Student Research in Psychology is Ongoing: A Sample is Highlighted at the 2026 Student Research Symposium...

Minor in Psychology

Discover the transformative potential of the Minor in Psychology.

Minoring in Psychology is a great way to gain additional knowledge and skills that are beneficial in both professional and personal contexts.

Purpose

The Minor in Psychology program provides students in bachelor's degree programs with essential knowledge about people and the dynamics of human interaction to give them a competitive edge in their profession. The flexibility of the 18-credit minor allows students to tailor it to their professional needs. The courses easily transfer into the Bachelor of Arts in Psychology program for those who decide to continue their studies in the discipline.

Program Goals and Learning Outcomes

Our program is aligned with the foundational level of the expectations of the American Psychological Association:

Knowledge Base in Psychology - Students will demonstrate breadth of fundamental knowledge and comprehension of the major concepts, theoretical perspectives, historical trends, and empirical findings to discuss how psychological principles apply to simple behavioral problems;
Scientific Inquiry and Critical Thinking - Students will demonstrate basic skills and concepts in interpreting behavior, studying research, and applying research design principles to drawing conclusions about psychological phenomena;
Ethical and Social Responsibility in a Diverse World -Students will demonstrate basic familiarity with the formal regulations that govern professional ethics in psychology and begin to embrace the values that will contribute to positive outcomes in personal and professional settings and in building a society responsive to multicultural and global concerns;
Communication - Students will demonstrate the ability to write a cogent scientific argument, present information using a scientific approach, engage in discussion of psychological concepts, explain the ideas of others, and express their own ideas with clarity; and
Professional Development - Students will be able to demonstrate application of psychology-specific content and skills, effective self-reflection, project-management skills, teamwork skills, and career preparation to succeed in academic settings.

Curriculum: 18 Credits (Click to Expand)

Our curriculum consists of the following coursework.

PSYC 101 - General Psychology 3 Credits: Students will learn fundamental concepts, theories, research, and methods used in psychology, particularly those in its major subfields: biological, clinical, cognitive, counseling, developmental, personality, and social. Students will also learn to think critically and communicate effectively about the material and apply it to best serve themselves and others.
PSYC 200 Elective (Choose ONE Course): 3 Credits
- PSYC 202 - Psychopathology 3 Credits: Students will learn about mental disorders, including theories, causes, progression, symptomatology, diagnosis, and treatment. Prerequisite: PSYC 101.
- PSYC 204 - Child and Adolescent Development 3 Credits: This course examines theory and research on biological, cognitive, and social/emotional development from conception through adolescence. Emphasis is placed on application of course concepts to real-world contexts. Prohibited Course: EDUC 225.
- PSYC 207 - Adult Development 3 Credits: This course examines theory and research on biological, cognitive, and social/emotional development from adulthood through death. Emphasis is placed on application of course concepts to real-world contexts.
- PSYC 240 - Social Psychology 3 Credits: Students will learn how people think about, influence, and relate to each other, including conformity, obedience, aggression, altruism, attitudes, persuasion, and other social behaviors. Prerequisite: PSYC 101.
PSYC 300/400 Electives (Choose TWO Courses): 6 Credits
- PSYC 320 - Cognitive Psychology 3 Credits: Students will learn concepts, theories, research, and methods related to cognitive psychology, including perception, attention, learning, memory, thinking, language, problem solving, and decision making. Prerequisite: PSYC 101.
- PSYC 322 - Tests and Measurements 3 Credits: The primary objective of this course is to introduce students to psychological tests and measurements and their uses in clinical, industrial, and educational settings. Topics covered include: test classification, special populations, psychometric principles, norms, ethics, reliability, validity, development, administration, and interpretation of test scores. Prerequisites: MATH 220, PSYC 101.
- PSYC 380 - Biological Psychology 3 Credits: Students will learn concepts, theories, research, and methods related to biological psychology, including the structure, function, and activities of the nervous system and their relationship to behavior and mental processes. Prerequisites: PSYC 101.
- PSYC 440 - Personality Psychology 3 Credits: Students will learn about the major personality theories and research literature, including psychoanalysis, evolutionary, trait, social learning, motivational, biographical, developmental, and narrative. Prerequisites: PSYC 101.
Electives (Choose TWO Courses not already fulfilling a requirement): 6 credits
- Any PSYC Course 3 Credits - See the Course Description page for Psychology to find other regularly offered courses.
- Any 300/400 Level PSYC Course 3 Credits - See the Course Description page for Psychology to find other regularly offered courses.
- CRIM 301 - Criminology Research Methods 3 Credits

Additional Information

Explore the College Catalog for information about Mount Aloysius College, including Minor options and requirements.

Resource for Further Exploration

American Psychological Association. (2013). APA guidelines for the undergraduate psychology major: Version 2.0. https://teachpsych.org/Resources/Documents/otrp/APA/APA%20Guidelines%20for%20the%20Undergraduate%20Psycholog%20Major%202.0.pdf

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