PsychologyPsychologyProfessors—Berry, DeCecco, Goldman, Grissom, Heinstein, Hovell, Kardush, Kroeker, Lewis, Loewy, Matsumoto, Mayer, McCoy, Monteiro, Newton, Piontkowski, Saunders, Spencer, Steiner, Taylor, Zipf
Associate Professors—Colvin, Harris, Terrell
Assistant Professors—Bunge, Kim, Mosier
B.A. in Psychology
Minor in Psychology
Minor in Psychological Services
Certificate in Psychological Field Services
M.A. in Psychology: Concentration in Developmental Psychology
M.A. in Psychology: Concentration in Physiological Psychology
M.A. in Psychology: Concentration in Psychological Research
M.A. in Psychology: Concentration in Social Psychology
M.S. in Psychology: Concentration in Clinical Psychology
M.S. in Psychology: Concentration in Industrial/ Organizational Psychology
M.S. in Psychology: Concentration in School Psychology
The Bachelor of Arts in Psychology is designed for breadth of knowledge and its generalization to other aspects of the human endeavor. The program is built around a core of methods, theory, basic psychology, and practicum requirements, and is broadened by electives in psychology and related disciplines. The core requirements along with well-chosen electives are appropriate background for graduate study and training. Psychology is considered an excellent route to graduate programs in business, law, medicine, and many other professional fields. For example, see Pre-law Program and Pre-MBA Program. With well-chosen electives, it gives the sort of education necessary for work in the community where a bachelor's degree in psychology is a necessary qualification.
Psychology is a broad field of study and practice comprising several different yet complementary areas of specialization. Several themes of common interest can be recognized as extending across these specialty areas. These themes include an appreciation for cultural and human diversity; ethics and values; a sense of individual empowerment; historical antecedents; critical thinking; and the understanding of self and others.
The bachelor's program in psychology is designed to provide for the development of certain essential knowledge, skills, and competencies that reflect mastery in this discipline. At this educational level, mastery involves the development of psychological literacy and a solid knowledge base in psychology. This level of mastery can be demonstrated in an ability to differentiate academic from popular psychology; and in an understanding of human diversity, individual differences, and cultural/political perspectives. Mastery is shown also in the attainment of certain abilities and skills that are necessary in psychology. These include an understanding of how to access, analyze, and critically evaluate psychological literature; and the ability to communicate psychological concepts and facts both orally and in writing. Specific psychological research skills also are part of mastery in this field, including skill in research design, data analysis, measurement, and basic computer operation. The ability to effectively observe and interpret behavior is also required. Finally, mastery at this educational level is intended to result in improved interpersonal competencies; increased self knowledge and the ability to assess personal growth and development; and readiness for graduate training and/or career.
There is also a minor available for other students in the university. It is closely related to the major and gives students the opportunity for some organized formal contact with psychology and to have it represented on their transcript.
A Certificate in Psychological Field Services is available through the Department of Psychology. The program gives concurrent instruction in theory, practice, and research and will give the student greater understanding of the multiple functions of the professional psychologist. The curriculum blends classroom examination of methodology and problems of application with experience in community agencies that deliver psychological services. Electives in the discipline are also included to allow a student to pursue an area of particular interest. The program has been designed in part for students from other academic disciplines who wish to have their training formally related to psychological theory and practice. The certificate program is also suitable for those in the community who are engaging in human services work and would like to learn additional skills and perspectives. This program is also appropriate for students of psychology interested in issues of practical application and hands-on experience in community service settings. Twenty-four (24) units are required for the certificate.
Seven areas of graduate study are offered. Four areas lead to the Master of Arts in Psychology with Concentrations in Developmental Psychology, Physiological Psychology, Psychological Research, and Social Psychology. Three areas of graduate study lead to the Master of Science in Psychology with Concentrations in Clinical Psychology, Industrial-Organizational Psychology, and School Psychology. Each program has been designed to meet student needs and to qualify students for vocational goals. Close liaison between students and advisers is an important feature of every graduate program.
