The philosophy behind the Bachelor’s degree at Colorado College is defined by the following statement from the Colorado College Catalog: “Although the College requires all students to concentrate their academic work around a ‘major’ field of study, it strongly encourages students to develop an active appreciation for the interconnection of ideas and different disciplines through the general education program. The primary goal of Colorado College is not to develop specialists, but to prepare students to possess a broad spectrum of knowledge and ideals, and who are equipped to think and express themselves imaginatively and to live productively according to their best insight and values.” The Registrar provides information regarding the “All-College” Requirements that apply to all students. The following outline presents the Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology course requirements for the declared psychology major, including major courses within and outside the department. The Psychology section of the Colorado College Catalog of Courses is also reproduced on this website. This information, and more, regarding the major in psychology may be found in The Psychology Major’s Handbook. Links are provided below to the Old Course Descriptions of psychology courses.

1) One introductory course, either:

PY 100 or PY 101 Introduction to Psychology.
Prerequisite: none

2) One course in research design (where possible, this course should be taken by one’s Sophomore year):

PY 201 Research Design
Prerequisite: PY100 or PY101 and Probability & Statistics

3) Two courses from the Biobehavioral group. This includes the following courses:

PY 312 (BY 311) Neuroscience
Prerequisite: BY 109 or PY 100 or PY 101 (PY 201 recommended)

PY 324 Perception
Prerequisite: PY 100, PY 201

PY 332 Learning & Adaptive Behavior
Prerequisite: PY 100 (PY 201 recommended)

PY 344 Cognition
Prerequisite: PY 100, PY 201

4) Two courses from the Sociobehavioral group. This includes the following courses:

PY 362 Abnormal
Prerequisite: PY 100, PY 201

PY 374 Lifespan Development
Prerequisite: PY 100 (PY 201 recommended)

PY 382 Gender Differences
Prerequisite: PY 100 (PY 201 recommended)

PY 394 Emotion
Prerequisite: PY 100, PY 201

5) One elective course from two options:

a) A 400-level course that delves extensively into one specialty or topic. These courses will have prerequisites of relevant 300-level courses and PY 201. For instance, PY 412 Human Neuropsychology has two prerequisites: PY 201 Research Design and PY 312 Neuroscience.

OR

b) A research experience. Selection of the research experience option requires at least one full unit of research experience. (See the Research Opportunities section and Appendix C below). Students may choose either:

1) PY 451(- 455) Advanced Research Topics - an independent project supervised by a psychology faculty member.

or

2) PY 251 Psychological Investigations - a research apprenticeship working with a psychology faculty member on research.

6) PY 400 Senior Seminar. This course will have the prerequisites of PY 100, PY 201, the completion of 3 of the 4 required courses from the Biobehavioral and Sociobehavioral groups, and senior status.

B. Requirements outside the Department. In addition to the above requirements, psychology majors will complete the following courses outside the department or their equivalent.

1) One college-level mathematics course. Either Calculus (MA 125 or MA 126) or Probability and Statistical Modeling (MA 217).

2) One course in Probability and Statistics (either MA 117, MA 217, BY 220 or EC 200). This course is a prerequisite for PY 201 Research Design. Currently, each of the Prob. and Stat. course choices has a prerequisite, except MA 117.

3) Two courses that have been approved by the department from the Natural Science Division. These courses must have a significant laboratory component. Appendix A below lists examples of courses that can fulfill this requirement. Students may petition the department to have other courses count toward this requirement.

4) One course that has been approved by the department from the Social Science Division. Appendix B below lists examples lists examples of courses that fulfill this requirement. Students may petition the department to have other courses count toward this requirement.

Students may petition the department to count courses toward the Major’s outside requirement other than those listed in Appendices A and B. If you wish to petition the department, please provide a written request to the Chair of the department outlining the course you wish to substitute, your justification for the substitution, and any supporting documentation (i.e., course description, syllabus, etc.).

