College of Arts and Sciences

Psychology

Program Options

• Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree with a major in psychology
• Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree with a major in psychology
• Psychology minor
• 3+2 Psychology to Counseling

Psychology department web site

The information on this page pertains to program requirements for students who matriculated in the 2024-2025 academic year.  View requirements for previous catalog years here.

Program Overview

The Department of Psychology provides courses in the fundamental areas of study that comprise the science of behavior. The psychology department encourages students to participate in experiential learning opportunities in the form of research seminars, independent study, and internships in addition to traditional coursework. The department recognizes outstanding undergraduate students by presenting annual achievement awards for excellence in academic performance and for significant contributions in experimental and applied psychology.

The undergraduate Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree program is intended for students planning careers in areas other than psychology or related sciences. A B.A. degree in psychology can be completed as part of many pre-professional programs of study, including pre-business, pre-law and pre-social work. Because human behavior is an essential part of any career a B.A. degree can also complement a student's primary area of study. Students should work with their advisors to assure selection of courses most compatible with their educational and career objectives. Students also are encouraged to take courses in the arts and sciences that improve their verbal, quantitative and critical reasoning abilities.

The program of study leading to a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree with a major in psychology is intended for students who anticipate attending graduate school in psychology or related sciences. The course requirements reflect the breadth and rigor necessary to prepare for the Graduate Record Examinations and graduate study.

All Psychology students are encouraged to take courses in the arts and sciences that improve their verbal, quantitative and critical reasoning abilities.

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B.A. Degree Requirements

Course	Credits
PSY 001 - Introduction to Psychology (with lab)	4
PSY 011 - Introduction to Statistics for Psychology	4
PSY 013 - Research Methods	3
Select one course, including a lab, from the following
PSY 120/121 - Conditioning and Learning	4
PSY 123 - Biological Basis of Behavior	4
PSY 125 - Cognitive Psychology	4
PSY 126 - Comparative Psychology	4
PSY 130 - Experimental Social Psychology	4
PSY 133 - Psychological Assessment	4
PSY 162 - Applied Behavior Analysis	4
Upper-Division - Select 16 credits of PSY courses numbered 100 or higher.  These 16 credits cannot include non-capstone independent studies, research seminars, or internships	16
Themes - Select at least one course from each of the following areas.  A theme may be filled by a lab course.
Theme A - Sensation, Perception & Biopsychology
PSY 024 - Animal Behavior	3
PSY 028 - Drugs and Behavior	3
PSY 122 - Sensation & Perception	3
PSY 123 - Biological Basis of Behavior	4
PSY 124 - Health Psychology	3
PSY 127 - Behavior Genetics	3
PSY 128 - Hormones and Behavior	3
Theme B - Learning, Cognition & Memory
PSY 025 – Cognitive Processes	3
PSY 060 - Principles of Behavior	3
PSY 120/121 - Condition & Learning (with lab)	4
PSY 125 - Cognitive Psychology	4
PSY 126 - Comparative Psychology	4
PSY 162 - Applied Behavior Analysis	4
Theme C - Clinical, Personality & Assessment
PSY 050 - Psychology of Creativity	3
PSY 076 - Abnormal Psychology	3
PSY 132 - Theories of Personality	3
PSY 133 - Psychological Assessment	4
PSY 137 - Psychology of Gender	3
PSY 176 - Advanced Psychopathology	3
PSY 177 - Fundamentals of Clinical Psychology	3
Theme D - Developmental, Social & Organizational
PSY 030 - Social Psychology	3
PSY 042 - Child and Adolescent Psychology	3
PSY 044 - Adult Development and Aging	3
PSY 085 - Organizational Psychology	3
PSY 130 - Experimental Social Psychology	4
PSY 135 - Psychology of Prejudice	3
PSY 138 – Multicultural Psychology	3
PSY 142 - Behavior Analysis Child Development	3
PSY 148 - Psychology of Developmental Disabilities	3
PSY 183 - Industrial Psychology	3
Capstone - Select one from the following
Designated Capstone course
PSY 145 - Applied Professional Ethics Psychology, or	3
PSY 151 - History and Systems of Psychology
Research Experience
PSY 190/191 - Independent Study	.5-3
Internship
PSY 192 - Internship	1-3
Research Seminar PSY 198- Under faculty guidance, small groups may work together on an original project. All members must contribute equally.
TOTAL	39

