Overview of the Undergraduate Programs
The B.A. and B.S. programs in psychology are designed to contribute to a student's general education and to provide a foundation for post-baccalaureate training in psychology and closely related disciplines, and in areas such as business, medicine, law, and communications. Students who intend to enter the job market immediately after an undergraduate degree are well advised to complement their psychology major with substantial preparation in another program more closely tied to the world of work, (e.g., education, social work, business, journalism, nursing).
Our department is convinced that a broad background in psychology is desirable for all of its majors and does not provide specialized programs at the undergraduate level. A student may, of course, develop some extra preparation in a particular area by appropriate choice of elective courses including individualized instruction.
A student graduating with either the B.A. or the B.S. degree may go on to graduate work in psychology or in other areas. However, a student in the B.A. program who plans to pursue graduate studies in psychology should elect courses to enrich that program. Admission to graduate and professional schools is becoming increasingly competitive, so that a record of good performance in appropriate courses is essential. In either program, at least 15 hours of work in psychology must be completed in this department if the degree is to be granted by The University of Iowa. As required by the College of Liberal Arts, a 2.0 GPA must be maintained in all psychology courses and in all psychology courses at Iowa. Furthermore, according to College regulations, a maximum of 50 hours in a student's major department may be counted toward the 120 hours required for graduation.
The B.A. program requires 29 semester hours of psychology and is intended for those students who are pursuing a broad undergraduate education with a special emphasis in psychology. Students planning to enter a graduate program in a field that emphasizes applied preparation more heavily than research training may wish to choose the B.A. program. Such students also should consider enriching their program with additional statistics and research methods courses. The B.A. program may be combined with specialized work in one or more other disciplines (e.g., education, social work, business, journalism, nursing). Transfer students and students who have changed majors after already fulfilling most of the General Education Program may find the B.A. program particularly suitable. The B.A. program involves an introductory psychology course, a biological psychology course, a course in statistical methods, and a course on research methods, as well as lower and upper level elective courses in psychology. Students entering the B.A. program must also complete either a second statistics or a computer science course and at least 9 semester hours of course work at The University of Iowa in a second area of concentration. Courses used to satisfy the second area of concentration may not be used to satisfy the College of Liberal Arts General Education Program, but a second major or a minor in any discipline will satisfy the requirement.
The B.S. program requires 36 semester hours of psychology and is designed for students who intend to pursue graduate study in psychology or a closely related discipline. Students whose strengths lie in the natural sciences and mathematics are encouraged to choose the B.S. program. The B.S. program requires an introductory psychology course, a biological psychology course, a course in statistical methods, and a course on research methods, as well as lower and upper level elective courses in psychology. In addition, the B.S. program requires a laboratory course in experimental psychology and senior seminar as well as courses from outside the department in mathematics (calculus) and specified options for satisfying the natural science requirement of the General Education Program. Students entering the B.S. program must also complete at least one additional course in advanced mathematics, statistics, or computer science. Consequently, a first year or sophomore student who wishes to defer a decision between the B.A. and B.S. programs should elect courses in natural science and mathematics that will make it possible to choose either major as late as the junior year.
While any student may enter the B.A. program in psychology, admission to the B.S. program is restricted. To be eligible for admission to the B.S. program, students must have completed 30 s.h. of college course work (excluding any credit by exam), and they must have a cumulative grade-point average of 2.67 or higher. Eligible students can request admission to the B.S. program by appearing in person at the Liberal Arts Office of Academic Programs, 120 SH. There is no limit to the number of qualified students admitted to the B.S. program. Students who do not meet the minimum admission requirements for the B.S. program may petition the department in writing, presenting any additional evidence of their qualifications.
Entering freshmen and transfer students with fewer than 30 s.h. of course credit who are interested in the B.S. program will be admitted to the psychology B.A. program until they satisfy the admission requirements for the B.S. program. New transfer students who meet the admission requirements for the psychology B.S. program may choose to enter the B.S. program directly. Any student in the B.A. program may switch to the B.S. program if they meet the admission requirements at the time of the request. Students may switch from the B.S. to the B.A. program at any time. Once a student is admitted to the B.S. program, their overall grade point average may drop below 2.67 without penalty. However, a student whose grade point average in psychology courses drops significantly below 2.67 will be advised to switch to the B.A. program.
The B.A. and B.S. programs are open to students on the four-year plan. Students electing to enter the four-year graduation plan have specific checkpoints that must be met to stay on the plan. These checkpoints have been selected for a student to progress through the major while still allowing the student flexibility in their course selection. Students on the four-year plan should consult with their faculty adviser or the Academic Coordinator early in their academic career to develop a selection of course work that meets their specific needs.
