Psychology

[ graduate program | courses | faculty ]

1533 Mandler Hall
http://psychology.ucsd.edu

The Undergraduate Program

Major Programs

The department offers two degree programs: bachelor of arts (BA) and bachelor of science (BS). We offer courses in all major areas of experimental psychology, with emphasis in behavior analysis, clinical psychology, cognitive psychology and cognitive neuropsychology, developmental psychology, human information processing, neuroscience and behavior, psychopathology, sensation and perception, and social psychology. The department emphasizes research in the experimental and theoretical analysis of human and animal behavior, and the study of the mind. Students who major in psychology can expect to develop a knowledge of a broad range of content areas, as well as basic skills in experimental and analytic procedures. Once a student has decided upon a major in psychology, he or she is highly encouraged to consult with the Psychology Student Affairs Office.

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.

Prerequisites for the BA

Experimental psychology uses the tools and knowledge of science: calculus, probability theory, computer science, chemistry, biology, physics, and statistics. Accordingly, students in upper-division courses must have an adequate background in these topics. Prerequisites for individual courses are specified in the catalog.

The prerequisites for the bachelor of arts in psychology are as follows:

  1. Three lower-division, general-introductory natural science courses from the listing of the approved UC San Diego courses below or their equivalent. (The three courses can be distributed in any manner.)
    • Biology: 1, 2, 3, 10, 20, 24, 26
    • Chemistry: 4, 6A, 6B, 6C, 11, 12, 13
    • Physics: Any of the 1 and 2 series, 10, 11
  2. Three formal skills courses, at least one of which must be calculus. The other two courses may consist of any combination of courses in calculus or logic. Acceptable calculus courses at UC San Diego include Mathematics 10A-B-C, 20A-B-C. Acceptable logic courses at UC San Diego include Philosophy 10 and 12.
  3. One introduction to computer programming course. Acceptable courses at UC San Diego are CSE 3, CSE 5A, CSE 5B, CSE 8A, CSE 8B, CSE 11, CSE 12, MAE 5, MAE 9, MAE 10, or CogSci 18. Other courses will be considered by petition only if they are primarily concerned with programming in a high-level computer language.

    Note: All courses listed under 1–3 may be taken Pass/Not Pass.

  4. One quarter of statistics. Acceptable courses at UC San Diego are Psychology 60, Economics 120A, Sociology 60, Mathematics 11, 181, or 183, BIEB 100, Cognitive Science 14, or equivalent. Statistics MUST be taken for a letter grade.

Students should complete these lower-division requirements by the end of the sophomore year.

Major Requirements for the BA

A minimum of twelve upper-division courses in psychology is required. Five must be taken from the core courses (Psychology 101–106), and at least seven from the upper-division elective courses. A minimum of six upper-division psychology courses must be taken at UC San Diego. These courses must be taken for a letter grade; courses taken as Pass/Not Pass prior to declaring psychology as a major cannot be used to satisfy the major requirement. Excluded from credit toward the major are Psychology 199 (Special Studies); however, Psychology 195 (Undergraduate Instructional Apprentice) can be credited once. Majors must obtain departmental approval for electives taken outside the department. A grade point average of at least 2.0 in the upper-division courses of the major is required for graduation.

Prerequisites for the BS

In general, the lower-division courses required for the BS degree in psychology overlap with the BA major. However, to fulfill the formal skills, we require the mathematics sequence 20A-B-C.

Major Requirements for the BS

A minimum of twelve upper-division courses is required. Five of these courses must come from the core courses (Psychology 101–106). The seven elective courses may be chosen from any of the upper-division courses listed for the psychology program at UC San Diego. BS students must choose an area of concentration (behavior analysis, clinical psychology, cognitive psychology, and cognitive neuropsychology, developmental psychology, neuroscience and behavior, sensation and perception, or social psychology), and three courses of the seven electives must be in the chosen area of concentration.

In addition to the twelve upper-division courses, all BS degree students must complete course(s) to fulfill the research experience requirement. Research experience courses may comprise either one laboratory course or two Psychology 199 courses (Independent Study). If two Psychology 199 courses are taken to fulfill this requirement, they must be directed by the faculty within the chosen area of concentration and culminate in a research paper approved by the adviser and submitted to the Psychology Student Affairs Office no later than the graduating quarter. The 199 sequence should be taken with the same faculty member.

Upper-Division Course Requirements for the BS

Core Courses, of which five have to be taken for any area of concentration:

PSYC 101. Intro to Developmental Psychology

PSYC 102. Intro to Sensation and Perception

PSYC 103. Intro to Principles of Behavior

PSYC 104. Intro to Social Psychology

PSYC 105. Intro to Cognitive Psychology

PSYC 106. Intro to Physiological Psychology

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).

Concentration in 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).

