Psychology
Overview
Psychology is the scientific study and application of knowledge related to the behavioral and cognitive processes of humans and other animals. Students in the New College psychology program will develop familiarity with existing knowledge of at least four broad subfields within psychology, as well as develop depth of knowledge in an area of their choosing. Classes will provide students with a critical and methodological framework to evaluate this body of existing knowledge, and the statistics, methods, and lab courses will provide multiple opportunities for them to acquire and practice the skills they need to create new knowledge in the field. The program is designed to give students the tools needed to think critically about psychological concepts, whether as careful consumers of scientific information in everyday life or as researchers creating new knowledge in a laboratory. Graduates are able to apply their psychological knowledge and skills having developed greater insight into individual and group behavior.
The Area of Concentration (AOC) in Psychology is designed both for students wishing to pursue graduate work in the field and for students who need to gain skills appropriate for meaningful work. The program includes courses often listed as prerequisites for graduate schools in the discipline as well as an emphasis on critical thinking, clear speaking and writing, project management, data analysis, and fruitful collaboration. The major also provides the breadth characteristic of a liberal arts education.
Labs are offered in five main areas: Developmental Psychology, Cognitive Psychology, Social and Personality Psychology, Biological Psychology, and Neuroscience and Behavior. Topics within each area vary; students can choose between labs that focus on humans, other animals, or comparative labs studying both humans and other animals.
Faculty in Psychology
Michelle Barton, Associate Professor of Psychology
Gordon Bauer, Professor Emeritus/Visiting Professor of Psychology
Kathleen Casto, Assistant Professor of Psychology (On Leave)
Peter Cook, Associate Professor of Psychology
Catherine Cottrell, Associate Professor of Psychology
Heidi Harley, Professor of Psychology/Peg Scripps Buzzelli Chair/Director of Environmental Studies Program
Steven Graham, Associate Professor of Psychology
Requirements for the AOC in Psychology
A minimum of twelve (12) academic units.
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| Introductory Course | |
| Select one of the following: | |
| Motivated Minds | |
| Introductory Psychology Seminar: General* | |
| Introductory Psychology | |
| Introductory Psychology Seminar: Perception and Action* | |
| Introductory Psychology Seminar: The Embodied Mind* | |
| Introductory Psychology Seminar: Social Cognition | |
| Introductory Psychology Seminar: Social Influence* | |
| Introductory Psychology Seminar: The Sensory World of Animals* | |
| Introductory Psychology Seminar: Animal Thinking* | |
| Introductory Psychology Seminar: Memory Development* | |
| Introduction to Psychology Seminar: The Exotic Sensory World of Animals* | |
| Introductory Psychology Seminar: Memories - True, False, and Distorted | |
| Intermediate Courses | |
| Select four of the following: | |
| Behavioral Endocrinology | |
| Educational Psychology from a Developmental Perspective | |
| Psychology of Mental Health | |
| Personality Psychology | |
| Cognitive Psychology | |
| Social Psychology | |
| Biological Psychology | |
| Developmental Psychology | |
| Advanced Courses (Two 2 full units of advanced courses required. Note that 2 mod length courses = 1 full unit; mod length are noted below with **) | |
| Laboratory classes (see next section) can also fulfill the Advanced Class requirement. | |
| You need 2 full units of advanced courses. Note that 2 mod length courses = 1 full unit; mod lengh are noted below with ** | |
| Select two of the following: | |
| Animal Learning (**) | |
| Psychology of Religion | |
| Animal Learning and Cognition: Contemporary Approaches (**) | |
| Intermediate Industrial/Organizational Psychology | |
| The Art of Presenting Psychological Sciences | |
| Neuroscience of Sport and Exercise | |
| Infant and Early Childhood Development Across Cultures | |
| The Curious Child: Seeking Information and Explanations | |
| Neuroscience of Communication and Language | |
| Impression Management (**) | |
| Psychology of Good and Evil (**) | |
| Stigma and Prejudice | |
| Advanced Topics in Cognitive Neuroscience | |
| Positive Psychology | |
| Self and Identity | |
| Biopsychology of Sex, Gender, and Sexual Behavior | |
| Close Relationships | |
| Drugs and Behavior | |
| Humans and Other Animals: Exploration of a Complex Relationship | |
| Humans and Other Animals: Welfare and Emotions | |
| Laboratory Course | |
| Select one of the following: | |
| Animal Behavior Processes Laboratory: Goldfish Learning and Cognition | |
| Laboratory in Comparative Brain Connectivity | |
| Cognitive Laboratory in Parallel Approaches to Facilitating Wellbeing Across Species | |
| fNIRS Neuroimaging | |
| Developmental Psychology Laboratory: Analyzing Conversation | |
| Laboratory in Developmental Psychology | |
| Laboratory in Social and Personality Psychology | |
| Statistics and Methodology | |
| Both the statistics course and the research methods course are required: | |
| Introduction to Applied Statistics 1 | |
| Research Methods in Psychology | |
| Additional Requirements | |
| Both senior seminars are required, along with the thesis and baccalaureate exam: | |
| Psychology Senior Seminar 2 | |
| Psychology Senior Seminar II | |
| Senior Thesis in Psychology and Baccalaureate Exam | |
| Optional Electives | |
| Careers and Graduate Study in Psychology | |
| Animal Personality | |
| Conservation; Psychology: Applications to Marine Mammals and Animal Wellbeing | |
| Advanced Statistics for Psychology | |
| Introduction to Animal Well-Being | |
- 1
Formerly known as PSYC 2100 Introduction to Statistics. Alternatively, the statistics requirement can be filled with Dealing with Data 1 AND Dealing with Data 2 (both terms are required).