C. Comprehensive Examination. Beginning with the graduating class of 1997-98, majors must pass the psychology comprehensive exam. Comprehensives will be given at 1 PM on the first Monday of Blocks 3 and 7 each year. Prospective examinees must have completed three of the four courses from the Biobehavioral and Sociobehavioral groups or have earned Senior status. Examinees should register with the psychology department secretary to take the exam at least one block before the exam is given. A list of potential questions will be distributed before the exam.

Rationale for requirements. For students not interested in graduate school, the breadth and depth of the courses provide a good background in academic psychology, an appreciation of logical arguments, and practice in critical thinking. The courses prepare students to use their intellectual abilities and become thoughtful, productive individuals in any lifestyle. The psychology curriculum is in keeping with the best liberal arts tradition but has neither a trendy nor an applied emphasis.

The curriculum should also prepare Colorado College students for graduate school. Although graduate schools vary considerably in their requirements, all require a course in Research Design. In general, you improve your chances of acceptance in graduate school by good performance in psychology courses and showing breadth and ability in your choice of other science courses. For instance, psychology majors with computer and math skills and a solid biological background will be very competitive for neuroscience, developmental, clinical, and general experimental psychology graduate programs. In addition, a chemistry background is valuable for psychopharmacology, neuroscience, and perception. Physics is useful for cognition, neuroscience, and perception (e.g., vision, hearing, touch).

Please see the separate section on the Comprehensive Examination Guide for additional information.

Appendix A: Fulfilling requirements in Natural Science Division

Students majoring in psychology must take two courses from the following list of courses in the Natural Sciences. Please check for course availability and descriptions in the current Catalog of Courses. Courses listed here may not be offered each year. Students selecting courses to fulfill this requirement must adhere to these guidelines:

• Any course chosen must have a significant laboratory component (30-40 hours) and be listed in the catalog as a lab course (Course descriptions change from year to year and the same course may be listed as a lab course one year but not the next).
• This is not an exhaustive list of the courses that may fulfill this requirement. Any course not on this list that a student feels is equivalent must be petitioned (preferably in advance) to the Psychology Department for approval, with no guarantee that it will be approved by the department.
• Submit petition to the current department chair with supporting materials (e.g., course description, syllabus, etc.).
  (Last updated May 7, 2003)

1. Anthropology

AN 101 Biological Anthropology

2. Biology

BY 100 Studies in Biology (Sample of recent subtitles below)
[The course titles offered in Studies in Biology may change from year to year. These courses fulfill the requirement only when the catalog description includes the statement, "(Meets the laboratory/field requirement for natural sciences.)"]

Biology and History of Infectious Diseases On the Nature of Parasites and People Parasites and People Principles and Applications of Human Heredity

The Science and Ethics of Genetics Sociobiology Women's Health

BY 108 Biology of Invertebrates
BY 109 Biology of Vertebrates
BY 203 Field Zoology (Prereq.- BY 108 or BY 109 or COI*)
BY 208 Ecology (Prereq.- one unit of from BY 105, 108, 109 or GY 130 or GY 140 and CH 107)
BY 210 Cell Biology (Prereq.- CH 108 and BY 105, 107, 108 or 109 or COI*; CH 205 strongly recommended)
BY 332 Animal Behavior (Prereq.- 2 zoology courses or COI*)
BY 351 Principles of Genetics and Evolution (Prereq.- BY 210 or COI*)

3. Chemistry

CH 107 General Chemistry I (Prereq.- 2 yrs. high school algebra and 1 yr. of high school chemistry, or COI*)
CH 108 General Chemistry II (Prereq.- CH 107)
CH 250 Structures of Organic Molecules (Prereq.- CH 108)

4. Mathematics

MA 217# Probability and Statistical Modeling (Prereq.- MA 117 or MA 126)
MA 221 Computer Science I (Some previous programming experience is helpful)

5. Physics

PC 129 Acoustics
PC 137 Conceptual Physics
PC 141 Introductory Physics I (MA 126 Calculus I is recommended)
PC 142 Introductory Physics II (Prereq.- PC 141)
PC 151 Biophysics: Physics and Living Things
PC 241 Introductory Classical Physics I (Prereq.- MA 128 or equivalent and high school physics or COI*)
PC 242 Introductory Classical Physics II (Prereq.- PC 241 or COI*)

