WCSU Undergraduate Catalog 2023-2024 : Macricostas School of Arts & Sciences

Psychology

Patricia O’Neill, Chair
oneillp@wcsu.edu
Warner Hall 308
(203) 837-9383

Carol O’Connor, Department Secretary
oconnorc@wcsu.edu
Warner Hall 304, Midtown campus
(203) 837-8470

 

Faculty

D. Barrett M. Aloni N. Gallucci
B. Gee R. Gustafson J. Kraybill
T. Kuther M. Murphy S. Murphy
M. Nelson P. O’Neill,  Chair

 

Adjunct Faculty

B. Alvarado M. Campbell J. Chen
J. Conrad R. Fernandes R. Grant
J. Julian M. Karas-Golka P. Lemay
S. Lyons-Kelley M. MacArthur A. Murphy
J. Poling D. Rentler L. R. Reynolds
M. Rieve N. Rivera M. Sachse-Skidd
B. Salzman A. Santucci

 

Overview

Courses in the Psychology Department are designed to offer the psychology major a comprehensive education in the methods and content of the discipline of psychology while simultaneously providing some flexibility in course selections.

Students are given a broad overview of the field in their first course, Introduction to Psychology, and are required to complete a three-course sequence dealing with the methods and statistics used by psychologists. In addition to the required methods courses, students must satisfy a breadth requirement by taking at least one course from each of five major areas within psychology (cognitive, biological, developmental, social-personality, and clinical-counseling).

Lastly, in their junior or senior year, students are required to take an advanced seminar in a specific area or in research. An optional opportunity also exists for qualified students to graduate with the designation “psychology with distinction” by completing psychology honors courses, PSY 475 and PSY 476.

The department sponsors a chapter of the international psychology honor society, Psi Chi, and students majoring or minoring in psychology are eligible for membership. Each applicant must meet high standards of scholastic excellence to be selected as a member. Applications are made online at http://www.psichi.org/?page=become_member.  Also available to all students enrolled in the university is membership in the Psychology Student Association. Students majoring in psychology are automatically members and may participate in all activities of the association.

 

Mission

The psychology program offers a comprehensive education in the methods and content of the discipline of psychology while remaining true to the liberal arts ideal. The program provides flexibility, so that students can expand their intellectual horizons, and structure, so that students can acquire the core ideas and skills of psychology.

Students graduate with skills in interpersonal and intrapersonal interactions, quantitative analysis skills for understanding social science data, and with exposure to a tiered writing experiencing emphasizing critical analysis and argument based on empirical evidence.

The department prepares our students to be productive members of a culturally diverse society embedded within a changing global environment.

 

Learning Outcomes

At the completion of their studies, Psychology majors will be able to:

  1. Be knowledgeable of the facts, theories and principles of scientific psychology, including the areas of cognitive, biological, developmental, social and personality, and clinical and counseling psychology.
  2. Describe applications of psychology.
  3. Interpret, design, and conduct basic psychological research.
  4. Demonstrate psychology information literacy.
  5. Engage in innovative and integrative thinking and problem-solving.
  6. Apply ethical standards to evaluate psychological science and practice.
  7. Write in a cogent scientific argument, present information using a scientific approach, engage in discussion of psychological concepts, explain the ideas of others, and express their own ideas with clarity.
  8. Produce a research study or other psychological project, explain scientific results, and present information to a professional audience.
  9. Apply psychological content and skills to career goals.
  10. Develop meaningful professional direction for life after graduation.

 

Degree Programs

Bachelor of Arts in Psychology

Minor
Psychology


Bachelor of Arts in
 Psychology 

Description The psychology program offers a comprehensive education in the methods and content of the discipline of psychology while remaining true to the liberal arts ideal.  

Students graduate with skills in interpersonal and intrapersonal interactions, quantitative analysis skills for understanding social science data, and with exposure to a tiered writing experiencing emphasizing critical analysis and argument based on empirical evidence. 

The department prepares our students to be productive members of a culturally diverse society embedded within a changing global environment. 

Degree Requirements 

All degrees at WCSU require 120 semester hours (SH). This includes major requirements, general education requirements, cognates (where applicable), and free electives. This structure provides room for minors, internships, and study abroad.   

Required Courses in the Major: 39-42 SH.  

PSY 110 Orientation to the Psychology Major (FY)  1 SH 
PSY 100 Introduction to Psychology  3 SH 
PSY 280 Prof & Career Dev for Psychology 3 SH
PSY 204 Psychological Statistics (QR)  4 SH 
PSY 324 Experimental Psychology (SI)  4 SH 
Advanced Seminar in Psychology: Choose one from PSY 412, 415, 425, 426, 439, 450, 452 (CE, W3)  3 SH 
Breadth Requirement: At least one course from each of the five areas 
Area A – Cognitive: PSY 220 or 251  3 SH 
Area B – Biological: PSY 230, 349, or 352   3 SH 
Area C – Developmental: PSY 210, 211, 271, or 322  3 SH 
Area D – Social-Personality: PSY 205 or 215  3 SH 
Area E – Clinical-Counseling: PSY 202, 203, or 260  3 SH 
Nine (9) Elective Credits: At least two courses (6 SH) at the 300-400 level.   9 SH 
Cognate: Although this major includes 1 QR and 1 SI course, students must also complete these competencies outside of the major. 
OPTIONAL: Students with a minimum GPA of 3.30 overall, 3.5 in the major may complete the courses below to qualify for a Distinction designation. A faculty mentor is required.  
PSY 475 Psychology Honors Guided Readings (pre-req PSY 324, Jr. Standing).  3 SH 
PSY 476 Psychology Honors Thesis (pre-req Advanced Seminar).   3 SH 
Minimum GPA for the BA in Psychology =  2.0 overall. 


General Education
: All students must complete the General Education curriculum. General Education Requirements include both competency and breadth requirements. In some cases, major courses will satisfy competencies. These are indicated in the parentheses after the course title. For a complete description of the General Education program, follow this link. https://catalogs.wcsu.edu/ugrad/academic-programs-degrees/ 

Cognates: In some programs there are courses outside of the major that are required as pre-requisites or enhancements to the major course work. These courses may satisfy competencies and they will count toward the general education breadth requirement. If cognate courses are required, they are included in the list of courses required in the major.  

Electives: All degrees require 120 semester hours.  Elective credits are opportunities for minors, internships, study abroad, and just following general interests. We encourage all students to speak with their advisors about great opportunities for their elective courses.

 

Sample Four Year Plan: BA Psychology
Four-year plans are suggestions. Plans change. Consult your advisor to adjust your plan.  

Semester 1  SH  Semester 2  SH 
WRT 101 Composition 1: Habit of Writing (W1) 3  PSY Area A: PSY 220 or 251 3 
Gen Ed: Quantitative Reasoning (QR) (must not be PSY course) OR MAT 100 if required 3  Free Elective OR Gen Ed: Quantitative Reasoning (QR) if MAT 100 was taken (must not be a PSY course) 3 
PSY 100 Intro to Psychology 3  Gen Ed: Oral Communication (OC) 3 
PSY 110 Orientation to Psychology Major (FY) 1 Gen Ed: Writing Intensive Tier II (W2) 3 
Gen Ed: Critical Thinking (CT) 3  Gen Ed: Breadth 3 
Gen Ed: Breadth 3     
       
Semester 3  SH  Semester 4  SH 
PSY 204 Psychological Statistics (QR, Rpt. 1) 4 PSY 324 Experimental Psych (SI) 4
PSY Area B: PSY 230, 349, or 352 3  PSY Area C: PSY 210, 211, 271, or 322 3 
Gen Ed: Creative Process (CP)   3 PSY 280 Prof/Career Development for PSY Students 1 
Gen Ed: Intercultural (IC) (Foreign language if required)  3  Gen Ed: Information Literacy (IL) 3 
Gen-Ed: Exploration Course 3  Gen Ed: Repeat Competency (Foreign language if required) Rpt. 2 3 
  Gen Ed: Health & Wellness (HW) 2
       
