With the B.A. degree, professional entry-level positions are possible in public and private human services systems (health, education, social welfare, parole, probation, gerontology, youth, substance abuse); also, personnel administration, and general administrative work. Entry-level jobs could involve delivery of service, research and/or program planning and development. Less traditional occupations include medicine, dentistry, law, optometry, urban planning, genetic counseling, and human factors research.

Special Programs or Opportunities

The department offers opportunities for independent study and research beginning in the sophomore year. Students involved in research activities have supervised access to the department's animal behavior laboratory, human research laboratories, and off-campus professional agencies.

Admission

Declaration of the major in psychology must be made by application to the department. Information on procedures for application is available from the Department Advisement Center (SS 257). Application may be made during any semester at any time prior to final exam week, or prior to August during summer sessions, but must be made before the student has earned 60 credits at the University at Albany.

The criteria outlined below will apply to all course work completed prior to and including the semester during which application is made. The department will notify students of action on the application before the subsequent semester. A Psy 101M, 210, and 211 may not be taken elsewhere after matriculation at Albany.

I. Criteria for Students Admitted as Freshmen to Albany as of Fall 1991 and thereafter:

1. The student must have completed at least 24 hours of college credit (sophomore status).

2. The student's cumulative grade point average for all course work at the University at Albany must be 2.00 or higher at the time of evaluation of the application.

3. The student must have a grade point average of 2.50 or higher for all course work completed in the University at Albany Psychology Department at the time of evaluation of the application.

4. The courses A Psy 101M or 102M, A Psy 210 and A Psy 211 must have been completed with a minimum grade of C- in each. Students may be conditionally admitted to the major after completion of the requirements for A Psy 101M and A Psy 210. A Psy 211 must be completed in the next semester following conditional acceptance to be admitted to the major.

II. Criteria for Transfer Students Admitted to Albany for Fall 1991, Spring 1992 and Summer 1992.

Students may not formally declare a major in psychology nor be assigned for advisement in the Department of Psychology until they have completed at least 24 credits in university courses with a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.00 and have completed A Psy 101M with a grade of C- or higher or S. Applicants on academic probation and/or with less than a 2.00 cumulative average will not be considered for admission to the major.

III. Criteria for Transfer Students Admitted to Albany as of Fall 1992 and thereafter:

For purposes of declaration of the major, the department recognizes three categories of transfer students. The criteria for admission to the major are different for these three categories. Transfer students may not apply transfer credit for A Psy 101M, A Psy 210 and A Psy 211 with grades of D toward the major.

1. Transfer students who enter the University with less than 42 transfer credits or without credit for A Psy 101M must fulfill the criteria specified in section I. above.

2. Transfer students who enter the University with 42 or more transfer credits, have transfer credit for A Psy 101M and 210 with a grade of C- or higher in each, and have a 2.5 average for all psychology courses will be conditionally admitted to psychology as a major and receive advisement in the psychology department. Such students must complete A Psy 211 in their first semester here with a grade of C- or higher or their admission to the major will be withdrawn.

3. Transfer students who enter the University with 42 or more transfer credits, have transfer credit for A Psy 101M, A Psy 210 and A Psy 211 with a grade of C- or higher in each, and have a 2.50 average in all psychology courses taken may immediately declare psychology as a major.

Appeals

Students who do not meet the above criteria may retake courses in the A Psy 101M, A Psy 210 and A Psy 211 sequence in order to achieve the minimum grade of C-. The criterion of a 2.50 average in psychology courses at the time of application to the major will be affected by duplicated enrollment in the following way: if courses are retaken, calculation of the average in psychology will use both grades.

Students who are denied admission to the major may appeal the decision by petitioning the department chair. Such appeals will be evaluated at the beginning of each semester, prior to the final date for adding courses. The decision on the appeal will be made by the department chair and the director of the advisement center.

Degree Requirements for the Major in Psychology

General Program B.A.: A minimum of 36 credits in psychology: including A Psy 101M or 102M, A Psy 210, and A Psy 211; 15 credits in psychology from the following list: A Psy 203, 214, 270, 314, 327, 338, 380, 381, 382, 384, 385, 387; 12 credits of electives with an A Psy prefix. Courses not taken from the previous list may be used as electives. NOTE: within the 36 credits required for the major a student must complete at least 12 credits in courses numbered 300 or above.

