Department of Psychology
Location: 203 Social and Behavioral Sciences Building, Phone: (409) 880-8285
Chair: Jeremy Shelton
Degree Coordinators:
- Undergraduate Degree Program - Jeremy Shelton
- Applied Psychology Graduate Program, Industrial/Organizational Track - Raymond Doe
- Applied Psychology Graduate Program, Clinical Track - Melanie Webb
Psychology is the scientific study of behavior and mental processes and, as such, is a diverse field that touches all aspects of human endeavor. The objectives of the Department of Psychology are to provide students with current knowledge through learning experiences in and out of the classroom that will increase critical thinking skills, equip them with research methodology, and prepare them for employment in business, education, community agencies, other professional areas, or graduate school. Curriculum in psychology is based on American Psychological Association principles for training students to be behavioral scientists and to use their training to inform their practice as professionals. ËÄ»¢Ó°ÊÓ reserves the right to modify degree requirements and teaching certificate requirements in keeping with legislative acts and rules established by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and the State Board for Educator Certification.
Admission to the Department of Psychology Programs
The Department of Psychology recommends that students wishing to major in psychology have SAT/ACT scores of approximately 1000/21. Students changing their major to psychology must have acceptable SAT/ACT scores and be in good standing in the university.
Degrees Offered
Bachelor of Arts - Psychology
The degree of Bachelor of Arts in Psychology will be awarded upon completion of the following:
- General Requirements: See Core Curriculum and degree requirements. Six semester hours of English composition (ENGL 1301-1302); 3 semester hours of English literature (ENGL 2322, 2326, 2331 or 2376); 3 semester hours of Communication (COMM 1315 or 1321); MATH 1314 plus an additional 3 hours of math at or above the level of MATH 1314; 3 semester hours of creative arts (ARTS 1301, ARTS 1303, COMM 1375, DANC 2304, MUSI 1306, or PHIL 1330); 8 semester hours of Biology (1406-1407 or 2401-2402); 12 semester hours and completion of 2312 course in Spanish or French or 12 hours of sign language; 3 semester hours of Philosophy (1370 or 2303); 6 semester hours of History (select 2 from 1301, 1302, 2301); 6 semester hours of Political Science (2301-2302); 1 semester hour in LIBR 1101, or HNRS 2160; and ENGL 3310.
- PSYC 2301 General Psychology, PSYC 2317 Introduction to Statistical Methods, PSYC 3301 Advanced Statistics, PSYC 3302 Methods in Psychology, PSYC 4330 Experimental Psychology. An additional 21 semester hours selected from PSYC 3320, 3330, 3340, 3360, 4310, 4320, 4360, 4380, and 4390.
- Minor (18 semester hours). An approved minor of at least 18 semester hours; a minimum of 9 semester hours must be on the advanced level.
- Electives. A sufficient number of approved electives (3 upper-level hours) to complete a total of 120 semester hours (45 upper-level hours).
- Completion of a standardized test of psychological knowledge such as the Major Field Achievement Test.
- Meet all remaining general education degree requirements of the university and college.
Total Minimum Hours: 120 (45 upper-level hours). Additional requirements may be required for specialized areas, such as preparation for graduate school, certifications, or licensures. Please see a program advisor or the department chair for details.
