Welcome to the Department of Psychology at Arizona State University!
Psychology is among the largest and most popular departments on Arizona State University’s
Tempe campus, with over 50 faculty, 120 graduate students and 2200 undergraduate majors. As
a new student to our department, we encourage you to review the Psychology webpage at
http://www.asu.edu/clas/psych. You will find a great deal of information on courses, faculty, and
current research.
To have a successful start at ASU you are required to meet with an advisor to prior to registering.
During your advising appointment, you will learn about ASU and other information which is
essential to your success:
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Graduation requirements
How to monitor your progress
How to schedule classes
Important services and programs that support your success
Spring registration begins in November. It is a good idea to schedule an appointment as soon as
possible to have a greater selection of classes.
Before scheduling your advising appointment, please be sure to complete the following tasks:
1. Activate your ASU Email address – you will need to either check it regularly or have it
forwarded to an email that you do check regularly. ASU only maintains the ASU email address
and all information from the University, college, and department will be sent to that address. You
will miss out on important opportunities if that address is not maintained.
2. All in coming Freshmen must complete the Math Placement Exam before registering for
courses. In addition to being required before you can register, this exam also determines the
appropriate math course for you to complete. The exam is taken online and we highly encourage
you to take the practice test before taking the test. You may take the test two times and the score
is good for one year. To access the exam, please click here https://students.asu.edu/math.
3. Access your My ASU webpage. Review and address all items listed under “HOLDs” and “TO
DOs” in the “My Tasks” box. Be sure to click on the item for detailed information. To access
your My ASU page, please log onto www.asu.edu, click on My ASU and sign in using your
ASURITE userID and password. Please review the following Tutorial that reviews your My ASU
page: http://www.asu.edu/courses/oasis/MyASUMenu/MyASUMenu.htm
4. If you have completed AP or IB credit, please request that the scores be sent to ASU. Your
high school will not send these to ASU. Also, bring an unofficial copy of your scores with you to
the advising appointment. Scores should be mailed to:
Undergraduate Admissions
Arizona State University
PO Box 870112
Tempe, AZ 85287-0112
5. If you have completed dual enrollment coursework or are transferring coursework from a
community college, please be sure to request that official transcripts be sent to ASU. Your high
school will not send these to ASU. Transcripts should be mailed to:
Undergraduate Admissions
Arizona State University
PO Box 870112
Tempe, AZ 85287-0112
6. Psychology is the study of behavior, emotions and the mental processes of individuals and
groups, approached through a scientific methodology.
The Psychology Department offers two undergraduate degrees: a B.A. in Psychology and a B.S.
in Psychology.
Career Opportunities
Catalog
Description
Major
Map
Degree
Students in the psychology programs are exposed to theories and research addressing such
fascinating topics as:
 How do children develop?
 How do people remember information over long periods of time?
 How do the mind and body react to stress?
 How can people use social influence to increase compliance?
 Which types of treatments are most effective for individuals who are depressed?
Psychology, BA
Psychology, BS
https://webapp4.asu.edu/programs/t5/roadmaps/A
SU00/LAPGSBA/2011
https://webapp4.asu.edu/programs/t5/roadmaps/ASU
00/LAPGSBS/2011
The B.A. in Psychology focuses on appreciating
and understanding the human condition from a
scientific, psychological point of view. All
psychology majors learn about statistics and
research methods and use psychology content
courses to develop skill sets in diverse settings,
including the department’s child development
facilities or internships.
The B.A. in psychology is designed to prepare
students to work in a variety of settings that
provide opportunities to apply concepts and
principles of psychology. This degree provides
students the opportunity to develop a broad range
of highly marketable skills, including analytical
skills, writing and public speaking skills, and
teamwork and leadership skills, as well as
valuable computer skills. These skills lead to
many career opportunities or graduate degrees in
such field as counseling, social work, family
therapy and law.
The B.S. in Psychology focuses on appreciating and
understanding the human condition from a scientific,
psychological point of view emphasizing
quantitative skills. All Psychology majors learn
about statistics and research methods and use
psychology content courses to develop skill sets to
understand behavior in diverse settings.
