How can I tell if I'm going to have a hard time majoring in Psychology?

While it is always possible and desirable to improve your academic efforts and performance as you go along, it is often the case that students who get grades below B- in Psych 201 (Introduction to Psychology), below a C in Gen Ed math classes or below a C- in Psych 301 face difficulty in obtaining a GPA in Psychology that will allow them to graduate in the major.  Generally, it is wiser to select a major in which you have strengths, perform well in classes and can be academically successful (obtain B grades and above).   You must have a 2.0 GPA in Psychology classes taken at UofL in order to graduate as a Psych major regardless of degree.  It is unfortunately quite possible to complete the classes for the Psychology major, but have grades too low to receive the degree. If you receive a D in any Psychology class, you should talk to the Psychology Advisor about your situation immediately.

It's not plagiarism if I didn't "mean to", right?

Wrong.  Plagiarim is the act of passing off another work or words as your own REGARDLESS OF INTENTION.  This is dishonest, the equivalent of theft, and indicates a gross disrespect for yourself, your instructor, your fellow students, the original author and the process of education and critical thinking itself.  It is, in many ways, even worse than copying your neighbor's test answers and will be treated that way.  There is NO EXCUSE acceptable for plagiarism, under any circumstances.  Students are expected to know this standard and abide by it.  If you cut and paste from the internet, that is plagiarism.  If you "change a few words here and there", that is still plagiarism.  The definition of "your own work" means your own ideas, as well as your own language.  If in doubt, consult your instructor or LEAVE IT OUT.  Plagiarism-detecting software is in active use in our department.

What is the Student Learning Outcomes Assessment and where do I take it?

This is aka the "exit exam" and graduating students are required to take it prior to the end of exams during their final semester.  All A&S departments must supply data to the Dean for use in accreditation; different departments provide different sorts of data.  PBS uses a multiple-choice quiz covering the entire field of psychology.  YOUR SCORE WILL NOT DETERMINE WHETHER YOU GRADUATE!  Please come to Room 317, the Psychology Office, M-F, 9:30-3:30 and ask the receptionist for the exit exam.  You should allow about 45 minutes and will not receive feedback.  NO APPOINTMENT IS NEEDED for this.

What is the "exit exam" and when do I take it? 

 See previous answer.

How can I fnd out what classes I need to take to graduate?

 If you have >90 credit hours, you can apply online for a Preliminary Degree Check at www.louisville.edu/a-s/advising/forms.  After several weeks, you will receive this document as an email attachment sent to your UofL email account.  Pay particular attention to the "Deficient" column:  this lists the classes or hours you still need for graduation.  If you have <90 hours and are a Psychology major, please contact the Psychology Advisor for this information (aasomm01@louisville.edu.)

I've retaken a class I flunked.  How do I get the grade substituted? 

Go to A&S Advising in Gardiner Hall and file a grade replacement form.  You'll need to know exactly when you took the class both times (semester) and what section you were in.  After several weeks, your transcript will show "Repeated class, not included in GPA" for the first time you took the class and "Repeated class" for the second time you took the class.  The earlier grade will no longer be included in your cumulative GPA.

How many times can I retake a class to improve my grade?  

You have a total of four grade replacements for your undergraduate career.  You cannot replace grades once you have received your degree.  Unless you are replacing an F, you will not receive credit for a class taken at a lower level once you have taken a class at a higher level (this pertains to classes with I, II, III, e.g. in their titles.  If you are uncertain whether your classes are considered in sequence, please contact the department in question).  It is wise to wait until you have the replacement grade on your transcript before requesting replacement to avoid replacing a grade with the same grade or a worse one.

I have an Incomplete.  Now what? 

You have until the end of the following semester (not counting summer term, in the case of Spring Incompletes) to finish the work required to receive a grade.  At the end of that following semester, the I will automatically become an F, unless the instructor files a grade replacement form for you.  You should immediatly contact the instructor in the case of any I and agree on the work that must be completed in order to receive a grade.

Giving I grades is at the discretion of the instructor.  It is not intended to allow extra time for circumstances within the student's control, nor to facilitate grade improvement.  Students who are failing at the end of the semester are not entitled to request I grades.

It won't let me register for 18 hours.  How come?

