Chairperson: Associate Professor Stanley-Hagan;
Bonnie E. Cone Distinguished Professor in Teaching: Maisto; Professors:
Calhoun, Cann, Foos, Goolkasian, Grimsley, Selby, Simono, Tedeschi, Terry, Toner; Professors
Emeritus: Diamant, Lamal, Windholz; Associate Professors: Buch, Cook,
Fernald, Gaultney, Gilmore, Harver, Kaplan, Lee, McAnulty, Siegfried, Sohn, VanWallendael;
Associate Professor Emeritus: Long; Assistant Professors: Breedin,
Johnson, Kilmer, Pollack, Terrell; Lecturer: Spaulding
Psychology is the study of behavior and mental procesees. Psychologists are interested in discovering new knowledge about human and animal behavior and in applying that knowledge. Some of the questions psychology considers are:
How do we learn and remember information?
Why do people develop behavior disorders?
What are the changes involved in moving from infancy to old age?
How do other people influence our behavior?
How is behavior regulated by the brain?
How do we perceive the physical world?
How do psychological factors affect physical health?
Psychology is a young and a dynamic science and profession. Most of what we know has been learned over the last century. Much is left to be learned by the psychologists of the future.
The Psychology Department offers a B.A., B.S., an undergraduate minor in psychology, and a Master of Arts degree. The primary objective of the undergraduate program is to provide a solid background in the fundamentals of psychology as a science. Graduates of the program should be prepared for a variety of careers or for graduate study.
Although many careers in psychology require an advanced degree, opportunities for individuals with a bachelor's degree in psychology include serving as a teacher or psychological assistant in social service agencies, mental health centers, child care centers, centers for the retarded or the emotionally disturbed, and juvenile delinquent or predelinquent homes. Students whose interests are more laboratory-oriented might become laboratory technicians or research assistants. Also, psychology majors find their skills useful in various areas of business, such as management, advertising, human resources, public relations, and marketing.
Graduate school is a possibility after the student completes the B.A. or the B.S. degree. For a psychologist with a master's degree or doctorate, the career opportunities grow. (See the Graduate School section in this Catalog for information on the M.A. program.) In addition, many psychology graduates broaden their skills by attending graduate schools in the areas of business, counseling, criminal justice, education and law.
BACHELOR OF ARTS
A major in Psychology leading to the B.A. degree consists of 29 hours of psychology. These hours must include General Psychology (1101 and 1101L), Research Methodology (2102), History and Systems (3103), a Senior Seminar (4613, 4619, 4625, 4630, 4650, 4655, 4660, or 4670), one unrestricted elective, and two courses from each of two Restricted Elective categories: Scientific Foundations of Practice and Scientific Psychology.
Scientific Foundations of Practice: Students will select at least two courses which must be from different areas:
Area 1: Individual Differences and Dysfunctional Behavior (PSYC 2150, 3135, 3151)
Area 2: Human Development (PSYC 2120, 2121, 2124)
Area 3: Practice (PSYC 2160, 2171, 3155)
Scientific Psychology: Students will select at least two
courses which must be from different areas.
Area 1: Biological Aspects (PSYC 3110, 3113, 3115, 3117)
Area 2: Cognitive/Affective Aspects (PSYC 3111, 3114, 3116, 3316)
Area 3: Social Aspects (PSYC 3130)
Area 4: Psychological Measurement (PSYC 3140)
Students must select at least 3 hours of electives in Psychology to fulfill the 29-hour requirements for the B.A.
Electives should be selected to aid the student in the attainment of personal goals. However, the student cannot include more than three hours credit in PSYC 3405 and three hours credit in PSYC 3806 in the 29-hour requirement of the major, nor will the student be allowed to apply more than eight hours in PSYC 3405 or PSYC 3806 to the 120 hours required for the B.A.
Other specific course requirements for the B.A. are STAT 1222 (Elements of Statistics) and six hours of course work approved for Goal VI (Understanding the Individual, Society, and Culture) exclusive of Psychology courses. All majors must satisfy the University general education requirements. For more information on requirements, see General Education Requirements for all Baccalaureate Degrees.
Related Work. Students Pursuing a B.A. in Psychology are expected to be exposed to a depth of knowledge in at least one domain outside Psychology through their completion of the Related Work Requirement. Related Work should be considered in terms of the fulfillment of individual educational and vocational aspirations. Students must select one of the following options.
