REQUIREMENTS FOR A MAJOR IN PSYCHOLOGY AT EWU
The psychology major is designed to educate students in the foundations of psychological science and practice while also
allowing them considerable freedom to pursue their specific interests. Each psychology will be assigned a Major Advisor
and should discuss career options with his or her advisor.
Note: Prerequisites. Before declaring the major in psychology, the student must pass PSYC 100, General Psychology, or
its equivalent at a grade point average of 2.0 or better. In addition, a single foreign language (two years at high school
level or one year at college level) is required. Students must maintain a C (1.6 or better) in all Required Courses: PSYC
309, CSBS 320/PSYC 310, PSYC 313, PSYC 395/495, PSYC 398/498, AND PSYC 399/499
Major Requirements (70 credits)
Prerequisite Course:
Required Courses: (18 credits)
PSYC 309,
Scientific Principles of Psychology (5 credits)
CSBS 320/PSYC 310,
Statistics (5 credits)
PSYC 313,
Research Methods in Psychology (5 credits)
Experiential Requirement (3 credits total in any combination)
PSYC 395/495,
Internship OR
PSYC 398/498,
Seminar OR
PSYC 399/499,
Directed Study
In addition to the above core requirements, psychology majors are required to take a specified number of courses from
three cluster/groups as follows:
Cluster A: Core Courses. Students are required to take at least four of the following courses: (20 credits)
PSYC 301,
PSYC 302,
PSYC 303,
PSYC 315,
PSYC 316,
PSYC 340,
PSYC 381,
PSYC 420,
Theories of Personality (5)
Abnormal Psychology (5)
Foundations of Psychotherapy (5)
Conditioning and Learning (5)
Human Memory and Cognition (5)
Emotions and Emotional Intelligence (5)
Social Psychology (5)
Biological Basis of Behavior (5)
Note: CEDP 201, CEDP 313, OR CEDP 314 may be used to count as one of the Cluster A courses as approved by the
Psychology Department Chair. If a CEDP Developmental Psychology class is used the total credits in Cluster A will be
19 credits instead of 20.
Cluster B Applied/Lab Courses: Students are required to take at least two of the following courses: (7-10 credits)
CSBS 321/PSYC 312,
PSYC 314,
PSYC 318,
PSYC 430,
PSYC 431,
PSYC 440,
Computerized Statistical Analysis (4)
Principles of Clinical Assessment (5)
Computerized Research Techniques in Psychology (4)
Human Psychophysiology (5)
Stress and Coping (3)
Happiness and Positive Psychology (4)
Cluster C: Specialty Courses: Students are required to take at least one of the following courses: (4-5 credits)
PSYC 317,
PSYC 323,
PSYC 331,
PSYC 359,
PSYC 425,
PSYC 450,
Health Psychology (5)
Drugs and Behavior (5)
Psychology of Women (4)
Human Sexuality (5)
Psychology and the Legal System (5)
Trauma: Theory, Assessment & Treatment (4)
Capstone Class: PSYC 490, The Tradition of Psychology (6 credits), fulfills the University capstone requirement and
may also be used as an elective within the department’s major. The course consists of three components: (a) the history of
psychology, (b) a collaborative project, and (c) portfolio preparation.
Electives: The remainder of courses required to complete the 65 credit major may be chosen from any of the above
courses that are not used to meet the group requirements or other psychology courses offered.