Suggested Courses for Students Planning to Attend Graduate School in Psychology

Clinical Psychology

Clinical psychology involves assessment and treatment of individuals with mental illness or problems such as drug abuse an brain injuries. Some Clinical Psychologists also conduct research on the causes and treatment of mental illnesses. Compared to counseling programs, clinical programs have much more competitive admissions (about as competitive as medical school), and clinical programs will prepare you to work with individuals who have more severe problems such as schizophrenia or brain injury.

Important Courses to Complete:

PSY 235 Conditioning and Learning
PSY 240 Psychology of Personality
PSY 265 Childhood and Adolescence or
PSY 352 Psychology of Adulthood and Aging (or both)
PSY 270 Social Psychology
PSY 330 Abnormal Psychology
PSY 361 Psychology of Group Interaction
PSY 301 Experimental Psychology
PSY 305 Applied Research Methods
PSY 384 Person-to-Person Interaction
PSY 440 History and Systems
PSY 485 Tests and Measurements

Experience in clinical/mental health setting is absolutely essential:

Relevant employment or volunteer work
PSY 385 Internship in Psychology (in a mental health setting)

Research Experience, such as:

PSY 374, 375 Advanced Research in Psychology I & II

Cognitive Psychology

Cognitive psychologists experimentally study the processes and organizational principles of human memory, reasoning, concept formation an other higher mental processes. Cognitive psychologists are usually found in academic, medical (esp. neurological), or industrial settings

Important Courses to Complete:

PSY 397 Human Cognitive Development
PSY 235 Conditioning and Learning
PSY 270 Social Psychology
PSY 301 Experimental Psychology
PSY 320 Behavioral Neuroscience
PSY 325 Psychology of Human Cognition
PSY 430 Sensation and Perception
PSY 485 Tests and Measurements

Research Experience, such as:

PSY 374, 375 Advanced Research in Psychology I & II

Conditioning and Learning

The study of condition and learning can be focused on animal or human behavior. Traditionally, learning theory has used animal models in an attempt to understand basic processes of the modification of behavior through experience. Research in the area often focuses on conditioning and reinforcement mechanisms. In the last few decades, learning theory has become more biologically based as mechanisms of evolution have been incorporated into psychology.

Important Courses to Complete:

PSY 235 Conditioning and Learning
PSY 320 Behavioral Neuroscience
PSY 330 Abnormal Psychology
PSY 301 Experimental Psychology
PSY 430 Sensation and Perception
PSY 435 Psychopharmacology

Experience in a relevant setting, such as:

Relevant employment or volunteer work
PSY385 Internship in Psychology
BIO 100 Basic Biology
BIO 110 Zoology
BIO 150 Human Biology

Research Experience, such as:

PSY 374, 375 Advanced Research in Psychology I & II

Counseling Psychology

Counseling Psychology involves treatment of individuals with adjustment problems and includes family, marital, guidance, and community counseling. For example, a Counseling Psychologist might work with individuals who are anxious or depressed, who have been abused, or who have experienced the death of a family member. Compared to clinical programs, most counseling programs have much less competitive admission, and counseling programs will not prepare you to work with individuals who have more severe problems such as schizophrenia or brain injury.

Important Courses to Complete:

PSY 240 Psychology of Personality
PSY 265 Child and Adolescence or
PSY 352 Adult Development and Aging (or both)
PSY 270 Social Psychology
PSY 305 Applied Research Methods
PSY 320 Behavioral Neuroscience
PSY 330 Abnormal Psychology
PSY 361 Psychology of Group Interaction
PSY 384 Person-to-Person Interaction
PSY 450 Crisis Intervention

Experience in a mental health setting such as:

Relevant employment or volunteer work
PSY 385 Internship in psychology

Research Experience, such as:

PSY 374, 375 Advanced Research in Psychology I & II

Developmental Psychology

Developmental Psychology involves the study of individuals social, physical, emotional and cognitive growth and changer over the life span. Many Developmental Psychologists specialize in particular phases of development, such as childhood or aging. The study of aging is called gerontological psychology, and is becoming a very popular field as our population of elderly individuals increases. Developmental psychologists can be found in both academic and applied settings.

Important Courses to Complete:

PSY 235 Conditioning and Learning
PSY 240 Psychology of Personality
PSY 265 Child and Adolescence
PSY 270 Social Psychology
PSY 305 Applied Research in Psychology
PSY 330 Abnormal Psychology
PSY 352 Adult Development and Aging
PSY 355 Psychology of the Exceptional Child
PSY 384 Person-to-Person Interaction
PSY 397 Human Cognitive Development

Experience working with different age groups (e.g. children, elderly):

Relevant employment or volunteer work
PSY 385 Internship in Psychology

Research Experience, such as:

PSY 374, 375 Advanced Research in Psychology I & II

Health Psychology

Health Psychology is one of the fastest-growing areas in psychology; it is part of the relatively new field of behavioral medicine. Health psychologists work in medical or academic settings. They try to understand psychological influences on heath and illness. For example, the impact of emotions and stress on resistance to disease, stress reduction, how to persuade people to engage in healthy behaviors, doctor-patient interaction.

