Loyola Marymount University Bulletin 2011-2012 > Bellarmine College of Liberal Arts > Psychology

Psychology

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Faculty

Chairperson: Ronald K. Barrett

Professors: Ronald K. Barrett, Larry C. Bernard, Judith G. Foy, Michael R. Foy, Richard L. Gilbert, Cheryl N. Grills, Joseph Hellige, Ricardo A. Machón, Michael J. O’Sullivan

Associate Professors: Jennifer S. Abe, David J. Hardy, Joseph W. LaBrie, S.J., Michael E. Mills, Vandana Thadani

Assistant Professors: Adam Fingerhut, Máire Ford, Margaret Kasimatis, Nora Murphy

Mission

The Psychology program shares the University’s commitment to develop ethical leaders for a culturally diverse world, and contributes to the liberal education of students. Through a comprehensive education in the science of psychology, the Psychology Department seeks to educate the whole person, pursue academic excellence, advance scholarship, promote service and justice, and encourage life-long learning.

Description

The Psychology Department provides a high quality curriculum emphasizing excellence in teaching and learning. Students majoring in psychology examine in depth many aspects of human and animal behavior, along with the biological, psychological, and sociocultural aspects of behavior. Students are provided the opportunity to apply these perspectives to a variety of individual, family, and community contexts. As students progress through the curriculum, they have opportunities to assist faculty with research and engage in their own research with faculty supervision. The program prepares students for graduate study in psychology and related fields or careers in other professions.

Goals and Objectives

The goals of the Psychology curriculum focus on educating students in the methodology, content, and application of psychological science.

Goal 1: Theory and Methodology in Psychology

Students should:

Understand the role of psychology as a discipline that uses an empirical approach to knowledge; and
Use, respect, and value skeptical inquiry, critical thinking, and the scientific approach to understanding behavior.

Knowledge areas students will study/learn:

Basic research methods and ethics
History and systems and philosophy of science
Data analysis and interpretation
Scientific and critical thinking
Scientific writing and communication.

Goal 2: Mastery of Content (Discipline Specific Knowledge)

Students should be familiar with:

Core theoretical approaches and research findings that reflect a biopsychosocial understanding of behavior; and
More in-depth theoretical approaches and research findings within at least one subject area in psychology.

Core knowledge areas students will study/learn:

Biological foundations of behavior
Psychological foundations of behavior
Social and cultural foundations of behavior
Biopsychosocial development across the lifespan.

Goal 3: Application of Knowledge and Scientific Method

Students should demonstrate the application of psychological theory, methodology, and findings to:

An understanding of the whole person, as an individual and as a member of a larger community, society, and culture; and
The promotion of social justice in these contexts.

Psychology Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the Psychology curriculum, students will demonstrate knowledge of the history, foundations, content, and analytical skills of psychology in their ability to:

Demonstrate knowledge of the history, foundations, content, and methods used in Psychology, specifically in the following areas:
1. Learning and Cognition
2. Biological Psychology (including Neuropsychology, Sensation and Perception, Comparative, and Ethological Psychology)
3. Clinical, Abnormal, and Personality Psychology
Demonstrate an increased appreciation and understanding of the importance of a scientific approach to understanding human behavior
Demonstrate an ability to analyze and critically evaluate the biopsychosocial components of behavior
Demonstrate an ability to apply critical thinking in order to
understand psychological principles
evaluate scientific research, including research presented in the media
Demonstrate written communication skills on psychological topics
Demonstrate oral communication skills on psychological topics
Demonstrate an ability to apply psychological principles, including the consideration of ethics and social justice, to contemporary problems/issues
Demonstrate an ability to identify ethical issues and apply ethical principles to research in the following situations:
1. when conducting research
2. when evaluating research
Demonstrate competency in the following aspects of research methods:
1. locate and understand past research
2. formulate a hypothesis based on past research
3. design research to test a hypothesis
4. use statistical software to analyze research data
5. write complete manuscripts in APA style

Major Requirements

A minimum grade of C (2.0) is required in all courses for the major.

Students may not register for any Psychology course for a third time without the written permission of the Psychology Department Chairperson and the Dean of the Bellarmine College of Liberal Arts.

Pre-major Requirements (12 semester hours):

A minimum grade of C (2.0) is required in the Pre-major Requirements in order to declare or remain a Psychology major. Students must repeat any course in which a grade below C (2.0) is earned.

Introduction to Psychology (PSYC 101)

Critical Thinking (PHIL 220)

Human Anatomy & Physiology (NTLS 150)

Elementary Statistics (MATH 104)

The substitution of a higher level math course is allowed for students who previously completed a math course numbered 112 or higher with a minimum grade of C (2.0).
BIOL 101 or a similar course covering anatomy, physiology, or human biology, may be substituted for NTLS 150 for students who previously completed such a course with a grade of C (2.0) or better.

Lower Division Major Requirements (13 semester hours):

Statistical Methods for Psychology (PSYC 241) and Lab (PSYC 243). Prerequisites: Grade of C (2.0) or higher in each: MATH 104, PSYC 100 or 101, 243 or concurrent enrollment.
Brain and Behavior (PSYC 251). Prerequisites: Grade of C (2.0) or higher in each: NTLS 150, PSYC 100 or 101, or consent of instructor.
Experimental Methods (PSYC 261). Prerequisites: Grade of C (2.0) or higher in each: PHIL 220, PSYC 100 or 101, 241, 243.
Nonexperimental Methods (PSYC 265). Prerequisites: Grade of C (2.0) or higher in each: PHIL 220, PSYC 100 or 101, 241, 243.

Upper Division Major Requirements (24 semester hours):

Cognition (PSYC 401). Prerequisites: PSYC 251, 261, and 265 (grade of C [2.0] or higher in each).
Social (PSYC 410). Prerequisites: PSYC 251, 261, and 265 (grade of C [2.0] or higher in each).
Lifespan Development (PSYC 415). Prerequisites: PSYC 251, 261, and 265 (grade of C [2.0] or higher in each).
NOTE: Students must earn a grade of C (2.0) or higher in each of the above three courses before taking other 400- or 500-level PSYC courses.
Four additional upper division PSYC courses (12 semester hours). A maximum of 6 of these 12 semester hours may be at the 300 level.
Capstone Course: PSYC 510 or 515. Prerequisites: All required courses completed or currently in progress.
Senior Assessment: PSYC 595. Prerequisite: Concurrent enrollment in PSYC 510 or 515, or completed with a grade of C (2.0) or higher.

Students may take no more than 30 semester hours of upper division psychology courses.

Honors in Psychology

To qualify for the Honors in Psychology program, a Psychology major must have senior status (completed 90 semester hours or more), a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5, and a Psychology GPA ranking in the top 10% of senior psychology majors. Eligible students enroll in the Honors Seminar (PSYC 540) in the Fall of their senior year and complete the Honors Research Thesis (PSYC 545) in the Spring of their senior year. The Honors Seminar fulfills the capstone requirement and is a prerequisite for the Honors Research Thesis. PSYC 545 is in addition to the required 24 semester hours of upper division in the majors.

Minor Requirements

MATH 104; NTLS 150; PHIL 220; PSYC 100 or 101, 241, 243, 251, 261, 265; and at least two of the following upper division courses: PSYC 401, 410, 415, or any 300-level PSYC course. Courses are selected in consultation with the Psychology Department Chairperson. A grade of C (2.0) or higher must be obtained in minor courses. All courses fulfilling minor requirements must be taken at Loyola Marymount University. Transfer students are exempt from this requirement only for those courses they have completed prior to admission to Loyola Marymount University.