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Psychology

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Psychology courses

Director of undergraduate studies: Laurie Santos, 213 SSS, 432-4524, psychdus@yale.edu; senior thesis director: Julia Kim-Cohen, 317 K, 432-7581, julia.kim-cohen@yale.edu

FACULTY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY

Professors   Woo-kyoung Ahn, J. Truett Allison, Stephen Anderson, Amy Arnsten, John Bargh, Linda Bartoshuk, Sidney Blatt, Paul Bloom, Thomas Brown, Kelly Brownell, Ty Cannon, Joseph Chang, Marvin Chun, Margaret Clark, Ravi Dhar, John Dovidio, Carol Fowler (Adjunct), Laurence Horn, Marcia Johnson, Alan Kazdin, Frank Keil, Marianne LaFrance, James Leckman, Lawrence Marks, Gregory McCarthy, Susan Nolen-Hoeksema, Nathan Novemsky, Donald Quinlan, Peter Salovey, Brian Scholl, Tom Tyler, Fred Volkmar, Victor Vroom, Karen Wynn

Associate Professors   Jeremy Gray, Jeannette Ickovics, Robert Kerns, Jr., Joshua Knobe, Linda Mayes, Maria Piñango, Laurie Santos, Glenn Schafe, Mary Schwab-Stone, Jane Taylor

Assistant Professors   June Gruber, Dan Kahan, Julia Kim-Cohen, Hedy Kober, James McPartland, Jaime Napier, Kristina Olson

Lecturers   Nancy Close, Nelson Donegan, Carla Horwitz, David Klemanski, Kristi Lockhart, Michael Pantalon, Benjamin Toll, Marney White

The introduction to psychology is PSYC 110, the general survey course. All Psychology courses numbered 150 or higher have PSYC 110 as a prerequisite.

Courses in the department are organized so that they are best taken in several parallel sequences. Courses numbered from 120 to 190 and ending in a zero are core survey courses that introduce students to major areas of psychology and provide additional background for more advanced courses. These courses represent major content areas of psychology; students should sample broadly from them before specializing. Courses numbered from 200 to 209 focus on statistics and general methodology. Courses numbered from 210 to 299 teach data collection in various areas of psychology. Courses numbered from 300 to 399 are more advanced courses in a particular specialization. Senior seminars, whose enrollment is limited to twenty students, are numbered from 400 to 489. These seminars are best taken once a student has appropriate background. Courses numbered from 490 to 499 are special tutorial courses that require permission of the adviser and the director of undergraduate studies.

The standard major   The major in Psychology requires twelve term courses beyond PSYC 110, including the senior requirement. No more than two term courses taken Credit/D/Fail may be applied toward the major; no 200-level course taken Credit/D/Fail may be applied toward the major.

  1. Because psychology is so diverse a subject, every student is required to take at least two courses from the social science point of view in psychology (List A) and at least two from the natural science point of view (List B). At least one course from each list must be a core course numbered from 120 to 190 and ending in zero. Students are expected to take those two core courses as early as possible in the major, normally within two terms after declaring their major.

    List A:  PSYC 123, 125, 127, 128, 150, 180, 231, 304, 306, 330, 355, 356
    List B:  PSYC 130, 137, 149, 170, 230L, 240, 270, 318, 327, 350
  2. Because statistical techniques and the mode of reasoning they employ are fundamental in psychology, a course in statistics (PSYC 200 or equivalent) is required, preferably prior to the senior year. A student may substitute an examination arranged with the instructor of PSYC 200 for this requirement. Students may take such an examination only one time.
  3. To assure some direct experience in collecting and analyzing data, students must elect at least one course, preferably prior to the senior year, in which research is planned and carried out. Courses numbered between 210 and 299 fulfill this requirement. (The same course may satisfy both this and the first requirement.)
  4. To encourage consideration of the relation between psychology and other disciplines, students may count toward the major as many as three term courses in other related departments, including college seminars. Appropriate courses are offered in anthropology, cognitive science, computer science, philosophy, political science, sociology, and the biological sciences. Some students may find courses in other subjects related to their major. Students should consult with the director of undergraduate studies in Psychology about selecting outside courses. In all cases, courses in other departments must have substantial psychological content or clear links to topics in psychology.
  5. Students interested in research are encouraged to take an independent study course (PSYC 490, 491, 492, 493) as early as the sophomore year. Students may also take PSYC 495 for one-half course credit per term with prior permission of the faculty adviser and the director of undergraduate studies. No more than a total of three credits from PSYC 490–495 combined may count toward the major.

Senior requirement   Majors are required to earn two course credits from courses numbered PSYC 400–495. At least one of these course credits must be taken during the senior year and, for the B.S. degree, at least one must be a directed research course (PSYC 492 or 493) taken during the senior year. Juniors may preregister for senior seminars at the end of the junior year. In order to count credits obtained from PSYC 400–495 toward the senior requirement, a student must submit a substantial final paper (a minimum of 20 pages for a one-credit course, 10 pages for a half-credit course).

Distinction in the Major   To be considered for Distinction in the Major, students must submit a senior essay to the Psychology department at least one week before the last day of classes in the final term of enrollment. The senior essay must be written during the senior year and must be a product of one or two of the 400-level courses taken to fulfill the senior requirement. Before submitting a senior essay, students must have an approved proposal and an essay adviser. Senior essays that are submitted after the deadline will be subject to grade penalties.

B.S. requirement   The B.S. degree is typically awarded to students who conduct empirical research through a directed research course. B.S. candidates must fulfill the research methods and statistics requirements before starting the senior year. An empirical research project normally includes designing an experiment and collecting and analyzing the data. To be considered for a B.S. degree with Distinction, a student must submit a research proposal of one to two single-spaced pages, signed by the senior essay adviser, by the end of the registration period in the fall term of the senior year. The proposal must specify a research hypothesis, a rationale for the hypothesis, and proposed methods for collecting and analyzing data.

B.A. requirement   The B.A. degree is typically awarded to students who conduct a nonempirical literature review, but there are no restrictions in the research format. To be considered for a B.A. degree with Distinction, a student must submit a senior essay proposal of one to two pages, signed by the essay adviser and specifying the research topic, by the end of the registration period in the fall term of the senior year.

Computer Science and Psychology major   The interdepartmental major in Computer Science and Psychology may be considered by students with interests lying squarely between the two disciplines. See under Computer Science and Psychology for more information.

Departmental advisers   Schedules for all majors must be discussed with, and approved by, the director of undergraduate studies or the advisers for the neuroscience and philosophy tracks in Psychology. Only then may a schedule be submitted to the residential college dean's office. For questions concerning credits for courses taken at other institutions or at Yale but outside the Department of Psychology, students should consult with the director of undergraduate studies. For questions concerning special tracks, students should consult with the advisers for the neuroscience and philosophy tracks in Psychology.

Neuroscience track in Psychology   Students with a major interest in neuroscience may wish to elect the neuroscience track. Such students are considered Psychology majors for whom the requirements have been modified to accommodate their interests, and to reflect the multidisciplinary nature of modern neuroscience and psychology. Given the broad nature of the field of neuroscience, students may wish to concentrate their studies in one area of the field (e.g., behavioral, cellular and molecular, cognitive, affective, social, clinical, or developmental). Interested students are encouraged to meet with the track adviser, Glenn Schafe, DL 204, 432-3461, glenn.schafe@yale.edu. Majors in the neuroscience track meet with the track adviser at the beginning of each term in their junior and senior years.

Students in the Class of 2014 and previous classes may fulfill the requirements for the neuroscience track in Psychology as described below for the Class of 2015 and subsequent classes. Alternatively, they may fulfill the requirements for the neuroscience track that were in place when they entered the major, as described in previous editions of this bulletin.

