Psychology

Marsha Weinraub, Chair
658 Weiss Hall
215-204-7360
mweinrau@temple.edu

Tania Giovannetti, Undergraduate Chairperson
475 Weiss Hall
215-204-4296
tgio@temple.edu

Peter James, Associate Chair
606 Weiss Hall
215-204-3409
pjames@temple.edu

Nicole Pileggi, Advisor
605 Weiss Hall
215-204-3403
nicole.pileggi@temple.edu

Paula Kittrell, Administrator

Weiss Hall, Room 645

215-204-2644

paula.kittrell@temple.edu

The Temple University Undergraduate Psychology program provides a modern curriculum covering a breadth of content, ranging from biological bases of cognition and behavior to sociocultural influences on human interactions and psychological disorders. The curriculum is designed to develop students’ critical thinking skills through emphasis of the scientific basis of Psychology and courses in statistics and research methodology. The program also emphasizes the integration and synthesis of information across courses and activities through the stepwise progression of the curriculum from the introductory, foundational, and advanced classes up to the final capstone course that is taken in the senior year. Students are strongly encouraged to develop applied skills through rigorous and highly focused experiential learning in research laboratories and community–based internships. The curriculum is designed to be sufficiently flexible to satisfy the diversity of needs among undergraduates. As such an individually tailored curriculum may be selected for the purpose of preparing students for employment or further study in psychology, neuroscience, medicine, law, business, or other fields.

Psychology identifies several learning goals for each level of instruction in the program. At the introductory level (1001, 1002, 1003, 1004), goals include familiarity with the scientific grounding of the discipline (1001), basic statistics (1003) and scientific methods (1004), as well as information on how to prepare for a career in psychology or a related discipline (1004). At the Foundation level (2000-level courses), students develop deeper knowledge of the fascinating content areas in the discipline, which are broadly organized in two groups: Developmental/Clinical/Social (DCS) and Brain and Cognitive Sciences (BCS). Students are required to choose at least two courses from each of these two general areas, and this ensures familiarity with the breadth of the discipline. These courses cover a wide range of topics from the functions of the neuron to the development of moral thought. At the Advanced level (3000-level courses), students continue to develop critical thinking skills to dispassionately examine conflicting claims, analyze data, organize research papers, and become more proficient with the scientific process in a writing intensive course (3096). Students also are required to select four courses with the option of continuing to develop breadth or choosing to delve into greater depth in one area, such as clinical psychology. Finally, at the 4000 level, Capstone is the only course offered. This writing-intensive course is designed to help students integrate their knowledge base, to refine their critical and writing skills, and generally to synthesize their knowledge of the discipline.

Special Opportunities

Psychology 3791, 3891, 4791, and 4891 Collaborative Research

One to four terms of Psychology 3791 - 4891 (Collaborative Research) may be taken as elective psychology credit that counts toward the CLA upper-level course requirement.  Enrolling in Collaborative Research allows students to work alongside faculty members and their graduate students in a research laboratory. To find research labs, go to www.temple.edu/psychology/undergraduate/Informationforcurrentundergraduatestudents.htm

You must contact the faculty member with whom you would like to work and receive their approval prior to registration.  Working with a faculty member on a research project can be a very valuable experience, and this course is an important one to have on your record when making application to graduate school.  The maximum credit permissible for 3791 - 4891 is 16 s.h.; a maximum of 4 credits each in 3791, 3891, 4791 and 4891.

Psychology 3785 - 3787 Internship

Designed for those who want to experience psychology in the workplace, the internship allows students to apply theory to real-life situations, build an employment record, and complement future applications for graduate work in psychology or social work.  Work placements are available in a number of different applications in psychology, including, but not limited to: organizational, applied behavior analysis; education; clinical and counseling psychology; autism research; probation officers; and a variety of other placements.  Each setting offers students a range of employment options that link classroom learning with practical experience.  Students who enroll in internships will gain on-the-job experience as well as recommendations and job performance evaluations so that they can move easily from their undergraduate studies into psychology-related job opportunities or into graduate schools with an applied focus. To find out more, go to www.temple.edu/psychology/undergraduate/Informationforcurrentundergraduatestudents.htm or contact Dr. Peter James (215-204-3409 or pjames@temple.edu).

Summary of Degree Requirements

1. University Requirements:

• Mathematics 0701 (4 s.h.) and/or English 0701 (4 s.h.), if required by placement testing.
• All Temple students must take a minimum of two writing-intensive courses as part of the major. See below for a list of the specific courses required for your major.
• Students must complete requirements of the General Education (GenEd) Program. See the General Education section of the Undergraduate Bulletin for more details.

2. College of Liberal Arts Requirements:

• Completion of a minimum of 123 credits, including: 90 credits in CLA/CST courses, 45 credits of which must be at the upper level (numbered 2000-4999). For Social Science majors, 6 upper level credits must be taken in the Humanities Departments (English, French, German, Greek and Roman Classics, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese (only available at our Japan campus), Philosophy, Religion, Russian, and Spanish), Art History, or any department in the College of Science and Technology.
• A minimum GPA of 2.0, cumulatively, in CLA/CST coursework, and in the major.
• Only courses in which a student receives a grade of at least C- can satisfy GenEd, major, minor, or CLA Foreign Language and Global Studies requirements.

