PSYCHOLOGY

DESCRIPTION OF THE DEGREE

An undergraduate degree in psychology prepares people to work with people. Classes focus on understanding behavior and on developing critical thinking skills.  These are two important skills in any occupation.  Although many students go on to graduate programs in psychology and a wide variety of other areas, many find positions in their local community.  Often students combine the B.S. in Psychology with another major such as nursing or journalism.  Students with a Psychology Degree have gone on to graduate programs in many areas including:  Clinical and Experimental Psychology, Counseling, Educational Psychology, Law, Medicine, Neuroscience and Public Policy.

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
General Education

Written communication (6 cr.)

SPCM 101 Fundamentals of Speech

PSYC 101 or 102

Natural Science  (14 cr.) 

Social Sciences/Diversity (6 cr non-psyc)

Humanities and Arts / Diversity (6 cr)

Mathematics (3 cr)

Land & Natural Resources (3 cr)

Personal Wellness (2-3 cr)

Social Responsibility (3 cr)

Other requirements:

STAT 281 Introduction to Statistics

Psychology Major courses  (30cr. required):

(19 or 20 credits from the following)

PSYC 101 – General Psychology 3 cr

PSYC 202 – Advanced General Psychology (Internet) 3 cr

PSYC 287 – Controversial Issues in PSYC OR- 3 cr

PSYC 289 – Pseudoscience & Psychology cr

PSYC 375 – Research Methods in PSYC (Internet) 3 cr

PSYC 390 – Psychology Seminar (Internet) 1 cr

PSYC 409 – History & Systems (Internet) 3 cr

Content Courses (10 or 11 additional approved psychology credits at 300 or above level are needed to meet the 30 hour requirement) possible courses include:

PSYC 305 – Learning & Conditioning 3 cr

PSYC 327 – Child Psychology 3 cr

PSYC 331 – Industrial/Organization PSYC 3 cr

PSYC 357 – Psychological Therapies 3 cr

PSYC 358 – Behavior Modification 3 cr

PSYC 367 – Psychological Gender Issues 3 cr

PSYC 406 – Cognitive Psychology 3 cr

PSYC 414 – Drugs & Behavior (Internet) 3 cr

PSYC 417 – Health Psychology (Internet) 3 cr

PSYC 451 – Abnormal Psychology 3 cr

PSYC 461 – Theories of Personality 3 cr

PSYC 324 – Psychology of Aging (Internet) 3 cr

PSYC 371 – Stats in PSYC Research 3 cr  (USD course)

PSYC 456 – Introduction to Disaster Psychology 3 cr  (USD course)

Total credits required:  __128___

CAREER POSSIBILITIES 

Careers of recent graduates: 

Human Services Caseworker

Chemical Dependency Counselor

Family Support Services Coordinator

Educational Assistant

Residential Instructor

Program Director

Project Manager/Consultant

Qualified Mental Retardation Professional

Customer Service Representative

Radio Programmer

Autism consultant

At-Risk Coordinator

MR Assistant

Teenage Mental Health Counselor

Police Officer

Court Services Officer

Sheriff

Caseworker

Family Services Social Worker

Lead Social Worker

RN & Resource Nurse

Relief Women's & Children's Counselor

Psychological Operations and Intelligence Officer

Program Director

Director

Animal Care Specialist/Zookeeper

Golf Pro

WHAT OUR STUDENTS & GRADUATES SAY

The SDSU psychology program offers a wide variety of courses which made it easy for me to reach my career goal as a Zookeeper.

I have used my (psychology) degree in every job that I have held. I have worked with survivors of domestic violence, women and children and have also worked in a medical office.  

Psychology is the study of mental process and behavior.  Every person displays a behavior and having a degree in psychology has helped my ability to read people's comfort levels. We all know that being comfortable talking to someone is very important.

HOW TO APPLY

South Dakota State University
Admissions Office
SAD 200/Box 2201
Brookings, SD 57007
Fax: (605) 688-6891

Additional information about applying to SDSU may be found at the following website:

/Admissions/UndergraduateStudentAdmissions/Index.cfm

WHO TO CONTACT

Dr. Rebecca Martin

Psychology Department
South Dakota State University
Box 504
Brookings, SD 57007

Phone: (605) 688-4930

Fax: (605) 688-6754

rebecca.martin@sdstate.edu