Example Course Plan
Psychology Course Plan (first 3 semesters)
This is an example course plan based on the 2020-2021 University Catalog; your actual schedule may deviate from this example. Your faculty
advisor will work with you to select appropriate courses.
As an IWU student, it is your responsibility to track your progress each semester
towards completing graduation requirements using the MyIWU degree evaluation tool.
Year 1
Fall Semester
- PSYC 100 General Psychology (LSI)
- Gateway Colloquium
- General education
- General education
*Students who come with AP Introductory Psychology Credit do not need to take PSYC 100. They can instead take one of the 200 level courses. (Note: Although students with AP credit do not need to take PSYC 100, they need to complete one additional course in Psychology so they complete the same number of courses as other Psychology majors).
Spring Semester
- Choose two of the following psychology courses**:
- PSYC 211 Learning & Conditioning
- PSYC 212 Perception/ Cognition
- PSYC 251 Abnormal Psychology
- PSYC 252 Child & Adolescent Development
- PSYC 253 Lifespan and Development
- PSYC 259 Social Psychology
- General education
- General education
May Term
Optional
**Psychology majors must take two of the following: PSYC 211, 212, 213; and two of the following: 251, 252 or 253, 259. They should take these during their first two years. If they take 100 during fall semester, they could take one of the 200 level courses listed above during spring of their first year. Please note that students cannot take both PSYC 252 and 253 to count for their 200 level major requirement since these courses have significant overlap.
Year 2
Fall Semester
- Choose one of the following psychology courses**:
- Psych 227 Statistics
- Second language course (if needed)
- General education
***Psychology majors must take two of the following: PSYC 211, 212, 213; and two of the following: 251, 252 or 253, 259. They should take these during their first two years. Please note that students cannot take both PSYC 252 and 253 to count for their 200 level major requirement since these courses have significant overlap.
Study Abroad
For students interested in studying abroad, the recommended semester(s) is: fall or spring, second or third year.
Additional Information
- It is recommended that students wait until their sophomore year to take PSYC 227 (though exceptions are possible). If students have questions they should contact a psychology faculty member.
- Students who come in with AP Statistics credit should bring in their syllabus and discuss this with a member of the Psychology faculty to determine if they should take 227 (statistics).