Guidelines and Grade Requirements for the PSYC 201 & 301 Experimental and Applied Statistics Sequence

 

Because PSYC 201 is a cornerstone of the psychology major, the faculty have identified guidelines to ensure that students have mastered the key concepts and principles introduced in PSYC 201 that will ensure majors are properly prepared for the level of material presented in PSYC 301. Beginning in the 2005-2006 academic year, a prerequisite for enrolling in PSYC 301 was completing PSYC 201 with a grade of C- or higher or permission of the instructor. Starting in the fall of 2016, the minimum PSYC 201 grade requirement was increased to a grade of C.

Students earning a grade of F in PSYC 201 need to repeat the course. If a student receives a grade of C-, D+, D, or D- in PSYC 201, two options are available before enrolling in PSYC 301: 1) repeat the PSYC 201 course; or 2) initiate the process described below:

The Process

A) The decision to allow a student to enroll in PSYC 301 will be based on a discussion with the student, the student’s PSYC 201 instructor, and the student’s academic advisor. To aid this discussion, students receiving a PSYC 201 grade lower than “C” should discuss the decision to seek enrollment in PSYC 301 with their PSYC 201 instructor and their academic advisor. These discussions should focus on the reasons for difficulty in PSYC 201, the adequacy of the student’s preparation for PSYC 301, and strategies for increasing preparation for and success in PSYC 301.

B) The student should then arrange to meet with the PSYC 301 instructor. At the student’s request, the student’s PSYC 201 instructor and/or academic advisor can also attend this meeting. Before the meeting, the student should provide the PSYC 301 instructor with a written summary of issues discussed with the PSYC 201 instructor and/or academic advisor.

C) A decision to allow a student to enroll in PSYC 301 may be contingent on one or more strategies to promote adequate preparation for and success in PSYC 301. The strategies recommended or required will be put into writing and will depend on the individual student and the input of the student’s PSYC 201 instructor and academic advisor. Examples of such strategies include, but are not limited to one or more of the following:

  • taking another math or statistics course before enrolling in PSYC 301;
  • passing a test of basic concepts covered in PSYC 201 (e.g., something like a PSYC 201 final);
  • revising substandard work written for PSYC 201 (e.g., the final report);
  • securing a tutor for PSYC 301 from the Center for Writing and Learning as a condition of enrollment;
  • agreeing to a contract regarding attendance and/or completion of assignments in PSYC 301;
  • increasing preparation by studying suggested materials (e.g., auditing PSYC 201 classes, reading books on research methods, or critical thinking in Psychology).