Important Courses to Complete:

PSY 235 Conditioning and Learning
PSY 240 Psychology and Personality
PSY 265 Child and Adolescent
PSY 270 Social Psychology
PSY 301 Experimental Psychology
PSY 320 Behavioral Neuroscience
PSY 325 Psychology of Human Cognition
PSY 330 Abnormal Psychology
PSY 420 Health Psychology
PSY 447 Multicultural Health Psychology

Experience in a mental health setting such as:

Relevant employment or volunteer work
PSY 385 Internship in psychology

Research Experience, such as:

PSY 374, 375 Advanced Research in Psychology I & II

Industrial-Organizational Psychology

Industrial-organizational psychology involves applying psychological principles to areas such as personnel management, public relations, marketing, and human factors.

Important Courses to Complete:

PSY 270 Social Psychology
PSY 301 Experimental Psychology
PSY 305 Applied Research Methods
PSY 325 Psychology of Human Cognition
PSY 361 Psychology of Group Interaction
PSY 475 Industrial and Organizational Psychology

Relevant Experience in a Business Setting such as:

Relevant Employment
PSY 385 Internship in Psychology (in a business setting)

Research Experience, such as:

PSY 374, 375 Advanced Research in Psychology I & II

Legal Psychology

Legal Psychology is a rapidly-growing area of applied psychology that involves applying social and cognitive psychological principles to legal problems such as accuracy of eyewitness testimony, jury selection, and jury decision-making processes. Legal psychologists are often employed in academic settings in which they conduct research. Legal Psychologists are also increasingly hired as expert witnesses and consultants by law firms and corporations.

Important Courses to Complete:

PSY 270 Social Psychology
PSY 301 Experimental Psychology
PSY 305 Applied Research Methods
PSY 325 Psychology of Human Cognition
PSY 330 Abnormal Psychology
PSY 335 Psychology of Social Influence
PSY 361 Psychology of Group Interaction
PSY 470 Legal Psychology
CRJ 100 Introduction to Criminal Justice
CRJ 211 Criminal Law and Procedure
CRJ 231 Court Organization and Operation

Experience in a Legal Setting such as:

Relevant work experience or volunteer work
PSY 385 Internship in Psychology

Research Experience, such as:

PSY 374, 375 Advanced Research in Psychology I & II

Personality Psychology

Personality Psychologist study how individuals are influenced by enduring inner factors and the development of personality over the course of a lifetime. Personality psychologists are primarily employed in academic settings, teaching, and conducting research.

Important Courses to Complete:

PSY 240 Psychology of Personality
PSY 265 Psychology of Adolescence
PSY 270 Social Psychology
PSY 305 Applied Research Methods
PSY 330 Abnormal Psychology
PSY 352 Adult Development and Aging
PSY 440 History and Systems
PSY 485 Tests and Measurements
ANT 111 Cultural Anthropology

Experience working with People:

Relevant employment or volunteer work
PSY 385 Internship in Psychology

Research Experience, such as:

PSY 374, 375 Advanced Research in Psychology I & II

Biological Psychology

Biological psychologists study the relationship between behavior and physiological structures and processes of the nervous system. Physiological psychology overlaps with biology, medicine, chemistry, endocrinology, and genetics. Depending on your interests, you may want to minor in one of these areas.

Important Courses to Complete:

PSY 235 Conditioning and Learning
PSY 301 Experimental Psychology
PSY 320 Behavioral Neuroscience
PSY 325 Psychology of Human Cognition
PSY 430 Sensation and Perception
PSY 435 Psychopharmacology
BIO 100 Basic Biology
BIO 150 Human Biology
CHM 105 Chemistry Lab and Observational Approach

Experience in a relevant setting, such as:

Relevant employment or volunteer work
PSY 385 Internship in Psychology

Research experience, such as:

PSY 374, 375 Advanced Research in Psychology I & II

School Psychology

Certification as a school psychologist requires a masters degree from an APA accredited program. School psychologists usually work for a school system or immediate unit, assessing exceptionality, recommending individual learning programs, and promoting curriculum development

Important Courses to Complete:

PSY 235 Conditioning and Learning
PSY 240 Psychology of Personality
PSY 265 Child and Adolescence
PSY 270 Social Psychology
PSY 305 Applied Research Methods
PSY 325 Psychology of Human Cognition
PSY 330 Abnormal Psychology
PSY 355 Psychology of the Exceptional Child
PSY 384 Person to Person Interaction
PSY 450 Crisis Intervention
PSY 485 Tests and Measurements

Experience in a relevant setting, such as:

Relevant employment or volunteer work
PSY 385 Internship in Psychology

Research experience, such as:

PSY 374, 375 Advanced Research in Psychology I & II

Social Psychology

Social psychology is the study of the individual within a social context, and involves applying social psychological principles to areas such as marketing, fundraising, and prejudice reduction. Social psychologists are usually employed as professors or in industry. Some work as consultants, and a few work for non-profit organizations.

Important Courses to Complete: