Psychology
Chair 430 Huntington Hall, 315-443-2354.
Faculty Benita A. Blachman, Kate B. Carey, Michael P. Carey, D. Bruce Carter, Catherine A. Cornwell, Amy H. Criss, Jerome B. Dusek, Collette P. Eccleston, Tanya L. Eckert, Craig K. Ewart, Marc W. Howard, William J. Hoyer, Randall S. Jorgenson, Lawrence J. Lewandowski, Stephen Maisto, Brian K. Martens, Kevin S. Masters, Leonard Newman, Stephanie Ortigue, Tibor Palfai, Aesoon Park, Joshua M. Smyth, Peter A. Vanable, Bradley Wyble
Psychology is the scientific study of behavior. Professional psychologists may be researchers investigating behavior and/or practitioners, applying their knowledge and skills to individual and social problems.
The psychology department offers several options for students. These include a bachelor of arts major, bachelor of science major, and a minor.
Students planning to pursue a career in which a background in psychology is useful, such as business, communications, or social services, will find the B.A. degree to be an appropriate track. These students are encouraged to pursue experiences through part-time work or internships in their area of interest. Students interested in pursuing professional careers in psychology, social work, or other professional fields such as law will need to attend graduate school and obtain an advanced degree. These students are encouraged to consult with their academic advisor for advice on whether the B.A. or B.S. degree is most appropriate to meet their long-term goals. The B.S. degree is recommended for students planning professional careers in such fields as medicine, dentistry, and physical therapy. All students should consult regularly with their faculty advisor in planning a program of study that is consistent with their future academic and career goals. All students are encouraged to utilize the career resources available in the Department of Psychology, the College of Arts and Sciences, and the University to learn about opportunities and prepare strategies to meet their goals.
Admission to graduate school in psychology is extremely competitive. Admissions committees examine applications for evidence of both depth and breadth of preparation. Undergraduate courses emphasizing the science of psychology, laboratory courses in psychology, courses in experimental psychology and statistics, and research oriented courses across a spectrum of areas are desirable preparation for graduate school. Supervised research experience is also very important. Either a B.A. or B.S. program of study can provide the essential preparation. Neither is viewed preferentially in graduate school admissions. See your advisor for further information.
General Requirements and Recommendations
For the B.A. and B.S. degrees, courses credited toward the major must be completed at Syracuse University unless a waiver is granted by the Department of Psychology. No more than three hours of experience credit (PSY 270/470) may be applied toward the minimum number of hours required for the major.
Students seeking the B.A. or B.S. degree must begin by taking PSY 205 Foundations of Human Behavior (or the Honors equivalent, PSY 209). PSY 205 or PSY 209 is a prerequisite for all other psychology courses except PSY 252. The preferred sequence is MAT 221 and PSY 252. All majors also must complete PSY 313 Introduction to Research Methodology. Majors must satisfy a two-semester statistics sequence which also satisfies the quantitative skills requirement of the Liberal Arts Core. The possible sequences are: MAT 121,122; MAT 221,222; MAT 121 or MAT 221 followed by PSY 252. It is recommended that students complete the required statistics sequence and methods course as soon as possible. Those planning on taking laboratory courses in psychology will find it beneficial to complete the required statistics sequence and methods course prior to taking a laboratory course.
Students planning on completing the B.S. degree requirements (described below), and those students planning on taking laboratory courses are advised to plan their program of study carefully because spaces in laboratory courses are limited. This makes it essential for students to plan carefully for completing the required lecture-laboratory sequences.
Students interested in taking a psychology class at another institution and transferring it to Syracuse University to count toward either the major or minor must complete a petition form (available in the dean’s office) and bring it and a syllabus for the course to the director of curricular studies for approval prior to enrolling in the course. No online classes are accepted as transfer credit.
It is essential that all students plan their program of study carefully in consultation with their academic advisor in order to insure timely completion of degree requirements.
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR THE bachelor of Arts DEGREE
The B.A. requires a minimum of 30 credits in psychology courses, including the required PSY 205 and PSY 313, 18 of which must be numbered 300 or above. In addition, one 3-credit course must be completed in each of the four areas of psychology described below. A single course may be used to satisfy requirements in only one area. Students may petition to have psychology (i.e., PSY) courses not listed in the four groups (e.g., PSY 400) count as completing a group requirement.