Semester 5  SH  Semester 6   SH
PSY Area D: PSY 205 or 215 3 PSY Area E: PSY 202, 203 or 260 3 
PSY Elective – 300 level or higher 3 PSY Elective – 300 level or higher 3 
Gen Ed: Scientific Inquiry (SI) (must not be PSY course) Rpt. 3 4  PSY Elective 3 
Free Elective  3  Free Elective  3 
Free Elective  3  Free Elective  3 
       
Semester 7  SH  Semester 8  SH 
PSY Advanced Seminar: PSY 412, 415, 425, 426, 439, 450, 452 (CW, W3) 3-4 PSY 476 Honors Thesis OR General Elective 3 
PSY 475 Honors Guided Reading OR Free Elective 3 Free Elective 3
Free Elective 3 Free Elective 3
Free Elective 3 Free Elective 3
Free Elective 3 
Total Credits Required for the BA in Psychology = 121; Minimum GPA 2.0 

* All Bachelor of Arts degrees at WCSU require that students complete a language at or above the elementary II level. Students who have completed three years of a foreign language at a minimum of a C average in high school have met this requirement. However, they must still complete at least one Intercultural Competency course.
*Credits from a single course may be split among General Education Explorations and General Electives
** The Psychology Honors track (475/476) is optional and requires prior departmental approval.
***Courses in bold are major requirements.

Internship in Applied Psychology

Students with junior or senior standing and instructor’s permission may apply for PSY 306, the Internship in Applied Psychology. In this course, students obtain experience in the application of psychological principles in community settings.   These settings include social service, mental health, medical, veteran’s services and educational agencies.    Students collaborate with the course instructor in selecting their practicum site, and must obtain 120 hours of practicum experience in a semester, over a period of at least 10 weeks in a spring or fall semester.

Prerequisites are PSY 204, and either PSY 202 or PSY 203. Entry is competitive and places are limited to 15 students per semester.

 

Substance Use Disorder Counseling Courses

The psychology department offers four courses (PSY 392, PSY 393, PSY 394 and PSY 395) for a total of 16 semester hours in substance use counseling. These courses meet the academic requirements for Certification of Substance Abuse Counselors (CADC) as defined by the Connecticut Certification Board (CRB). Other requirements for certification are 6,000 hours of paid substance use counseling experience and a passing score on the national certification exam. Students should check the Connecticut Certification Board homepage at http://ccb-ing.org/ccb.html for the most up-to-date certification information.

 

Agencies That May Be Used for Student Placements in PSY 439: Community Psychology:

Arms Acres, Carmel, N.Y.
Birth to Three Danbury CT
Blue Sky mental health Danbury CT
Connecticut Counseling Center Danbury CT
Danbury Head Start, Danbury CT
Department of Children and Families, Danbury CT
Kennedy Center, sites in Trumbull, Newtown & Southbury
Mid-Western Connecticut Council on Alcoholism (MCCA), Danbury CT
Nurturing Families/Parents As Teachers Danbury CT
Women’s Center, Danbury CT

Note: Students are required to have significant flexibility in their schedule to accommodate hours required by the required practicum experience in PSY 439.

Students cannot take both PSY 439 and PSY 306 (Internship) in the same semester.

 

Minor in Psychology

Eighteen semester hours of psychology courses including PSY 100 with a minimum GPA of 2.0 in those courses. At least nine credits towards the psychology minor must be taken at Western. Please see your advisor to review all program requirements.

Required Course (3 SH):
PSY 100 Introduction to Psychology

Five (5) approved electives (15 SH)
Courses selected with the approval of psychology advisor