http://www.pacific.edu/Academics/Schools-and-Colleges/College-of-the-Pacific/Academics/Departments-and-Programs/Psychology.html
Phone: (209) 946-2133
Location: Psychology/Communications Building
Carolynn Kohn, Chair
Degrees Offered
Bachelor of Science
Master of Arts (see Graduate Catalog for information)
Majors Offered
Psychology
Psychology with Departmental Honors
Minors Offered
Psychology
The programs of study offered by the Psychology Department are designed to help the student understand the behavior of human beings and other organisms. Behavior is a complicated subject, whether it’s a high school student trying to solve mathematics problems or a puppy learning to retrieve. As a result, there are many ways to understand it. Behavioral variety is reflected in both the course offerings of our department and in the interests of the faculty. Students may study parenting, children learning moral concepts, adolescents, adults who are depressed or anxious, and people who have chronic health problems, all in one academic year.
This diversity of interests and activities is tied together by the faculty’s commitment to scientific inquiry. Throughout their coursework, students learn how to answer questions about behavior through empirical research and theoretical analysis.
Several objectives can be met by studying psychology at the University which includes increased understanding of behavior, career preparation, and post-graduate studies preparation.
Increased Understanding of Your Behavior and the Behavior of Others
Students interested in a liberal arts education may satisfy a desire for a better understanding of themselves and others through a major in psychology. The diversity of course, fieldwork and internship offerings provides students with opportunities to study and have first-hand experience with a wide range of human behaviors and problems. Beyond personal development, the knowledge and skills acquired from this approach to the major have application to a wide variety of activities that students may find themselves engaged in following graduation, including business, science, education, sports, and the arts.
Career Preparation
The department offers programs of study that provide the psychology major with psychology-related employment opportunities directly upon receiving the Bachelor’s degree. This involves specialization in a) applied behavior analysis which provides students skills to work with a variety of populations, or b) applications in business which provides students, in cooperation with the School of Business, skills in the use of psychological approaches in the personnel, training, and performance management areas of business and government.
Graduate and Professional School Preparation
Students interested in entering Masters and Doctoral programs in psychology or professional schools such as law and education have the opportunity to pursue an intensive series of course, practicum and research experiences that can significantly improve their chances of admission and later achievement. The program provides students with research and hands-on experience as early as the freshman year, so that by the time of graduation students may have authored or co-authored conference presentations and research papers and worked with a wide range of applied problems.
Whatever objectives students may select, they find that the department provides much more than traditional in-classroom instruction. There are opportunities for direct work with children and adults in a number of community agencies, institutions and businesses. Research experience is encouraged through one or more of the several ongoing research projects, and many courses have laboratory and fieldwork experiences associated with them. As a result, students can become a part of the continuing work of psychology.
Bachelor of Science Major in Psychology
Students must complete a minimum of 120 units with a Pacific cumulative and major/program grade point average of 2.0 in order to earn the Bachelor of Science degree with a major in psychology.
I. General Education Requirements
For more details, see General Education
Minimum 28 units and 9 courses that include:
A. CORE Seminars (2 courses)
| CORE 001 | Problem Solving & Oral Comm | 3 |
| CORE 002 | Writing and Critical Thinking | 4 |
Note: 1) CORE Seminars cannot be taken for Pass/No Credit. 2) Transfer students with 28 or more transfer credits taken after high school are exempt from both CORE seminars.
B. Breadth Requirement (7 courses, at least 3 units each)
| At least one course from each of the following areas: | ||
Artistic Process & Creation | ||
Civic & Global Responsibility | ||
Language & Narratives | ||
Quantitative Reasoning | ||
Scientific Inquiry | ||
Social Inquiry | ||
World Perspectives & Ethics | ||
Note: 1) No more than 2 courses from a single discipline can be used to meet the Breadth Requirement.
C. Diversity and Inclusion Requirement
| All students must complete Diversity and Inclusion coursework (at least 3 units) | ||
Note: 1) Diversity and Inclusion courses can also be used to meet the breadth category requirements, or major or minor requirements.
