Psychology and Early Education Major

A BA major in psychology and early childhood education requires that students complete a specific series of psychology courses as well as education courses. Refer to the PreK - 12 Education Program for a description of these courses and other requirements. Please note that, even though it is offered through the School of Science and Engineering, the psychology-early childhood education major earns a BA degree. Consequently, students must satisfy the requirements for a BA degree (as determined by the School of Liberal Arts) rather than the requirements for BS (determined by the School of Science and Engineering).

Students in the PYEC major will fulfill their capstone with EDUC 3900, which is a required course on the education side of this Bachelor of Arts major.

The required courses in Psychology are:

  • PSYC 1000 – Introductory Psychology
  • PSYC 3090 – Univariate Statistics
  • PSYC 3130 – Experimental Psychology & Lab or PSYC 3220—Research Methods in Child Psych
  • PSYC 3200 – Educational Psychology
  • PSYC 3210 – Child Psychology
  • PSYC 3230 – Nursery School Observation
  • PSYC 3250 – Psychology of Early Childhood or PSYC 3550 Nursery School Principles
  • PSYC 3260 – Infancy
  • PSYC 3340 – Development Psychopathology or PSYC 3330 Abnormal Psychology
  • PSYC 3650 – Family Psychology or SOCI 1030 (Sociology of the Family)
  • PSYC 3300 – or PSYC 3680 or PSYC 3700 (i.e., a course in the psychobiology group)

The Department of Psychology is in the process of phasing out the Psychology and Early Childhood Major. Students who matriculate Fall 2023 or earlier will be able to finish their degree as long as they declare prior to the end of their sophomore year. Students who matriculate Spring 2024 or later will be unable to participate in the major. Students who matriculate Spring 2024 or later and who are interested in the psychology and early childhood are encouraged to declare a general Psychology major and consult with their major advisor about coursework relevant to their interests.