Cognitive/Neuroscience
PSY 223 Introduction to Biopsychology
PSY 315 Drugs and Human Behavior
PSY 321 Introduction to Sensation and Perception
PSY 322 Cognitive Psychology
PSY 323 Brain and Behavior
PSY 324 Developmental Biopsychology
PSY 373 Human Memory
PSY 426 Cognitive Neurochemistry
PSY 433 Perspectives on the Drug Experience
PSY 437 Cognition and Aging
Developmental/Educational
PSY 335 Psychology of Childhood
PSY 336 Psychology of the Adolescent
PSY 337 Psychology of Adult Life: Maturity and Old Age
PSY 353 Psychological Measurement
PSY 365 Educational Psychology
PSY 432 Applied Behavior Analysis with Children and Youth
PSY 438 Topics in the Psychology of Aging
Social/Personality
PSY 274 Social Psychology
PSY/WSP 340 Sex Differences: Origins and Implications
PSY 377 Consumer Psychology
PSY 382 Health Psychology
PSY 392 Stress and Health
PSY 393 Personality
PSY 435 Social and Personality Development
Clinical/Health
PSY 315 Drugs and Human Behavior
PSY 329 Biopsychological Perspectives of Women’s Health
PSY 353 Psychological Measurement
PSY 382 Health Psychology
PSY 384 Health and Behavior
PSY 392 Stress and Health
PSY 393 Personality
PSY 395 Abnormal Psychology
PSY 415 Introduction to Clinical Psychology
PSY 431 Alcohol Use and Abuse
PSY 432 Applied Behavior Analysis with Children and Youth
PSY 433 Perspectives on the Drug Experience
PSY 445 Behavior Disorders in Children
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR THE Bachelor of Science DEGREE
In order to receive a B.S. degree, students must complete courses in Psychology, mathematics, and the natural sciences. Students must file a petition, signed by their advisor and the Director of Curricular
Studies of the Psychology Department, requesting a B.S. degree.
Students who officially declared the major after August 1, 2009 MUST complete the New Requirements. Other students may complete either the old or the new requirements.
Psychology
Students are required to complete a minimum of 21 credits in psychology courses, including the required PSY 205 and PSY 313 Research Methods in Psychology. One 3-credit course is required in each of the four major areas described above in connection with the B.A. degree requirements. Two lecture-laboratory sequences (10 credits) are also required. One must be a traditional lecture/laboratory sequence taught by the Department of Psychology. The following courses qualify for this requirement:
The second may be a traditional lecture-laboratory sequence or a comparable laboratory experience coupled to an appropriate lecture class (
PSY 205,
252, or
313 may not be the lecture class.) The comparable laboratory experience:
- is an independent study experience (PSY 490) of at least 2 credits taught by a Department of Psychology faculty member that is completed in a single semester or over the course of two semesters;
- involves all the components of a typical laboratory course, i.e., research design; coding, analysis; writing; and
- is linked directly to a lecture course taught by a member of the Department of Psycho-logy faculty. Typically, the lecture will be completed prior to the independent study laboratory experience, which usually will be directed by the faculty member having taught the lecture component.
The student wishing to use this alternative for one of the required lecture-laboratory experiences must complete an independent study contract detailing the experience. The student must complete a petition requesting that a specific PSY course and the independent study labora-tory experience constitute one of the required lecture-laboratory experiences to be counted toward the B.S. degree.
This petition, with the contract stating the specific experiences, must be submitted to the Director of Curricular Studies, Department of Psychology, prior to engaging in the independent study laboratory experience.
Mathematics
Students complete an approved sequence in calculus, such as
MAT 285,
286 or
MAT 295,
296, and a statistics sequence as described for the B.A. degree.
Natural Sciences
At least 24 credits in the natural sciences are required, including a one-year laboratory experience such as
BIO 121,
123. Students choose at least four courses from biology, chemistry, and physics in any combination. Courses for non-science majors and certain other courses (such as
CHE/STS 205,
PHY 209) may not be included. Students may include a maximum of two lecture/ laboratory sequences in psychology (10 credits) in the 24 credits, but these courses may not also be counted in the 21-credit requirement below.
If there is any question concerning the appropriateness of a course to count toward the B.S. degree requirements, the student should consult the Director of Undergraduate Studies of the Psychology Department.
NEW REQUIREMENTS
Although many students successfully enter graduate training with the B.A. degree, the new B.S. degree is designed for the truly exceptional student who is interested in pursuing graduate study in psychology.
