Clinical Emphasis
BS Psychology — BS Psychology (Clinical) JUSTIFICATION for changes to BS Psychology, Clinical Emphasis: Removing Cognate: RELT 373 PSYC 426, Issues in Psychology and Religion, addresses ethical issues psychology majors would wrestle with from a perspective within the major. It is taught from the Seventh-day Adventist viewpoint by a full-time psychology faculty member. This is especially important to any who would choose to pursue graduate studies in non-faith-based programs. Since ethical issues are already being addressed, requiring RELT 373 as a cognate is no longer needed. Students may still choose to enroll in RELT 373 to meet the R4 Religion requirement, or select a different R4 course, providing them with greater flexibility. Adding Internship, 2 credit hours as an option for practical experience Adding the PSYC492, Internship in Psychology, option provides the possibility for additional practical application, exceeding clock hours required in PSYC 491, Psychology Practicum [Practicum requires 50 clock hours per semester credit, internship requires 100 clock hours per semester credit]. The internship course is required for students to earn a certificate as either a Recreation Therapist or Family Life Educator. Catalog Copy Since students are most likely to view degrees and major requirements on their phones, adding the admission requirements to the emphasis would make this important section more accessible to them. Requirements and notations in this section is not new, but simply have been relocated.
Catalog 2025 — Indefinite
About
Undergraduate programs in psychology are pre-professional in that they are designed to introduce students to a wide knowledge base in the field and to prepare them for further training.
This B.S. degree is recommended for students interested in becoming clinicians, practitioners, and therapists and who wish to gain admission into graduate programs in counseling or clinical psychology. The program is specifically designed for students interested in pursuing the M.S. degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling or School Counseling.
Psychology Practicum (PSYC 491) or Psychology Internship (PSYC 492) should be started in the junior year.
Students required to perform field or practicum experiences will accept personal responsibility for their learning and professional behavior. Students will be expected to provide their own transportation for individual field and practicum experiences unless a lab fee has been assessed for cohort-based field experiences. Each student contracts to abide by policies of the School of Education and Psychology.
Admission Requirements: In order to be admitted to an undergraduate program in psychology, a student must meet the following requirements:
- Regular Admission to Southern Adventist University: The student must be admitted to the University under Regular Acceptance.
- Admission to Psychology Timeframe: Admission to the Psychology program must be satisfactorily completed as part of the coursework required in PSYC 380.
- Application and Statement of Intent: The student must submit an application, including a Statement of Intent essay, explaining why he/she chose psychology as a major and serving as a self-assessment of how the student feels he/she meets the core objectives and expected proficiencies of the program's conceptual framework: caring person, informed and passionate learner, scientific thinker, and committed pre-professional.
- Adviser Recommendation: The student must submit an SEP-based (Psychology) academic adviser recommendation. The recommendation is to include signed evidence by the adviser and advisee that they have discussed the applicant's academic program.
- Minimum GPA: For admission to the B.S. Psychology, Clinical Emphasis, the minimum GPA required is 2.75.
- Required Course: In order to be considered for this program, students must have completed General Psychology with a grade of B or better.
EMPHASIS/CONCENTRATION (32 Total Credits)- Course(s):
- BIOL101 - Anatomy and Physiology (IN-7) (4)
- BIOL102 - Anatomy and Physiology (4)
- Course(s):
- PSYC231 - Multicultural Relations (3)
- PSYC377 - Fundamentals of Counseling (3)
- PSYC233 - Human Sexuality (3)
- PSYC326 - Biological Basis for Behavior (3)
- Select 9 credit(s):
- PSYC390 - Health Psychology (3)
- PSYC422 - Issues in Adolescence (3)
- PSYC455 - Psychology of Emerging Adulthood (3)
- COMM340 - Group Dynamics and Leadership (3)
- Select 3 credit(s):
- PSYC491 - Psychology Practicum (SERV-2) (1 - 3)
- PSYC492 - Psychology Internship (0 - 6)
- PSYC384 - Experimental Psychology (3)
Grand Total Credits: 32
Family Systems Emphasis
BS Psychology —
Catalog 2025 — Indefinite
About
Undergraduate programs in psychology are pre-professional in that they are designed to introduce students to a wide knowledge base in the field and to prepare them for further training.
