Psychology Department

Undergraduate Program

The work of the psychologist is a search for knowledge about human and animal behavior to enhance the human condition. The Department of Psychology at CSU, Chico offers course work at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. The undergraduate major in psychology is a diverse 40-unit liberal arts program. The major includes the completion of three laboratory courses to ensure that students have direct experience with the content of psychology.

The department offers multiple scholarships to our students. To apply for a scholarship click the following link: Scholarships.

University Catalog
Class Schedule
Major Academic Plan (MAP)

 

Mission:

The mission of the Department of Psychology is to promote the scientific understanding of mental processes and behavior, recognizing biological, developmental, cultural, and experiential influences.  To this end we value and will provide:

Goals:

High quality educational experiences that are representative of the breadth, diversity, interrelatedness, depth, application, and evolving nature of the discipline of psychology;

High quality undergraduate programs (e.g., B.A. and minor in Psychology) and graduate and professional training (i.e., MFT preparation, Pupil Personnel Services Credential, Psychological Science) that reflect the best of current knowledge, instruction, and training methods in the field;

An emphasis on critical thinking, evaluation and dissemination of knowledge, the scientific method and information literacy;

An environment that enhances the intellectual, personal, ethical and social development of students, staff and faculty;

An atmosphere and curriculum that encourage appreciation of the benefits derived from individual differences and cultural diversity;

Resources and support for enhancing a climate of scholarship, research, creativity, and collegiality among faculty, staff and students; and,

Service to address the needs of the university (general education, liberal studies, and other professional and interdisciplinary programs) regional, state, national and global communities.

Bachelor of Arts in Psychology

The undergraduate major is a diverse 40-unit liberal arts program. It requires the completion of three laboratory courses which emphasize student-centered and active learning. Two computer-based laboratories and one wetlab provide exceptional opportunities for instruction and research. All students are also required to complete a senior seminar–either in the regular or honors program. Seminar topics vary from semester to semester and have included: Psychology and the Law; Brain Disorders: the Biology, the Behaviors, the Treatments; Evolutionary Psychology; Psychology and Spiritual Issues; and the Psychology of Human Aggression. We also encourage students to participate in internships and in research with faculty.

The knowledge objectives of our major include the biological bases of human behavior, cognitive and perceptual mechanisms, learning and memory processes, social and cultural influences on behavior, the psychological aspects of human development, etiology and treatment of abnormal behavior, determinants of personality and health, and methodology and statistics in psychology. We want students to be able to critically evaluate research, design studies and statistically analyze data, write professional reports, make oral presentations, apply computer software to research problems, and use behavioral methods to study phenomena. We value studying human behavior from a scientific perspective, the importance of cultural influences in understanding behavior, using psychology to help others, emphasizing tolerance for ambiguity and skepticism of dogma, and promoting ethical responsibility for professional conduct.

The department monitors student progress and verifies that students meet the objectives of the psychology major in a variety of ways. Written examinations, papers, projects, or other assessments of student mastery are used across all courses. In addition, laboratory courses require practical exams, demonstration of skills, or completion of laboratory projects which reflect the important objectives of the course. Finally, in the seminar we survey our students regarding their experiences in completing the psychology major, and we verify that our graduates have gained an understanding of key psychological concepts.

For more information on the major and minor, student organizations, advising, and graduate programs, please see other links on our Web site.