, Major in Psychology

This is an archived copy of the 2023-2024 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://catalog.shsu.edu.

 Additional information: Reference the Program Landing Page for additional information, such as cost, delivery format, contact information, or to schedule a visit.

Bachelor of Science, Major in Psychology
Core Curriculum
Component Area I (Communication)6
Component Area II (Mathematics) 13
Component Area III (Life and Physical Science)8
Component Area IV (Language, Philosophy, and Culture)3
Component Area V (Creative Arts)3
Component Area VI (U.S. History)6
Component Area VII (Political Science/Government)6
Component Area VIII (Social and Behavioral Sciences)3
Component Area IX (Component Area Option)4
Degree Specific Requirements
Natural Science Electives8
COMS 2382Comm. for Bus. & Professions 23
PHIL 2303Critical Thinking 33
PHIL 3372Philosophy of Science3
Major: Foundation 4
PSYC 1301Introduction To Psychology 33
or PHIL 2303 Critical Thinking
PSYC 3332History Of Psychology3
PSYC 3401Research Methods 54
PSYC 3402Psychological Statistics 54
Major: Prescribed Electives
Experimental Block
Select six hours of the following:6
Physiological Psychology
Sensation/Perception
Cognition
Psychopharmacology
Learning
Personality-Social Development Block
Select six hours of the following:6
Close Relationships
Development Psychology
Psychopathology & Fam Dynamics
Social Psychology
Personality
Clinical Adjustment Block
Select six hours of the following:6
Psychology Of Adjustment
Abnormal Psychology
Human Sexuality
Psychology And The Law
Health Psychology
PSYC Electives 46
Electives: General
General Electives5
Minor: Required 4,6
Minor 18
Total Hours120
1

MATH 1332 or MATH 1342 is recommended. 

2

Or any COMS course. If COMS 2382 is used to satisfy Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area IX, additional hours will be needed to satisfy the minimum total semester credit hours of 120.

3

If PSYC 1301 or PHIL 2303 is used to satisfy Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area VIII (Social and Behavioral Sciences), additional hours will be needed to satisfy the minimum total semester credit hours of 120. 

4

In order to complete a major in Psychology, a student takes 14 hours from the Required Courses plus 6 hours from each of the specialized blocks, and six hours of elective Psychology courses. Students make take Philosophy of Psychology and Mind (PHIL 4361; three credits) toward meeting the Psychology elective requirement. 

Psychology majors choose an approved minor of 18 semester hours, 6 of which must be advanced. 

Students should use elective and/or minor hours to satisfy the 42 advanced-hour requirement. 

5

Please, note that majors must take PSYC 3401 and PSYC 3402 in the Psychology Program once the student has enrolled at Sam Houston State University, unless the course has been transferred into the program. Only grades of C or above in Psychology Program courses (those with the prefix PSYC) will count toward the major in Psychology. 

 
 
6

The following minor cannot be paired with this degree program: Minor in Psychology. 

Notes

Students must earn a 2.0 minimum overall GPA in all coursework. 

Students must meet a 2.0 minimum overall major GPA in all major coursework.

Students must earn a 2.0 minimum SHSU GPA in all coursework.

Students must meet a 2.0 minimum SHSU major GPA in all major coursework.

In order to complete a major in Psychology, a student takes 14 hours from the Required Courses plus 6 hours from each of the specialized blocks, and six hours of elective Psychology courses.

Psychology majors choose an approved minor of 18 semester hours, 6 of which must be advanced.

Students should use elective and/or minor hours to satisfy the 42 advanced-hour requirement.

Please note that majors must take PSYC 3401 and PSYC 3402 in the Psychology Program once the student has enrolled at Sam Houston State University, unless the course has been transferred into the program. Only grades of C or above in Psychology Program courses (those with the prefix PSYC) will count toward the major in Psychology.

 Additional information: Reference the Program Landing Page for additional information, such as cost, delivery format, contact information, or to schedule a visit.

