Psychology Major

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Major Requirements

The major in psychology requires ten courses, distributed as follows:

PSYC 030 CM - Introduction to Psychology (a recommended first or early course in the major)
Three core courses (below 100), one from each of the following three clusters:
PSYC 109 CM - Introduction to Statistics for Psychologists
PSYC 110 CM - Research Methods and PSYC 111L CM - Research Methods Practicum (courses taken concurrently)
Three upper division elective courses in psychology (numbered above 100 at CMC; excluding PSYC 198 CM )

Notes:

• At least six of the courses in the major must be completed at CMC.
• PSYC 110 CM - PSYC 111L CM should be taken before the senior year.
• PSYC 109 CM should be taken before PSYC 110 CM - PSYC 111L CM .
• With approval from the department chair, at most one Independent Study in Psychology (PSYC 199 CM ) may be counted toward the psychology major.

In unusual circumstances, exceptions to these rules may be approved by the department chair. Students who do not complete PSYC 110 CM - PSYC 111L CM before the senior year are not eligible for honors in the major.

Suggested Sequencing of Courses for the Full Psychology Major

Freshman year: PSYC 030 CM - Introduction to Psychology and 1 under-100 psychology course from one of the three clusters.
Sophomore year: 2 under-100 psychology courses from the remaining two clusters and PSYC 109 CM - Introduction to Statistics for Psychologists .
Junior year: PSYC 110 CM - Research Methods , PSYC 111L CM - Research Methods Practicum , and 1 upper-division elective course in psychology (numbered above 100 at CMC; excluding PSYC 198 CM .
Senior year: 2 upper-division elective courses in psychology (numbered above 100 at CMC; excluding PSYC 198 CM .

This course sequence is recommended; others are also possible. Students are strongly encouraged to develop their psychology course sequence in consultation with a psychology faculty advisor.

Senior Thesis in Psychology

The senior thesis is a general education requirement and the capstone experience of a student’s undergraduate education. Students must complete a senior thesis in at least one of their majors under supervision of a faculty reader who teaches within that major, unless granted a special exception.

Students interested in receiving honors in psychology are required to complete a two-semester empirical psychology thesis project. Candidates for honors register for the full credit course PSYC 198 CM - Psychology Senior Research Seminar in the first semester of their senior year, for which they receive a letter grade. In both the first and second semesters of their senior year, they also register for thesis with a reader (for which one credit is awarded at the end of the second semester). Students doing a two-semester empirical thesis therefore earn a total of one credit in the first semester and one credit in the second semester. A grade of P (In Progress) rather than a letter grade will be assigned for the first semester of a two-semester empirical thesis. The thesis grade earned in the second semester will replace the P grade. The research seminar and the senior thesis may not be counted as courses in the major. For further information on honors, see Honors in Psychology below.

To be eligible to complete a year-long thesis in psychology, students must have completed PSYC 109 CM , PSYC 110 CM , and PSYC 111L CM before their senior year and must have earned a grade of B+ or better in all three courses. Students must also have a GPA in psychology courses of at least 10.0 at the beginning of their senior year. Students who do not qualify for a year-long thesis in psychology may petition the department to complete a year-long thesis. If the department approves the petition, then the student must recruit a faculty supervisor who is willing to supervise the thesis. However, even if the petition is approved, those students will not be eligible for honors in the major if they do not meet the requirements for honors.

Special Options for Majors

Dual Majors

Students with a dual major including psychology may waive one of the three core/cluster requirements and one of the three upper-level elective requirements. At least four major courses must be taken at CMC. Students with a dual major including psychology may write their senior thesis on a topic in psychology. For further information, see Senior Thesis in Psychology above. Note the restrictions on honors in the major for students with a dual major under Honors in Psychology .

Dual majors in economics and psychology take MATH 030 CM - Calculus I or higher for the general education requirement in mathematics.

