DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY (PY)

Professor Kenneth L. Lichstein, Chairperson
Office: 348 Gordon Palmer Hall

PY 101 is open to entering freshman students. A student must complete PY 101, PY 211 (with a minimum grade of "C-") and a 300-level PY course before acceptance for the major program of study in psychology will be considered. In addition, a grade point average of 2.0 or higher in all psychology courses take prior to application is required.

Requirements for the major in psychology. The psychology major requires 32 hours, including PY 101, PY 211, PY 355, PY 356, PY 471, two semesters of seminar, and 12 additional hours of advanced work (300 or 400 level) distributed as follows:

• Students select one course from three of four major content areas, with at least one course taken at the 400 level (9 hours).
• Life span developmental: PY 352, PY 365, or PY 461
• Learning and cognition: PY 361 or PY 470
• Biological bases: PY 313 or PY 413
• Socio-cultural: PY 358, PY 372, PY 462, or PY 468
• Students select 3 additional hours of advanced PY coursework.

A minimum of 12 hours at the 300 or 400 level must be earned on this campus. In addition, psychology majors must complete two semesters of biology, chemistry, or physics.

Requirements for the minor in psychology. The psychology minor requires 18 hours, including PY 101 and 6 hours of advanced work (300 or 400 level). A minimum of 6 hours at the 300 or 400 level must be earned on this campus.

Honors program in psychology. The psychology department honors program is designed to afford qualified majors the opportunity to participate in activities preparatory for graduate training in psychology. The two-year program is research-oriented and involves interactions with selected faculty and peers in an enriched and accelerated academic environment. Completion of the program is contingent upon submission of an independently conducted research project equivalent in quality to a master's thesis. Psychology majors who are in the second semester of the sophomore year with 9 hours of completed coursework in psychology (including PY 101, PY 211, and a 300-level course) may apply for admission to the psychology department honors program. A completed application and interview by the Departmental Honors Committee are required before acceptance. To be accepted, a student must have a 3.3 grade point average in psychology coursework and a 3.0 average overall; however, meeting these minimum requirements does not guarantee admission.

A Suggested Sequence of Courses for the Psychology Major
FRESHMAN YEAR
First Semester Course Hours PY 101 3 EN 101 3 MATH1 3–4 Natural science (biology, chemistry, or physics) 4 Foreign language or computer science 3–4 ___ 16–17		Second Semester Course Hours EN 102 3 History2 3 Natural science (biology, chemistry, or physics) 4 Fine arts2 3 Foreign language or computer science 3–4 ___ 16–17
SOPHOMORE YEAR
First Semester Course Hours PY 211 3 EN 205 or EN 2092 3 Humanities2 3 Social and behavioral sciences2 3 Computer science or elective 3 ___ 15		Second Semester Course Hours PY content area requirement 3 PY elective 3 EN 206 or EN 2102 3 Minor 3 Elective 3 ___ 15
JUNIOR YEAR3
First Semester Course Hours PY 355 3 PY 356 2 PY content area requirement 3 Minor 6 ___ 14		Second Semester Course Hours PY content area requirement 3 Minor 6 Electives 6 ___ 15
SENIOR YEAR3
First Semester Course Hours PY 471 3 PY 491 3 Minor 3 Social and behavioral sciences2 3 Elective 3 ___ 15		Second Semester Course Hours PY 491 3 Minor 3 History or social and behavioral sciences2 3 Electives 6 ___ 15   Total: At least 120

Graduate programs. The Department of Psychology offers programs leading to the master of arts and doctor of philosophy degrees. The requirements for these degrees are stated in the University of Alabama graduate catalog.