Psychology  {SF State Bulletin 2013 - 2014}

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Psychology

College of Science and Engineering

Dean: Sheldon Axler

 

Department of Psychology

EP 301
Phone: 415-338-2167
Fax: 415-338-2398
E-mail: psych@sfsu.edu
Web Site: http://psychology.sfsu.edu
Chair: Jeffrey Cookston

 

Faculty

Professors: Ben-Zeev, Bunge, Colvin, Cookston, Geisler, Harris, Kim, Lewis, Matsumoto, Miller, Monteiro, Mosier, Paap, Terrell
Associate Professors: Gard, Howell, Morsella, Paik, Smith, Wright
Assistant Professors: Eschleman, Holley, Mello, Rodriguez, Tate, Yoo

 

Programs

B.A. in Psychology

Minor in Psychology

This minor is under review for temporary suspension. Please contact department for further information.

M.A. in Psychology

Concentrations in:

M.S. in Psychology

Concentrations in:

Pupil Personnel Services Credential: School Psychology Designation

 


 

Program Scope

Undergraduate Program

Psychology is a broad field of study and practice comprised of several different yet complementary areas of specialization. The Bachelors of Arts in Psychology is built around a core set of courses in theory and methods and three broad areas of study: basic psychological processes, psychological development and individual differences and social, cultural, organizational, and community contexts. Several themes of common interest extend across these broad areas including an appreciation for cultural and human diversity, ethics and values, a sense of individual empowerment, historical antecedents, critical thinking and the understanding of self and others.

 

The B.A. in Psychology offers a foundation in the analysis and critical evaluation of psychological literature, the communication of psychological concepts and facts both orally and in writing, and the development of psychological research including design, data analysis, measurement, and basic computer operation. Our B.A. degree provides an excellent foundation for work in the community in many fields that involve human relations and behavior. In addition, the undergraduate degree is an excellent preparation for graduate school in all fields of psychology and other behavioral and social sciences as well as for graduate programs in business, law, medicine, and many other professional fields.

 

Honors Thesis

Participation in an honors thesis is strongly recommended for students who plan to go to graduate school in psychology. Students need a written commitment by a psychology department faculty member who will agree to supervise the honors thesis, a 3.5 GPA in all upper division coursework, and senior standing. For more details, contact the Honors Thesis Coordinator.

 

Impaction

The B.A. in Psychology program is impacted. This means that there are more students interested in studying psychology than the program can accommodate. Therefore, entrance into the program is a selective and competitive process. Applications must be received during the application filing period and no later than the November 30 deadline. Admissions decisions will be made in March or April of the following calendar year. Transfer applicants not admitted to the program, but who meet GE and University admissions requirements, will be admitted to their alternate majors. Continuing SF State students not admitted to the program will remain in their current majors

 

Application Filing Periods

Applications for admissions to the psychology major are accepted only during the application filing period for the fall semester: October 1 to November 30 (for admission for the following fall). Applications are not accepted for spring semesters. Applications received outside of the fall semester open filing period will not be considered.

 

Transfer applicants from other colleges must submit an application via CSU Mentor at http://www.csumentor.edu.

 

Continuing SF State students must submit their application form directly to the psychology department.

 

Career Outlook

The undergraduate program provides a foundation of skills and knowledge for careers both outside and inside of psychology. Since most jobs require a well-developed sense of how people function, a degree in psychology is often a desired background for positions in both government and industry. Undergraduate work in psychology includes training to develop the abilities to analyze critically and to understand complex behaviors, to deal with interpersonal problems, and to use research tools.

 

The following are some careers that graduates with bachelor's degrees in psychology have entered.

 

Psychological Research and Development–data analysis assistant; educational research assistant; public opinion poll-taker; research assistant in mental health; research design technician; statistician; survey interviewer.

 

Mental Health and Social Services–alcohol treatment center assistant; child care program assistant; corrections counselor; counseling assistant; counselor, child/adolescent; crisis-center counselor; drug abuse program assistant; psychiatric technician.

 

Business and Government–employment interviewer; human factors assistant; human resources manager; personnel analyst; psychometrist; public relations assistant.

 

Teaching–high school psychology instructor.

