Psychology is the scientific study of behavior and mental processes. The requirements for the Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology are designed to introduce the student to the broad spectrum of psychological knowledge, skills, and professions. At the undergraduate level, the Department offers the Bachelor of Science degree (B.S.) which involves 45 required credits in Psychology (15 required courses) covering the core knowledge upon which Psychology is based, such as research design and methodology, statistics, and physiological psychology/neuroscience. Students majoring in Psychology can also have a concentration in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), which prepares students to earn their BCaBA Certification at LSUS. Beyond Psychology, a B.S. degree in Psychology at LSUS requires a solid foundation in the Biological and Physical Sciences and a wide range of courses in other Social Science disciplines. An undergraduate major involves a total of 120 credit hours. A Psychology major must also pass each required Psychology course with a grade of C or better to count toward graduation. A B.S. degree in Psychology prepares students for entry-level employment in human service agencies and organizations, industrial settings, laboratories, and any profession that involves understanding human interaction and behavior. Alternately, some Psychology majors elect to pursue postgraduate study in fields such as Law or Medicine. Many Psychology majors decide to pursue advanced training in one of the specialty areas of Psychology such as Clinical or Counseling, Forensics, School Psychology, Health Psychology, Industrial-Organizational Psychology and many others.
The LSUS Department of Psychology also offers two graduate degree programs: the Master of Science in Counseling and the Specialist in School Psychology, which are described more fully elsewhere in this catalog (see GRADUATE STUDIES ). The M.S. in Counseling program is 60 hours (2 years) and is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). The M.S.C. degree is designed to lead to licensure as a Professional Counselor in the State of Louisiana. The Specialist in School Psychology program is a 72-hour professional degree program (two years of academic study plus one-year internship) and is approved by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP). The S.S.P. degree leads directly to state certification/licensure as a School Psychologist, as well as the national credential (NCSP).