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PSYCH 100
Research Participation
Career Information
Advice and Strategies for job-seeking psychology majors
Contact Information
Terri Fisher, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Program Coordinator
Ovalwood 335
(419) 755-4280
Psychology Major at Ohio State Mansfield
Overview of Major Requirements for students who started Autumn 2008 to present.
Fifty-eight (58) credits in Psychology department coursework. This coursework is distributed across four categories:
Data Analysis & Research Requirements, Core Requirements, Advanced Requirements, and Additional Courses.
Psychology 100: General Psychology is a pre-requisite for all psychology coursework. Psychology 100 fulfills both a Social Science and a Social Diversity GEC. This course does not count as hours on the major.
Section I. Data Analysis & Research Requirements
(Take both of the courses listed below)
220 Introduction to Data Analysis in Psychology (5)
300 Introduction to Research in Psychology (4)
Section II. Core Requirements
(Take one course in each of the 6 areas listed below)
A. Perception and Action
302 Introduction to the Psychology of Listening and Reading (4)
309 Human Motor Control and Learning (4)
310 Basic Psychology: Perception (4)
311 Motivation & Action (3)
B. Memory, Decision-Making, and Language
312 Learning, Memory, and Cognition (4)
465 Cognition, Language, and Memory (4)
508 Psychology of Judgment and Decision-Making (5)
C. Clinical/Counseling Psychology
331 Abnormal Psychology (5)
335 Psychology of Adjustment (4)
540 Introduction to Counseling Psychology (4)
D. Developmental Psychology
340 Introduction to Life Span Developmental Psychology (5)
550 Psychology of Childhood (4)
551 Adolescence (5)
552 Psychology of the Adult Years (3)
E. Behavioral Neuroscience
313 Introduction to Behavioral Neuroscience (5)
F. Social Psychology
325 Social Psychology (5) *
375 Stereotyping and Prejudice (4)
376 Interpersonal Relationships (5)
* If Psych. 367.01 is used as a second-level writing course for the GEC requirement, it also satisfies the core requirement in the Social Psychology Core Requirement sub-area. However, the credits are not applied to the total credits for the major.
Section III. Advanced Requirements
(Take at least one course from each of the 3 Advanced Areas below)
A. Behavioral Neuroscience and Cognitive Processes
500 Experimental Psychology (5)
501 Advanced Behavioral Neuroscience (4)
503 Introduction to Cognitive Psychology (4)
510 Research Methods in Cognitive Psychology (5)
513 Introduction to Cognitive Neuroscience (4)
600 Psychology of Learning (5)
601 Comparative Psychology (5)
603 Visual Perception (3)
606 High Level Vision (4)
608 Mathematical Psychology (3)
609 Introduction to Mathematical Models (4)
612 Introduction to Cognitive Science (3)
H613 Biological Bases of Psychopathology (4)
617 Neural Network Models (4)
620 Human Performance (5)
623 Biological Clocks and Behavior (4)
624 Psychology of Monkeys and Apes (5)
644 Behavioral Endocrinology (4)
650 Psychobiology of Stress (4)
B. Clinical and Developmental Psychological Science
511 Psychological Testing (4)
531 Health Psychology (4)
532 Clinical Psychological Science (5)
540 Introduction to Counseling Psychology (4)
571 Psychology of Developmental Disability (4)
681 Development and Psychopathology (5)
C. Social Behavior and Personality
475 The Self (5)
520 Experimental Social Psychology (5)
522 Organizational Psychology (4)
525 Psychology of Personal Security (5)
530 Psychology of Personality (4)
545 Cross Cultural Psychology (4)
543 Psychology of Women (5)
630 Psychology of Public Attitudes (3)
Section IV. Additional Courses
To reach 58 credit hours take any 300-level or higher Psychology Department courses (Exceptions: Psychology 320, 389, and 597.xx) not otherwise taken to meet one of the Core and/or Advanced Requirements listed previously. Please note that you may apply up to a maximum of 6 credit hours of the following courses in any combination toward you psychology major program: Psychology 489, Psychology 693.xx, & Psychology 699. See the current Ohio State University Course Offerings Bulletin for a complete list.
Additional Information
- A psychology major offers liberal arts students considerable depth and breadth of exposure to disciplined inquiry into human and animal behavior. A major in psychology can provide a strong foundation for professional training or graduate study in psychology. However, the undergraduate degree alone is not sufficient training for a career in psychology.
- For courses to apply toward the major or minor, you must earn at least a “C-.“ To earn your degree you will need a major GPA of at least a 2.0 (does not include psychology 100.)
