Undergraduate Degree & Course Catalog
2016-17

Psychology - Degrees & Policies

Degrees Offered

Undergraduate: BA, BS
Graduate: MA, PhD

Transfer Policy

Transfer students who bring psychology coursework to UB must meet the same criteria for acceptance into the department as students who start at this university. Students may transfer coursework required for admission into the department, as well as additional psychology coursework. However, courses taken in statistics and research methods, as well as upper-level psychology courses, must be evaluated and approved by the department. A minimum of three upper-level psychology courses must be taken at UB.

SUNY Seamless Transfer Path

SUNY Seamless Transfer is a SUNY-wide program intended to make transferring to UB and other SUNY Schools simple and efficient for SUNY students. SUNY has defined courses that SUNY students can take before transferring which will apply to the major at UB and ensure timely graduation.

Information about the Transfer Path for this major can be found on the SUNY Website.

Students are encouraged to contact their academic advisor or department to discuss how their coursework will apply to their degree.

Psychology - B.A.

Acceptance Criteria

Minimum GPA of 2.0 overall.
Minimum GPA of 2.5 in prerequisite courses before full acceptance.

Advising Notes

A minimum GPA of 2.0 in psychology courses is required for graduation. Majors whose GPAs in psychology courses fall below 2.0 during any semester are automatically placed on probation. Majors whose GPAs remain below 2.0 in consecutive semesters are dismissed from the department.
PSY 495 Undergraduate Supervised Teaching and PSY 496 Supervised Applied Experience do not count toward the course requirements for majors.
PSY 497 Honors, PSY 498 Undergraduate Research, and PSY 499 Independent Study may be taken for degree credit, but only 3 credit hours from this group count toward major requirements.
400-level courses are open only to psychology majors. Students are advised to go to 283 Park Hall and to apply early for the major, preferably while enrolled in PSY 250. Acceptance decisions can then be made contingent upon completion of PSY 250, and registration in upper-level courses is facilitated.
Students who have completed 60 credit hours but have not completed the prerequisite courses or achieved the minimum GPA of 2.5 may be provisionally accepted by the department (283 Park Hall). Students who are accepted provisionally must achieve a minimum GPA of 2.5 in the prerequisites to be fully accepted into the department. Students who do not have a minimum GPA of 2.5 in the prerequisites must repeat appropriate prerequisite coursework. The second grade in the repeated course is honored by the department for the purpose of admission to the psychology major.

Prerequisite Courses

PSY 101 Introductory Psychology
ULC 148 Algebra and Trigonometry or equivalent* or higher
PSY 207 Psychological Statistics
PSY 250 Scientific Inquiry in Psychology

Required Courses

Seven additional PSY courses distributed as follows:
Four 300-level courses, one from each of the four substantive areas listed:

SUBSTANTIVE AREA 1: CLINICAL
PSY 321 Psychology of Personality
PSY 322 Community Psychology
PSY 323 Community Psychology
PSY 324 Clinical Psychology
PSY 325 Health Psychology

SUBSTANTIVE AREA 2: SOCIAL
PSY 331 Social Psychology
PSY 332 Social Conflict and Its Resolution
PSY 333 Psychology of Work in Organizations
PSY 336 Developmental Psychology

SUBSTANTIVE AREA 3: COGNITIVE
PSY 341 Cognitive Psychology
PSY 342 Introduction to Cognitive Science: Concepts of the Mind
PSY 343 Sensory Processes and Perception

SUBSTANTIVE AREA 4: BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE
PSY 351 Biopsychology

Minimum of three courses at the 400 level

Undergraduate Credit Requirements Chart
Credits Required for Major 35
Additional Credits Required for UB Curriculum 40
Additional Credits Required for Electives 45
Total Credits Required for Degree 120

Students should consult with an academic advisor to determine how any transfer or exam credit might be utilized in meeting general education, prerequisite, or major requirements.

See Baccalaureate Degree Requirements (UB Curriculum) for general education and remaining university requirements.

Recommended Sequence of Program Requirements & Learning Outcomes

View the Finish in Four Curricular Plan for the Psychology BA which is a recommended sequence of courses to help achieve this degree in four years.

Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of all requirements, the student will have knowledge of:

Student Learning Overview and Goals
Overview
The discipline of Psychology is dedicated to increasing scientific understanding of the mind and behavior and to the application of that understanding to enhance the functioning of individuals, groups, and society.

The Department of Psychology provides a quality, university-level education in the broad discipline of psychology for undergraduate students who have multiple personal and career objectives and contributes to the University's program of general education for undergraduate students by providing introductory courses in psychology. The department's research activities are the foundation for up-to-date and effective classroom and laboratory undergraduate education.

Program Goals and National Standards
The Psychology Department has two degree programs: a B.A. and a B.S. (Although the content of these programs overlaps considerably, the primary distinction between these two programs is that the B.S. requires additional courses in research methods, basic science, and math.) These programs are designed to address the standards established by the American Psychological Association for the Undergraduate Psychology Major as detailed by the 2013 report of the APA Board of Educational Affairs. These guidelines capture a set of optimal expectations for performance at the completion of the undergraduate degree by students who major in psychology. The document outlines five goals and suggested learning outcomes that represent reasonable departmental expectations for the undergraduate psychology major across educational contexts.
  1. Knowledge Base in Psychology
    Students should demonstrate fundamental knowledge and comprehension of the major concepts, theoretical perspectives, historical trends, and empirical findings to discuss how psychological principles apply to behavioral problems.
  2. Scientific Inquiry and Critical Thinking
    The skills in this domain involve the development of scientific reasoning and problem solving, including effective research methods.
  3. Ethical and Social Responsibility in a Diverse World
    The skills in this domain involve the development of ethically and socially responsible behaviors for professional and personal settings in a landscape that involves increasing diversity.
  4. Communication
    Students should demonstrate competence in writing and in oral and interpersonal communication skills.
  5. Professional Development
    The emphasis in this goal is on application of psychology-specific content and skills, effective self-reflection, project-management skills, teamwork skills, and career preparation.

Psychology - B.S.

Acceptance Criteria

Minimum GPA of 2.0 overall.
Minimum GPA of 2.5 in prerequisite courses before full acceptance.

Advising Notes

A minimum GPA of 2.0 in psychology courses is required for graduation. Majors whose GPAs in psychology courses fall below 2.0 during any semester are automatically placed on probation. Majors whose GPAs remain below 2.0 in consecutive semesters are dismissed from the department.
PSY 495 Undergraduate Supervised Teaching and PSY 496 Supervised Applied Experience do not count toward the course requirements for majors.
PSY 497 Honors, PSY 498 Undergraduate Research, and PSY 499 Independent Study may be taken for degree credit, but only 3 credit hours from this group count toward major requirements.
400-level courses are open only to psychology majors. Students are advised to go to 283 Park Hall and to apply early for the major, preferably while enrolled in PSY 250. Acceptance decisions can then be made contingent upon completion of PSY 250, and registration in upper-level courses is facilitated.

Prerequisite Courses

10 credit hours in psychology and 8 credit hours in mathematics:
PSY 101 Introductory Psychology
PSY 207 Psychological Statistics
PSY 250 Scientific Inquiry in Psychology
One two-course mathematics sequence (MTH 121-MTH 122 Survey of Calculus and Its Applications I-II or MTH 141-MTH 142 College Calculus I-II)

Required Courses

BIO 200 Evolutionary Biology
CHE 101-CHE 102 General Chemistry or CHE 105-CHE 106 Chemistry: Principles and Applications
Nine additional PSY courses, distributed as follows:
Four 300-level courses, one from each of the four substantive areas listed below:

SUBSTANTIVE AREA 1: CLINICAL
PSY 321 Psychology of Personality
PSY 322 Abnormal Psychology
PSY 323 Community Psychology
PSY 324 Clinical Psychology
PSY 325 Health Psychology

SUBSTANTIVE AREA 2: SOCIAL
PSY 331 Social Psychology
PSY 332 Social Conflict and Its Resolution
PSY 333 Psychology of Work in Organizations
PSY 336 Developmental Psychology

SUBSTANTIVE AREA 3: COGNITIVE
PSY 341 Cognitive Psychology
PSY 342 Introduction to Cognitive Science: Concepts of the Mind
PSY 343 Sensory Processes and Perception