- 2
In exceptional circumstances and on a case-by-case basis with prior approval from the student's thesis sponsor, tutorials may be used to fulfill the Senior Seminars requirement.
Requirements for the Joint AOC in Psychology
A minimum of seven and one-half (7.5) academic units.
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| Introductory Course | |
| Select one of the following: | |
| Introductory Psychology Seminar: General* | |
| Introductory Psychology | |
| Introductory Psychology Seminar: Perception and Action* | |
| Introductory Psychology Seminar: The Embodied Mind* | |
| Introductory Psychology Seminar: Social Cognition | |
| Introductory Psychology Seminar: Social Influence* | |
| Introductory Psychology Seminar: The Sensory World of Animals* | |
| Introductory Psychology Seminar: Animal Thinking* | |
| Introductory Psychology Seminar: Memory Development* | |
| Introduction to Psychology Seminar: The Exotic Sensory World of Animals* | |
| Introductory Psychology Seminar: Memories - True, False, and Distorted | |
| Motivated Minds | |
| Intermediate Courses | |
| Select three of the following: | |
| Behavioral Endocrinology | |
| Educational Psychology from a Developmental Perspective | |
| Psychology of Mental Health | |
| Personality Psychology | |
| Cognitive Psychology | |
| Social Psychology | |
| Biological Psychology | |
| Developmental Psychology | |
| Advanced Course | |
| Laboratory classes (see next section) can also fulfill the Advanced Class requirement. | |
| Select one of the following: (You need 1 full unit of an advanced course.*note that 2 mod length courses = 1 full unit; mod length are noted below with *) | |
| Animal Learning (**) | |
| Psychology of Religion | |
| Animal Learning and Cognition: Contemporary Approaches (**) | |
| Intermediate Industrial/Organizational Psychology | |
| The Art of Presenting Psychological Sciences | |
| Neuroscience of Sport and Exercise | |
| Infant and Early Childhood Development Across Cultures | |
| The Curious Child: Seeking Information and Explanations | |
| Neuroscience of Communication and Language | |
| Impression Management (**) | |
| Psychology of Good and Evil (**) | |
| Stigma and Prejudice | |
| Advanced Topics in Cognitive Neuroscience | |
| Positive Psychology | |
| Self and Identity | |
| Biopsychology of Sex, Gender, and Sexual Behavior | |
| Close Relationships | |
| Drugs and Behavior | |
| Humans and Other Animals: Exploration of a Complex Relationship | |
| Humans and Other Animals: Welfare and Emotions | |
| Laboratory Course | |
| Only one module (1/2 academic unit) of lab is required for the Joint AOC, to be negotiated with a sponsor and completed via tutorial. One of the following full-semester labs can also fulfill this requirement but students must then complete the entire semester-long course: | |
| Animal Personality Lab | |
| Animal Behavior Processes Laboratory: Goldfish Learning and Cognition | |
| Laboratory in Comparative Brain Connectivity | |
| Cognitive Laboratory in Parallel Approaches to Facilitating Wellbeing Across Species | |
| fNIRS Neuroimaging | |
| Developmental Psychology Laboratory: Analyzing Conversation | |
| Laboratory in Developmental Psychology | |
| Laboratory in Social and Personality Psychology | |
| Statistics and Methodology | |
| Both the statistics course and the research methods course are required: | |
| Introduction to Applied Statistics 1 | |
| Research Methods in Psychology | |
| Optional Electives | |
| Careers and Graduate Study in Psychology | |
| Intermediate Industrial/Organizational Psychology | |
| Advanced Statistics for Psychology | |
| Introduction to Animal Well-Being | |
- 1
Formerly known as PSYC 2100 Introduction to Statistics. Alternatively, the statistics requirement can be filled with Dealing with Data 1 AND Dealing with Data 2 (both terms are required).