6. Sport Science

SC 206 Exercise Physiology (Prereq.- High school biology)
SC 301 Biomechanics: Analysis of Human Performance (Prereq. - BY/SC 207 and SC 211 or BY/SC 205 and COI*)
SC 302 Anatomical Kinesiology (Prereq.- BY/SC 207 and SC 211, junior standing and COI*)

7. Studies in the Natural Sciences (General Studies at CC)

NS 121 Introduction to Digital Computing
NS 225 Artificial Intelligence: A Programming Perspective (Prereq.- MA 221 or COI*)

COI* - Consent of Instructor
# Does not fulfill the NS requirement for Psychology if used as a prerequisite for PY 201-Research Design.

Students majoring in psychology must take one course from the following list of courses in the Social Sciences. This is not an exhaustive list of courses that may fulfill this requirement. Additional courses will be considered for approval on a case-by-case basis. Students should petition the department to have other courses count toward this requirement. Submit petition to the current department chair with supporting materials (e.g., course description, syllabus, etc.). Please check for course availability and descriptions in the current Catalog of Courses. Courses listed here may not be offered each year.

1. Anthropology

AN 102 Cultural Anthropology
AN 201 Human Evolution (Prereq.- AN 101 or 110 or COI*)
AN 202 Human Biological Variation (Prereq.- AN 101 or 110 or COI*)
AN 211 The Culture Area (topics vary)
AN 216 Human Adaptability
AN 239 Women, Men, and "Others": Gender Cross-Culturally (also WS 239)
AN 246 Ethnography and Culture Critique
AN 247 Theory in Cultural Anthropology
AN 250 Language and Culture
AN 255 Language Acquisition
AN 304 Forensic Anthropology (Prereq: AN 201 or 202 or COI; Statistics suggested; no credit after AN301 or AN303)
AN 305 Topics in Biological Anthropology (Prereq: AN 201 or 202 or COI*)
AN 326 Religion and Ritual (Prereq. AN 102 or 111 or COI*)
AN 376 Culture and Power: Political Anthropology (Prereq: AN 102 or 111 or COI*)

2. Economics and Business

EC 102 Households and Markets
EC 151 Principles of Microeconomics

3. General Studies

GS 315 Human Sexual Behavior

4. History

HY 252 The Origins of Modern Science
HY 256 Education in the West (Prereq.-Completion of the AP:A requirement)

5. Political Science

PS 213 Leadership in Theory and Practice

6. Sociology

SO 100 Thinking Sociologically
SO 107 Inequality
SO 150 Aging and the Life Course
SO 212 The Nature of Sexual Inequality
SO 219 The Sociology of Health and Illness (Prereq.: any SO 100-level)
SO 223 Racial Inequality
SO 235 Sociology of Family
SO 243 Social Movements
SO 314 Sociology of Culture (Prereq: SO 100)
SO 380 Sociology of Education

COI* - Consent of Instructor

Appendix C: PY 451 Final Project Preparation and Application

All psychology majors are required to complete at least one block of a Final Project. The final project takes one of three forms:

(a) Empirical research: This is supervised empirical research leading to a publishable paper. Students design a project, collect and analyze data, and write up a paper in a manner appropriate for a peer-reviewed journal. Examples of such research articles can be found in Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, Developmental Psychology, Journal of Abnormal Psychology, Journal of Experimental Psychology, and Cerebral Cortex.

(b) Literature review: This is a critical review of the literature that addresses a particular issue. Students carefully outline the topic they will address, and use (primarily) journal articles to support their thesis. Such a review is not a mere summary of the literature; instead, it critically analyzes existing literature to a particular end. Examples of such reviews can be found in Psychological Bulletin, and Nature Reviews Neuroscience (online).

(c) Directed field study: This is an project completed in the community under the direct supervision of a Colorado College (CC) faculty member. In addition to the service component, the project results in a final paper (e.g., grant/program application, critical summary) that is negotiated between the supervising CC faculty, the student, and the agency director.

Considerable preparation is required of all students prior to conducting their final project. Outlined below are the necessary steps.