For psychology majors who satisfy the major requirements as outlined in this bulletin, A Psy 210 and 211 are restricted to A-E grading after matriculation at Albany.

A maximum of 3 credits in independent study courses (A Psy 297, 397, and 497Z) may be applied to major credit but may not be used to satisfy the 300-or-above requirement. No more than 6 additional credits in these independent study courses may be used for graduation credit.

Honors Program

A psychology major, or double major with psychology listed first, may file an application for admission with the Honors Committee as early as the second semester of the sophomore year or as soon as the minimum requirements for admission to the program have been satisfied. The duration of the program is three semesters and commences only in the fall semester.

The minimum requirements for admission include completion of A Psy 101M or 102M, 210 and 211. If the student has not been able to complete A Psy 211 by the first semester of the junior year, it is possible to obtain permission to take A Psy 211 concurrently with the Honors Seminar. A grade point average of 3.30 or higher overall for all course work taken for graduation credit at the University is required, as is a 3.50 grade point average or higher for psychology courses applicable toward the major.

Honors students must complete 48 hours in psychology including A Psy 101M or 102M, 210, 211, 310, 399, and 499 (6 credits). In addition, students must submit a senior honors thesis acceptable to the research sponsor and the Honors Committee.

The program commences with the Honors Seminar (A Psy 399) in the fall semester of the junior year. A Psy 211 must be taken at this time if it has not already been completed.

The seminar introduces that student to (advanced) issues of scientific method and experimental design. As soon as the student has a general idea for the research project, he or she is encouraged to discuss the project with a potential research sponsor, especially as regards feasibility. By the end of the seminar course, the student should be conversant with a problem area, have arranged a research sponsor and be ready to submit a research proposal. The Honors student will conduct the research in two project courses (A Psy 499) during the second semester of the junior and the first semester of the senior year.

The Honors Thesis written by the end of the second project course will consist of a review of the literature, the hypothesis to be tested, an experimental design (from the research proposal), data collected, any statistical analysis, and a discussion.

Students in the honors program are required to maintain an overall grade point average of 3.30 or higher during the junior and senior years and an overall grade point average of 3.50 or higher for all psychology courses applicable toward the major. The work of each candidate in the honors program will be reviewed at the completion of the junior year by the Departmental Honors Committee.

Students not meeting the above-stated standards at that time may be precluded from continuing in the program for the senior year. Students who remain below the stated standards throughout their senior year will not be eligible for a degree with Honors.

After completion of the above requirements, the records of the candidate will be reviewed by the Departmental Honors Committee who shall recommend, to the department, candidates for the degree with honors in psychology.

Combined B.A./M.S. Programs

The combined B.A./M.S. programs in psychology/counseling and psychology/rehabilitation counseling provide an opportunity for students of recognized academic ability and educational maturity to fulfill integrated requirements of undergraduate and master's degree programs from the beginning of their junior year. Carefully designed programs can permit students to earn the B.A. and M.S. degrees within nine semesters and a summer session.

The combined programs require a minimum of 162 credits, of which at least 54 must be graduate credits. In qualifying for the B.A., students must meet all University and college requirements, including the requirements of the undergraduate major described previously, the University minor requirement, the minimum 90-credit liberal arts and sciences requirement, the general education requirements, and residency requirements. In qualifying for the M.S., students must meet all University and college requirements as outlined in the Graduate Bulletin, including completion of a minimum of 54 graduate credits and any other conditions such as a research seminar, thesis, comprehensive examination, professional experience, and residency requirements. Up to 12 graduate credits may be applied simultaneously to both the B.A. and M.S. programs.

Students are considered as undergraduates until completion of 120 graduation credits and satisfactory completion of all B.A. requirements. Upon meeting B.A. requirements, students are automatically considered as graduate students.