- A third-level writing course (Psych. 500, 510, and 520) is not required for the B.A. in psychology. However, a third-level writing course is recommended, as well as Psychology 321, for students considering graduate work in psychology.
- Research experience via Psychology 699 (Undergraduate Research in Psychology) is also highly valuable and strongly encouraged/expected for students considering graduate work in psychology. You may enroll in Psychology 699 by instructor permission only. Not more than six credit hours combined of Psychology 693 (Individual Studies), Psychology 699 or Psychology 489 (Internship in Psychology) may be applied toward the 58 hours required for the major. However, many students choose to earn more than six credits of 699 research experience. For a listing of opportunities for Psychology 699, please see: http://sv2.psy.ohio-state.edu/693/available.asp.
- Students who are interested in exploring career options are encouraged to take Psychology 389 (Career Exploration in Psychology). This 3-credit hour course is graded S/U and provides students with the opportunity to explore career areas and develop career search skills. This course does not count on the major program.
- Seminar offerings (Psychology 394, 594, 695 and 794) are available to advanced undergraduates. Students should keep informed of these seminars by contacting the Advising Office or checking their website. A maximum of six hours of Psychology 695 can be applied to the major.
- H783 is a three-course sequence for students pursuing a senior honors thesis. Those students who wish to undertake a senior honors thesis (an application to the Honors Program is required) work closely with a Department of Psychology faculty member. Students propose a research topic, conduct the study, write an honors thesis, and take an oral examination on their work. Completing the honors thesis successfully and maintaining an overall GPA of 3.4 (and a 3.5 GPA in psychology) permits the student to graduate with "Research Distinction in Psychology". It is best for students to find a faculty mentor with whom to work by the autumn quarter of their third year. Most often, this will be a faculty member with whom the student has participated in Psychology 699. Students will enroll in Psychology H783.01 beginning in spring quarter of their junior year, followed by H783.02 in autumn of their senior year and H783.03 in winter of their senior year. Only four of the nine credits earned through H783 will be applied to the major. The remainder of the credits is applied to total credits required for graduation. For more information, see http://undergrad.psy.ohio-state.edu/html/u_research1.htm.
- Students who have a research proposal may apply for an undergraduate research scholarship through the Colleges of Arts and Sciences. Scholarship competitions occur both in the autumn and the spring. Applications may be obtained at the Honors Office in Enarson Hall and online at http://aschonors.osu.edu/scholarship.cfm. In addition, there are two research scholarships (the Alkire Research Scholarship and Frederick Y. Billingslea Research Scholarship) available through the Department of Psychology. Applications are available early in spring quarter for the following academic year. Students who pursue research in the department may also participate in the Department of Psychology Undergraduate Research Colloquium and the university-wide Denman Research Forum held during spring quarter.
- Students planning to graduate "With Honors in Arts and Sciences" should see http://undergrad.psy.ohiostate.
edu/html/honors_req.htm for information on Honors Contract requirements for psychology majors.
Overview of Major Requirements for students who started OSU prior to Autumn 2008.
Forty-eight (48) credits in Psychology department (or department approved) coursework at the 300-level and above. This coursework is distributed across three levels: Core Requirements, Advanced Requirements, and Elective Courses.
· Psych. 100: General Psychology and Psych. 300: Introduction to Research in Psychology are required of all psychology majors (Psych. 100 fulfills a GEC requirement; Psych. 300 counts toward the major).
100 General Psychology (5 credits)
Introductory psychology, a prerequisite to advanced courses; the application of the scientific method to behavior; topics include learning, motivation, perception, personality, physiological basis of behavior. GEC/LAR course. SS Admis Cond course.300 Research in Psychology: An Introduction (4 credits)
An overview of issues, methods, and techniques of scientific psychological research. Prerequisite: 100.
· Minimum of one course in each of the Core Requirement areas (A-E) as listed below in Section I.
· Minimum of two additional courses at the 500-level and above (Advanced Requirements). Choose from two of the five sub-areas as listed below in Section II. Note: Psych. 475: The Self and Psych. 695: Seminars in Psychology can be used as advanced requirement courses. Psych. 693 cannot be used to meet this requirement.
· Minimum grade of a "C-" in any course to be counted toward the major. Minimum major GPA of 2.0 for graduation (Does not include Psych. 100 nor Stats. 145).
· If Psych. 367.01 is used as a second-level writing course for the GEC requirement, it may also be used to satisfy the core requirement in the Social Psychology sub-area. However, the credits are not applied to the total credits for the major. A third-level writing course (Psych. 500, 510, and 520) is not required for the B.A. in psychology. However, it is recommended, as well as Psych. 321, for those students considering graduate work in psychology.
