Undergraduate Program in Experimental Psychology

B.S. Degree

General Education Requirements for the B.S. in Psychology

In general, the prerequisites for the B.S. degree in Psychology overlap with the B.A. prerequisites. However, to fulfill the formal skills, we require the Mathematics sequence 20A, 20B, 20C.

Upper-Division Course Requirements

A minimum of twelve upper-division courses plus two Research Experience courses (two labs or two 199s, 4 units each) and a research paper is required.

Five of these upper-division courses must come from the core courses: Psychology 101-106.

Of the seven electives, three have to come from an area of specialization:

Behavior Analysis	Developmental Psychology
Neuroscience & Behavior	Sensation & Perception
Clinical Psychology	Social Psychology
Cognitive Psychology & Cognitive Neuropsychology

Areas of concentration and their associated courses are listed in alphabetical order below. (Subject to change -- for additional qualifying courses see the department’s Student Affairs Office, 1533 Mandler Hall).

Majors must have departmental approval for electives taken outside the department. Of the required courses in the area of specialization, three regular upper division courses and two research experiences, no more than two may be taken outside the department. We recommend consulting the department before enrolling in courses offered by other departments.

The two Research Experience courses will be comprised of a combination of laboratory courses or Psychology 199 courses (Independent Study). Psychology 199s must be taken for 4 units each. These courses taken to fulfill the area of specialization Research Experience requirement must be directed by the faculty within the chosen area of specialization and culminate in a research paper* accepted and signed off by the advisor.

* Research Paper Requirements
The research paper has to be filed with the Undergraduate Students Services Office in Mandler Hall Room 1533 – in due time for graduation. Failure to do so will hold off graduation or result automatically in a B.A. The paper has to be written in APA style. It should include reference sections and constitute a review of the research area in which the student was working. It should show a combined introduction and discussion section of a typical journal article (assuming that the student did not get to see the results of the research project(s) in which they were involved). The paper should indicate to the reader that the student understands the logic of research methods in psychology (remember it is a Bachelor of Science degree), and it should possibly include a "method-section-like" description of the part that the student played in the research, e.g., procedure if he/she was involved in running subjects, method of data analysis if he/she was involved in analysis of data, etc. The length of the paper is to be discussed with the PI (Principle Investigator).

B.S. Upper Division Courses by Concentration

Behavior Analysis

Behavior Analysis is based on the principles of Pavlovian and operant conditioning, and other aspects of contemporary associative learning theory. It also includes the application of reinforcement principles and other behavior modification techniques in applied settings (applied behavior analysis).

Psych 109 Lab/Applied Behavior Analysis
Psych 120* Learning and Motivation
Psych 121* Lab/Operant Psychology
Psych 132 Hormones & Behavior
Psych 134 Eating Disorders
Psych 135 Animal Behavior
Psych 140* Lab/Human Behavior
Psych 143 Control & Analysis of Human Behavior
Psych 154 Behavior Modification
Psych 168 Psychological Disorders of Childhood
Psych 184 Choice and Self Control
Psych 188 Impulse Control Disorders
Psych 199 Independent studies in this field - must culminate in a research paper approved by the advisor to fulfill lab requirement.

199 courses do not count as upper division Psychology course towards the major

*to be taken concurrently

Neuroscience & Behavior

This is the study of how the nervous system mediates behavioral effects in the realms of motivation, perception, learning and memory, and attention. It also includes the study of human neurophysiology and aphasia.

Psych 107 Lab/Substance Abuse Research
Psych 114 Lab/Psychophysical Perspectives on the Social Mind
Psych 125 Clinical Neuropsychology and Assessment
Psych 129 Logic of Perception
Psych 132 Hormones and Behavior
Psych 134 Eating Disorders
Psych 135 Comparative Social Behavior
Psych 159 Physiological Basis of Perception
Psych 169 Brain Damage & Mental Function
Psych 179 Drugs, Addiction, and Mental Disorders
Psych 181 Drugs and Behavior
Psych 188 Impulse Control Behaviors
Psych 199 Independent studies in this field - must culminate in a research paper approved by the advisor to fulfill lab requirement.

199 courses do not count as upper division Psychology course towards the major

Clinical Psychology

This area studies of the psychological and physiological causes of and treatments for mental illness in children and adults.