The Developmental Psychology program focuses on life-span development from conception through aging. Major interest areas include learning, cognition, psycholinguistics, perceptual processes, personality, sex differences, and social behavior. The program is especially appropriate for students preparing to enter doctoral programs, to work in parent education, and a variety of applied and research oriented agencies, including the direction of a nursery school or educational setting for children.
The concentration in Physiological Psychology is designed for students interested in developing background and skills for further study in, or training for, research technician and research assistant roles related to the study of the biological basis of behavior. This program is under revision and interested students may apply for admission to the Psychological Research Program.
The program in Psychological Research is for students seeking to become broadly informed and productive research psychologists who will be prepared to enter doctoral programs or perform competently as research associates in diverse areas of psychology. This program offers the opportunity for course work and research in such areas as biofeedback, emotion, physiological psychology, clinical research, program evaluation, psycholinguistics, and cognition. The program also prepares for teaching in community colleges.
The Social Psychology program is designed to provide appropriate preparation and experience to students who intend to proceed to doctoral study, as well as to students who intend to develop careers at the master's level in research, in community college teaching, or in applications of social psychology. The program emphasizes achievement of competency in research skills (design, implementation, and interpretation of findings), familiarity with the theoretical and empirical literature of the discipline, and proficiency in application of social psychology to the solution of social problems; e.g., organizational development and change, peace and conflict resolution, intergroup relations, and cultural diversity in modern society.
The closely related programs of Clinical and School Psychology lead to a Master of Science in Psychology. The Clinical Psychology program is intended to qualify students for careers in psychological services with community mental health centers, governmental agencies, hospitals, private schools, and the like. By completing the School Psychology program and some additional course work and an internship experience, students can qualify for the State of California pupil personnel services credential with authorization in school psychology. The course work taken to meet the requirements of the clinical program may be used in making application for the M.F.C.C. License in California.
The program with an Industrial-Organizational emphasis is designed to qualify students for professional careers in business and organizational settings, or for doctoral programs in Industrial/Organizational Psychology.
The outlook for careers in psychology presently is quite good. The undergraduate program provides a foundation of skills and knowledge for careers both outside and inside of psychology. Since most jobs require a well-developed sense of how people function, a degree in psychology is often a desired background for positions in both government and industry. Undergraduate work in psychology includes training to develop the abilities to analyze critically and to understand complex behaviors, to deal with interpersonal problems, and to use research tools.
The following are some careers that graduates with bachelor's degrees in psychology have entered.
Psychological Research and Development—data analysis assistant; educational research assistant; public opinion poll-taker; research assistant in mental health; research design technician; statistician; survey interviewer.
Mental Health and Social Services—alcohol treatment center assistant; child care program assistant; corrections counselor; counseling assistant; counselor, child/adolescent; crisis-center counselor; drug abuse program assistant; psychiatric technician.
Business and Government—employment interviewer; human factors assistant; human resources manager; personnel analyst; psychometrist; public relations assistant.
Online course descriptions are available.
