Psychology
The undergraduate psychology major (BA) is designed to introduce students to the understanding of behavior, cognition, emotion and their underlying processes. Emphasis is placed on the areas represented by our present department faculty: cognitive and behavioral sciences, behavioral neuroscience, and clinical psychology. Psychology is a science; therefore, the program emphasizes an empirical methodological approach to understanding behavior, cognition, emotion and other topics. The goal of the program is to provide students with the framework of the scientific method, which they can then use to evaluate any topic in psychology. Most courses are geared towards a general understanding of the diverse psychological phenomena and the methodology used to approach them. The program is especially designed for students interested in pursuing graduate studies in psychology and related areas or in other areas of specialization. The research orientation of the program is evidenced in the number and diversity of experimental courses offered and in the efforts of faculty to involve undergraduate students in hands-on research.
Students interested in majoring in psychology are advised to seek information directly from the department office no later than their fourth semester, and preferably earlier. It is very important for transfer students intending to major in psychology to contact the undergraduate program coordinator(s) when they arrive on campus. In order to declare their major, students should first meet with the undergraduate coordinator at the Psychology Department Advising Office (Science IV, room 230A). A faculty adviser is assigned to each student, and the major requirements are discussed. For potential and declared psychology majors, several handouts are available on the Web (see location above), discussing topics such as careers in psychology, major requirements, honors in psychology, research opportunities and the Undergraduate Psychology Club and the Psi Chi (national honor society) chapter at Binghamton. Psychology majors receive a BA upon graduation.
Psychology Major
The major program requires a minimum of 14 four-credit courses (or 15 four-credit courses, if the student chooses the substitution specified in the third bullet below), plus one two-credit laboratory. These courses must be distributed as follows:
• PSYC 111, 243 and 344 (PSYC 111, 243 and 344 may only be retaken once in order to meet the minimum C– requirement for psychology majors);
• MATH 147 is not acceptable as a substitute for PSYC 243;
• three courses from PSYC 351, 356, 358, 360, 362 and 385, and one corresponding two-credit laboratory course from PSYC 352, 357, 359 and 386;
• two four-credit courses from PSYC 406, 465, 470, 473, 475, 476 and 477, (except that two four-credit courses from PSYC 392, 397, 490, 492, 493, 494, 498 or 499 may be substituted for one of the aforementioned courses); and
• 24 additional elective credit hours from the Division of Science and Mathematics, 16 of those credits to be taken outside the Psychology Department, and of those, at least eight taken from the same department. Courses that do not meet the Harpur College Distribution science requirement, also known as the all-college science requirement (as indicated in the Bulletin/Catalog at the time the course was taken), may not be used to fill this requirement. MATH 147 may not be taken to fulfill this requirement.
Additional Stipulations
• No independent studies, supervised teaching or internships may count toward satisfaction of the four elective courses required outside of psychology in the Division of Science and Mathematics.
• Not more than four credits of PSYC 392, 397, 490, 492, 493, 494, 498 or 499 may count toward the minimal elective course requirements for the major (or eight credits if they are used to substitute for one course in the requirement of two 400-level courses), and no more than a total of 16 credits from PSYC 392, 397, 490 and 492 count toward graduation. Thus, students should plan accordingly if they intend to use PSYC 498 and/or 499 for department honors (see below).
• All courses used to fulfill the requirements for the major, including courses in other departments, must be passed with a grade of C– or better, except that a Pass grade is accepted for four credits from PSYC 392, 397, 490, 498 or 499, and for one of the four elective courses required outside of the department in the Division of Science and Mathematics. Students entering Harpur College as of fall 2005 will be allowed only one additional attempt to achieve the minimum grade, should they fail to achieve at least a grade of C– on the first attempt.
• Except under very special circumstances, the minimal number of two 400-level courses in psychology must be taken at Binghamton, and students must take these upper-level courses under the instruction of two different faculty members in the Psychology Department.
The major requirements outlined above represent the minimal number of courses for a major in psychology. This minimal requirement provides considerable flexibility to develop a course of study that reflects an individual student’s interests, abilities and appropriate preparedness for post-graduate study, training or employment. Thus, students are strongly urged to plan their program of study at Harpur College in consultation with their advisers and the Career Development Center.
The department does not offer a formal minor in psychology. Students majoring in other related disciplines or programs should consult their advisers, the psychology undergraduate program director(s) and other faculty regarding inclusion of appropriate psychology courses as electives in their individual curriculum plans.
The Psychology Department has a strong research orientation. A solid experimental background at the undergraduate level forms an essential basis for further post-graduate study and training in all areas of psychology and related fields. Undergraduate students have the opportunity to become involved in ongoing research with faculty in the department by taking PSYC 392, 397, 490, 492, 493 or 494, and are strongly encouraged to do so. In addition, it is generally possible for a student to volunteer to serve as an undergraduate research assistant in a faculty member’s research program. This kind of experience, whether for academic credit or not, may be extremely valuable. Information on the specific types of research experience available through such independent study coursework is contained in a booklet available at the Psychology Department Advising Office, Science IV, room 230A. Prior to advance registration, students should contact directly the faculty member(s) in whose research program(s) they are interested. Such contact is essential and provides detailed information about prerequisites, requirements and availability of opportunities for the coming semester. PSYC 392, 397, 490, 492, 493, 494, 498 and 499 may be taken only with the consent of the instructor.