Students may be admitted to the combined degree programs at the beginning of their junior year, or after the successful completion of 56 credits, but no later than the accumulation of 100 credits. A cumulative grade point average of 3.20 or higher and three supportive letters of recommendation from faculty are required for consideration.

Courses

A Psy 101M Introduction to Psychology (3)
General Education: SS
The basic methods and points of view in the scientific study of human behavior. Topics include biological bases of behavior, personality organization, intelligence, motivation, emotions, learning, and social relations. For psychology majors completing their major requirements as outlined in this bulletin or subsequent editions, A Psy 101M is restricted to A-E grading after matriculation at Albany.

A Psy 102M Advanced Introduction to Psychology (4)
General Education: SS
Same topics as A Psy 101M, but topics are covered in greater detail. Three class periods and one discussion-laboratory section per week. This course is intended for students who have more than average interest in psychology and who are considering becoming psychology majors. Only one of A Psy 101 or 102 may be taken for credit.

A Psy 203 Psychology of Child Development (3)
The genesis of various behavior forms; social, emotional, and intellectual development in contemporary society; the relationship between childhood experience and personality development. Prerequisite(s): A Psy 101M.

A Psy 210 Statistical Methods in Psychology (3)
Methods of analyzing quantitative data in psychology and the behavioral sciences. The relation of each of the various methods to the design of experiments. For psychology majors completing their major requirements as outlined in this bulletin or subsequent editions, A Psy 210 is restricted to A-E grading after matriculation at Albany. Prerequisite(s): A Psy 101M.

A Psy 211 Experimental Psychology (3)
Topics of psychological research, with emphasis on the manipulation and control of variables, reducing error variance, internal and external validity, the elimination of confounding factors, and social-psychological aspects of experiments. Discussion includes selected topics in the philosophy of science, logical inference, hypothesis testing, theory construction and ethics. For psychology majors completing their major requirements as outlined in this bulletin or subsequent editions, A Psy 211 is restricted to A-E grading after matriculation at Albany. Prerequisite(s): A Psy 101M and 210.

A Psy 214 Introduction to Biopsychology and Behavioral Neuroscience (3)
An introduction to basic nervous system function and its control of behavior. Examination of the contribution of the field of neuroscience to understanding both normal and abnormal behavior. Topics will include anatomical, neurochemical, physiological, developmental and endocrine aspects of neurobehavioral function. Prerequisite(s): A Psy 101M.

A Psy 270 Social Psychology (3)
The relation between the individual and the group, the influence of culture and of institutions on human personality, the nature and types of leadership, factors in the development of social attitudes, the psychology of mass movements and of social decisions. Prerequisite(s): A Psy 101M.

A Psy 297 Directed Study in Psychology (3)
Provides an opportunity for a sophomore to work on a project under the supervision of a faculty member. Open to majors and nonmajors. May be repeated for credit. A Psy 297Z is the writing intensive version of A Psy 297. A maximum of 3 credits in independent study courses (A Psy 297/297Z, 397/397Z, or 497Z) may be applied to major credit, but may not be used to satisfy the 300-or-above requirement. Applicant must present a statement which defines the research, lists resources, provides method(s) of evaluating student, and bears the approval by signature of the faculty supervisor. Prerequisite(s): A Psy 101M and permission of instructor. S/U graded

A Psy 297Z Directed Study in Psychology (3)
General Education: WI
May be repeated for credit. A Psy 297Z is the writing intensive version of A Psy 297. A maximum of 3 credits in independent study courses (A Psy 297/297Z, 397, or 497Z) may be applied to major credit, but may not be used to satisfy the 300-or-above requirement. Applicant must present a statement which defines the research, lists resources, provides method(s) of evaluating student, and bears the approval by signature of the faculty supervisor. Prerequisite(s): A Psy 101M and permission of instructor. S/U graded

A Psy 301 (= A Lin 301) Introduction to Cognitive Science (3)
Cognitive science investigates the nature of the human mind and cuts across several disciplines (e.g., psychology, computer science, philosophy, linguistics). This course examines the approaches these disciplines use to promote our understanding of various mental phenomena (e.g., perceiving, reasoning, production and comprehension of language, memory). Only one of A Lin 301, A Phi 301 & A Psy 301 may be taken for credit. May not be offered during 1999-2000.