| First Year | |||
| Fall Semester | Spring Semester | ||
| BIOL 1406 or 2401# | 4 | BIOL 1407 or 2402# | 4 |
| ENGL 1301 Composition I | 3 | ENGL 1302 Composition II | 3 |
| PSYC 2301 General Psychology | 3 | LIBR 1101, or HNRS 2160# | 1 |
| Modern Language#: DSDE 1371, FREN 1311 or SPAN 1311 | 3 | Modern Language#: DSDE 1372, FREN 1312, SPAN 1312 | 3 |
| MATH 1314 | 3 | Creative Arts#: ARTS 1301, 1303, DANC 2304, MUSI 1306, 1310 or COMM 1375 | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall Semester | Spring Semester | ||
| English Literature#: ENGL 2322, 2326 or 2376 | 3 | COMM 1315 or 1321# | 3 |
| PHIL 1370 or 2306# | 3 | College level MATH# | 3 |
| Modern Language#: DSDE 2371, FREN 2311, SPAN 2311 | 3 | Modern Language#: DSDE 2372, FREN 2312 or SPAN 2312 | 3 |
| HIST 1301 | 3 | HIST 1302 | 3 |
| PSYC 2317 Intro. to Statistical Methods | 3 | PSYC 33302 Methods in Psychology | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall Semester | Spring Semester | ||
| POLS 2301 American Government I | 3 | POLS 2302 American Government II | 3 |
| ENGL 3310 Technical Report Writing | 3 | PSYC Elective (3000-4000)# | 3 |
| PSYC Elective (3000-4000)# | 3 | PSYC Elective (3000-4000)# | 3 |
| PSYC Elective (3000-4000)# | 3 | Minor# | 3 |
| Minor# | 3 | Minor# | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall Semester | Spring Semester | ||
| PSYC 3301 Advanced Statistics | 3 | PSYC 4330 Experimental Psychology | 3 |
| PSYC Elective (3000-4000)# | 3 | PSYC Elective (3000-4000)# | 3 |
| PSYC Elective (3000-4000)# | 3 | Minor# | 3 |
| Minor# | 3 | Minor# | 3 |
| Elective# | 3 | Elective# | 3 |
| 15 | 15 |
#Students should consult their advisor for the best choice
Bachelor of Science - Psychology
The degree of Bachelor of Science in Psychology will be awarded upon completion of the following:
- General Requirements: See Core Curriculum and degree requirements. Six semester hours of English composition (ENGL 1301-1302); 3 semester hours of English literature (ENGL 2310. 2320, 2322, 2326, 2331, 2371, or 2376); 3 semester hours of Communication (COMM 1315 or 1321); MATH 1314 plus an additional 3 hours of college-level MATH; 3 semester hours of creative arts (ARTS 1301, ARTS 1303, COMM 1375, DANC 2304, MUSI 1306, or PHIL 1330); 8 semester hours of Biology (1406-1407 or 2401-2402); 8 semester hours of physical sciences (select from CHEM 13__/11__, GEOL 14__, PHYS 14__, and SPSC 14__); 6 semester hours of History (select 2 from 1301, 1302, 2301); 6 semester hours of Political Science (2301-2302); 1 semester hour in LIBR 1101, or HNRS 2160; COSC 1371; and ENGL 3310.
- Major: PSYC 2301 General Psychology, PSYC 2317 Introduction to Statistical Methods, PSYC 3301 Advanced Statistics, PSYC 3302 Methods in Psychology, PSYC 4330 Experimental Psychology. An additional 21 semester hours selected from PSYC 3320, 3330, 3340, 3360, 3370, 3380, 4310, 4320, 4360, 4380, and 4390.
- Minor (18 semester hours). An approved minor of at least 18 semester hours; a minimum of 9 semester hours must be on the advanced level.
- Electives. A sufficient number of approved electives (3 upper-level hours) to complete a total of 120 semester hours (45 upper-level hours).
- Completion of a standardized test of psychological knowledge such as the Major Field Achievement Test.
- Meet all remaining general education degree requirements of the university and college.
Total Minimum Hours: 120. Additional requirements may be required for specialized areas, such as preparation for graduate school, certifications, or licensures. Please see a program advisor or the department chair for details.
