Professors C. Camac, Early, J. Lynch, Pranzarone; Associate Professors Buchholz and M. Camac; Teaching Associate Allen
It is strongly recommended that students declaring a major in psychology have at least a 2.0 GPA in psychology at the time of the declaration of the major. Students who have taken three or more psychology courses and have not achieved at least a 2.0 GPA in psychology should seriously reconsider their intention to major in psychology.
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
Students pursuing the Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in psychology are required to complete a minimum of 12 units, including 101, 204, 205, 450 and one unit chosen from 420, 430 or 440. Of the remaining seven units, two units must be selected from Group A and two from Group B:
Group A: Development-Abnormal-Learning: 210 or 211 or 212 or 215; 230, 290.
Group B: Personality-Social-Psychology-Cognitive: 315 or 325, 330, 340.
The final three units required may be selected from all Psychology courses offered except only one Internship or one Research Practicum or one Special Topics course unit or one INQ 260 PSYC unit may be applied to the major. Honors Project (495, 496, 497) may not count as one of the required electives in the major. BIOL 320 (Animal Behavior) may be applied to the major. Recommended: BIOL 101. PSYC 210 and 211 may not be counted towards the major if 215 has been taken. Students wishing to complete the Concentration in Human Development should take 210 and 211. It is recommended that students complete at least two 200-level psychology courses before enrolling in courses numbered 300 or higher.
Bachelor of Science in Psychology
Students pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology are required to complete a minimum of 13 units in psychology and four additional math and science units including Biology 120 and INQ 240. The psychology courses include 101, 204, 205, 290, 450 and two units chosen from 300, 420, 430 and 440. With the permission of the department, 1 unit of an empirically based independent study (406 or 405 and 407) or 1 unit of Honors Project (496 or 495 and 497) may be substituted for one unit of Research Seminar (420, 430, or 440). Psychology 300 and an Independent Study or Honors project will not satisfy the Research Seminar requirement. In addition, three units must be selected from Group B, and three Psychology electives may be chosen from all Psychology courses offered except only one Internship or Research Practicum or Special Topics, or INQ 260 PSYC unit may be applied to the major. Psychology 210 and 211 may not be counted towards the major if 215 has been taken. Students wishing to complete the Concentration in Human Development should take 210 and 211.
Group B: Personality-Social-Physiological-Cognitive: 315, 325, 330, 340.
The four additional math and science units must include Biology 120, INQ 240 and two units from Group C:
Group C: Biology 125, 210, 230, 260, 320; Chemistry 111, 112, 221, 222, 341; Computer Science 101, 120, 170; Mathematics MATH 111 or higher; Physics 103, 104; Statistics 202, 301, 403, 404.
(Note that many of these courses are prerequisites to others; some do not receive credit if a higher-level course is taken. These restrictions apply.)
Enrollment in Internship, Research Practicum, Independent Study
For enrollment in Internship, Research Practicum, and/or Independent Study, a written application must be submitted to the department chairperson prior to registration. The department faculty accepts or rejects the application. A student may not register for Internship, Research Practicum, or Independent Study without an approved proposal. Guidelines for preparation of applications can be found in the Handbook for Psychology Majors.
Minor in Psychology
The Psychology minor requires six courses in Psychology: two designated courses and four chosen from the Psychology curriculum. Requirements include:
PSYC 101 Introduction to Psychology
PSYC 205 Research Methods in Psychology or
SOCI 251 Research Methods (for students majoring in Sociology) or
CJUS/POLI/I.R. 340 Research Methods (for students majoring in Criminal Justice, Political Science or International Relations)
Four courses chosen from the psychology course offerings excluding PSYC 316/317 (Internship), PSYC 318/319 (Research Practicum) and PSYC 405/406/407 (Independent Study). Two of the four courses must be at the 300 level or higher. Only one PSYC 240 (Special Topics) course may be applied to the Minor.