This B.S. degree will provide a more focused understanding of marriages and families and their relationship to other institutions, such as the religious, educational, governmental, and occupational institutions in our society. The concentration is recommended for students who are planning to gain admission into Master's and Doctorate graduate programs in specific areas of psychology such as Clinical Mental Health, School Counseling, Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy, Family Studies, Early Childhood Development, and Public Administration.
Students required to perform field or practicum experiences will accept personal responsibility for their learning and professional behavior. Students will be expected to provide their own transportation for individual field and practicum experiences unless a lab fee has been assessed for cohort-based field experiences. Each student contracts to abide by policies of the School of Education and Psychology.
Admission Requirements
Admission Requirements: In order to be admitted to an undergraduate program in psychology, a student must meet the following requirements:
- Regular Admission to Southern Adventist University: The student must be admitted to the University under Regular Acceptance.
- Admission to Psychology Timeframe: Admission to the Psychology program must be satisfactorily completed as part of the coursework required in PSYC 380.
- Application and Statement of Intent: The student must submit an application, including a Statement of Intent essay, explaining why he/she chose psychology as a major and serving as a self-assessment of how the student feels he/she meets the core objectives and expected proficiencies of the program's conceptual framework: caring person, informed and passionate learner, scientific thinker, and committed pre-professional.
- Adviser Recommendation: The student must submit an SEP-based (Psychology) academic adviser recommendation. The recommendation is to include signed evidence by the adviser and advisee that they have discussed the applicant's academic program.
- Minimum GPA: For admission to the B.A. Psychology program, the minimum GPA required is 2.75.
- Required Course: In order to be considered for this program, students must have completed General Psychology with a grade of B- or better.
EMPHASIS/CONCENTRATION (39 Total Credits)- Course(s):
- BIOL101 - Anatomy and Physiology (IN-7) (4)
- BIOL102 - Anatomy and Physiology (4)
- Course(s):
- COMM340 - Group Dynamics and Leadership (3)
- PSYC201 - Parenting (3)
- PSYC223 - Marriage and Family (3)
- PSYC231 - Multicultural Relations (3)
- PSYC233 - Human Sexuality (3)
- PSYC250 - Death and Dying (3)
- PSYC377 - Fundamentals of Counseling (3)
- PSYC422 - Issues in Adolescence (3)
- PSYC455 - Psychology of Emerging Adulthood (3)
- Select 1 credit(s): PSYC405 - Sexual Abuse Awareness and Prevention (1 - 3)
- Select 3 credit(s):
- PSYC491 - Psychology Practicum (SERV-2) (1 - 3)
- PSYC492 - Psychology Internship (0 - 6)
- PSYC384 - Experimental Psychology (3)
- * Practicum for this degree would be particularly geared towards a placement that matches the major (i.e. in a family systems area). Recommended for the junior year.
Grand Total Credits: 39
Industrial/Organizational Emphasis
BS Psychology —
Catalog 2025 — Indefinite
About
Undergraduate programs in psychology are pre-professional in that they are designed to introduce students to a wide knowledge base in the field and to prepare them for further training.
This B.S. degree is recommended for students planning to gain admission into graduate programs in industrial/organizational psychology.
The degree program is general enough to allow entrance into several other areas of psychology at the graduate level, or to consider moving into the more applied aspects of psychology, such as human resource management, organizational behavior, or business-related fields. Industrial/Organizational Psychology students should avail themselves of advisement in both psychology and business.
Practicum or Internship for this degree would be particularly geared towards a placement that matches the major (i.e. in an I/O or HR area). It should be started in the junior year.
Students required to perform field or practicum experiences will accept personal responsibility for their learning and professional behavior. Students will be expected to provide their own transportation for individual field and practicum experiences unless a lab fee has been assessed for cohort-based field experiences. Each student contracts to abide by policies of the School of Education and Psychology.
Admission Requirements
Admission Requirements: In order to be admitted to an undergraduate program in psychology, a student must meet the following requirements:
- Regular Admission to Southern Adventist University: The student must be admitted to the University under Regular Acceptance.
- Admission to Psychology Timeframe: Admission to the Psychology program must be satisfactorily completed as part of the coursework required in PSYC 380.
- Application and Statement of Intent: The student must submit an application, including a Statement of Intent essay, explaining why he/she chose psychology as a major and serving as a self-assessment of how the student feels he/she meets the core objectives and expected proficiencies of the program's conceptual framework: caring person, informed and passionate learner, scientific thinker, and committed pre-professional.