Honors in Psychology

To qualify for honors in psychology, students must:

Have a GPA in psychology courses of at least B+ (10.00) at the beginning of the senior year and at time of graduation
Have a grade of B+ (10.00) or higher in PSYC 109 CM
Have a grade of B+ (10.00) or higher in both PSYC 110 CM and PSYC 111L CM
Complete PSYC 198 CM - Psychology Senior Research Seminar
Complete a two-semester, two-unit empirical research thesis project in psychology
Present a report on the completed research project at a formal conference held around the time theses are turned in. Following this conference the faculty in psychology selects the students to be awarded honors on the basis of criteria included with the instructions for thesis preparation.

Under College policy, students with a dual major including psychology who wish to be considered for honors in psychology are eligible for honors in psychology if they satisfy the following conditions:

Complete all requirements for a full major in psychology and are granted honors, or
Qualify and receive honors in both disciplines of their dual major. See Academic Honors at Graduation for details.

In unusual circumstances, exceptions to these requirements may be approved through a petition to the department chair.

Psi Chi

Psi Chi is the national honor society for psychology majors. To be eligible, students must satisfy the following conditions:

Have completed at least 3 semesters of college work
Have completed at least 3 psychology courses
Rank in the top 35% of their class at CMC
Have a minimum GPA of 9.0 in both psychology classes and in cumulative grades.

Each year the psychology faculty and current members of Psi Chi elect new members from among those who are eligible. For further information, contact the Psychology Department.

Accelerated MA Program in Psychology

CMC and Claremont Graduate University (CGU) offer qualified students the opportunity to obtain an accelerated MA degree in psychology from CGU one year after receiving the bachelor of arts from CMC. For further information, see MA Program in Psychology .

Learning Goals and Student Learning Outcomes of the Psychology Program

Learning Goals

Students who devote themselves to the study of psychology will achieve a variety of learning goals. These goals flow directly from an understanding of psychological science and its applications. In accordance with the American Psychological Association’s Report on the Undergraduate Psychology Major (APA 2008), we specify the following goals for psychology majors:

Knowledge of major concepts, theories, and empirical findings in psychology;
Understanding of research methods in psychology, including research design, data analysis and interpretation;
Development of critical thinking skills and use of the scientific approach to solve problems related to behavior and mental processes;
Application of psychological principles to areas such as education, law, business, politics, and medicine;
Awareness of ethical behavior in research and applied settings;
Technological literacy;
Oral and written communication skills; and
Understanding of sociocultural and international diversity and complexity.

Study Abroad

Psychology majors are encouraged to take advantage of CMC’s study abroad programs but need to consider the following:

Options for students planning to study abroad during the entire junior year:
- Complete Statistics (PSYC 109 CM or the equivalent) in the fall of the sophomore year; and Research Methods (PSYC 110 CM & PSYC 111L CM ) courses in the spring of the sophomore year.
- With special permission of the department chair, in unusual circumstances students may take the Research Methods courses and Statistics in the same semester of the sophomore year.
Options for students planning to study abroad for one semester during the junior year
- Students planning to do a one-semester senior thesis, rather than a two-semester empirical thesis may, with the permission of the department chair, complete the Research Methods courses in the fall semester of the senior year. This option allows students to study abroad for one semester during the junior year and complete Statistics in the other semester. However, it is still strongly recommended that all students complete the Research Methods courses before the senior year. Students with a one-semester thesis are not eligible for honors in psychology.
- Take Statistics in the summer or during the sophomore year, and the Research Methods courses during the semester they are on campus in the junior year.
- With permission of the department chair, students may complete Statistics while abroad. This option is only available at selected programs.

Notes:

Students studying abroad during the second semester of the junior year must obtain a thesis reader before going abroad.
Students studying abroad during the second semester of the sophomore year can complete the Research Methods (PSYC 110 CM - PSYC 111L CM ) courses and Statistics (PSYC 109 CM or equivalent) during the junior year.

General Education Requirement Information

Psychology requirement: Any CMC psychology course numbered 99 or lower fulfills the College’s general education requirement in psychology. Note that NEUR 095 JT - Foundations of Neuroscience does not meet the requirement.

Psychology majors: For the general education requirement in the social sciences and the humanities, CMC students majoring in psychology must take designated courses in all four fields of the social sciences (economics, government, history, and psychology), and in two of the four fields of the humanities (literature, philosophy, religious studies, and literature in a foreign language). Psychology majors with a dual or double major in the humanities must take courses in three humanities fields.