Psych 107 Lab/Substance Abuse Research
Psych 109 Lab/Applied Behavior Analysis
Psych 124 Clinical Psychology
Psych 125 Clinical Neuropsychology and Assessment
Psych 131 Personality: Theory and Research
Psych 132 Hormones and Behavior
Psych 134 Eating Disorders
Psych 151 Tests and Measurement
Psych 154 Behavior Modification
Psych 155 Social Psychology and Medicine
Psych 163 Abnormal Psychology
Psych 168 Psychological Disorders in Children
Psych 172 Human Sexuality
Psych 184 Choice & Self-Control
Psych 188 Impulse Control Disorders
Psych 199 Independent studies in this field must culminate in a research paper approved by the advisor to fulfill lab requirement.

199 courses do not count as upper division Psychology course towards the major

Cognitive Psychology & Cognitive Neuropsychology

Cognitive Psychology is the study of the areas of reasoning, thinking language, judgment and decision making in adults and children (including attention, memory, and visual and auditory information processing).

Cognitive Neuropsychology is the study of cognitive processes and their implementation in the brain. Cognitive neuroscientists use methods drawn from brain damage, neuropsychology, cognitive psychology, functional neuro-imaging, and computer modeling.

Psych 114 Lab/Psychophysical Perspectives on the Social Mind
Psych 115 Lab/Cognitive Psychology
Psych 118A&B Lab/Language Processing
Psych 119 Lab/Psycholinguistics
Psych 129 Logic of Perception
Psych 141 Evolution & Human Nature
Psych 142 Psychology of Consciousness
Psych 144 Memory & Amnesia
Psych 145 Psychology of Language
Psych 148 Psychology of Judgment & Decision
Psych 152 Concepts of Intelligence
Psych 156 Cognitive Development in Infancy
Psych 161 Introduction to Engineering Psychology
Psych 185 Applied Social Psychology
Psych 187 Development in Social Cognition
Psych 199 Independent studies in this field--must culminate in a research paper approved by the advisor to fulfill lab requirement.

199 courses do not count as upper division Psychology course towards the major

Developmental Psychology

This area studies all aspects of human development with an emphasis on social and personality development, perceptual development, and language acquisition. Also included is the study of developmental psychopathology.

Psych 109 Lab/Developmental Psychology
Psych 122 Aging
Psych 135 Comparative Social behavior
Psych 136 Cognitive Development
Psych 141 Evolution & Human Nature
Psych 145 Psychology of Language
Psych 152 Concepts of Intelligence
Psych 156 Cognitive Development in Infancy
Psych 168 Psychological Disorder of Childhood
Psych 172 Human Sexuality
Psych 180 Adolescence
Psych 185 Applied Social Psychology
Psych 187 The Development of Social Cognition
Psych 189 Advanced Topics in Developmental Psychology
Psych 199 Independent studies in this field - must culminate in a research paper approved by the advisor to fulfill lab requirement.

199 courses do not count as upper division Psychology course towards the major

Sensation and Perception

This area studies how our sense organs and brain make it possible for us to construct our consciously experienced representation of the environment. Experiments using stimuli and computer control can be used to test models of sensory or perceptual processes. Processes of particular interest include color vision, motion perception, and auditory illusions and paradox.

Psych 125 Clinical Neuropsychology and Assessment
Psych 129 Logic of Perception
Psych 138 Sound and Music Perception
Psych 159 Physiological Basis of Perception
Psych 164 Mathematical Ideas in Psychology
Psych 169 Brain Damage and Mental Functions
Psych 182 Illusions & the Brain
Psych 199 Independent studies in this field - must culminate in a research paper approved by the advisor to fulfill lab requirement.

199 courses do not count as upper division Psychology course towards the major

Social Psychology

This is the study of human behavior in social situations, with specialization in such topics as emotion, aggression, social cognition, and aesthetics. It also encompasses applied social psychology, including psychology and the law and behavioral medicine.

Psych 114 Lab/Psychophysical Perspectives on the Social Mind
Psych 127 Applied Social Psychology
Psych 130 Delay of Gratification
Psych 131 Personality Theory & Research
Psych 135 Animal Behavior
Psych 137 Social Cognition
Psych 139 Social Psychology of Sports
Psych 141 Evolution & Human Nature
Psych 149 Social Psychology of Theater
Psych 152 Concepts of Intelligence
Psych 153 Psychology of Emotion
Psych 155 Social Psychology and Medicine
Psych 157 Happiness
Psych 160 Groups
Psych 162 Psychology and the Law
Psych 172 Human Sexuality
Psych 175 Psychology and the Arts
Psych 178 Organizational Psychology
Psych 185 Applied Social Psychology
Psych 186 Psychology and Social Policy
Psych 187 The Development of Social Cognition
Psych 199 Independent studies in this field--must culminate in a research paper approved by the advisor to fulfill lab requirement.

199 courses do not count as upper division Psychology course towards the major

B.S. Four Year Plans

B.S. with Honors