Psychology Major & Foci

All students must take 4 core courses, 3 foundation courses, 3 specialized courses, 1 senior experience, and 1 Psychology option. Each student will choose, during sophomore year, from among seven focus areas:

The current process for declaring a Focus is to fill out a TCNJ Change of Major Form indicating the new focus. Have your advisor sign the Change of Major Form and bring it to the Psychology Department Main Office (SSB 109). The departmental secretary will assign you to a new advisor. Then the Change of Major Form will go to Records and Registration for recording of your new focus. If your current advisor is associated with your chosen focus, you will keep your assigned advisor.

Foundation courses should include 1 or 2 required in association with one's focus. Specialized courses and a senior experience will be chosen from options relevant to one's focus.

Transformed Psychology Curriculum

A. Psychology Core Courses

Courses to be taken consecutively in the first four semesters:

PSY 101 - General Psychology
PSY 121 - Methods and Tools of Psychology
PSY 203 - Design and Statistical Analysis
PSY 299 - Research Seminar recommended in Focus Area- One of the foundation courses required by the focus must be taken before or concurrently with PSY299.

B. Foundation Courses

Students will choose 3 of the following, including 1or 2 required by the chosen focus. Foundation courses should be taken in the first two years.

PSY 212 - Biopsychology
PSY 214 - Cognitive Psychology
PSY 216 - Personality Theory and Research
PSY 217 - Abnormal Psychology
PSY 218 - Psychology of Power, Oppression, and Privilege
PSY 220 - Development across the Lifespan
PSY 267 - Organizational Psychology

C. Specialized Courses:

Students will choose 3 300-level courses, from options relevant to one's focus. Note: Some foci require specific Specialized courses. Some Specialized courses count toward more than one focus.

D. Senior Experience:

Students will choose among options including integrative seminars, field study, and honors thesis. Regardless of format, the senior experience will be primarily student-led, with the faculty member serving as a facilitator. Note: Some foci require specific Senior-Experience courses. Some Senior-Experience courses count toward more than one focus.

E. Psychology Option:

Students may take any course at the 200-level or above. We urge students to take a 300-level or above course for their Psychology Option.