Requirements for the neuroscience track for the Class of 2015 and subsequent classes are the same as for the standard major, with the following exceptions:

  1. Two terms of introductory biology are required for the major, either MCDB <120> or BIOL 101 and 102, and either E&EB <122> or BIOL 103 and 104. Students who have scored 5 on the Advanced Placement test in Biology may place out of these courses; such students are required to replace the introductory courses with two additional term courses in Psychology, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, or Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology.
  2. Students must take PSYC 170 and a data-collection course chosen from PSYC 230L, 240, or 270. PSYC 235 does not count as a data-collection course except with additional neuroscience lab experience and approval of the neuroscience track adviser. MCDB 320 may substitute for the PSYC 170 requirement, or MCDB 320 and 321L may substitute for the PSYC 230L, 240, or 270 requirement, but not both. If MCDB 320 is substituted for a Psychology course, it cannot be counted as one of the two advanced science courses outside the department (see item 4 below).
  3. At least seven courses must be taken in the Psychology department. As required for the standard major, two courses from List A are required for the neuroscience track, at least one of which must be a core course numbered from 120 to 190 and ending in zero. Students in the neuroscience track must also take a course from List B in addition to the courses specified in item 2 above.
  4. At least two advanced science courses must be chosen from Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology and Ecology and Evolutionary Biology courses numbered 200 and above that deal with human and/or animal biology; recommended courses include MCDB 200, 202, 205, 210, 240, 300, 315, 320, E&EB 220, 225, 240, and 390. Certain courses outside of these departments may also meet the advanced science requirement, including BENG 350, 421, CPSC 475, MB&B 300, 301, 420, 421, 435, 443, 452, MATH 222, 225, 230, 231, and STAT 241. Other courses may qualify for this requirement with permission of the neuroscience track adviser. Laboratory courses do not count toward the advanced science requirement. Students should note that many advanced science courses have prerequisites that must be taken first.
  5. The senior requirement for the neuroscience track is the same as for the standard major, except that the two required course credits from PSYC 400–495 must have neuroscience content. Students pursuing the B.S. degree in the track must carry out a neuroscientific empirical project in PSYC 492 or 493 and must be supervised by a faculty member within the neuroscience area of the Psychology department. Students who wish to work with an affiliated faculty member studying neuroscience outside the department must obtain permission from the neuroscience track adviser.

Philosophy track in Psychology   Students in the Class of 2014 and previous classes who have elected the philosophy track in Psychology may fulfill its requirements as described in previous editions of this bulletin. The adviser for the philosophy track is Brian Scholl, 304 SSS, 432-4629, brian.scholl@yale.edu.

Students in the Class of 2015 and subsequent classes whose interests encompass both philosophy and psychology should consider the psychology track offered by the Philosophy department.

 

REQUIREMENTS OF THE MAJOR

STANDARD MAJOR

Prerequisite   PSYC 110

Number of courses   At least 12 term courses beyond prereq (incl senior req)

Specific course required   PSYC 200

Distribution of courses   B.A.—2 courses from List A, 2 courses from List B as specified; 1 Psych course numbered 210–299; B.S.—Same, with completion of the statistics and research methods reqs before senior year

Substitution permitted   For PSYC 200, exam arranged with instructor; up to 3 relevant courses in other depts, with DUS permission

Senior requirement   B.A.—2 course credits from PSYC 400–495, 1 during senior year; B.S.—PSYC 492 or 493 taken during senior year; 1 addtl course credit from PSYC 400–495

 

NEUROSCIENCE TRACK

Prerequisite   PSYC 110

Number of courses   At least 12 term courses beyond prereq (incl senior req)

Specific courses required   PSYC 170; PSYC 200; PSYC 230L, 240, or 270; MCDB <120> or BIOL 101 and 102; E&EB <122> or BIOL 103 and 104

Distribution of courses   B.A.—At least 7 courses in Psych, incl 2 from List A and 1 addtl course from List B, as specified; at least 2 advanced science courses, as specified; B.S.—Same, with completion of the statistics and research methods reqs before senior year

Substitution permitted   MCDB 320 for PSYC 170, or MCDB 320 and 321L for PSYC 230L, 240, or 270; for PSYC 200, exam arranged with instructor

Senior requirement   B.A.—2 course credits from PSYC 400–495 with neuroscience content, 1 during senior year; B.S.—PSYC 492 or 493 taken during senior year, with neuroscience content in research project; 1 addtl course credit from PSYC 400–495 with neuroscience content