Bachelor of Science: Major in Psychology
Social Sciences Department
College of Humanities and Social Sciences
University of Houston - Downtown

Last revised on 11/14/02

The Bachelor of Science degree program in psychology prepares students for a number of different career options. Those interested in pursuing graduate education in psychology or other disciplines will get the individual attention in research methodology, statistics, and theory necessary to succeed at the next educational level. Students interested in working in the mental health field and other types of social service agencies will gain the knowledge and experience necessary to be competitive on the job market. Finally, a degree in psychology provides essential knowledge for healthy coping with life circumstances and human relationships in family, community, and work environments. Our telephone number is (713) 221-8014 and our office is located in 1009-South on the 10th floor. See our website at http://www.uhd.edu/academic/colleges/humanities/sos/ for more information.

If you have NOT declared your major, please speak with an Academic Advisor through University College in 308-South or by phone at (713) 221-8006.  Before you can declare your major, you must: 1) pass all portions of the Texas Academic Skills Program (TASP) test, 2) have no further remedial courses required, 3) complete a minimum of 30 hours toward the common core requirements, and 4) be in good academic standing.  If you have declared your major (or wish to change your major), please speak with an Academic Advisor through the College of Humanities and Social Sciences in 1015-South or by phone at (713) 221-8009.

I. Common Core Requirements (42 hours) - A 42 hour common core is required of all students.
A. Communication Skills (9 hours) - Two English composition courses (e.g., ENG 1301, ENG 1302) and at least one speech course (except of SPCH 1301).
B. Mathematical Skills (3 hours) - One of the following courses: *MATH 1301, MATH 1310, or any Math course having MATH 1301 as a prerequisite.  *MATH 1301 "College Algebra" is recommended for psychology majors.
C. Sciences (8 hours) - Two courses in Biology, Chemistry, Geology, or Physics.  *Biology courses are recommended for psychology majors.
D. Computer Literacy (3 hours) - One of the following courses: CIS 1301, CS 1305, or HUM 2305.
E. Literary Arts (3 hours) - One of the following courses: ENG 2301, ENG 2302, ENG 2311, ENG 2312, ENG 2313, or ENG 2314.
F. Fine Arts (3 hours) - One of the following courses: ART 1301, ART 1302, *ART 1310, DRA 1301, DRA 3303, DRA 3304, MUS 2301, or MUS 2302.  *ART 1310 "Art Appreciation" will NOT satisfy the World Community requirement (see below), but all of the other courses listed will satisfy this requirement.
G. Behavioral Sciences (3 hours) - One of the following courses: ANTH 2301, ANTH 2302, *PSY 1303, or SOC 1303.  *PSY 1303 "General Psychology" is recommended for psychology majors.
H. History (6 hours) - Two courses chosen from HIST 1305, HIST 1306, HIST 2303, and HIST 2309.
I. Political System (6 hours) - Two courses in state and national government (e.g., POLS 2303 & POLS 2304).

II. Preparatory Requirements (21 hours) - The following preparatory course requirements for the degree should be completed prior to enrollment in the major course requirements.  Students are especially advised to complete SOS 2304 "Research Methods in the Social Sciences" and SOS 3312 "Statistics in the Social Sciences" as early as possible in order to prepare for upper-level coursework.
A. Research Methods in the Social Sciences (3 hours) (e.g., SOS 2304)
B. Statistics in the Social Sciences (3 hours) (e.g., SOS 3312)
C. Principles of Sociology (3 hours) (e.g., SOC 1303)
D. Physical or Cultural Anthropology (3 hours) (e.g., ANTH 2301 or *ANTH 2302) *ANTH 2302 "Cultural Anthropology" will satisfy the World Community requirement (see below), but ANTH 2301 "Physical Anthropology" will NOT satisfy this requirement.
E. Ethics and Morality (3 hours) - Any course which addresses topics of ethics and morality (e.g., PHIL 1301, 2301, 2302, *3301, 3302, or 3305). *PHIL 3301 "Moral Issues, Personal and Professional" is preferred for psychology majors.
F. Math or Natural Science (3 hours) - Basically any course in Math, Biology, Chemistry, Geology, or Physics, beyond those taken to satisfy the common core requirements above.   Technology courses can NOT be used to fulfill this requirement.
G. Literary Arts (3 hours) - Basically any English course with Literature in the title, beyond those taken to satisfy the common core requirements above.

