Psychology

College of Behavioral and Social Sciences
Dean: Joel Kassiola

Department of Psychology
EP 301
415-338-2167
Fax: 415-338-2398
E-mail: psych@sfsu.edu
Web Site:http://bss.sfsu.edu/psych/
Chair: Kathleen L. Mosier

Undergraduate & Graduate Coordinator: Linda Juang

Faculty

Professors—Bunge, Colvin, Harris, Kim, Kroeker, Lewis, Matsumoto, Mayer, Monteiro, Mosier, Newton, Spencer, Steiner, Terrell

Associate Professors—Ben-Zeev, Geisler, Juang

Assistant Professors—Abalakina, Cookston, Gard, Hellenga, Paik, Smith, Velez, Wright

Programs

B.A. in Psychology
Minor in Psychology
M.A. in Psychology: Concentration in Developmental 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
Pupil Personnel Services Credential: School Psychology Designation

Program Scope

Undergraduate Programs

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. 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 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. Abilities and skills attained 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 include 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 careers.

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.

Honors Program

Participation in the Honors Program is strongly recommended for students who plan to go to graduate school in Psychology. Students need a written commitment by a Psychology Department (or related field) faculty member who agrees to supervise the honors thesis, a 3.5 GPA in all upper division coursework and senior standing. For more details, contact the Honors Program Coordinator, Dr. James Newton at jnewton@sfsu.edu or 415-338-7557.

Graduate Programs

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 social and emotional development, parent-child relations, family processes, sex differences, development across cultures and ethnic minority groups, learning, cognition, and psycholinguistics. The program is appropriate for students who wish to enter doctoral programs, and prepares them for academic, research, and applied careers in the field of child and developmental psychology.

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 students 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., peace and conflict resolution, intergroup relations, and cultural diversity in modern society.

The Clinical Psychology program is intended to qualify students to provide mental health services in community mental health centers, schools, hospitals, private practice, managed care, and similar careers. The program provides the academic preparations and pre-master's supervised hours required for the State of California M.F.T. license.

The program with an Industrial-Organizational emphasis is designed to qualify students for professional careers in organizational behavior and human resource functions in business, industry, or government; or for doctoral programs in industrial/organizational psychology.

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.

Career Outlook

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.

BACHELOR OF ARTS IN PSYCHOLOGY

On-line course descriptions are available.

MINOR IN PSYCHOLOGY

GRADUATE PROGRAMS IN PSYCHOLOGY

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 February 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 Developmental Psychology program also accepts applications in Fall for Spring semester. The Clinical and School Psychology programs generally require an interview.

The Psychology Department requires all students to submit the results of the Graduate Record Examination. All the programs require the verbal, quantitative, and writing sections. 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.

MASTER OF ARTS IN PSYCHOLOGY: CONCENTRATION IN DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY

Program Coordinator—T. Spencer

Written English Proficiency Requirement

Level One: satisfactory completion of PSY 739. Level Two: satisfactory completion of the master's thesis (PSY 898).

Prerequisites: A background in elementary statistics, experimental psychology, developmental psychology (introductory course), and history and systems of psychology or psychology of learning.

MASTER OF ARTS IN PSYCHOLOGY: CONCENTRATION IN PSYCHOLOGICAL RESEARCH

Program Coordinators—M. Geisler, A. Ben-Zeev

Written English Proficiency Requirement

Level One: satisfactory completion of PSY 896. Level Two: satisfactory completion of the master's thesis (PSY 898).

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.

MASTER OF ARTS IN PSYCHOLOGY: CONCENTRATION IN SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY

Program Coordinator—M. Abalakina

Written English Proficiency Requirement

Level One: satisfactory completion of PSY 740. Level Two: satisfactory completion of master's thesis (PSY 898).

Prerequisites: A broad undergraduate major in psychology or a related discipline, including preparation in social psychology and such areas as personality theory, group processes, research methods, and statistics. Students who have not had a recent upper-division course in social psychology and students who are not competent in statistics at the intermediate level are required to remedy these deficiencies during their first year in the program.

MASTER OF SCIENCE IN PSYCHOLOGY: CONCENTRATION IN CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY

Program Coordinator—J. Lewis

The Master of Science in Psychology: Concentration in Clinical Psychology provides students with a degree that confers eligibility to sit for the State of California M.F.T. license after completing 3,000 approved hours, 1,700 hours of which must be acquired post-master's.

Written English Proficiency Requirement

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.

MASTER OF SCIENCE IN PSYCHOLOGY: CONCENTRATION IN INDUSTRIAL/ORGANIZATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY

Program Coordinator—C. Wright

Written English Proficiency Requirement

Level One: GRE Writing Test. Students who do not achieve the cut-off score are required to take the Graduate Essay Test (GET). 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 master's thesis (PSY 898) or written comprehensive exam (PSY 896).

Prerequisites: Course work in intermediate statistics plus completion of fifteen units in psychology.

MASTER OF SCIENCE IN PSYCHOLOGY: CONCENTRATION IN SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGY

Program Coordinator—D. Harris

This degree program leads to the Pupil Personnel Services Credential with authorization in School Psychology. Designed primarily for full-time SFSU students, an M.S. is earned after successful completion of the fourth semester and the Pupil Personnel Services Credential with an authorization in School Psychology is awarded after successful completion of the sixth semester in the program.

Prerequisites: Acceptance into the M.S. program is based upon evidence of psychological experience with children and families in institutions such as schools and service-oriented settings. Academic preparation is demonstrated by the capacity to make use of graduate-level academic work and professional training. These qualifications may be assessed by record of previous academic accomplishments in psychology or other related fields that emphasize an understanding of children and their families and include clinical work experience. Students entering the program should have completed courses in statistics and research, clinical, developmental, abnormal psychology, learning, personality, and cross-cultural psychology.

Written English Proficiency Requirement

Level One: satisfactory completion of PSY 721. Level Two: satisfactory completion of the master's written examination (PSY 896) or master's thesis (PSY 898).

Pupil Personnel Services Credential: School Psychology Designation

Only students enrolled in the M.S. in Psychology: Concentration in School Psychology at SFSU are eligible for this program. In addition to the courses required for the M.S., the following courses are required for the Pupil Personnel Services Credential with a School Psychology authorization.

Pupil Personnel Services Credential: School Psychology Designation (Credential Internship Program for Non-matriculated Students)

This credential program is offered through the College of Extended Learning (CEL). It is intended for individuals who have completed at least a Master of Science in Psychology with a Concentration in School Psychology or a related master's or doctoral degree. In addition, individuals must have completed a minimum of 576 hours of supervised school psychology related experience in the schools supervised by a credentialed school psychologist and equivalent academic courses to be eligible for admission to the program. In most cases, the Master of Science in Psychology: Concentration in School Psychology and a general Pupil Personnel Services Credential (without the School Psychology designation) are awarded prior to enrollment in the program. A fee will be charged to evaluate and determine eligibility for the program.