General Program Description

Psychology majors at UC Santa Cruz are introduced to theory and scientific research in the field. Students begin with lower-division courses that include introductory psychology, precalculus, statistics, research methods, and introduction to developmental psychology. Majors subsequently take eight upper-division courses in four major areas of psychology: cognitive, social, developmental, and personality psychology.

Cognitive psychology focuses on topics such as sensation and perception; brain and behavior; human information processing; decision-making; learning and memory; thinking, feelings, and emotions; and psycholinguistics. Social psychology addresses topics such as persuasion and influence, motivation, group processes, intergroup relations, psychology and law, and social justice. Developmental psychology is concerned with processes of cognitive, language, social, emotional, and personality development across the life span. Additionally, both developmental and social psychology are concerned with issues of diversity including ethnicity, culture, gender, income, and family structure. Personality psychology focuses on person-centered processes including creativity, attachment, depression, and life stories.

In addition to the general psychology major, an intensive major and a minor (described below) are also available. (Students primarily interested in clinical and counseling psychology should realize that training in these areas does not occur at the undergraduate level but requires professional training through an advanced degree. UCSC does not offer advanced degrees in clinical psychology or counseling.)

Students are encouraged to carry out research projects. Interested psychology majors will find research opportunities in courses, as research assistants in faculty members’ research programs, or through faculty-sponsored independent study. This research may be carried out in specialized research laboratories or in the field. Students usually join an ongoing project in which a faculty member is engaged. Students who are especially interested in a career involving empirical research should become involved in a professor’s ongoing research by their junior year. Some recent research topics include “Making Decisions,” “How Do You Organize Your World?” “I’m Every Woman: A Look at Female Perspectives,” “Family Story Telling,” and “Friendship and the College Transition.”

Preparation for the Major

Students interested in pursuing one of the psychology majors should declare the prepsychology major until they have completed the lower-division required courses listed below. After completing the lower-division required courses, students may then declare their major by notifying the department undergraduate adviser.

High school students considering psychology as their university major find that the best preparation is a solid general education in English, mathematics through precalculus, natural sciences, social sciences, and writing.

Transfer Students

Junior transfer students should express an interest in psychology on their UCSC application for admission.

It is expected that prospective transfer students will have completed most, if not all, of the lower-division requirements. The psychology faculty recommends that all lower-division requirements be completed by the end of the junior year.

Several measures are taken to control over enrollment in the psychology major. At the time of transfer, students must have a 3.0 or higher grade-point average in all UC-transferable course work, with at least a 3.1 in all psychology courses. Junior-level students with 120+ quarter credits will not be admitted into the pre-major. This occasionally affects transfer students who have many credits on their records. It can also affect students who want to change their major in mid-junior year. Senior-level students with 135+ quarter credits will not be admitted into the major. This affects seniors who want to add a minor or double major in psychology (it does not affect those who have already declared a pre-psychology major). Students who want to fulfill requirements with courses taken at other colleges must petition for the substitution of their transfer courses at an orientation session or at an appointment with the department adviser. Students planning to transfer to UC Santa Cruz should check with the advising office of their present college, as many institutions keep a list of courses that are accepted as equivalent to those at UCSC.

Transfer students are strongly encouraged to speak with an academic adviser at the Psychology Department Office prior to enrolling in classes in order to determine their status and begin the actual declaration of major process.

General Psychology Major

Thirteen courses are required for the general major: five lower-division courses in preparation for the major and eight upper-division psychology courses. The lower-division courses are prerequisites for virtually all of the upper-division courses and should be completed as early as possible, but no later than the end of the junior year. Some upper-division courses have additional prerequisites. Once the lower-division courses have been completed, a student may petition to declare the psychology major.

Lower-Division Requirements

Psychology

1, Introduction to Psychology

2, Introduction to Psychological Statistics

3, Research Methods in Psychology

10, Introduction to Developmental Psychology

Mathematics 3, Precalculus(or equivalent)

Courses 20, 40, and 60 are strongly recommended.

Upper-Division Requirements

Students must complete at least eight upper-division courses (a minimum of 40 credits) in psychology. These courses must include two courses from each of the following four subfields:

Developmental (courses numbered 100–119)

Cognitive (courses numbered 120–139)

Social (courses numbered 140–159)

Personality (courses numbered 160–179)

Upper-division courses and their catalog descriptions are grouped within each of the subfields. At least one upper-division seminar course must be completed; these courses are identified within their description by the phrase “satisfies seminar requirement.” No more than one course numbered 193, 194, and 195 may be used toward the upper-division requirements. At least six of the eight courses must be taken through the psychology program at UCSC, not transferred from elsewhere; this requirement occasionally affects the plans of transfer students arriving at UCSC with many psychology courses on their transcript.

