You are in the official 2000-2001 General Catalog
for California State University, Fresno.
Department of Psychology
Bachelor of Arts Degree Requirements
Psychology Major
Major requirements (40 units)
A. Core Courses (all required): PSYCH 10, 42, 144 (11-13 units)
B. Basic Knowledge and Skills (select 2): PSYCH 36, 60T*, 145, 166 (5-6
units)
C. Basic Applications (select 1): PSYCH 136, 162, 169, 173, 175, 176 (3-4
units)
D. Advanced Applications (select 1): PSYCH 143, 149, 160T, 177, 179 (3-4
units)
E. Advanced Content (select 2): PSYCH 150T*, 154, 155, 156 (6-8 units)
F. Advanced Processes (select 2): PSYCH 120T*, 121, 122, 124, 125, 128 (6-8
units)
G. Integration PSYCH 182 (4 units)
H. Psychology Electives (see Advising Notes)
General Education (51 units)
Electives and remaining degree requirements** (33-39 units)
(See Degree Requirements); may be used toward
a dual major or minor.
Total (124 units)
___________
* See Advising Note 6.
** This figure is based upon anticipated double counting of some courses for both General Education and the major. Consult the psychology department chair or department advising office for additional details.
Advising Notes
- Students desiring to major in psychology must do the following before
being permitted to enroll in restricted, 100-level psychology courses (courses
with prerequisites):
a. formally apply to the major, at which time they will be placed in a pre-psychology major category, and
b. complete PSYCH 10, 42, and 144 (or their equivalents) with grades of C or better and have earned a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0.
Students may apply for upper-division psychology major status in the Psychology Department Advising Office during the semester in which they expect to successfully complete the above requirements. Approval will be contingent upon satisfactory fulfillment of these requirements.
All students, including transfer students and students changing to the psychology major, must request the Psychology Department to screen their transcripts (to be provided by the student) for successful completion of the requirements before enrollment in restricted, 100-level psychology courses will be permitted. Currently enrolled students who wish to change to the psychology major must first obtain the change-of-major form in the north lobby, Joyal Administration Building - Psychology majors may not receive General Education credit for G.E. Integration courses offered by the Department of Psychology.
- CR/NC grading is not permitted in the psychology major.
- General Education and elective units may be used toward a dual major or minor (see Dual Major or departmental minor). Consult the appropriate department chair, program coordinator, or faculty adviser for further information.
- Although not required, psychology electives may be applied toward the major.
- Must receive approval from the major adviser for course to fulfill a major requirement.
- For pre-M.B.A. major option: either ECON 40 or 50 may also be used to fulfill G.E. course requirements.
Pre-M.B.A. Major Option
The pre-M.B.A. psychology major option is intended for students who wish to combine comprehensive training in the field of psychology with coursework preparing them for jobs in business and/or future graduate training in business administration. The option is aimed at two groups of students:
- Students who wish to complete a major in psychology, while at the same time prepare for jobs in business, industry, and government that emphasize both psychology and business skills upon completion of their B.A. degree.
- Psychology majors who wish to enter an M.B.A. or other business-related graduate program upon completion of their B.A. degree. The option is designed to allow these "pre-MBA" students to complete many or all of the prerequisite courses required by typical M.B.A. programs, and all of those in the Craig program at Fresno State.
The option is especially designed for psychology majors who wish to apply for the Craig M.B.A. program at Fresno State. By completing the requirements of the pre-business option, students will be allowed to waive all of the Group 1 coursework usually required for the M.B.A. degree at Fresno State. Furthermore, students who maintain a minimum GPA of 3.4 over their last 60 units and in the pre-business psychology major, and receive a score of 570 on the GMAT, will be guaranteed admission into the Craig M.B.A. program at Fresno State. It should be noted that although these minimum scores guarantee admission, students not meeting these requirements will also be considered and are encouraged to apply.
