Psychology (B.A./B.S.) - Teaching Specialization

Print Degree Planner (opens a new window) |

Program Coordinator/Contact

Elizabeth Koob, Professional Advisor
School of Psychology, Sociology and Rural Studies
Agricultural Engineering 110
605-688-6296

Program Information

Psychology is the discipline concerned with the study of behavior and mental processes. The teaching specialization prepares students to qualify for certification to teach psychology in one of thousands of schools nationwide. Students pursuing this specialization should contact the College of Education and Human Sciences before their junior year.

Student Learning Outcomes

In the Psychology - Teaching Specialization, students will:

Express fundamental knowledge and comprehension of major concepts in psychology.
Apply scientific reasoning to psychological issues/problems.
Show an understanding of diversity and ethical/social responsibility in professional settings.
Write competently in APA style.
Demonstrate oral competency.

Academic Requirements

Psychology does not permit the double use of courses in its major with a minor. All psychology courses that count toward the major must receive a C or better grade.
A grade of “C” or better is required in CMST 101 , ENGL 101 , PSYC 101 , and MATH 103 or higher (if these courses are in your plan of study), and all courses for the major (classes with department/program prefix).
An overall GPA of 2.5 is required to enroll in any education courses.

Accreditation, Certification, and Licensure

Accreditation

Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)
South Dakota Department of Education

Certification and Licensure

Completion of an approved bachelor’s Secondary preparation program.
Completion of an approved Indian Studies course.
Pass the state designated content knowledge test or 2.7 GPA in content major coursework.
Pass the state designated pedagogy test.
Completion of a Suicide Awareness and Prevention training, available free online through the South Dakota Department of Education.
Apply online with the South Dakota Department of Education.
Written recommendation from institution of higher education (SDSU) verifying program completion.

Course Delivery Format

Psychology courses are delivered in multiple formats including face-to-face lecture and laboratory courses, as well as online courses.

Requirements for Psychology Major - Teaching Specialization: 120 Credits

Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Science

System General Education Requirements

Goal #1 Written Communication:
ENGL 101 - Composition I (COM) [SGR #1] Credits: 3
and SGR #1 Elective Credits: 3
Goal #2 Oral Communication: SGR #2 Elective Credits: 3
Goal #3 Social Sciences/Diversity:
PSYC 101 - General Psychology (COM) [SGR #3] Credits: 3
and SGR #3 Elective Credits: 3
Goal #4 Arts and Humanities/Diversity: SGR #4 Electives Credits: 6
Goal #5 Mathematics: SGR #5 Elective Credits: 3
Goal #6 Natural Sciences: SGR #6 Electives Credits: 6

College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Requirements

One declared minor outside of the major prefix OR a second major OR a teaching specialization. The minor may be a traditional minor within one department or it may be interdisciplinary involving more than one department. The minor can be in a different college. The minor must be declared no later than the student’s third semester of enrollment.
Capstone course in the major discipline
Upper division coursework Credits: 33

Bachelor of Arts Requirements: 9+

Modern Foreign Language Including the 202-Level Credits: 6+
AIS 211 - South Dakota American Indian Culture and Education (COM) [SGR #3] Credits: 3

Bachelor of Science Requirements: 13+

Natural Sciences Credits: 10+
- Any two lab sciences.
- Coursework must include 2 prefixes.
- MATH and STAT courses do not count toward the science requirement.
AIS 211 - South Dakota American Indian Culture and Education (COM) [SGR #3] Credits: 3

System General Education and/or major coursework may satisfy some or all of the above requirements. Consult program advisor for details. See the College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences for additional information about Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science specifications.

Major Requirements

PSYC 375-375L - Research Methods in Psychology and Lab Credits: 4
PSYC 376-376L - Research Methods II and Lab Credits: 4
PSYC 409 - History and Systems of Psychology (COM) Credits: 3 (Capstone)

Domain I

PSYC 305 - Learning and Conditioning Credits: 3
PSYC 406 - Cognitive Psychology (COM) Credits: 3

Select from the following

Select from the following. Credits: 3

PSYC 301 - Sensation and Perception (COM) Credits: 3
PSYC 411 - Physiological Psychology (COM) Credits: 3
PSYC 414 - Drugs and Behavior (COM) Credits: 3
PSYC 417 - Health Psychology (COM) Credits: 3

Domain II

PSYC 327 - Child Psychology Credits: 3
PSYC 367 - Psychological Gender Issues Credits: 3
PSYC 441 - Social Psychology (COM) Credits: 3

Domain III

PSYC 451 - Psychology of Abnormal Behavior (COM) Credits: 3

Select from the following

Select from the following. Credits: 6

PSYC 331 - Industrial and Organizational Psychology (COM) Credits: 3
PSYC 357 - Psychological Therapies Credits: 3
PSYC 358 - Behavior Modification Credits: 3
PSYC 427 - Child Psychopathology Credits: 3
PSYC 492 - Topics (COM) Credits: 1-4 (3 credits required) (Organizational Development)

Teaching Specialization Requirements

AIS 211 - South Dakota American Indian Culture and Education (COM) [SGR #3] Credits: 3 (College Requirement)
EDFN 101 - Exploration of Teaching and Learning (COM) Credits: 1
EDFN 340 - Adolescent Development in Educational Contexts Credits: 3
EDFN 351 - Teaching and Learning I Credits: 1
EDFN 352 - Teaching and Learning II Credits: 3
EDFN 352L - Teaching and Learning II Lab Credits: 2
EDFN 453 - Teaching and Learning III Credits: 3
EDFN 453L - Teaching and Learning III Lab Credits: 4
EDFN 454 - Teaching and Learning IV: Student Teaching Credits: 11
SEED 415 - 7-12 Social Science Methods (COM) Credits: 3 (Teaching Content Methods Requirement)
SEED 450 - Reading and Content Literacy (COM) Credits: 2
SEED 456 - Capstone/Action Research Credits: 1

Electives

Taken as needed to complete any additional degree requirements.

Total Required Credits: 120

Summary of Program Requirements

Bachelor of Arts
System General Education Requirements	30 Credit Hours
College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Requirements*	9+ Credit Hours
Major Requirements	38 Credit Hours
Teaching Specialization Requirements	34 Credit Hours
Electives**	9 Credit Hours
Bachelor of Science
System General Education Requirements	30 Credit Hours
College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Requirements*	13+ Credit Hours
Major Requirements	38 Credit Hours
Teaching Specialization Requirements	34 Credit Hours
Electives**	11 Credit Hours

*System General Education Requirements, Major Requirements, and Supporting Coursework may satisfy some or all of the above requirements.
**Taken as needed to complete any additional degree requirements.

Academic Advising Guide Sheet

The goal of the academic advising guide sheets and sample plans of study is to promote undergraduate student success by guiding all students to timely completion of an undergraduate degree. Students are not limited to the course sequence provided for their academic program. Instead, the sample plan of study is one possible path to completing your degree and is meant to be used as a guide for planning purposes in consultation with an academic advisor. The plans also help students prepare for meetings with their academic advisor and track their progress in their selected academic program.