Preparation. In the year prior to conducting their final project, students decide (in consultation with professors) the kind of project they wish to complete, and with which professor they would like to conduct their project. The following is the general timeline:

Blocks 1-5: Make appointments with individual professors to discuss potential research options. Professors will outline to students prospective projects, opportunities, and limitations. As you speak to each of the professors, take specific notes about each project type and the description of the potential projects. You will need this information to complete the Final Project Application. Failure to meet to discuss potential topics with professors will greatly limit a students’ opportunities regarding the final project.(You can find a list of faculty interests in the Research Opportunities section of this handbook.).

Block 6: By the last Monday of Block 6, complete the application for Final Project, including preferences for professor and type of project to be completed. An application is considered pending, if the student's major declaration is not on file with the chair of the department. Provide the information as requested on the online application.The Department makes final decisions about Final Projects, and notifies students of acceptance.

Block 7: Students register for courses, including PY451: Final Project.

Blocks 7-8: Students meet with their Final Project advisor to discuss individual projects for the next year.

Below is more detailed information on each of these steps.

Application process. After meeting with individual professors and learning about their options, students complete the Final Project application online by the last Monday of Block 6. On the application students:

1. Select their three choices for professor.

2. Select the type of final project they would prefer to do with each professor (e.g., empirical research, literature review, or directed field study).

3. Breifly describe their preferred project for each of the professors—a short summary for each will suffice. The better prepared the students are, the more likely they will get their top choice. However, students are not automatically guaranteed their first choice of professor or type of final project. For a student's preferences to be considered, a declaration of major must be on file with the chair of the department.

4. State how many blocks will be involved for each of the potential projects.

Acceptance process. By the end of Block 6, the psychology department meets with all applications in hand to accept and assign applications to professors. Before the start of Block 7, students will be notified with whom they will be conducting their Final Project, and what type of project they will be doing.

Registration. During block 7, students will register for their courses, including their Final Project course. Students, in consultation with their Project Professor, may register for more than one block (i.e., PY451, 452, etc.).

Follow-up. During blocks 7 and/or 8, students will meet with their Project Professor to discuss their Final Project, including expectations, timelines, and overall goals.

Guidelines for Final Project paper:

1) The paper may be either (a) an empirical study (including case reports or ethnographic research) or (b) a literature review (i.e., library research) involving a critical synthesis of current literature, usually to support a specific hypothesis.

2) The paper follows exactly the guidelines of the American Psychological Association’s (APA) Publication Manual (4th ed.). Students writing an ART manuscript should purchase this manual as part of the ART block.

3) The paper is well-written and concise. Typically, empirical studies should not exceed 20-25 pages of text; literature reviews should not exceed 25-30 pages of text.

4) The paper, which should make a significant contribution to the field, will be evaluated by all full-time psychology professors according to several criteria: depth of analysis, the importance of the hypothesis being explored, the competence of the work, and the quality of writing.

5) The student must present the research at Psychology and Neuroscience Poster Day during Block 8 (as the date approaches, see Events and Announcements for details). Students are also encouraged to present their research at a professional meeting.

Evaluation of Final Project. All final projects must be submitted to the Project Professor by 3PM of the first day of Block 7. Late Final Projects will likely not be evaluated in time for Spring graduation.

Students turn in two copies of their final version to their Project Professor. Each Project Professor grades the Final Project and then puts it in a pool, where one other psychology professor, anonymously, evaluates the Final Project, as being Acceptable, Acceptable with revisions, or Not acceptable. If there is considerable disagreement between the two professors, a third professor will be asked to evaluate the project. If it is deemed necessary, students may be required to revise or redo their final project. The student will receive that feedback by the end of the third week of block 7.

If the student meets the GPA criterion for distinction, each of the readers will decide if the paper should be given distinction.

For December graduates:
1. Students must hand in the Final Project by the last day of block 3 in the year they are graduating. It will be read by a second reader and feedback will be provided to the students by the end of the second week of Block 4.
2. Students are required to participate in Poster Day on the third Friday of Block 4.

http://www.ColoradoCollege.edu/dept/PY/RequireOld.html
Copyright 2008 Colorado College