Some laboratory work in psychology courses involves work with lower animals. That fact is noted in the course description for PSYC 357. In addition, research work in PSYC 392, 397, 490, 498 and 499 may also involve work with animals, depending on the research projects of particular faculty members.
PSYC 111 is a prerequisite for all other courses in the department; it should be taken in the freshman year by potential majors (who should not take it Pass/Fail). Ordinarily it should be followed by PSYC 243 and by PSYC 344, which are pre- or corequisites for most subsequent courses. Course-related experience in research typically is obtained by participation as a subject in psychological experiments or through alternate research arrangements in a number of psychology courses.
Only those courses or sections so designated in any given semester fulfill Harpur’s writing requirement; such designations change from semester to semester.
Track in Applied Behavior Analysis
The psychology major track in applied behavior analysis (ABA) is designed to prepare students who have strong interest in children’s services for graduate school and/or careers in human services, specifically clinical psychology, education and speech, research and public policy, with particular concentration in developmental disabilities, learning disabilities and measurement/evaluation. Applied behavior analysis is a specific conceptual and methodological approach for educational and treatment intervention that historically derives primarily from research in psychology on basic learning processes. Applied behavior analysis refers to the precise analysis of behavior and learning patterns and the conditions that serve to elicit and maintain these behaviors and patterns. In addition to drawing upon work in experimental psychology, applied behavior analysis encompasses research from the fields of clinical psychology, developmental psychology, educational psychology and neuropsychology. Further, applied behavior analysis must also be discussed within the context of the particular characteristics of the individual receiving services, as well as family, social and political contexts. The choice of setting, structure and goals is highly dependent upon the diagnostic issues surrounding the individual, whether that be autism vs. emotional disturbance vs. learning disability, etc. Strong emphasis is placed upon knowledge of basic and applied research, professional ethics and practical skills.
Admission to the track in applied behavior analysis is open only to students who are enrolled in or who have completed PSYC 492, Assessment, Intervention and Evaluation I. To declare this track, students must meet with an academic adviser in the Psychology Department.
The psychology major ABA track program requires a minimum of 15 and one-half courses. These courses must be distributed as follows:
• PSYC 111, 243 and 344 (PSYC 111, 243, and 344 may only be retaken once in order to meet the minimum C– requirement);
• PSYC 356 and its laboratory, PSYC 357, plus two courses from PSYC 351, 358, 360, 362 and 385;
• PSYC 476R. Conceptualization of and Intervention for Child Disorders;
• PSYC 220 and 223;
• PSYC 492, 493 and 494 (by consent of instructor only). Note that PSYC 492 is counted toward Harpur’s 16-credit limit on independent study, but PSYC 493 and 494 are not;
• 12 additional elective credit hours from the Division of Science and Mathematics, to be taken outside the Psychology Department; of those, at least eight must be taken from the same department. Courses that do not meet the Harpur College Distribution science requirement (as indicated in the Bulletin/Catalog at the time the course was taken) may not be used to fill this requirement. MATH 147 may not be taken to fulfill this requirement.
The following seven and one-half courses form the ABA track core:
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PSYC 220. Developmental Psychology |
1 |
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PSYC 223. Behavior Disorders |
1 |
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PSYC 356 and 357. Experimental Psychology (Learning) and Laboratory |
1.5 |
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PSYC 476R. Conceptualization of and Intervention for Child Disorders |
1 |
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PSYC 492. Assessment, Intervention and Evaluation I |
1 |
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PSYC 493. Assessment, Intervention and Evaluation II |
1 |
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PSYC 494. Assessment, Intervention and Evaluation III |
1 |
In addition to the psychology major requirement that all courses be passed with a grade of C– or better, all of the courses in the ABA track core must be passed with a grade of B or higher. Note that the additional stipulations listed under the heading “Psychology Major” also apply to the ABA track.
Practicum: If concentration is in applied behavior analysis for learning disabilities, the practicum location is the Children’s Unit for Learning Disabilities. If concentration is in applied behavior analysis for pervasive developmental disabilities, practicum location is the Children’s Unit for Treatment and Evaluation. If concentration is in applied behavior analysis for measurement and evaluation, practicum location is the Institute for Child Development.
Honors Program
Outstanding students are urged to consider the honors program in psychology. To graduate with honors in psychology, known as distinguished independent work in psychology, the student must attain a 3.5 GPA for all courses attempted that count toward satisfaction of the psychology major requirements and for all psychology courses taken, as well as a 3.0 GPA for all courses necessary for graduation. Students in the psychology honors program must propose a research project in conjunction with a faculty adviser who will sponsor the work. An honors committee composed of at least three Psychology Department faculty members, selected by the student in consultation with the adviser, evaluates the senior honors thesis proposal, the completed written thesis and the oral defense of the thesis. Students doing honors thesis work must register for at least four credits of PSYC 498 or 499, preferably over two semesters (note that PSYC 498 or 499 credits will not be counted toward Harpur’s 16-credit limit on independent study). Non-psychology majors or exceptional students who lack one or more of the psychology major requirements may petition the undergraduate program director(s) for acceptance into the psychology honors program. A senior thesis option (PSYC 498) is also available for students not meeting the honors requirements who wish to pursue a research project for credit (the proposal process is the same as the honors proposal process). Further information regarding the honors program, procedures and deadlines may be obtained from the Psychology Department Office. Questions about this program should be directed to the undergraduate program director(s) in psychology.