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 Community 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

In addition to the general admission requirements, students must have completed the following prerequisites, with a minimum 2.0 grade, to to declare the Bachelor of Arts in Psychology major.

  • BIS 170 Introduction to Psychology (or equivalent)
  • BIS 215 Understanding Statistics (or equivalent)

Degree requirements

  • BIS 300 Interdisciplinary Inquiry-min. 2.0 grade (5 credits)*
  • BIS 312 Approaches to Social Research
  • One Psychology Core Courses from the following list- min. 2.0 grade (5 credits)
  • Psychology Courses (20 Credits)
  • Psychology Electives** (10 credits)
  • BIS 499 Portfolio Capstone- min. 2.5 grade (5 credits)
  • Additional IAS Coursework (20 credits)

Total = 70 Credits
*Should be taken in the first quarter of IAS enrollment.
**IAS will maintain the list of courses.

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Learning objectives

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

  1. Develop an understanding of human development and well-being within an ecological framework.
  2. Draw upon the strengths and perspectives of diverse stakeholders in defining and solving social problems.
  3. Utilize interdisciplinary methods and approaches to community action and research.
  4. Understand, evaluate and participate in the development of effective intervention, prevention, and health promotion strategies and programs for individuals, small groups, and communities.
  5. Integrate knowledge across disciplines and contexts in ways that respect different approaches to understanding human development and well-being.
  6. 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, please contact the First Year and Pre-Major Programs.

Academic advisors

Research librarian

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Courses

A. Psychology core courses

  • BISPSY 337 Risk and Resilience
  • BISPSY 343 Community Psychology
  • BISPSY 348 Cultural Psychology
  • BISPSY 350 Intergroup Relations

B. Research Methods courses

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

C. Psychology courses

  • BIS 220 Developmental Psychology
  • BIS 222 Introduction to Human Sexuality
  • BIS 225 Social Psychology
  • BIS 270 Abnormal Psychology
  • BIS 316 Topics in Psychology
  • BIS 348 Industrial and Organizational Psychology
  • BIS 349 Personality Psychology
  • BIS 364 Realities & Representations of Adolescent Development
  • 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
  • B BIO 310 Brain & Behavior
  • B BIO 320 Behavioral Neuroscience
  • B BIO 394 Special Topics in Neuroscience
  • B BIO 480 Neurobiology
  • 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)

D. Psychology electives

  • BIS 232 Intro to Data Visualization
  • BIS 235 Critical Media Literacy
  • BIS 256 Intro to African American Studies
  • BIS 257 Intro to Asian American Studies
  • BIS 258 Intro to Latinx Studies
  • BIS 265 Intro to Comparative Ethnic American Studies
  • BIS 255 Critical Diversity Studies
  • BIS 282 Globalization
  • BIS 307 Environmental Justice
  • BIS 325 Disability and Human Rights
  • BIS 352 Mapping Communities
  • BIS 353 Human Rights in Theory and Practice
  • BIS 380 Bioethics
  • BIS 384 Health, Medicine and Society
  • BIS 412 Advanced Data Visualization
  • BIS 445 Meanings and Realities of Inequality
  • BIS 448 Social Policy
  • BIS 456 Climate Anxiety, Grief, and Resilience
  • BIS 483 Community Organizing
  • BIS 489 Projects in Community Psychology
  • 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
  • BISSTA 304 Institutions and Social Change
  • BISSTA 359 Ethics and Society
  • BISSTS 231 Genes, Genomes and Heredity

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