D. Fundamental Skills
| Students must demonstrate competence in: | ||
Writing | ||
Quantitative Analysis (Math) | ||
Note: 1) Failure to satisfy the fundamental skills requirements by the end of four semesters of full-time study at the University is grounds for academic disqualification.
II. Breadth Requirement
Students must complete 60 units outside the primary discipline of the first major, regardless of the department who offers the course(s) in that discipline, (Courses include general education courses, transfer courses, CPCE/EXTN units, internships, etc.)
III. Major Requirements
| Minimum 53 units that include: | ||
| PSYC 001 | Orientation to the Psychology Major | 1 |
| PSYC 002 | Professional Development in Psychology | 1 |
| PSYC 031 | Introduction to Psychology | 4 |
| MATH 035 | Elementary Statistical Inference | 3-4 |
| or MATH 037 | Introduction to Statistics and Probability | |
| or PSYC 035 | Introduction to Statistics in Psychology | |
| PSYC 050 | Introduction to Research Methods in Psychology | 4 |
| PSYC 150 | Advanced Research Methods in Psychology | 5 |
| Select one of the following: | 3-5 | |
| Human Anatomy and Physiology | ||
| Introduction to Biology | ||
| Principles of Biology | ||
| Principles of Biology | ||
| Elements of Chemistry | ||
| Human-Computer Interface Design | ||
| Artificial Intelligence | ||
| Select one of the following: | 4 | |
| Symbolic Logic | ||
| Philosophy of Science | ||
| History and Systems of Psychology | ||
| Select four of the following Psychology Core courses: | 16 | |
| Introduction to Cognitive Science | ||
| Abnormal and Clinical Psychology | ||
| Developmental Psychology | ||
| Behavioral Psychology | ||
| Social Psychology | ||
| Sensation and Perception | ||
| Select two of the following Psychology Advanced Lab courses, must be two different course numbers: | 8 | |
| Advanced Lab in Cognitive Psychology | ||
| Advanced Lab in Clinical Psychology | ||
| Advanced Lab in Child Clinical Psychology | ||
| Advanced Lab in Developmental Psychology | ||
| Advanced Lab in Behavioral Psychology | ||
| Advanced Lab in Social Psychology | ||
| Take an additional 4 units in PSYC at Pacific from one of the following options: | 4 | |
| Practicum (Advanced Lab in Cognitive Psychology) | ||
| Practicum | ||
Another Psychology Core course | ||
Another Psychology Advanced Lab: If an Advanced Lab is taken, it may be the same numbered course as a previously taken Lab IF the title of the course is different. | ||
Note: Only courses graded with a C- or better will count in the major.
Bachelor of Science Major in Psychology with Departmental Honors
To be awarded a degree in Psychology with Honors at graduation, you must accomplish three learning outcomes: 1) A minimum overall GPA of 3.4. 2) A minimum GPA of 3.8 for courses within the major. 3) An applied or research project approved and supervised by a faculty member in the Psychology department.
I. General Education Requirements
For more details, see General Education
Minimum 28 units and 9 courses that include:
A. CORE Seminars (2 courses)
| CORE 001 | Problem Solving & Oral Comm | 3 |
| CORE 002 | Writing and Critical Thinking | 4 |
Note: 1) CORE Seminars cannot be taken for Pass/No Credit. 2) Transfer students with 28 or more transfer credits taken after high school are exempt from both CORE seminars.
B. Breadth Requirement (7 courses, at least 3 units each)
| At least one course from each of the following areas: | ||
Artistic Process & Creation | ||
Civic & Global Responsibility | ||
Language & Narratives | ||
Quantitative Reasoning | ||
Scientific Inquiry | ||
Social Inquiry | ||
World Perspectives & Ethics | ||
Note: 1) No more than 2 courses from a single discipline can be used to meet the Breadth Requirement.
C. Diversity and Inclusion Requirement
| All students must complete Diversity and Inclusion coursework (at least 3 units) | ||
Note: 1) Diversity and Inclusion courses can also be used to meet the breadth category requirements, or major or minor requirements.
D. Fundamental Skills
| Students must demonstrate competence in: | ||
Writing | ||
Quantitative Analysis (Math) | ||
Note: 1) Failure to satisfy the fundamental skills requirements by the end of four semesters of full-time study at the University is grounds for academic disqualification.
