Teaching Psychology Minor

A teaching minor is an academic minor which may contain different course requirements designed to meet state standards. Those interested in teaching in K-12 schools must complete a teaching major in a content area plus the teacher preparation program through the Department of Curriculum and Instruction. Additional teaching areas can be added through completion of either a teaching major or a teaching minor in that content area.

The term ‘minor’ for this teaching option refers to courses that need to be completed. To sign up for this option, you need to contact the Curriculum and Instruction Department. Do not fill out a minor form for graduation or the minor section of the major change form. Approvals for this option must come from the Curriculum and Instruction Department.  

Minor - Psychology (Minor); Track: Teaching Psychology

College Humanities & Sciences

Catalog Year: 2016-2017

Degree Specific Credits: 24

Required Cumulative GPA: 2.0


Lower Division Core Requirements

Rule: Must complete the following courses

Show All Course Descriptions Course Credits
Show Description PSYX 100S - Intro to Psychology
Offered every term. Introduction to the scientific study of behavior in humans and other animals. Credit not allowed for both PSY 100S and PSYC 100S.
4 Credits
Show Description PSYX 120 - Research Methods I
Offered every term. Prereq., PSYX 100S. Experimental and other quantitative methods employed in the scientific study of behavior.
3 Credits
Minimum Required Grade: C 7 Total Credits Required

Minor Electives

Rule: Complete the following subcategories, taking at least 6 upper division credits

Minimum Required Grade: C
12 Total Credits Required

Subcategory 1

Rule: Must complete 1 course

Show All Course Descriptions Course Credits
Show Description PSYX 230 - Developmental Psychology
Offered autumn, spring, summer. Prereq., PSYX 100S. The study of human physical, cognitive and psychosocial development throughout the life span. Content covers major theories, the influence of genetics, and the environment from a chronological aspect. Appropriate for Social Work, Nursing, Addiction Studies, Education, and Psychology.
3 Credits
Show Description PSYX 360 - Social Psychology
Offered every term. Individual behavior as a function of interpersonal interaction.
3 Credits
Show Description PSYX 385 - Psychology of Personality
Offered intermittently Prereq., PSYX 100S. Introduction to theories and research in personality. Intensive survey of theoretical concepts and a detailed examination of experimental methods and experiments in the field of personality.
3 Credits
Minimum Required Grade: C 3 Total Credits Required

Subcategory 2

Rule: Must complete 1 course

Show All Course Descriptions Course Credits
Show Description PSYX 340 - Abnormal Psychology
Offered every term. Prereq., PSYX 100S. Description and classification of abnormal behavior.
3 Credits
Show Description PSYX 345 - Child & Adolescent Psych Dis
Offered intermittently. Prereq., PSYX 100S and 230. Study of causes, characteristics, assessment and treatment of emotional, social and intellectual disorders. The age span studied will range from infancy through adolescence.
3 Credits
Show Description PSYX 376 - Prin Cognit Behav Mod
Offered intermittently. Prereq., PSYX 270S. Study of basic principles, assumptions, methodology and applications of behavior modification. Discussion of current literature relevant to behavioral assessment and treatment of major psychological disorders.
3 Credits
Show Description PSYX 378 - Intro to Clinical Psyc
Offered intermittently. Prereq., PSYX 340. Clinical psychology as a science and a profession. Theoretical models and techniques of assessment and intervention. Case illustrations.
3 Credits
Minimum Required Grade: C 3 Total Credits Required

Subcategory 3

Rule: Must complete 2 courses

Show All Course Descriptions Course Credits
Show Description PSYX 250N - Fund of Biological Psychology
Offered every term. Prereq., PSYX 100S. Introduction to the study of how psychological processes are supported by biological processes. Mechanisms across levels of analysis, from cells to individuals, are addressed.
3 Credits
Show Description PSYX 270 - Fund Psychology of Learning
Offered autumn. Prereq., PSYX 100S. Basic theory and research on the nature of animal learning and behavior.
3 Credits
Show Description PSYX 280 - Fund of Memory and Cognition
Offered intermittently. Prereq., PSYX 100S. The acquisition and uses of knowledge. An examination of research and theories of human learning, memory, and thinking.
3 Credits
Show Description PSYX 352 - Comparative Psychology
Offered autumn. Prereq., PSYX 250N. Advanced evaluation and analysis of animal behavior through the synthesis of theory, research, and methods found in comparative psychology, behavioral biology, ethology, and sociobiology.
3 Credits
Show Description PSYX 356 - Human Neuropsychology
Offered spring. Prereq., PSYX 250N. Study of the organization of the nervous system, functional neuroanatomy, neuropathology, neurological disorders, behavioral neurology, and clinical neuropsychology.
3 Credits
Minimum Required Grade: C 6 Total Credits Required

