• academic discipline and integrity
• ethical behavior, including:
  --professionalism-high standards-appropriate personal confidentiality
  --knowledge of dual-relationship issues-avoidance of plagiarism
• sensitivity to individual and cultural differences
• research, writing and library skills
• group participation
• critical-thinking skills
• a knowledge of psychology's history
  
• a respect for the value of appropriate self-disclosure
  
• a respect for diversity

This liberal arts degree is flexible within the boundaries of course requirements common to an undergraduate degree in psychology. Several courses are required to ensure students have grounding in introductory psychology, research methods, statistics, child development and writing skills. Electives in clusters of topics are then taken to meet the student's needs for her post-undergraduate career and life plans.

A minor in psychology is an alternative route to utilize the many facets of the discipline of psychology. A minor combined with a major, or concentration in other disciplines like business administration, communication, social sciences, art, dance or theatre prepares a student for her chosen career. Examples of such combinations are preparation for graduate degrees in art therapy or public relations.

Based on a student's interests and goals, the student should, with her adviser, take suggested courses into consideration when planning her degree program. These include BIO 111N: Biological Concepts; CHS 214: Child Development: Infancy, SOC 201S: General Sociology: Socialization; CHS 311C: Advanced Child Development: Cross Cultural Perspective; BUS 364: Organizational Behavior; and BIO 290: Genetics. If the student is interested in taking a foreign language, Spanish is recommended.

Requirements for the B.A. Major in Psychology
The bachelor of arts major in psychology requires the completion of liberal arts requirements and at least 10.0 courses with PSY/EDC prefixes. Students may elect additional PSY/EDC courses for a total of 15.0 courses in the major. Students must have at least 6.0 full PSY/EDC courses at the 300- or 400-level to graduate with a psychology major. A grade of C- or better must be earned in each of the (*) required courses.

NOTE: In the following course listings, (1c) = 1.0 course credit = 1.0 course.

Required Courses

*PSY 111S: Introduction to Psychology (1c)
*PSY 203: Psychological Research Methods (1c)
*PSY 317: Psychology of Personality (1c)
*PSY 441: Senior Research (1c)

Required Liberal Arts courses

MAT 207M: Introduction to Statistics (1c)
CHS 114S: The Child: Lifespan and Cross-Cultural Perspective (1c)

Psychology Electives

PSY 271: Human Sexuality (1c)
EDC 359: Counseling (1c)
EDC 381: Service Learning (1c)
PSY 390D: History and Systems of Psychology (1c)
EDC 404: Group Procedures (.5c)
PSY 408: Ethical and Legal Issues in Psychology (1c)
PSY 481: Internship (2c)

Students who major in psychology will participate in an assessment program in
their senior year.

Requirements for a Minor in Psychology
The minor in psychology requires completion of a minimum of 5.0 PSY/EDC courses, including at least 2.0 courses at or above the 300 level. Students may elect additional PSY/EDC courses for a total of 8.0 in a 40.0 course degree program.

Required Course

PSY 111S: Intro to Psychology (1c)

Psychology Courses

EDC 121: Psychology of Adjustment
(1.0 course)
(Prerequisite: PSY 111S)
Students in the course develop an informed perspective on their psychological adjustment. Relationships, values, health and personal history are studied.

EDC 219: Adolescent Psychology
(1.0 course)
(Open to all students)
A study of the development and behavior of persons from age 12 through adolescence with emphasis on physical, social, intellectual and emotional growth and development.

EDC 232: The Adult Years
(1.0 course)
(Prerequisite: PSY 111S)
A survey of the period from late adolescence to old age. Special attention is given to "crisis points" in normal development. Psychosocial factors in the development of women are emphasized.

EDC 355: Psychological Testing and Personality Assessment
(1.0 course)
(Prerequisites: 3.0 PSY courses and MAT 207M)
This course covers the basic concepts for describing and evaluating standardized tests, including reliability, validity, norms and standard scores. These concepts are then used to evaluate a number of representative tests in different areas: intelligence, interests, aptitude and personality. Students also take and score some of these standard tests.

EDC 359: Counseling I
(1.0 course)
(Prerequisites: PSY 317 or 320 and 3.0 PSY/EDC elective courses)
Introductory course in clinical counseling psychology. Discussion and assessment of a variety of counseling and therapeutic approaches for adjustment problems and mental disorders. Review of taped practice interviews under supervision of instructor.

EDC 381: Service Learning
(1.0 course)
(Prerequisites: at least 2.0 courses with a EDC/PSY prefix)
In order to meet course requirements, students perform seven hours per week (in a 15-week semester) of direct service with a community agency. Students provide assistance to agency staff in the delivery of services and gain exposure to the community agency and issues associated with that agency. In addition, students have the opportunity to observe and/or apply basic psychological theories.

EDC 404: Group Procedures
(.5 course)
(Prerequisite: EDC 359 or permission of instructor)
An in-depth exposure to experiential learning through small group experiences. For trainees in psychology who want to develop skills in facilitating groups for persons in therapy or work settings. Review of taped practice groups under supervision of instructor.