The Psychology Department recommends that students take substantive courses in related disciplines such as anthropology, biology, community studies, computer science, education, linguistics, philosophy, and sociology.

Program Planning Notes

Because some upper-division courses have additional prerequisites, students should read the descriptions of the upper-division courses carefully, noting the prerequisites for courses of interest to them.

Psychology Major Planners

The following are two recommended academic plans for students to complete during their first two years as preparation for the psychology major. Plan One is a suggested guideline for students who are committed to the major early in their academic career. Plan Two is for students who are considering the major or who need more preparation. Students should note that Math 3 is a requirement for the major and a prerequisite for course 2. Courses 20, 40, 60, and Biology 70 are recommended electives and are prerequisites for some upper-division psychology courses.

The Intensive Psychology Major

The intensive major is an option that any psychology major may choose to undertake. The intensive major would be advantageous for a student intending to go on to a graduate program in any area of psychology. Students intending to take the intensive major should declare this on their proposed study plan during the junior year, outlining their plan for completing the requirements. The intensive major requires 18 courses.

Requirements for the Intensive Major

Lower-Division Requirements

Psychology

1, Introduction to Psychology

2, Introduction to Psychological Statistics

3, Research Methods in Psychology

10, Introduction to Developmental Psychology

Mathematics 3, Precalculus (or equivalent)

Once these lower-division courses have been completed, a student may petition to declare the psychology major.

Upper-Division Requirements

• Thirteen upper-division courses are required for the intensive major. These courses must include two courses from each of the following four subfields, one of which must be a seminar:
  • Developmental (courses numbered 100–119)
  • Cognitive (courses numbered 120–139)
  • Social (courses numbered 140–159)
  • Personality (courses numbered 160–179)
• Course 181 Psychological Data Analysis, or an equivalent course approved by the department
• Two quarters of course 194, Advanced Research; or 195, Senior Thesis
• Two upper-division courses from one or more related areas outside of psychology (these courses may not include psychology courses cross-listed with other programs or taught by psychology faculty.)

Minor in Psychology

To obtain a minor in psychology, a student must complete the following courses:

• Psychology 1, 2, 3, and 10
• Mathematics 3 (or equivalent)
• four upper-division courses in psychology. These courses must be from at least two of the four
  subfields: developmental, cognitive, social, and personality.

No more than one course numbered 191–199 may be used toward the upper-division requirements. At least three of the upper-division psychology courses (100–199 range) must be taken through the psychology program at UCSC, not transferred from elsewhere; this requirement occasionally affects the plans of transfer students arriving at UCSC with many psychology courses on their transcript.

Comprehensive Requirement

Students in either the general psychology major or the intensive major may select one of two options to satisfy the comprehensive requirement:

• Department Comprehensive Examination. Students must receive a passing score on the psychology comprehensive examination, administered by the Psychology Department each quarter.

• The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) Psychology Subject Test. Students must receive a score at or above the 50th percentile to satisfy the requirement. Reports of GRE scores must be submitted to the Psychology Department Office before the last day of the graduating quarter.

Academic Advising

Students are encouraged to approach faculty in their area of interest for further advising no later than the first quarter of their junior year to discuss an upper-division program of study and to plan for graduate training in psychology. As a supplement to academic advising offered by faculty members, the Psychology Department has an advising office located at 273 Social Sciences 2 Building, (831) 459-2002. The adviser assists students in obtaining information regarding major requirements and petitions, course planning, substitution of transfer courses for advance enrollment, careers, and graduate schools. Students can also get advice about examinations (the comprehensive examination and the Graduate Record Examination) and assistance in initiating a senior thesis and independent studies. Students are encouraged to take advantage of the advising office throughout their college career.

Disqualification from the Major/Minor

Students who receive a No Pass, D, and/or F twice in any one of courses Psychology 1, 2, 3, 10, or Mathematics 3 (or equivalent), or who receive a No Pass, D, and/or F in three or more of these courses combined, will be considered to be not making normal progress in the major or minor and will be subject to disqualification from the major or minor. Students who feel that there were extenuating circumstances surrounding their failure of a course for the second time or their failure in three courses may appeal their disqualification from the major or minor and/or later petition the department for reinstatement. For further information regarding the disqualification process, contact the Psychology Department Office.