3.  Foreign Language/Global Studies Requirements:

1) All students must complete the second level of a foreign language;

2) All students must complete at least one course from the GenEd Global/World Society category; and

3) All students must complete one of the following options:

• Third level of a foreign language;
• Demonstrated proficiency in a foreign language;
• A second General Education Global/World Society course;
• Study Abroad at an approved program; or
• Take one Global Studies course from the list on the CLA College Graduation Requirements page.

4. Major Requirements: 44-45 credits (40-41 are in Psychology)

Specifically Required courses: Psychology 1001, 1002, 1003, 1004, 3096

Other Requirements

• One lab science course selected from: Biology 1001; or Biology 1011; or Chemistry 1021 AND 1023; or Chemistry 1027; or Chemistry 1031 AND 1033; or Physics 1021.
• Four Foundations courses as listed below.  Two courses designated as "Brain and Cognitive Sciences" (BCS) and two courses designated in the "Developmental/Counseling/Social" (DCS) category. See full listings below under "Foundations".
• Three courses selected from Psychology courses numbered 3000-3620.
• One elective in Psychology numbered 2000-3620 (may not duplicate with another requirement).
• One Capstone in Psychology selected from Psychology 4496, 4596, 4696, 4796, or 4996

Requirements for the Major

40 Credit Hours in Psychology plus 4 credits in a designated science area.

All Temple students must take a minimum of two writing-intensive courses. The specific writing-intensive courses required for this major are listed below and are identified by "WI" in the Attribute column.

Introductory Courses Required:

Psychology Science Requirement:

Foundation Courses (2000 Level):

Four courses are required – at least two from each area.  Brain and Cognitive Sciences (2101, 2103, 2104, 2501, 2502) and Developmental/Clinical/Social (2201, 2301, 2401, 2402). Psychology 1001 is the prerequisite for all courses at this level.  Foundation courses are prerequisites for the advanced (3000-level) areas. 

Required Methods course

Advanced Courses (3000-3620):

Choose three from any of the advanced courses (3000-3620) for which you have completed the prerequisite foundation course.  These courses cover specialty areas within particular fields of psychology. 

(Note: Psychology 3096 does not count toward this requirement.)

Psychology Elective: one additional course at the Foundation Level or the Advanced Level.

Capstone Courses - One 4000-level course required:

(Seniors only - minimum of 90 credits completed and completion Psychology 3096)

Individual Study Courses:

(Permission of the instructor required.)

Distinction in Major

Students earn Distinction in Major upon completion of the Psychology Honors program.

The Psychology Honors Program:

A main goal of the Psychology Honors program is to provide each student with an individualized experience that will prepare them for psychological research in the future.  This program is designed as a two-year study that begins with critical thinking, writing, and the study of methodology. Grade requirement is a 3.5 GPA across all courses. Upon completion of this program, students will have produced a senior thesis as well as a student poster session.  Some students present research at regional or national meetings.  For more information, go to www.temple.edu/psychology/undergraduate/PsychologyHonorsProgram.htm

The Undergraduate Psychology Majors' Association

The Psychology Majors' Association (PMA) offers a variety of opportunities to undergraduate students, including volunteer work, field trips, workshops on graduate school and current topics in psychology, and career development.  The goal of PMA is to provide opportunities for students to apply their appreciation of psychology through activities outside of the classroom. PMA also promotes networking between students and faculty members within the psychology department. For more information visit www.temple.edu/psychology/undergraduate/PMA.htm

Psi Chi - The National Honor Society in Psychology

Psi Chi, the National Honor Society in Psychology, has an active chapter at Temple University. The minimum requirements for membership in Psi Chi are a 3.20 cumulative GPA and a 3.50 GPA in Psychology courses.  Psi Chi members are given opportunities for growth and development within the field of psychology.  Psi Chi encourages students to engage in research opportunities within psychology as well as continue their education in graduate studies.  For more information, go to www.temple.edu/psychology/psichi.

Phi Beta Kappa

See Opportunities: Honor Societies.

Minor in Psychology

The Minor in Psychology introduces the student to a representative array of Psychology courses, prepares the student for the minimal course requirements for acceptance to most Psychology graduate schools, and results in formal university recognition on the student's official transcript. 

Cognitive Neuroscience Minor

Students in the College of Liberal Arts (including Psychology majors) as well as students in other colleges, schools, and departments may choose to minor in Cognitive Neuroscience. No more than two courses can be double-counted for the Psychology major and the Cognitive Neuroscience minor. Cognitive Neuroscience is an interdisciplinary field with a focus on a fundamental mystery of science: how the mind arises from the brain.  A minor in Cognitive Neuroscience will strengthen the academic record of students who plan to apply for graduate programs.  For example, in Psychology this minor will strengthen applicants' records for specializations such as Behavioral Neuroscience, Clinical Neuropsychology, Cognitive Psychology, or Psychophysiology.  Students might also go into General Neuroscience or Cognitive Science.  Pre-med students with a Cognitive Neuroscience minor would present distinctive profiles to medical school admissions offices.

Students must complete successfully the following courses with a grade of C- or better:

* check for prerequisites

Suggested Semester-by-Semester Plan