Notes

• Students must pass PSY 011 and PSY 013 with a grade of “C” (not “C-“) or better to enroll in some upper-division psychology courses and to complete the psychology major.
• BIO 140 - Biology Research and Statistics Methods, HSCI 060 – Statistics for the Health Sciences,  or both STAT 071 - Statistics I and STAT 072 - Statistics II may substitute for PSY 011.  Students who choose this option will need to take additional credits in psychology to reach the 39 credits required for the major.
• Students must obtain a minimum 2.0 G.P.A. across all psychology courses to graduate with a B.A. or a B.S. in psychology.
• Of the 39 credits in psychology needed for the major, 18 must be taken at Drake that do not include independent study, research seminars, or internships.  A minimum of 9 of these credits taken at Drake must be upper-division psychology credits.

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B.S. Degree Requirements

Course	Credits
PSY 001 - Introduction to Psychology (with lab)	4
PSY 011 - Introduction to Statistics for Psychology	4
PSY 013 - Research Methods	3
Select one course, including a lab, from the following
PSY 120/121 - Conditioning and Learning	4
PSY 123 - Biological Basis of Behavior	4
PSY 125 - Cognitive Psychology	4
PSY 126 - Comparative Psychology	4
PSY 130 - Experimental Social Psychology	4
PSY 133 - Psychological Assessment	4
PSY 162 - Applied Behavior Analysis	4
Upper-Division - - Select 16 credits of PSY courses numbered 100 or higher.  These 16 credits cannot include non-capstone independent studies, research seminars, or internships,	16
Themes - Select at least one course from each of the following areas.  A theme may be filled by a lab course.
Theme A - Sensation, Perception & Biopsychology
PSY 024 - Animal Behavior	3
PSY 028 - Drugs and Behavior	3
PSY 122 - Sensation & Perception	3
PSY 123 - Biological Basis of Behavior	4
PSY 124 - Health Psychology	3
PSY 127 - Behavior Genetics	3
PSY 128 - Hormones and Behavior	3
Theme B - Learning, Cognition & Memory
PSY 025 – Cognitive Processes	3
PSY 060 - Principles of Behavior	3
PSY 120/121 - Condition & Learning (with lab)	4
PSY 125 - Cognitive Psychology	4
PSY 126 - Comparative Psychology	4
PSY 162 - Applied Behavior Analysis	4
Theme C - Clinical, Personality & Assessment
PSY 050 - Psychology of Creativity	3
PSY 070 – Intro to Counseling Techniques	3
PSY 076 - Abnormal Psychology	3
PSY 081 – Human Sexuality	3
PSY 132 - Theories of Personality	3
PSY 133 - Psychological Assessment	4
PSY 137 - Psychology of Gender	3
PSY 172 – Trauma and Recovery	3
PSY 176 - Advanced Psychopathology	3
PSY 177 - Fundamentals of Clinical Psychology	3
Theme D - Developmental, Social & Organizational
PSY 030 - Social Psychology	3
PSY 042 - Child and Adolescent Psychology	3
PSY 044 - Adult Development and Aging	3
PSY 085 - Organizational Psychology	3
PSY 130 - Experimental Social Psychology	4
PSY 135 - Psychology of Prejudice	3
PSY 138 – Multicultural Psychology	3
PSY 142 - Behavior Analysis Child Development	3
PSY 148 - Psychology of Developmental Disabilities	3
PSY 183 - Industrial Psychology	3
Bachelor of Science Non-Psychology Natural Sciences - An additional 12 credits must be successfully completed in natural science courses outside of the Department of Psychology, including Astronomy, BCMB, Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Environmental Science, Mathematics (MATH 20 or higher), Physics, select HSCI courses, Statistics and Neuroscience that is not cross-listed with Psychology.  Eight of the 12 credits must be from courses that include a laboratory component.	12
Capstone - Select from the following
Designated Capstone course
PSY 145 - Applied Professional Ethics Psychology, or	3
PSY 151 - History and Systems of Psychology
Research Experience
PSY 190C/191C - Independent Study	.5-3
Internship
PSY 192C - Internship–	1-3
Research Seminar PSY 198- Under faculty guidance, small groups may work together on an original project. All members must contribute equally.
TOTAL	51