 

Graduate Programs and Career Preparation

The psychology department offers a Master of Arts in Psychology with concentrations in Developmental Psychology, Mind, Brain and Behavior, and Social Psychology. The department also offers a Master of Science in Psychology with concentrations in Clinical Psychology, Industrial/Organizational Psychology and School Psychology. Students with master’s degrees in psychology may teach at a community college and may teach as lecturers at four-year colleges and universities. Each concentration has been designed to meet student needs and to qualify students for vocational goals relevant to that concentration. Close liaison between students and advisors is an important feature of every graduate concentration.

 

The Developmental Psychology concentration focuses on life-span development from conception through aging. Major interest areas include social and emotional development, parent-child relations, family processes, sex differences, development across cultures and ethnic minority groups, learning, cognition, and psycholinguistics. The program is appropriate for students who wish to enter doctoral programs, and prepares them for academic, research, and applied careers in the field of child and developmental psychology.

 

The Mind, Brain, and Behavior concentration is for students seeking to become broadly informed and productive research psychologists who will be prepared to enter doctoral programs or perform competently as research associates in diverse areas of psychology. This program offers the opportunity for course work and research in such areas as biofeedback, emotion, physiological psychology, clinical research, program evaluation, psycholinguistics, and cognition. The program also prepares students for teaching in community colleges.

 

The Social Psychology concentration is designed to provide appropriate preparation and experience to students who intend to proceed to doctoral study, as well as to students who intend to develop careers at the master's level in research, in community college teaching, or in applications of social psychology. The program emphasizes achievement of competency in research skills (design, implementation, and interpretation of findings), familiarity with the theoretical and empirical literature of the discipline, and proficiency in application of social psychology to the solution of social problems; e.g., peace and conflict resolution, intergroup relations, and cultural diversity in modern society.

 

The Clinical Psychology concentration is intended to qualify students to provide mental health services in community mental health centers, schools, hospitals, private practice, managed care, and similar careers. The program provides the academic preparations and pre-master's supervised hours required for the State of California Marriage and Family Therapy license.

 

The program with an Industrial-Organizational concentration is designed to qualify students for professional careers in organizational behavior and human resource functions in business, industry, or government; or for doctoral programs in industrial/organizational psychology.

 

By completing the School Psychology concentration and some additional course work and an internship experience, students can qualify for the State of California Pupil Personnel Services Credential with authorization in School Psychology. This preparation qualifies students for a career as a School Psychologist in California public and private schools.

 

Bachelor of Arts in Psychology

Prerequisite Core

PSY 200: General Psychology (or equivalent) is a prerequisite for all upper division psychology courses. PSY 171: Quantitative Reasoning (or any quantitative reasoning course) is a prerequisite for PSY 371: Psychological Statistics. ENG 214: Second Year Written Composition (or a course that satisfies the lower division writing requirement) is a prerequisite for both PSY 305 GW: Contemporary Issues in Psychology – GWAR and PSY 400: Introduction to Research in Psychology. PSY 371: Psychological Statistics is a prerequisite for all non-GE upper division psychology courses.

 

Degree Requirements

The major includes 14 units of core curriculum, 18 units of basic courses, and 9 units of electives. Because of high demand, enrollment priority is given to psychology major students in all upper division psychology courses; courses numbered 300 and above are not open to freshman.

  • Psychology majors must take PSY 200, PSY 305 GW, PSY 371, and PSY 400 for a letter grade and achieve a grade of C or better in all four courses.
  • Majors must achieve a grade of CR in PSY 303 and PSY 690.

 

Writing Competence

Good writing skills are necessary for success in the major. Students whose writing needs improvement should work on their skills by taking additional composition courses or by completing writing tutorials. Psychology majors who successfully complete PSY 305 GW will have satisfied the University Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR).

 

Courses are 3 units unless otherwise indicated. On-line course descriptions are available.