SUBSTANTIVE AREA 4: BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE
PSY 351 Biopsychology

A minimum of five courses at the 400 or graduate level (500 level and above, taken with special permission as part of the undergraduate program), including (Required) PSY 450 Advanced Research Methods in Psychology or another laboratory-based upper-level PSY course (from a department-approved list)
Two of the five 400 level courses must be from the Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience Courses, listed below

Undergraduate Credit Requirements Chart
Credits Required for Major 60
Additional Credits Required for UB Curriculum 32
Additional Credits Required for Electives 28
Total Credits Required for Degree 120

Students should consult with an academic advisor to determine how any transfer or exam credit might be utilized in meeting general education, prerequisite, or major requirements.

See Baccalaureate Degree Requirements (UB Curriculum) for general education and remaining university requirements.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of all requirements, the student will have knowledge of:
Student Learning Overview and Goals
Overview

The discipline of Psychology is dedicated to increasing scientific understanding of the mind and behavior and to the application of that understanding to enhance the functioning of individuals, groups, and society.

The Department of Psychology provides a quality, university-level education in the broad discipline of psychology for undergraduate students who have multiple personal and career objectives and contributes to the University's program of general education for undergraduate students by providing introductory courses in psychology. The department's research activities are the foundation for up-to-date and effective classroom and laboratory undergraduate education.

Program Goals and National Standards
The Psychology Department has two degree programs: a B.A. and a B.S. (Although the content of these programs overlaps considerably, the primary distinction between these two programs is that the B.S. requires additional courses in research methods, basic science, and math.) These programs are designed to address the standards established by the American Psychological Association for the Undergraduate Psychology Major as detailed by the 2013 report of the APA Board of Educational Affairs. These guidelines capture a set of optimal expectations for performance at the completion of the undergraduate degree by students who major in psychology. The document outlines five goals and suggested learning outcomes that represent reasonable departmental expectations for the undergraduate psychology major across educational contexts.
  1. Knowledge Base in Psychology
    Students should demonstrate fundamental knowledge and comprehension of the major concepts, theoretical perspectives, historical trends, and empirical findings to discuss how psychological principles apply to behavioral problems.
  2. Scientific Inquiry and Critical Thinking
    The skills in this domain involve the development of scientific reasoning and problem solving, including effective research methods.
  3. Ethical and Social Responsibility in a Diverse World
    The skills in this domain involve the development of ethically and socially responsible behaviors for professional and personal settings in a landscape that involves increasing diversity.
  4. Communication
    Students should demonstrate competence in writing and in oral and interpersonal communication skills.
  5. Professional Development
    The emphasis in this goal is on application of psychology-specific content and skills, effective self-reflection, project-management skills, teamwork skills, and career preparation.

Electives and Course Groupings

Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience
(Psychology B.S. students must have a minimum of 2 PSY 400 level courses from this list)

PSY 402 Psychopharmacology
PSY 416 Reasoning and Problem Solving
PSY 419 Biological Bases of Memory
PSY 421 Systems and Theories of Psychology
PSY 426 Biological Bases of Mental Disorders
PSY 428 Language Development
PSY 429 Psychophysiology
PSY 431 Mind-Body Connection in a Social World
PSY 434 Animal Behavior
PSY 435 Psychology of Reproduction
PSY 436 Neuropsychology
PSY 439 Biopsychology of Stress
PSY 440 Hormones and Behavior
PSY 442 Biopsychology of Ingestive Behavior
PSY 443 Neurobiology of Communication in Animals
PSY 445 Memory
PSY 446 Animal Cognition
PSY 447 Psychology of Music
PSY 448 Psycholinguistics
PSY 451 Drug Addiction
PSY 457 Cognitive Development
PSY 470-PSY 475 Senior Seminars (in Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience areas)
PSY 485-PSY 490 Special Topics (in Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience areas)

Recommended Sequence of Program Requirements

View the Finish in Four Curricular Plan for the Psychology BS which is a recommended sequence of courses to help achieve this degree in four years.

Last updated: February 22 2022 21:08:39