The core requirements of the psychology major are designed to provide a broad foundation across the spectrum of subject areas in psychology. Additional required courses selected from Learning, Psychobiology, and Emotion (Group 1) and Abnormal Psychology, Clinical Psychology, and Tests and Measurements (Group 2) provide greater depth in the two major subdivisions of psychology. Students select from a range of elective courses to gain greater expertise in areas that will best prepare them for graduate school programs in psychology or related career options, for example, the health related fields of Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, and Speech Therapy, or Medical School. A common thread among the various courses is an emphasis on the scientific foundation and empirical basis of psychological principles and their application to understanding the individual, her development, and her behavior in a social context. Writing skills are highlighted in much of the coursework, and students are encouraged to expand their learning outside of the classroom by participating in research and/or clinical experiences with, or sponsored by psychology faculty.