Majors Requirements

Faculty/Mission

Dean and Professor: Tom Springer, PhD

Professors:  Rick Clubb, PhD, Rich Corby, PhD, William Shea, PhD

Associate Professors:  Kyle Day, PhD,  Dorothy Everts, PhD,  Myeong Kim, PhD, Adam McKee, PhD,  Wayne Poniewaz, PhD,  Carol Strong, PhD

Assistant Professors:  Joel Carr, PhD,  Marvin  Jeter, PhD,  Rejena Saulsberry, J.D. ,                      Marie Walker, MSW, Chris Wright, PhD, Clint Young, PhD,

The School of Social and Behavioral Sciences offers courses and programs in a broad range of social and behavioral sciences, designed to provide preparation for careers in social services, government, and teaching, as well as preparation for graduate and professional studies. Primarily geared to baccalaureate degree programs, the School also plays a significant role in the general education program of all students.

Social and Behavioral Sciences offers students the opportunity to major in the following areas:

Criminal Justice (Bachelor of Science Degree (B.S.))
History (Bachelor of Arts Degree (B.A.))
Political Science (Bachelor of Arts Degree (B.A.))
Psychology (Bachelor of Science Degree (B.S.))
Social Work (Bachelor of Social Work Degree (B.S.W.))

A Minor is offered in each the following disciplines:

Criminal Justice - History – Human Services - Political Science – Psychology - Social Work -  Sociology

Courses are also offered in Anthropology,  Geography, and Sociology.

Major and Minor Requirements

Criminal Justice Major 

Major Requirements            39 hours

C J    1013        Introduction to Criminal Justice
(Note: Criminal Justice majors must complete CJ 1013 before completing any other criminal justice courses.)

C J    2113        Policing in America
C J    2123        Corrections
C J    2133        Criminal Justice Ethics
C J    2143        Juvenile Justice
C J    2283        Research Methods in the Social Sciences
C J    3233        Criminal Law
C J    3313        Statistics for Social Sciences
C J    3243        Constitutional Criminal Procedure

One of the following courses:
            C J    4373        Criminology   or
            C J    4383        Principles of Administration 

And 9 hours of Criminal Justice electives
Criminal Justice Majors must also select a minor.

Supportive Requirements        18 hours

ENG    3253    Technical Writing
PSCI    2213  American National Government
PSY    1013     Introduction to Psychology
SOC    2223                Social Problems
SOC    3453   Race and Ethnic Relations

One of the following courses:
            PSY     2263    Mental Health
            PSY     4673    Abnormal Psychology

Criminal Justice Minor

Minor Requirements        18 hours

C J    1013        Introduction to Criminal Justice
C J    3243        Constitutional Criminal Procedure
(Note: Criminal Justice majors must complete CJ 1013 before completing any other criminal justice courses.)
12 hours of Criminal Justice electives at least 6 of which must be Upper (3000-4000) Level.

History Major

Requirements for a Major in History       33 hours

HIST    1013        Survey of Civilization I
HIST    1023        Survey of Civilization II
HIST    2213        American History I
HIST    2223        American History II
HIST    3513        Historiography and Historical Methods
9 hours of electives in American History at the 3000-4000 level
9 Hours of electives in History other than American at the 3000-4000 level
History majors must also select a minor.

Requirements for a Minor in History     18 hours

One of the following courses (must be the one not used for General Education Requirements)
            HIST    1013        Survey of Civilization I   or
            HIST    1023        Survey of Civilization II

HIST    2213        American History I
HIST    2223        American History II
9 hours of electives in American History at the 3000-4000 level (at least 3 hours of which should related to American history and at least 3 hours related to non-American history).

Political Science Major

Requirements for a Major in Political Science       33 hours

PSCI    2213        American National Government
PSCI    2233        Comparative Politics
PSCI    2283        Research Methods in the Social Sciences
PSCI    3313        Statistics for the Social Sciences
PSCI    4683        Western Political Theory
18 hours of Political Science electives (15 of which must be at the upper (3000-4000) level).
Political Science Majors must also take a Minor (minimum 18 hours).

Requirements for a Minor in Political Science       18 hours

PSCI    2213        American National Government
PSCI    2233        Comparative Politics
12 hours of electives in Political Science (9 of which must be at the upper (3000-4000) level).

Pre-Law Program

Pre-law is not a major. Students interested in a attending Law School should plan a program of study in consultation with the Pre-Law advisor.

Psychology Major

Requirements for a Major in Psychology     34 hours

PSY    1013        Introduction to Psychology
PSY    1023        Advanced General Psychology
PSY    2203        Statistical Methods
PSY    2294        Experimental Methods in Psychology

One of the following:
            PSY    3253        Adolescence
            PSY    3433        Child Development*
            PSY    4633        Gerontology

One of the following:
            PSY    3463        Guidance and Counseling
            PSY    3493        Fundamentals of Measurement
            PSY    4673        Abnormal Psychology

One of the following:
            PSY    3413        Psychology of Learning
            PSY    3483        Physiological Psychology
            PSY    4603        History and Systems in Psychology

One of the following:
            PSY    3243        Social Psychology
            PSY    3423        Industrial Psychology
            PSY    4623        Psychology of Personality

9 hours of Psychology electives of which at least 3 hours must be upper (3000-4000) level.
Psychology majors must also select a minor (minimum of 18 hours).
*CLEP credit will not be given to Psychology Majors for PSY 3433. 

Requirements for a Minor in Psychology               19 hours

PSY    1013        Introduction to Psychology
PSY    2203        Statistical methods
PSY    2294        Experimental Methods in Psychology
9 hours of electives in Psychology (all at the upper (3000-4000) level).

Requirements for a Minor in Human Services         18 hours

PSY      4643        Applied Human Service Skills
PSY      465V        Practicum in Psychology (6 hours)
9 hours of electives in sociology or social work (excluding SOC 2213)

NOTE: The Human Services minor is designed primarily for Psychology majors to: 1) prepare students for human services careers across a wide range of settings, and 2) provide a theoretical foundation and specific applied skills needed for Bachelor’s level employment in the field. Students who choose to pursue the Human Services minor, particularly those with majors other than Psychology, may need to take additional Psychology courses to satisfy the prerequisites of required courses. Consult your academic advisor for further information.

Social Work Major

See the Department of Social Work website.