II. Breadth Requirement
Students must complete 60 units outside the primary discipline of the first major, regardless of the department who offers the course(s) in that discipline, (Courses include general education courses, transfer courses, CPCE/EXTN units, internships, etc.)
III. Major Requirements
Minimum 53 units that include:
| PSYC 001 | Orientation to the Psychology Major | 1 |
| PSYC 002 | Professional Development in Psychology | 1 |
| PSYC 031 | Introduction to Psychology | 4 |
| MATH 035 | Elementary Statistical Inference | 3-4 |
| or MATH 037 | Introduction to Statistics and Probability | |
| or PSYC 035 | Introduction to Statistics in Psychology | |
| PSYC 050 | Introduction to Research Methods in Psychology | 4 |
| PSYC 150 | Advanced Research Methods in Psychology | 5 |
| Select one of the following: | 3-5 | |
| Human Anatomy and Physiology | ||
| Introduction to Biology | ||
| Principles of Biology | ||
| Principles of Biology | ||
| Elements of Chemistry | ||
| Human-Computer Interface Design | ||
| Artificial Intelligence | ||
| Select one of the following: | 4 | |
| Symbolic Logic | ||
| Philosophy of Science | ||
| History and Systems of Psychology | ||
| Select four of the following: | 16 | |
| Introduction to Cognitive Science | ||
| Abnormal and Clinical Psychology | ||
| Developmental Psychology | ||
| Behavioral Psychology | ||
| Social Psychology | ||
| Sensation and Perception | ||
| Select two of the following Psychology Advanced Lab courses, must be two different course numbers: | 8 | |
| Advanced Lab in Cognitive Psychology | ||
| Advanced Lab in Clinical Psychology | ||
| Advanced Lab in Child Clinical Psychology | ||
| Advanced Lab in Developmental Psychology | ||
| Advanced Lab in Behavioral Psychology | ||
| Advanced Lab in Social Psychology | ||
| Take an additional 4 units in PSYC at Pacific from one of the following options: | 4 | |
| Practicum (Advanced Lab in Cognitive Psychology) | ||
| Practicum | ||
Another Psychology Core course | ||
Another Psychology Advanced Lab: If an Advanced Lab is taken, it may be the same numbered course as a previously taken Lab IF the title of the course is different. | ||
Note: Only courses graded with a C- or better will count in the major.
Graduate and Professional School Preparation
Students who plan to go on to graduate study in psychology or to use psychology as a basis for advanced professional study may select from the following sequence of courses in addition to the major requirements:PSYC 089/PSYC 189, MATH 130 and PSYC 183 (by instructor permission only). It is strongly recommended that major courses include a representation of the basic subfields of psychology as well as additionalPSYC 197 and PSYC 087. Options that include both psychology and other courses provide the student with coursework as well as research and applied experience appropriate to graduate study in all areas of psychology, as well as professional study in education, social work, and law.
Minor in Psychology
Students must complete a minimum of 20 units and 5 courses with a Pacific minor grade point average of 2.0 in order to earn a minor in psychology.
Minor Requirements:
| PSYC 031 | Introduction to Psychology | 4 |
| Select three of the following: | 12 | |
| Introduction to Cognitive Science | ||
or PHIL 015 | Introduction to Cognitive Science | |
| Abnormal and Clinical Psychology | ||
| Developmental Psychology | ||
| Behavioral Psychology | ||
| Social Psychology | ||
| Sensation and Perception | ||
| Select one of the following: | 4 | |
| Human Anatomy and Physiology | ||
| Introduction to Biology | ||
| Principles of Biology | ||
| Principles of Biology | ||
| Elements of Chemistry | ||
| Symbolic Logic | ||
| Philosophy of Science | ||
| History and Systems of Psychology | ||
Note: 1) All courses must be graded “C-” or better to count towards the minor.
Psychology Courses
PSYC 001. Orientation to the Psychology Major. 1 Unit.
