Stark State College's psychology program introduces core psychological theories and human behavior concepts while preparing you to transfer to a four-year program or enter entry-level roles in social and human services.
Major code: 7210 Arts and Sciences Division English, Language, and Social Sciences Department
The catalog in force is assigned to students based on the academic year they first applied to the college, and changes only when students change their major or request the change in writing. Refer to Policy No. 3357:15-13-28.
2026-27 Catalog
Effective Summer 2026
Some courses listed within the program may require a prerequisite or co-requisite.
Pre/Co-requisites will be listed within each course hyperlink below.
Refer to Policy No. 3357:15-13-04 and 3357:15-13-05
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Freshman Experience | ||
| SSC101 | Student Success Seminar | 1 |
| English Composition and Oral Communication | ||
| Select 9 credits minimum of the following: | 9 | |
| College Composition (required) | ||
| Technical Report Writing | ||
| Business Communication | ||
| College Composition II | ||
| Effective Speaking | ||
| Core Program Courses | ||
| PSY121 | General Psychology | 3 |
| PSY123 | Human Growth and Development | 3 |
| PSY131 | Psychology of Personality | 3 |
| PSY220 | Social Psychology | 3 |
| PSY221 | Abnormal Psychology | 3 |
| Social and Behavioral Sciences Electives | ||
| Select 12 credits across two disciplines (1 course must be PSY) of the following: | 12 | |
| Industrial/Organizational Psychology | ||
| Psychological Aspects of Therapy | ||
| Psychological Methods | ||
| Sociology | ||
| Society and Technology | ||
| Dynamics of the Family | ||
| Diversity in American Society | ||
| United States Government and Politics | ||
| Basic Economics | ||
| Microeconomics | ||
| Macroeconomics | ||
| Foreign Language | ||
| Select 8 credits minimum of the following: | 8 | |
| American Sign Language I | ||
| American Sign Language II | ||
| American Sign Language III | ||
| Elementary Spanish I | ||
| Elementary Spanish II | ||
| Arts and Humanities | ||
| Select 6 credits minimum of the following: | 6 | |
| Ethics (required) | ||
| British Literature: Medieval to 1785 | ||
| British Literature: 1785 to Present | ||
| Introduction to Shakespeare | ||
| American Literature: Colonial to 1865 | ||
| American Literature: 1865 to Present | ||
| Film Appreciation | ||
| Women's Literature | ||
| Major Modern Writers | ||
| United States History I to 1877 | ||
| United States History II from 1877 | ||
| World Civilization to 17th Century | ||
| World Civilization from 17th Century | ||
| Natural Sciences | ||
| Select 6 credits minimum (1 lab course required) of the following: | 6 | |
| Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology 1 | ||
| Anatomy and Physiology I (lab) 1 | ||
| Anatomy and Physiology II (lab) | ||
| Environmental Science (lab) | ||
| Human Biology (lab) | ||
| Climate Studies (lab) | ||
| Meteorology (lab) | ||
| Ocean Studies (lab) | ||
| General Biology I (lab) | ||
| General Biology II (lab) | ||
| Principles of Microbiology (lab) | ||
| General Genetics (lab) | ||
| Cell and Molecular Biology (lab) | ||
| Exploring Science and Technology (lab) | ||
| Introduction to Chemistry 1 | ||
| Introduction to Forensic Science (lab) | ||
| General Organic and Biological Chemistry (lab) | ||
| General Chemistry I (lab) 1 | ||
| General Chemistry II (lab) | ||
| Forensic Chemistry (lab) | ||
| Physical Geology (lab) | ||
| Principles of Physics (lab) | ||
| Astronomy (lab) | ||
| College Physics I with Algebra (lab) | ||
| Mathematics, Statistics, and Logic | ||
| MTH124 | Statistics | 3 |
| Total Hours | 60 | |
- 1
Because of the strong emphasis on science in this major, applicants must have successfully completed chemistry and biology in high school. Students who did not complete the courses in high school, and those who prefer to refresh their knowledge of the material, should complete the listed pre-requisites.
Full-time Student Advising Notes
Academic Advising
Students should make an appointment to see their advisor before registering for classes each semester. They should have prepared a completed registration form, including courses they wish to take, prior to this meeting.
Course Sequence
The semester-by-semester listing below provides the normal scheduling option for full-time associate degree students who plan to finish in two years.
