Santa Clara University

Academics

Psychology Major Course Requirements

Psychology Course Requirement Check Sheet  »

LOWER-DIVISION REQUIREMENTS

Psychology majors are expected to complete the following lower-division course requirements in sequence before completing upper-division course requirements.

• Introductory Courses

PSYC 1: General Psychology I
PSYC 2: General Psychology II

• Statistics and Research Methods

PSYC 40: Statistical Data Analysis
PSYC 43: Research Methods in Psychology

UPPER-DIVISION COURSE REQUIREMENTS

Psychology majors are expected to complete one course from each of the following areas, two upper-division electives, and a Senior Capstone course.

• Biological. Choose one course from the following:

PSYC 165: Physiological Psychology
PSYC 166: Human Neuropsychology
PSYC 167: Psychopharmacology

• Developmental. Choose one course from the following:

PSYC 172: Adolescent Development
PSYC 185: Developmental Psychology I
PSYC 197: Psychology of Aging

• Applied. Choose one course from the following:

PSYC 115: Abnormal Psychology
PSYC 117: Health Psychology
PSYC 157: Industrial/Organizational Psychology

• Social/Personality. Choose one course from the following:

PSYC 150: Social Psychology
PSYC 160: Personality

• Learning/Cognition/Perception. Choose one course from the following:

PSYC 120: Perception
PSYC 130: Psychology of Learning
PSYC 131: Cognitive Psychology

• Senior Capstone. Choose one course from the following:

PSYC 113: Advanced Topics in Health Psychology

PSYC 132: Advanced Topics in Learning
PSYC 133: Advanced Topics in Cognitive

PSYC 151: Advanced Topics in Social Psychology
PSYC 161: Advanced Topics in Industrial/Organizational Psychology
PSYC 168: Advanced Topics in Neuroscience

PSYC 178: Advanced Topics in Developmental Psychology

PSYC 199C: Directed Reading/Research

• Electives. Choose two additional upper-division courses from those listed above or from the courses listed in the Psychology Department section of the 2008-2009 Undergraduate Bulletin.

Emphasis in Psychobiology

In addition to fulfilling the course requirements for the Psychology major, students interested in neuroscience can pursue an emphasis in Psychobiology by completing the following courses:

• Mathematics. Complete each of the following courses in sequence:
  

MATH 11: Calculus and Analytic Geometry I
MATH 12: Calculus and Analytic Geometry II

• Chemistry. Complete each of the following courses in sequence:

CHEM 11: General Chemistry I
CHEM 12: General Chemistry II
CHEM 13: General Chemistry III
CHEM 31: Organic Chemistry I
CHEM 32: Organic Chemistry II

• Biology. Complete each of the following courses in sequence:

BIOL 21: Introduction to Physiology
BIOL 22: Introduction to Evolution and Ecology
BIOL 23: Investigations in Evolution and Ecology (L&L)
BIOL 24: Introduction to Cellular and Molecular Biology

BIOL 25: Investigations in Cellular and Molecular Biology (L&L)

Visit the Psychobiology Emphasis webpage.

Emphasis in Gerontology

In addition to fulfilling the requirements for the Psychology major, students who wish to study the process of aging should contact Dr. Patti Simone (psimone@scu.edu) in the Psychology Department to inquire about the Gerontology Certificate Program. Program requirements include:

• Lower Division Requirements. Choose at least one course from the following:

SOCI 1: Principles of Sociology
ANTH 3: Introduction to Social and Cultural Anthropology
PSYC 1: General Psychology I
PSYC 2: General Psychology II

• Upper Division Requirements. BIOL 187 (Biology of Aging) and three additional courses chosen from the following:
  

ANTH 172: Anthropology of Aging
POLI 168: Special Topics in Public Policy: Politics in Aging
PSYC 119: Psychology of Death, Dying, and Loss
PSYC 196: Psychology of Aging
TESP 126: Spirituality of Aging
SOCI 172: Management of Health Care Organizations
SOCI 176: Elder Law
Any gerontology-related course with the approval of the director.

Visit the Gerontology Program webpage.