| Core Requirements | Units | |
| PSY 200 | General Psychology | 3 |
| PSY 371 | Introductory Psychological Statistics | 3 |
| PSY 400 | Introduction to Research in Psychology | 4 |
| One course from each of the following areas: | ||
| Basic Psychology Area 1 | 3 | |
| PSY 300 | Current Issues in Psychology | |
| PSY 301 | Psychological Foundations I: Cognition, Motivation, Physiology | |
| PSY 491 | Learning | |
| PSY 493 | Motivation | |
| PSY 494 | Cognitive Psychology | |
| PSY 581 | Physiological Psychology I | |
| Basic Psychology Area 2 | 3 | |
| PSY 302 | Psychological Foundations II: Social, Personality, Developmental | |
| PSY 431 | Developmental Psychology | |
| PSY 440 | Social Psychology | |
| PSY 451 | Theories of Personality | |
| PSY 601 | Theoretical Backgrounds in Psychology | |
| Practicum | 3 | |
| PSY 462 | Aptitude Testing and Vocational Diagnosis | |
| PSY 463 | Human Factors | |
| PSY 465 | The Psychology of Work Life Stress | |
| PSY 466 | Training and Development in Organizations | |
| PSY 477 | Psychological Measurement | |
| PSY 497 | General Experimental Psychology | |
| PSY 531 | Psycholinguistics | |
| PSY 540 | Introduction to Psychological Field Research | |
| PSY 558/559 | Psychological Field Service | |
| PSY 586 | Physiological Psychology Laboratory I | |
| PSY 594 | Psychology of Biofeedback Processes | |
| PSY 645 | Group Processes | |
| PSY 650 | Research on Sexual Identity | |
| Other courses by advisement | ||
| Core total | 19 | |
| Electives | ||
| Upper division electives in psychology | 15 | |
| Upper division electives in anthropology, biology, philosophy, sociology, or other related fields by advisement | 6 | |
| Electives total | 21 | |
| Total for program | 40 | |
| Program | Units | |
| PSY 371 | Introductory Psychological Statistics | 3 |
| PSY 477 | Psychological Measurement or | 4 |
| PSY 400 | Introduction to Research in Psychology | |
| Upper division electives in psychology on advisement | 9 | |
| Total | 16 | |
| Program | Units | |
| PSY 451 | Theories of Personality or | 3 |
| PSY 431 | Developmental Psychology | |
| PSY 525 | Community Psychology or | 3 |
| PSY 440 | Social Psychology | |
| PSY 540 | Introduction to Psychological Field Research | 3 |
| PSY 558 | Field Services Seminar (2 semesters, 2 units each) | 4 |
| PSY 559 | Psychological Field Services (2 semesters, 5 units total) | 5 |
| Upper division electives on advisement | 6 | |
| Total | 24 | |
| Program | Units | |
| PSY 451 | Theories of Personality or | 3 |
| PSY 431 | Developmental Psychology | |
| PSY 525 | Community Psychology or | 3 |
| PSY 440 | Social Psychology | |
| PSY 540 | Introduction to Psychological Field Research | 3 |
| PSY 558 | Field Services Seminar (2 semesters, 2 units each) | 4 |
| PSY 559 | Psychological Field Services (2 semesters, 5 units total) | 5 |
| Upper division electives on advisement | 6 | |
| Total | 24 | |
Students who wish to apply for admission to classified graduate status in psychology should file a general university application with the graduate admissions office. In addition, departmental application forms must be completed and returned to the Psychology Department Office. The department accepts applications until March 1st for the Fall semester and October 15th for the Spring semester. Most of the graduate programs accept applications for the Fall semester only. The Clinical-School Psychology program generally requires an interview.
The Psychology Department requires all students to submit the results of the Graduate Record Examination. All the programs require the aptitude (verbal, quantitative, and analytical) section; some require the advanced psychology section as well. Applicants should check the requirements of the program to which they are applying.
Students who intend to work toward the Master of Arts or Master of Science in Psychology must meet the prerequisites outlined at the beginning of each concentration.
Undergraduate deficiencies are to be rectified, as the graduate adviser deems fit, without being included as part of the program for a master's degree.
In order to advance to candidacy, graduate students must meet all the general requirements for the specific program in which they are involved.
Graduate Coordinator—T. Spencer
Level One: satisfactory completion of PSY 739. Level Two: satisfactory completion of PSY 898 and oral defense of thesis.