Notes

• Students must pass PSY 011 and PSY 013 with a grade of “C” (not “C-“) or better to enroll in some upper-division psychology courses and to complete the psychology major.
• BIO 140 - Biology Research and Statistics Methods, HSCI 060 – Statistics for the Health Sciences,  or both STAT 071 - Statistics I and STAT 072 - Statistics II may substitute for PSY 011.  Students who choose this option will need to take additional credits in psychology to reach the 39 credits required for the major.
• Students must obtain a minimum 2.0 G.P.A. across all psychology courses to graduate with a B.A. or a B.S. in psychology.
• Of the 39 credits in psychology needed for the major, 18 must be taken at Drake that do not include independent study, research seminars, or internships.  A minimum of 9 of these credits taken at Drake must be upper-division psychology credits.
• A maximum of 6 credits of non-capstone PSY 090, 091, 190, and 191 (independent study) and/or PSY 192 (internship) may be counted toward the 39 credits for the major. Non-capstone independent studies and all interships will be awarded CR/NC grades.

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Psychology Minor

A minor in psychology allows students to complement their major field of study with psychology courses and provides formal acknowledgment of the courses completed.

A minimum of 21 credits of courses offered by the Department of Psychology, which must include PSY 001 (with lab).  Only three credits of independent study, research seminar, or internship may count toward the minor.  A minimum of 12 credits must be taken at Drake. Courses taken on a credit/no credit basis may not be used for the minor. Independent studies, research or internships will earn a CR/NC grade and still count towards the program requirements.

Course	Credits
PSY 001 - Introduction to Psychology (with lab)	3
Electives - Select at least 18 credits of Psychology courses.  No more than three credits of independent study, research, or internship may count toward the minor.	18
TOTAL	21

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3+2 PSYCHOLOGY / MASTERS IN COUNSELING PATHWAY

The Psychology & NSCI Department from the College of Arts & Sciences and the Counseling Program from the School of Education is offering an accelerated curriculum allowing students to complete both a B.S. in Psychology and a Master’s in Mental Counseling in five years. Students interested in this program are designated as pre-counseling students with a major in Psychology (Psychology-precounseling).  They are assigned a primary academic advisor from the Department of Psychology & Neuroscience. These students complete three years of full-time undergraduate study in which they fulfill all requirements for the Psychology major and the Drake curriculum.  Should they meet admissions requirements for the Master’s in mental health counseling program, they begin graduate level coursework in the SOE Counseling program during the summer of following their 3^rd year of study. This coursework completes the balance of coursework needed for their bachelor’s degree. 

 

B.A. IN PSYCHOLOGY OPTION WITH PATHWAY TO MASTER OF COUNSELING

The following plan provides an outline of possible coursework for a 3+2 program in which students complete all Psych B.A. major requirements and AOI coursework in their first 3 years at Drake.  Students flagged into the 3+2 program who are subsequently admitted into the SOE counseling program (specific criteria found here) begin taking Counseling courses after their 3^rd year.  A maximum of 30 hours in the Counseling program would count toward completion of the BS degree from Drake. 

Course	Credits
PSY 001 - Introduction to Psychology (with lab)	4
PSY 011 - Introduction to Statistics for Psychology	4
PSY 013 - Research Methods	3
PSY 176 – Advanced Psychopathology	3
PSY 177 – Fundamentals of Clinical Psychology	3
PSY 192 – Counseling Internship*	3
Select one course, including a lab, from the following
PSY 120/121 - Conditioning and Learning	4
PSY 123 - Biological Basis of Behavior	4
PSY 125 - Cognitive Psychology	4
PSY 126 - Comparative Psychology	4
PSY 130 - Experimental Social Psychology	4
PSY 133 - Psychological Assessment	4
Upper-Division - - Select 16 credits of PSY courses numbered 100 or higher.  These 16 credits cannot include non-capstone independent studies, research seminars, or internships,	16
Themes - Select at least one course from each of the following areas.  A theme may be filled by a lab course.
Theme A - Sensation, Perception & Biopsychology
PSY 024 - Animal Behavior	3
PSY 028 - Drugs and Behavior	3
PSY 122 - Sensation & Perception	3
PSY 123 - Biological Basis of Behavior	4
PSY 124 - Health Psychology	3
PSY 127 - Behavior Genetics	3
PSY 128 - Hormones and Behavior	3
Theme B - Learning, Cognition & Memory
PSY 025 – Cognitive Processes	3
PSY 060 - Principles of Behavior	3
PSY 120/121 - Condition & Learning (with lab)	4
PSY 125 - Cognitive Psychology	4
PSY 126 - Comparative Psychology	4
PSY 129 - Primate Cognition	3
PSY 162 - Applied Behavior Analysis	3-4
Theme C - Clinical, Personality & Assessment
PSY 076 - Abnormal Psychology	3
Theme D - Developmental, Social & Organizational
PSY 030 - Social Psychology	3
PSY 042 - Child and Adolescent Psychology	3
PSY 044 - Adult Development and Aging	3
PSY 085 - Organizational Psychology	3
PSY 130 - Experimental Social Psychology	4
PSY 135 - Psychology of Prejudice	3
PSY 138 – Multicultural Psychology	3
PSY 142 - Behavior Analysis Child Development	3
PSY 148 - Psychology of Developmental Disabilities	3
PSY 183 - Industrial Psychology	3
Capstone - Select from the following
Designated Capstone course
PSY 145 - Applied Professional Ethics Psychology, or	3
PSY 151 - History and Systems of Psychology
Research Experience
PSY 190C/191C - Independent Study	.5-3
Internship
PSY 192C - Internship*	1-3
Research Seminar PSY 198- Under faculty guidance, small groups may work together on an original project. All members must contribute equally	3
Drake Curriculum requirements (AOIs, Honors, Bulldog Foundations, etc.)	Varies
Electives	Varies
Total credits during first three years	99

