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Faculty: P. Bost (chair), C. Blaich++, K. Gunther, R. Horton, E. Olofson, N. Schmitzer-Torbert
++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:
• Introductory: Introduction to 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.
• Writing: Literature Review (Psychology 301; required starting with the class of 2011)
• Intermediate-Advanced Course Sequences: Any two of the following five 2-course sequences:
1. Psychology 220 or 221: Child or Adult Development—Psychology 320: Research in Development
2. Psychology 222: Social Psychology—Psychology 322: Research in Social Psychology
3. Psychology 223: Abnormal Psychology—Psychology 323: Advanced Abnormal Psychology (Not Offered 2009-2010)
4. Psychology 231: Cognition—Psychology 331: Research in Cognitive Psychology
5. Psychology 232: Sensation & Perception—Psychology 332: Research in Sensation & Perception
6. Psychology 233: Behavioral Neuroscience—Psychology 333: Research in Behavioral Neuroscience
• Experimental-Physiological: At least one of the following four intermediate courses:
1. Psychology 231: Cognition
2. Psychology 232: Sensation and Perception
3. Psychology 233: Behavioral Neuroscience
4. Psychology 235: Cognitive Neuropsychology
Note: If either the Psychology 231—Psychology 331 or the Psychology 232/233—Psychology 333 intermediate-advanced course sequence is taken (see above), the Experimental-Neuroscience requirement is met.
• Senior Capstone: Psychology 495/496
• 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 one of the following courses: Psychology 104, Biology 101, or Biology 111. This course should be taken 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:
• Introductory: Introduction to Psychology (Psychology 101)
• Research & Methods: Research Methods and Statistics I: Psychology 201.
• At least one of following seven courses:
1. Child Development: Psychology 220
2. Adult Development: Psychology 221
3. Social Psychology: Psychology 222
4. Abnormal Psychology: Psychology 223
5. Cognition: Psychology 231
6. Behavioral Neuroscience: Psychology 233
7. Sensation & Perception: Psychology 232
• 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 seven 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.
An Area of Concentration and High School Teaching licensure in this discipline is awarded by the Teacher Education Program. For licensure information please see the Indiana Teacher Licensing Requirements for Adolescent and Young Adult License section and for information on this specific discipline see the Content Area Course Requirements for Teaching at the Adolescent and Young Adult Licensure Level section.
| Course | Title | Credits | Prerequisites |
|---|---|---|---|
| PSY 101 | Introduction to Psychology | 1 | |
| PSY 201 | Research Methods and Statistics I | 1 | Prerequisite: Psychology 101 (may be taken concurrently). |
| PSY 202 | Research Methods and Statistics II | 1 | Prerequisite: Psychology 201. Note: Psychology 202 assumes mastery of the content from Psychology 201; we strongly recommend that students take Psychology 202 only if they received a grade of “C” or better in Psychology 201. |
| PSY 211 | Cross-Cultural Psychology | 1 | Prerequisite: Psychology 101. |
| PSY 212 | Sex, Gender and Masculinity | 1 | Prerequisite: Psychology 101 or 102. |
| PSY 220 | Child Development | 1 | Prerequisite: Psychology 201 (may be taken concurrently). |
| PSY 221 | Adult Development | 1 | Prerequisite: Psychology 101. |
| PSY 222 | Social Psychology | 1 | Prerequisite: Psychology 201 (may be taken concurrently), or permission of the instructor. |
| PSY 223 | Abnormal Psychology | 1 | Prerequisite: Psychology 101. |
| PSY 231 | Cognition | 1 | Prerequisite: Psychology 101, 201 (may be taken concurrently). |
| PSY 233 | Behavioral Neuroscience | 1 | Prerequisite: Psychology 101, plus either Biology 101 or 111 (may be taken concurrently). |
| PSY 235 | Cognitive Neuropsychology | 1 | Prerequisite: Psychology 101. |
| PSY 287 | Intermediate Research | 1/2 | Prerequisite: Psychology 202 and permission of the instructor. |
| PSY 288 | Intermediate Research | 1/2 | Prerequisite: Psychology 202 and permission of the instructor. |
| PSY 301 | Literature Review in Psychology | 1/2 | Prerequisite: Psychology 201 |
| PSY 310 | Special Topics | 1 | |
| PSY 320 | Research in Developmental Psychology | 1/2 | Prerequisites: Psychology 201, Psychology 220 or 221. |
| PSY 322 | Research in Social Psychology | 1/2 | Prerequisites: Psychology 202 and Psychology 222. |
| PSY 331 | Research in Cognitive Psychology | 1/2 | Prerequisites: Psychology 201, Psychology 231. |
| PSY 333 | Research in Behavioral Neuroscience | 1/2 | Prerequisites: Psychology 201, Psychology 233 (may be taken concurrently), and one of the following: Psychology 104, Biology 101, or 111). |
| PSY 387 | Advanced Research | 1 or 1/2 | Prerequisites: Psychology 202, completion of at least one intermediate-advanced course sequence, and permission of instructor. |
| PSY 388 | Advanced Research | 1/2 | Prerequisites: Psychology 202, completion of at least one intermediate-advanced course sequence, and permission of instructor. |
| PSY 495-496 | Senior Project | 1/2 | Prerequisite: Senior standing as a psychology major or minor. |