Pre-MBA Major
Major option requirements (59 units)
A. Core Courses (all required): PSYCH 10, 42, 144 (11-13 units)
B. Basic Knowledge and Skills (select 1): PSYCH 145 or IS 50 and (select
1): PSYCH 36, 60T*, or 166 (5-6 units)
C/D. Applications: MKTG 100 and MGT 104; or MGT 110 (6 units)
E. Advanced Content (select 2): PSYCH 150T*, 154, 155, 156 (6-8 units)
F. Advanced Processes (select 2): PSYCH 120T*, 121, 122, 124, 125, 128 (6-8
units)
G. Integration: PSYCH 182 (4 units)
H. Psychology Electives (see Advising Notes)
I. Additional pre-business requirements (all required): ECON 40, 50**, ACCT
4A, FIN 120, B A 174, MGT 124 (20 units)
General Education (51 units)
Electives and remaining degree requirements (11-14 units)
Total (124 units)
___________
* See Advising Note 6, above.
** See Advising Note 7, above.
Preprofessional Preparation
A psychology major is often used as preparation for other professions.
For preprofessional programs in law, dentistry, medicine, and the ministry,
see the Preprofessional Preparation units section
and consult an adviser in the psychology department.
Credential Programs
The Department of Psychology offers the M.S. degree. Degree requirements
coincide with those of the Pupil Personnel Services Credential with an Advanced
Specialization in School Psychology.
Application forms and advising are available through the coordinator of
the School Psychology Program within the Psychology Department.
Applied Behavior Analysis Training
Our Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) program meets the academic content required for certification by the California Association for Behavior Analysis (Cal-ABA). People with this certification and a bachelor's degree can find employment in state-funded centers for the developmentally disabled. Behavior analysts and specialists design and implement behavior change programs in a variety of settings including homes, group homes, care facilities, and hospitals. Our training gives students necessary coursework in theoretical foundations, basic research, and applications for applied behavior analysis. Courses can be applied to both the psychology major and to the ABA training. The following classes comprise the training program:
- Core Courses in Psychology: PSYCH 10, 42, 144 (13 units)
- Theory/Basic Processes/Basic Content: PSYCH 121, 136, 155 (1 units)
- Applications: PSYCH 170T, 177 (7 units)
- Field Work (recommended): PSYCH 179 (4 units)
For additional information or advising, contact the Department of Psychology.
The Department's Honors Program
The Department of Psychology Honors Program has two major components that are completed over the course of one year. Students participate in a seminar (PSYCH 183A and 183B - Honors Seminar) designed to provide an advanced survey of research and theory in several major substantive areas of psychology. In addition, over the course of the year, honors students conduct their own honors project under the supervision of a faculty mentor. The program provides the opportunity for highly qualified, advanced psychology students to sharpen their analytical abilities, refine their writing skills, and expand their knowledge of psychology. The honors project itself is an opportunity for students to apply the knowledge and skills they have acquired as psychology majors to a particular question. Minimum criteria for application to the program include at least 18 units in psychology courses completed, GPA of at least 3.5 in psychology and 3.5 for overall in last two years coursework, and a letter of recommendation from the faculty mentor. Applications are accepted in the spring semester for the following academic year. See also the Smittcamp Family Honors College section of the catalog for further information about honors programs available at the university.
Psychology Minor
A Psychology Minor must have prior approval of the psychology department.
The minor consists of 22 units of psychology courses, 15 of which must be
upper division. The specific courses may be selected to satisfy the needs
of individual students but must be worked out in advance with an adviser
from the department and be approved by the department.
Graduate Programs
The Master of Arts and Master of Science degrees in Psychology are designed
to provide students with a broad background in psychology while allowing
them opportunities to pursue areas of special interest. Completion of the
requirements for either master's degree prepares students for positions
in community mental health service agencies, school settings, community
college teaching, research, or entry into Ph.D. or Psy.D. programs in Psychology.
Admission to the Master of Arts and Master of Science programs in Psychology
is based upon the satisfactory completion of prerequisite courses selected
from the core courses required for the California State University, Fresno
undergraduate major in psychology, or their equivalent. Potential graduate
students should submit transcripts of all academic work and three letters
of recommendation. In addition, students must submit scores from the GRE
general test and the subject test in psychology to be considered for admission.
