Undergraduate Psychology Advisement

Psychology has dedicated advisors to help you

	select courses
	plan your studies
	make sure you are on track
	think about your career (another source of assistance with career issues is the Career Development and Resource Clinic).

To make an advisement appointment:

	call (618) 453-3544
	or see the secretary in LSII, Room 229C

Questions:  Below you will find answers to many frequently asked questions (FAQS).

Career Development and Resource Clinic (CDRC)

	We provide individual career counseling to help students answer these questions.
	We also offer workshops and resources related to career planning.

Life Science II Suite 217
Phone: (618) 453-3568
E-mail: careers@siu.edu ; Website: http://www.psychology.siu.edu/cdrc

	"I've taken an introductory course in psychology. What course should I take next?"
	"PSYC 311 is also a required course. Should I take that course now?"
	"Which 400 level courses count towards fulfilling the requirement of three senior level courses?"
	"I took a 489 seminar already. Now I would like to take a different one. Will they both count towards the senior course requirement?"
	"I took a course in Abnormal Psychology at a two-year college. Will that count towards senior course requirement as PSYC 431?"
	"I have taken three hours of 391 and three hours of 393. Will they both count towards the psychology degree?"
	"Will a course in statistics count as fulfilling the Math requirement?"
	"I have heard that I can't get a job without a graduate degree. Is that true?"
	"Suppose I want to go to graduate school. What should I do?"
	"Where do I go if I need to talk to someone about psychology transfer classes, problems with my psychology classes, or special issues regarding my progress in psychology? "
	"I have lots of other questions. Where can I get answers?"

 

"I've taken an introductory course in psychology. What course should I take next?"

You should take PSYC 211 as soon as possible. It is a prerequisite for many other courses, including all of the senior (400 level) courses. Otherwise, take any 300 level course that interests you.

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"PSYC 311 is also a required course. Should I take that course now?"
 

It is a good idea to take PSYC 311 fairly early.  It will help you to better understand the research presented in many Psychology courses.

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"Which 400 level courses count towards fulfilling the requirement of three senior level courses?"
 

Any of the courses listed in Areas A, B, or C, plus PSYC 489 (See the list of major requirements). PSYC 499 does not count. Nor does ED PSYC 402.

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"I took a 489 seminar already. Now I would like to take a different one. Will they both count towards the senior course requirement?"
 

Yes, if they are different seminars--with different titles. You may take as many different 489 seminars as you wish, and count them all.

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"I took a course in Abnormal Psychology at a two-year college. Will that count towards the senior course requirement as PSYC 431?"
 

No. If you take a course in Abnormal Psychology at a four-year college, it will probably transfer and count towards the senior course requirement. However, we cannot count courses at a two-year college as equivalent to any 400 level course.

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"I have taken three hours of 391 and three hours of 393. Will they both count towards the psychology degree?"
 

No, only three hours will count towards the major requirements. However, you may count all six hours towards university requirements.

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"Will a course in statistics count as fulfilling the Math requirement?"
 

No, but a course in statistics can be counted toward the 13 courses required for a major in Psychology.

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"I have heard that I can't get a job without a graduate degree. Is that true?"
 

No. It is true that to work as a professional Psychologist you must have at least a master's degree. However, there are many other opportunities for graduates in psychology.  Check out our Careers page.

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"Suppose I want to go to graduate school. What should I do?"
 

Many graduate programs in psychology are very competitive.  Check out the page titled Grad School--it has lots of useful information.

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Where do I go if I need to talk to someone about psychology transfer classes, problems with my psychology classes, or special issues regarding my progress in psychology?

See Dr. Meera Komarraju (phone 618-453-3543/453-3544; office LSII 229D).  She is the Psychology Undergraduate Program Director and will try to help you.
 

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"I have lots of other questions. Where can I get answers?"
 

Make an appointment to talk to the Undergraduate Advisor (call 618-453-3544).  The Advisor can help you plan your course schedule and make plans for graduate school or a post-BA career.

 

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