Psychology Courses. 32 hours including an introductory course.
Supporting Courses. 12 hours chosen in consultation with an
adviser.
Psychology is the scientific study of human and animal
behavior. Psychologists study behavior in systems ranging from single
cells to the individual person, from small groups to
communities. Psychologists strive to describe behavior and to
understand its underlying biological and social mechanisms. This
enterprise, designed to better understand human behavior, accumulates
knowledge that can help solve problems faced by individuals and by
communities.
Some areas of interest in psychology:
Biological psychology is the study of the biological mechanisms underlying behavior. Biological psychologists generally are
interested in the brain and the nervous system, in the endocrine
system, and in other organismic processes.
Clinical psychology is the study of problems encountered by individuals, groups, and families--especially problems involving
psychopathology. Clinical psychologists are interested in the
application of psychological knowledge and techniques for the
alleviation of these problems.
Community psychology is the study of social processes and problems of groups, organizations, and neighborhoods, and the
development and evaluation of progress for social change and social
policy based on psychological understanding.
Developmental psychology is the study of intellectual development, emerging personality, and the acquisition of language, as
well as psychophysiological and social development processes as
individuals develop from birth through old age.
Engineering psychology uses scientific study to develop an understanding of human behavior, and to improve the efficiency of
interactions between humans and machines.
Experimental psychology is the study of basic behavioral and cognitive processes, including learning, memory, perception,
attention, problem solving, motivation, and psycholinguistics.
Measurement and mathematical psychology specialists develop mathematical models of psychological processes and devise methods for
quantitative representation and analysis of data about behavior. These
are used in the study of differences between individuals in ability,
personality, preferences, and other psychological phenomena.
Personality psychology focuses on individual behavior. It is the study of ways to understand and describe an individual's
behavior and to predict an individual's future behavior.
Personnel psychology is the application of techniques of assessment, prediction, and intervention to areas of human resources
in organizations, including, but not limited to, standard personnel
selection and training, attitude assessments and interventions, and
program evaluations.
Social psychology is the study of attitudes, social perception and cognition, interpersonal relations, interpersonal
interactions, and social and cultural factors affecting human
behavior.
Psychology Requirements. A minimum of 32 hours in psychology
including 12 hours of advanced courses. Advanced courses in psychology
include
PSYCH 291,
PSYCH 293,
PSYCH 294,
PSYCH 297,
PSYCH 298, and all 300-level courses.
1. Introductory course in psychology
(PSYCH 100,
PSYCH 103, or
PSYCH 105)
2. Statistics for psychologists
(PSYCH 235 or equivalent)
3. Two courses from the following:
PSYCH 210--The Brain and Mind;
PSYCH 217--Comparative Development;
PSYCH 224--Cognitive Psychology;
PSYCH 230 Perception and Sensory Processes;
PSYCH 248--Psychology of Learning and Memory;
PSYCH 258--Human Factors in Human-Machine Systems
4. Two courses from the following:
PSYCH 201--Introduction to Social Psychology;
PSYCH 216--Child Psychology;
PSYCH 238--Abnormal Psychology;
PSYCH 239--Community Psychology;
PSYCH 245--Industrial Organizational Psychology;
PSYCH 250--Psychology of Personality
5. A laboratory/research methods course in psychology selected from
PSYCH 211,
PSYCH 231,
PSYCH 311,
PSYCH 329,
PSYCH 331,
PSYCH 332,
PSYCH 333,
PSYCH 345,
PSYCH 347,
PSYCH 350,
PSYCH 363,
PSYCH 390,
or an independent
study/laboratory experience (e.g.
PSYCH 294) which has the recommendation of the faculty sponsor and the
approval of the Undergraduate Studies Committee as being an
appropriate substitute for the laboratory course experience.
6. A minimum of 12 hours of advanced psychology courses taken in
residence at UIUC.
Supporting Course Work Requirements. A minimum of 12 hours
is required in course work outside psychology that will complement the
core program. These courses must be approved by an academic
adviser.