A Psy 310 History of Psychology (3)
A critical analysis of basic writings which have contributed to the historical development of psychology as a science. A Psy 310Z is the writing intensive version of 310; only one may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): A Psy 101M. May not be offered during 1999-2000.

A Psy 310Z History of Psychology (3)
General Education: WI
A Psy 310Z is the writing intensive version of 310; only one may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): A Psy 101M. May not be offered during 1999-2000.

A Psy 314 Advanced Biopsychology and Behavioral Neuroscience (3)
The role of physiological mechanisms in behavioral processes. Detailed examination of the involvement of biological systems in feeding and drinking, sexual behavior, sleep and arousal, learning and memory, psychopathology and psychopharmacology. Prerequisite(s): A Psy 214 or permission of instructor.

A Psy 315 Biological Bases of Behavior Laboratory (1)
Through demonstration and experimentation, students will explore topics of current research interest to the Biopsychology faculty. Manipulation of brain systems and quantification of behavioral outcomes will be emphasized. Prerequisite(s): A Psy 314 and permission of instructor. May not be offered during 1999-2000.

A Psy 327 Personality (3)
Biological and social determinants of personality and its development; methods of studying personality; the various systems of psychology and their interpretations of personality structure. Prerequisite(s): A Psy 101M.

A Psy 333 Childhood Behavior Disorders (3)
Survey of the behavior disorders of childhood. including conduct disorders, pervasive developmental disorders, and other childhood problems that are of concern to those who work with children. Prerequisite(s): A Psy 101M and 203.

A Psy 338 Abnormal Psychology (3)
Survey of the behavior disorders, including the psychoses, psychoneuroses, mental deficiencies, and other forms of psychopathology. A Psy 338Z is the writing intensive version of A Psy 338; only one may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): A Psy 101M, and 203 or 327.

A Psy 338Z Abnormal Psychology (3)
General Education: WI
A Psy 338Z is the writing intensive version of A Psy 338; only one may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): A Psy 101M, and 203 or 327.

A Psy 339Z Psychological Disorders: Psychopathology and Psychotherapy (3)
General Education: WI
Advanced course in psychopathology and behavior change reviewing principle psychological disorders in terms of diagnosis, assessment, and treatment with new specific therapies, both drug and psychological. This will be a writing-intensive course where students will participate in a self-change process, writing up the results. Prerequisite(s): A Psy 338 and permission of instructor. May not be offered during 1999-2000.

A Psy 340 The Psychology of Human Sexuality (3)
In-depth coverage of research and theory on: biological and social causes of sex differences in behavior, attraction and love, marriage and alternatives, sexual behavior, personality variables relating to sexual responsiveness, sexual dysfunction, sexual deviations, effects of erotica, and birth control. A Psy 340Z is the writing intensive version of A Psy 340; only one may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): A Psy 101M.

A Psy 340Z The Psychology of Human Sexuality (3)
General Education: WI
A Psy 340Z is the writing intensive version of Psy 340; only one may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): A Psy 101M.

A Psy 341 Industrial/Organizational Psychology (3)
Survey of theory, research, and applications in major topical areas of industrial/organizational psychology. Topics include work motivation, job satisfaction, performance appraisal, leadership, personnel selection, training and development, communication, psychological testing, and organization development. A Psy 341Z is the writing intensive version of A Psy 341; only one may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): A Psy 101M; 210 or equivalent statistics course approved by the instructor, or permission of instructor.

A Psy 341Z Industrial/ Organizational Psychology (3)
General Education: WI
A Psy 341Z is the writing intensive version of A Psy 341; only one may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): A Psy 101M; 210 or equivalent statistics course approved by the instructor, or permission of instructor.

A Psy 365 Psychology and Language (3)
Introduction to problems of linguistic behavior; psychological aspects of phonology, syntax, and semantics; theoretical interpretations of language behavior; relationship of language to cognitive processes; study of communication. Prerequisite(s): A Psy 101M and permission of instructor.