Requirements for a Secondary Field in Psychology
A minimum of six (6) academic units.
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| Introductory Course | |
| Select one of the following: | |
| Introductory Psychology Seminar: General* | |
| Introductory Psychology | |
| Introductory Psychology Seminar: Perception and Action* | |
| Introductory Psychology Seminar: The Embodied Mind* | |
| Introductory Psychology Seminar: Social Cognition | |
| Introductory Psychology Seminar: Social Influence* | |
| Introductory Psychology Seminar: The Sensory World of Animals* | |
| Introductory Psychology Seminar: Animal Thinking* | |
| Introductory Psychology Seminar: Memory Development* | |
| Introduction to Psychology Seminar: The Exotic Sensory World of Animals* | |
| Introductory Psychology Seminar: Memories - True, False, and Distorted | |
| Motivated Minds | |
| Intermediate, Advanced, or Laboratory Courses | |
| Laboratory classes (see next section) can also fulfill the Advanced Class requirement. | |
| Select four of the following: (You need 4 full units of intermediate or advanced courses.*note that 2 mod length courses = 1 full unit; mod length are noted below with *) | |
| Animal Behavior Processes Laboratory: Goldfish Learning and Cognition | |
| Behavioral Endocrinology | |
| Animal Learning (**) | |
| Educational Psychology from a Developmental Perspective | |
| Psychology of Mental Health | |
| Psychology of Religion | |
| Personality Psychology | |
| Cognitive Psychology | |
| Animal Learning and Cognition: Contemporary Approaches (**) | |
| Social Psychology | |
| Biological Psychology | |
| Developmental Psychology | |
| Introduction to Animal Well-Being | |
| Careers and Graduate Study in Psychology | |
| Animal Learning and Cognition: Contemporary Approaches | |
| Intermediate Industrial/Organizational Psychology | |
| The Art of Presenting Psychological Sciences | |
| Neuroscience of Sport and Exercise | |
| The Curious Child: Seeking Information and Explanations | |
| Laboratory in Comparative Brain Connectivity | |
| Neuroscience of Communication and Language | |
| Impression Management (**) | |
| Psychology of Good and Evil (**) | |
| Stigma and Prejudice | |
| Cognitive Laboratory in Parallel Approaches to Facilitating Wellbeing Across Species | |
| Advanced Topics in Cognitive Neuroscience | |
| Positive Psychology | |
| Self and Identity | |
| Biopsychology of Sex, Gender, and Sexual Behavior | |
| Close Relationships | |
| Drugs and Behavior | |
| PSYC 4600 | fNIRS Neuroimaging |
| PSYC 4610 | Developmental Psychology Laboratory: Analyzing Conversation |
| PSYC 4612 | Laboratory in Developmental Psychology |
| Laboratory in Social and Personality Psychology | |
| Humans and Other Animals: Exploration of a Complex Relationship | |
| Humans and Other Animals: Welfare and Emotions | |
| Statistics | |
| Introduction to Applied Statistics 1 | |
| Optional Elective | |
| Advanced Statistics for Psychology | |
- 1
Formerly known as PSYC 2100 Introduction to Statistics. Alternatively, the statistics requirement can be filled with Dealing with Data 1 AND Dealing with Data 2 (both terms are required).
Other Recommended Courses
In order to provide additional breadth and perspective, psychology students are encouraged to take courses in other disciplines that will complement their programs of study. Recommended courses include those from philosophy, mathematics, computer science, biology, physics, anthropology, sociology, political science, and religion.
Representative Senior Theses in Psychology
- Academic Satisfaction in College Students and Relatedness to Instructors, Parents, and Peers
- Associations of Executive Function and Bilingualism to Programming Skills in Children Aged 5-6
- Do Children Who Know More, Care More? Environmental Knowledge and Scope of Justice
- Serial Position Learning in Honeybees
- Recovery From Rape-Related Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
- Synchrony Between a Mother-Calf Pair of Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncates)
- Rhythm Discrimination in the Bottlenose Dolphin
- The Strong and the Silent: Young Men and Emotional Intimacy
- Basic Husbandry Training of Two West Indian Manatees (Trichechus manatus latirostris)
- Exploring the Influence of Language on Pitch Perception: The Tritone Paradox in Spanish-Speaking, English- Speaking and Bilingual Populations