B.S. in Psychology

Psychology is the study of mind and behavior. Its explorations span an enormous breadth, ranging from the activity of individual brain cells to the complex interactions between individuals and society. The science of psychology investigates how people develop and learn; how we perceive the world, how relationships are formed, how stress affects our health and impairs our performance, and why conflict is so much a part of the human experience. Psychologists also try to understand the nature and causes of abnormality and search for effective treatments to relieve the suffering it causes. The breadth of the discipline gives psychology majors a wide diversity of career options. While traditional professions such as mental health are still popular, graduates in psychology also pursue careers in the health professions, business, and governmental agencies.

The psychology curriculum at Clarkson emphasizes a theoretical and experimental approach to the various disciplines of psychological science. Our goal is to provide each student with a foundation in the fundamental areas of psychology, as well as specifically designed plans of study in the areas of greatest interest. All psychology majors will be given hands-on learning experiences. These experiences include directed research where the student works closely with a faculty member on an experiment of mutual interest, clinical internships where the student works with a therapist in a clinical environment, and/or industrial internships where the student works with psychologists in industrial settings. Talented students may pursue their own research projects through our senior thesis option. The psychology major prepares students for a variety of careers and for graduate study. Students may design their curricula to emphasize their own interests.

Students graduating with a B.S. degree in psychology from Clarkson will:

• be able to critically evaluate information and apply it to a problem or question
• be able to apply psychological principles to real-world problems
• have content expertise in the areas of psychology represented by the psychology faculty
• be able to write clearly and effectively.

Curriculum
FIRST YEAR
First Semester				Second Semester
Course	Title	Cr. Hrs.		Course	Title	Cr. Hrs.
PY101	First-Year Seminar			PY255	Cognitive Psychology	3
	in Psychology	2		PY253	Social Psychology	3
PY151	Intro. to Psychology	3			Mathematics Course	3
UNIV190	Clarkson Seminar	3			Science Course	3
	Mathematics Course	3			Science Course Lab	2
	Science Course	3
FY100	First-Year Seminar	1				14
		15
SOPHOMORE YEAR
First Semester				Second Semester
Course	Title	Cr. Hrs.		Course	Title	Cr. Hrs.
MA282	Statistics	3			Psychology Elective	3
	Psychology Electives	6			Psychology Cognitive Elective	3
	KA/UC	3			KA/UC	3
	Free Elective	3			Free Electives	6
		15				15
JUNIOR YEAR
First Semester				Second Semester
Course	Title	Cr. Hrs.		Course	Title	Cr. Hrs.
PY456	Experimental Psychology	4			Psychology Physiological
	KA/UC	3			Elective	3
	Free Electives	9			Technology Elective	3
					KA/UC	3
		16			Free Elective	6
						15
SENIOR YEAR
First Semester				Second Semester
Course	Title	Cr. Hrs.		Course	Title	Cr. Hrs.
PY	Directed Research/				Free Electives	15
	Internship	3
	KA/UC	3				15
	Free Electives	9
		15

The Professional & Professional Experience requirements and the Information Technology requirement are distributed throughout the Psychology Curriculum.

Students in the Class of 2010 and later — see academic requirements for details of the Clarkson Common Experience including the First-Year Seminar, the Clarkson Seminar, Knowledge Area (KA) courses, University Courses (UC), and related requirements.