Psychology

BACHELOR OF ARTS

On this page: Major Description | Requirements | Learning Objectives | Faculty & Staff | Courses

Follow your passion for helping people, serving the community, and improving the lives of those in need!
Do courses like Abnormal Psychology and Intergroup Relations sound exciting to you?
Do you want to explore a career in mental health counseling or community development?

two students walking past each other in front of books

The Psychology major at the University of Washington Bothell offers students the opportunity to study social problems and improve the well-being of people in their communities. While the field draws heavily from psychology, it also draws from texts and research in sociology, community development, ecology, public health, anthropology, cultural and performance studies, public policy, social work, and social justice movements. Through community based research, community psychologists produce knowledge that can inform social policies, social service work, helping practices, and community change.

Purpose

Students in the Psychology major are passionate about understanding the well-being of individuals and communities. Students who thrive examining social problems, by engaging in community based learning, will thrive within the Psychology major.

Practice

Courses in the Psychology major focus on theory and practice in psychology. Students also learn research methods in various fields including sociology, public health, anthropology, cultural studies, and social justice.

Profession

Using their background in Psychology, graduates have pursued careers in human services, community development, mental health, family and youth programs, counseling, program evaluation, community arts, and public relations.

Major requirements

Recommended preparation

If you would like to explore the major, consider taking one of the below courses. Any of these selections will help familiarize you with the academic program and prepare you for advanced coursework in the major.

BIS 170 Introduction to Psychology
BIS 215 Understanding Statistics
BIS 220 Developmental Psychology
BIS 222 Introduction to Human Sexuality
BIS 225 Social Psychology
BIS 270 Abnormal Psychology

Prerequisites

Students must complete the following prerequisites, with a minimum 2.0 grade, to to declare the Bachelor of Arts in Psychology major. Once all have been completed you can submit a declaration form, follow this link to the IAS Major Declaration Form

BIS 170 Introduction to Psychology (or PSYCH 101 equivalent)
BIS 215 Understanding Statistics (or B MATH 215, B BUS 215, STAT 220, STAT 290, or equivalent)
B WRIT 133, B WRIT 134, or ENGL 131
B WRIT 135 or ENGL 141

Degree requirements

One Psychology Core Course- min. 2.0 grade (5 credits)
- BISPSY 343: Community Psychology
- BISPSY 348: Cultural Psychology
- BISPSY 337: Risk and Resilience
- BISPSY 350: Intergroup Relations
BIS 312 Approaches to Social Research- min. 2.0 grade (5 credits)
200 Level Psychology Courses* (10 credits)
Upper Division Psychology Courses* (15 Credits)
Psychology Electives* (15 credits)
Additional IAS Coursework (20 credits)

Total = 70 Credits
*IAS will maintain the list of courses.

School of IAS Requirements & Policies

Residency Requirement: 30 credits must be completed in residency at UW Bothell
Cumulative GPA Requirement: Major GPA must be at a cumulative of 2.00 or higher
Interdisciplinary Practices & Reflection (IPR): The IPR requirement can overlap with 70 credit major coursework or it can be completed through elective credits. Please see the IPR page for course options.
Upper Division Credit Policy: Of the credits applying to Psychology major requirements, a minimum of 35 credits must be completed at the Upper Division (300-400) level.

Learning objectives

The Psychology curriculum advances the five core IAS learning objectives. Students taking courses and/or majoring in Psychology:

Develop an understanding of human development and well-being within an ecological framework.
Draw upon the strengths and perspectives of diverse stakeholders in defining and solving social problems.
Utilize interdisciplinary methods and approaches to community action and research.
Understand, evaluate and participate in the development of effective intervention, prevention, and health promotion strategies and programs for individuals, small groups, and communities.
Integrate knowledge across disciplines and contexts in ways that respect different approaches to understanding human development and well-being.
Work collaboratively across diverse groups and organizations through community-based experience and internships.

Faculty

Please contact the Psychology Faculty Coordinator if you have any questions, concerns or ideas about the Psychology major.

To declare the Psychology major follow this link to the IAS Major Declaration Form

Research librarian

Michael Mungi

Courses

A. Psychology core courses

BISPSY 337 Risk and Resilience (not offered regularly)
BISPSY 343 Community Psychology (Autumn Quarter)
BISPSY 348 Cultural Psychology (Winter Quarter)
BISPSY 350 Intergroup Relations (Spring Quarter)

B. Research Methods courses

BIS 312 Approaches to Social Research Methods (min 2.0 grade)

C. 200 Level Psychology Courses (10 credits)

BIS 220 Developmental Psychology
BIS 222 Introduction to Human Sexuality (equivalent to PSYCH 210)
BIS 225 Social Psychology (overlapping with PSYCH 245)
BIS 270 Abnormal Psychology
See your Academic Advisor if you have transferred in one of the 200 level Psychology Courses

D. Upper Division Psychology courses (15 credits)

BIS 316 Topics in Psychology (can be taken maximum 3 times, different topics)
BIS 348 Industrial and Organizational Psychology
BIS 349 Personality Psychology
BIS 364 Realities & Representations of Adolescent Development
BIS 368 Asian American Psychology
BIS 369 Indigenous Psychology and Health
BIS 422 Clinical Psychology
BIS 438 Prevention and Promotion
BIS 449 Advanced Topics in Psychology
BIS 450 Decolonizing Psychology
BISPSY 489 Projects in Psychology
BISPSY 337 Risk and Resilience (If not taken as a core)
BISPSY 343 Community Psychology (if not taken as a core)
BISPSY 348 Cultural Psychology (if not taken as a core)
BISPSY 350 Intergroup Relations (if not taken as a core)

E. Psychology electives (15 credits)

BIS 115 Digital Cultures
BIS 140 Numbers in News Media
BIS 162 Race, Gender, and Sexuality through Film & TV
BIS 165 Introduction to Ethnic Studies
BIS 180 Introduction to Human Geography
BIS 181 Introduction to Sociology
BIS 193 Introduction to Philosophy
BIS 216 Introduction to Cultural Studies
BIS 219 Politics of Sex Education
BIS 226 Foundations of US Social Services
BIS 230 Introduction to Disability Studies
BIS 235 Critical Media Literacy
BIS 238 Language, Identity, Culture, and Power
BIS 249 Introduction to Labor Studies
BIS 252 Politics of Science
BIS 256 Intro to African American Studies
BIS 257 Intro to Asian American Studies
BIS 258 Intro to Latinx Studies
BIS 255 Critical Diversity Studies
BIS 279 Introduction to Law & Society
BIS 282 Introduction to Globalization
BIS 307 Environmental Justice
BIS 317 Language, Society, and Cultural Knowledge
BIS 336 History of Mass Incarceration in the US
BIS 352 Mapping Communities
BIS 353 Human Rights in Theory and Practice
BIS 365 Institutions and Social Change
BIS 367 Ethics and Society
BIS 380 Bioethics
BIS 384 Health, Medicine and Society
BIS 445 Meanings and Realities of Inequality
BIS 448 Social Policy
BIS 456 Climate Anxiety, Grief, and Resilience
BIS 483 Community Organizing
BISAES 305 Power, Dissent, and American Culture
BISAES 367 Race, Ethnicity, and Immigration
BISGST 303 History and Globalization
BISGWS 301 Critical Gender & Sexuality Studies
BISLEP 302 Policy Analysis
BISSTS 231 Genes, Genomes and Heredity
B BIO 310 Brain & Behavior
B BIO 320 Behavioral Neuroscience
B BIO 394 Special Topics in Neuroscience
B BIO 480 Neurobiology