COURSE CURRICULUM

The Psychology major at St. Thomas University offers a structured yet flexible curriculum that allows students to explore a wide range of psychological topics while ensuring a solid foundation in research, theory, and applied practice. To complete the major, students are required to earn a minimum of 36 credit hours in Psychology. This includes two foundational courses—PSYC 1013 and 1023—in the first year, followed by PSYC 2013 (Introduction to Statistics) and PSYC 2023 (Introduction to Research Methods) in the second year, which lay the groundwork for critical thinking and research skills essential for the discipline.To ensure depth of study, students must complete at least two 3000-level Psychology courses and one 4000-level seminar, which offer advanced learning and engagement with specialized topics. In addition, students are required to take at least 6 credit hours from the Fundamentals Division. These courses focus on research design, data analysis, and the theoretical underpinnings of psychological science, including options like Qualitative Research, Advanced Statistics, and the History of Psychology.The curriculum also requires students to take at least 3 credit hours from each of five core divisions within the field: Biological, Clinical, Developmental, Learning & Cognition, and Social & Personality Psychology. This ensures a balanced and comprehensive education that covers the full spectrum of psychological inquiry. Courses in these divisions explore everything from brain function and mental health to child development, cognitive processing, learning theory, personality, and social behavior.Finally, students have the option to take additional credits from a broad range of electives, including special topics and independent study courses. These electives allow students to explore emerging areas of interest or pursue personalized research under faculty supervision. The program not only prepares students for graduate studies in psychology or related fields but also provides valuable skills in research, analysis, and communication that are applicable to careers in education, healthcare, counseling, social services, and beyond.