Bulletin 2007-2008 - Austin College

PSYCHOLOGYin their professional activity, and in avariety of kinds of community service.Students encounter the ethics and challengesof practice as well in diverselaboratory exercises embedded in mostof the courses offered and in individualizedstudy through internships, honorstheses, and directed studies.The Psychology Department contributesboth to a liberal arts education and topreparation for advanced professionalstudies. Graduates pursue studies inpsychology, medicine, related healthsciences, law, administration, education,ministry, business, and social work. Themultidisciplinary inquiry necessary forinvestigating many topics in psychologyattracts students with interests in eachof the sciences and humanities, as wellas other social sciences.A major in psychology consists of nineto eleven course credit units includingPsy 101, 120 ( Mathematics 120 orSocial Sciences 120 may be substituted),201, 345, 355, at least one coursefrom Group A, at least one course fromGroup B, and at least one course fromGroup C, and a capstone. Group Acourses include Psy 215, Psy 265,and Psy 220. Group B courses includePsy 222, Psy 230, Psy 240, Psy 320and Psy 340. Group C courses includePsy 235, Psy 245, Psy 255, Psy 410,and Forensic Psychology (currently atopics course but will be proposed as aregular course in the future), and otherpraxis courses as they are developed.A capstone is usually a 400-level seminaror independent project.A minor in psychology consists of aminimum of five course credit units, includingPsychology 101, 201, and 345or 355, plus one approved psychologyelective numbered 200 or above andone psychology elective numbered 300or above. Psychology 120 (or SocialScience 120 or Mathematics 120) is aprerequisite for some of the requiredcourses in the minor.The choice of electives for the majorand minor should take into accountboth the qualifications and objectivesof the individual student and the depthand breadth of psychological knowledgegenerally considered desirablefor an undergraduate with an in-depthstudy of psychology. Generally, graduateprograms expect completion of Psychology215, 240, and 320. Psychology 420is strongly recommended as preparationfor graduate study in psychology.Psychology 101 is a prerequisite for allother courses in psychology.EDUCATIONALPSYCHOLOGY MINOREducational psychology links the disciplinesof psychology and educationwith attention to the complex contextualforces that shape individual lives andthe institutions within which individualsare shaped by their cultures.A minor in educational psychologynormally consists of six course creditsincluding three courses in psychologyand two courses in education, with asixth approved course. The requiredcourses include:Psy 101 General PsychologyPsy 201 Research MethodsPsy 345 Life Span PsychologyEd 351Ed 475Teacher/Learner InteractionThe Learner, the Teacherand the CurriculumOne approved courseThe director must pre-approve the sixthcourse which is intended to be a specialbridging course that assists the studentin linking knowledge gained from therequired courses with a specific interest.COURSES OF INSTRUCTION| 139