 

Core Curriculum- all courses are required

Course Title Units
PSY 200 General Psychology 3
PSY 303 Psychology: The Major and the Profession (online) 1
PSY 305 GW Contemporary Issues in Psychology - GWAR 3
PSY 371 Psychological Statistics 3
PSY 400 Introduction to Research in Psychology 3
PSY 690 Future Directions for Psychology Majors (online) 1

 

Basic Courses: Choose two courses from each of the following Areas 1 through 3:

Course Title Units
Area 1: Basic Psychological Processes 6
Area 2: Psychological Development and Individual Differences 6
Area 3: Social, Cultural. Organizational and CommunityContexts 6

Electives: Choose 3 elective courses from courses in Areas 1 - 3 and/or from additional upper-division psychology courses: 9 units

Total units required for major: 41

 

Areas of Study

Area 1: Basic Psychological Processes

Course Title
PSY 432 Cognitive Development: Language, Thinking and Perception
PSY 492 Perception
PSY 493 Motivation
PSY 494 Cognitive Psychology
PSY 496 Cognitive Science: Models of Human Psychology
PSY 498 Cognitive Neuroscience: Psychological Models
PSY 531 Psycholinguistics
PSY 581 Physiological Psychology I
PSY 582 Physiological Psychology II
PSY 586 Physiological Psychology Laboratory I

 

Area 2: Psychological Development and Individual Differences

Course Title
PSY 430 Adolescent Psychology
PSY 431* Developmental Psychology
PSY 433 Social, Emotional and Personality Development
PSY 435 Behavior Problems of Children
PSY 436 The Development of Femaleness and Maleness (4)
PSY 442 Health Psychology
PSY 451 Theories of Personality
PSY 452 Abnormal Psychology: Minor Variants of Personality
PSY 491 Learning
PSY 521 Introduction to Clinical Psychology
PSY 630 The Psychology of Aging (4)

 

Area 3: Social, Cultural, Organizational and Community Contexts

Course Title
PSY 440 Social Psychology
PSY 441 The Psychology of the Family
PSY 455 Cross-Cultural Perspectives in Psychology
PSY 456 Psychology of Human Sexual Behavior
PSY 461 Introduction to Industrial/Organizational Psychology
PSY 462 Personnel Psychology
PSY 463 Human Factors
PSY 465 The Psychology of Work Life Stress
PSY 466 Training and Development in Organizations
PSY 472 Introduction to Legal Psychology
PSY 474 Psychology of Social Justice
PSY 475 Psychology of Policing
PSY 525 Community Psychology
PSY 547 Social Conflict and Conflict Resolution
PSY 558/
PSY 559 
Field Services Seminar (2)/
Psychological Field Service (1-3)
PSY 645 Group Processes

 

Additional courses that may be used for Electives:

Course Title
PSY 300 Current Issues in Psychology
PSY 320 Sex and Relationships
PSY 330* Child Development
PSY 450 Variations in Human Sexuality
PSY 571 Intermediate Psychological Statistics
PSY 601 Theoretical Backgrounds in Psychology
PSY 650 Research on Sexual Identity
PSY 680 Peer Advising in Psychology
PSY 685 Projects in the Teaching of Psychology
PSY 693 Proseminar I
PSY 694 Proseminar II
PSY 697 Senior Project Preparation
PSY 698 Senior Project in Psychology
PSY 699 Special Problems in Psychology (1-4)

Note: Students may not use PSY 330 as an elective
if they have taken PSY 431.

 

Minor in Psychology

The Minor in Psychology is under review for temporary suspension. No new students will be allowed to declare a psychology minor. Students who have already declared the minor may continue their planned course of study. Contact the department for further information.

 

Courses are 3 units unless otherwise indicated. On-line course descriptions are available.

 

Course Title Units
PSY 200 General Psychology 3
PSY 400 Introduction to Research in Psychology 3

Upper division statistics course in psychology or other field: 3 units

 

3 Units selected from the following:

Course Title
PSY 300 Current Issues in Psychology
PSY 491 Learning
PSY 493 Motivation
PSY 494 Cognitive Psychology
PSY 581 Physiological Psychology I

 

3 Units selected from the following:

Course Title
PSY 431 Developmental Psychology
PSY 440 Social Psychology
PSY 451 Theories of Personality
PSY 601 Theoretical Backgrounds

6 Upper division electives in psychology by advisement

Note: Students may not use PSY 330 as an elective if they have taken PSY 431.

Total: 21

 

Graduate Programs in Psychology

Students who wish to apply for admission to classified graduate status in psychology should file a general University application with the Office of Graduate Studies. In addition to the University application, a departmental application must be completed and submitted to the psychology department office. The department accepts applications for the fall semester only, with a deadline of February 1st. The clinical and school psychology programs generally require an interview, during the admissions process.