Courses

PSYC 109. Lab/Applied Behavior Analysis

PSYC 120. Learning and Motivation

PSYC 121. Lab/Operant Psychology*

*to be taken concurrently with PSYC 120

PSYC 132. Hormones and Behavior

PSYC 134. Eating Disorders

PSYC 135. Evolutionary Principles/Animal Social Behavior

PSYC 140. Lab/Human Behavior*

*to be taken concurrently with PSYC 120

PSYC 143. Control and Analysis of Human Behavior

PSYC 154. Behavior Modification

PSYC 168. Psychological Disorders of Childhood

PSYC 171. Neurobiology Learning and Memory

PSYC 184. Choice and Self Control

PSYC 188. Impulse Control Disorders

PSYC 199. Independent Study courses in this field must culminate in a research paper to fulfill lab requirement (but do not count as upper-division psychology courses toward the major).

Concentration in Neuroscience and Behavior

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

Courses

PSYC 107. Lab/Substance Abuse Research

PSYC 114. Lab/Psychophysiological Perspectives on the Social Mind

PSYC 125. Clinical Neuropsychology and Assessment

PSYC 129. Logic of Perception

PSYC 132. Hormones and Behavior

PSYC 133. Circadian Rhythms—Biological Clocks

PSYC 134. Eating Disorders

PSYC 135. Evolutionary Principles/Animal Social Behavior

PSYC 150. Cognitive Neuroscience of Vision

PSYC 159. Physiological Basis of Perception

PSYC 169. Brain Damage and Mental Function

PSYC 170. Introduction to Cognitive Neuropsychology

PSYC 171. Neurobiology Learning and Memory

PSYC 179. Drugs, Addiction, and Mental Disorders

PSYC 181. Drugs and Behavior

PSYC 188. Impulse Control Disorders

PSYC 189. Brain, Behavior, and Evolution

PSYC 190. Parenting

PSYC 199. Independent Study courses in this field must culminate in a research paper to fulfill lab requirement (but do not count as upper-division psychology courses toward the major).

Concentration in Clinical Psychology

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

Courses

PSYC 107. Lab/Substance Abuse Research

PSYC 109. Lab/Applied Behavior Analysis

PSYC 124. Intro to Clinical Psychology

PSYC 125. Clinical Neuropsychology and Assessment

PSYC 132. Hormones and Behavior

PSYC 133. Circadian Rhythms—Biological Clocks

PSYC 134. Eating Disorders

PSYC 151. Test and Measurement

PSYC 154. Behavior Modification

PSYC 155. Social Psychology and Medicine

PSYC 163. Abnormal Psychology

PSYC 168. Psychological Disorders in Children

PSYC 172. Human Sexuality

PSYC 184. Choice and Self-Control

PSYC 188. Impulse Control Disorders

PSYC 190. Parenting

PSYC 199. Independent Study courses in this field must culminate in a research paper to fulfill lab requirement (but do not count as upper-division psychology courses toward the major).

Concentration in Cognitive Psychology and Cognitive Neuropsychology

  1. The cognitive area studies reasoning, thinking, language, judgment, and decision making in adults and children (including attention, memory, and visual and auditory information processing).
  2. The cognitive neuropsychology area studies cognitive processes and their implementation in the brain. Cognitive neuroscientists use methods drawn from brain damage, neuropsychology, cognitive psychology, functional neuroimaging, and computer modeling.
Courses

PSYC 108. Introduction to Cognitive Neuroscience

PSYC 114. Lab/Psychophysiological Perspectives on the Social Mind

PSYC 115. Lab/Cognitive Psychology

PSYC 118. Lab 118A-B/Language Processing

PSYC 119. Lab/Psycholinguistics

PSYC 128. Psychology of Reading

PSYC 129. Logic of Perception

PSYC 137. Social Cognition

PSYC 141. Evolution and Human Nature

PSYC 142. Psychology of Consciousness

PSYC 144. Memory and Amnesia

PSYC 145. Psychology of Language

PSYC 146. Language and Conceptual Development

PSYC 148. Psychology of Judgment and Decision

PSYC 150. Cognitive Neuroscience of Vision

PSYC 152. Concepts of Intelligence

PSYC 156. Cognitive Development in Infancy

PSYC 161. Introduction to Engineering Psychology

PSYC 170. Introduction to Cognitive Neuropsychology

PSYC 171. Neurobiology Learning and Memory

PSYC 187. Development of Social Cognition

PSYC 191. Psychology of Sleep

PSYC 199. Independent Study courses in this field must culminate in a research paper to fulfill lab requirement (but do not count as upper-division psychology courses toward the major).

Concentration in Developmental Psychology

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

Courses

PSYC 109. Lab/Applied Behavior Analysis

PSYC 114. Lab/Psychophysiological Perspectives on the Social Mind

PSYC 133. Circadian Rhythms—Biological Clocks

PSYC 135. Evolutionary Principles/Animal Social Behavior

PSYC 136. Cognitive Development

PSYC 141. Evolution and Human Nature

PSYC 145. Psychology of Language

PSYC 152. Concepts of Intelligence

PSYC 156. Cognitive Development in Infancy

PSYC 158. Interpersonal Relationships

PSYC 168. Psychological Disorder of Childhood

PSYC 172. Human Sexuality

PSYC 180. Adolescence

PSYC 185. Applied Developmental Psychology

PSYC 187. The Development of Social Cognition

PSYC 190. Parenting

PSYC 199. Independent Study courses in this field must culminate in a research paper to fulfill lab requirement (but do not count as upper-division psychology courses toward the major).

