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Certificate Programs

The Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences offers embedded certificates as part of the major. The certificates are considered embedded because they require no additional coursework—beyond specific courses in the major itself—to earn the certificate. All certificates require 15 credits (5 courses). The certificates are designed to (a) bring greater depth and structure to the major, (b) provide students with guidance as to courses that build on each other, and (c) ultimately increase the employability of our students. When you are planning for courses to complete a certificate, be sure to take into account that not all courses are offered every semester and waiting for courses to become “available” may not be reliable. Be sure to complete all courses in a timely manner.

 

Certificates are MAJOR specific meaning they can only be added by PSYC majors.

Certificates must be added prior to completing 60 credit hours, and no more than two certificates may be added to your degree.

Contact psycadvising@tamu.edu for additional information, concerns, and certificate requests.

Here is a PDF presentation on Certificate Information.

Behavioral Health:

The required courses in this certificate reflect foundational component areas of psychology that focus on (a) human growth and development, both physically and psychologically and (b) positive and negative mental health, with an emphasis on mental health and developmental disorders. The prescribed electives include courses that focus on a variety of aspects of health and well-being and five of the six courses include practical applications of psychology, including the deployment and interpretation of psychological tests, therapeutic techniques, creation and monitoring of plans for personal growth and change, and the creation and application of reward systems. Following completion of this certificate, successful students should be able to: describe health;
identity health challenges at different life stages; and identify and implement evidence-based techniques for improving health and well-being.

  • Required courses:
    PBSI 306 Abnormal Psychology
    PBSI 307 Developmental Psychology
  • Select 3 of the following:
    PBSI 305 Psychology of Adjustment
    PBSI 336 Drugs & Behavior
    PBSI 360 Health Psychology and Behavioral Medicine
    PBSI 414 Behavior Principles
    PBSI 425 Psychology of Emotion
    PBSI 440 Hormones and Behavior
    PBSI 445 Psychological and Social Determinants of Health Disparities
    PBSI 450 Clinical Psychology
    PBSI 470 Psychological Testing and Measurement

Healthy Development:

The required courses in this certificate reflect foundational component areas of psychology that focus on (a) human growth and development, both physically and psychologically and (b) interpersonal behaviors and intrapersonal processes that affect our understanding of and relationships with others. The prescribed electives fall into two sets. The first set focuses on healthy and atypical development at different life stages, including adolescence, old age, and childhood. The second is a skills-based set of courses through which successful students will develop skills in healthy adjustment, behavioral modification, or therapeutic techniques. Following completion of this certificate, successful students should be able to: describe healthy development; identify instances of unhealthy or atypical development and their causes; and develop evidence-based plans to encourage healthier development.

  • Required courses:
    PBSI 307 Developmental Psychology
    PBSI 315 Social Psychology
  • Select 2 of the following:
    PBSI 225 Lifespan Development
    PBSI 323 Psychology of Adolescence
    PBSI 365 Psychology of Aging
    PBSI 407 Behavioral Disorders of Children
  • Select 1 of the following:
    PBSI 305 Psychology of Adjustment
    PBSI 414 Behavior Principles
    PBSI 450 Clinical Psychology

Psychology of Diversity:

The required courses in this certificate reflect foundational component areas of psychology that focus on (a) interpersonal behaviors and intrapersonal processes that affect our understanding of and relationships with others and (b) human cognitive processes that people use to understand information and categorize people and objects. The prescribed electives include courses that focus on a variety of aspects of diversity. These courses focus on the experiences of understudied and/or underrepresented persons and the psychological processes associated with their interpersonal treatment from others. Following completion of this certificate, successful students should be able to: describe diversity; compare and contrast the interpersonal treatment of different persons; synthesize and critique theories of diversity, marginalization, and inclusion; and provide empirically informed answers to questions about diversity facing real-world organizations today.

  • Required courses:
    PBSI 315 Social Psychology
    PBSI 345 Human Cognitive Processes
  • Select 3 of the following:
    PBSI 206 Black Psychology
    PBSI 208 Stereotypes, Prejudice, and Minority Experience
    PBSI 209 Psychology of Culture and Diversity
    PBSI 210 Psychological Aspects of Human Sexuality
    PBSI 300 Psychology of Women
    PBSI 303 Psychology of Women of Color
    PBSI 346 Psychology of Language
    PBSI 432 Diversity and Inclusion in Organizations
    PBSI 445 Psychological & Social Determinants of Health Disparities

Work and Organizations:

The required courses in this certificate reflect foundational component areas of psychology that focus on (a) individual personalities and the behavioral and skill implications of individual traits and (b) interpersonal behaviors and intrapersonal processes that affect our understanding of and relationships with others. The prescribed electives include courses that focus on a variety of aspects of work and organizations, including the psychological underpinnings of workplace practices like hiring and training, organizational behavior, sports, negotiation and conflict, and testing.
Following completion of this certificate, successful students should be able to: describe work and organizations; use common organizational practices; and develop evidence-based plans
and processes for improving workplaces and worker well-being.

  • Required courses:
    PBSI 315 Social Psychology
    PBSI 330 Personality Psychology
  • Select 3 of the following:
    PBSI 304 Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity
    PBSI 352 Organizational Psychology
    PBSI 353 Personnel Psychology
    PBSI 354 Conflict and Negotiation
    PBSI 432 Diversity and Inclusion in Organizations
    PBSI 470 Psychological Testing and Measurement