Psychology
Overview
Psychology concerns the study and understanding of thoughts, feelings, and behavior. The courses offered by the department are directed toward the study and appreciation of the complex factors that influence behavior and covert experience in people and other animals, using methodology designed to enhance objectivity and responsibility. Studying psychology has a twofold function: (1) to further the intellectual development of the student; (2) to enhance preparation in professions within and related to psychology, such as clinical practice, research, counseling, education, social work, medicine, law, and business.
Requirements
Major
The major consists of twelve 4-unit courses (48 units). Students may apply to the major and receive credit for upper-division coursework after having successfully completed Introduction to Psychology and Methods in Psychological Science. Majors select an academic advisor from among the department鈥檚 full-time faculty for consultation regarding their course programs. Though not strictly sequenced, the major is structured to provide both breadth and depth.
Departmental Core
| PSYC 101 | Introduction to Psychology | 4 units |
| PSYC 200 | Methods in Psychological Science | 4 units |
| PSYC 201 | Statistics in Psychological Science | 4 units |
| PSYC 401 | Senior Comprehensive Seminar | 4 units |
Fundamental Domain
Students must survey psychology鈥檚 diverse subdisciplines by taking at least six courses (24 units) listed within our four Domains: Biologically Based Analyses, Information Processing, Interpersonal and Intergroup, and Application-Oriented. Students must take at least one course in each of the four Domains to fulfill this requirement. Students must also complete at least two courses at the 400 level.
Biologically Based Analyses Domain
| PSYC 322 | Physiological Psychology | 4 units |
| PSYC 336 | Evolutionary Psychology | 4 units |
| PSYC 447 | Canine Cognition | 4 units |
Information Processing Domain
| PSYC 301 | Learning | 4 units |
| PSYC 302 | Perception | 4 units |
| PSYC 306/COGS 306 | Cognitive Psychology | 4 units |
| PSYC 351 | Psycholinguistics | 4 units |
| PSYC 444 | Thinking and Reasoning | 4 units |
Interpersonal and Intergroup Relations Domain
| PSYC 321 | Developmental Psychology | 4 units |
| PSYC 323 | Social Psychology | 4 units |
| PSYC 428 | Adolescence | 4 units |
| PSYC 448 | Theories of Personality | 4 units |
Application-Oriented Domain
| PSYC 330 | Abnormal Psychology | 4 units |
| PSYC 334 | Health Psychology | 4 units |
| PSYC 339 | Positive Psychology | 4 units |
| PSYC 340 | Organizational Psychology | 4 units |
| PSYC 420 | Psychology of Addiction | 4 units |
| PSYC 431 | Clinical Psychology | 4 units |
| PSYC 460 | Assessment of Individual Differences | 4 units |
Additional Electives
Choose two additional Psychology courses (or eight additional units). All Psychology courses can be used as electives, including more Fundamentals courses, Contemporary Topics seminars (PSYC 490), and Directed Research courses (PSYC 295, PSYC 395, PSYC 495).
Honors in the Major
Eligible students are those who have earned an overall College grade point average of 3.25 or better and a grade point average in Psychology of 3.5 or better, and completed an empirical project that demonstrates the student's psychological sophistication, intellectual creativity, and research skills, culminating in an APA-style manuscript. Honors research must be completed through four units of PSYC 495: Directed Research. Consult the Psychology Department website for information pertaining to the honors proposal, thesis readers, enrollment expectations, and the evaluation process including critical dates.
Second-Stage Writing Proficiency
All 400-level courses require a lengthy, APA-style literature review or empirical report. Accordingly, students will satisfy the Second-Stage Writing Requirement by earning at least a C- in any 400-level psychology course other than PSYC 401.
Comprehensive Requirement
Senior majors must earn a C- in PSYC 401: Senior Comprehensive Seminar.
Transfer Credit Policies
The department will apply toward the psychology major most broad-based courses in Introduction to Psychology taken at accredited colleges and universities.
A score of 4 or 5 on the Advanced Placement (AP) Psychology exam or a score of 6 or 7 on the International Baccalaureate (IB) Psychology exam is deemed equivalent to having taken PSYC 101. Students who have received such a score will be counted as meeting the PSYC 101 course prerequisite and the PSYC 101 degree requirement for the major.
In addition to Introductory Psychology, the department will accept a maximum of two psychology courses taken at other institutions and passed with grades of C or better toward the completion of the Psychology major. Please consult with your academic adviser and the department chair for course approval.
Students transferring from another institution in the junior year or students who have taken a leave of absence for more than 1 semester may transfer Introductory Psychology and up to four other psychology courses, with approval from the department chair.
Students should reference the Transfer Credit section of the Catalog for more details.