Because of the strong emphasis on science in this major, applicants must have successfully completed chemistry and biology in high school. Students who did not complete the courses in high school, and those who prefer to refresh their knowledge of the material, should complete the listed pre-requisites.
| First Semester | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| SSC101 | Student Success Seminar | 1 |
| MTH124 | Statistics | 3 |
| ENG124 | College Composition (required) | 3 |
| PHL122 | Ethics (required) | 3 |
| PSY121 | General Psychology | 3 |
| Foreign Language Elective | 4 | |
| Hours | 17 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| PSY123 | Human Growth and Development | 3 |
| PSY131 | Psychology of Personality | 3 |
| Natural Sciences Elective 1 | 3-5 | |
| Foreign Language Elective | 4 | |
| Hours | 13-15 | |
| Third Semester | ||
| English Composition and Oral Communication Elective | 3 | |
| Natural Sciences Elective 1 | 3-5 | |
| PSY220 | Social Psychology | 3 |
| PSY221 | Abnormal Psychology | 3 |
| Social Behavioral Sciences Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 15-17 | |
| Fourth Semester | ||
| English Composition and Oral Communication Elective | 3 | |
| Arts Humanities Elective | 3 | |
| Social Behavioral Sciences Elective | 3 | |
| Social Behavioral Sciences Elective | 3 | |
| Social Behavioral Sciences Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Total Hours | 60-64 | |
Arts and Humanities Electives
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ENG233 | British Literature: Medieval to 1785 | 3 |
| ENG234 | British Literature: 1785 to Present | 3 |
| ENG235 | Introduction to Shakespeare | 3 |
| ENG236 | American Literature: Colonial to 1865 | 3 |
| ENG237 | American Literature: 1865 to Present | 3 |
| ENG239 | Film Appreciation | 3 |
| ENG240 | Women's Literature | 3 |
| ENG241 | Major Modern Writers | 3 |
| HIS121 | United States History I to 1877 | 3 |
| HIS122 | United States History II from 1877 | 3 |
| HIS221 | World Civilization to 17th Century | 3 |
| HIS222 | World Civilization from 17th Century | 3 |
Natural Science Electives
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| BIO101 | Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology | 3 |
| BIO121 | Anatomy and Physiology I | 4 |
| BIO122 | Anatomy and Physiology II | 4 |
| BIO126 | Environmental Science | 4 |
| BIO127 | Human Biology | 4 |
| BIO128 | Climate Studies | 3 |
| BIO129 | Meteorology | 3 |
| BIO130 | Ocean Studies | 3 |
| BIO141 | General Biology I | 4 |
| BIO142 | General Biology II | 4 |
| BIO221 | Principles of Microbiology | 4 |
| BIO241 | General Genetics | 4 |
| BIO242 | Cell and Molecular Biology | 4 |
| CHM100 | Exploring Science and Technology | 4 |
| CHM101 | Introduction to Chemistry | 4 |
| CHM105 | Introduction to Forensic Science | 3 |
| CHM123 | General Organic and Biological Chemistry | 4 |
| CHM141 | General Chemistry I | 5 |
| CHM142 | General Chemistry II | 5 |
| CHM205 | Forensic Chemistry | 4 |
| GEO141 | Physical Geology | 4 |
| PHY101 | Principles of Physics | 4 |
| PHY105 | Astronomy | 4 |
| PHY121 | College Physics I with Algebra | 4 |
English Composition and Oral Communication Electives
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| COM121 | Effective Speaking | 3 |
| ENG221 | Technical Report Writing | 3 |
| ENG230 | Business Communication | 3 |
| ENG231 | College Composition II | 3 |
Foreign Language Elective
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ASL122 | American Sign Language I | 4 |
| ASL124 | American Sign Language II | 4 |
| ASL221 | American Sign Language III | 4 |
| SPN100 | Elementary Spanish I | 4 |
| SPN200 | Elementary Spanish II | 4 |
Social and Behavioral Sciences Elective
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| SOC121 | Sociology | 3 |
| SOC122 | Society and Technology | 3 |
| SOC123 | Dynamics of the Family | 3 |
| SOC225 | Diversity in American Society | 3 |
| PSC121 | United States Government and Politics | 3 |
| BUS122 | Basic Economics | 3 |
| BUS221 | Microeconomics | 3 |
| BUS222 | Macroeconomics | 3 |
| PSY124 | Industrial/Organizational Psychology | 3 |
| PSY222 | Psychological Aspects of Therapy | 3 |
| PSY229 | Psychological Methods | 3 |
Program Learning Outcomes
This program is designed to prepare students to demonstrate the following learning outcomes:
- Demonstrate knowledge of the basic terms, theories, and concepts of human behavior.
- Demonstrate an understanding of how genetics, environment and personal choices impact age-related changes throughout the lifespan.
- Describe an understanding of the historical and cultural viewpoints as well as current thinking and research on abnormal human behavior and its treatment.
- Students will demonstrate an understanding of various theories related to human interactions in the areas of personal relationships, work settings, and social influence.