Offered in: Chicago | Schaumburg

A background in psychology is essential in today’s complex society to gain an understanding of why people and groups behave as they do and how individuals struggle to achieve their full potential.

The Department of Psychology offers a rich array of courses and course sequences for more specialized studies. There is a balance between the scientific tradition of experimental psychology and the major domains of applied psychology. Students may learn about human sexuality, social psychology, child and adult psychopathology, multicultural psychology, and stress management. There are courses and course sequences on research methods and statistics, biopsychology, cultural diversity, forensic psychology, and the human lifespan from infancy to old age. The traditional areas of experimental psychology are available for study, including sensation-perception, cognitive processes, and learning-memory.

Students may choose to major or minor in Psychology or earn a concentration in Child and Family Studies, Mental Health, Neuroscience or Forensic Psychology. A degree in Psychology provides an excellent foundation for graduate studies in any aspect of psychology or related human services. Knowledge of psychological principles is a valued skill for any career or job description that involves working with people.

An undergraduate major in Psychology provides students with an excellent background for careers that involve working with people. Psychology graduates find work in business, sales, counseling, education, and health care. The BA is also essential preparation for those considering master's or doctoral work in psychology, and similarly provides an excellent foundation for graduate work in counseling and social work.

The major can be completed at either Chicago, Schaumburg, or online.

Standards

A grade of C- is the minimal acceptable grade for a course to be applied to the major, minor, or concentrations. A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 is required for all courses in the major, minor, and the psychology concentrations.

Requirements

To earn a BA in Psychology, students must complete 36 credit hours in Psychology. PSYC 103 INTRODUCTORY PSYCHOLOGY must be taken as soon as the major is declared. PSYC 200 INTRODUCTORY STATISTICS and PSYC 285 RESEARCH METHODS should be completed within the first two to three semesters of declaring the major.

Students need to complete 21 credit hours at Roosevelt University, including 9 credit hours at the 300 level at this university. In addition, a total of 12 credit hours within the major must be at the 300 level. A grade of C- is the minimal acceptable grade for a course to be applied to the major and a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 is required for all courses within the major. Psychology majors resuming their major after an interruption of two or more years must follow the Psychology requirements in effect at the time students resume their studies.

CORE Requirements (General Education)

¹

Higher level of Math may be required by major

These quantitative requirements also apply to degrees.

• Students must earn a minimum of 120 semester hours.
• Students may apply no more than 60 credit hours of 100-level courses toward the degree.
• Students must apply no fewer than 60 credit hours of 200- and 300-level courses toward the degree.
• Students must have at least 18 credit hours (of the 60 credit hours above) at the 300 level.
• Students may transfer in no more than 70 credit hours from community colleges.
• Students earning less than 60 total hours in residence must take their final 30 hours at Roosevelt University. Note that some majors have additional requirements for RU hours.
• Students must have a grade point average of 2.0 or higher to graduate. Note that some majors have additional GPA requirements.
• Students may apply no more than 51 hours in the major (BA) or 57 hours in the major (BS)

Your degree map is a general guide suggesting courses to complete each term on the academic pathway to your degree. It is based on the most current scheduling information from your academic program. Your program’s degree map is reviewed annually and updated as schedules change (although you retain the same course requirements as long as you are continuously enrolled in your degree program).

Always work closely with your academic advisor to understand curriculum requirements and scheduling, as each student’s academic plan can look slightly different.

¹

Or course towards an optional Minor.

²

One Natural Science course must have a lab.

³

Experiential Learning class must be 200/300 level and can be a PSYC course or taken outside the major. Psychology options include PSYC 350, PSYC 360, PSYC 366, PSYC 368, PSYC 381, PSYC 393, PSYC 398, and PSYC 399.