Option 1: Complete a second major
Option 2: Complete a minor in a domain outside psychology
Option 3: When a minor is not available in the student's chosen Related Work domain, a Related Work concentration of no fewer than 18 semester hours, approved in writing by the Psychology Department, can be substituted. Approval of a Related Work concentration must be obtained at least one full semester prior to graduation.
A GPA of 2.0 must be achieved for the second major, minor, or Related Work concentration.
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE
A major in Psychology leading to the B.S. degree consists of 35 hours of psychology. These hours must include General Psychology (1101 and 1101L), Research Methodology (2102), History and Systems (3103), a Senior Seminar (4613, 4619, 4625, 4630, 4650, 4655, 4660, or 4670), 9 hours of unrestricted electives, and two courses from each of two categories: Scientific Foundations of Practice and Scientific Psychology.
Scientific Foundations of Practice: Students will select
at least two courses which must be from different areas:
Area 1: Individual Differences and Dysfunctional Behavior (PSYC 2150, 3135, 3151)
Area 2: Human Development (PSYC 2120, 2121, 2124)
Area 3: Practice (PSYC 2160, 2171, 3155)
Scientific Psychology: Students will select at least two courses which must be from different areas.
Area 1: Biological Aspects (PSYC 3110, 3113, 3115, 3117)
Area 2: Cognitive/Affective Aspects (PSYC 3111, 3114, 3116, 3316)
Area 3: Social Aspects (PSYC 3130)
Area 4: Psychological Measurement (PSYC 3140) Students must select at least 9 hours of electives in Psychology to fulfill the 35-hour requirement for the B.S.
Electives in psychology should be selected to aid the student in the attainment of personal goals. However, the student cannot include more than three hours credit in PSYC 3405 and three hours credit in PSYC 3806 in the 35-hour requirement of the major, nor will the student be allowed to apply more than eight hours in PSYC 3405 or PSYC 3806 to the 120 hours required for the B.S.
Other specific course requirements for the B.S. are STAT 1222 (Elements of Statistics) and six hours of course work approved for Goal VI (Understanding the Individual, Society, and Culture) exclusive of Psychology courses. All majors must satisfy the University general education requirements. For more information, see General Education Requirements for all Baccalaureate Degrees.
Reasoning and Natural Science Requirements. Students pursuing a B.S. in Psychology are expected to be exposed to a depth of knowledge in reasoning and the natural sciences. Students must select from one of the following options.
Option 1: Complete a second major in Biology or Chemistry or Computer Science or Math
Option 2: Complete a minor in Biology or Chemistry or Computer Science or Math or Neuroscience or other minor approved by the Department
Option 3: Complete six hours from among: PHIL 1105; PHIL 2105; PHIL 3235; PHYS 1101; Any CSCI; Any OPRS; Any MATH above 1105; Any STAT above 1222.
AND,complete 18 hours of Biology or Chemistry including at least three courses with labs and any two additional courses from the areas of Biology and Chemistry.
A GPA of 2.0 must be achieved for the second major, minor, or Option 3 hours.
Course Sequences Within the Major. The Psychology Department offers course sequences designed to provide a more in-depth exposure to certain areas of psychology. Sequences are currently available in Clinical, Cognitive, Community, Developmental, Health, Industrial/ Organizational, Physiological and Social Psychology, Neuroscience, and Psychometrics. In addition, the Psychology Department actively participates in several interdisciplinary areas of study including Gerontology, Neuroscience, Women's Studies, and Cognitive Science. Detailed information about course sequences and interdisciplinary areas of study is contained in the Psychology Department Student Handbook which is available in the Psychology Office.
Consult the Department of Psychology for a Suggested Schedule to complete the B.A. or B.S. degree with a Major in Psychology.
PSYCHOLOGY MINOR
A minor in psychology consists of 19 semester hours of psychology to include PSYC 1101, 1101L and a minimum of one course from both the Scientific Foundations of Practice Area and the Scientific Psychology Area. A minimum of six hours of coursework at the 3000 level or above is required. No more than three semester hours of PSYC 3806 may be counted toward the minor and PSYC 3405 may not be used for the minor.
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