West Chester University
Please email me at [email protected] to set up an appointment.
Penn State Altoona
Note that I am no longer at Penn State Altoona, but I keep the information below in case former students at Penn State Altoona find it useful.
Overview
Any undergraduate degree requires a certain number of course credits (124), which include a mix of general education, and more specific major requirements. The Psychology major at Penn State Altoona requires specific general education courses, breadth courses in the arts (BA) or sciences (BS), and psych major requirements (summarized above, with credits listed in parentheses). Students are encouraged to take a mix of courses throughout their college experience (e.g. not stacking all psych courses at the end).
Tips on General Education:
Tips on BA/BS major:
Tips on Psych Courses:
Tips on Capstone Courses:
Students also choose from 1 of the 3 capstone experiences. All capstone experiences require a classroom presentation. The classroom option embeds the presentation within a history of psychology course. The research option asks students to present on a research project they have conducted (archival or new data) at the end of the semester. The practicum option allows students to work in applied settings, and present on their experiences at that setting along with a research article review of a topic related to their practicum site) at the end of the semester.
Tips on General Education:
- You must pass STAT200 to graduate, and there is a limit to how many times you can take it.
- Many of the Gen Ed courses can't be counted twice, so if your major requires 9 natural science credits (for instance) that is IN ADDITION TO the natural sciences credits needed to fulfill the Gen Ed requirement.
- The Quantification requirement is 6 credits. You must take STAT200, which is 4 credits. Most other GQ courses you can take for quantification are 3 credits. This means you will have an extra credit that won't count towards this Gen Ed requirement, and instead the additional 1 credit will appear as an elective (most likely).
- New Gen Ed requirements are effective for students who start college Fall 2018 or later. Refer to the handbook for these revised Gen Ed requirements (linked courses).
Tips on BA/BS major:
- A BS is perhaps seen as more rigorous for a research oriented graduate school (particularly the science option).
- All major choices will require 42 credits. For the BS options, this means 15 credits of that option (either science or business courses), 9 bachelor of science credits (6 natural science, 3 social/behavior science) and 18 elective credits. Thus, the only difference for BS-Science vs. BS-Business is the 15 credits in the science or business concentration.
- The BA option also requires 42 credits.
- For most people, you will take 12 credits of a language, and 3 credits of "other culture" to arrive at that 15 credits number. The "other cultures" courses can be double counted to satisfy other degree requirements (consult with an academic adviser to be sure).
- You then need 9 Bachelor of Arts credits. But be careful because Psych courses are listed as BA courses, but you can't count major courses towards this requirement. Instead, extra psych classes count as electives.
- You then need 18 elective credits.
- If you come in with a 12th credit level proficiency in a foreign language, you may be able to skip all 12 language credits. But that means taking 12 additional elective credits to arrive at the 42 credit number needed.
- To summarize:
- The BS requirements have 15 credits (either science or business courses), 9 credits (bachelor of science courses), and 18 elective credits.
- The BA requirements have 15 credits (language & other cultures courses), 9 credits (bachelor of arts courses), and 18 elective credits.
Tips on Psych Courses:
- You need at least 1 course from each of the 5 categories (1. Learning & Cognition, 2. Social & Personality, 3. Biological, 4. Developmental, 5. Applied & Clinical). During some semesters, the psychology department will only offer courses from some of these categories. Thus, don't put off a 200 course until senior year, because there may be no psych course offered that semester that fits into the category you need. Aim to complete all 200 courses by the end of your junior year.
- Many 400 level psych courses have 200 level prerequisites.
- Extra 200-level psychology courses count as electives. We recommend taking as many psychology courses as you can, because that is your major and taking more courses enhances your knowledge of psychology.
Tips on Capstone Courses:
Students also choose from 1 of the 3 capstone experiences. All capstone experiences require a classroom presentation. The classroom option embeds the presentation within a history of psychology course. The research option asks students to present on a research project they have conducted (archival or new data) at the end of the semester. The practicum option allows students to work in applied settings, and present on their experiences at that setting along with a research article review of a topic related to their practicum site) at the end of the semester.
General education and Psych Major requirements for all students:
Additional requirements for BA:
Additional requirements for BS-Science:
Additional requirements for BS-Business:
Review of Capstone Options:
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Scheduling
WHAT TO SCHEDULE
WHEN TO SCHEDULE
WHERE TO SCHEDULE
*The what-if report is designed for students who aren't in the major yet. You select a psychology major and then which type (BA, BS-science, BS-business) and then lion path shows you what you have completed and what is left to complete. The Academic requirements report is for individuals who already declared their major in psychology. It shows you what you have completed and what is left to complete for your declared major.
- Print out your major requirements (found above).
- Compare requirements to what you have already completed. Lion path can do this for you. First, click the "Academics" tab. Then select either the "academic requirements" or "what if report" on the right side*.
- See which courses you need (consult additional requirement documents above for suggested academic plan each semester).
- See which courses are offered (schedule.psu.edu or select "class search" on lion path).
WHEN TO SCHEDULE
- It is based on how many credits you have completed.
- If this is your first semester, you have completed 0 credits.
- You can determine how many credits you completed by consulting the degree audit.
- The website listing the dates based on completed credits: http://altoona.psu.edu/registrar/ (click on scheduling, and then click the semester).
- Your scheduling date is also listed on lion path under the "enrollment date" section on the right.
WHERE TO SCHEDULE
- Lionpath.psu.edu
- Click the "shopping cart" and the appropriate semester.
*The what-if report is designed for students who aren't in the major yet. You select a psychology major and then which type (BA, BS-science, BS-business) and then lion path shows you what you have completed and what is left to complete. The Academic requirements report is for individuals who already declared their major in psychology. It shows you what you have completed and what is left to complete for your declared major.
