Academic Bulletin Psychology - 2005-06

Currently viewing 2005-06 bulletin

Faculty: B. Bankart (chair), C.P. Bankart, C. Blaich++, P. Bost, R. Horton, C. Thompson

++Leave, Center of Inquiry in the Liberal Arts

Psychology is defined as “the science of behavior and mental processes, and the application of research findings to the solution of problems.” This definition encompasses an enormous number of specialty areas, and psychologists are the most diverse group of people in our society to share the same title. The core goals of the Psychology Department are:

• CONTENT: to acquire a degree of mastery of both factual and conceptual knowledge in several areas of psychology.

• THINKING SKILLS: To become habitually inquisitive, trustful of reason, and honest in facing personal biases; to actively evaluate knowledge and ideas.

• SELF-EXPRESSION: to become competent and confident in the oral and written skills needed to speak and write with facility and sophistication about psychological issues and research.

• THE METHODOLOGY OF PSYCHOLOGY: to acquire the ability to use the scientific method to generate and answer significant questions in an ethical manner, to demonstrate quantitative literacy, and to become increasingly independent in posing questions and pursuing answers through several research strategies.

• PSYCHOLOGY AND SOCIETY: to understand the nature of the complex relationship between psychological inquiry and social policy; to think critically about how the results of psychological research are used and how they might be used in the future.

• HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE: To understand and be able to evaluate critically the diversity of viewpoints about human nature and behavior represented over the course of psychology's history.

Requirements for the Major and Minor: In the spring of 2004 we established new requirements for the major and minor. Although we recommend that all majors and minors immediately follow the new requirements whenever possible, students graduating in 2007 or earlier may choose whether to follow the old or the new requirements. Beginning with the Class of 2008, all majors and minors must follow the new requirements.

Requirements for the Major (Old—acceptable only through the class entering Fall of 2003):

• Group I—Introductory: General Psychology (Psychology 101)

• Group II—Research : Research Methods & Statistics I and II (Psychology 201 and 202). Students are encouraged to begin this sequence in their sophomore year especially if they are interested in graduate school or wish to study off-campus.

• Group III—Core Content: One 220's course and one 230's course. One additional course from either the 220s or 230s group. (Special topics 210 courses count either toward the 220s or 230s core; see the individual course description to find out which one.)

• Group IV—Advanced: Two courses, to include Senior Seminar (Psychology 497) and one additional full credit (or two half credits) from courses numbered 300's.

• Additional courses to bring total Psychology course-credits to a minimum of 9. Note: Students planning to apply to graduate school are strongly urged to take the maximum of 11 courses including a full credit of Independent Study (Psychology 387, 388).

• Biology Course: Psychology majors are required to take either Biology 111 or 101, preferably by the end of the sophomore year.

• Written Senior Comprehensive Examinations in Psychology require majors to (1) organize and synthesize information to support their thoughts on questions of broad interest to psychologists, (2) to demonstrate knowledge across major content areas of psychology, and (3) to demonstrate competence with the scientific method and statistics.

• Faculty Advisors: Because not all required courses are offered every year, students must carefully plan their curriculum (in consultation with a Psychology Department faculty member).

Requirements for the Major (New—obligatory beginning with the class entering in the Fall of 2004) :

• Introductory: General Psychology (Psychology 101)

• Research: Research Methods & Statistics I and II (Psychology 201 and 202). Students are encouraged to begin this sequence in their sophomore year, especially if they are interested in graduate school or wish to study off-campus. [add space in text here so bullets in this section are equally spaced]

• Intermediate-Advanced Course Sequences: Any two of the following five 2-course sequences:
1. Psychology 220 or 221: Child or Adult Development—Psychology 320: Advanced Development
2. Psychology 222: Social Psychology—Psychology 322: Advanced Social Psychology
3. Psychology 223: Abnormal Psychology—Psychology 323: Advanced Abnormal Psychology
4. Psychology 231: Learning and Cognition—Psychology 331: Advanced Cognitive Psychology
5. Psychology 233: Physiological Psychology—Psychology 333: Advanced Physiological Psychology

• Experimental-Physiological: At least one of the following four intermediate courses:
1. Psychology 231: Learning and Cognition
2. Psychology 232: Sensation and Perception
3. Psychology 233: Physiological Psychology
4. Psychology 235: Cognitive Neuropsychology
Note: If either the Psychology 231—Psychology 331 or the Psychology 233—Psychology 333 intermediate-advanced course sequence is taken (see above), the Experimental-Physiological requirement is met.

• Senior Seminar : Psychology 497

• Additional courses to bring total Psychology course-credits to a minimum of 9. Note: Students planning to apply to graduate school are strongly urged to take the maximum of 11 courses including a full credit of Independent Study (Psychology 387, 388).

• Biology Course: Psychology majors are required to take either Biology 111 or 101, preferably by the end of the sophomore year.

• Written Senior Comprehensive Examinations in Psychology require majors to (1) organize and synthesize information to support their thoughts on questions of broad interest to psychologists, (2) to demonstrate knowledge across major content areas of Psychology, and (3) to demonstrate competence with the scientific method and statistics.

• Faculty Advisors: Majors are strongly urged to select an advisor from the Psychology Department when they declare their major.

Requirements for the Minor (Old—acceptable only through the class entering Fall 2003):

• Group I—Introductory: General Psychology (Psychology 101)

• Group II—Research & Methods: Either Mathematics 107 (Statistics: Concepts and Controversies), or Mathematics 217 (Introduction to Statistics). Neither course counts towards the five Psychology courses needed for the minor. Psychology 201 may be substituted for Mathematics 107 or 217, if desired, but it does not count toward the five Psychology courses needed for the minor.

• Group III—Core Content: One 220s course and one 230s course. (Special topics 210 courses count either toward the 220s or 230s core; see the individual course description to find out which one.)

• Additional courses to bring total Psychology course-credits (other than Psychology 201) to a minimum of 5.

Requirements for the Minor (New—obligatory beginning with the class entering Fall 2004):

• Introductory: General Psychology: Psychology 101

• Research & Methods: Research Methods and Statistics I: Psychology 201.

• At least one of following six courses:
1. Child Development: Psychology 220
2. Adult Development: Psychology 221
3. Social Psychology: Psychology 222
4. Abnormal Psychology: Psychology 223
5. Learning and Cognition: Psychology 231
6. Physiological Psychology: Psychology 233

• Additional courses to bring total Psychology course-credits to a minimum of 5. Students are strongly encouraged to take one upper level course that follows one of the six listed above.

Off-Campus Study: Psychology majors and minors considering taking courses at other campuses, or abroad, should be aware that it is difficult to meet our Psychology 201 and 202 requirements at other schools. Because both courses combine research methods and statistics, most off campus statistics courses do not substitute for either requirement. This means you should plan to take Psychology 201 and 202 at Wabash. Permission to spend the junior year abroad requires completion of Psychology 201 and 202 prior to going off campus.