Department of Psychology

Residency Policy
Interdisciplinary Minors

Department Chair: Eric Amsel
Location: Social Science Building, Room 370
Telephone Contact: Mickey Cole 801-626-6247
Professors: Eric Amsel, Lauren Fowler, Joseph Horvat; Associate Professors: Aaron Ashley, Todd C. Baird, Azenett Garza, Theresa Kay, Leigh Shaw; Assistant Professors: Shannon McGillivray, Melinda Russell-Stamp; Instructors: Maria Parrilla de Kokal, Doug Richards

The reasons for selecting a major or minor or choosing a BIS emphasis in Psychology are to broadly prepare yourself to understand human and animal behavior and to prepare yourself for a possible career working with or doing research on people. The program is designed to teach the content of psychology, the major methods of psychological inquiry, and some skills and techniques in applying its concepts.

Students majoring in Psychology can select a program of study individually tailored to interests in counseling, child and family, business, corrections, neuroscience, research, graduate study in psychology and other areas such as law, political science and personnel. Students are required to select courses as described below to insure some breadth in their program of study. All majors are assigned an advisor who will help them develop their course of study. Teaching majors and minors and BIS students should contact the department chairperson for advisement.

Dr. Eric Amsel with Psychology students

Residency Policy

The Psychology Department has established a residency policy for students transferring undergraduate psychology credits from another accredited institution of higher education. Students who are majoring in Psychology must complete at least 9 credit hours of Psychology courses with a C or better in residence at Weber State University; students who are minoring in Psychology must complete at least 6 credit hours of Psychology courses with a C or better in residence at Weber State University. All transfer requests must go through the University Transfer Office.

Psychology Courses Table

Required Core Courses (26 credit hours)

Core General Courses (11 credit hours)

PSY 1010 SS - Introductory Psychology Credits: (3)
PSY 3600 - Statistics in Psychology Credits: (3) *
PSY 3605 - Psychology Statistics Lab Credits: (1) *
PSY 3610 - Research Methods in Psychology Credits: (4) **

Core Content Courses (15 credit hours)

PSY 2730 - Biopsychology Credits: (3) † or
NEUR 2050 - Introduction to Neuroscience Credits: (3) †
PSY 3000 - Child Psychology Credits: (3) † or
PSY 3140 - Adolescent Psychology Credits: (3) †
PSY 3010 - Abnormal Psychology Credits: (3)
PSY 3250 - Conditioning & Learning Credits: (3) † or
PSY 3500 - Cognition Credits: (3) †
PSY 3460 - Social Psychology Credits: (3) † or
PSY 3430 - Theories of Personality Credits: (3) †

Note:

* PSY 3600 - Statistics in Psychology and PSY 3605 Psychology Statistics Lab are recommended to be taken no later than first semester Junior year. MATH 1010 or equivalent is required for PSY 3600 . For PSY 3605 : MATH 1010 or equivalent is a prerequisite and PSY 3600 is a prerequisite/co-requisite.

** PSY 3610 - Research Methods in Psychology is recommended to be taken no later than second semester Junior year. Note that PSY 3600 and PSY 3605 (or an equivalent with prior approval from the Department Chair) are prerequisites for PSY 3610 .

† One of these two courses must be taken to fulfill the core course requirement. However, the student may opt to also take the second course as an elective.

Additional Courses (10 credit hours): from the Core General Courses, Core Content Courses, or Electives (Group A or B)

Electives Group A: Area Specialization Courses

PSY 2000 SS - The Psychology of Interpersonal Behavior Credits: (3)
PSY 2370 - Psychology of Women and Gender Credits: (3)
PSY 3020 - Child and Adolescent Psychopathology Credits: (3)
PSY 3100 - Psychology of Diversity Credits: (3)
PSY 3200 - Psychology of Sport, Injury & Rehabilitation Credits: (3)
PSY 3270 - Motivation and Emotion Credits: (3)
PSY 3300 - Applied Behavior Intervention Credits: (3)
PSY 3450 - Psychology of Language Credits: (3)
PSY 3550 - Psychology of Consciousness Credits: (3)
PSY 3560 - Group Dynamics and Counseling Credits: (3)
PSY 3710 - Physiological Psychology Credits: (3)
PSY 3730 - Perception Credits: (3)
PSY 3740 - Neuropsychopharmocology Credits: (3)
PSY 4000 - Advanced General Credits: (3)
PSY 4050 - Evolutionary Psychology Credits: (3)
PSY 4090 - History and Systems of Psychology Credits: (3)
PSY 4310 - Introduction to Counseling Theories Credits: (3)
PSY 4340 - Skills and Techniques of Counseling Credits: (3) *
PSY 4510 - Industrial and Organizational Behavior Credits: (3)
PSY 4760 - Tests and Measurements Credits: (3) **
PSY 4900 - Selected Topics in Psychology Credits: (2-3)
PSY 4990 - Seminar Credits: (1)

Note:

* PSY 4310 or permission of the instructor is a prerequisite for PSY 4340

** PSY 3010 and PSY 3600 are prerequisites for PSY 4760

Electives Group B: Individualized Instruction and Experiential Courses

PSY 1050 - Careers in Psychology Credits: (1)
PSY 1540 - Psychology of Adjustment and Growth Credits: (3)
PSY 2010 - Science and Profession of Psychology Credits: (3)
PSY 2800 - Projects and Research Credits: (1-3) ***
PSY 2830 - Directed Readings Credits: (1-3) ***
PSY 2890 - Cooperative Work Experience Credits: (1-2) ****
PSY 4380 - Practicum Credits: (2) *****
PSY 4390 - Practicum Credits: (2) *****
PSY 4800 - Projects and Research Credits: (1-3) ***
PSY 4830 - Directed Readings Credits: (1-3) ***
PSY 4890 - Cooperative Work Experience Credits: (1-2) ****
PSY 4910 - Senior Thesis Credits: (3) ******
PSY 4920 - Workshops, Institutes and Special Programs Credits: (1-3) *******

Note:

*** PSY 2800 , PSY 2830 , PSY 4800 and PSY 4830 require a contract to be filled out with an instructor prior to registration.

**** PSY 2890 and PSY 4890 require the student to have a current job in the field and get permission of the coordinator in the department.

***** Eighteen credit hours of psychology courses approved by the supervising instructor are required, one of which must be PSY 1010 . Also, permission of the instructor is required. A maximum of four credit hours counted toward the psychology major and minor from the following courses: PSY 2890 , PSY 4890 , PSY 4380 and PSY 4390 .

****** PSY 4910 requires a contract to be completed for the project and approval of the Department of Psychology prior to registration. The course is taken for one semester to complete the proposal and gain approval. This course is taken for a second semester to complete the project.

******* PSY 4920 may be used for credit toward a major or minor or BIS in psychology but only when written permission of the department is given at the time of registration.

Course Designations:
DV = Fulfills a University Diversity Requirement
SS = Fulfills a Social Science General Education Requirement

Interdisciplinary Minors

The Psychology Department participates in the Latin American Studies, Linguistics, Neuroscience and Women’s Studies Minor Programs. Students who wish to enroll in one of these programs should indicate their desire to do so with the program coordinator who will help them work out a proper combination of courses to fit their particular needs. (See the Engaged Learning, Honors, and Interdisciplinary Programs section of this catalog.)

Courses

Psychology Course Descriptions

Programs

Bachelor of Science

Emphasis Option for Bachelor of Integrated Studies

BIS emphases are also offered for most programs with a minor.

Psychology (BIS)

Minor

Psychology Minor

Teaching Minor

Psychology Teaching Minor

Honors, Departmental

Psychology Departmental Honors