Philosophy of
the Major Requirements:
After PSY
101, we like you to sample a few of the several areas
of psychology. Critical to your planning, however, is your beginning
to take statistics/research design (310) and methods courses
(301-305, 323; and 314-319) as early as possible.
200s: The 200s can be thought of as intros to the different areas
of psychology. Like placing a magnifying glass on some part of
the broad 101 spectrum, these courses allow you to flesh out given
101 areas in more detail.
310 and 300s: As an empirical discipline, our department
underscores the importance of research. Just as our curriculum
emphasizes different
theoretical orientations and problems to study, so, too, do
we have different research methodologies. We, therefore, think
you
should sample research paradigms just as you sample the applied
and theoretical areas that drive them.
Seminars: These emphasize
specialized problems within an area, more ‘mature’ scholarship
and critical thinking. In these small group settings, faculty
and students think about
and
explore a common interest together.
Capstone experience: Thesis (400), Issues (401), History & Systems
(402) courses are the flowering of
integration,
and the pinnacle of sophisticated
and critical thinking.
Ten
Courses
101
310
One methods course from Physiological or Cognitive areas
One methods course from Developmental or Social-I/O-Clinical
areas
One additional methods course, any column
At least one seminar, any column
3 electives, any columns (can include seminars, tutorials,
practica)
One capstone (400, 401, 402)
Animal
Behavior, Physiological
282,
284, 302, 303, 305, 323, 324, 360, 361
Cognitive
276, 301, 304, 357, 377
Developmental
234, 241, 243, 245, 315, 319, 352, 356, 377
Clincial,
Industrial/Organizational, Personality, & Social
230, 231, 232, 233,
234, 250, 254, 314, 316, 318,
326, 350,
351, 356, 359,
361, 364
Course Planning
For help planning your psychology courses and to make sure you
satisfy your major requirements, check out the
Course Planning website.
Senior
year requirements
A 20-minute oral
interview is also conducted in the spring by a psychologist
who is not a member of the department. Besides
meeting the graduation requirement, the interview itself is
an opportunity to share your “major experience” here
with someone who is not a regular part of your daily interaction
within the department. The interviewer will give her/his impressions
of your psychology knowledge in a written report that both
the student and the department receive. In addition, the interviewer
will summarize the “major experiences” of all graduating
seniors and send a report to the department. This will give
us information about what the major has meant to you as well
as how we can improve and strengthen the major as we look ahead.
Honors
Requirements
To be eligible for
Honors in the Psychology Department you must have an overall
GPA of 3.2 and a GPA of 3.5 within the
department. In addition, you must complete a senior thesis
(PSY 400). Completion of this course does not guarantee a recommendation
for graduation with honors. Your work must be of superior quality.
Evidence of such superior quality includes generally high degrees
of proficiency or exceptional creativity in course work, thesis,
papers and projects. The decision for honors requires a departmental
consensus.
