With a social work degree, you’re prepared for an in-demand career in mental health, child welfare, criminal justice, school social work, and public welfare.
DEGREE TYPE
Bachelor's Degree
PROGRAM TYPE
Undergraduate
LOCATION
Main Campus - Cape
Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology
BS
On-Campus
Main Campus
Regional
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Are you ready to dive deep into the human mind? Study the science of what makes people tick with a psychology major.
A psychology major is your gateway to understanding why people think, feel, and act the way they do. This degree isn’t just about studying—it’s about discovering the secrets behind human behavior and using that knowledge to make a real difference.
Where Bold Ideas Take Shape in a Psychology degree
While earning your psychology degree right here in Missouri, you’ll explore everything from how the brain works to what drives human behavior. You’ll take courses in areas like cognitive psychology, social psychology, and behavioral neuroscience. Expect to engage in hands-on research, work with real data, and even participate in experiments. This isn’t just a classroom experience—it’s about getting into the field, asking the tough questions, and finding answers.
When you earn your bachelor's degree in psychology, you’ll be prepared for careers in health, politics, medicine, business, government, and more. You’ll get there because of opportunities to:
- Work closely with knowledgeable faculty in small classes.
- Start with courses in career planning and development to determine your desired career and necessary education.
- Participate in and develop psychological research.
- Gain professional research experience through Southeast’s annual Student Research Conference and internship experiences.
What Can You Do with a Psychology major?
With a degree in Psychology, the possibilities are wide open. You can pursue careers in mental health, human resources, marketing, or even forensic psychology. Interested in more? This degree also sets you up perfectly for graduate studies in psychology, counseling, or medicine. Whether you want to work directly with people or behind the scenes in research, your psychology degree will equip you to succeed.
Internship and Employment Opportunities of Recent Psychology Degree Graduates
Cottonwood Treatment Center Lutheran Child and Family Services American Red Cross Family Counseling Center Bootheel Counseling Center
Graduate Program Opportunities of Recent Psychology Degree Graduates
University of Iowa University of Michigan Southern Illinois University Univ ersity of South Florida
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Outcomes & Careers
-
$111k
Psychologist
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the mean annual salary for a psychologist is $111,340.
-
$106k
Clinical Psychologist
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the mean annual salary for a clinical and counseling psychologist is $106,850.
-
$134k
Industrial-Organizational Psychologist
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the mean annual salary for an industrial-organizational psychologist is $134,400.
Turn Ambition Into Action
As a psychology major, you’ll study all aspects of human behavior and mental processes. You’ll complete a minimum of 120 credit hours to complete this degree, including the general education requirements and at least 39 senior division hours.
Required Core Courses:
- PY101 Introduction to Psychology (3)
- PY103 Career Development in Psychology (3)
- PY230 Ethics and Diversity in Psychology (3)
- PY271 Introduction to Behavioral Statistics (3)
- PY370 Research Methods in Psychology (3)
- PY497 Historical Development of Psychology
Extended Core - 12 hours
Choose one course from each of the following areas:
Basic/Cognitive Processes
- PY362 Learning and Memory (3)
- PY460 Cognitive Processes (3)
- PY466 Introduction to Physiological Psychology (3)
Clinical/Personality
- PY432 Introduction to Personality (3)
- PY440 Psychopathology (3)
Developmental Psychology
