Nov 21, 2024  
2024-2025 Academic Bulletin 
    
2024-2025 Academic Bulletin

Psychology BS


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Psychology is the study of mind and behavior, including conscious and unconscious phenomena, feelings and thoughts. An undergraduate degree in Psychology is applicable to a wide range of occupations. Within the Psychology BS at Andrews University there are four concentrations available: General, Pre-Professional, Brain & Cognition, and Pre-Occupational Therapy. Students enrolled in the Psychology BS will need to select a concentration prior to graduation. Whichever concentration students choose, they should consult their advisors and classes should be chosen with educational and occupational goals in mind.

Total Credits - 120


Major - 39-59


Concentrations - 27-47


General Concentration - 28


General Concentration Capstone - 1-4

Choose one of the following capstone options:

General Concentration Electives - 15-18

Choose 15-18 additional credits from available PSYC courses as needed to meet the minimum of 28 concentration credits (40 total major credits) in Psychology.

Pre-Professional Concentration - 28


The Pre-Professional concentration is designed for students planning a graduate degree in the social sciences, as it includes additional training in statistics and research methods.

Pre-Professional Concentration Capstone - 1-4

Choose one of the following capstone options:

Pre-Professional Concentration Electives - 6-9

Choose 6-9 additional credits from available PSYC courses as needed to meet the minimum of 28 concentration credits (40 total major credits) in Psychology.

Brain & Cognition Concentration - 27-28


The Psychology, Brain and Cognition concentration provides students with training in experimental psychology, including a mentored undergraduate research experience that can lead to presentation and publication of the original research with a faculty member.

Brain & Cognition Capstone - 2-3

Choose one of the following capstone options:

Pre-Occupational Therapy Concentration - 47


Occupational Therapists assist individuals in learning or re-learning skills to improve their lives. It requires getting to know individuals personally, understanding their goals, and identifying creative ways to allow them to reach their desired levels of independence and productivity. As such, Psychology forms a strong base upon which to build the skills required to become an Occupational Therapist.

The BS Psychology: Pre-Occupational Therapy concentration (pre-OT) is designed as a pre-professional interim degree for students pursuing a Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) degree at Andrews University through the “3+3” track. This degree with concentration prepares the pre-OT student with the prerequisite knowledge required for the OTD degree. Once accepted into the OTD program, the 3+3 track allows students to enter the professional OTD program before completion of the Psychology: Pre-Occupational Therapy bachelors degree. The 3+3 students’ senior (fourth) year is the first two semesters of the OTD program. Students successfully completing these requirements qualify for the Bachelor of Psychology degree.

Cognates - 13-35


Additional Requirements


Majors are required to take the Major Field Test in Psychology. The exam assesses the following areas: memory and thinking, sensory and physiology, developmental, clinical and abnormal, social, and measurement and methodology.

Students graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Andrews University must complete 27 credits from courses numbered 300 or above. Transfer courses taken at the lower division level will not count towards the upper division requirement.

General Education (Andrews Core Experience)


Students must fulfill all Bachelor’s Degree requirements listed in the Andrews Core Experience .

Additional Information


Field Experience and a reading knowledge of a foreign language are strongly recommended, particularly for students who plan to take graduate studies in Psychology.

Teaching Sites


This Psychology BS program (General Concentration only) is also offered at Hong Kong Adventist College.

Student Learning Outcomes


At the end of the program a student will be able to:

  • Think critically about human thought and behavior in individuals, sociocultural and ecological systems
  • Select credible sources of evidence from the behavioral sciences, and specifically in the area of psychology science
  • Conduct effective research projects from design through data interpretation
  • Apply ethical standards to scholarship and practice in Psychology
  • Apply principles and skills from Psychology to serve their communities
  • Write effectively about theories, data, and practice in Psychology
  • Speak effectively about theories, data, and practice in Psychology
  • Prepare a professional plan for life after graduation
  • Apply principles from Psychology to understand and influence the development of faith across the life span
  • Know the key themes in relevant disciplines in Psychology

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