The Psychology Major at Russell Sage College

Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology

CORE: 14 credits These courses are all required, but are taken across the four years. PSY 101 is a prerequisite for all subsequent psychology courses (except PSY 207); PSY 207 is a prerequisite for PSY 333. PSY 375 and PSY 409 are generally taken in the junior year.

PSY 101 Introduction to Psychology 3
PSY 207 Statistics with Computer Applications 3
PSY 333 Experimental Psychology 4
PSY 375 Proseminar in Psychology 1
PSY 409 History & Systems of Psychology 3

NORMAL AND ABNORMAL PATTERNS OF DEVELOPMENT: 6 credits

NOTE: Because of substantial overlap, students may not take both PSY 202 and PSY 203 or PSY 202 and PSY 204. They may, however, take both PSY 203 and PSY 204 which provides the lifespan perspective of PSY 202 but in greater detail.

Mother and baby
A mother watches her baby play, while a father admires his baby's new trick. You'll learn to do careful observations in Psy 202,203, or 204.P1010072.JPG


PSY 202 Human Development 3
PSY 203 Child Psychology 3
PSY 204 Adolescent and Adult Psychology 3

PSY 308 Abnormal Psychology* 3
(*A developmental course MUST be taken prior to PSY 308)

BASIC ASPECTS: (Choose a minimum of two courses) 6 credits

PSY 215 Biopsychology 3 Lucy the cat is fearful
PSY 301 Social Psychology 3
PSY 313 Learning 3
PSY 317 Motivation 3
PSY 406 Personality 3
PSY 440 Cognition 3

In PSY 215 you'll learn the biological underpinnings of emotions.

INSTRUMENTATION AND SPECIALIZED INQUIRY: (Choose a minimum of two courses) 6 credits

PSY 206 Educational Psychology 3
PSY 237 Principles and Applications of Language 3
PSY 304 Counseling 3
PSY 311 Psychology of Disability 3
PSY 321 Psychology of Women 3
PSY 324 Group Counseling 3
PSY 326 Health Psychology 3
PSY 348 Special Topics in Psychology 3
PSY 407 Internship 3 or more

CAPSTONE: (Students may choose to take Psy 403, in which they will write a literature review on a topic of their choice, using the knowledge and skills acquired from the major, or, if invited by the department, undertake an Honors Research Project, a two-course sequence of empirical research under the guidance of a faculty research adviser, selected by the student) 3 credits

Senior Julie Cunningham (R) poses with her Faculty Research Adviser, Dr. McIntyre. Julie's Honors Project was on Runners' Flow. What will YOU study?

PSY 403 Senior Seminar 3 Julie C and Julie M

or

PSY 410-411 Honors Research 6

Total credits: 35 credits

NOTE:   New York State requires that candidates for a bachelor's degree complete 120 credits, which includes the major, general education requirements, and electives.