Psychology & Neuroscience

The Department of Psychology & Neuroscience offers a BA in Psychology and an interdisciplinary BS in Neuroscience. The Department also offers a five-year BA/MA degree program (HEGIS 2001) in Psychology with a specialization in Industrial-Organizational or General-Experimental Psychology. In addition, the Department offers a minor in Drug and Alcohol Abuse Studies, a minor in Psychology, and an interdisciplinary minor in Neuroscience.

Faculty

Chair: B. Ring; Professors: P. Oswald, K. Zaromatidis; Professors Emeriti: P. Greene, P. Jirik-Babb; Associate Professors: B. Cesario, O. Huk, K. Kim, N. Naqvi, J. Theodore, S. Wong-Goodrich; Assistant Professors: B. Ring, M. Skelly; Clinical Lecturers: S. Fox, K. McGovern

The ground floor level of Doorley Hall houses the Department of Psychology & Neuroscience. A behavioral testing laboratory and a neuroscience laboratory with capabilities for human neuroimaging, psychophysiological assessment, and cognitive and behavioral testing are available to faculty and student researchers (under faculty supervision) for the study of human behavior and its neural and psychophysiological correlates. A computer laboratory with a projector system and 15 computer workstations is also available to faculty and students for course- and research-related projects. Each computer is equipped with statistical software for data analysis procedures.

Objectives

Psychology as a science aims to predict, control, and explain human behavior. The programs in psychology involve the student as a researcher in this process.

Goals: Psychology

Students who complete a major in psychology will demonstrate:

• Fundamental knowledge and comprehension of the major concepts, theoretical perspectives, historical trends, and empirical findings, and be able to discuss how psychological principles apply to behavioral problems.
• An understanding of scientific reasoning and problem solving, including effective research methods.
• Ethically and socially responsible behaviors for professional and personal settings in a landscape that involves increasing diversity.
• Competence in writing and in oral and interpersonal communication skills.
• The ability to apply psychology-specific content and skills, effective self-reflection, project management skills, teamwork skills, and career preparation.

The BA in Psychology is designed to provide students with the opportunity to customize their courses to align with their specific interests and career goals. Students enrolled in the BA in Psychology degree program complete nine credits in required psychology courses and choose the additional 15 credits from a list of courses covering various topic areas in the discipline. The BA/MA dual degree program enables the motivated student to obtain the BA and MA degrees in just five years. All programs prepare students for graduate work and careers in diverse fields.

Goals: Neuroscience

Students who complete the interdisciplinary major in Neuroscience will demonstrate:

• Knowledge of the structure and function of the brain and nervous system, and relate cellular, molecular, and systems-level neurobiological phenomena to behavior, cognition, and disease.
• Understanding and application of the scientific method, as evidenced by formation and implementation of sound research designs, identification and execution of suitable data analyses, and appropriate interpretation and contextualization of research findings.
• Critical and analytical thinking in regard to ethical issues that arise in the context of design and application of neuroscience research as well as how neuroscience research addresses core ethical concepts.
• Competence in written, oral, and interpersonal communication of scientific ideas and research findings.
• The ability to work effectively in a group setting, implement personal and professional goals, demonstrate the capacity for self-reflection and -assessment, and take personal responsibility for choices, actions, and consequences.
• Understanding of key theoretical issues of mechanism, function, computation, representation, cognition, behavior, and scientific explanation as operative in both scientific and philosophical research regarding the brain and nervous system

The BS in Neuroscience offers students personalized, but guided neuroscience-related courses of study, which incorporate course offerings in psychology, biology, philosophy, chemistry, computer science, and more. In consultation with a faculty mentor, students may choose to specialize in cognitive/behavioral neuroscience or cellular/molecular neuroscience, depending upon their interests and postgraduate career plans. The Neuroscience program provides students with an excellent background for pursuing research- or clinical-based doctoral or master’s programs, careers in biomedical and behavioral sciences, or careers in the health professions.

Other Options

The Capstone Experience

All Psychology Majors complete a capstone course in their senior year. Students may avail themselves of the opportunity to participate in internships in conjunction with PSY 496 , or they may choose to complete an independent research project by taking PSY 491 .

All Neuroscience Majors also complete a capstone course, NS 450 , in their senior year that focuses on integrating previous learnings and special topics in neuroscience, ethics, career explorations, as well as a senior capstone research or other scholarly project.

Programs

• Neuroscience, BS (0425)

• Psychology, BA (2001)

• Psychology, Five Year Combined BA/MA - General-Experimental Specialization (2001)
• Psychology, Five Year Combined BA/MA - Industrial-Organizational Specialization (2001)

• Drug and Alcohol Abuse Studies Minor
• Neuroscience Minor
• Psychology Minor