About the Program
Psychology Department
Buckham Hall A238
(716) 878-6215
http://psychology.buffalostate.edu
The B.A. in Applied Psychology is focused on serving students interested in pursuing applied careers in psychology and related fields, including those potentially looking to enter the field with a bachelors or masters degree. While this degree is still rigorous and data/evidence based, it is designed to give students more experience in the field, greater skill at evaluating and using scientific data (rather than generating those data), and increased training in professional skills.
Learning Outcomes
Students will:
1. Be able to select and critically evaluate existing literature in a given topic area of psychology.
2. Demonstrate the ability to evaluate beliefs and claims related to the discipline of psychology.
3. Be able to identify appropriate statistical techniques for a given research design.
4. Demonstrate the ability to communicate effectively based on topic area, review of literature and study outcomes.
5. Be prepared for careers related to psychology or graduate studies.
6. Develop professional skills in activities that strengthen preparation for job entry and applied graduate school admission.
Program Requirements
General Education 23 Requirements
33 credit hours 33
Psychology Major Requirements (36 credit Hours)
Required Courses (12 credit hours)
Complete ALL of the following Courses:
PSY101 INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY | 3 - Credit Hours
PSY350 STATISTICS IN PSYCHOLOGICAL RESEARCH | 3 - Credit Hours
PSY360 EVALUATING PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE | 3 - Credit Hours
PSY468 PROFESSIONAL SKILLS IN PSYCHOLOGY | 3 - Credit Hours
Note: PSY 350, PSY 360 and PSY 468 must be taken in sequence
PSY350 Prerequisite: At least sophomore status; Completion of the Mathematics and Quantitative Reasoning General Education requirement – only a MAT course at MAT 114 or higher.
Content Courses (15 credit hours)
Biological and Cognitive Psychology
Complete at least 1 of the following Courses:
PSY304 LEARNING: THEORY AND RESEARCH | 3 - Credit Hours
PSY308 SENSATION AND PERCEPTION | 3 - Credit Hours
PSY321 COMPARATIVE ANIMAL BEHAVIOR | 3 - Credit Hours
PSY330 THE PSYCHOLOGICAL POWER OF LANGUAGE | 3 - Credit Hours
PSY333 BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR | 3 - Credit Hours
PSY340 COGNITIVE PSYCHOLOGY | 3 - Credit Hours
Social/Personality Psychology
Complete at least 1 of the following Courses:
PSY311 PERSONALITY: THEORY AND RESEARCH | 3 - Credit Hours
PSY325 SOCIAL BEHAVIOR | 3 - Credit Hours
Developmental Psychology
Complete at least 1 of the following Courses:
PSY301 PERSPECTIVES ON CHILD ABUSE AND ADVOCACY | 3 - Credit Hours
PSY355 LIFESPAN DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY | 3 - Credit Hours
PSY356 CHILD DEVELOPMENT | 3 - Credit Hours
PSY357 ADOLESCENT AND YOUNG ADULT DEVELOPMENT | 3 - Credit Hours
Clinical Psychology
Complete at least 1 of the following Courses:
PSY392 PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDERS | 3 - Credit Hours
PSY393 CHILDHOOD PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDERS | 3 - Credit Hours
PSY392 & PSY393: Prerequisite: PSY 101 with a Grade of C or higher and 3 additional hours of psychology.
Applied Psychology and Diversity
Complete at least 1 of the following Courses:
PSY310 BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION | 3 - Credit Hours
PSY365 PSYCHOLOGY IN THE WORKPLACE | 3 - Credit Hours
PSY367 ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR | 3 - Credit Hours
PSY370 ENVIRONMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY I | 3 - Credit Hours
PSY375 FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGY | 3 - Credit Hours
PSY376 HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY | 3 - Credit Hours
PSY379 PSYCHOLOGY OF MONEY | 3 - Credit Hours
PSY381 PSYCHOLOGY OF CULTURE | 3 - Credit Hours
PSY382 PSYCHOLOGY OF THE CONSUMER | 3 - Credit Hours
PSY383 THE PSYCHOLOGY OF HUMAN SEXUAL BEHAVIOR | 3 - Credit Hours
PSY387 PSYCHOLOGY OF GENDER | 3 - Credit Hours
PSY388 PSYCHOLOGY OF DEATH AND DYING | 3 - Credit Hours
Students must select one course from each of the following groups. The prerequisite for all 300-level courses is PSY 101 with a grade of C or better, unless otherwise noted.
Advanced and Electives Selected by Advisement (9 credit hours)
Three additional courses (9 credit hours) required. At least two courses must be at the 400-level.
Service Learning/Internship
As part of the Required Course Content or Advanced and Elective courses, students must complete one PSY service-learning, PSY 488 Internship or PSY 495 Special Project course.
All College Electives (51 credit hours)
120 Total Credit Hours