First Year
FallHoursSpringHours
Component Area II13Component Area III4
Component Area III4ENGL 130223
Component Area IX3HIST 130143
ENGL 130123POLS 230553
PSYC 130133PSYC 33323
 16 16
Second Year
FallHoursSpringHours
Component Area IX1Component Area IV3
HIST 130243Natural Science Electives4
Natural Science Electives4PHIL 230333
POLS 230653PSYC 340164
PSYC 34024 
 15 14
Third Year
FallHoursSpringHours
Component Area V3General Electives3
General Electives4Minor73
Minor 73Minor 73
Prescribed Electives83Prescribed Electives83
Prescribed Electives83Prescribed Electives83
 16 15
Fourth Year
FallHoursSpringHours
General Electives4COMS 238293
Minor 73Minor 73
PHIL 33723PSYC Electives6
Prescribed Electives83Prescribed Electives83
 13 15
Total Hours: 120
1

MATH 1332 or MATH 1342 is recommended.

2

Satisfies Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area I (Communications).

3

If PSYC 1301 or PHIL 2303 is used to satisfy Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area VIII (Social and Behavioral Sciences), additional hours will be needed to satisfy the minimum total semester credit hours of 120.

4

Satisfies Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area VI (U.S. History).

5

Satisfies Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area VII (Political Science/Government).

6

Please, note that majors must take PSYC 3401 and PSYC 3402 in the Psychology Program once the student has enrolled at Sam Houston State University, unless the course has been transferred into the program. Only grades of C or above in Psychology Program courses (those with the prefix PSYC) will count toward the major in Psychology.

7

The following minor cannot be paired with this degree program: Minor in Psychology. 

8

Prescribed Electives include the following PSYC Elective Blocks:

See, below Experimental Block course list (select two).

See, below Personality-Social Development Block course list (select two).

See, below Clinical-Adjustment Block course list (select two).

9

Or any COMS course. If COMS 2382 is used to satisfy Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area IX, additional hours will be needed to satisfy the minimum total semester credit hours of 120.

Experimental Block Courses 8
Select two of the following:
PSYC 3333Physiological Psychology3
PSYC 3336Sensation/Perception3
PSYC 3337Cognition3
PSYC 3391Psychopharmacology3
PSYC 4332Learning3
Personality-Social Development Block Courses 8
Select two of the following:
PSYC 3365Close Relationships3
PSYC 3374Development Psychology3
PSYC 3375Psychopathology & Fam Dynamics3
PSYC 3381Social Psychology3
PSYC 4331Personality3
Clinical-Adjustment Block Courses 8
Select two of the following:
PSYC 2315Psychology Of Adjustment3
PSYC 3331Abnormal Psychology3
PSYC 3334Human Sexuality3
PSYC 3383Psychology And The Law3
PSYC 3385Health Psychology3

Notes

Students must earn a 2.0 minimum overall GPA in all coursework. 

Students must meet a 2.0 minimum overall major GPA in all major coursework.

Students must earn a 2.0 minimum SHSU GPA in all coursework.

Students must meet a 2.0 minimum SHSU major GPA in all major coursework.

In order to complete a major in Psychology, a student takes 14 hours from the Required Courses plus 6 hours from each of the specialized blocks, and six hours of elective Psychology courses.

Psychology majors choose an approved minor of 18 semester hours, 6 of which must be advanced. The following minor cannot be paired with this degree program: Minor in Psychology. 

Students should use elective and/or minor hours to satisfy the 42 advanced-hour requirement. 

Please note that majors must take PSYC 3401 and PSYC 3402 in the Psychology Program once the student has enrolled at Sam Houston State University, unless the course has been transferred into the program. Only grades of C or above in Psychology Program courses (those with the prefix PSYC) will count toward the major in Psychology. 

The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) marketable skills initiative is part of the state’s 60x30TX plan and was designed to help students articulate their skills to employers.  Marketable skills are those skills valued by employers and/or graduate programs that can be applied in a variety of work or education settings and may include interpersonal, cognitive, and applied skill areas.

The BS in Psychology is designed to provide graduates with the following marketable skills:

  • Exhibit effective oral presentation skills.
  • Gain experience working with diverse groups of people who are collaborating to achieve a common goal.
  • Engage in innovative and integrative thinking and problem solving.
  • Design, conduct, and interpret basic psychological research by developing creative research hypotheses and testing those hypotheses.