Program Overview

---

Psychology, B.A.

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at Saint Louis University provides students with multiple avenues to explore their interests and develop their abilities through research, service, and study. The program emphasizes translating and applying psychological science, with a focus on evidence-based understanding of human behavior and experiences.

Program Highlights

• Faculty members mentor psychology majors, supporting students' discernment of and successful progress toward professional goals.
• Psychology majors build evidence-based habits of mind and research skills through working with faculty and graduate students investigating a variety of psychological phenomena.
• Psychology majors can take science out of the ivory tower to foster social justice in diverse communities and neighborhoods as members of a social advocacy learning community, at nearby service-learning practicum sites, or through values-based research activities.

Curriculum Overview

The undergraduate psychology program offers students three options: a Bachelor of Arts, a Bachelor of Science, and a minor in psychology. Each introduces students to the study of psychology while developing capacities for evidence-based reasoning, quantitative thinking, and psychological inquiry.

Majors receive a strong education in preparation for entry-level employment, with strengths in understanding people and evidence-based reasoning. The B.A. degree further prepares students to enter graduate programs for professional training in psychology or related fields, such as preparing for a therapist or counselor career. Students may also use the B.A. degree in psychology as pre-professional training in medicine, physical therapy, occupational therapy, social work, education, and law.

Fieldwork and Research Opportunities

Students may gain volunteer experience in various practicum settings, including mental health, research, consulting, schools, and community service organizations. In addition, students may seek opportunities as undergraduate research assistants working in a faculty member's lab.

Careers

SLU graduates have used their psychology degrees as pre-professional training to pursue the fields of medicine, physical therapy, occupational therapy, social work, education, and law. Strengths in understanding and reasoning about human behavior will also prepare students for entry-level positions in many additional fields.

An undergraduate degree in psychology can also prepare students to continue as graduate students with plans to become a psychologist, a profession that requires doctoral-level training.

Admission Requirements

• All applications are thoroughly reviewed with the highest degree of individual care and consideration to all credentials that are submitted. Solid academic performance in college preparatory coursework is a primary concern in reviewing a freshman applicant's file.
• To be considered for admission to any Saint Louis University undergraduate program, applicants must be graduating from an accredited high school, have an acceptable HiSET exam score, or take the General Education Development (GED) test.

Transfer

• Applicants must be a graduate of an accredited high school or have an acceptable score on the GED or HiSET.
• Students who have attempted fewer than 24 semester credits (or 30 quarter credits) of college credit must follow the above freshmen admission requirements. Students who have completed 24 or more semester credits (or 30 quarter credits) of college credit must submit transcripts from all previously attended college(s).

International Applicants

• All admission policies and requirements for domestic students apply to international students along with the following:
  • Demonstrate English Language Proficiency
  • All academic records must include an English translation. An official course-by-course transcript evaluation may be required and accepted.

Tuition

• Undergraduate Tuition: $56,960
• Additional charges may apply.

Scholarships and Financial Aid

• There are two principal ways to help finance a Saint Louis University education:
  • Scholarships: Scholarships are awarded based on academic achievement, service, leadership, and financial need.
  • Financial Aid: Financial aid is provided through grants and loans, some of which require repayment.

Program Requirements

• B.A. in psychology students must complete a minimum total of 34 credits for the major.
• PSY 2050 Foundations of Research Methods and Statistics and a capstone course should preferably be taken from the student's home campus. The capstone course must be taken from the student's home campus.

Course List

• University Undergraduate Core: 32-35
• Major Requirements:
  • Psychology Introductory Courses:
    • PSY 1010 General Psychology: 3
    • PSY 2050 Foundations of Research Methods and Statistics: 4
  • Required Breadth Courses:
    • Select a minimum of one course in each of the four areas below: 12
      • Cognitive Neuroscience:
        • Select 3 credit hours with the "PSY Cog Neuro Cluster" attribute, such as:
          • PSY 3100 Brain, Mind, & Society: 3
          • PSY 3120 Cognitive Psychology: 3
      • Developmental Psychology:
        • Select 3 credit hours with the "PSY Dev Cluster" attribute, such as:
          • PSY 3210 Developmental Psych: Child: 3
          • PSY 3230 Developmental Psychology: Adolescence: 3
      • Social & Organizational Psychology:
        • Select 3 credit hours with the "PSY Soc Org Cluster" attribute, such as:
          • PSY 3300 Social Psychology: 3
          • PSY 3410 Organizational Psychology: 3
      • Mental Health and Wellbeing in Applied Contexts:
        • Select 3 credit hours with the "PSY Health Applied Cluster" attribute, such as:
          • PSY 3460 Abnormal Psychology: 3
          • PSY 3470 Occupational Health Psychology: 3
  • Capstone Course:
    • PSY 4969 Critical Thinking About Psychology * +: 3
    • or PSY 4965 Capstone Practicum Project
  • Psychology Electives **:
    • Select 6 credit hours with the “Psychology Elective -- BA” attribute, such as:
      • PSY 2010 Disciplines & Practices in Psychology: 3
      • PSY 3130 Physiological Psychology: 3
      • PSY 4140 Psychopharmacology: 3
  • Psychology Advanced Elective:
    • Select 3 credits with the "Psychology Advanced Elective" attribute, such as:
      • PSY 4340 African American Psychology: 3
      • PSY 4480 Psychology and Law: 3
  • Learning Through Applications:
    • Select 3 credits with the "Applications of Psych Science" attribute: 3
• General Electives: 51-54
• Total Credits: 120

Non-Course Requirements

• Mentoring Matters: Attendance at two Mentoring Matters events, or equivalent, is required for all psychology majors. Completion is strongly recommended by the end of the second year after declaring the major.

