BA in Psychology

The Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at OCU leads to a broad foundation of knowledge in the discipline of psychology. Through the integration of a biblical worldview, students intellectually approach the study of psychology with a deep awareness of the challenges they will encounter in graduate school, the workplace, or ministry. At the completion of this major of study, students will possess a foundational understanding of human behavior and mental processes as well as basic psychology terminology and concepts used in statistical and research methods, physiological psychology, and history and systems.

Objectives:

On completion of this major, students should be able to:

• Articulate a basic understanding of the principles of human development and behavior.
• Understand contemporary psychological theory.
• Attain a basic knowledge of psychological research methodology.
• Integrate the connection between the Bible and psychological principle into a model applicable to the student’s professional context.

MAJOR39 Hours

*33 credit hours at the 3000-level or above

• PSY1020 Introduction to Psychology*3
  A survey of the field of psychology, including historical and theoretical foundations, with special emphasis on contemporary scientific research and empirical applications within a Christian perspective and a biopsychosocial approach.
• PSY2450 Principles of Behavior3
  A concentrated look at the behavioral approach to counseling and human development. This course provides practical knowledge and experience with a critique from the Christian viewpoint.

  Prerequisite: PSY1020
• PSY3010 Lifespan Psychology3
  A holistic study of the individual in the total span of life from birth through senior adulthood as a foundation for understanding human development, including the process of human growth and development, the needs in the major life stages and the biblical perspective of human development.

  Prerequisite: PSY1020
• PSY3020 Theories of Personality3
  Critical thinking about the major personality theories, focusing on major features and underlying assumptions of each theory, with attention to the use of new and long-standing theories as they apply to modern thinking and behaviors in light of the principles of Scripture.

  Prerequisite: PSY1020
• PSY3030 Social Psychology3
  Social group influences on individual behavior, including behavioral expressions such as aggression, prejudice, attitude change, and affiliation, examined from the viewpoint of social science and Scripture.

  Prerequisite: PSY1020
• PSY3060 Statistics for Social Sciences3
  An introduction to basic psychological research techniques and methodology including collecting, organizing, and analyzing psychological data for quantitative research, and an introduction to statistical reasoning with a focus on fundamental concepts and statistical methods for psychological research. Recommended

  prerequisite: college level math course
• PSY3600 Abnormal Psychology3
  Abnormal behavior as defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, with analysis of ideology and behavioral abnormality, methods of therapy, and emphasis on cultural and demographic variables impacting mental illness.

  Prerequisite: PSY1020
• PSY4010 Cognition and Perception3
  This course introduces concepts and theories related to cognitive psychology, historical and current cognitive research, and cognitive functioning through the lens of a Biblical worldview. An overview of cognition, perception, memory, attention, and language and information processing demonstrates the human mind’s fragility, plasticity, and resilience.

  Prerequisite: PSY1020
• PSY4020 Perspectives on Diversity in Psychology3
  Understanding and counseling people from culturally diverse populations, including examination of cultural backgrounds, the acculturation processes, and personal perspectives in the counseling setting, with approaches for meeting counseling problems with these groups, and application of current theory and research.

  Prerequisite: PSY1020
• PSY4050 Research Design3
  An introduction to the concepts and techniques of research methodology as employed in the behavioral sciences including experimental research, observational, and survey research. Students will be encouraged to demonstrate an understanding of the role of research for helping professionals; examine truth-seeking from a scientific, and from a Biblical perspective; critique current research findings in professional journals and identify appropriate research methodology for a given problem or topic.

  Prerequisites: PSY1020, PSY3060
• PSY4210 Physiological Psychology3
  The physiological foundation for behavior and mental processes, including the biochemical, anatomical, and neurological basis for psychological functions such as emotion, learning, cognition, and pathology.

  Prerequisite: PSY1020
• Psychology Elective 3

*May be applied toward the Social & Behavioral Sciences requirements in the GenEd core.

Please choose one of the following:

• PSY4500 Integrative Research Seminar3
  A capstone experience in which the psychology major utilizes learning from previous coursework, working with primary and secondary materials to craft an essay on a topic aligned with the psychology major outcomes.

  Prerequisite: Completion of major courses
• PSY4900 Undergraduate Thesis3
  A capstone experience in which the psychology major will utilize what he or she has learned in previous courses, working with primary and secondary materials to craft an extended essay under the guidance of a faculty mentor.

  Prerequisite: 30 earned hours of psychology coursework
• PSY4950 Practicum in Psychology3
  This capstone course offers the student opportunity to learn in a supervised field experience through seminars, small group experiences, research papers, written verbatim work and lectures by professional resource persons. The practicum includes venues such as prisons, mental health clinics, mental hospitals, general hospitals, and community- and church-related counseling centers, or other human services organizations.

  Prerequisites: PSY3010, PSY3020, PSY3030