Prerequisites: A background in elementary statistics, experimental psychology, developmental psychology (introductory course), and history and systems of psychology or psychology of learning.
| Program | Units | |
| PSY 730 | Seminar in Current Issues in Developmental Psychology | 3 |
| PSY 735 | Seminar in Developmental Psychology (3 units each/2 semesters) | 6 |
| PSY 737 | Laboratory in Observation of Children's Behavior | 3 |
| PSY 739 | Technical Writing for Psychology Journals | 1 |
| PSY 771 | Analysis of Variance and Experimental Design | 3 |
| PSY 837 | Research Methods in Developmental Psychology or | 3 |
| PSY 770 | Research Methods and Techniques | |
| PSY 839 | Field Experience in Developmental Psychology (1-3) | 3 |
| PSY 898 | Master's Thesis | 3 |
| PSY 899 | Special Study | 2 |
| Electives with approval of graduate major adviser | 3 | |
| Minimum total | 30 | |
| and Oral Defense of Thesis (may not be repeated) | ||
NOTE: This program is currently under revision, and interested students may apply for admission to the Psychological Research Program. Please consult with the department graduate secretary for further information concerning enrollment in this program.
Graduate Coordinator—R. Grissom
Level One: satisfactory completion of PSY 896. Level Two: satisfactory completion of the master's thesis.
Prerequisites: A course in statistical methods and a course either in experimental psychology or psychological research methods; or a course combining statistics and research methods.
| Program | Units | |
| PSY 771 | Analysis of Variance and Experimental Design | 3 |
| PSY 772 | Applications of Multiple Regression to Psychological Research | 4 |
| PSY 791 | Design and Discovery in Psychology or | 3 |
| PSY 770 | Research Methods and Techniques | |
| PSY 792 | Proseminar in Foundations of Contemporary Psychological Research | 3 |
| PSY 798 | Research Colloquium | 2 |
| PSY 799 | Supervised Selected Research (2-5) | 5 |
| PSY 891 | Seminar in Selected Problems | 3 |
| PSY 896 | Directed Reading | 3 |
| PSY 898 | Master's Thesis | 3 |
| Upper division or graduate units in psychology or allied fields approved by graduate major adviser | 6 | |
| Minimum total | 35 | |
Graduate Coordinator—J. Newton
Level One: satisfactory completion of PSY 740. Level Two: satisfactory completion of PSY 898.
Prerequisites: A broad undergraduate major in psychology or a related discipline, including preparation in such areas as social psychology, personality theory, interpersonal processes, research methods, statistics, and psychological theory.
| Core Requirement | Units | |
| PSY 751 | Seminar in Current Trends and Issues | 3 |
| PSY 770 | Research Methods and Techniques | 3 |
| PSY 865 | Ethics and Professional Responsibilities | 3 |
| Area Emphasis | ||
| PSY 740 | Seminar in Social Psychology | 3 |
| PSY 741 | Seminar in Group Dynamics | 3 |
| PSY 742 | Seminar in Survey Research | 3 |
| PSY 748 | Seminar to Accompany Field Problems in Social Psychology (3) | 6 |
| PSY 749 | Field Problems in Social Psychology (3) | 6 |
| PSY 898 | Master's Thesis | 3 |
| Minimum total | 33 | |
Graduate Coordinator—J. Lewis
Level One: satisfactory completion of PSY 721. Level Two: satisfactory completion of the master's written examination or PSY 898 and oral defense of thesis.
Prerequisites: Preparation in psychology, or in other fields which emphasize understanding of human functioning, as any of the social sciences or, in some instances, in fields that deal with specialized forms of human expression and experience. Preparation should include course work in psychological statistics, personality theory, and abnormal psychology. Course work in developmental psychology and cultural perspectives is desirable. Preparation should also include experience working directly with people in a helping or service-oriented situation.
| Program | Units | |
| PSY 721 | Clinical Methods: Intelligence and Personality Testing | 3 |
| PSY 722 | Clinical Methods: Personality Appraisal and Projective Techniques | 3 |
| PSY 728 | Conference to Accompany Psychology Practicum (3) | 6 |
| PSY 729 | Psychology Practicum (1-3) | 6 |
| PSY 753 | Seminar: Psychotherapeutic and Developmental Change I | 3 |
| PSY 754 | Seminar: Psychotherapeutic and Developmental Change II | 3 |
| PSY 821 | Clinical Methods: Diagnosis and Advanced Psychopathology | 3 |
| PSY 822 | Clinical Methods: Marital and Family Systems Theory and Therapy | 3 |
| PSY 828 | Conference to Accompany Advanced Psychology Practicum | 6 |
| PSY 829 | Advanced Psychology Practicum (3-6) | 12 |
| PSY 896 | Directed Reading and | 3 |
| Comprehensive Written Examination (may be repeated once) or | ||
| PSY 898 | Master's Thesis and | |
| Oral Defense of Thesis (may be repeated once) | ||
| Minimum total | 51 | |
Graduate Coordinator—L. Berry
Level One: new students are required to take the Graduate Essay Test (GET) during their first semester. Students who do not pass the GET are required to take and pass prescribed remedial course(s) in English composition. Level Two: satisfactory completion of research methods course (PSY 770, PSY 791, or PSY 742).