Basic How-to Help
Student academic courses: https://bulletins.psu.edu/undergraduate/
*Search courses on this campus and other campuses
*Check degree requirements for any major
*Find out entrance to major requirements (on this campus, or any campus)
*Figure out what you need to do to get a Minor
Student tutorials: lionpathsupport.psu.edu/student-help/
*View your exam schedule.
*View your grades.
*How to enroll or drop classes
*Degree audit directions
*Apply to graduate
*Financial aid questions
*Search courses on this campus and other campuses
*Check degree requirements for any major
*Find out entrance to major requirements (on this campus, or any campus)
*Figure out what you need to do to get a Minor
Student tutorials: lionpathsupport.psu.edu/student-help/
*View your exam schedule.
*View your grades.
*How to enroll or drop classes
*Degree audit directions
*Apply to graduate
*Financial aid questions
Additional Questions
Questions related to advising more broadly can be found on the advising website: http://www.altoona.psu.edu/advising/current.php
Additional questions related to psychology such as adding a psychology minor, or transferring to University Park after 2 years can be found in the Psychology Handbook: http://www.altoona.psu.edu/psych/
If you plan to transfer to UP after 2 years, it is a good idea to schedule an appointment with me so we can discuss the various steps you need to do.
Transfer credits
To schedule an appointment with me, please contact me through email ([email protected]). Another system for scheduling is called "Starfish", which is a website that allows you to login and book advising appointments. I prefer you email me directly, because it is the quickest way for me to receive your request.
How do pre-requisites work for psychology courses? We suggest certain pre-requisites for classes (e.g. psych 100 before taking psych 200 level courses, taking 270 before taking 470, etc.). The course scheduling system (elion) used to not allow you to schedule a course if you didn't meet the pre-requisites. Lion path is not updated yet, so you must read the pre-requisites to avoid scheduling a class you will need to drop later.
Can I schedule online courses?
In the fall and spring semesters this is discouraged. The process would be to discuss it with your adviser, and then call the campus registrar for world campus. These requests will often need approval from the Psych Dept head at UP, and his policy is to limit these opportunities to students who are full time at the world campus. Often, he will ask if there is a residential class you can take instead to fulfill the requirement. In the summer, you can take online classes, but may need to switch your campus to "world campus" and then switch back to altoona after the summer is over. Contact the campus registrar for world campus to get further details.
Additional questions related to psychology such as adding a psychology minor, or transferring to University Park after 2 years can be found in the Psychology Handbook: http://www.altoona.psu.edu/psych/
If you plan to transfer to UP after 2 years, it is a good idea to schedule an appointment with me so we can discuss the various steps you need to do.
Transfer credits
- Transfer credits are evaluated and processed by the University Park Admissions Office (not Penn State Altoona's office).
- To start, put information into the transfer credit tool: http://admissions.psu.edu/info/future/transfer/credit/. This may include transcripts, syllabi, and other information. It will then be evaluated by UP.
- Transfer credits may not count where you expect them to. Sometimes there is flexibility with where they can count, so consult with an adviser.
- Also: see revised transfer credit tool (4/2018): https://www.admissions.psu.edu/my_admissions/tas/index.cfm
- Cassandra Lewis is the administration point person that can answer questions about transfer credits: [email protected]
To schedule an appointment with me, please contact me through email ([email protected]). Another system for scheduling is called "Starfish", which is a website that allows you to login and book advising appointments. I prefer you email me directly, because it is the quickest way for me to receive your request.
How do pre-requisites work for psychology courses? We suggest certain pre-requisites for classes (e.g. psych 100 before taking psych 200 level courses, taking 270 before taking 470, etc.). The course scheduling system (elion) used to not allow you to schedule a course if you didn't meet the pre-requisites. Lion path is not updated yet, so you must read the pre-requisites to avoid scheduling a class you will need to drop later.
Can I schedule online courses?
In the fall and spring semesters this is discouraged. The process would be to discuss it with your adviser, and then call the campus registrar for world campus. These requests will often need approval from the Psych Dept head at UP, and his policy is to limit these opportunities to students who are full time at the world campus. Often, he will ask if there is a residential class you can take instead to fulfill the requirement. In the summer, you can take online classes, but may need to switch your campus to "world campus" and then switch back to altoona after the summer is over. Contact the campus registrar for world campus to get further details.
Information Updates
Occasionally the advising office will send out updates on a variety of issues. I list these updates below.
Student aid & late drop: At the end of Spring 17, students must have and maintain a 2.0 cumulative GPA and complete 67% of the courses they attempt to remain eligible for federal student aid. There are no longer limits on late drops, but keep the above in mind.
Website newly created that lists changes to academic policies: undergrad.psu.edu/aappm/
If you plan on changing major and campuses, wait for the change of major request to be completed. Otherwise, the staff need to cancel change of campus until the change of major goes through.
New Gen Ed requirements exist for students who first start in the summer of 2018 and later. Details can be found here: gened.psu.edu/sites/default/files/docs/Gen%20Ed%20Overview%20and%20the%20Degree%20Audit%20-%20Final.pdf
Student aid & late drop: At the end of Spring 17, students must have and maintain a 2.0 cumulative GPA and complete 67% of the courses they attempt to remain eligible for federal student aid. There are no longer limits on late drops, but keep the above in mind.
Website newly created that lists changes to academic policies: undergrad.psu.edu/aappm/
If you plan on changing major and campuses, wait for the change of major request to be completed. Otherwise, the staff need to cancel change of campus until the change of major goes through.
New Gen Ed requirements exist for students who first start in the summer of 2018 and later. Details can be found here: gened.psu.edu/sites/default/files/docs/Gen%20Ed%20Overview%20and%20the%20Degree%20Audit%20-%20Final.pdf
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