This is a 1-credit seminar designed to familiarize students with the psychology major at the University of the Pacific. The logic and basic elements of the psychology curriculum will be reviewed, and students will be introduced to each of the faculty members in the psychology department. Additionally, the seminar will review several foundational skills necessary for success as a psychology major, including, but not limited to study skills, professional and ethical behavior, and time management. The class is for beginning Psychology majors only. Prerequisite: Psychology major.
PSYC 002. Professional Development in Psychology. 1 Unit.
This is a 1-credit seminar designed to familiarize psychology majors with various professional issues related to the field of psychology, including preparation for graduate school and career. Prerequisites: PSYC 001; Psychology major; Junior or Senior standing.
PSYC 015. Introduction to Cognitive Science. 4 Units.
Cognitive science is an exciting cross-disciplinary filed devoted to understanding how the mind works. It draws on research done in a wide variety of disciplines, including philosophy, psychology, artificial intelligence, linguistics, and neuroscience. This course examines some of the main assumptions, concepts, methods, applications, and limits of the cognitive scientific approach to the mind. Questions include: Is the mind a computer and, if so, what kind of computer? What are the prospects for genuine artificial intelligence? How is the mind organized? Does the mind have innate structures? Can we explain memory, action, perception, reasoning, and social cognition? What can the brain tell us about the mind, and what can we learn from damaged brains? How did minds evolve? To what extent does cognition depend on the body and the environment? (GE3C, GESO)
PSYC 017. Abnormal and Clinical Psychology. 4 Units.
This course covers the history of mental health and mental health diagnoses; past and current research findings, and prevailing thoughts and current controversies in the field of mental health and treatments. (DVSY, ETHC, GE1A, GEDI, GESO)
PSYC 029. Developmental Psychology. 4 Units.
This course provides an overview of the growth and change that occurs in physical, cognitive, social, and emotional domains across the life span. Current theory and findings from empirical research are highlighted. (GE1A, GESO)
PSYC 031. Introduction to Psychology. 4 Units.
This course is an introduction to the major fields within psychology. Topics include: 1) experimental methods in psychology, 2) physiological psychology, 3) sensation and perception, 4) psychology of learning, 5) memory, 6) cognition and language, 7) cognitive abilities, 8), motivation and emotion, 9) human development, 10) personality, 11) abnormal psychology and treatment of mental illness, and 12) social psychology. (GE1A, GESO, PLAW)
PSYC 035. Introduction to Statistics in Psychology. 4 Units.
Introduction to descriptive and inferential statistics as tools for evaluating data from psychological research. Topics include measures of central tendency, descriptive statistics, measures of variability, correlation and regression, sampling distributions, hypothesis testing procedures including t-tests and analysis of variance, and selected other topics. Application of hand computation will be emphasized and taught alongside the use of software to facilitate the interpretation of statistical analyses.
PSYC 050. Introduction to Research Methods in Psychology. 4 Units.
This course aims to provide students with the critical thinking skills necessary to become a better consumer of information—both in psychology and in the real world. Students will learn how to systematically evaluate the validity of different claims they may encounter in textbooks, research articles, and the media. This course is designed to introduce students to and help them develop the following skills: comparing, contrasting, and evaluating research methods and designs, understanding the applications of basic statistical procedures, evaluating of the scientific merit of research findings, and understanding basic ethical guidelines as they apply to human research. Prerequisites: Psychology major and a grade of C- or higher in MATH 035 or MATH 037 or PSYC 035.
PSYC 053. Behavioral Psychology. 4 Units.
This course provides an introduction to the science and application of basic principles related to learning and behavior. Students learn about approaches to behavioral observation, measurement of behavior, gathering and analyzing of data using single subject designs, classical and operant conditioning and the application of behavior change principles to oneself and society.
PSYC 069. Social Psychology. 4 Units.
Social psychology is the scientific study of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors of individuals in social situations. This course examines the theories, research, and applications of social psychology. Specific topics to be covered include: self-awareness, self-esteem, self-deception, the power of first impressions, nonverbal communication, stereotypes and prejudice, interpersonal attraction, love and romantic relationships, altruism, aggression, conformity, obedience, persuasion and propaganda, leadership, and group behavior and decision-making. Throughout the course, these topics will be discussed as they inform us about human behavior in domains such as politics, sports, entertainment, health, education, advertising, and law.