· B.A. students in psychology must take Stats. 145 or an equivalent course (e.g. Psych. 320) to meet the "Data Analysis" requirement of the GEC.
· B.S. students in psychology must take either Stat. 245 or Psych. 220, which will not be counted toward the major. B.S. students must also take Psych. 321 and one of the advanced research methods courses (Psych. 500, 510, or 520) and these will be counted toward the major.
Only courses taught regularly at the Mansfield campus are listed here. Other courses may be offered from time to time. Students interested in the BS degree will need to take the advanced statistics and advanced research methods courses at another campus of OSU. The Mansfield campus does not offer these courses at this time.
Complete listing of the OSU courses that meet the psychology major requirement:
Section I. Core Requirements (Choose one course from each of the five subareas of this section.)
A. Cognition/Attention/Performance
312 Learning, Memory, and Cognition (4 credits)
An introduction to experimental study of human memory, learning, and cognition. Prerequisite: 100; and 219 or 220, or Stat 125 or 245.
B. Clinical/Counseling Psychology
331 Psychopathology and Psychotherapy I (5 credits)
Examination of current problems, issues, theories, and approaches to psychological deviance. Prerequisite: 100.
335 Psychology of Adjustment (4 credits)
Examination of psychological concepts and theories related to individual adjustment and adaptation. Prerequisite: 100 .
540 Counseling Psychology: An Introduction (4 credits)
Introduction to the theories, research, and practice of counseling psychology. Prereq: 100 and an additional 5 cr hrs of course work in psychology.
C. Developmental Psychology
340 Introduction to Life Span Developmental Psychology (5 credits)
A survey of developmental psychology from birth through old age. Prerequisite: 100.
550 Psychology of Childhood (4 credits)
Presentation of psychological aspects of growth and development in early and middle childhood. Prerequisite: 100.
551 Adolescence (5 credits)
A study of the outstanding characteristics of the adolescent, the educational and social problems arising at this period, and means for dealing with these problems. Prerequisite: 100.
D. Behavioral Neuroscience
310 Basic Psychology: Perception (4 credits)
Theory, methods, and physiological correlates of sensory and perceptual processes; emphasis on the relation of behavior to stimulus variation. Prerequisite: 100; and 320, or Stat 125 or 245.
313 Behavioral Neuroscience (5 credits)
Introduction to the structure and function of the nervous system in relation to behavior.
Prerequisite: 300.
E. Social Psychology
367.01 Social Psychology (5 credits)
Survey of group processes as they affect individual behavior; topics include individual motivation, group behavior, attitudes, and perception of self and others. Prerequisite: 100, English 110 or 111 or equivalent and sophomore standing or above. GEC/LAR Second Writing Course. Not open to students with credit for 320.
375 Stereotyping and Prejudice (4 credits)
Lectures address experimental research in stereotyping and prejudice; readings focus on historical, cultural, and sociological perspectives on issues related to gender, tthnicity, and social class. Prereq: 100. GEC social diversity course.
Section II. Advanced Requirements
(Choose at least one course from two of the five subareas of this section.
These courses cannot be the same as those taken to meet a Core Requirement.)
A. Cognition/Attention/Performance
In this class we will discuss cognitive, perceptual, and statistical issues that have special application to performance in sports. This course will examine how psychological principles can be applied to understand the behavior and enhance the performance of athletes, coaches, umpires, and fans. Prereq: Written permission of instructor; either 219 or 220 or 320, or Stat 145 or 245; and 17 credit hours in Psychology above the 200 level; or graduate standing. No more than six credits of any 695 work will count toward the major.
B. Clinical/Counseling Psychology
540 Introduction to Counseling Psychology (4 credits)
Introduction to the theories, research, and practice of counseling psychology. Prereq: 100 and an additional 5 cr hrs of course work in psychology.
543 Psychology of Women (5 credits)
Exploration of the nature and causes of sex differences in behavior patterns and factors influencing development of women through psychological theory and research. Prerequisite: 100 and an additional 7 credit hours in psychology.
C. Developmental Psychology
550 Psychology of Childhood (4 credits)
Presentation of psychological aspects of growth and development in early and middle childhood. Prerequisite: 100.
551 Adolescence (5 credits)
A study of the outstanding characteristics of the adolescent, the educational and social problems arising at this period, and means for dealing with these problems. Prerequisite: 100.
An examination of the psychological, biological, and social influences on adolescent sexuality. Prerequisite: 100 and 340 or 551 or equivalent.