A number of emphases within the major in psychology are designed for
students who are seeking general liberal arts degrees, applied
degrees, or degrees that will provide a solid academic background in
preparation for graduate education in psychology and related
fields.
Lists of the required and suggested courses are available from the
psychology undergraduate advising office.
General psychology is designed for students interested in a
broad liberal arts education with psychology as a focal area and for
students who plan to attend graduate or professional school in fields
other than psychology. Examples of these specializations include
premedicine, prelaw, and preparation for graduate work in fields such
as social work, business administration, and labor relations.
Graduate preparatory in psychology is designed mainly to
provide students with a solid academic background that will prepare
them for graduate education in a number of psychology
specializations. Career opportunities in these specializations vary,
as does the required level of graduate school training. While a
doctorate is needed for most areas of academic psychology, a master's
degree is sufficient for careers in many applied psychology fields
such as personnel psychology, measurement psychology, and engineering
psychology.
The mental health workers program is designed to develop
knowledgeable and experimental mental health practitioners capable of
providing direct services to clients as well as supervising
lower-level staff members in the implementation of treatment
programs. Training includes a core of general and mental
health-related psychology courses and a series of field
placements.
A combined engineering-liberal
arts and sciences five-year program leading to bachelor's
degrees from both colleges
is available with a psychology major. Psychology and supporting
courses are combined with the student's engineering curriculum to
provide a specialization in engineering psychology. Tailored to
complement the engineering curriculum, this program can be of
potential benefit to the student's engineering career or used as the
foundation for graduate training in engineering psychology. An
engineering psychology program might include
PSYCH 103,
PSYCH 224,
PSYCH 230,
PSYCH 231,
PSYCH 235,
PSYCH 245,
PSYCH 248,
PSYCH 258,
PSYCH 301,
PSYCH 329,
PSYCH 356,
and relevant seminars.
Departmental Distinction. Graduation with departmental
distinction requires successful completion of the department's
undergraduate honors program. This program is a three-semester pattern
of courses designed to offer the promising undergraduate an
opportunity to do sustained scholarly work in a specific research
project, culminating in the preparation of a bachelor's
thesis. Consult the undergraduate advisory office for details.
The psychology undergraduate advising office is open to help students
choose patterns of courses relevant to the various major options and
specializations, as well as to help students explore graduate school,
professional school, and career options. Advising is done by the
faculty and a staff of academic counselors.
A psychology student information center (PSI center), staffed
by student volunteers, provides student-to-student information about
various department and community educational opportunities, career and
graduate school planning, and related topics.
Interdisciplinary Minor in Gerontology
A minor in gerontology is available for LAS majors in psychology and
sociology. The minor is offered through the Departments of Community
Health, Kinesiology, Leisure Studies, Psychology, and Sociology; the
Division of Human Development and Family Studies; and the School of
Social Work. Psychology and sociology students interested in the minor
should consult with their major department's undergraduate studies
director.
A minimum of 18 hours in gerontology distributed as listed in the
following section are required. At least 6 hours of the total of 18
hours must be taken from outside the student's own department.
| HOURS | |
|---|---|
| 3 | BIOL 108--Biology of Human Aging, or |
| 9 | CSB 234--Functional Human Anatomy and PHYSL 103--Introduction to Human Physiology with 4 hours credited to the minor, or |
| 7 | PHYSL 103--Introduction to Human Physiology and KINES 359--Physical Activity and Aging with 7 hours credited to the minor |
| 3 | CHLTH/HDFS/LEIST/PSYCH/ REHAB 214--Introduction to Aging , or equivalent, and |
| Two courses in gerontology taken from: | |
| 3 | HDFS 304--Gerontology |
| 3 | KINES 359--Physical Activity and Aging |
| 3 | LEIST 231--Leisure and Aging |
| 3 | SOC W 315--Social Work Services for the Aged |
| 3 | SOC 348--Sociology of Aging |
| 18 | Total minimum hours. |
This total may be achieved through electives in gerontology selected
from the list above or through up to 3 hours of internship or
independent study credit.
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