The University of the Sciences in Philadelphia, Department Social Sciences offers a new, Bachelor of Science in Psychology in four years and a Master of Science degree in Health Psychology in five years.

Psychology is a core social science; yet, it is rooted to the biological sciences and is the foundation for the cognitive sciences. Psychology is the study of behavior, perception, motivation, learning, emotions, physiological processes, thinking, and, problem solving, and abnormalities in these systems of human functioning. Healthy psychology is an applied branch of psychology that uses the scientific, educational, and professional contributions of the discipline of psychology to:

• Identify the behavioral aspects of physical and mental health and illness;
• Promote and maintain physical and mental health;
• Prevent and treat physical and mental illness; and
• Analyze health policy to improve the physical and mental health care systems.

Educating our student to understand current knowledge in psychology and the social sciences and to be able to apply it to solve societal problems is the mission of the faculty of the Department of Social Sciences at USP. we introduce students to knowledge in psychology and the social sciences, provide them with the skills to use this knowledge, and assist them in making scholarly contributions to this body of knowledge. To achieve this our students must: 1) learn the theories and current knowledge in the fields of psychology, sociology, communications, economics, computer science, and the biological sciences 2) be exposed to the scientific method; 3) understand research methodologies, data collection techniques, and the means of analyzing, evaluating and interpreting collected data, 4) learn how to effectively apply social science knowledge to the solution of societal problems, and 5) develop strong oral and written communication skills. Our goals are to teach students the classical and contemporary content of the social sciences, train them to think critically and analytically, and assist them in developing effective communication skills.

Our program differs, however, from the typical psychology major offered at most colleges. While we will provide you with a thorough grounding in such standard areas of psychology as: abnormal psychology, personality, biopsychology, research design, statistical analysis, and human development, the similarity with most other psychology programs ends there. To apply to our BS in Psychology Program online, email us at the admission or you can visit our Department of Social Sciences website.

Curriculum

Students begin to take psychology courses in their first year. At the end of the first year of study, students select the psychology program they intend to pursue: 1) the four-year General Psychology BS degree, or 2) the five-year BS/MS health psychology degree option. Please note that students with an appropriate BS degree from another college or university may apply for admission to the Master of Science in Health Psychology program. The five-year Masters Degree Program is a continuous program and to formal applications process is required for the MS component of the program. Both thesis and non-thesis MS degrees are offered. However, the College of Graduate Studies dictates the guidelines for the fifth year. Please refer to the College of Graduate Studies section for further information.

There are 42 required Psychology Core credits in the major beyond Introduction to Psychology. These 42 credits are broken down into two groups:

• Substantiative Areas, composed of 28 credits
• Research Methods and Statistics, composed of 14 credits

The Substantiative cluster courses include: First Year Orientation, Philosophy of Psychology, Learning Theory and Behavior, Sensation and Perception, Cognitive Psychology, Human Development, Social Psychology, Abnormal Psychology, Biological Psychology, and Personality Theory.

The Research Methods and Statistics cluster is composed of: Social Sciences Research Methods and Statistics I and II, and Graduate Statistics and Experimental Design I and II.

Beyond these 42-credit Psychology Core credits, students in the BS Psychology Program take 15 credits of Psychology Selectives, which are specialty courses in a psychology subdiscipline of the student's choosing. Students pursuing the five-year combined BS/MS option in Health Psychology take a set of 15 pre-specified credits in Health Psychology instead of the Psychology Selectives. Finally, students in the BS program must complete six credit hours of Senior Thesis Research and complete a Senior Thesis. Students enrolled in the five-year BS/MS option may also elect to take the six credit hours of Senior Thesis Research and complete a Senior Thesis.

Passing the Writing Proficiency Examination is a requirement for graduation for all undergraduate students at USP. In the case of failure, students may fulfill a contract with the Writing Center that will allow them to re-take the writing proficiency equivalency exam after extended tutoring in writing skills, or they may elect to take EN095 during the summer, the final examination in this course is equivalent to the Writing Proficiency Examination.

Admission to the B.S. in Health Psychology Program as a first year student, maintenance of an acceptable academic record during the first three years, and the recommendation of the advisor will facilitate your acceptance in the Master's level program. Students must maintain a 2.0 GPA to be successful in the pre-professional phase of the program, and must have a 2.3 GPA (3.0 GPA in the major program) to apply for elevation to the Master of Science in Health Psychology program.

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN PSYCHOLOGY

Psychology (BS Program)

Psychology BS Curriculum

First Year

Spring Semester

Second Year

Spring Semester

Third Year

Spring Semester

Fourth Year

Admission

Applications for first year students will be accepted annually. As of the year 2002, all transfers will be considered.

Applicants for admission are cordially invited to visit USP and explore the opportunities within this new and emerging field. To arrange for an interview and tour of the campus, contact the Office of Admissions : Director of Admission University of the Sciences in Philadelphia 600 South Forty-third Street Philadelphia, PA 19104-4495 (215) 596-8810