Psych Courses?

[jgf33]

Hey guys,

I already have a 100 level psychology course under my belt, and I looked on PTCAS and it seems that most schools require 2 psych classes. However, the pre-physical therapy department at my school requires that we take 3. I am not "officially" pre-pt so this requirement doesn't apply to me, but it has me wondering if pt schools prefer to see 3 psych classes instead of 2? Also, should I take a 200 level psych or is another 100 level psych ok? Should I take both? I don't have an advisor to talk to so any help from you all would be wonderful 🙂

Thanks in advance!

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[DesertPT]

I would find whatever upper division (300 and above) classes you are eligible for and take one of those. Most PT schools I've looked at recommend Abnormal Psychology or Developmental Psychology. I'm sure it wouldn't hurt to take both, if you've got the time in your schedule, but if you don't then I wouldn't worry about it and just pick one. If you are at a community college then that class probably isn't gonna be in the 300's, that may matter for some schools not for others. Whether it is numbered in the 100's or 200's usually doesn't make a lot of difference, what usually matters is upper division vs. lower division. The best thing to do is to look at the prerequisite page for every school you think you may apply to and see what kind of difference such variables would make.

I'm definitely not an expert, but my general impression is that as long as you've met all the pre-reqs for their program, schools don't care as much about what coursework you've done as they do about how well you've done it, and how well you've filled your time outside of school with PT related experience and other extracurriculars.

 

[bythebay]

If you have to take three I recommend general, developmental, and abnormal. You will have the options to apply to more places by having both abnormal and developmental. I don't think an upper level psych class would make any difference

 

[NewTestament]

Take Developmental Psychology, as most schools accept it. Abnormal Psychology is more interesting and pertinent to PT, but for whatever reasons fewer schools accept it. I don't know any school that requires both.

Kevin

 

[okramango]

I've seen schools that require Developmental, schools that require Abnormal, and schools that require both. Your best bet is to check directly with the schools you want to apply to.

 

[jgf33]

Thanks everyone for the advice!

The class that I've already taken was developmental, and the other 2 courses that I'm thinking about are general and abnormal. The reason I'm hesitant to take both is because I don't want to have to pay for 2 additional classes (I have to take them during the summer). From what I'm hearing it sounds like abnormal is probably more important... but I may just take them both to cover all my bases.

 

[DesertPT]

Thanks everyone for the advice!

The class that I've already taken was developmental, and the other 2 courses that I'm thinking about are general and abnormal. The reason I'm hesitant to take both is because I don't want to have to pay for 2 additional classes (I have to take them during the summer). From what I'm hearing it sounds like abnormal is probably more important... but I may just take them both to cover all my bases.

That's interesting that you could take abnormal before taking general...PSY 101 is a pre-req to every other psych course at my school as far as I know...

 

[jgf33]

Yeah, at my school the prerequisite for every psych class is either general (101) or developmental (160). Abnormal psych requires that you have taken at least one of the two, and I have taken the latter.

 

[atorres]

Is developmental psychology different than human life span?

 

[jdaniels360]

Lifespan and developmental are the same thing yes.

 

[atorres]

Thanks much appreciated