III. Upper Level Major Requirements (36 hours)
A. Psychology (24 hours)  A minimum of eight upper-level psychology courses are required for this degree.  No exceptions or substitutions will be allowed.  The following upper-level psychology courses are currently offered at UHD:
    1. PSY 3301 "Industrial/Organizational Psychology"
    2. PSY 3302 "Principles of Educational Psychology"
    3. PSY 3303 "Child Psychology"
    4. PSY 3305 "Adolescent Psychology"
    5. PSY 3309 "Adult Psychology"
    6. PSY 3310 "Psychology of Women"
    7. PSY 3311 "Biological Psychology"
    8. PSY 4301 "History of Psychology"
    9. PSY 4302 "Abnormal Psychology"
    10. PSY 4303 "African-American Issues in Psychology"
    11. PSY 4304 "Learning and Behavior"
    12. PSY 4305 "Memory and Cognition"
    13. PSY 4306 "Theories of Personality"
    14. PSY 4308 "Psychological Assessment"
    15. PSY 4370 "Senior Seminar in Psychology"
B. Advanced Writing (3 hours)  At least one upper-level writing course (e.g., ENG 3302, ENG 3325, ENG 3326, or *ENG 4306).  *ENG 4306 "Science Writing" is recommended for psychology majors who intend to go to graduate school.
C. Social and Behavioral Science Electives (6 hours)  This requirement may be fulfilled by taking two courses from among: 1) any of the upper-level psychology courses, 2) any of the upper-level sociology courses, or 3) any of these specific upper-level courses: SOS 3301 "Social Gerontology", SOS 3304 "Death and Dying", SOS 4302 "The Study of the Future", MGT 3301 "Management of Organizations", MGT 3302 "Personnel Administration", MGT 3303 "Negotiating Skills and Techniques", MKT 3301 "Principles of Marketing"
D. Special Projects/Internships (3 hours)  One of the following courses.  No exceptions or substitutions will be allowed.
    1. SOS 4301 "Special Projects in Social Sciences" - The purpose of this course is to provide students with a culminating experience in their major. Traditionally, a senior thesis or another special project is worked out between the student and a faculty member who has agreed to mentor the student. Ask one of our faculty (see below) for more information about this.  Faculty and department approvals are required.
    2. SOS 4380 "Field Experience" - The purpose of this course is to provide students with the opportunity to work as interns (for course credit, usually unpaid) in either public or private sector positions during the semester. Traditionally, this course has also required a journal and an academic paper as part of the experience. Make an appointment with our internship program coordinator, Greg Getz, Ph.D., in 1022- South, at (713) 221-8939, for more information.

IV. Free Electives (21 hours) - Your choice of any courses, at any level, from any department with the exception of developmental courses (e.g., ENG 1300, MATH 0300, MATH 1300, READ 1300). Electives are also an important part of the degree program and should be selected in consultation with an academic advisor. PSY 2302 "Social Psychology", PSY 2306 "Adjustment", and PSY 2310 "Human Growth and Development" are often recommended for psychology majors. Also, no more than 25% of the hours presented for graduation (e.g., 30 hours) may come from courses offered through the college of business (e.g., business administration, accounting, computer information systems, finance, accounting, economics).

V. Graduation Requirements Checklist
A. Minimum of 120 total semester hours
B. Last 30 hours taken in residence (i.e., through instruction offered by UHD)
C. Last 18 upper-level hours taken in residence (i.e., through instruction offered by UHD)
D. Maximum of 66 hours transferred from a junior or community college
E. Minimum GPA of 2.00
F. Minimum GPA of 2.00 for all upper level courses in major
G. Writing Proficiency Exam passed (i.e., UHD 9000) - This examination is only offered once per semester and should be taken as soon as possible after a student has completed ENG 1302 and has earned 60 hours.
H. Ethics and Morality Requirement (3 hours) - Any course which addresses topics of ethics and morality (e.g., PHIL 1301 "Introduction to Philosophy", PHIL 2301 "Classical Philosophy", PHIL 2302 "Modern Philosophy", *PHIL 3301 "Moral Issues, Personal and Professional", PHIL 3302 "Philosophy of Science", PHIL 3305 "Contemporary Philosophy"). *PHIL 3301 "Moral Issues, Personal and Professional" is preferred for psychology majors.
I. World Community Requirement (3 hours) - Any course that incorporates the examination of a culture different from American culture. *ANTH 2302 "Cultural Anthropology" is recommended for psychology majors.

Faculty in Psychology

Kristin Anderson, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Psychology. 1085-S, 713-221-8510. E-mail: andersonk@uhd.edu. 

Shawn Davis, Ph.D. Instructor of Psychology. 1087-S, 713-221-8508. E-mail: davissh@uhd.edu 

Melinda Kanner, Ph.D. Visiting Associate Professor of Psychology; Assistant Chair of Psychology. 1007-S, 713-221-5264. E-mail: kannerm@uhd.edu

Holly Lewis, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Psychology. 1003-S, 713-221-2749. E-mail: lewish@uhd.edu 

Karena T.  Valkyrie,  Visiting Lecturer in Psychology; BA, 1992, University of Houston; Ma, 1995, University of Houston – Clear Lake. Licensed and Nationally Certified Professional Counselor. Research Interests: Mother-daughter issues relationship connection and individuation; couples issues: attachment, conflict, communication and domestic violence; parent-child relationship issues: positive, non-violent discipline/parenting styles. 452-S, 713-221-2768. E-mail: valkyriek@uhd.edu

Elizabeth Walden, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Psychology. 1083-S, 713-221-8645. Email: waldene@uhd.edu

John Webb, Assistant Professor of Psychology. BA, Sociology, 1975, Mary Hardin Baylor College; MA, Clinical Psychology, 1978, St. Mary’s University; MA, Social Psychology, 1983, University of Houston; Ph.D., 1985, Social Psychology, University of Houston. Research Interests:  Child and adolescent substance use prevention, cancer prevention, developmental issues related to health promotion.  Internship Coordinator, Department of Social Sciences. 1005-S, 713-221-2763. E-mail: webbj@uhd.edu

Patrick Williams, Associate Professor of Psychology. BS, 1971, Michigan State University; MEd, 1974, Northeastern University; PhD, 1987, Texas Tech University. Research Interests: Metapsychology; history and philosophy of psychology. 1019-S, 713-221-8982. Email: williamsp@uhd.edu

Heidi Ziemer, Assistant Professor of Psychology. Assistant Chair, Psychology.  BA, 1991, Cal State University, Long Beach; MA, 1998, Ph.D., 2000, Rice University. Research Interests: Learning and memory, especially unconscious or implicit memory; the efficacy of various pedagogical techniques; gender issues in the classroom and society; the relationship between language and thought especially as applied to gender and racial issues. 1020-S, 713-221-8282. Psi Chi Honor Society faculty advisor. E-mail: ziemerh@uhd.edu