 

Applicants to each psychology graduate program are required to submit the results of the Graduate Record Examination -- verbal, quantitative, and writing sections. Applicants should check the current application of the program they are applying to for the other requirements.

 

Students who intend to work toward the Master of Arts or Master of Science in psychology must meet the prerequisites outlined at the beginning of each concentration.

 

Undergraduate deficiencies are to be rectified, as the graduate advisor deems fit, without being included as part of the program for a master's degree.

 

In order to advance to candidacy, graduate students must meet all the general requirements for the specific program in which they are involved.

 

Master of Arts in Psychology: Concentration in Developmental Psychology

Program Coordinator: Jeff Cookston

 

Written English Proficiency Requirement

Level One: Score of 4.0 or better on the GRE Analytical Writing Test.
Level Two: Satisfactory completion of the master's thesis (PSY 898).

 

Prerequisites: A background in elementary statistics and developmental psychology (introductory course)

 

Courses are 3 units unless otherwise indicated. On-line course descriptions are available.

 

Course Title Units
PSY 730 Seminar in Current Issues in Developmental Psychology 3
PSY 735 Seminar in Developmental Psychology (3 units each/2 semesters; variant topics required)) 6
PSY 737 Laboratory in Observation of Children's Behavior 3
PSY 739 Technical Writing for Psychology Journals 1
PSY 771
    or
PSY 772
Analysis of Variance and Experimental Design
 
Applications of Multiple Regression to Psychological Research
3
 
4
PSY 770 Research Methods and Techniques 3
PSY 839 Field Experience in Developmental Psychology (1-3) 3
PSY 898 Master’s Thesis
  and
Oral Defense of Thesis (may not be repeated)
3
PSY 899 Independent Study 2

3 Electives with approval of graduate major advisor

Minimum total: 30 - 31

 

Master of Arts in Psychology: Concentration in Mind, Brain, and Behavior

Program Coordinators: Mark Geisler, Avi Ben-Zeev

 

Written English Proficiency Requirement

Level One: Score of 4.0 or better on the GRE Analytical Writing Test
Level Two: Satisfactory completion of the master’s thesis (PSY 898).

 

Prerequisites: A course in statistical methods and a course either in experimental psychology or psychological research methods; or a course combining statistics and research methods.

 

Course Title Units
PSY 771 Analysis of Variance and Experimental Design 3
PSY 772 Applications of Multiple Regression
to Psychological Research
4
PSY 791
    or
PSY 770
Design and Discovery in Psychology
 
Research Methods and Techniques
3
PSY 792 Proseminar in Foundations of
Contemporary Psychological Research
3
PSY 798 Research Colloquium 3
PSY 799 Supervised Selected Research 5
PSY 891
 
Seminar in Selected Problems
    or
3
Elective course approved by graduate advisor
PSY 896 Directed Reading 3
PSY 898 Master’s Thesis
  and
Oral Defense of Thesis
3

Upper division/graduate units in psychology or allied fields approved by graduate major advisor: 6

Minimum total: 35

 

Master of Arts in Psychology: Concentration in Social Psychology

Program Coordinator: Charlotte Tate

 

Written English Proficiency Requirement

Level One: Score of 4.0 or better on the GRE Analytical Writing Test
Level Two: Satisfactory completion of master's thesis (PSY 898).

 

Prerequisites: A broad undergraduate major in psychology or a related discipline, including preparation in social psychology and such areas as personality theory, group processes, research methods, and statistics. Students who have not had a recent upper-division course in social psychology and students who are not competent in statistics at the intermediate level are required to remedy these deficiencies during their first year in the program.

