Pre-Psychology

  What is Pre-Psychology?

Psychology is the study of behavior and mental processes. Psychologists can be found doing a wide range of work, including counseling and therapy, research in the many subfields of psychology, and teaching; others can be found in private industry in human resources departments, focusing on psychology in the workplace.

  Success Factors

Students of all types can be successful psychology majors. For those who are outgoing and enjoy helping people, social psychology and counseling classes are a good focus. For those who like to work alone and are mathematically oriented, taking classes that focus more on the biological aspects of psychology and behavioral statistics and research design would work well.

Ultimately, a degree in psychology prepares students to be critical thinkers. Businesses seeking college graduates without discipline specifications are well served by psychology majors who can examine behavior, apply concepts and theories, use the scientific method, understand statistics and write well.

  Career Possibilities

Students in this transfer program may continue their studies to obtain a bachelor's degree. These graduates look forward to such career options as career counselor, community support worker, family services worker, human relations director, marketing representative, laboratory assistant, etc. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (1998), the median annual salary for a full-time worker with a bachelor's degree in psychology was $35,672 (Landrum & Davis, 2004). To obtain licensing certification for private practice or to work as a psychologist (i.e. certified counselor) in education, business, clinics, etc., one must at minimum have a master's degree in psychology.

  Majoring in Pre-Psychology

The associate of arts degree in pre-psychology at UC | Blue Ash, Raymond Walters College, is designed to provide the first two years of general education requirements for a future bachelor's degree in psychology. This program is coordinated with the bachelor's degree program in psychology for the Department of Psychology at McMicken College of Arts and Sciences, University of Cincinnati. For more information concerning the bachelor's degree in psychology through UC's McMicken College of Arts and Sciences, go to www.artsci.uc.edu/psychology, or e-mail the department at psych.dept@uc.edu.

  Curriculum

This curriculum information is intended as a general information guide for students considering enrollment in this program. These online tools are designed to assist you, but are not a substitute for planning with an academic or faculty advisor.

If you are currently confirmed or enrolled, you can check your degree requirements online. If you are considering transferring to this major from another school use the Course Applicability System (CAS) to see how credits you have earned will apply to this major at UC. For course descriptions by college, click here.

1 The foreign language requirement is met by taking any of the following sequences:  1) a 15-hour elementary sequence; 2) a nine-hour beginning sequence followed in the second year by a nine-hour intermediate sequence; or 3) a nine-hour intermediate or composition and conversation sequence.

2 Recommended:  Elementary Probability and Statistics I, II, III; Arts and Sciences will also accept Topics in Math I, II, III; Finite Math and Calculus I, II, III; Calculus and Analytic Geometry I, II, III.

3 For personnel/industrial relations option, include HR Management I, II

4 For personnel/industrial relations options, Introduction to Sociology I and Principles of Economics II.

  UC Advantages and Special Opportunities

Obtaining the associate pre-psychology degree from UC | Blue Ash, Raymond Walters College, allows a student to meet the general education requirements for the bachelor’s degree offered by UC's McMicken College of Arts and Sciences in a friendly, teaching-oriented atmosphere with small class sizes and individual attention. In addition, several of the upper-level courses for the bachelor’s degree may be offered on the Blue Ash campus and can be taken while completing the associate degree.

  Admission Requirements

This program is open to all students with a high school diploma or GED (minimum composite score of 45) and the desire to succeed in college. Although admission is open, students accepted into the program must meet the academic standards of the program to advance to upper levels of study, including meeting the UC | Blue Ash, Raymond Walters College, residency requirements and graduating with a cumulative GPA of 2.0. 

High school students who are considering Raymond Walters College should take either the SAT or ACT college entrance examination for use in guidance and counseling. All students entering a degree program must also take the college’s placement test prior to registering for classes. This test is given on the Raymond Walters College campus.

The UC | Blue Ash, Raymond Walters College, Admissions Office provides an application for admission and all the information you’ll need to enroll in the college.

  Transferring to UC Requirements

Students transferring to Raymond Walters College follow similar procedures as those who are enrolling through open admissions. Please contact the UC | Blue Ash, Raymond Walters College, Admissions Office for all the information you’ll need to enroll in the college.

  Changing Majors within UC Requirements

As the goal of this program is to prepare the student for completing the bachelor’s degree in psychology through the Department of Psychology in McMicken College of Arts and Sciences, students must meet the guidelines set forth by that department for transferring to that college. You can find this information by going to http://www.uc.edu/degreeprograms/program.aspx?program=15BA-PSYC or contacting the Department of Psychology at psych.dept@uc.edu.

  Graduation Requirements

Students seeking to graduate with the associate degree in pre-psychology from UC | Blue Ash, Raymond Walters College, must meet college residency requirements (i.e. earning > 50 percent of credit hours from Raymond Walters College) and achieve a cumulative GPA of 2.0.

  Application Deadlines

The college’s rolling admissions policy allows you to start any quarter: fall, winter, spring or summer. However, it is recommended that you apply for admission at least two weeks prior to the start of any given quarter.

  Accreditation