Undergraduate Degree Programs
The department offers both the Bachelor of Arts and the Bachelor of Science degree. The required psychology courses are the same for the B.A. and the B.S. degree programs. The difference lies in the university studies course components, with one primary difference being that the B.A. requires foreign language courses and the B.S. requires an additional science or math course. Refer to the current Murray State Bulletin for the specific differences in university studies requirements.
If you pursue the psychology major you may choose between a general psychology track or an Applied Behavior Analysis track. Both tracks require the same set of core courses that cover research skills and the classic areas of psychology. In each track you will have opportunities to apply what you have learned to real-world settings via an internship and to earn credit while working individually on research with faculty members. Many of our undergraduates have appeared as authors and co-authors with faculty members on published articles and have presented their findings at scientific meetings across the country.
Curriculum
CIP 42.2799
Total Curriculum Requirements: 120 credit hours
The requirements listed below are an example of what is applicable to most students entering Murray State University at the present time. Criteria as they may relate to individual students may vary. The primary source is the University Bulletin applicable at the time of the student's enrollment.
University Studies Requirements: 38-43 total credit hours
Must include BIO 101/100 General Biology/Biology lab (4 cr)
Required Courses: 31 total credit hours
- PSY 100T Transitions (1 cr)
- PSY 180 General Psychology (3 cr)
- PSY 260 Lifespan Development (3 cr)
- PSY 300 Principles and Methods of Statistical Analysis (3 cr)
- PSY 301 Principles and Methods of Psychological Research I (1 cr)
- PSY 303 Social Psychology (3 cr)
- PSY 307 Abnormal Psychology (3 cr)
- PSY 315 Principles and Methods of Psychological Research II (3 cr)
- PSY 414 Psychology of Learning and Memory (3 cr)
- PSY 415 Physiological Psychology (3 cr)
- PSY Capstone course (3 cr) chosen from:
- PSY 402 Senior Seminar;
- PSY 403 History and Systems of Psychology;
- PSY 408 Applied Research Design and Analysis;
- PSY 460 Directed Individual Study II;
- PSY 487 Internship;
- PSY 499 Senior Thesis
Required Limited PSY electives (9 cr) approved by advisor
Required Minor: 21-24 credit hours
Unrestricted Electives: 13-21 credit hours
CIP 42.2799
Total Curriculum Requirements: 120 credit hours
The requirements listed below are an example of what is applicable to most students entering Murray State University at the present time. Criteria as they may relate to individual students may vary. The primary source is the University Bulletin applicable at the time of the student's enrollment.
University Studies Requirements: 38-43 total credit hours
Must include BIO 101/100 General Biology/Biology lab (4 cr)
Required Courses: 31 total credit hours
- PSY 100T Transitions (1 cr)
- PSY 180 General Psychology (3 cr)
- PSY 260 Lifespan Development (3 cr)
- PSY 300 Principles and Methods of Statistical Analysis (3 cr)
- PSY 301 Principles and Methods of Psychological Research I (1 cr)
- PSY 303 Social Psychology (3 cr)
- PSY 307 Abnormal Psychology (3 cr)
- PSY 315 Principles and Methods of Psychological Research II (3 cr)
- PSY 414 Psychology of Learning and Memory (3 cr)
- PSY 415 Physiological Psychology (3 cr)
- PSY Capstone course (3 cr) chosen from:
- PSY 402 Senior Seminar;
- PSY 403 History and Systems of Psychology;
- PSY 408 Applied Research Design and Analysis;
- PSY 460 Directed Individual Study II;
- PSY 487 Internship;
- PSY 499 Senior Thesis
Applied Behavior Analysis Track: 15 total credit hours
- PSY 331 Experimental Analysis of Behavior (3 cr)
- PSY 332 Behavioral Measurement and Assessment (3 cr)
- PSY 333 Applied Behavior Analysis (3 cr)
- PSY 334 Behavioral Approaches to Autism Spectrum Disorder (3 cr)
- PSY 335 Seminar in Ethics and Supervision in Behavior Analysis (3 cr)
Required Minor: 21-24 credit hours
Unrestricted Electives: 13-21 credit hours
The psychology major is designed to be completed in 4 years for incoming new freshmen and 2 years for transfer students with an Associate degree without having to go to summer school or take overloads. Incoming students wishing to attend medical school can complete the pre-med curriculum as part of their psychology major. Check out our suggested curriculum plans:
Career Opportunities
Students who major in psychology have a wide choice of careers, and the psychology major at Murray State is designed to prepare students to achieve their goals. Upon graduation, psychology majors may choose entry-level positions in areas like social services or management, sales or personnel. Some students use their undergraduate degree in psychology as a springboard into other professions such as law, medicine, business and education. Many psychology students wish to attend graduate school to earn a master's or doctorate in psychology that leads to professional careers in settings like hospitals, mental health clinics or private practice. Others who earn advanced psychology degrees choose to work in the business world as industrial/organizational psychologists or may go into academia in order to teach and conduct research at colleges and universities. Check out our careers page to find out more about career opportunities and see some of the careers and graduate programs that our psychology graduates have entered.