NOTE: This recommended Four-Year Plan is applicable to students admitted into the major during the 2018-2019 academic year.

Total Credits Required: 128 credits
GPA: 2.0

WI: Writing Intensive courses needed prior to graduation

** Gen Ed Distribution Categories: two of the three categories are required with 1 course from outside school or major.

Psychology Program at Ramapo College:  4 Year Guidelines

The Psychology Program at Ramapo College is designed to give students a broad range of approaches and perspectives within the complex discipline of Psychology, and the 4 year guidelines are organized to help students plan their path forward to complete the program in the most positive and effective way.

A Framework

Students are encouraged to work with the 4 year guidelines as a framework to work within, and not a step-by-step rulebook.  The most helpful way to work within this framework is with your Psychology Advisor. All students are encouraged to meet with their advisors, early and often, to organize their own individual plan to meet their own specific needs.

The Psychology Program Core Courses

There are a few courses that can be considered anchor points within the program. These courses are essential to take at the times suggested in order for you to navigate the program successfully. These include Introduction to Psychology, Research Methods, and Data Analyses. These courses will help you to gain entry into other courses, and to understand the content materials in other courses. Introduction to Psychology is a prerequisite to all other Psychology courses, so it is essential to take it during your first semester as a Psychology Major.

We strongly encourage you to take Research Methods and Data Analysis (two courses that are taken in the same semester with the same faculty member) in your second semester sophomore year if you have completed the prerequisites by that time. In order to take Research Methods and Data Analysis, you need to have completed Introduction to Psychology and an additional 2 Psychology courses, giving you 12 credits in Psychology and 48 credits total. At the latest, take Research Methods and Data Analysis during your second semester junior year.

Psychology Categories:

The Psychology Program is organized through a category system that provides students with the opportunity to learn within some of the essential and established perspectives within Psychology.  The 8 Categories are also organized by level (200 and 300).

Categories 1, 2, and 3 are generally taken earlier on in the program, (with some exception, such as Adolescent Psychology and Industrial-Organizational Psychology which need to be taken at junior status).

Categories 4, 5, and 6 and generally taken a bit later on in the program, as they are all 300 level courses.

Categories 7 and 8 are the culmination of the program (Fieldwork and the Capstone course) and are to be taken during the last phases of your work in the program.

Again, please discuss with your Psychology Advisor which courses and categories best meet your needs.

Electives

The plan includes the opportunity for students to take 8 elective courses.  This provides students with the ability to create their own unique educational experience at Ramapo.  One of the electives courses must be a Psychology Course.  The remaining 7 courses are free, to be used as you wish.

The opportunity to take electives, to elect the courses you wish to take, provides students with the room to:

-declare a minor

-explore their education through any courses they wish

-design their own organized cluster of classes in the areas of their choice.

Speak to your Advisor about which approach is best for you.

Your Psychology Advisor

The Psychology Faculty is dedicated to your development as students and people.  These guidelines have been created with you in mind.  They have been designed to provide structure and flexibility.  Work with your Advisor so you can take, and make, the most of your experience here in the Psychology Program at Ramapo.