Psychology Handbook

All undergraduate majors should obtain a copy of the undergraduate handbook from the department office, web site http://psych.ucsc.edu. It outlines such information as Psychology Department procedures and requirements, the field-study program, opportunities for independent study, and campus resources for psychology majors.

Senior Thesis

Students with adequate substantive and methodological preparation and a consistent record of strong academic performance may be eligible to apply to write a senior thesis. Students must make formal application to a faculty mentor during the last quarter of the junior year before enrolling in course 195, Senior Thesis. Most faculty prefer to sponsor senior theses that are integrated with faculty research, so students are encouraged to talk with faculty before choosing a senior thesis topic. Information and applications are available in the department office, 273 Social Sciences 2.

Honors

Honors in the psychology major are awarded to graduating seniors whose academic performance is judged to be consistently excellent by a committee of psychology faculty. Highest Honors in the major are reserved for students with consistently excellent academic performance and an honors-level senior thesis.

Psychology Field-Study Program

The Psychology Field-Study Program provides qualified students an opportunity to apply classroom learning to direct experience in a community agency. Each year about 200 students develop new skills and clarify personal and professional goals by working as interns in schools, corporations, research organizations, mental health services, and other social service agencies where they are supervised by professionals. Psychology faculty members sponsor the students’ field study helping them to integrate their field experience with course work and guiding them in their related academic projects.

The two-quarter program is open to junior and senior psychology majors who must apply at least one quarter in advance. There are preparation seminars and individual meetings to help students develop a learning plan, select a placement, and choose an academic project. Application information can be obtained at the psychology field-study bulletin board, second floor of Social Sciences 2, and at: http://psych.ucsc.edu/fieldstudy.

Graduate Program

The psychology program offers three areas of specialization leading to the doctoral degree: cognitive, developmental, and social psychology. The program does not offer courses, training, or supervision in clinical psychology. The program prepares students for research, teaching, and administrative positions in colleges and universities as well as for positions in schools, government, and other public and private agencies. Each student is primarily associated with one of the three research areas and participates in the courses and research forums sponsored by the faculty in that area. The program requires full-time enrollment as a graduate student. Although applicants for a master’s degree are not accepted, students in the Ph.D. program may obtain an M.S. degree by fulfilling specific requirements.

Graduate work in cognitive psychology focuses on training students in the traditional methods of experimental psychology and in mastering contemporary knowledge in the broad areas of cognitive science and psychobiology. The cognitive faculty members have specific expertise in psycholinguistics, perception, memory, and cognitive psychology. Research interests of the faculty include human information processing, cognitive and social processes in learning and memory, language and discourse comprehension, reading, speech perception and production, computer simulation and mathematical modeling of cognitive processes, spatial vision, and visual psychophysics.

Graduate work in developmental psychology addresses processes of developmental change in individuals and relationships through the life span and in community and cultural contexts. The developmental faculty are especially interested in issues of diversity in development, including ethnicity, gender, personality, language, and diversity of family forms and in the interplay between human development and the social contexts of family, peers, school, work, community, and culture. Among the topics studied by faculty are the role of family communication, narrative, and cultural processes in the development of self, identity, and relational competence in childhood and adolescence; cultural aspects of participants in group endeavors and learning through observations, creativity, and creative environments; the social construction and socialization of gender; language and cognitive development within the contexts of conversations with parents, siblings, and peers; and adult attachment and personality development using longitudinal methodologies; and diversity issues in university outreach programs.

Graduate work in the social psychology area focuses on the study of social justice. Students receive training in the basic theories, data, and methods of social psychology with the aim of applying their training to the analysis and solution of social problems. Students are encouraged to examine theoretical and empirical issues as they arise in different real world cultural, political, and policy contexts. In turn, it is expected that students’ experiences in these real world contexts will be used to assess critical theories and methods. Students are trained to conduct real world research with laboratory, field, and survey methods. The research interests of the faculty include leadership and group processes, intergroup relations, gender issues, psychology and law, the study of social class, sexual aggression and abuse, and feminist psychology.

Students in all three research areas acquire teaching experience as teaching assistants for a minimum of two courses during their graduate career.

Graduate students in psychology may obtain a notation on the psychology Ph.D. diploma indicating that they have specialized in women’s studies if they meet requirements spelled out by the individual committee composed of psychology and women’s study faculty.

Details of the policies for admission to graduate standing and of the requirements for the Ph.D. degree, as well as information about faculty research interests, are available from the Division of Graduate Studies. For more information, refer to the Graduate Studies section.