The Psychology Department at Sweet Briar offers a plan of study which addresses mind and behavior from a scientific perspective. The subject matter of psychology spans both the biological and the social sciences. The department offers courses in major subdisciplines of this broad field, and encourages the student to develop her scientific skills in the context of a liberal arts education. A student who elects psychology as her major subject may earn either the Bachelor of Arts or the Bachelor of Science degree. The Bachelor of Science degree is recommended for students planning graduate study in psychology.

The Psychology Major (B.A.)
The Psychology Major (B.S.)
The Psychology Minor
Course Descriptions

The Psychology Major (B.A.)
(38 semester hours)

Required:
PSYC 101    (3)    Introductory Psychology
PSYC 219    (4)    Statistics for Behavioral Sciences
PSYC 310    (4)    Experimental Psychology

Senior Exercise:
PSYC 452    (2)    Senior Seminar

Choose at least 4 credits of science other than psychology; at least 1 semester hour must be a laboratory in a science other than psychology.

Choose 21 additional credits of psychology courses at the 200-level or above excluding special studies (PSYC 361), internships (PSYC 377), and independent studies (PSYC 461). BIOL 222, Animal Behavior may also be counted toward the major.

Note: In addition to PSYC 452, students must take at least two courses at the 400-level, one of which must be taken during her final year at Sweet Briar.

The Psychology Major (B.S.)
(51-53 semester hours)

Required:
PSYC 101    (3)    Introductory Psychology
PSYC 219    (4)    Statistics for Behavioral Sciences
PSYC 310    (4)    Experimental Psychology
PSYC 315    (3)    Research in Psychology

Senior Exercise:
PSYC 452    (2)    Senior Seminar

Choose 3 courses from the following:
PSYC 231    (4)    Animal Learning
PSYC 238    (3)    Evolutionary Psychology
PSYC 251    (3)    Introduction to Behavioral Neuroscience
PSYC 328    (3)    Human Neuropsychology
PSYC 408    (3)    Sensation and Perception
PSYC 425    (3)    Cognition

Choose 2 courses from the following:
CSCI 188     (4)    Java Programming I
MATH 113    (3)     Precalculus
MATH 123    (4)    Calculus I
MATH 124    (4)    Calculus II

Choose 7 credits of science other than psychology. These 7 hours must include at least a 1 semester hour laboratory.

And choose 12 additional credits of psychology courses at the 200-level or above excluding special studies (PSYC 361), internships (PSYC 377), and independent studies (PSYC 461). BIOL 222, Animal Behavior may also be counted toward the major.

Note: In addition to PSYC 452, students must take at least two courses at the 400-level, one of which must be taken during her final year at Sweet Briar.

The Psychology Minor
(18 semester hours)

Required:
PSYC 101    (3)    Introductory Psychology

Choose 15 additional credits of psychology courses at the 200-level or above of which 2 courses must be at the 300-level or above excluding PSYC 315, PSYC 341, PSYC 361, PSYC 377. BIOL 222, Animal Behavior may also be counted toward the minor.

Course Descriptions