Concentration in Human Development
Professor Jan Lynch, Coordinator
The Concentration in Human Development has two purposes: (1) to provide focused coursework for students who plan to pursue a post-graduate degree in counseling psychology or school psychology, and (2) to prepare students for entry-level positions in a variety of careers that involve designing and/or implementing programs for children, adolescents, and/or the elderly.
To apply for the concentration, students must have a GPA of 2.0 of higher in the courses completed at the time of application. Successful completion of the following seven courses is required:
PSYC 101 Introduction to Psychology*
PSYC 205 Research Methods in Psychology or
SOCI 251 Research Methods or
CJUS/POLI/I.R. 340 Public Affairs Inquiry
PSYC 210 Child Development
PSYC 211 Adolescent Development
PSYC 212 Adult Development and Aging
Two courses chosen from PSYC 300 (Test and Measurements), PSYC 315 (Personality), PSYC 316 (Internship), PSYC 325 (Social Psychology), and PSYC 340 (Cognition)
Students who have competency in PSYC 101 will take only six courses for the concentration.
Psychology 101 is a prerequisite for all other courses in the department. Some courses have additional prerequisites, which are indicated in the course descriptions that follow.
101 Introduction to Psychology
An overview of the field of psychology with emphasis on basic processes in human behavior. (This course is a prerequisite for all other courses in the department.) (1)
Lecture: 3 hrs/wk.
204 Quantitative Methods in Psychology
An examination of techniques used by psychologists to measure behavior and to analyze and interpret the data. The course includes an introduction to computer data analysis. (1)
Lecture: 3 hrs/wk.; Laboratory: 11/2 hrs/wk.
205 Research Methods in Psychology
An examination of the research methods used in the fields of psychology. Topics include introductions to and evaluations of observational, relational and experimental research methods and designs. Ethics and research, communication and research, the development of research ideas and the reliability and validity of research are also examined. (1)
Lecture: 3hrs/wk.
210 Child Development
Behavior and development of the child from conception to puberty. (1) (Psychology 210 and 211 may not be counted towards the major if Psychology 215 has been taken. Students wishing to complete the Concentration in Human Development should take 210 and 211).
Lecture: 3 hrs/wk.
211 Adolescent Development
Behavior and development of the individual from puberty to early adulthood. (1) (Psychology 210 and 211 may not be counted towards the major if Psychology 215 has been taken. Students wishing to complete the Concentration in Human Development should take 210 and 211).
Lecture: 3 hrs/wk.
212 Adult Development and Aging
Behavior and development of the individual from early adulthood to old age. (1)
Lecture: 3 hrs/wk.
215 Child & Adolescent Development
An examination of development from conception through adolescence. Physical, cognitive and socioemotional development will be discussed in the context of psychological theories, research, current applications and historical events. Psychology 215 may not be counted towards the major if 210 or 211 has been taken. Students wishing to complete the Concentration in Human Development should take 210 and 211. (1)
Lecture: 3hrs/wk; Laboratory 1 ½ hrs/wk.
225 Cross-cultural Psychology
The study of human behavior and mental processes, including both differences and consistencies, across different cultures. The aim is to examine systematic relations between cultural factors and behavior, as well as the generalizability of psychological principles across cultures.
Lecture: 3 hrs/wk.
Prerequisite: Psychology 101 or permission.
230 Abnormal Psychology
Study of individual psychopathology and deviant behavior, including diagnosis, theories, causes, and treatments. (1)
Lecture: 3 hrs/wk.
240 Special Topics in Psychology
A course offered in various formats, designed to give students instruction in a subject not regularly offered. (1)
Lecture: 3 hrs/wk.
250 Industrial-Organizational Psychology
Application of principles and methods of psychology to business, industry, and other organizations, with emphasis on selection of employees and organizational behavior. (1)
Lecture: 3 hrs/wk.
260 Human Sexuality
Human reproduction and sexual behavior; contemporary and historical norms; dysfunction; cross-cultural perspective; the bonding function of sexuality; and its expression in the arts, religion, ethics, and law. (1)
Lecture: 3 hrs/wk.