Additional Degree Electives

Rule: Must complete additional Psychology electives to achieve 21 degree credits

Minimum Required Grade: C
2 Total Credits Required

Teaching Licensure Requirements

Note: Individuals completing a teaching minor must also complete a teaching major in another content area. Students must be formally admitted to the Teacher Education Program and complete all of the professional education licensure requirements. See the Department of Curriculum & Instruction in the College of Education and Human Sciences for more information. A minor GPA of 2.75 is required to be eligible for student teaching.


Teaching Methods Course

Rule: Complete the following course.

Note: The EDU 497 course number is used for multiple courses. Students should register for EDU 497 Methods: 5-12 Social Studies.

Show All Course Descriptions Course Credits
Show Description EDU 497 - Teaching and Assessing
(R-15) Offered autumn and/or spring. Prerequisite: Admission to the Teacher Education Program. This course number is used for multiple elementary and secondary methods courses. Check the class schedule or with your advisor regarding appropriate sections. 5-8 Mathematics: 3 cr. Offered autumn and spring. This class must be taken concurrently with Level 3 courses and is restricted to students who have completed coursework in Levels 1 & 2. Methods of teaching, assessing, and evaluating mathematics in the 5-8 middle grades including number and operations, rational numbers, ratio and proportion, measurement, algebra, expressions and equations, geometry, probability, statistics, and functions. K-8 Social Studies: 3 cr. Offered autumn and spring. This class must be taken concurrently with Level 3 courses and is restricted to students who have completed coursework in Levels 1 & 2. Emphasis on developing teaching and assessing social studies teaching/learning opportunities that incorporate literature, primary sources and other developmentally appropriate activities. Overarching themes address diversity, integration across the curriculum and understanding state and national curriculum standards. K-8 Science: 3 cr. Offered autumn and spring. This class must be taken concurrently with Level 3 courses and is restricted to students who have completed coursework in Levels 1 & 2. Emphasis on developing, teaching, and assessing science teaching/learning opportunities that are inquiry-based, developmentally appropriate, integrated across the curriculum, and aligned with state and national curriculum standards. 4-8 Reading: 3 cr. Offered autumn and spring. This class must be taken concurrently with Level 3 courses and is restricted to students who have completed coursework in Levels 1 & 2. Preparation for teaching reading in a 4-8 setting so that all students are successful. Emphasis on reading to learn. Focus on using assessment to guide instruction, learning from trade books, textbooks, and electronic texts, activating prior knowledge, studying texts, and developing student enthusiasm for reading. 5-12 Science: 3 cr. Offered autumn. Methods of teaching science in the middle and secondary school. This course emphasizes the use of inquiry, problem-solving, appropriate use of technology, and assessment techniques that align with state and national curriculum standards. 5-12 Social Studies: 3 cr. Offered autumn. Foundations and purpose of the middle and secondary social studies curriculum. Elements of curricular design, including instructional methods, materials and assessment. 5-12 Mathematics: 4 cr. Offered autumn. Methods for teaching mathematics in grades 5-12 focusing on presentation of mathematics concepts and procedures through models, problem solving, and technology. Development of instructional strategies and classroom organizational models, discourse in the classroom, and multiple means for assessing student progress. 5-12 Business Subjects: 4 cr. Offered autumn. Methods for teaching business subjects in grades 5-12 focusing on content-specific topics in business, marketing, and information technology to include: instructional planning; effective teaching strategies (F2F & online); multiple means for assessing student progress; classroom management; and the relationship of the content area to standards-based curricula.
0 To 4 Credits
Minimum Required Grade: C 3 Total Credits Required