Psychology, B.S.

Ellen F. Sperber, Ph.D., Program Director
914-674-7338
ESperber@mercy.edu

(Note: Courses also offered online)

Bachelor of Science

General Liberal Arts and Sciences
General Education Requirements	60 credits

Major Concentration
Psychology	36 credits
Open Electives	24 credits
Total	120 credits

All students majoring in Psychology must complete the following four (4) Required Courses

(12 credits)

Students must select one (1) course from each of the 5 categories below

(15 credits)

Historical Perspective

Developmental Perspective

Cognitive/Behavioral Perspective

Social Perspective

Clinical Perspective

Students must complete nine (9) Psychology elective credits

(9 credits)

These credits may be an additional course in any of the five categories above or any other Psychology elective course offered. PSYN 101 Introduction to Psychology Introduction to Psychology , is a prerequisite for all major courses in Psychology and fulfills part of the General Education Requirements and Curriculum . Psychology majors may complete the Mathematics General Education requirement by taking MATH 115 , MATH 116 , or MATH 117 .

Total Major Credits: 36

B.S. Psychology / M.S. Education

The 4+1 Bachelor of Science/Master of Science program is an academic program that allows students interested in the teaching profession as a career choice to earn both a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in an accelerated format. Through this special program, qualified students who major in Psychology can receive teacher certification in Early Childhood or Childhood Education. A key feature of this program allows students to take up to 15 graduate education credits during their senior year. These can be used toward satisfying their bachelor’s as well as their master’s degree requirements.

Requirements:

Psychology students planning to complete the 4+1 program and receive the teaching certification in Early Childhood and Childhood Education must complete the 36 credits required for the undergraduate psychology major as described above, including PSYN 254 Child Psychology . They may take 3 graduate education credits in their upper junior semester and an additional 12 credits in their senior year. In addition, they must maintain at least a 3.0 GPA. Students may apply in their senior year for admissions to the M.S. Graduate Education Program. Please see the School of Education for program and course details.

Suggested Courses for B.S./M.S. Students

It is further suggested that students complete several elective courses from the following list:

Graduate Studies for Seniors

The Graduate Course Credits in Psychology option offers a unique opportunity to qualified undergraduates in Psychology who wish to pursue their master’s degree at an accelerated pace. Undergraduate students who are not registered for a 4+1 multiple degree program and have completed at least 90 credits with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above and who satisfy other admissions requirements may enroll in one graduate course at Mercy University per semester, for a total of six credits during their senior year. Graduate courses may not count towards the residency requirement for the major or for program honors. Students who meet the eligibility requirements must get approval from the graduate program director and department chairperson. An Authorization Form is available from the office of each School Dean.

Applicants must meet the admissions criteria for the master’s program in Psychology, including a 3.0 GPA, a grade of B or better in statistics, and completion of 90 undergraduate credits. Students may apply for graduate studies in their junior year to the M.S Psychology Program at Mercy University. If accepted these students may then take three graduate credits each semester of their senior year (a total of six credits), which will apply to both their undergraduate and graduate degrees. Upon completing their Bachelor’s in Psychology, these students will be able to continue their graduate studies in the M.S. Psychology Program.

Full-time undergraduate students who receive permission to take graduate courses will be charged the undergraduate tuition rate for the graduate courses. If the student is part-time, the graduate rate will be charged for graduate courses and the undergraduate rate for undergraduate courses. Students receiving financial aid in the form of grants and/or loans should confirm that the additional charges will be covered by their aid by speaking to a Student Services Counselor.

Suggested Courses for Students Planning to Attend Graduate School

Suggested Courses for Students Planning on a Career in Research

Suggested Courses for students Planning a Career in Health Professions

Suggested Courses for Students Planning a Career in Education as a School Psychologist, School Counselor, Teaching Aid, or Teaching Assistant

CASAC -T Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor

Students may also participate in the CASAC-T Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor Standardized 350-Hour Education and Training Program.

CASAC 350-Hour Certificate Program-Standardized Certificate

CASAC-T Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor Standardized 350-Hour Education and Training Program Mercy University CASAC-T Program is an OASAS Certified Education Training Program. The courses have been approved by the New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS), satisfying the educational requirements for state certification. With the competitive market for counselors and mental health providers, the CASAC-T Certification paves the way for both direct patient care and supervisory positions in the area of substance abuse and addiction. The intensive program at Mercy University will specifically prepare you for the five domains for CASAC preparation including assessment, counseling, case management, client, family, and community education, and professional responsibility. Mercy University students receive the professional training and ethical knowledge base which will enable them to provide alcoholism and substance abuse counseling in one of the most progressive fields.

Each course represents 45.0 CASAC clock hours with the exception of the internship which must be taken as a 6 credit course and represents 90.0 CASAC clock hours.

Interested students may contact Director of the Psychology Internship Program.

The following Counseling courses are required for completion of the CASAC-T Credential:

Note(s)

Once psychology is declared as the major, it is recommended that a Psychology Advisor be contacted to be sure that all graduation requirements are met.

There is an 18-credit residency requirement in the major concentration of psychology.
PSYN 101 is a Prerequisite for the major courses in psychology and fulfills part of the General Education requirements.

Minor in Psychology

Students with a major other than psychology may complete a minor in psychology. To complete a minor in psychology, students must take 15 psychology credits (5 courses) numbered 120 or above. These credits may not fulfill other requirements.