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Degree Options and Progress

MSU Texas students are able to obtain either a Bachelor's of Arts (BA) or Bachelor's of Science (BS) in Psychology.  The psychology course requirements for each degree is identical; however, each degree is associated with requirements specific to the overall degree.  BA degrees emphasize humanities and world cultures whereas BS degrees place a greater emphasis on the "hard" sciences.  Degree plans for both the BA and the BS degree are available on this page's menu.  Employers and graduate schools typically regard each degree equally.

Pre-Psychology

Students intending to obtain a BA/BS in Psychology will start with the Pre-psychology designation.  While completing the pre-psychology curricular requirements, students will be advised by Dottie Westbrook to ensure progress both within the major and towards the academic core.

Psychology Major

Once students have completed the pre-psychology requirements, they are transitioned to the psychology major.  Students may complete either a Bachelor’s of Arts degree or a Bachelor’s of Science degree.  There is no difference between the two degrees in terms of the required psychology coursework.  For differences between the course requirements associated with the BA and BS degrees, see the Undergraduate Catalog.

At this point, students are assigned one of the core faculty as an academic advisor.  Faculty advisors provide career counseling within the discipline, in addition to ensuring that students are making appropriate progress towards their degree.  These advisors become a strong advocate for their students, often writing letters of recommendation or serving as references for students after graduation.

The psychology major is designed to provide students with a solid foundation in the discipline. As such, students will complete the following coursework:

 

2-General Requirements for all Bachelor's Degrees

In short, the ultimate goal of the program is to prepare students for their next steps.