Notes: 

• Students must pass PSY 011 and PSY 013 with a grade of “C” (not “C-“) or better to enroll in some upper-division psychology courses and to complete the psychology major.
• BIO 140 - Biology Research and Statistics Methods, HSCI 060 – Statistics for the Health Sciences,  or both STAT 071 - Statistics I and STAT 072 - Statistics II may substitute for PSY 011.  Students who choose this option will need to take additional credits in psychology to reach the 39 credits required for the major.
• Students must obtain a minimum 2.0 G.P.A. across all psychology courses to graduate with a B.A. or a B.S. in psychology.
• Of the 39 credits in psychology needed for the major, 18 must be taken at Drake that do not include independent study, research seminars, or internships.  A minimum of 9 of these credits taken at Drake must be upper-division psychology credits.
• A maximum of 6 credits of non-capstone PSY 090, 091, 190, and 191 (independent study) and/or PSY 192 (internship) may be counted toward the 39 credits for the major. Non-capstone independent studies and all interships will be awarded CR/NC grades.
• Students must complete at least 28 upper level credits in any subject by the end of their third year to be considered for the accelerated track.
• Approved psychology courses or cross-listed courses may serve as electives for the Counseling program.
• Students would complete the remaining 25 hours required, 12 of which need to be upper level, for the undergraduate degree during their fourth year. During their fourth year, they will start graduate level courses towards the counseling program, however those courses will count towards their undergraduate degree.
• Students accepted into the School of Education Masters in Counseling would start graduate level courses the summer after their third year at Drake to stay on track in the 3+2 program. Courses required for the Counseling Master’s program to be completed in the remaining two years can be found here: 
• *Students who wish to have their required internships for this accelerated track also count towards their psychology capstone requirement may do so. The internship experience will require extra work to be counted towards the psychology capstone.

B.S. IN PSYCHOLOGY OPTION WITH PATHWAY TO MASTER OF COUNSELING

The following plan provides an outline of possible coursework for a 3+2 program in which students complete all Psych BS major requirements and AOI coursework in their first 3 years at Drake Students flagged into the 3+2 program who and who are subsequently admitted into the SOE counseling program (specific criteria found here: https://catalog.drake.edu/graduate/schoolofeducation/admission/) begin taking Counseling courses after their 3^rd year.  A maximum of 30 hours in the Counseling program would count toward completion of the BS degree from Drake. 