| First Year | |||
| Fall Semester | Spring Semester | ||
| BIOL 1406 or 2401# | 4 | BIOL 1407 or 2402# | 4 |
| ENGL 1301 Composition I | 3 | ENGL 1302 Composition II | 3 |
| PSYC 2301 General Psychology | 3 | LIBR 1101, or HNRS 2160# | 1 |
| COSC 1371 | 3 | College Level MATH# | 3 |
| MATH 1314 | 3 | Creative Arts#: ARTS 1301, 1303, DANC 2304, MUSI 1306, 1310, COMM 1375 | 3 |
| 16 | 14 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall Semester | Spring Semester | ||
|
English Lit#: ENGL 3222, 2326, 2376 |
3 | COMM 1315 or 1321# | 3 |
| POLS 2301 American Government I | 3 | POLS 2302 American Government II | 3 |
| HIST 1301 | 3 | HIST 1302 | 3 |
| Elective# | 3 | Elective# | 3 |
| PSYC 2317 Intro. to Statistical Methods | 3 | PSYC 3302 Methods in Psychology | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall Semester | Spring Semester | ||
| ENGL 3310 Technical Report Writing | 3 | PSYC Elective (3000-4000)# | 3 |
| PSYC Elective (3000-4000)# | 3 | PSYC Elective (3000-4000)# | 3 |
| PSYC Elective (3000-4000)# | 3 | Minor# | 3 |
| Physical Science#: CHEM 1311/1111, GEOL 1403, PHYS 1401, 1405, 1411 or SPSC 1401 | 4 | Physical Science#: CHEM 1312/1112, GEOL 1404, PHYS 1402, 1407, 1411 or SPSC 1401 | 4 |
| Minor# | 3 | ||
| 13 | 16 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall Semester | Spring Semester | ||
| PSYC 3301 Advanced Statistics | 3 | PSYC 4330 Experimental Psychology | 3 |
| Minor# | 3 | Minor# | 3 |
| Minor# | 3 | Minor# | 3 |
| PSYC Elective# | 3 | PSYC Elective# | 3 |
| PSYC Elective# | 3 | Elective# | 4 |
| 15 | 16 |
#Students should consult their advisor for the best choice
Minor in Psychology
A total of 18 hours of psychology courses are required for a minor, of which 9 hours must be upper level. PSYC 2270 does not count toward a minor. The department will not accept any grade in the minor below a C. Required lower-division courses: PSYC 2301 General Psychology and PSYC 2317 Introduction to Statistical Methods
It is advisable for a student to meet with someone in the Department of Psychology to discuss the selection of the remaining hours to best address the needs of the individual student.
It is advisable for a student to meet with someone in the Department of Psychology to discuss the selection of the remaining hours to best address the needs of the individual student.
Graduate Program
The Department of Psychology offers a program of study leading to the Master of Science degree in Applied Psychology. It is designed to prepare professional personnel for employment in business, industry, or clinical mental health. Students may elect to take their primary coursework in industrial/organizational psychology or in clinical psychology. In addition, the department offers a dual specialization program that offers training in both fields. Students seeking admission to this program must meet the general requirements for admission to the College of Graduate Studies (see section 7.2.3) and must offer the substantial equivalent of a bachelor’s degree in psychology (24 semester hours) including courses in statistics and research methods, a statement of purpose, and 3 letters of recommendation addressing the applicant's academic preparation, suitability for graduate study, and appraisal of the applicant's personal and moral standards for professional conduct. Please note: The GRE is no longer required for applications to the MS in Applied Psychology program. Students applying to the clinical concentration must also interview with the program director to determine readiness and fit for the clinical concentration. In most cases, applicants with the materials listed above who have at least a 3.0/4.0 cumulative GPA and at least a 3.0/4.0 GPA in psychology courses, are considered for admission. International students must present a minimum TOEFL score of 550. The department has flexible admission criteria that allow the faculty to review applicants individually. The department will only consider applications for enrollment that begins in the fall semester. Applications for fall admission must be received by April 15. Those who want to apply after the April 15 deadline must first request permission to do so via email to the department chair (jashelton@lamar.edu). Post Baccalaureate students are not permitted to enroll in psychology graduate courses without special permission from the department chair.
Master of Science in Applied Psychology
Master of Science in Applied Psychology - Clinical Psychology
Master of Science in Psychology - Industrial and Organizational Psychology
The candidate for the Master of Science degree in Applied Psychology must meet all of the College of Graduate Studies general degree requirements. Additional specific degree requirements are as follows:
- For the Industrial/Organizational Track: A total of 45 semester hours of coursework in psychology according to the degree plan presented below.
