Psychology Major (BA)

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Students should confer with members of the department when planning a program for a career in psychology. The set of courses a student will take depends on their background and special interests.

Psychology majors have the option to complete an interdisciplinary concentration in behavioral economics or forensic psychology. For details, please see below.

Psychology Major Requirements

The major in psychology requires 14 courses as described below.

Psychology Foundations:

Statistics (select one):

Methodology:

PSY 3350 - Research Methods in Psychology

3000-level Domain Courses:

Students must complete one course from each of the four domains below. All psychology courses taken for Domain credit must be taken for A-F grades. From semester to semester, there may be unique 3980 (special topics) offerings in various domains. Those course sections will be designated with the associated domain course tag in Workday.

Domain A: Biological Foundations

Domain B: Self and Development

Domain C: Individuals, Groups, and Culture

Domain D: Mental Health and Mental Illness

Three Electives:

Electives may be any psychology courses not used to meet a requirement listed above (e.g., additional courses in any or several domains). Students may complete an internship, PSY 3990 (strongly recommended), or another LEAP course offered at Hamline as an elective. Psychology internships are typically taken on a Pass/No Pass basis.

Students may also count a maximum of two courses from the following list as electives for the psychology major:

One 5000-level Course:

Students must complete at least one 5000-level course from the list below. 5000-level courses are available to psychology majors who have attained senior status or have completed 7 courses in psychology including PSY 1330 and 3350; these courses also have other prerequisites. Although registration priority is given to seniors who have not completed the 5000-level course requirement, qualified majors may enroll in more than one seminar on a space-available basis.

Optional Interdisciplinary Concentrations

Students pursuing a psychology major may also choose to complete an interdisciplinary concentration in behavioral economics or forensic psychology.

Behavioral Economics Concentration

Human decision-making is nuanced and complex. Over the last few decades, psychologists and economists have forged a new area of study – behavioral economics – to better understand and predict judgment and decisions. This field combines ideas and methods from economics, psychology, and neuroscience to create a more complete view of human behavior. A growing number of employers are seeking to use behavioral economics to inform their policies and practices. Insights are being applied to a wide range of contexts and industries, including health care, education, personal finance, advertising, and public policy.

In the interdisciplinary concentration in behavioral economics, students will learn core theories and methods in economics and psychology, then integrate and apply this knowledge through applied projects. Students will design field and laboratory experiments, informed by behavioral theory, and analyze data for insights. Each student will also design a research project that explores an area of judgment and behavior, tailored to their personal interests and goals. Students can pair this concentration with a BA in Psychology or a BA in Economics.

The Behavioral Economics Concentration is open to students majoring in Economics or Psychology .

Concentration Requirements

Statistics (select one):

One of the following:

Forensic Psychology Concentration

The forensic psychology concentration provides a multidisciplinary approach to the study of crime, motivations for criminal behavior, and the response and use of psychology in the criminal justice and legal systems. Although a graduate degree is usually required for a career as a forensic psychologist, the concentration introduces students to foundational knowledge in criminology, psychology, and legal studies and includes an interdisciplinary senior seminar.

The Forensic Psychology Concentration is open to students majoring in Criminology and Criminal Justice , Legal Studies , or Psychology .