(For additional qualifying courses, see the department’s Student Affairs Office, 1533 Mandler Hall.)

Concentration in 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 are used to test models of sensory or perceptual processes. Processes of particular interest include color vision, motion perception, and auditory illusions and paradox.

Courses

PSYC 125. Clinical Neuropsychology and Assessment

PSYC 128. Psychology of Reading

PSYC 129. Logic of Perception

PSYC 138. Sound and Music Perception

PSYC 150. Cognitive Neuroscience of Vision

PSYC 159. Physiological Basis of Perception

PSYC 169. Brain Damage and Mental Functions

PSYC 182. Allusions and the Brain

PSYC 199. Independent Study courses in this field must culminate in a research paper to fulfill lab requirement (but do not count as upper-division psychology courses toward the major).

Concentration in Social Psychology

This area studies 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.

Courses

PSYC 114. Lab/Psychophysiological Perspectives on the Social Mind

PSYC 130. Delay of Gratification

PSYC 135. Evolutionary Principles/Animal Social Behavior

PSYC 137. Social Cognition

PSYC 139. Social Psychology of Sports

PSYC 141. Evolution and Human Nature

PSYC 149. Social Psychology of Theatre

PSYC 152. Concepts of Intelligence

PSYC 153. Psychology of Emotion

PSYC 155. Social Psychology and Medicine

PSYC 157. Happiness

PSYC 158. Interpersonal Relationships

PSYC 160. Groups

PSYC 162. Psychology and the Law

PSYC 172. Human Sexuality

PSYC 175. Psychology and the Arts

PSYC 178. Industrial Organization Psychology

PSYC 186. Psychology and Social Policy

PSYC 187. Development of Social Cognition

PSYC 190. Parenting

PSYC 199. Independent Study courses in this field must culminate in a research paper to fulfill lab requirement (but do not count as upper-division psychology courses toward the major).

Honors Program

Students are encouraged to participate in the department’s honors program. It is strongly recommended for all students interested in graduate school. A minimum overall GPA of 3.3 (3.5 for transfer students, based on transfer GPA) is a prerequisite. Admission is granted by application in the fall quarter of the junior year (Deadline: October 31). This program is composed of the following courses.

  1. Junior Year

    Winter:

    • Junior Honors Research Seminar (PSYC 110)
    • Advanced Statistics and Research Methods (PSYC 111A)

    Spring:

    • Advanced Statistics and Research Methods (PSYC 111B)
  2. Senior Year: A yearlong independent research project (PSYC 194-A-B-C) under the sponsorship of a faculty adviser. This research culminates in an honors thesis.
  3. At least one laboratory course (Psychology 107, 109, 114, 115, 118A, 118B, 119, 120/121, 120/140) or, upon petitioning, two Psychology 199, Independent Study courses culminating in a research paper accepted by the adviser (199s, however, do not count as upper-division credit toward the major).

Successful completion of the Honors Program requires a grade of A- in the Psychology 194 series and a minimum GPA of 3.5 in the upper-division courses taken for the major.

Minor Program

The minor in psychology consists of seven four-unit courses from the Department of Psychology course offerings, of which at least twenty units (five four-unit courses) must be upper division. At least four upper division courses must be taken at UC San Diego for a letter grade. Psychology 199 (Independent Study) may count for one upper-division course toward the minor.

If Psychology 60 (Statistics) is chosen as one of the lower-division courses, it, too, has to be taken for a letter grade. The application for a minor can be obtained from your college. A grade point average of at least 2.0 is required for graduation.

Education Abroad

Students are often able to participate in the UC Education Abroad Program (EAP) and UC San Diego’s Opportunities Abroad Program (OAP) while still making progress toward the major. Students considering this option should discuss their plans with the Psychology Student Affairs Office before going abroad, and courses taken abroad must be approved by the department. Students may only receive credit for up to two core courses (PSYC 101–106) from their courses taken abroad. Information on EAP/OAP is detailed in the Education Abroad Program of the UC San Diego General Catalog. Interested students should contact the Program Abroad Office in the International Center.

Transfer Credit

In general, all introductory courses in experimental psychology are accepted for lower-division credit toward a psychology minor. Lower-division courses covering special topics in psychology (e.g., personal adjustment, human sexuality) will be accepted only if: 1) the student had a general introductory course as a prerequisite, and 2) the student had satisfied this prerequisite before taking the special topics course. Upper-division psychology courses will be evaluated for transfer credit on a course-by-course basis.