PSYC 079. Sensation and Perception. 4 Units.
This course is an introduction to human sensory systems and perception. Building upon a detailed analysis of visual processing, students explore through lectures, readings, demonstrations, case studies, and investigations how scientists research various sensory systems and how they shape our experience of, and interaction with the world. This draws on diverse fields such as biology, physics, philosophy and art in addition to psychology. (GE3C, GESO)
PSYC 087. Internship. 1-4 Units.
This internship course gives experiences in a work setting, and is contracted on an individual basis. Students may register for only one course listed below in any semester and may receive no more than four units of credit for any of these courses. Pass/no credit is the only grading.
PSYC 087A. Internship. 1-4 Units.
PSYC 089. Practicum. 1-4 Units.
The practicum offers non-classroom experiences in activities related to the curriculum under conditions that is determined by the appropriate faculty member. Students may register for only one course listed below in any semester and may receive no more than four units of credit for any of these courses. Pass/no credit is the only grading.
PSYC 101. Research Methods and Statistics in Psychology I. 5 Units.
This course is the first course in a two-course sequence required for the psychology major. This course will teach the student how to design, complete, analyze, interpret, and report empirical research used to test hypotheses derived from psychological theory or its application, and to be able to critically evaluate scientific research produced by others. Prerequisite: Fundamental Math Skills requirement.
PSYC 102. Research Methods and Statistics in Psychology II. 5 Units.
This course is the second course in a two-course sequence required for the psychology major. This course will teach you how to design, complete, analyze, interpret, and report empirical research used to test hypotheses derived from psychological theory or its application, and to be able to critically evaluate scientific research produced by others. Prerequisite: PSYC 101 with a “C-“ or higher.
PSYC 115. Advanced Lab in Cognitive Psychology. 4 Units.
This advanced lab will focus on more in-depth exploration of a specific topic area within the field of Cognitive Psychology. The course will include strong research/applied component that will help students get more hands on feel for research and/or application of the concepts within the field. Possible topics include Memory, Thinking Fast and Slow, or other topics. Prerequisites: PSYC 015, PSYC 11102 with a C- or better.
PSYC 117. Advanced Lab in Clinical Psychology. 4 Units.
This advanced lab will focus on a more in-depth exploration of a specific topic area within the field of Clinical Psychology. The course will include a strong research/applied component that will help students get more hands on feel for research and/or application of the concepts Psychology, Testing and Assessment, or other topics. Prerequisites: PSYC 017, PSYC 053, PSYC 102 with a C- or better, or permission of instructor.
PSYC 118. Advanced Lab in Child Clinical Psychology. 4 Units.
This lab is a more in depth look at topics within the field of clinical child psychology. Each time the course is taught, a specific topic of study such as parenting, child mental health, etc. will be the focus. The course relies heavily on becoming aware of the available research within the field of Clinical Child Psychology as well as more effectively accessing and understanding research in general. Experiential opportunities will be included. Prerequisites: PSYC 017, PSYC 102 with a “C-“ or better.
PSYC 125. History and Systems of Psychology. 4 Units.
This course traces the development of “modern psychology” from its birth in early philosophy to its founding as an independent discipline in the late 1800s to its current status with an emphasis on modern behaviorism and cognitive psychology as the two dominant theoretical systems in psychology. In addition, other modern developments such as evolutionary psychology and cognitive neuroscience are discussed. The course focuses on specific content areas and ideas in psychology and the individuals who are most credited with their development.
PSYC 129. Advanced Lab in Developmental Psychology. 4 Units.
This advanced lab will focus on a more in-depth exploration of a specific topic area within the field of Developmental Psychology. The course will include a strong research/ applied component that will help students get a more hands on fells for research and/ or application of the concepts within the field. Possible topics include The Study of Infants, Psychology of Aging, Cognitive Aging, or other topics. Prerequisites: PSYC 029, PSYC 102 with a C- or better. (DVSY, ETHC, GEDI)
PSYC 150. Advanced Research Methods in Psychology. 5 Units.