D. Behavioral Neuroscience
513 Introduction to Cognitive Science (4 credits)
Examination of the neuroscientific approach to the study of cognition; primary focus on the psychobiology of memory, attention, language, and spatial orientation. Prerequisite: Psych 313 or permission of instructor.
601 Comparative Psychology (5 credits)
Research on animal behavior by psychologists and ethologists; studies of the behavior of different species in the lab and in the field. Prerequisite: Psychololgy 100 and an additional 15 credit hours in psychology or zoology, or permission of instructor.
E. Social Psychology
None at present.
Section III. Elective Courses
(Any 300-level or higher Psychology Department or department-approved course not otherwise taken to meet one of the Core and/or Advanced Requirements listed previously, and the courses listed below. See also the current Ohio State University Course Offerings Bulletin.)
321 Quantitative and Statistical Methods in Psychology (4 credits)
A concentrated examination of appications of statistical tools in inference in contemporary psychology; hypothesis testing, regression, correlation, and analysis of variance. Prerequisite: 100; 320, or Stat 145 or 245.
333.02 Human Behavior Problems: Sexual (5 credits)
A survey of scientific research on human sexuality using a psychological perspective with emphasis on selected social issues such as AIDS, homosexuality, adolescent pregnancy, sexual violence pornography. Prerequisite: 100.
505 Historical Development of Psychology (5 credits)
A consideration of the development of modern scientific psychology from its roots in the school of the 19th century to its contemporary status. Prerequisite: 100 and an additional 11 credit hours in psychology.
693 Individual Studies (1-15)
Individual reading or research projects by special agreement between instructor and student. Prerequisite: 100, an additional 9 credit hours in psychology, and permission of instructor. No more than six hours of Psychology 693 may be applied toward the 40 hours required for the major. Graded S/U.
699 Undergraduate Research in Psychology (credits are variable)
Supervised, collaborative research in psychology. Prereq: 100 and permission of instructor. Repeatable to a maximum of 15 cr hrs. No more than 6 hrs (together with Psych 693.0x) may be counted toward psychology major requirements. Graded S/U.
A program of readings, conferences, and reports selected to aid the student in completing a senior honors thesis. Prerequisite: Candidate for degree with distinction. Only four credits hours may count toward the major.
Additional Information
1. A psychology major offers liberal arts students considerable depth and breadth of exposure to disciplined inquiry into human and animal behavior. A major in psychology can provide a strong foundation for professional training or graduate study in psychology. However, the undergraduate degree alone is not sufficient training for a career in psychology.
2. In general, students interested in graduate training in psychology should gain a broad background in psychology rather than concentrate in any one area. Research experience via Psychology 693 or 699 is also highly valuable and strongly encouraged. Not more than six credit hours of Psychology 693, 699 or Psychology 489 Internship may be applied toward the 48 hours required for the major. However, many students choose to earn more than six credits of 693 research experience.
The total number of 693 credit hours awarded for pre-approved (by the Advising Office), psychology-related, community service activities will be limited to four hours. A short reaction paper (two pages typed), describing the students' impressions of their volunteer activities is required in the eighth week of the quarter. Please see the Advising Office for registration information regarding this opportunity.
3. Seminar offerings (Psychology 394, 594, 695 and 794) are available to advanced undergraduates. Students should keep informed of these seminars by contacting the Advising Office or checking their website. A maximum of six hours of Psychology 695 can be applied to the major.
4. H783 is a three-course sequence for students pursuing a senior honors thesis. Those students who wish to undertake a senior honors thesis (an application to the Honors Program is required) work closely with a Department of Psychology faculty mentor. Students propose a research topic, conduct the study, write an honors thesis, and take an oral examination on their work. Completing the honors thesis successfully and maintaining an overall GPA of 3.3 and a 3.5 GPA in psychology permits the student to graduate with "Distinction in Psychology". It is best for students to find a faculty mentor with whom to work by the spring quarter of the year before they graduate. Only four of the nine credits earned through H783 will be applied to the major. The remainder of the credits is applied to total credits required for graduation.
5. Students who have a research proposal formulated before April 15 of the preceding spring may apply for an undergraduate research scholarship through the Colleges of Arts and Sciences. Applications may be obtained at the Honors Office in Denney Hall and are due about the middle of April. Recipients will receive a monetary award to support their research. In addition, there are two research scholarships (the Alkire Research Scholarship or Frederick Y. Billingslea Research Scholarship) available through the Department of Psychology. Please contact the Advising Office, 136 Townshend for further information.
Students who pursue research in the department may also participate in the Department of Psychology Undergraduate Research Colloquium and the university-wide undergraduate research colloquium held during spring quarter.