Essential Studies at the University of North Dakota
Essential Studies (ES) is the academic core of the university experience. The courses offered in the ES
program provide broad and diverse perspectives and help students acquire essential intellectual skills. All
ES courses contribute to breadth of knowledge. The ES program includes courses that introduce students to
academic fields within Communication, Social Science, Arts and Humanities, and
Math/Science/Technology. At the same time as courses are selected across these subject areas, students will
be choosing courses that are designed to help them achieve these goals:
 Thinking and Reasoning: Use critical thinking, quantitative reasoning, and creative thinking;
 Communication: Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing;
 Information Literacy: Access and evaluate information in a variety of contexts;
 Diversity: Understand and apply knowledge of social-cultural diversity.
Special Emphasis Areas - Courses in the Special Emphasis areas provide students with opportunities for
intensive focus on particular Essential Studies goals to help prepare them to meet the challenges of the
ever-changing world in which we live.
___
Student has met the Oral Communication requirement 3 credits
___
Student has met the Social-Cultural Diversity requirement: United States (U) 3 credits
___
Student has met the Social-Cultural Diversity requirement: Global (G) 3 credits (Psyc 421)
___
Student has met the Quantitative Reasoning requirement (Q) 3 credits (Psyc 241)
___
Student has met the Advanced Communication requirement (A) 3 credits (Psyc 433, Psyc 460)
This worksheet is prepared to help students better understand the University’s Essential Studies program
and measure their own progress in meeting its requirements.
I.
Communication
9 Credits (6 credits writing and 3 credits Oral
Communication)
Special
Course:
Credits
Semester
Emphasis
Completed:
Area:
English 110
3
English 130
3
O
Comm 110 or RHS 200
3
II.
Social Sciences
Special
Course:
Emphasis
Area:
Psyc
Psyc
Other department SS course
III.
Arts and Humanities
Arts and 3 credits Humanities)
Special
Course:
Emphasis
Area:
Lang 101 (Hum)
Lang 102 (Hum)
Fine Art course
9 Credits (minimum of 2 departments)
Credits
Semester
Completed:
3-4
3-4
3
9 Credits (minimum of 2 departments – 3 credits Fine
IV.
Math/Science/Technology
Science)
Special
Course:
Emphasis
Area:
Math 103
Biol 111/l, Bio 150/L, Bio 151/L
Q
Psyc 241
V.
Senior Capstone
Course:
Psyc 405
Credits
Semester
Completed:
4
4
3
9 Credits (includes 4 credits Laboratory
Credits
Semester Completed:
3
4
4
3 Credits
Credits
3
Semester
Completed:
BS with a Major in Psychology and Social and Cultural
Psychology Sub-Plan Checklist of Requirements
I. Requirements outside the Psychology Department
Foreign Language (Level II Proficiency)*:
Course
Semester completed
Credits
101 Level:
102 Level:
TWO of the following courses with lab:
Course
Biol 111 & 111 lab: Concepts of Biol
Biol 150 & 150 lab: General Biology
Biol 151 & 151 lab: General Biology
Anat 204 & 204 lab: Anatomy
Psyc 330 (includes lab)
Semester completed
Credits
II. Requirements inside the Psychology Department
Core courses (required):
Course
Psyc 111: Introduction to Psychology
Psyc 241: Introduction to Statistics-Q
Psyc 303: Research Methods
Psyc 304: Advanced Methods
Psyc 320: PD & Ethics
Psyc 405: History and Systems
Semester completed
Credits
3
4
4
3
1
3
18
All students must also complete at least TWO 400-level courses, not including 405, 485,
489, 492, 493, or 494.
At least one of those 400-level level courses must be one of the following:
Course
Psyc 433: Psychology of Learning-A
Psyc 436: Perception
Psyc 437: Psychophysiology
Psyc 439: Cognitive Psychology
Semester completed
Credits
4
Other 400-level courses to choose from include: Psyc 421: Diversity-G, Psyc 441:
Case-Based Applied Statistics, Psyc 460: Advanced Social Psychology-A, Psyc 470:
Intro to Clinical Psychology
Course
Psyc 4__
Semester completed
Credits
3-4
3-4
All students must also complete at least 2 credits of applied experience in the form of
Psyc 395: Practical Experiences, Psyc 493: Psychology Teaching Assistance, or Psyc
494: Advanced Individual Research
Course
Semester completed
Psyc
Credits
2
2
Sub-plan requirements:
At least 16 credits from the following courses:
Course
Psyc 210: Human Sexuality
Psyc 301: Industrial/Organizational
Psyc 361: Social Psychology
Psyc 362: Psychology & Law
Psyc 365: Psychology of Women
Psyc 421: Diversity-G
Psyc 439: Cognitive Psychology
Psyc 460: Advanced Social Psych-A
Semester completed
Credits
3
3
3
3
3
3
4
3
16+
Total Psychology Credits (at least 43 are required)
43+
*Note: Psyc 421, Psyc 439, and Psyc 460 CANNOT be counted for both the 400-level
course requirements for the program and a sub-plan.