School Psychology program applicants must submit scores from the CBEST as
well and complete other prerequisites as outlined in the department's application.
All students must submit applications to both the Division of Graduate Studies
and the Department of Psychology.
Admission to the graduate program in psychology is based on the evaluation
of a student's capacity to successfully complete Master's level work. The
graduate committee uses multiple criteria to assess an applicant's qualifications
including coursework completed, grades, test scores, essays, and letters
of recommendation. In addition, an applicant's professional interests and
goals are evaluated in terms of the interests of the faculty and the resources
of the Department of Psychology. Separate evaluations of applicants are
made for the M.A. general/experimental program and the M.S. School Psychology
program. Although many applicants meet our minimum admission requirements,
we are limited in the number of positions available and many qualified applicants
cannot be offered admission.
Admission to classified graduate standing requires a minimum undergraduate
grade point average of 3.0, as well as a minimum grade point average of
3.0 in undergraduate psychology courses, a combined GRE Aptitude Test score
of 1,000 or higher, and a score on the GRE Subject Test in Psychology equivalent
to the 60th percentile or higher. Applicants lacking minimum scores in one
area with compensating strengths in other areas may apply. The Department
of Psychology does not typically admit unclassified students into the graduate
program.
(See also Admission to Graduate Standing,
Advancement to Candidacy, Program Requirements, and Criteria
for Thesis and Project.)
Under the direction of a graduate adviser, a coherent program is prepared
and submitted, directed toward the achievement of the student's goal in
graduate study.
Core Course Requirements for M.A. and M.S. Degrees
PSYCH 244 (4 units)
PSYCH 200T or 250T or 255T (one course) (3-4 units)
PSYCH 220T or 225T (one course) (3-4 units)
PSYCH 231* (3 units)
PSYCH 299 (Thesis) (3-6 units)
Total (12-17 units)
__________
* Grades of A or B must be earned in PSYCH 231 and PSYCH 244 for graduation
credit in these courses.
Master of Arts Degree Requirements
The Master of Arts degree program in Psychology may be arranged to include
interest areas such as general experimental, developmental, and social psychology,
as well as special Master of Arts programs for individuals. This 30-unit
degree program is intended primarily to prepare graduates for entry into
doctoral programs in general experimental, developmental, social, or clinical
psychology, and may serve as preparation for community college teaching
or professional employment requiring a master's degree.
Core requirements (see above) (16-21 units)
Electives in psychology or related fields (9-14 units)
Total (30 units)
See the department for other recommendations related to the general experimen
tal, developmental, and social program interest areas.
Master of Science Degree Requirements
The Master of Science degree in Psychology is a three-year, full-time
graduate program and requires a minimum of 79 units. Practicum experience
is required during the first two years of coursework. The internship experience,
completed during the third year of the program, requires a minimum of 1,200
hours with at least half of these hours completed in a school setting.
Core requirements (see above) (16-21 units)
Electives (see below) (51 units)
Internship in School Psychology (PSYCH 267) (12 units)
Total (79-84 units)
Students with an interest in clinical psychology should include the following
courses among their electives: PSYCH 281 or 282 (4 units), 283T (3-4 units).
Students who wish to become eligible for the Pupil Personnel Credential
with a \specialization in School Psychology as granted by the California
Commission on Teacher Credentialing should contact the department for application
materials and additional information.
The following electives, in addition to the core requirements, may
be used to obtain a M.S. degree in Psychology: PSYCH 200T, 225T, 277, 278,
279 (21 units); PSYCH 281, 284, 285, 288 (16 units); COUN 201, 240; PSYCH
220T, 255T, 270T, 283T (19 units)
Students with an interest in School Psychology should complete their practicum
in a school setting. Contact the department for further details and other
requirements.
Specific requirements for advancement to candidacy for all degrees and credentials
include a score above the 60th percentile (ETS norms) on the GRE Subject
Test in Psychology.