- PY120 Psychological Development of the Child (3)
- PY220 Psychological Development Across the Life Span (3)
- PY222 Development of the Adolescent (3)
Social/Applied Psychology
- PY250 Applied Psychology (3)
- PY358 Social Psychology (3)
Psychology Electives
Choose 6 hours from the list below:
- PY250 Applied Psychology (3)
- PY251 Industrial/Organizational Psychology (3)
- PY301 Cross-Cultural Psychology (3)
- PY317 Psychology of Sex and Gender (3)
- PY329 Psychology of Grief and Loss(3)
- PY353 Social Cognition (3)
- PY358 Social Psychology (3)
- PY359 Psychology and the Law (3)
- PY362 Learning and Memory (3)
- PY366 Sensation and Perception (3)
- PY432 Personality Therapy (3)
- PY440 Psychopathology (3)
- PY441 Clinical Psychology (3)
- PY442 Psychotherapy (3)
- PY444 Childhood Psychopathology (3)
- PY460 Cognitive Processes (3)
- PY466 Biological Psychology (3)
- PY492 Independent Research/Readings in Psychology (1-3)
- PY495 Field Experience in Psychology (3)#
- PY531 Psychological Testing (3)
- PY555 Health Psychology (3)
Optional Pre-Counseling Track - no minor required if the track is chosen:
- CF209 Introduction to Family Theories (3)
- CF275 Resilience Across the Life Span (3)
- ED535 The Trauma-Informed Professional (3)
- PY440 Psychopathology (3)
- PY441 Clinical Psychology (3)
- PY442 Psychotherapy (3)
- PY444 Childhood Psychopathology (3)
* Requires faculty mentor
# Requires consent of Internship Coordinator
A grade of 'C' or better is required in each core course.
"Critical Courses" are italicized and bolded. These courses are indicators of potential for success in the degree program.
Some requirements may be fulfilled by coursework in major program.
- Social and Behavioral Sciences – 6 hours
- Constitution Requirement – 3 hours
- Written Communication – 6 hours
- Oral Communication – 3 hours
- Natural Sciences – 7 hours (from two disciplines, one to include a lab)
- Mathematics – 3 hours
- Humanities & Fine Arts – 9 hours (from at least two disciplines)
- Additional requirements – 5 hours (to include UI100 for native students)
- Civics examination
First Year
Fall Semester (16 Hours)
- UI100 (1)
- EN100 (3)
- PY101(3)
- General Education (3)
- General Education (3)
- General Education (3)
Spring Semester (15 Hours)
- PY103 (3)
- PY230 (3)
- General Education (3)
- General Education (3)
- General Education (3)
Second Year
Fall Semester (15 Hours)
- PY271 (3)
- Developmental Category (3)
- General Education (3)
- General Education (3)
- General Education (3)
Spring Semester (15 Hours)
- Social/Applied Category (3)
- Basic/Cognitive Processes Category (3)
- General Education (3)
- General Education (3)
- General Education (3)
Milestone: 2.0 cumulative grade point average
Third Year
Fall Semester (15 Hours)
- PY370 (3)
- Minor/Track course (3)
- Minor/Track course (3)
- Elective (3)
- Elective (3)
Spring Semester (15 Hours)
- Clinical/Personality Category (3)
- Psychology Elective (3)
- Minor/Track course (3)
- Minor/Track course (3)
- Elective (3)
Milestone: 2.0 cumulative grade point average
Fourth Year
Fall Semester (15 Hours)
- Psychology Elective (3)
- Minor/Track Course (3)
- Track/Elective (3)
- Track/Elective (3)
- Elective (3)
Spring Semester (14 Hours)
- PY497 (3)
- Minor/Track Course (3)
- Track/Elective (3)
- Elective (3)
- Elective (2)
Milestone: 2.0 cumulative grade point average
A 'Milestone' signifies a significant stage for a student in the completion of a degree.
A minimum 2.0 GPA in the major and overall are required to graduate with a BS degree.
What will it cost?
"The University prepared me well for medical school. I was promoted with honors from the basic science years. I am sure that my degree in Psychology from SEMO was the reason I was the one student that was nominated for Departmental Distinction in Psychiatry at my graduation from Oklahoma University School of Medicine."
Tim Bohn, MD
Alumnus
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Office Location
Scully 404
Mailing Address
One University Plaza, MS 5700
Cape Girardeau, Missouri 63701
Cape Girardeau, Missouri 63701