Course	Credits
PSY 001 - Introduction to Psychology (with lab)	4
PSY 011 - Introduction to Statistics for Psychology	4
PSY 013 - Research Methods	3
PSY 176 – Advanced Psychopathology	3
PSY 177 – Fundamentals of Clinical Psychology	3
PSY 192 – Counseling Internship*	3
Select one course, including a lab, from the following
PSY 120/121 - Conditioning and Learning	4
PSY 123 - Biological Basis of Behavior	4
PSY 125 - Cognitive Psychology	4
PSY 126 - Comparative Psychology	4
PSY 130 - Experimental Social Psychology	4
PSY 133 - Psychological Assessment	4
Upper-Division - - Select 16 credits of PSY courses numbered 100 or higher.  These 16 credits cannot include non-capstone independent studies, research seminars, or internships	16
Themes - Select at least one course from each of the following areas.  A theme may be filled by a lab course.
Theme A - Sensation, Perception & Biopsychology
PSY 024 - Animal Behavior	3
PSY 028 - Drugs and Behavior	3
PSY 122 - Sensation & Perception	3
PSY 123 - Biological Basis of Behavior	4
PSY 124 - Health Psychology	3
PSY 127 - Behavior Genetics	3
PSY 128 - Hormones and Behavior	3
Theme B - Learning, Cognition & Memory
PSY 025 – Cognitive Processes	3
PSY 060 - Principles of Behavior	3
PSY 120/121 - Condition & Learning (with lab)	4
PSY 125 - Cognitive Psychology	4
PSY 126 - Comparative Psychology	4
PSY 129 - Primate Cognition	3
PSY 162 - Applied Behavior Analysis	3-4
Theme C - Clinical, Personality & Assessment
PSY 076 - Abnormal Psychology	3
Theme D - Developmental, Social & Organizational
PSY 030 - Social Psychology	3
PSY 042 - Child and Adolescent Psychology	3
PSY 044 - Adult Development and Aging	3
PSY 085 - Organizational Psychology	3
PSY 130 - Experimental Social Psychology	4
PSY 135 - Psychology of Prejudice	3
PSY 138 – Multicultural Psychology	3
PSY 142 - Behavior Analysis Child Development	3
PSY 148 - Psychology of Developmental Disabilities	3
PSY 183 - Industrial Psychology	3
Bachelor of Science Non-Psychology Natural Sciences - An additional 12 credits must be successfully completed in natural science courses outside of the Department of Psychology, including Astronomy, BCMB, Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Environmental Science, Mathematics (MATH 20 or higher), Physics, select HSCI courses, Statistics and Neuroscience that is not cross-listed with Psychology.  Eight of the 12 credits must be from courses that include a laboratory component.
Capstone - Select from the following
Designated Capstone course
PSY 145 - Applied Professional Ethics Psychology, or	3
PSY 151 - History and Systems of Psychology
Research Experience
PSY 190/191 - Independent Study	3
Internship
PSY 192 - Internship*	1-3
Drake Curriculum requirements (AOIs, Honors, Bulldog Foundations, etc.)	Varies
Electives	Varies
Total credits during first three years	99

Notes

• • Students must pass PSY 011 and PSY 013 with a grade of “C” (not “C-“) or better to enroll in some upper-division psychology courses and to complete the psychology major.
  • BIO 140 - Biology Research and Statistics Methods, HSCI 060 – Statistics for the Health Sciences,  or both STAT 071 - Statistics I and STAT 072 - Statistics II may substitute for PSY 011.  Students who choose this option will need to take additional credits in psychology to reach the 39 credits required for the major.
  • Students must obtain a minimum 2.0 G.P.A. across all psychology courses to graduate with a B.A. or a B.S. in psychology.
  • Of the 39 credits in psychology needed for the major, 18 must be taken at Drake that do not include independent study, research seminars, or internships.  A minimum of 9 of these credits taken at Drake must be upper-division psychology credits.
  • A maximum of 6 credits of non-capstone PSY 090, 091, 190, and 191 (independent study) and/or PSY 192 (internship) may be counted toward the 39 credits for the major. Non-capstone independent studies and all interships will be awarded CR/NC grades.
  • Students must complete at least 28 upper level credits in any subject by the end of their third year to be considered for the accelerated track.
  • Approved psychology courses or cross-listed courses may serve as electives for the Counseling program.
  • Students would complete the remaining 25 hours required, 12 of which need to be upper level, for the undergraduate degree during their fourth year. During their fourth year, they will start graduate level courses towards the counseling program, however those courses will count towards their undergraduate degree.
  • Students accepted into the School of Education Masters in Counseling would start graduate level courses the summer after their third year at Drake to stay on track in the 3+2 program. Courses required for the Counseling Master’s program to be completed in the remaining two years can be found here: 
  *Students who wish to have their required internships for this accelerated track also count towards their psychology capstone requirement may do so. The internship experience will require extra work to be counted towards the psychology capstone.