Curriculum & Courses
Psychology is a dynamic major, and that’s reflected in our curriculum. The BA degree requires 120 total credit hours, with 40 hours of general education courses, 12 hours of a foreign language (1001 to 2004), 35 hours in the study of psychology, 18 to 30 hours of minor coursework and any remaining general electives.
At least 50% of psychology courses and 25% of the degree must be completed at ECU Online. Second-degree students are waived from General Education and Minor or General Elective requirements.
Keep in mind that as a degree completion program, we accept transfer credits, which may significantly reduce your required hours to graduate. The required psychology courses include:
Core Psychology Courses - 15 credit hours
PSYC 1000 – Introductory Psychology
General survey of fundamental principles underlying human behavior. Includes introduction, learning, memory, development, physiological, motivation, social and abnormal behavior, and one or two additional topics as time permits.
PSYC 2101 – Psychological Statistics
Descriptive statistics. Measures of central tendency, variability, and correlation. Probability, with emphasis on sampling distributions used for prediction and hypothesis testing. Selection, computation, and interpretation of parametric and nonparametric inferential statistics, including introduction to analysis of variance.
PSYC 3225 – Psychology of Learning
Introductory survey of experimental methods, basic research, principles, and theories of learning and forgetting.
or
PSYC 3226 – Cognitive Psychology
Focus on human research and cognition including attention, perception, consciousness, memory, concept learning, language, symbolic behavior, and problem solving.
PSYC 3310 – Introduction to Neuroscience
Neuroanatomy and neurophysiology and their relationship to behavior.
or
PSYC 3311 – Neuropsychology
Clinical and cognitive neuropsychology. Basic anatomy of nervous system and neuronal physiology, cortical lesion syndromes, brain disorders affecting higher functions, and basic research on attention, laterality, language, and thought.
PSYC 4000 – Advanced General Psychology
In-depth overview of psychology as a science organized around five main questions: How do humans (and, where relevant, animals) act, how do they know, how do they interact, how do they develop, and how do they differ from each other?.
Choose Two (6 credit hours):
PSYC 3206 – Developmental Psychology
Psychological development throughout life span. Emphasis on perceptual, cognitive, social, and personality development.
PSYC 3221 – Social Psychology
Interaction of the individual and society. Topics include study of basic psychological factors such as perception and motivation, which shape and reflect social influence; nature, formation, and change of attitudes; attitude measurement; conformity; role expectations; leadership and dynamics.
PSYC 3375 – Abnormal Psychology
Systematic appraisal of development of human deviant behavior. Examination of formation of deviancy and current diagnostic procedures.
Choose Three (minimum of 9 credit hours):
PSYC 2211 – Careers in Psychology
Exploring career opportunities in psychology and related professions.
PSYC 2777 – Ethnocultural Psychology
Importance of various ethnocultural factors (including gender, race, nationality, education, occupation, religion, sexual orientation, and family background) which affect psychological functioning of the individual.
PSYC 3206 – Developmental Psychology
Psychological development throughout life span. Emphasis on perceptual, cognitive, social, and personality development.
PSYC 3221 – Social Psychology
Interaction of individuals and society. Topics include study of basic psychological factors such as perception and motivation, which shape and reflect social influence; nature, formation, and change of attitudes; attitude measurement; conformity; role expectations; leadership and dynamics.
PSYC 3225 – Psychology of Learning
Introductory survey of experimental methods, basic research, principles, and theories of learning and forgetting.
PSYC 3226 – Cognitive Psychology
Focus on human research and cognition including attention, perception, consciousness, memory, concept learning, language, symbolic behavior, and problem solving.
PSYC 3241 – Personnel and Industrial Psychology
Systems approach to study employee-employer relationships influencing productivity and satisfaction. Secondary emphasis on employee selection, job analysis, performance appraisal, and training. Research applied to industrial, governmental, and military organizations.
PSYC 3310 – Introduction to Neuroscience
Neuroanatomy and neurophysiology and their relationship to behavior.
PSYC 3375 – Abnormal Psychology
Clinical and cognitive neuropsychology. Basic anatomy of nervous system and neuronal physiology; cortical lesion syndromes; brain disorders affecting higher functions; and basic research on attention, laterality, language, and thought.
PSYC 4305 – Educational Psychology
Psychological principles applied to educational settings, including learning, motivation, classroom management, and psychological assessment