The purpose of this course is to teach students how understanding research methods can help them become better consumers of information and better professionals, no matter their career. This course includes a lab component to facilitate hands-on learning. The goals for this course align with the psychology department’s program learning outcome of scientific literacy and critical thinking. They also align with the university-wide core competencies of critical thinking, information literacy, quantitative reasoning, and written communication. Upon completion of this sequence, students will be able to: Discuss the role of research in advancing our knowledge of psychological phenomena, read and evaluate psychological research, identify the ethical issues surrounding the conduct of psychological research, distinguish scientific sources from pseudoscientific sources, state the basic research designs and the types of data analyses for conducting sound psychological research, write research reports using APA style. Prerequisites: Psychology major and a Grade of C- or higher in PSYC 050 and a Grade of C- or higher in one of the following: MATH 035, MATH 037, or PSYC 035.
PSYC 153. Advanced Lab in Behavioral Psychology. 4 Units.
This advanced lab will focus more in-depth exploration of a specific topic area within the field of Behavioral Psychology. The course will include a strong research/ applied component that will help students get a more hands on feel for research and/or application of the concepts within the field. Possible topics may include Behavioral Economics, Behavioral Approaches to Common Childhood Problems, the Power of Habit, or other topics. Prerequisites: PSYC 053 with a C- or better.
PSYC 169. Advanced Lab in Social Psychology. 4 Units.
This advanced lab will focus on a more in-depth exploration of a specific topic area within the field of Social Psychology. The course will include a strong research/applied component that will help students get a more hands on feel for research and/ or application of the concepts within the field. Possible topics may include Social Influence, Conformity, or other topics. Prerequisites: PSYCH 069, PSYCH 102 with a C- or better.
PSYC 187. Internship. 1-4 Units.
This internship course gives experiences in a work setting and is contracted on an individual basis. PSYC 187 represents advanced internship work that involves increased independence and responsibility. Students may register for only one course listed below in any semester and may receive no more than four units of credit for any of these courses. Pass/no credit is the only grading.
PSYC 189. Practicum. 4 Units.
The practicum offers non-classroom experiences in activities related to the curriculum under conditions that is determined by the appropriate faculty member. PSYC 189 represents advanced practicum work which involves increased independence and responsibility. Students may register for only one course listed below in any semester and may receive no more than four units of credit for any of these courses. Pass/no credit is the only grading.
PSYC 189A. Applied Psychology Practicum. 4 Units.
Students will acquire skills necessary to the application of principles of general psychology to solve personal, organizational and social problems while serving as assistants to faculty and professional psychologists.
PSYC 191. Independent Study. 1-4 Units.
PSYC 195. Seminar. 4 Units.
PSYC 197. Independent Research. 1-4 Units.
Knowledge Base
- Students use the concepts, language, and major theories of the discipline to account for psychological phenomena
Communication
- Students communicate ideas clearly, accurately, and in accordance with APA style.
Scientific Inquiry and Critical Thinking
- Students evaluate the quality of information and use empirical evidence to craft arguments.
- Students distinguish between scientific and pseudoscientific claims and use skepticism when considering the causes of behavior.
- Students Perform mathematical computations and evaluate claims based upon mathematical arguements.
Psychology Faculty
Tracy Argueta, Assistant Professor, 2023, 2022 PhD Univeresity of Florida; 2016 MA Floriday Institute of Technology; BA, B.S. Florida International University, targueta@PACIFIC.EDU
Scott A. Jensen, Professor, 2006, BS, Brigham Young University, 1998; MS, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, 2003; PhD, 2004., sjensen@pacific.edu
Carolynn Kohn, Professor, 2003, 2000 PhD and 1996 MA, MCP-Hahnemann University (now Drexel University); 1991 BA, UC Santa Barbara, ckohn@pacific.edu, Psychology Building Room 127
Matthew Normand, Professor, 2007, BA, Western New England College, 1997; MA, Western Michigan University, 1999; MS, Florida State University, 2002; PhD, 2003., mnormand@pacific.edu, https://www.theskinnerbox.com
Carla Strickland-Hughes, Associate Professor, 2017, B.S., North Carolina State University, 2011; MS, University of Florida, 2014; PhD, University of Florida, 2017, cstricklandhughes@pacific.edu
