Overview
Psychology is the scientific study of behavior. The UNH Manchester psychology program provides students with a broad background in psychology, introducing them to both the experimental and clinical perspectives in the field. It seeks to understand the fundamental principles involved in how people and animals learn and adapt to their environments.
The Department of Psychology offers opportunities for independent study in cooperating New Hampshire mental health and rehabilitation facilities. Students have worked in hospitals, halfway houses, mental health centers, and other agencies. The department also invites guest speakers to discuss important issues in the field.
Psychology graduates find employment as trained research assistants, mental health aids in a wide variety of human services agencies, social welfare caseworkers, teachers in special education programs, and professionals in government, business and industry. It is normally expected that students who wish to do professional work in the field of psychology will pursue graduate training at the M.A., M.S., Ph.D., or Psy.D. level.
The psychology major provides students with a broad education, while also allowing some specialization. The program exposes students to the scientific study of behavior and encourages an understanding of the behavior of humans and animals.
For more information about the psychology program, contact Professor Gary Goldstein, Program Coordinator, 603-641-4179 or the UNH Manchester Office of Admissions at 603-641-4150.
Program Requirements
Students majoring in psychology must complete 44 credits with a minimum of C- in each course and a 2.00 overall average in all major requirements. Students with a first major in psychology may not use any psychology courses to fulfill general education requirements with the exception of Psyc 402 which may be used to fill a major requirement or general education group 2, but not both.
Transfer students who elect to major in psychology must complete at least 24 credits in the program at UNH/UNH Manchester to qualify for the degree in psychology. Transfer students must earn a total of 44 approved credits for completion of the psychology major. The academic advisor will determine the distribution of these credits. Transfer students should note that courses are allotted only the number of credits granted by the original institution (after adjustments for semester-hour equivalents). Thus, students transferring from an institution at which courses carry less than 4 credits each must make up for any credit deficit created by acceptance of transfer credits into the psychology major.
The distribution of the major requirements is as follows:
- Three core courses (PSYC 401, 402, and 502).
- Four breadth (500-level) courses as follows:
Group I: two courses from Group I:
- PSYC 511
- PSYC 512, 513
- PSYC 521, 591 (Special Topics, Behaviorism)*
- PSYC 531
* PSYC 591 cannot be used as a prerequisite for a PSYC 700-Level course. Students who take this course or PSYC 522 may not earn credit for PSYC 722.
Group II: two courses from Group II:
- PSYC 552 or 553
- PSYC 561
- PSYC 571
- PSYC 581 or 582
- Four depth (700-level) courses as follows:
Group I: one course from Group I (710 _741)
- PSYC 710, 741A
- PSYC 712, 713, 720, 741B
- PSYC 722, 741C
- Biological: PSYC 731, 733, 735, 737, 741D
Group II: one course from Group II (755-793)
- PSYC 755, 756, 758, 791B, 791C
- PSYC 762, 763, 765, 793, 791D
- PSYC 771, 791E
- Development track: PSYC 780, 783, 785, 791F, 791G
Two additional 700 level courses, 704-793
Additionally, PSYC 702 and/or 705 may be substituted for one Group 1 and/or one Group II requirement. Specific course selections should be discussed with the advisers. Exceptions to the requirements for the major require a petition to the department.
If a student has fulfilled his or her distribution requirements in the major, then 523, 591, 795, 797, or 799 may be used to fulfill the 44 credit requirement.
