Psychology encompasses a range of phenomena and levels of analysis in pursuit of three goals: to deepen our understanding of cognitive and neural mechanisms of sensation, perception, learning, and emotion; to probe the biological and evolutionary foundations of behavior; and to clarify the social perception and assessment of individuals and groups. Students take foundation courses in the field’s major sub-disciplines, including perception, cognition, developmental, behavioral neuroscience, and social psychology. Students also take a course in quantitative methods, and select from an array of seminars on specialized topics and laboratory courses that focus on research design and state-of-the-art techniques. The concentration in Psychology prepares students for careers in research, teaching, clinical psychology, business, law, and education, among others.
The A.B. concentration requires 12 courses. The Sc.B. concentration additionally requires 1 laboratory course and 4 approved science courses, totaling to 17 required courses.
Common Core
The introductory course, “CLPS 0010 Mind, Brain, and Behavior," surveys the broad territory of the scientific study of the mind as uniquely represented by our department. The territory includes neural processes, perception, learning, memory, emotion, language, social development, social judgment, personality, and mental illness. The course could be taken by students interested in the CLPS concentrations, as an introduction at the beginning of one's college career, or as an integration after having completed a number of specialized courses in a particular concentration. AP or IB Psychology credit cannot be used as a substitute for CLPS 0010.
Careers in Psychology and related fields requires familiarity with statistics. Therefore, the Psychology concentration requires a course in Quantitative Methods (CLPS 0900). CLPS 0900 is a prerequisite for research methods and laboratory courses, so concentrators should plan to take this course by their fourth semester. Students may substitute for CLPS 0900 a comparable statistics course taught in another department, with the approval of a Psychology concentration advisor. Consult with a concentration advisor for details. The department does not grant concentration credit for AP Statistics, regardless of score.
Another element in the Psychology concentration is a course on research methods. Research Methods and Design (CLPS 1900 or Research Methods CLPS 1901) is the preferred course for fulfilling this requirement. This course builds on the introductory statistics course and exposes students to a variety of topics in the psychological sciences: to empirical methods (e.g., surveys, chronometry, eye tracking, brain imaging), to common designs (e.g., factorial experimental, correlational, longitudinal), to research ethics, and to best practices of literature review. Other CLPS laboratory courses can be used to fulfill the research methods requirement; consult with a Psychology advisor for lists of approved courses. Laboratory or research methods courses in other departments cannot be used to fulfill the research methods requirement. The research methods requirement should be fulfilled before senior year.
To provide students with a solid foundation of knowledge in their area of concentration, the Psychology concentration requires four foundation courses, representing core areas of Psychology as a science. Foundation courses are all numbered below the 1000 level. List of approved foundation courses are posted on the CLPS undergraduate page. CLPS courses above the 1000 level and courses in other departments, at any level, cannot be used to satisfy foundation requirements.
Concentrators will select four additional courses that examine in greater depth topics of special interest to them. The CLPS courses designed to count as electives will often have foundation courses as prerequisites. Electives can be chosen from laboratory courses, lecture courses, or seminars. At least two electives should be at the 1000 level. In addition, students may choose up to two courses outside of CLPS (preferably at the 1000 level) as electives. Electives should fit into a coherent intellectual theme, and should be chosen in consultation with a concentration advisor.
Capstone
Students must take a capstone course, typically in their senior year. This can be a 1000 level seminar/discussion course in CLPS, or an independent study course (CLPS 1970, CLPS 1980). See a Psychology concentration advisor for more detail.
Additional requirements for Sc.B.
In line with university expectations, the Sc.B. requirements include a greater number of courses and especially science courses. The definition of “science” is flexible. Some of these courses will be outside of CLPS, but several CLPS courses might fit into a coherent package as well. In addition, the Sc.B. degree also requires a laboratory course (in addition to CLPS 1900/CLPS 1901 or its alternative) to provide these students with in-depth exposure to research methods in a particular area of the science of the mind. Lists of approved laboratory courses can be obtained from the Psychology concentration advisors.
Honors Requirement
The Honors Program in Psychology gives undergraduates a special opportunity to carry out a research project under the direction of a faculty member. The program also provides the opportunity for outstanding senior concentrators to receive their undergraduate degree with Honors. Participation in the program allows students to develop an understanding of research and acquire research skills and background.
Candidates for Honors in Psychology must meet all of the requirements of the concentration as described above. Candidates submit their application for the program in semester 7. We encourage students to seek out a potential faculty mentor prior to semester 7. Candidates for Honors must have completed the Statistics CLPS 0900 and Research Methods and Design (CLPS 1900, Research Methods CLPS 1901, or laboratory course) requirements before semester 7. Please refer to the CLPS Honors Program page for detailed information about the specific requirements for the Honors program in Psychology.
FOR DETAILED UPDATES, PLEASE REFER TO THE COGNITIVE, LINGUISTIC, AND PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCES (CLPS) UNDERGRADUATE PAGE.
Requirements for the A.B. degree
| STANDARD PROGRAM FOR THE A.B. DEGREE 1 | ||
| Common Core: | ||
| CLPS 0010 | Mind, Brain and Behavior: An Interdisciplinary Approach | 1 |
| CLPS 0900 | Statistical Methods | 1 |
| CLPS 1900 | Research Methods And Design (or approved laboratory course) | 1 |
OR | ||
| Research Methods (or approved laboratory course) | ||
| One approved course in Social: | 1 | |
| Making Decisions | ||
| Social Psychology | ||
| The Psychology and Philosophy of Happiness | ||
| One approved course in Perception/Cognition: | 1 | |
| Human Cognition | ||
| Brain Damage and the Mind | ||
| Perception and Mind | ||
| One approved course in Development: | 1 | |
| Children's Thinking: The Nature of Cognitive Development | ||
| Social and Moral Development | ||
| Personality Theory | ||
| One approved course in Learning/Animal Behavior: | 1 | |
| Learning and Conditioning | ||
| Animal Behavior | ||
| Four approved Electives related to Psychology | 4 | |
| Capstone: Independent Study (CLPS 1970, CLPS 1980) or approved seminar | 1 | |
| Total Credits | 12 | |
Requirements Specific for the Sc.B. degree
| STANDARD PROGRAM FOR THE Sc.B. DEGREE 1 | ||
| Common Core: | ||
| CLPS 0010 | Mind, Brain and Behavior: An Interdisciplinary Approach | 1 |
| CLPS 0900 | Statistical Methods | 1 |
| CLPS 1900 | Research Methods And Design (or approved laboratory course) | 1 |
OR | ||
| Research Methods (or approved laboratory course) | ||
| One approved course in Social: | 1 | |
| Making Decisions | ||
| Social Psychology | ||
| The Psychology and Philosophy of Happiness | ||
| One approved course in Perception/Cognition: | 1 | |
| Human Cognition | ||
| Brain Damage and the Mind | ||
| Perception and Mind | ||
| One approved course in Development: | 1 | |
| Children's Thinking: The Nature of Cognitive Development | ||
| Social and Moral Development | ||
| Personality Theory | ||
| One approved course in Learning/Animal Behavior: | 1 | |
| Learning and Conditioning | ||
| Animal Behavior | ||
| One additional Laboratory course | 1 | |
| Four approved Electives related to Psychology | 4 | |
| Capstone: Independent Study (CLPS 1970 or CLPS 1980) or approved seminar | 1 | |
| Four Science courses | 4 | |
| Total Credits | 17 | |
| 1 | For the current list of approved courses in all categories, see the CLPS Psychology page. |