Psychology – Major/Minor
For information, contact Dr. James Scepansky.
The goal of psychology is to understand the complex nature of human behavior.
Contemporary psychology is both a science and a profession. As a science, it
pursues knowledge in a variety of methods through experiments, observations and
theories. As a profession, psychology applies this knowledge to a range of
practical problems.
At Cedar Crest College, students participate in both the scientific and applied
aspects of psychology. A small student-faculty ratio allows for close personal
instruction. Students also have the opportunity to do research, and complete
concentrations in special areas of psychology such as Forensic Psychology,
Health Psychology, and Industrial/Organizational Psychology. Students may
choose to earn their degree through daytime, evening, weekend and accelerated
classes. A grade of C or better must be obtained in each course to satisfy requirements
for both the psychology major and minor. This includes all Liberal Arts
requirements. PSY 100 is a prerequisite to all other psychology courses.
PSY 100/200 level courses are for 1st/2nd Year Students
PSY 300 level courses are for 3rd/4th Year Students
Requirements for the Psychology Major (BA)
A minimum of 18 psychology credits for the major must be taken at Cedar Crest
College.
PSY 100 General Psychology 3 credits
PSY 211 Experimental Methods 4 credits
PSY 212 Statistical Methods 4 credits
PSY 229 Introduction to Biological Psychology 3 credits
or
NEU 200 Introduction to Neuroscience 3 credits
PSY 250 Life-Span Development 3 credits
PSY 309 Abnormal Psychology 3 credits
or
PSY 351 Theories of Personality 3 credits
PSY 317 Learning 4 credits
or
PSY 336 Cognitive Psychology 4 credits
THS 105 Public Speaking 3 credits
Plus 15 additional psychology elective credits.
Requirements for a Minor In Psychology (18 credits)
A minimum of 9 psychology credits for the minor must be taken at Cedar Crest
College.
PSY 100 General Psychology 3 credits
PSY 250 Life-Span Development 3 credits
PSY 309 Abnormal Psychology 3 credits
or
PSY 351 Theories of Personality 3 credits
Plus 9 additional elective credits in psychology.
Concentrations
Cedar Crest College offers three concentrations within the psychology major:
• Biopsychology
• Forensic Psychology
• Industrial/Organizational Psychology
Biopsychology
The Biopsychology concentration gives students an understanding of basic brain
functions and their relationship to behavior and cognition, as well as the
mechanisms of neuropathology and mental illness. Biopsychology is appropriate
for students interested in psychology with a biological emphasis who wish to
pursue graduate studies or professional careers in psychology, biopsychology,
or related fields. Students completing the psychology major with the
biopsychology concentration will be awarded a BS upon completion. A grade of C
or better must be obtained in each course to satisfy the concentration
requirements. Day attendance is required for NEU 200, NEU 220, NEU 330, BIO 121 and BIO 122.
Requirements for the Concentration in Biopsychology (BS)
PSY 100 General Psychology 3 credits
PSY 211 Experimental Methods 4 credits
PSY 212 Statistical Methods 4 credits
PSY 250 Life-Span Development 3 credits
PSY 309 Abnormal Psychology 3 credits
PSY 317 Learning 4 credits
BIO 121 Principles of Biology I 4 credits
BIO 122 Principles of Biology II 4 credits
NEU 200 Introduction to Neuroscience 3 credits
NEU 220 Sensation & Perception 3 credits
NEU 330 Neuropharmacology 3 credits
Plus 9 additional elective credits in psychology.
Industrial/Organizational Psychology
The goal of the Industrial/Organizational (I/O) Psychology concentration is to
thoroughly examine psychological behaviors as they apply to the workplace. The
education of I/O psychologists is founded on the scientist/practitioner model,
which trains students in both scientific inquiry and practical application. I/O
psychology is appropriate for students interested in psychology with a business
emphasis who wish to pursue graduate studies or professional careers in
psychology, business or related subspecialties including: selection and
placement, training and development, performance management, organization
development, quality of worklife, and ergonomics or engineering psychology.
Across these subspecialties, I/O psychologists are employed in a number of work
settings including consulting firms, research firms, universities, industry and
government. Students completing the psychology major with the I/O concentration
will be awarded a BS upon completion. A grade of C or better must be obtained
in all courses satisfying the concentration requirements.
Requirements for the Concentration in Industrial/Organizational Psychology (BS)
PSY 100 General Psychology 3 credits
PSY 211 Experimental Methods 4 credits
PSY 212 Statistical Methods 4 credits
PSY 229 Introduction to Biological Psychology 3 credits
or
NEU 200 Introduction to Neuroscience 3 credits
PSY 250 LifeSpan Development 3 credits
PSY 301 Psychology at Work 3 credits
PSY 317 Learning 4 credits
or
PSY 336 Cognitive Psychology 4 credits
PSY 351 Theories of Personality 3 credits
Plus 3 additional elective credits in Psychology
Plus a minimum of 12 credits from the following courses:
PSY 224 Women in the Workplace 3 credits
PSY 230 Team Building & Group Dynamics 3 credits
PSY 231 Social Psychology for Psychology 3 credits
PSY 312 Psychological Assessment 3 credits
*BUA (Business) (*Excluding BUA 329) 3 credits
MRK (Marketing) 3 credits
Forensic Psychology Concentration
The Forensic Psychology concentration is built on a strong foundation of
psychology courses as well as a variety of disciplines outside psychology,
including criminal justice, history, and political science. Students completing
the concentration will be awarded a BA upon completion. A grade of “C” or better is required for all courses in order to graduate.
Requirements:
PSY 100 General Psychology 3 credits
PSY 250 Lifespan Development 3 credits
PSY 211 Experimental Methods 4 credits
PSY 212 Statistical Methods 4 credits
PSY 229 Introduction to Biological Psychology 3 credits
or
NEU 200 Introduction to Neuroscience 3 credits
PSY 309 Abnormal Psychology 3 credits
PSY 310 Forensic Psychology 3 credits
PSY 311 Criminal Behavior and Profiling 3 credits
or
PSY ST:360 Special Topics in Forensic Psychology 3 credits
PSY 336 Cognitive Psychology 4 credits
CRJ 106 Criminology 3 credits
CRJ 206 Class, Race, Gender and Crime 3 credits
Choose 2 of the following:
PSY 231 Social Psychology for Psychology 3 credits
PSY 301 Psychology at Work 3 credits
PSY 312 Psychological Assessment 3 credits
PSY 351 Theories of Personality 3 credits
Choose 1 of the following:
CRJ 201 Addictions, Psychopathology and Crime 3 credits
CRJ 301 Juvenile Justice 3 credits
CRJ 306 Corrections: Crisis in America 3 credits
CRJ 316 Crime and Public Policy 3 credits
HIS 260 Terror: History of An Idea 3 credits
SOC 218 Social Problems in American Communities 3 credits