270 Drugs and Behavior
An examination of the mechanisms of actions, uses, effects and abuse liability of range of drugs. Both therapeutic drugs (such as antidepressants and antipsychotics) and recreational drugs (such as alcohol, stimulants and marijuana) will be addressed. (1)
Lecture 3 hrs/wk.
290 Learning
Principles of learning processes, classic and contemporary theories, and methods of research. (1)
Lecture: 3 hrs/wk.
300 Tests and Measurements
Principles and methods of psychological measurement and test construction, with consideration of administration and psychometric evaluation of representative tests. (1)
Lecture: 3 hrs/wk.
Prerequisite: Psychology 204 or permission.
305, 306 Research Experience
Directed experience conducting empirical research under the supervision of a faculty member. Open to all students (majors and non-majors). (1/4, 1/4)
Prerequisite: Permission of the department.
315 Personality
Theories of personality, applications, and extensions of these theories, current research on individual differences, and methods and issues in personality measurement. (1)
Lecture: 3 hrs/wk.
316, 317 Internship
Practical experience in a setting in which psychology is applied. Placements in mental health facilities and other community agencies and institutions. Seminar in professional conduct and ethics. (One unit may be counted as an elective in the major). (1, 1)
Prerequisite: Written application approved by department.
318, 319 Research Practicum
Directed study and empirical research under the supervision of a faculty member. (Open to majors with the approval of the department. One unit may be counted as an elective in the major). (1, 1)
Prerequisite: Written application approved by department.
325 Social Psychology
Study of the influence of people on each other’s behavior, including social influence and social interaction. (1)
Lecture: 3 hrs/wk.
Prerequisites: Psychology 101 and two other Psychology courses.
330 Physiological Psychology
Study of the neurological and endocrinological substrates of behavior. (1)
Lecture: 3 hrs/wk.; Laboratory: 3 hrs/wk.
Prerequisites: Psychology 101 and two other Psychology courses (Recommended: Biology 101 or higher).
340 Cognition
An examination of the research and theory of complex cognitive processes. Topics covered include memory, cognitive development, language, thinking, concept formation, pattern recognition, and problem solving. (1)
Lecture: 3 hrs/wk.
Prerequisites: Psychology 101 and two other Psychology courses.
405, 406, 407 Independent Study
Empirical research project or extensive literature review, with faculty supervision. (1/2, 1, 1/2)
Prerequisite: Written proposal and application approved by department.
420 Research Seminar: Personality/Social
An advanced, research-oriented seminar in personality and/or social psychology. (1)
Lecture: 3 hrs/wk.
Prerequisites: Psychology 204 and 205 and either Psychology 315 or Psychology 325.
430 Research Seminar: Physiological Psychology
An advanced, research-oriented seminar in physiological psychology. (1)
Lecture: 3 hrs/wk.
Prerequisites: Psychology 204 and 205 and Psychology 330.
440 Research Seminar: Cognition
An advanced, research-oriented seminar in cognition. (1)
Lecture: 3 hrs/wk.
Prerequisites: Psychology 204 and 205 and Psychology 340.
450 History of Psychology
Examination of the major systems in psychology with an emphasis on its 19th-century origins to the present. (1)
Lecture: 3 hrs/wk.
Prerequisite: Senior standing or by permission.
495, 496, 497 Honors Project
A program of independent study culminating in a paper, artistic creation, or performance. (1/2, 1, 1/2)
Prerequisites: To qualify for consideration to receive honors in the major, a student in his/her senior year or in the Summer prior to the senior year, must work under the guidance of his/her committee. A written proposal and application must be approved by the committee and department. A minimum GPA of 3.4 in the major is required. 495 Honors Project is prerequisite for 497 Honors Project. At least 1 unit of Independent Study (405, 406, or 407) is a prerequisite to 495, 496, and 497. May not be used as one of the 11 units for the B.A. degree.