 

Core Requirement

Course Title Units
PSY 740 Seminar in Social Psychology 3
PSY 742 Seminar in Survey Research 3
PSY 751 Seminar in Current Trends and Issues 3
PSY 770 Research Methods and Techniques 3
PSY 771 Analysis of Variance and Experimental Design 3
PSY 772 Applications of Multiple Regression to Psychological Research 4
PSY 792 Proseminar in Foundations of Contemporary Psychological Research 3
PSY 798 Research Colloquium 3
PSY 799* Supervised Selected Research 3
PSY 891 Seminar in Selected Problems in Social Psychology 3
PSY 898 Master’s Thesis
  and
Oral Defense of Thesis
3

Minimum total: 34

*Can be substituted with an elective chosen with prior written approval of advisor and program coordinator

 

Master of Science in Psychology: Concentration in Clinical Psychology

Program Coordinators: M. Dawn Terrell

 

The M.S. in psychology with a concentration in clinical psychology provides students with a degree that confers eligibility to sit for the State of California Marriage and Family Therapy license after completing 3,000 approved hours, 1,700 hours of which must be acquired post-master's.

 

Written English Proficiency Requirement

Level One: Score of 4.0 or better on the GRE Analytical Writing Test
Level Two:
Satisfactory completion of the comprehensive written examination (PSY 896) or, master’s thesis (PSY 898).

 

Prerequisites: Preparation in psychology, or in other fields which emphasize understanding of human functioning, as any of the social sciences or, in some instances, in fields that deal with specialized forms of human expression and experience. Required prerequisites are course work in psychological statistics and upper division courses in personality theory and abnormal psychology. Course work in developmental psychology and cultural perspectives is desirable. Preparation should also include experience working directly with people in a helping or service-oriented situation.

 

Course Title Units
PSY 723 Clinical Methods: Psychological Assessment 3
PSY 724 Clinical Issues: Drugs, Brain, and Behavior 3
PSY 728 Conference to Accompany Psychology Practicum (3) 6
PSY 729 Psychology Practicum (3 - 6) 12
PSY 753 Seminar in Therapeutic and Developmental Change I 3
PSY 754 Seminar in Therapeutic and Developmental Change II 3
PSY 821 Clinical Methods: Diagnosis and Advanced Psychopathology 3
PSY 822 Clinical Methods: Marital and Family Systems Theory and Therapy 3
PSY 828 Conference to Accompany Advanced Psychology Practicum 6
PSY 829 Advanced Psychology Practicum (3 - 6) 12
PSY 891 Seminar in Selected Problems 3
PSY 896
 
 
    or
PSY 898
Directed Reading
  and
Comprehensive Written Examination
 
Master’s Thesis
  and
Oral Defense of Thesis
3

Minimum total: 60

 

Master of Science in Psychology: Concentration in Industrial/Organizational Psychology

Program Coordinator: Chris Wright

 

Written English Proficiency Requirement

Level One: Score of 4.0 or better on the GRE Analytical Writing Test.
Level Two: Satisfactory completion of comprehensive written examination (PSY 896) or master’s thesis (PSY 898).

 

Prerequisites: Course work in intermediate statistics plus completion of 15 units in psychology.

 

Courses are 3 units unless otherwise indicated. On-line course descriptions are available.

 

Data Collection and Analysis Courses

Course Title Units
PSY 770 Research Methods and Techniques 3
Units selected from the following: 3-4
PSY 771 Analysis of Variance and Experimental Design
PSY 772 Applications of Multiple Regression
to Psychological Research (4)
PSY 777 Statistical Analysis of Multivariate Data Using Computers

 

Core Industrial/Organizational Courses

Course Title Units
PSY 761 Industrial–Organizational Psychology 3
PSY 760 Seminar in Organizational Psychology 3
PSY 762 Seminar in Industrial Psychology 3
PSY 765 Industrial Training Program Development 3
PSY 766 Psychological Foundations of Organizational Change 3
PSY 768 Seminar to Accompany Field Experience in Industrial/Organizational Psychology 3
PSY 769 Field Experience in Industrial/Organizational Psychology 3

 

Electives: 6 units

from the following or other courses with approval of advisor

Course Title
PSY 740 Seminar in Social Psychology
PSY 741 Seminar in Group Dynamics
PSY 742 Seminar in Survey Research
PSY 767 Emerging Issues in Industrial/Organizational Psychology

 

Culminating Experience: 3 units

One of the following

Course Title
PSY 896 Directed Reading
  and
Comprehensive Written Examination
PSY 898 Master’s Thesis
  and
Oral Defense of Thesis
3

Minimum total units: 36 - 37

 

Master of Science in Psychology: Concentration in School Psychology

Program Coordinator: Diane Harris

 

This degree program leads to the Pupil Personnel Services Credential with authorization in School Psychology. Designed primarily for full-time SF State students, an M.S. is earned after successful completion of the fourth semester and the Pupil Personnel Services Credential with an authorization in School Psychology is awarded after successful completion of the sixth semester in the program.