Continuation Standards

• Students who fail to earn C in PSY 1010 or whose SLU PSY GPA is below 2.0 will be placed on program probation and have a maximum of 2 consecutive semesters to resolve either or both issues.

Graduation Requirements

• Complete a minimum of 120 credits (excluding pre-college level courses numbered below 1000).
• Complete the University Undergraduate Core curriculum requirements.
• Complete major requirements: minimum of 30 credits required.
• Complete remaining credits with a second major, minor, certificate, or electives to reach the minimum of 120 credits required for graduation.
• Achieve at least a 2.00 cumulative grade point average, a 2.00 grade point average in the major(s), and a 2.00 grade point average in the minor/certificate or related elective credits.
• Complete department- and program-specific academic and performance requirements.
• Complete at least 50% of the coursework for the major and 75% for the minor/certificate through Saint Louis University or an approved study-abroad program.
• Complete 30 of the final 36 credits through Saint Louis University or an approved study-abroad program.
• Complete an online degree application by the required University deadline.

Roadmaps

Roadmaps are recommended semester-by-semester plans of study for programs and assume full-time enrollment unless otherwise noted.

Courses and milestones designated as critical (marked with !) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation. Transfer credit may change the roadmap.

This roadmap should not be used in the place of regular academic advising appointments. All students are encouraged to meet with their advisor/mentor each semester. Requirements, course availability, and sequencing are subject to change.

Plan of Study Grid Year One

• Fall:
  • PSY 1010 General Psychology (Critical course: satisfies CORE 3600): 3
  • CORE 1000 Ignite First Year Seminar: 2-3
  • CORE 1500 Cura Personalis 1: Self in Community: 1
  • General Electives: 9
• Spring:
  • CORE 1700 Ultimate Questions: Philosophy: 3
  • Psychology First-Year Mentoring Matters (Participation)
  • CORE 1600 Ultimate Questions: Theology: 3
  • CORE 1900 Eloquentia Perfecta 1: Written and Visual Communication: 3
  • General Electives: 6

Year Two

• Fall:
  • Psychology Breadth Requirement: 3
  • Psychology Breadth Requirement: 3
  • Psychology Breadth Requirement: 3
  • CORE 1200 Eloquentia Perfecta 2: Oral and Visual Communication: 3
  • General Electives: 3
• Spring:
  • Psychology General Elective 3: 3
  • PSY 2050 Foundations of Research Methods and Statistics (Critical course: satisfies CORE 3200): 4
  • Psychology Second-Year Mentoring Matters (Participation)
  • CORE 2500 Cura Personalis 2: Self in Contemplation: 0
  • CORE 3800 Ways of Thinking: Natural and Applied Sciences: 3
  • General Electives: 6

Year Three

• Fall:
  • PSY Learning Through Applications 4: 3
  • Psychology Breadth Requirement: 3
  • CORE 3400 Ways of Thinking: Aesthetics, History, and Culture: 3
  • CORE 2800 Eloquentia Perfecta 3: Creative Expression: 3
  • General Electives: 6
• Spring:
  • Psychology BA Capstone 5: 3
  • General Electives: 12

Year Four

• Fall:
  • CORE 3500 Cura Personalis 3: Self in the World: 1
  • Psychology Advanced Elective: 3
  • General Electives: 9
• Spring:
  • General Electives 6: 12
  • Optional Psychology Elective 6: 1-3

Total Credits: 120-123

Program Notes

The B.A. in Psychology requires a minimum of 34 credits.

Approved Psychology Breadth Requirements

At least one course from each of the four topical areas listed must be taken.

Topical Cluster 1: Cognitive Neuroscience

• Select 3 credit hours with the "PSY Cog Neuro Cluster" attribute, such as:
  • PSY 3100 Brain, Mind, & Society: 3
  • PSY 3120 Cognitive Psychology: 3

Topical Cluster 2: Developmental Psychology

• Select 3 credit hours with the "PSY Dev Cluster" attribute, such as:
  • PSY 3210 Developmental Psych: Child: 3
  • PSY 3230 Developmental Psychology: Adolescence: 3

Topical Cluster 3: Social and Organizational Psychology

• Select 3 credit hours with the "PSY Soc Org Cluster" attribute, such as:
  • PSY 3300 Social Psychology: 3
  • PSY 3410 Organizational Psychology: 3

Topical Cluster 4: Mental Health and Wellbeing in Applied Contexts

• Select 3 credit hours with the "PSY Health Applied Cluster" attribute, such as:
  • PSY 3460 Abnormal Psychology: 3
  • PSY 3470 Occupational Health Psychology: 3

Students can complete all or part of the psychology major at Saint Louis University-Madrid, with the exception of the capstone.

2+SLU Programs

2+SLU programs provide a guided pathway for students transferring from a partner institution.

Psychology, B.A. (STLCC 2+SLU)

For additional information about this program, please contact or call .

SLU-Madrid Next Steps

Ready to take the next step? Learn more about how to apply, transfer, or study abroad at Saint Louis University's Madrid campus.

Apply Now Transfer Students Study Abroad Students

Saint Louis University

Higher purpose. Greater good.

Quick Links

• mySLU
• Campus Map
• Emergency Info
• Disclaimer & Privacy

Resources For You

• Current Students
• Parents & Families
• Alumni
• Faculty & Staff
• St. Louis Campus

Request Information

St. Louis, Missouri, and Madrid, Spain

Copyright Saint Louis University

Facebook Instagram LinkedIn YouTube TikTok