A Psy 370 Human Aggression (3)
Examination of biological, psychoanalytic, and social-psychological approaches to the scientific study of aggression. Application of scientific explanation for understanding such social problems as child and spouse abuse, homicide, rape, racial and ethnic hatreds, and war. A Psy 370Z is the writing intensive version of A Psy 370; only one may be taken for credit. The former A Psy 470 does not yield writing intensive credit. Prerequisite(s): 6 credits in psychology.

A Psy 370Z Human Aggression (3)
General Education: WI
A Psy 370Z is the writing intensive version of A Psy 370; only one may be taken for credit. The former A Psy 470 does not yield writing intensive credit. Prerequisite(s): 6 credits in psychology.

A Psy 380 Learning (3)
Analysis of basic problems in learning. Consideration of data resulting from human and animal experimentation. A Psy 380Z is the writing intensive version of A Psy 380; only one may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): A Psy 210 and 211; or permission of instructor.

A Psy 380Z Learning (3)
General Education: WI
A Psy 380Z is the writing intensive version of A Psy 380; only one may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): A Psy 210 and 211; or permission of instructor.

A Psy 381 Memory and Cognition (3)
Examination of both basic and complex information processing skills of humans. Topics include sensory memory, selective attention, pattern recognition, coding processes, short-term and long-term memory performance, theories of recognition and recall, and theories of semantic memory. Prerequisite(s): A Psy 101M and 380 or 380Z.

A Psy 382 Sensation and Perception (3)
Consideration of biological and psychophysical aspects of sensory systems and the processes by which organisms process sensory information and organize their perceptual worlds. Human perception will be stressed. A Psy 382Z is the writing intensive version of A Psy 382; only one may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): A Psy 211 or permission of instructor.

A Psy 382Z Sensation and Perception (3)
General Education: WI
A Psy 382Z is the writing intensive version of A Psy 382; only one may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): A Psy 211 or permission of instructor.

A Psy 385 Evolutionary Psychology (3)
Review of the genetic, ecological, and adaptive correlates of behavior. Topics include the comparative development of higher mental processes, aggression, anti-predator behaviors, biological constraints on learning, and behavior genetics, with emphasis on animal behavior and evolution as a model for understanding human behavior. Prerequisite(s): A Psy 101M.

A Psy 386 Psychology of Aging (3)
Theoretical assumptions of the aging process; aging as it affects various psychological functions and associated social-psychological processes; implications for social and institutional policy. A Psy 386Z is the writing intensive version of A Psy 386; only one may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): A Psy 101M and 203. May not be offered during 1999-2000.

A Psy 386Z Psychology of Aging (3)
General Education: WI
A Psy 386Z is the writing intensive version of A Psy 386; only one may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): A Psy 101M and 203.

A Psy 387 Behavior Genetics (3)
Examination of the role which heredity plays in individual differences in behavior, and the mechanisms by which these influences operate. Emphasis on the role of genetics in development of the organism and its behavior. Prerequisite(s): 9 credits in psychology including A Psy 101M and A Psy 210; or permission of instructor. May not be offered during 1999-2000.

A Psy 388 Introduction to Psychopharmacology (3)
Overview of the principles of psycho- pharmacology as relevant to drug use; the biological, neurochemical and physiological mechanisms underlying the actions of drugs; psychiatric medications and their therapeutic actions and associated toxicities; and the history, consequences and complexity of drug use and abuse. Prerequisite(s): A Psy 214. May not be offered during 1999-2000.

A Psy 390Z Research Methodology (3)
General Education: WI
Research methods used in psychology. Literature review, development of hypotheses and appropriate designs, data collection, selection of analyses, interpretation of results, and writing of research reports in APA format. Recommended for psychology majors who intend to pursue graduate study. Prerequisite(s): A Psy 101M, 210, and previous credit or concurrent enrollment in A Psy 211; and at least one of A Psy 270 or A Psy 310 through 387. May not be offered during 1999-2000.

