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
| P. O’Neill, Chair | M. Aloni | N. Gallucci |
| B. Gee | R. Gustafson | J. Kraybill |
| T. Kuther | M. Murphy | |
| M. Nelson |
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:
- 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.
- Describe applications of psychology.
- Interpret, design, and conduct basic psychological research.
- Demonstrate psychology information literacy.
- Engage in innovative and integrative thinking and problem-solving.
- Apply ethical standards to evaluate psychological science and practice.
- 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.
- Produce a research study or other psychological project, explain scientific results, and present information to a professional audience.
- Apply psychological content and skills to career goals.
- 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, and electives. This structure provides room for minors, internships, and study abroad.
Required Courses in the Major: 39-45 SH.
| PSY 280 Prof & Career Dev for Psychology | 1 SH |
| PSY 204 Psychological Statistics | 4 SH |
| PSY 324 Experimental Psychology | 4 SH |
| Advanced Seminar in Psychology: Choose one from PSY 412, 415, 425, 426, 439, 450, 452 | 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 |
| 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 | 3 SH |
| PSY 476 Psychology Honors Thesis | 3 SH |
| MAJOR DESIGNATED GENERAL EDUCATION COURSES |
|
| PSY 100 Introduction to Psychology | 3 SH |
| Minimum GPA for the BA in Psychology = 2.0 overall. | |
General Education: All students must complete the General Education curriculum. The WCSU General Education curriculum invites students to encounter a broad range of topics and skills in the liberal arts and sciences. The system requires students to successfully complete a minimum of 40 semester hours split across eleven learning areas. Generally, students can satisfy the requirements for a given learning area with any course they choose within that area; some programs of study may require specific Major Designated General Education Courses; if so, they will be listed with the program requirements. Additionally, the Racial Justice and Global Diversity requirements may be completed with courses which are part of the program requirements. For a complete description of the General Education program, follow this link: https://catalogs.wcsu.edu/ugrad/academic-programs-degrees/
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 |
| COMP 101 Intro to Comp/Rhetoric | 3 | PSY Area A: PSY 220 or 251 | 3 |
| Gen Ed: Mathematical Reasoning | 3 | Gen Ed: Writing & Information Literacy | 3 |
| PSY 100 Intro to Psychology | 3 | Gen Ed: Speech Communication | 3 |
| Gen Ed: Social & Behavioral Sciences | 3 | Gen Ed: Writing Intensive Tier II | 3 |
| First Year Experience | 1 | Gen Ed: Art | 3 |
| Semester 3 | SH | Semester 4 | SH |
| PSY 204 Psychological Statistics | 4 | PSY 324 Experimental Psych | 4 |
| PSY Area B: PSY 230, 349, OR 352 | 3 | PSY Area C: PSY 210, 211, 271, OR 322 | 3 |
| Gen Ed: Natural Sciences & Technology | 3 | PSY 280 Prof/Career Development for PSY Students | 1 |
| Gen Ed: Arts or Humanities* | 3 | Gen Ed: Humanities* | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | Gen Ed: Personal Wellness | 2 |
| Elective | 3 | ||
| Semester 5 | SH | Semester 6 | SH |
| PSY Area D: PSY 205 or 215 | 3 | PSY Area E: PSY 202, 203 or 260 | 3-4 |
| PSY Elective – 300 level or higher | 3 | PSY Elective – 300 level or higher | 3 |
| Gen Ed: Natural Sciences & Technology | 4 | Elective | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| Semester 7 | SH | Semester 8 | SH |
| PSY Advanced Seminar: PSY 412, 415, 425, 426, 439, 450, 452 | 3-4 | PSY 476 Honors Thesis** OR Elective | 3 |
| PSY 475 Honors Guided Reading** OR Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| PSY Elective | 3 | Elective | 3-4 |
| Elective | 3 | Elective | 3-4 |
| Elective | 3 | ||
| Total Credits Required for the BA in Psychology = 121; Minimum GPA 2.0 | |||
* All Bachelor of Arts degrees at WCSU require students to study a language other than English to at least the elementary level II. Students who have completed three years of a language other than English in high school with an overall “C” average or completed a total of four years of two languages other than English in high school with an overall “B” average have met this requirement.
** The Psychology Honors track (475/476) is optional and requires prior departmental approval.
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.
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