 

Prerequisites: Acceptance into the M.S. program is based upon evidence of psychological experience with children and families in institutions such as schools and service-oriented settings. Academic preparation is demonstrated by the capacity to make use of graduate-level academic work and professional training. These qualifications may be assessed by record of previous academic accomplishments in psychology or other related fields that emphasize an understanding of children and their families and include clinical work experience. Students entering the program should have completed courses in statistics and research, clinical, developmental, abnormal psychology, learning, personality, and cross-cultural psychology.

 

Written English Proficiency Requirement

Level One: Score of 4.0 or better on the GRE Analytical Writing Test.
Level Two: Satisfactory completion of the comprehensive written examination (PSY 896) or master’s thesis (PSY 898).

 

Course Title Units
PSY 721 Clinical Methods: Assessment of Intelligence and Perceptual-Motor Functioning 3
PSY 722 Clinical Methods: Personality Appraisal and Projective Techniques 3
PSY 770 Research Methods and Techniques 3
PSY 728 Conference to Accompany Psychology Practicum (3) 6
PSY 729 Psychology Practicum (3) 6
PSY 753 Seminar in Therapeutic and Developmental Change I 3
PSY 754 Seminar in Therapeutic and Developmental Change II 3
PSY 829 Advanced Psychology Practicum (3) 6
PSY 855 Seminar in Professional School Psychology 3
COUN 719 Behavior Management 3
COUN 827 The Consultation Process 3
SPED 772 Methods I: Assessment, Curriculum, and Instruction of Mild/Moderate Disabilities 3
SPED 788 Law, Ethics, and Instructional Planning 3
SPED 801 Diversity in Special Education: Family Systems, Resources and Culture 3
SPED 803 Communication, Diversity, and Exceptionality 3
PSY 896
 
 
    or
PSY 898
Directed Reading
  and
Comprehensive Written Examination
 
Master’s Thesis
  and
Oral Defense of Thesis
3

Minimum total: 57

 

Pupil Personnel Services Credential: School Psychology Designation

(Credential Internship Program for matriculated students who have completed the Master of Science in psychology, with a concentration in school psychology, SF State)

 

This credential program is offered through the College of Extended Learning (CEL). Only students who have completed the M.S. in psychology with the concentration in school psychology at SF State are eligible for this program. However, based upon the assessment of writing skills as demonstrated in the Completion of the Culminating Experience, additional writing courses may be required to meet expectations for the writing of professional-level reports and documents prior to eligibility and acceptance into the Pupil Personnel Services Credential Internship Program. In addition to the courses required for the M.S., the following courses are required for the Pupil Personnel Services Credential with a School Psychology authorization.

 

Professional Course Requirements

Course Title Units
PSY 858 Conference to Accompany Psychology Internship (3) 6
PSY 859 Psychology Internship (3-6) 12
PSY 899 Independent Study 3
PSY 891 Seminar in Selected Problems 3

Minimum total: 24

 

Pupil Personnel Services Credential: School Psychology Designation
(Credential Internship Program for Non-matriculated Students)

 

This credential program is offered through the College of Extended Learning (CEL). It is intended for individuals who have completed at least a Master of Science in psychology with a concentration in school psychology or a related master’s or doctoral degree. In addition, individuals must have completed a minimum of 576 hours of school psychology related experience in the schools supervised by a credentialed school psychologist, and equivalent academic courses to be eligible for admission to the program. In most cases the Master of Science in psychology: concentration in school psychology and a general Pupil Personnel Services Credential (without the school psychology designation) are awarded prior to enrollment in the program. A fee will be charged to evaluate and determine eligibility for the program.

 

Professional Course Requirements

Course Title Units
PSY 858 Conference to Accompany Psychology Internship (3) 6
PSY 859 Psychology Internship (6) 12
PSY 891 Seminar in Selected Problems 3
PSY 899 Independent Study 3

Total: 24

 

 

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