Because the B.S. degree involves obtaining a faculty sponsor in the Department of Psychology in addition to working with a faculty member on research and taking traditional courses, it is essential that the student interested in the B.S. degree become familiar with, and known to, the faculty. This can be accomplished through taking courses, getting involved in research projects early in one’s career, and otherwise taking part in opportunities within the department (e.g., attending Research Night, Psych Club, Psi Chi). The student interested in the B.S. degree is encouraged to meet with the Director of Curricular Studies or the Director of Student Development to discuss the various opportunities available.
In order to receive a B.S. degree, students must first obtain a
faculty sponsor who will direct the student’s required research experience courses and advise about and approve the student’s required 9 credits (3 courses) in the mathematics and science areas. Students must obtain a
Department of Psychology B.S. Degree Declaration Form from the Director of Curricular Development, complete it, and have the faculty sponsor sign it
before the last class day in September of the student’s junior year.
Psychology Requirements
Required Courses in Psychology
Students are required to complete
PSY 205 Foundations of Human Behavior and
PSY 313 Introduction to Research Methodology and a total of at least 30 credits in PSY courses.
PSY 205,
PSY 313, and the PSY classes taken to meet the lecture laboratory, Research In…, and elective requirements as described below count toward the 30 required credits. If
PSY 252 is taken to complete the required statistics sequence described below it also counts as part of the 30 required credits.
Students are required to complete one lecture-laboratory sequence (5-6 credits) from among the offerings of the Department of Psychology. The following courses qualify for this requirement.
PSY 321-331 Introduction to Sensation and Perception
PSY 322-332 Cognitive Psychology
PSY 324-334 Developmental Biopsychology
PSY 382-400* Health Psychology
PSY 442-443 Research Methods in Child Psychology
PSY 471-472 Experimental Social Psychology
*
PSY 400 Section titled Laboratory in Health Psychology only.
Since not all these courses are taught every year students need to plan ahead to be certain they complete one of these sequences.
There are no substitutions for this requirement.
Students must complete 4 credits of directed research experience by enrolling in courses titled Research In (
PSY 291-294 and
PSY 491-494). These 4 credits are directed by the student’s B.S. degree sponsor.
There are no substitutions for this requirement.
Elective Courses in Psychology
One 3-credit course is required in each of the four major areas described above in conjunction with the B.A. degree requirements. A minimum of one additional elective course in psychology also is required as part of the psychology electives.
A lecture course used to complete the required lecture-laboratory sequence in psychology, as described below, MAY NOT be used to complete any course in this
requirement.
Mathematics and Natural Sciences Requirements
The requirements in this area include coursework in psychology, the natural sciences, and mathematics.
Students must complete a two-semester statistics sequence.
MAT 221 and
PSY 252 is the recommended, but not only, sequence.
A one-year lecture-laboratory sequence in the natural sciences is required. It must be from among the offerings in biology (
BIO 121 and
BIO 123), chemistry (
CHE 106/
116 and
CHE 107/
117;
CHE 109/
119 and
CHE 129/
139), or physics (
PHY 101 and
PHY 102;
PSY 211/
221 and
PHY 212/
222;
PHY 215/
221 and
PHY 216/
222). If there is any question concerning the appropriateness of a course to count toward the B.S. degree requirements, the student should consult the Director of Curricular Development of the Psychology Department.
In addition, students must select, in consultation with their sponsor, three courses (9 credits) in the mathematics and sciences areas, outside the Psychology Department, that will enhance the student’s research experience. These courses must be approved by the student’s B.S. degree sponsor.
Transfer Credit/AP Credit/CLEP Credit
Students who wish to fulfill any of the above requirements with transfer, AP, or CLEP credit should consult the Director of Curricular Studies in the Psychology Department, who will determine if the transfer, AP, or CLEP credit meets the requirements.
Minor in Psychology
The minor in psychology provides those students majoring in another discipline with a breadth or depth of experience in psychology to complement their major. To complete the minor, students complete 18 credits of psychology, including
PSY 205, of which 12 must be numbered 300 or above. No more than 3 credits of experience credit (
PSY 270 or
470), independent study (
PSY 290 or
490), or Research in (
PSY 291,
292,
293,
294,
491,
492,
493, or
494) may be counted in the minimal credit hours for the minor in psychology. Courses credited toward the minor must be completed at Syracuse University unless a waiver is granted by the Department of Psychology. A limit of 3 transfer credits may be applied with permission. Minors can be designed in consultation with the major advisor and/or the Director of Curricular Studies in the psychology department.