Psychology, Department of

Introduction
Degree Descriptions

Learning Goals and Student Learning Outcomes
Programs and Courses Offered

Department Chair

Jessie Peissig

Department Office/Website

Humanities 830M
657-278-3514
psychology.fullerton.edu

Faculty

Sawssan Ahmed, Lucia Alcala, Kristin Beals, Melinda Blackman, Iris Blandon-Gitlin, Barbara Cherry, Russ Espinoza, James Garcia, David Gerkens, Aaron Goetz, Ella Ben Hagai, Asya Harrison, Aaron Lukaszewski, William Marelich, Jack Mearns, Lisa Mori, Angela Nguyen, Yuko Okado, Nancy Panza, Jessie Peissig, Kathleen Preston, Adam Roberts, Christine Scher, Nancy Segal, Eriko Self, Sue Sy, Jennifer Trevitt, Laura Zettel-Watson

Introduction

Psychology is the science of behavior. It involves studying how we interact with one another and our environment. Psychology is practical; it is concerned with improving our quality of life. To achieve these ends, psychologists work in a broad range of research and applied settings. The psychology major is designed to provide a comprehensive overview of the main fields of psychology and the methods used in psychological research. The major is also designed to assist students in selecting elective courses in an area of the students’ interest. These specialty areas might include clinical/community, social, developmental/child/aging, industrial/organizational, learning/cognitive, biopsychology/health psychology and legal/forensic psychology. The major provides a basis for careers in a variety of psychology-related occupations, such as mental health agencies, hospitals, schools, businesses and public organizations. The major also prepares students for graduate training in fields such as: psychological research; clinical psychology; marriage and family therapy (MFT); teaching; social work; law; business and management; and public administration.

All students who declare psychology as their major should meet with one of the undergraduate advisers (Humanities 830J, 657-278-3102) during their first semester to develop a study plan. Students should also download the Psychology Department Student Handbook and Careers for Psychology Majors from the department website. Early consultation with an adviser is especially important.

Community College Transfer Students: A maximum of nine lower-division units of psychology courses may be applied toward the 41 units required for the psychology major. The nine units must fit the course description requirements listed in this catalog for PSYC 101 , PSYC 201 and PSYC 202 . Additional lower-division units taken in psychology at a community college and approved by the university may be used as university electives for graduation.

Degree Descriptions

The Bachelor of Arts in Psychology is designed to provide students with empirically derived knowledge of the field of psychology. Students will gain skills in research methods and statistics in psychology, and apply these skills to real-world problems. Students will also learn to seek out and evaluate psychological research. The program teaches students how diversity influences individual and social behavior, and how to behave ethically in psychological settings. The curriculum provides a broad education in the field of psychology that will prepare students for a wide variety of fields, including health, education and business, as well as preparing students for graduate work in psychology, counseling or social work.

The Master of Arts in Psychology is designed to provide students with enhanced critical thinking skills to evaluate psychological research. In addition, students will develop strong statistical knowledge and solid research design skills such that they can independently develop and execute psychological research studies. The curriculum provides broad graduate preparation for students interested in developmental, cognitive, social, quantitative, biological and applied areas of psychology. Students can choose courses to specialize in statistics, cognition, lifespan development, or social behavior in preparation for careers in teaching psychology, conducting psychological research in non/profit organizations, human resources, marketing, human factors or use their degree as a stepping stone to obtaining a Ph.D.

The Master of Science in Clinical Psychology offers a combination of advanced scientific and applied clinical training that is rarely found at the master’s level. Students complete foundational clinical coursework during their first year. During the second year, students receive intensive weekly supervision in fieldwork placements both from supervisors at their internship sites and from faculty on campus. This includes group and individual supervision, as well as videotape supervision. Students in the M.S. program develop high quality research skills and carry out a research thesis under the guidance of a faculty mentor. The program’s graduates are rigorously trained for careers in counseling or related fields, or for further academic training in research or clinical psychology doctoral programs. For students with the M.S. as their final objective, the program prepares them to apply for the Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT) and the Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) licenses. The M.S. program meets the requirements of the Business and Professional Code, Section 4980.37, for MFT and LPCC licensure.

Learning Goals and Student Learning Outcomes

Programs and Courses Offered

Programs

Bachelor of Arts

Psychology, B.A.

Master of Arts

Psychology, M.A.

Master of Science

Psychology, Clinical, M.S.

Non-Degree

Psychology Minor

Courses

Psychology

Courses are designated as PSYC in the class schedule.