For the Clinical Track: A total of 60 semester hours of coursework in psychology according to the degree plan presented below.Fall, 1st Year Spring, 1st Year PSYC 5302 Advanced Data Analysis PSYC 5323 Experimental Design PSYC 5315 Leadership & Managing People PSYC 5316 Performance Management PSYC 5321 Advanced Organizational Psyc PSYC 5350 Multivariate Data Analysis PSYC 5320 Psychological Measurement PSYC 5322 Advanced Industrial Psychology Fall, 2nd Year Spring, 2nd Year PSYC 5317 Recruitment & Selection PSYC 5319 Consumer Behavior PSYC 5318 Judgment & Decision Making PSYC 5326 Consulting in Organizations PSYC 5330 I/O Practicum PSYC 5391 Thesis PSYC 5390 Thesis
Fall, 1st Year Spring, 1st Year PSYC 5302 Advanced Data Analysis PSYC 5323 Experimental Design PSYC 5320 Psychological Measurement PSYC 5325 Personality & Psychopathology PSYC 5360 Learning & Motivation PSYC 5350 Multivariate Data Analysis Fall, 2nd Year Spring, 2nd Year PSYC 5311 Introduction to Psychotherapy PSYC 5310 Intellectual Assessment PSYC 5312 Personality Assessment PSYC 5313 Advanced Psychotherapy PSYC 5380 Biological Bases of Behavior PSYC 5365 Cognition, Emotion, & Memory Summer, 2nd Year PSYC 5305 Ethical & Legal Implications for Psychologists PSYC 5330 Clinical Practicum I Fall, 3rd Year Spring, 3rd Year PSYC 5331 Clinical Practicum II PSYC 5332 Clinical Practicum II PSYC 5355 Social, Cultural, & Developmental PSYC 5345 Beh. Management & Consultation PSYC 5390 Thesis PSYC 5391 Thesis - Candidacy examinations are devised by the Psychology Department graduate faculty. A student may petition to be administered the candidacy (qualifying) examination during the spring semester in which the appropriate course work listed in No.1 above is to be completed provided the student is in good academic standing. Dates to sit for the examination will be announced each year. A student must have satisfactorily passed candidacy examinations prior to enrolling in PSYC 5330, 5331, 5332, 5390, or 5391.
- For the Industrial/Organizational Track - Practicum: Three semester hours in PSYC 5330. For the Clinical Track - Nine semester hours in PSYC 5330, 5331, and 5332.
- Thesis: Submission of an acceptable thesis and satisfactory performance on a final oral examination with a minimum of six semester hours in PSYC 5390 and 5391.
Departmental Policies
Special attention is called to the following departmental policies:
- Graduate students are prohibited from providing psychological services except when supervised by a faculty member as part of a course requirement or when regularly employed by a licensed psychologist; an exempt agency, as defined by the Psychologist’s Licensing Act; or a departmental-approved nonexempt agency. Students in training are expected to be aware of and abide by the Psychologist’s Licensing Act and the Ethical Principles of Psychologists. A violation of this policy will result in the student’s dismissal from the program.
- More than six hours of “C” level work will result in the student’s dismissal from the program.
- Students may not enroll in the same course more than twice (except for the Thesis).
- Qualifying and/or final examinations may be repeated once if a failure occurs. In general, a student repeating any portion of the examinations must do so at the next administration of the examination.
- After admission to candidacy, a student must be enrolled in a thesis course each regular semester until the requirements for the degree are completed. In addition, a student must be registered for a thesis course each session of the summer term if the student is to receive the degree in August or is involved in research or writing.
- Students not admitted to the Psychology graduate program may enroll in no more than six graduate hours before being admitted.
- Licensures are available for Clinical track graduates through the state of Texas as a Licensed Psychological Associate. Additional coursework may be required for licensure as a Licensed Psychological Associate. Consult the licensure board (Texas State Board of Examiners of Psychologists) for additional details. The Clinical track does not prepare students for licensure as a Licensed Professional Counselor. Additional coursework not provided by the Department of Psychology is required for licensure as a Licensed Professional Counselor. Consult the licensure board guidelines for additional details
Under unusual circumstances and with the approval of the department chair and the student’s supervising professor, a student may postpone registration for the thesis course for one or more semesters. Unless special permission has been granted, a student who is not continuously enrolled in a thesis course must repeat the candidacy examinations and apply for re-admission to candidacy.