Course Substitutions and Transfer Credit. Students who completed an Advanced Placement (AP) Psychology course in high school and received a score of 3 or higher on the AP Psychology Exam are exempt from taking 31:001. Course work in psychology, and other disciplines required by psychology, taken at other undergraduate institutions is reviewed by the Academic Coordinator for applicability to degree requirements in this department. At least 15 semester hours in Psychology must be completed in this Department.
Pass-Nonpass Restrictions. In accordance with requirements of the College of Liberal Arts, courses required for the major, minor, and General Education Program may not be taken on a pass-nonpass basis.
Computer Literacy. The Department strongly recommends that all students gain some computer literacy. Computer skills may also be useful for students seeking employment with a bachelor's degree. The Information Technology Services offers a variety of free short courses to introduce students to computer applications such as word processing, data-base management, spread sheets, statistical analyses, and graphics. An introductory course on a computer language such as Java or C may also be useful.
Minor in Other Departments. Psychology majors may receive a minor in another department. Students should consult an adviser in the minor department, as well as their Psychology adviser, in planning their program.
Individualized Instruction in Psychology. Students interested in pursuing graduate study in psychology should not underestimate the importance of individualized instruction. First, individualized instruction provides an undergraduate with the opportunity to explore the demands of graduate-level work, and develop specific research skills that are valued by graduate programs. Second, a faculty member who works individually with an undergraduate student is able to acquire the information necessary to write an informed letter of recommendation for that student. Such letters, as well as the research experience they reflect, can be essential for a successful application to graduate school. Information on planning for graduate school is available outside the Academic Coordinator's office, E16 SSH and in the Peer Advisors Office (G34 SLP).
The Department offers three registrations under which a student may work individually with a faculty member on a library or laboratory research project. In 31:185 Research Practicum in Psychology, the student becomes directly involved in the ongoing research of a faculty member, does supplementary reading, and participates in regular lab group discussions of issues arising from the research. Advanced Research Practicum (31:188) is available to students who have completed two or more semesters of Research Practicum and who will be engaged in "advanced" research activities in a lab. In 31:191 Special Readings and Projects, the student carries out, under general faculty supervision, a library study, laboratory investigation of a topic or problem of particular interest to the student, or volunteers in a community organization to gain psychology relevant experiences. Arrangements for either of these two types of study must be made with an individual faculty member or the Academic Coordinator before registration. Interested and dedicated students are invited to approach any faculty members who share their research interests for individualized instruction, although the student should recognize that suitable opportunities are not always available and certainly cannot be guaranteed. Sophomore standing is required and individual faculty members may have other prerequisites such as completion of specific course work. Priority is given to students whose academic record reveals a potential for success in advanced study (e.g., a cumulative GPA of 3.2 or higher). Credit hours are to be arranged. 31:185 and 31:191 offer Satisfactory-Fail grading only. A description of the research interests of faculty members is available outside the Academic Coordinator's office or on the departmental web site.
Honors Program in Psychology. Students in the University Honors Program are eligible to graduate with Honors in Psychology. Students graduating with Honors in Psychology must be accepted into the University Honors Program, complete Psychology Seminar, and complete an Honors Thesis. The Honors Thesis is a written report of an original research project conducted by the student with the guidance and approval of a faculty member. Honors students may elect to enroll in the Honors Proseminar in Psychology once they have begun working on their thesis project- during their junior or senior year. For students in the B.A. program, completion of Psychology Seminar is an additional requirement as this class does not count as an Upper-Level elective.
Internship in Psychology. Psychology majors have the opportunity to arrange an internship experience through the Career Center (C310 Pomerantz Center). Internships can permit a student to explore a specific career option or a selected employment setting. The Career Center can help students clarify their career objectives, select related internships, and complete the required application materials. Each internship lasts a full semester and can be full-time or part-time. Internships are available throughout the United States, and some international appointments are available, but many opportunities are also available locally. Some interns are paid for their work, and others volunteer their services. Interns receive transcript notation for their experience by registering for the zero credit hour course, 409:031 Internship in Psychology. To qualify for an internship, a student must have completed at least 12 s.h. in psychology and have an overall GPA of at least 2.0. Career Center also administers the IOWA Advantage, which is an optional, fee-based program designed to 'coach' students in their career preparation skills and to assist them in the development of an electronic, WEB-based portfolio showcasing their best work samples