A Psy 397 Directed Research in Psychology (3)
Provides the opportunity for a junior to work on a research project under the supervision of a faculty member. Open to majors and nonmajors. May be repeated for up to a total of 6 credits. A Psy 397Z is the writing intensive version of A Psy 397. A maximum of 3 credits in independent study courses (A Psy 297/297Z, 397/397Z, or 497Z) may be applied to major credit, but may not be used to satisfy the 300-or-above requirement. Each applicant must present a statement of the intended project which clearly defines the problem and/or topic, lists resources for the project, provides the basis of student evaluation, and bears the approval by signature of the faculty adviser. Prerequisite(s): A Psy 210 and 211 and permission of instructor. S/U graded.

A Psy 397Z Directed Research in Psychology (3)
General Education: WI
May be repeated for up to a total of 6 credits. A Psy 397Z is the writing intensive version of A Psy 397. A maximum of 3 credits in independent study courses (A Psy 297/297Z, 397/397Z, or 497Z) may be applied to major credit, but may not be used to satisfy the 300-or-above requirement. Each applicant must present a statement of the intended project which clearly defines the problem and/or topic, lists resources for the project, provides the basis of student evaluation, and bears the approval by signature of the faculty adviser. Prerequisite(s): A Psy 210 and 211 and permission of instructor. S/U graded.

A Psy 399 Honors Seminar (3)
Seminar specifically designed for students admitted to the department's honors program. The course involves discussion of design problems in a particular psychological context, outlining ways in which psychological science progresses, from the generation of hypotheses to the interpretation of information gathered and design and analysis. Discussion will also follow a written evaluation, against a number of explicit desiderata, of a paper presented by a member of the group, or one from the literature, or one from a member of the faculty. Ethical issues will also be considered, specifically those that arise from performance of research using human subjects. Prerequisite(s): admission to the department's honors program.

A Psy 414 Human Neuropsychology (3)
Evaluation of the functions of the human brain. Basic brain-behavior relationships are examined from both brain-impaired populations and nonpatient groups. A Psy 414Z is the writing intensive version of A Psy 414; only one may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): A Psy 314 or permission of instructor. May not be offered during 1999-2000.

A Psy 414Z Human Neuropsychology (3)
General Education: WI
A Psy 414Z is the writing intensive version of A Psy 414; only one may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): A Psy 314 or permission of instructor.

A Psy 450 Selected Topics in Psychology (3)
Selected topics from the current literature bearing on issues that define the specified fields. Specific areas to be announced at time of offering. May be repeated once for credit. A Psy 450Z is the writing intensive version of A Psy 450. Prerequisite(s): A Psy 210 and 211 and permission of instructor.

A Psy 450Z Selected Topics in Psychology (3)
General Education: WI
May be repeated once for credit. A Psy 450Z is the writing intensive version of A Psy 450. Prerequisite(s): A Psy 210 and 211 and permission of instructor.

A Psy 497Z (formerly A Psy 497) Independent Study and Research (3-6)
General Education: WI
Survey of the research literature and/or conduct of a research project on a selected methodological, theoretical, or applied problem. Each student must have a faculty adviser. Open to majors and nonmajors. May be repeated for credit. A maximum of 3 credits in independent study courses (A Psy 297, 397, or 497Z) may be applied to major credit, but may not be used to satisfy the 300-or-above requirement. Each applicant must present a statement of the intended project which clearly defines the problem and/or topic, lists resources for the project, provides the basis of student evaluation, and bears the approval by signature of the faculty adviser. The former A Psy 497 does not yield writing intensive credit. Prerequisite(s): A Psy 101M and 12 additional credits in psychology and permission of instructor; statement of the intended project and a study plan; A Psy 210 and 211 recommended. S/U graded.

A Psy 499 Honors Project in Psychology (3)
The design, conduct, analysis, interpretation, and write-up of a research project under the supervision of a faculty mentor. Open to Honors Program students only. Each applicant must present a full proposal of the intended project. May be repeated once for credit. A Psy 499Z is the writing intensive version of A Psy 499. Prerequisite(s): A Psy 399 and permission of the chair.

A Psy 499Z Honors Project in Psychology (3)
General Education: WI
May be repeated once for credit. A Psy 499Z is the writing intensive version of A Psy 499. Prerequisite(s): A Psy 399 and permission of the chair.