Working for San Francisco
and beyond

• Bulletin Home
• A to Z Index
• About the University
• Academic Programs
• Undergraduate Admissions
• Undergraduate Education
• Graduate Studies
• Fees and Financial Aid
• Policies and Procedures
• Resources and Services
• Course Descriptions

Related Links

• How to Use This Bulletin
• Academic Calendar
• Future Students
• Graduate Admissions
• Articulation
• Class Schedule
• Testing
• Advising, Undergraduate
• Advising, Graduate

Contact

Corrections or comments about this Bulletin

E-mail: bulletin@sfsu.edu

Archived
November 26, 2014

 

Psychology

 

College of Science and Engineering

Dean: Sheldon Axler

 

Department of Psychology

EP 301
Phone: 415-338-2167
Fax: 415-338-2398
E-mail: psych@sfsu.edu
Web Site: http://psychology.sfsu.edu
Chair: Jeffrey Cookston

 

Faculty

Professors: Ben-Zeev, Bunge, Colvin, Cookston, Geisler, Harris, Kim, Lewis, Matsumoto, Miller, Monteiro, Mosier, Paap, Terrell
Associate Professors: Gard, Howell, Morsella, Paik, Smith, Wright
Assistant Professors: Eschleman, Holley, Mello, Rodriguez, Tate, Yoo

 

Programs

B.A. in Psychology

Minor in Psychology

This minor is under temporary suspension. Please contact department for further information.

M.A. in Psychology

M.S. in Psychology

Pupil Personnel Services Credential: School Psychology Designation

 

---

 

Program Scope

Undergraduate Program

Psychology is a broad field of study and practice comprised of several different yet complementary areas of specialization. The Bachelor of Arts in Psychology is built around a core set of courses in theory and methods and three broad areas of study: basic psychological processes, psychological development and individual differences and social, cultural, organizational, and community contexts. Several themes of common interest extend across these broad areas including 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 of Arts in Psychology offers a foundation in the analysis and critical evaluation of psychological literature, the communication of psychological concepts and facts both orally and in writing, and the development of psychological research including design, data analysis, measurement, and basic computer operation. Our B.A. degree provides an excellent foundation for work in the community in many fields that involve human relations and behavior. In addition, the undergraduate degree is an excellent preparation for graduate school in all fields of psychology and other behavioral and social sciences as well as for graduate programs in business, law, medicine, and many other professional fields.

 

Honors Thesis

Participation in an honors thesis is strongly recommended for students who plan to go to graduate school in psychology. Students need a written commitment by a psychology department faculty member who will agree to supervise the honors thesis, a 3.5 GPA in all upper division coursework, and senior standing. For more details, contact the Honors Thesis Coordinator.

 

Impaction

The B.A. in Psychology program is impacted. This means that there are more students interested in studying psychology than the program can accommodate. Therefore, entrance into the program is a selective and competitive process. Applications must be received during the application filing period and no later than the November 30 deadline. Admissions decisions will be made in March or April of the following calendar year. Transfer applicants not admitted to the program, but who meet GE and University admissions requirements, will be admitted to their alternate majors. Continuing SF State students not admitted to the program will remain in their current majors

 

Application Filing Periods

Applications for admissions to the psychology major are accepted only during the application filing period for the fall semester: October 1 to November 30 (for admission for the following fall). Applications are not accepted for spring semesters. Applications received outside of the fall semester open filing period will not be considered.

 

Transfer applicants from other colleges must submit an application via CSU Mentor at http://www.csumentor.edu.

 

Continuing SF State students must submit their application form directly to the psychology department.

 

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.

 

Teaching–high school psychology instructor.

 

Graduate Programs and Career Preparation

The psychology department offers a Master of Arts in Psychology with concentrations in Developmental Psychology, Mind, Brain and Behavior, and Social Psychology. The department also offers a Master of Science in Psychology with concentrations in Clinical Psychology, Industrial/Organizational Psychology and School Psychology. Students with master’s degrees in psychology may teach at a community college and may teach as lecturers at four-year colleges and universities. Each concentration has been designed to meet student needs and to qualify students for vocational goals relevant to that concentration. Close liaison between students and advisors is an important feature of every graduate concentration.

 

The Developmental Psychology concentration 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 Mind, Brain, and Behavior concentration 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 concentration 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 concentration 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 Marriage and Family Therapy license.

 

The program with an Industrial-Organizational concentration 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 concentration 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. This preparation qualifies students for a career as a School Psychologist in California public and private schools.

 

Bachelor of Arts in Psychology

Prerequisite Core

PSY 200: General Psychology (or equivalent) is a prerequisite for all upper division psychology courses. PSY 171: Quantitative Reasoning (or any quantitative reasoning course) is a prerequisite for PSY 371: Psychological Statistics. ENG 214: Second Year Written Composition (or a course that satisfies the lower division writing requirement) is a prerequisite for both PSY 305 GW: Contemporary Issues in Psychology – GWAR and PSY 400: Introduction to Research in Psychology. PSY 371: Psychological Statistics is a prerequisite for all non-GE upper division psychology courses.

 

Degree Requirements

The major includes 14 units of core curriculum, 18 units of basic courses, and 9 units of electives. Because of high demand, enrollment priority is given to psychology major students in all upper division psychology courses; courses numbered 300 and above are not open to freshman.

• Psychology majors must take PSY 200, PSY 305 GW, PSY 371, and PSY 400 for a letter grade and achieve a grade of C or better in all four courses.
• Majors must achieve a grade of CR in PSY 303 and PSY 690.

 

Complementary Studies

Bachelor of Arts students must complete at least twelve units of complementary studies from courses with a prefix other than PSY, and not cross-listed with PSY. (Note: Students may not use an alternate prefix that is cross-listed with the primary prefix for the major.)