- Adviser Recommendation: The student must submit an SEP-based (Psychology) academic adviser recommendation. The recommendation is to include signed evidence by the adviser and advisee that they have discussed the applicant's academic program.
- Minimum GPA: For admission to the B.S. Psychology, Industrial/Organizational emphasis, the minimum GPA required is 2.75.
- Required Courses: In order to be considered for this program, students must have completed PSYC 122 and PSYC 253 with grades of B or better.
EMPHASIS/CONCENTRATION (33 - 34 Total Credits)- Course(s):
- BUAD312 - Professional Communication and Leadership (3)
- BUAD358 - Ethical, Social, and Legal Environment of Business (3)
- ECON213 - Survey of Economics (IN-9) (3)
- MGNT334 - Principles of Management (3)
- MGNT344 - Human Resource Management (3)
- MGNT368 - Multicultural Management (3)
- MGNT420 - Organizational Behavior (3)
- COMM340 - Group Dynamics and Leadership (3)
- PSYC253 - Industrial/Organizational Psychology (3)
- Select 3 credit(s):
- PSYC491 - Psychology Practicum (SERV-2) (1 - 3)
- PSYC492 - Psychology Internship (0 - 6)
- Select BIOL (Biology), CHEM (Chemistry), PHYS (Physics) Electives (3-4 credits)
- * Science elective must include a lab.
Grand Total Credits: 33 - 34
Psychobiology Emphasis
BS Psychology —
Catalog 2025 — Indefinite
About
Undergraduate programs in psychology are pre-professional in that they are designed to introduce students to a wide knowledge base in the field and to prepare them for further training.
This B.S. degree is recommended for students planning to gain admission into graduate programs in specific areas of psychology such as neuroscience, and in related professions such as health psychology, neuropsychology, and clinical psychology. This degree program can also be used for entry in related professions such as neuroscience, behavioral medicine, genetic counseling, and behavioral ecology. Students planning for careers in medicine may also find this degree to be desirable as foundation to those ends. Psychobiology students are encouraged to receive advisement in both psychology and biology.
Students should avail themselves of advisement in both psychology and biology.
Admission Requirements
In order to be admitted to an undergraduate program in psychology, a student must meet the following requirements:
- Regular Admission to Southern Adventist University: The student must be admitted to the University under Regular Acceptance.
- Admission to Psychology Timeframe: Admission to the Psychology program must be satisfactorily completed as part of the coursework required in PSYC 380.
- Application and Statement of Intent: The student must submit an application, including a Statement of Intent essay, explaining why he/she chose psychology as a major and serving as a self-assessment of how the student feels he/she meets the core objectives and expected proficiencies of the program's conceptual framework: caring person, informed and passionate learner, scientific thinker, and committed pre-professional.
- Adviser Recommendation: The student must submit an SEP-based (Psychology) academic adviser recommendation. The recommendation is to include signed evidence by the adviser and advisee that they have discussed the applicant's academic program.
- Minimum GPA: For admission to the B.S. Psychology, Psychobiology Emphasis, the minimum GPA required is 2.90.
- Required Courses: In order to be considered for this program, students must have completed General Psychology with a grade of B or better, and General Biology I and II OR Anatomy & Physiology I and II.
EMPHASIS/CONCENTRATION (41 - 43 Total Credits)- Course(s):
- BIOL151 - General Biology (IN-7) (4)
- BIOL152 - General Biology (4)
- BIOL311 - Genetics (4)
- BIOL387 - Animal Behavior (3)
- CHEM151 - General Chemistry (IN-7) (4)
- CHEM152 - General Chemistry (4)
- PSYC326 - Biological Basis for Behavior (3)
- PSYC390 - Health Psychology (3)
- PSYC384 - Experimental Psychology (3)
- Select 3 credit(s):
- BIOL313 - Developmental Biology (3)
- BIOL340 - Immunology (3)
- BIOL412 - Cell and Molecular Biology (4)
- BIOL417 - Animal Histology (3)
- Complete 1 of the following:
- Course(s):
- BIOL101 - Anatomy and Physiology (IN-7) (4)
- BIOL102 - Anatomy and Physiology (4)
- Course(s):
- BIOL416 - Human Anatomy (3)
- BIOL418 - Animal Physiology (3)
Grand Total Credits: 41 - 43