The following information is a general plan for your academic career if you plan on entering the workforce after you graduate. If you plan on applying to graduate school you need to see the Recommended Semester Plan for Graduate-School-Oriented Students. If you are in the Honors College, please also refer to the Recommended Semester Planning for Honors students. We strongly recommend that you follow one of these plans.

First Semester (Fall Freshman)

Work on your General Education Basic required courses, including Math. Plan to finish your English, Math, Communications, and Computer requirements in your first year. Plan to finish the vast majority of your General Education courses in your first two years. It would be nice to have PSY 121 this semester. You may also consider taking PSY 150 (Introduction to the Psychology Major). PSY 150 provides you with information about careers and specialty areas in psychology. Talk with your advisor frequently.

Second Semester (Spring Freshman)

Continue to work on your General Education courses, including Math if it is not yet completed. Take a Psychology course, possibly PSY 200 (Statistics), if you have met the prerequisites. If you have not taken PSY 150, take it this semester. It is to your benefit to get PSY 200 and 201 (Experimental) completed early. Talk with your advisor frequently.

Third Semester (Fall Sophomore)

Apply to the degree program this semester if you have 30 hours completed, have your Basic Required classes finished, and have decided on a minor. Go to Hill 313 before Early Registration begins to start the degree application.

Continue to work on your General Education courses. Take some electives in order to explore a possible minor or just for interest. Take one or two Psychology courses, including PSY 201 if you have met the prerequisites. It would be to your advantage at least to have PSY 200 completed by the end of this semester. Explore the possibility of a service learning course in Psychology or the possibility of getting some practical experience. Practical experience makes you more marketable when you graduate. It also establishes contacts with agencies who may be seeking new employees at the time of your graduation. Consult frequently with your advisor.

Fourth Semester (Spring Sophomore)

Apply to the degree program if you have not already done so. You MUST apply before completing 60 credits!

Finish your General Education courses. Complete PSY 201 by the end of this semester. Take something that may count towards a minor. Continue to consider service learning courses or practical experience. Consult frequently with your advisor.

Fifth Semester (Fall Junior)

Read the bulletin board by the Psychology Department Advisement Center, Hill 313, regularly. Read the book, Great Jobs for Psychology Majors that is available at the Reserve Desk in Meyer Library. Start thinking about the types of jobs you would like.

Take one or two other Psychology courses. Continue to work on your minor. If possible, take a course as an elective for interest. Remember the service learning option and the value of having practical experience. Take your Writing II course now, if possible. Talk with your advisor.

Sixth Semester (Spring Junior)

Take courses for your minor and a Capstone course. Also take one or two Psychology courses. If possible, take an elective for breadth of knowledge or interest. Take your Writing II course now, if you still need it. Talk with your advisor.
Seventh Semester (Fall Senior)

Attend an informational meeting of the Career Planning and Placement Center, CAR 309, x-5636. Plan to go to as many of the workshops they hold as possible. Work on your resumé. Plan activities and courses for next semester that will fill in any "gaps" in your background that you may have. Attend the Fall Career Day.

Complete your minor and major requirements during this semester, if possible. Take something for breadth of knowledge or interest. Take your Capstone course now, if you still need it. See your advisor to be sure that you are meeting your requirements for graduation.

Eighth Semester (Spring Senior)

Complete your placement file early in the semester. Contact faculty members to ask them to write letters of reference. Attend Spring Career Day. Use the Internet frequently to aid in your job search.

Finish any remaining requirements. Take some courses for breadth of knowledge or for interest. Relax a bit and look forward to graduation.