 

Students who complete two majors or a major and a minor automatically complete the complementary studies requirement. Additional ways to complete complementary studies for students in the Psychology major include 12 units of languages other than English, 12 units from an approved Study Abroad program, 12 units from partial completion of a certificate, or 12 units from any combination of courses in ANTH, BIO, CAD, CJ, CSC, COUN, EDUC, ETHS, PHIL, and SOC, or a coherent group of courses approved by a major advisor as complementary to the major. All of the units must be separate from units counted in the major. Courses which fulfill the complementary studies requirement may be lower or upper division units, resident or transfer units, or units taken in approved study abroad programs. Consult with your major advisor for assistance.

 

Transfer students who have earned AA-T or AS-T degrees and are pursuing a similar B.A. degree at SF State are required to fulfill Complementary Studies requirements for their major only if these courses are included in the minimum units required for the major. Students should consult with a major advisor.

 

Writing Competence

Good writing skills are necessary for success in the major. Students whose writing needs improvement should work on their skills by taking additional composition courses or by completing writing tutorials. Psychology majors who successfully complete PSY 305 GW will have satisfied the University Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR).

 

Psychology (B.A.) — 41 units

Courses are 3 units unless otherwise indicated.

Areas of Study

Courses are 3 units unless otherwise indicated.

* Note: Students may not use PSY 330 as an elective
if they have taken PSY 431.

 

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 Office of Graduate Studies. In addition to the University application, a departmental application must be completed and submitted to the psychology department office. The department accepts applications for the fall semester only, with a deadline of February 1st. The clinical and school psychology programs generally require an interview, during the admissions process.

 

Applicants to each psychology graduate program are required to submit the results of the Graduate Record Examination -- verbal, quantitative, and writing sections. Applicants should check the current application of the program they are applying to for the other requirements.

 

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 advisor 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: Jae Paik

 

Written English Proficiency Requirement

Level One: Score of 4.0 or better on the GRE Analytical Writing Test.
Level Two: Satisfactory completion of the master's thesis (PSY 898).

 

Prerequisites: A background in elementary statistics and developmental psychology (introductory course)

 

Psychology (M.A.):
Concentration in Developmental Psychology — Minimum 30 - 31 units

Courses are 3 units unless otherwise indicated.

 

Master of Arts in Psychology:
Concentration in Mind, Brain, and Behavior

Program Coordinators: Mark Geisler, Avi Ben-Zeev

 

Written English Proficiency Requirement

Level One: Score of 4.0 or better on the GRE Analytical Writing Test
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.

 

Psychology (M.A.):
Concentration in Mind, Brain, and Behavior — Minimum 35 units

Courses are 3 units unless otherwise indicated.

 

Master of Arts in Psychology:
Concentration in Social Psychology

Program Coordinator: Charlotte Tate

 

Written English Proficiency Requirement

Level One: Score of 4.0 or better on the GRE Analytical Writing Test
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.

 

Psychology (M.A.):
Concentration in Social Psychology — Minimum 34 units

Courses are 3 units unless otherwise indicated.

*Can be substituted with an elective chosen with prior written approval of advisor and program coordinator

 

Master of Science in Psychology:
Concentration in Clinical Psychology

Program Coordinators: M. Dawn Terrell

 

The M.S. in psychology with a concentration in clinical psychology provides students with a degree that confers eligibility to sit for the State of California Marriage and Family Therapy license after completing 3,000 approved hours, 1,700 hours of which must be acquired post-master's.

 

Written English Proficiency Requirement

Level One: Score of 4.0 or better on the GRE Analytical Writing Test
Level Two: Satisfactory completion of the comprehensive written examination (PSY 896) or, master’s thesis (PSY 898).

 

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. Required prerequisites are course work in psychological statistics and upper division courses in 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.

 

Psychology (M.S.):
Concentration in Clinical Psychology — 60 units

Courses are 3 units unless otherwise indicated.

 

Program Coordinator: Chris Wright

 

Written English Proficiency Requirement

Level One: Score of 4.0 or better on the GRE Analytical Writing Test.
Level Two: Satisfactory completion of comprehensive written examination (PSY 896) or master’s thesis (PSY 898).

 

Prerequisites: Course work in intermediate statistics plus completion of 15 units in psychology.

 

Psychology (M.S.):
Concentration in Industrial/Organizational Psychology — Minimum 36 - 37 units

Courses are 3 units unless otherwise indicated.

 

Master of Science in Psychology:
Concentration in School Psychology

Program Coordinator: Diane Harris

 

This degree program leads to the Pupil Personnel Services Credential with authorization in School Psychology. Designed primarily for full-time SF State 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: Score of 4.0 or better on the GRE Analytical Writing Test.
Level Two: Satisfactory completion of the comprehensive written examination (PSY 896) or master’s thesis (PSY 898).

 

Psychology (M.S.):
Concentration in School Psychology — Minimum 57 units

Courses are 3 units unless otherwise indicated.

 

Pupil Personnel Services Credential: School Psychology Designation

(Credential Internship Program for matriculated students who have completed the Master of Science in psychology, with a concentration in school psychology, SF State)

 

This credential program is offered through the College of Extended Learning (CEL). Only students who have completed the M.S. in psychology with the concentration in school psychology at SF State are eligible for this program. However, based upon the assessment of writing skills as demonstrated in the Completion of the Culminating Experience, additional writing courses may be required to meet expectations for the writing of professional-level reports and documents prior to eligibility and acceptance into the Pupil Personnel Services Credential Internship 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 — Minimum 24 units

Courses are 3 units unless otherwise indicated.

 

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 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.

 

Pupil Personnel Services Credential: School Psychology Designation — 24 units

Courses are 3 units unless otherwise indicated.