The B.S. in psychology is designed to prepare
students to work in a variety of settings that provide
opportunities to apply concepts and principles of
psychology. This degree provides students the
opportunity to develop a broad range of highly
marketable skills, including analytical skills, writing,
and public speaking skills, as well as teamwork and
leadership skills. These skills lead to many career
opportunities or graduate degrees in such fields as
counseling, social work, and family therapy. The
B.S. in Psychology also leads to professional
postgraduate programs in the fields of law and
medicine.
Most common reasons to choose the
degree plan:
1. Graduate study in a masters of psychology
program, leading to a career in counseling.
2. Graduate or professional study in law, social
work, public affairs, education, or business.
3. Career preparation with no plans for immediate
graduate study.
4. Liberal arts education using psychology for
personal growth
NOTE:
Pre-law students are encouraged to seek additional
advising from the Pre-Law advisors
(http://prelaw.asu.edu).
1. Graduate study in traditional Ph.D. psychology
programs which have a strong research emphasis.
This includes clinical or counseling psychology.
2. Medical School or professional study in allied
health fields. Pre-health students are encouraged to
seek additional advising from the Pre-Health
advisors (http://prehealth.asu.edu).
NOTE:
 The BS in Psychology is the preferred degree
plan for Honors students and pre-health students.
The BS in Psychology is the pathway toward
admission to the BS in Psychology; Psychological
Science concentration.
The requirements for the two degree plans are very similar. Both plans require:
 University General Studies requirements. Please review the information concerning
University General Studies found at http://catalog.asu.edu/ug_gsr or view the presentation at:
https://provost.asu.edu/files/shared/generalstudies/presentation/index.htm
 Foundations of Psychology: PGS 101 Introduction to Psychology, PSY 230 Intro to Statistics,
PSY 290 Research Methods
 Breadth Courses: four 300 level courses. One course from four of five identified clusters
 Depth Courses: one 300-400 level and one 400 level from an approved list of courses
 Additional Psychology Courses: 9 credit hours. At least 6 credit hours MUST be 300-400
level.
 Foundations of Behavior: 12 credit hours of coursework from disciplines related to
Psychology. These disciplines include: Anthropology, Biology, Cultural Geography, History
and Philosophy of Science, Philosophy or Sociology
Below is a summary of their differences:
Psychology, BA
Requires:
 Proficiency in a foreign language.
For information on how to fulfill this requirement, please see:
http://www.asu.edu/clas/silc/placement/undergraduate/languag
erequirements/
 PreCalculus
Psychology, BS
Requires:
 Two Science & Society classes.
For information on this requirement, please see:
http://clas.asu.edu/node/204
 Calculus
7. For information on Careers in Psychology, please see
http://www.apa.org/topics/psychologycareer.html.
Once the above has been completed, please schedule an appointment to meet with an advisor. To
view the link to the walk-in advising hours, office location, appointment scheduler and
information concerning required materials for all advising sessions, please see:
http://psychology.clas.asu.edu/advising/meet-with-an-advisor.
NOTE: Meeting with an advisor in-person is highly recommended, however; if you are currently
out of the area and require a phone appointment, please indicate this in the notes area of the
appointment and include a phone number to reach you. We request that you are logged into a
computer and have all of the required advising materials with you when you speak with an
advisor.
The Psychology Department Advising Office is located on the Tempe campus (east side) on the
2nd floor of the Psychology Building in Room 255. Please click on the following link for a map:
http://www.asu.edu/map/interactive/?campus=tempe&building=PSY.
When you come for your advising appointment, please bring the following with you:
1. Sun Card (http://cfo.asu.edu/suncard-get) or a picture ID and your ASU Affiliate ID#
2. Print out of the course plan for the degree you have chosen
3. Documentation of all completed dual enrollment college coursework, AP coursework,
and/or IB coursework. a list of questions to discuss
NOTE: students who are 10 minutes or more late to their appointment must reschedule their
appointment – no exceptions.
Again, welcome to ASU and the Department of Psychology. We look forward to working with
you and helping you achieve your educational goals.
Psychology Department Advisors
Psychology Dept.| College of Liberal Arts & Sciences
psych.advisor@asu.edu | fax: (480) 965-8544 | phone: (480) 965-7258
w: http://psychology.clas.asu.edu/advising/meet-with-an-advisor
Psych-cess Blog: http://psychcess.wordpress.com