Prerequisites: Course work in intermediate statistics; completion of fifteen (15) units in psychology.
| Core Requirement | Units | |
| One course from each of the following sets: | ||
| Set 1 | 3 | |
| PSY 770 | Research Methods and Techniques | |
| PSY 791 | Advanced Experimental Psychology | |
| PSY 742 | Seminar in Survey Research | |
| Set 2 | 3-4 | |
| PSY 771 | Analysis of Variance and Experimental Design | |
| PSY 772 | Applications of Multiple Regression to Psychological Research (4) | |
| Set 3 | 3 | |
| PSY 766 | Psychological Foundations of Organizational Change | |
| PSY 741 | Seminar in Group Dynamics | |
| Area Emphasis | ||
| PSY 760 | Seminar in Organizational Psychology | 3 |
| PSY 761 | Seminar in Industrial–Organizational Psychology | 3 |
| PSY 762 | Seminar in Industrial Psychology | 3 |
| PSY 765 | Industrial Training Program Development | 3 |
| PSY 768 | Seminar to Accompany Field Experience in Industrial/Organizational Psychology | 3 |
| PSY 769 | Field Experience in Industrial/Organizational Psychology | 3 |
| Electives with approval of graduate major adviser | 6 | |
| One of the following | 3 | |
| PSY 896 | Directed Reading and | |
| Comprehensive Written Examination | ||
| PSY 898 | Master's Thesis | |
| Minimum total units | 36-37 | |
Graduate Coordinator—D. Harris
Level One: satisfactory completion of PSY 721. Level Two: satisfactory completion of the master's written examination.
Prerequisites: Preparation in psychology, or in other fields which emphasize understanding of child development and human functioning. Preparation should include course work in introductory statistics, child development, personality theory, abnormal psychology, and cultural perspectives.
| Program | Units | |
| PSY 721 | Clinical Methods: Intelligence and Personality Testing | 3 |
| PSY 722 | Clinical Methods: Personality Appraisal and Projective Techniques | 3 |
| PSY 728 | Conference to Accompany Psychology Practicum (3) | 6 |
| PSY 729 | Psychology Practicum | 6 |
| PSY 735 | Individual Differences in Cognitive Development | 3 |
| PSY 753 | Seminar in the Psychodynamics of Individual Development I | 3 |
| PSY 821 | Clinical Methods: Psychopathology | 3 |
| PSY 822 | Clinical Methods: Interview Interaction and Family Therapy | 3 |
| PSY 828 | Conference to Accompany Advanced Psychology Practicum | 6 |
| PSY 829 | Advanced Psychology Practicum (3-6) | 6 |
| PSY 855 | Seminar in Professional School Psychology | 3 |
| COUN 827 | The Consultation Process | 2 |
| SPED 775 | Diagnosis for the Learning and Severely Handicapped Child | 3 |
| SPED 772 | Curriculum for the Learning Handicapped Child | 3 |
| Minimum total | 53 | |
| and Master's Comprehensive Written Examination (may be repeated once). | ||
NOTE: As a result of recent revisions currently being implemented in the Pupil Personnel Services Credential with designation in School Psychology, some course and/or unit changes in this credential and degree program may become necessary. This credential also requires a full year of internship and seminar beyond the M.S. Refer to the Credential Programs section of this Bulletin.