In order to register for more than 17 hours, you need permission from Arts and Sciences Advising for an overload.  This is granted without petition for students with cumulative GPA's >=3.0, but by petition only (and rarely) for other students.  Think twice before carrying loads of this magnitude.  It can seem that it will speed your graduation, but it often backfires, resulting in dropped or flunked classes, wasted tuition, a damaged GPA and additional semesters.  If you are also working 20 hours or more, it is almost always a bad idea.

How do I apply to graduate? 

At the end of the semester before your final semester, apply online via ULink in the Registration section.  Apply in December for the following May, in May for August and in August for December.

I though I was going to graduate but I still have to take some classes.  Now I can't register--help!

Once you are on the graduation list, you remain on it EVEN IF YOU ARE DENIED GRADUATION.  You must apply in writing (email will do) to Arts and Sciences advising (asadvising@louisville.edu) to have your name removed from the list.  Until the Registrar receives that notification, you will not be allowed to register for any more classes.

What is a petition and how do I do it?

I want to be a Psychology major.  I can't apply online because I'm in another academic unit (Nursing, Education, Business...).  What do I do?

This is a two-stage process.  First, you have to be admitted to the College of Arts and Sciences, by Intrauniversity Transfer (IUT), available online.  Please consult with A&S advisors prior to requesting an IUT.  Once admitted to A&S, you will have to meet the criteria for admission to Psychology, available at Application for the Major/Minor

I need to complete the entire language requirement over the summer.  Is that possible?

It is usually possible in Spanish.  Check the course schedule or the department in question for other languages.  Make sure you can commit to spending the entire months of June and July to this, as it requires virtually full-time effort.   Do not plan to take any additional classes while you are enrolled in Intensive language courses.

How can I take classes at another college while I'm a student at UofL?

Do I need a minor?

Employers and graduate schools are not necessarily more mpressed by an official minor than they are by, for example, advanced classwork taken in any field outside the major.  Students often overvalue the idea of a minor because it appears to be an additional credential, but it is not always the best use of a student's academic options.  If you have strong interests in a secondary field or are in a major which does not reflect your career aspirations, however, a minor can be an excellent idea.  No student should assume that a minor is expected.

I want to protest an unfair grade.  To whom should I talk?

The unfairness of a grade is very much in the eye of the beholder and the instructor may disagree.  The only recourse for a student who feels they have been treated differently than other students in the same situation is to discuss the matter with the instructor.  Please be advised that appeal for a higher grade due to:  heavy load, desire for admission to graduate school, needing the grade for financial aid, trying to get off probation, wishing to maintain a 4.0, only being one point away, having missed class, etc. is unlikely to be successful or well-received.  The only grounds for appeal is actual unfairness:  scoring/grading error,  standards being applied inconsistently, unannounced alterations in the syllabus, etc. 

I was turned down for the Psych major because my GPA was too low.  Should I try again?

This depends on why you were turned down.  If it was for GPA reasons, you should think twice about choosing the Psychology major.  The core classes that follow Psych 201 (Intro to Psychology) are considerably more challenging and require a very logical, inferential, mathetmatical style of reasoning.  If you have received a grade of C+ or below in 201, the chances are that you will struggle in this major.  If you are uncertain about your chances for success, take Psych 301 and 302 as soon as possible.  If you receive grades of C- or below, it is probably wise to look for a different major.

What Psych classes should I take first?  Does the order matter?

Yes, very much so.  The curriculum plan assumes that you will take the two core methods classes, Psych 301 and 302, as soon as possible.  In fact, it is preferable to take Psych 301 prior to admission to the major, in order to be certain that this quantitative, empirical approach to the field is right for you.  We approach psychology from a "hard science" perspective and intuitive, subjective or personal ways of thinking about the topics may not be appropriate in some classes.  Early completion of statistics (301) and research methods (302) with grades of C or better will provide the necessary skills and teach you scientific ways of thinking about human behavior to help you enjoy and succeed in later classes.

What are the most common minors for Psych majors?

The most common minors for Psych majors are Sociology and Justice Administration, perhaps because there is overlap in the requirements.  Another frequent minor is Communication.   

What percentage of Psych majors choose the different degrees?

The vast majority of majors are pursuing the BA/Social Science degree.  Fewer than 10% pursue the BS degree and a smaller percentage follow the BA/NatSci program.