Psychology

Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science

Bernard Beins, Professor and Chair

Through a variety of activities, students learn to approach the study of behavior scientifically and develop an understanding of how and why psychologists do research, and how that research contributes to our understanding of human and animal behavior.

In the department's research team program, groups of students and a faculty member conduct programmatic research in such areas as environmental psychology, media effects, adolescence and aging, neuroscience, cognitive development, motivation and humor. The interaction of students and faculty in actual research helps shape the student's perception of psychology as a social-intellectual activity, rather than as a body of static knowledge to be passively assimilated.

The department offers a number of general psychology courses from which students majoring in other disciplines may select those most appropriate to their individual interests.

A student in the Department of Psychology typically may take no more than 12 credits of any combination of research team, independent study or independent research, internship, or honors work with the same faculty member.

Requirements for Honors in Psychology

Students have the opportunity to graduate with departmental honors in psychology. To be eligible, a student must be a psychology major or minor in the junior year, with a 3.00 average in psychology and an overall GPA of 3.00. In exceptional cases, a student with a GPA as low as 2.70 may be considered if performance in psychology courses is outstanding. In any case, grades in psychology courses must not be lower than C.

Honors projects may be lab or field studies or may be based on library research. A student seeking departmental honors needs a faculty sponsor from the psychology department. Other advisers may be required depending on the nature of the project. The project must fall clearly within the field of psychology.

Once the student and sponsor have identified a topic, the student proposes the project to the faculty, both orally and in writing following APA format. After approval, work on the project may begin. While such projects are underway, meetings of all honors students are scheduled to confirm that progress is being made toward completion. The student must present the finished project to the faculty, both orally and in writing, and the faculty must vote to approve it for honors.

Ordinarily, a student may take no more than 6 credits of honors work in psychology.

Advanced Placement

Students may receive equivalent credit for 330-10300 if they score 4 or 5 on the AP examination in psychology.

Requirements for the Major in Psychology -- B.A.

Credits in the major

	Psychology, including 330-10300 and 330-11300	42
	Proseminars: 330-20100 and 330-20200 (330-20100 can be replaced by 330-10400, 330-20400, or a relevant life span development course approved by the department, if taken before declaring the major)
	Methodology sequence, including 330-20700, 330-30800, and 330-30900; and 330-31100, 330-31600, 330-33000, and either 330-32100 or 330-40700
	Three consecutive semesters of research team participation, including 330-30200, 330-30300, and 330-30400
	Senior seminar: 330-49200
Electives
	Electives	78
	Total, B.A. in psychology	120

Requirements for the Major in Applied Psychology -- B.S.

This program is designed for psychology students with interests in applying psychology in organizational settings.

Requirements

Psychology

Including 330-10300 and 330-11300; one proseminar, 330-20100 or 330-20200; methodology sequence, 330-20700, 330-30800, and 330-30900; and 330-31100, 330-31600, 330-33000, 330-33400 or 330-33500, 330-32100 or 330-40700; and senior seminar, 330-49200

36

Mathematics

313-10500 or equivalent approved by the department

3

Computer science

312-11000 (qualified students are encouraged to take 312-17100 and 312-18500 instead of 312-11000)

3

Economics

306-12100 and 306-12200

6

Business

880-22500, 882-22000, 887-20300, and 883-20300 or 884-31200

12

Communications

225-10100, 225-10800, 225-21000

9

Six credits at level 2 or above in one of the following areas:

Applied psychology, economics, human resource management, finance and investment, and corporate communications, as approved by the psychology department. Other areas will be considered following application to the department.

6

Electives

	Total	45
	Total, B.S. in applied psychology	120

Neuroscience Concentration

Neuroscience is an interdisciplinary field that encompasses psychology, biology, and other areas of brain research. The concentration builds on introductory courses in mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, and psychology.

Requirements

330-31100	Behavioral Neuroscience	3
330-31200	Behavioral Neuroscience Lab	1
330-30100	Methods in Neuroscience	2
	Specialty area courses from among 303-20300, 303-20600, 303-21100, 303-22700, 303-34500, 303-35400; in biochemistry 302-21100, 302-35300, 302-35400	3-6
	Research in biology or psychology from 330-30300, 330-30400, or 303-30200	3-6
	Total, neuroscience concentration	15

Either the specialty area or research courses must be taken for 6 credits.

Psychology-Optometry 3-1 Program

This joint program with an optometry college (above) enables psychology majors to enter the optometry program after three years of undergraduate study. All graduation requirements of Ithaca College and the psychology department must be fulfilled during the first 90 credits of this program. After acceptance to the optometry program and upon successful completion of the first year of optometry college, the bachelor's degree in psychology is awarded by Ithaca College. This program must be carefully planned with the student's adviser.

Minor in Psychology

Students minoring in psychology take seven semester courses in psychology, completing at least 20 credits. Two of these courses must be 330-10300 General Psychology and 330-11300 General Psychology Laboratory. Ordinarily 330-10300 and 330-11300 are taken as the first courses. At least two of the courses must be at the upper level (level 3 or level 4) and no more than three may be at level 1.

Students develop their minor programs in consultation with a designated minor adviser in the Department of Psychology. The department will accept courses that are required by a student's major in fulfillment of requirements in the minor.