College of Arts and Sciences
Department of Psychological Sciences
www.kent.edu/psychology

About This Program

Unlock the secrets of the mind with Kent State's Psychology B.S. program. Our program provides a solid foundation in the science of behavior and the mind, preparing you for a wide range of careers or graduate studies. With experienced faculty, research opportunities and hands-on learning experiences, you will develop the skills and knowledge needed to understand human behavior and help others thrive. Read more...

Contact Information

• Debra Penberthy | dpenbert@kent.edu |
  330-672-0665
• Speak with an Advisor
• Chat with an Admissions Counselor

Program Delivery

• Delivery:
  • In person
• Location:
  • Kent Campus

Examples of Possible Careers and Salaries*

^{* Source of occupation titles and labor data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook. Data comprises projected percent change in employment over the next 10 years; nation-wide employment numbers; and the yearly median wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less.}

Admission Requirements

The university affirmatively strives to provide educational opportunities and access to students with varied backgrounds, those with special talents and adult students who graduated from high school three or more years ago.

First-Year Students on the Kent Campus: First-year admission policy on the Kent Campus is selective. Admission decisions are based upon cumulative grade point average, strength of high school college preparatory curriculum and grade trends. Students not admissible to the Kent Campus may be administratively referred to one of the seven regional campuses to begin their college coursework. For more information, visit the admissions website for first-year students.

First-Year Students on the Regional Campuses: First-year admission to Kent State’s campuses at Ashtabula, East Liverpool, Geauga, Salem, Stark, Trumbull and Tuscarawas, as well as the Twinsburg Academic Center, is open to anyone with a high school diploma or its equivalent. For more information on admissions, contact the Regional Campuses admissions offices.

International Students: All international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions) by earning a minimum 525 TOEFL score (71 on the Internet-based version), minimum 75 MELAB score, minimum 6.0 IELTS score or minimum 48 PTE Academic score, or by completing the ELS level 112 Intensive Program. For more information, visit the admissions website for international students.

Transfer Students: Students who have attended any other educational institution after graduating from high school must apply as undergraduate transfer students. For more information, visit the admissions website for transfer students.

Former Students: Former Kent State students or graduates who have not attended another college or university since Kent State may complete the reenrollment or reinstatement form on the University Registrar’s website.

Admission policies for undergraduate students may be found in the University Catalog's Academic Policies.

Some programs may require that students meet certain requirements before progressing through the program. For programs with progression requirements, the information is shown on the program's Coursework tab.

Program Requirements

Major Requirements

¹

Students who are also declared in the Sociology major may substitute SOC 32220 for PSYC 21621.

Additional Requirements for Students Not Declaring a Concentration

¹

No more than 12 credit hours of PSYC 31498, PSYC 41492 and PSYC 41498 combined may be applied toward major requirements in psychology.

²

Maximum 6 credit hours of PSYC 31498 and PSYC 41498 combined may be applied toward the Application of Psychological Science area.

³

A minimum C grade must be earned to fulfill the writing-intensive requirement.

Child Psychology Concentration Requirements

¹

No more than 12 credit hours of PSYC 31498, PSYC 41492 and PSYC 41498 combined may be applied toward major requirements in psychology.

²

No courses listed as Child Psychology Concentration Electives may be applied toward upper-division Psychology (PSYC) electives for students declared in the Child Psychology concentration.

³

Maximum 6 credit hours of PSYC 31498 and PSYC 41498 combined may be applied toward the Application of Psychological Science area.

⁴

A minimum C grade must be earned to fulfill the writing-intensive requirement.

⁵

Maximum 9 credit hours may be applied toward concentration requirements.

Pre-Medicine/Pre-Podiatry Concentration Requirements

Graduation Requirements

Foreign Language College Requirement, B.S.

• Students pursuing the Bachelor of Science degree in the College of Arts and Sciences must complete 8 credit hours of foreign language.¹ 
• The following programs are exempt from this requirement: The Bachelor of Science in Cybercriminology and the Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Science.²
• Minimum Elementary I and II of the same language

¹

All students with prior foreign language experience should take the foreign language placement test to determine the appropriate level at which to start. Some students may start beyond the Elementary I level and will complete the requirement with fewer credit hours and courses. This may be accomplished by (1) passing a course beyond Elementary I through Intermediate II level; (2) receiving credit through one of the alternative credit programs offered by Kent State University; or (3) demonstrating language proficiency comparable to Elementary II of a foreign language. When students complete the requirement with fewer than 8 credit hours and two courses, they will complete remaining credit hours with general electives.

²

The Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Science exemption exists under another college policy (Three-Plus-One Programs). The Bachelor of Science in Cybercriminology exemption is due to its extensive collaboration with and contribution from the Information Technology program in the College of Applied and Technical Studies, which does not have a foreign language requirement.

Roadmaps

Psychology Major (No Concentration)

This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this major. However, courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.

Child Psychology Concentration

This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this major. However, courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.

Pre-Medicine/Pre-Podiatry Concentration

This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this major. However, courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.

University Requirements

All students in a bachelor's degree program at Kent State University must complete the following university requirements for graduation.

NOTE: University requirements may be fulfilled in this program by specific course requirements. Please see Program Requirements for details.

Kent Core Requirements

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

1. Describe the basic theoretical perspectives, principles, concepts, empirical findings and historical trends in psychology.
2. Understand and use fundamental data analysis techniques.
3. Understand and apply basic research methods/tools in psychology and evaluate the adequacy of research designs.
4. Write effectively in the discipline.
5. Recognize, understand and respect the complexity of sociocultural and international diversity.

Full Description

The Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology is designed to prepare students for graduate study in psychology and related fields. Topics include stress and trauma, neural basis of learning and memory, social and biological influences on mental and physical health, growth and development of children and diagnosis and treatment of psychological disorders. Students evaluate and interpret data and gain hands-on experience conducting research. Elective courses may be used to specialize in a number of areas of psychology and related fields such as neuroscience. The degree prepares students for graduate study and employment in a range of fields, including clinical psychology, research and experimental areas of psychology such as cognitive science and behavioral neuroscience and related fields such as medicine and neuroscience.

The Psychology major includes the following optional concentrations:

• The Child Psychology concentration is designed to prepare students for graduate study in clinical psychology, research and experimental areas of psychology, school counseling, developmental psychology, school psychology or related disciplines that require knowledge of interpersonal relationships and human development. Topics include child development, psychological disorders of childhood and adolescence, children's cognitive processes, personality development and child-related research experience.
• The Pre-Medicine/Pre-Podiatry concentration prepares students to take the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) and have the required prerequisites necessary for applying to medical school.

Students may declare the program with no concentration and develop a plan of study to meet their career path within psychology.