At Colorado State University (CSU), the Psychology Department is located within the College of Natural Sciences. Psychology is a science, therefore, within our curriculum one will find a balanced program that includes psychology, mathematics, natural sciences, behavioral and social sciences, arts and humanities, with a focus on writing, research and applied experiences. When a student completes their degree in Psychology they receive a bachelor’s of science (B.S.).
Within the Psychology major, five concentration areas are offered at the undergraduate level: General Psychology; Mind, Brain, and Behavior; Industrial/Organizational; Addictions Counseling; Clinical/Counseling Psychology. Our department is unique in being able to offer students the opportunity to focus on specific areas within psychology during their time as an undergraduate. Please see information below to learn more about the concentrations available.
Concentrations
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General Psychology is the largest concentration within the Psychology major at CSU. Every student who enters the Psychology major begins on our general concentration. As students work their way through our entry-level courses, some students will decide to change onto other concentrations available; however, 70% of students stay on the general concentration. This concentration provides the most flexibility of coursework within the major. In many regards, students can tailor the coursework to fit their interests within psychology and explore the various courses we offer within the department.
Benefits of concentration:
- Offers the most elective credits out of all concentrations. If students are thinking of adding a minor, second major, or studying abroad, these experiences fit in more readily with the general concentration.
- Students have the most variety of lecture/lab pairings and psychology upper division electives to choose from on this concentration.
- Students interested in social or forensic psychology often choose to stay on the general concentration. Many students going the forensics route will add a minor or second major in sociology/criminology/criminal justice.
The general psychology concentration can relate to a variety of jobs in many different fields and help prepare students for graduate programs.
To Declare: Students automatically start on the general psychology curriculum when they enter the Psychology major. Students will stay on the general concentration unless they decide to declare a different concentration.
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The primary objective of the Clinical/Counseling Psychology Concentration is to prepare students for jobs and careers in counseling and the mental health professions. This could include preparation for graduate school training. Students attain an understanding of the client-therapist interaction, assessment and diagnosis, intervention and treatment, and various multicultural and ethical issues that come into play in working with clients.
Benefits of concentration:
- Curriculum focused on clinical and counseling oriented classes
- Includes an applied basic counseling skills lab
- Required internship/field placement experience
- Could help prepare students for counseling-relates jobs after graduation (e.g., human services worker, mental health worker, caseworker, advocate, etc.) and/or future graduate school or professional training
To Declare: Once a student has completed 30 credits and passed PSY210 with a ‘C’ or higher they are eligible to declare the concentration.
The Psychology Department offers an undergraduate Concentration in Addiction Counseling. This concentration allows undergraduate Psychology majors to meet the requirements of the state of Colorado for certification as a Certified Addiction Counselor I (CAC-I). This certification may also meet the requirements for similar certifications in many other states. The concentration is designed to prepare students to work effectively in various treatment settings and with a variety of addictive behaviors. Upon completion of this concentration, students will possess a body of knowledge, skills, training, and work experience in the treatment of addictive behaviors that prepares them for a career as a certified addiction counselor.
Benefits of concentration:
- Provides entry into a career in addiction counseling with a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology
- Required internship and placement as part of the curriculum
- Start process to receive CAC-I certification in state of CO
- Ability to take an applied basic counseling skills lab where you get to practice skills learned in PSY 310, basic counseling skills
- There is a strong need for addictions counselors in the state of Colorado. Job prospects with your CAC-I certification are good.
- Option to continue on and receive your CAC-II and CAC-III certifications
To Declare: Once a student has completed 30 credits and passed PSY210 with a ‘C’ or higher they are eligible to declare the concentration; additionally, a student must be in good academic standing (2.0 cumulative GPA or higher).
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The Industrial/Organizational (I/O) concentration focuses on studying psychology within the work place, organizations, and businesses. Topics studied within this area include methods of hiring employees, theories on how organizations work, helping organizations motivate employees, employee health and wellbeing, organizational leadership, and much more. The area of industrial/organizational psychology is a growing subfield within psychology. Many students interested in going into business with a psychology degree are attracted to this concentration. With a bachelor’s degree in I/O many students are able to get entry level human resources positions after graduation.
Benefits of concentration:
- Focus on I/O courses throughout your upper division coursework
- Exposure to I/O related student organizations and opportunities
- Access to I/O faculty within the Psychology Department
Access to I/O related jobs after graduation such as: human resources (HR), talent management, Training and Development, Evaluation & Assessment
To Declare: Once a student has completed 30 credits and passed PSY210 with a ‘C’ or higher they are eligible to declare the concentration.
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The Mind, Brain, Behavior concentration focuses on the cognitive, cognitive neuroscience, sensation and perception, and biological areas of psychology. Students on this concentration take coursework specifically focused on these areas of learning. The curriculum also incorporates additional math and science components. Many students attached to doing research or continuing onto graduate school in these specific areas within psychology are drawn to this concentration. In addition, students on a pre-medical or other health professions track may be interested in this concentration as many of the additional course requirements overlap with prerequisites required for these types of programs. Undergraduate research and getting involved with faculty labs is strongly encouraged on this concentration
Benefits of concentration:
- Curriculum focused on cognitive, cognitive neuroscience, sensation and perception, and biological areas of psychology.
- Courses overlap with some prerequisite requirements for pre-medical or other health profession programs.
- Access to Mind, Brain, and Behavior faculty within the Psychology Department
- Focus on research.
To Declare: Once a student has completed 30 credits and passed PSY252 with a ‘C’ or higher they are eligible to declare the concentration.