PSY 111S: Introduction to Psychology
(1.0 course)
(Open to all students)
An introduction to the methods and concepts of contemporary psychology. Emphasis upon the concepts of development, motivation, emotion, perception, learning and thinking.

PSY 203: Psychological Research Methods
(1.0 course)
(Prerequisites: PSY 111S and MAT 207M)
This course is designed to introduce students to the research methods used in psychology. Students incorporate class material into research of their own, guided by the instructor. This course is a "hands-on" research design course.

PSY 211: Educational Psychology
(1.0 course)
(Prerequisite: PSY 111S)
The nature and conditions of human learning, methods of assessing relevant intellectual and personality characteristics of pupils, personality and social dynamics, as pupils enter into the learning process.

PSY 271: Human Sexuality
(1.0 course)
(Prerequisite: PSY 111S or sophomore standing)
Human sexuality will be considered from several perspectives (biological, social, cultural, ethical) to understand the personal psychological aspects. Topics include anatomy and reproduction, gender roles, sexuality-affection-love, varieties of sexual expression, birth control, sexuality and life cycle, diseases, dysfunction and treatment, and non-normative sexuality.

PSY 280: Topics in Psychology
(1.0 course)
Topics courses are devoted to special subjects that may not be covered in depth in other courses. Topics previously offered include Health Psychology.

PSY 301D: Psychology of Women
(1.0 course)
(Prerequisite: PSY 111S, completion of English requirement and lower-division liberal arts requirements)
This course includes a survey and evaluation of research and theory on the psychology of women and sex differences. Physiology, developmental psychology, personality theory, achievement and social theory will be studied as they pertain to the roles of women. Writing intensive.

PSY 315: Social Psychology
(1.0 course)
(Prerequisites: PSY 111S; 1.0 SOC course recommended)
A survey of major topics in social psychology, including social perception, social interaction and social influence, will form the core of this course, with attention to stereotypes, aggression, conformity and persuasion.

PSY 317: Psychology of Personality
(1.0 course)
(Prerequisites: grade of C or better in PSY 111S and 1.0 PSY/EDC course)
An introduction to the general subject of personality. Emphasis upon the development of personality in the normal individual with special attention to personality development in women.

PSY 320: Abnormal Psychology
(1.0 course)
(Prerequisites: PSY 111S and 1.0 PSY/EDC course)
Survey of basic areas of abnormal psychology, history of mental disorders, survey of extent and severity of problems today. Biological, psychological and social approaches to explaining mental disorders: neuroses, and psychoses, functional and organic.

PSY 331: Learning and Cognition
(1.0 course)
(Prerequisites: PSY 111S and 2.0 PSY/EDC courses)
Provides an introduction to the study of learning and cognition through an examination of the basic learning paradigms of classical and instrumental conditioning and issues fundamental to the structure and function of cognitive theory. Emphasis on applied and theoretical findings.

PSY 333: Sensation and Perception
(1.0 course)
(Prerequisites: PSY 111S and 2.0 PSY/EDC courses; BIO 111N recommended)
Surveys (1) the anatomy and physiology of the various sensory organs, neural processing and brain centers for the different sensory systems; and (2) psychological studies of the various aspects of perception and brain anatomy and sense organs.

PSY 380: Topics in Psychology
(1.0 course)
Topics courses are devoted to special subjects that may not be covered in depth in other courses.

PSY 390D: History and Systems of Psychology
(1.0 course)
(Prerequisite: grade of C or better in PSY 111S)
This course is designed to give the student a broad background in the history of the development of different theories of psychology. Specifically, this course gives a student perspective into science, a deeper understanding of the field of psychology, and greater knowledge about the directions psychology may take in the future. This course covers the history of psychology from Aristotle to the present. Writing intensive.

PSY 408: Ethical and Legal Issues in Psychology
(1.0 course)
(Prerequisites: PSY 111S and 3.0 additional PSY/EDC courses; EDC 359 recommended)
Emphasis on ethical problems in dealing with clients and colleagues in the helping professions. Uses published ethical standards on topics including competence, confidentiality, professional relationships, dual relationships, sexual ethics of therapists, multicultural counseling ethics, research ethics with humans and animal subjects.

PSY 441: Senior Research
(1.0 course)
(Prerequisites: 5.0 PSY/EDC courses; senior standing and PSY major recommended)
In-depth original research of topics not covered in other courses. Check semester course schedule for topic offered. This is the required senior capstone course for psychology majors. The course uses both research writing skills and seminar discussion as learning tools.

PSY 481: Internship
(2.0 courses)
(Prerequisites: psychology major; EDC 359 and 2.0 additional 300-level or above PSY/EDC courses)
Students complete 210 hours of work in an agency or institution as a contributing member of the staff. Student carries on as wide a range of duties as she is qualified to execute under the direct supervision of a professional in the agency or institution.

Independent Study
Independent studies (special studies, tutorials, readings, projects) may be proposed by students who wish to investigate a subject not otherwise available. Information about independent studies may be obtained by contacting a faculty member to sponsor the study and in the Office of the Registrar.