You are in the official 2005-2006 General Catalog
for California State University, Fresno.
Department of Psychology
College of Science and Mathematics
KAREN CAREY, Chair
SHERI OSBORN, Administrative Support Coordinator
Science II Bldg., Room 312
559.278.2691
http://psych.csufresno.edu/
B.A. in Psychology
Pre-M.B.A. Major Option
Minor in Psychology
Pupil Personnel Credential with
an Advanced Specialization in School Psychology
Faculty
Karen Carey, Chair
Undergraduate Advising Coordinator: Ronald Yockey
Graduate Adviser: Marilyn Wilson
Sergio Aguilar-Gaxiola, Jennifer Austin, Barbara Basden, Michael Botwin,
David Basden, Thomas Breen, Christine Edmondson, Constance Jones, Lorin
Lachs, Robert Levine, Terry Newell, Karl Oswald, Paul Price, Jean Ritter,
Aroldo Rodrigues, Martin Shapiro, Matthew Sharps, Michael Thackrey, Lynnette
Zelezny
Psychology
Psychology is concerned with the scientific study of human behavior and
consciousness, and the applications of these findings to the areas of home,
school, work, and social relations. It covers topics such as learning, cognition,
motivation, personality, psycho physiology, sexuality, group processes,
cultural factors, and abnormal behavior. Psychology is an area for students
interested in learning about the behavior of humans and other organisms.
The Department of Psychology provides a variety of opportunities for students.
We have an undergraduate major that can be tailored as a strong liberal
education, a preprofessional degree or as preparation for graduate study
in psychology. In addition, we have two advanced degrees providing professional
training in psychology. Our program gives considerable emphasis to psychology
as an empirical science, including research design, data analysis and interpretation,
and computer skills.
As preparation for graduate work in psychology, our undergraduate major
is one of the strongest and most respected in the CSU System. Our better
students do well in the Ph.D. programs into which they are often accepted.
Our undergraduate program provides a solid background for liberal arts majors
choosing to enter business or other more specialized vocations immediately
after graduation.
Faculty and Facilities
All full-time and some part-time members of the department hold Ph.D.
degrees in psychology and many are licensed as psychologists for private
practice by the state of California. Our faculty represents a wide range
of theoretical orientations and interests that include most of the major
areas in American psychology.
A comprehensive test library is maintained for programs in the testing and
clinical areas. The department is equipped with a seventeen station computer
lab which is networked to the departmental server and to the campus fiber
optic network. Professors within the psychology department have very active
research programs and are able to offer undergraduate and master's-level
students the opportunity to participate in a variety of research projects.
Career Opportunities
In addition to learning theoretical views and research methods, students
often have the opportunity to apply psychological principles of counseling
and testing in community settings. Students who earn the M.S. degree obtain
certification as school psychologists. There are openings in mental health,
public schools, community colleges, and other agencies for these advanced
students.
Recent surveys show that large numbers of psychology graduates are employed
in business and administration, social services, and education. Significant
numbers can also be found in the health care professions, biological sciences,
and computer programming.
The B.A. degree does not train a person to work as a professional psychologist.
However, a number of jobs related to psychology can be entered without advanced
education. Some examples are employment interviewers, personnel managers,
market researchers, management trainees, probation officers, and mental
health workers.
Our 30-unit M.A. provides a strong background for further graduate study
toward the doctoral (Ph.D.) degree. In the 82-unit M.S./School Psychology
degree, students learn many clinical skills (psychotherapy, psychological
assessment, etc.) that lead to employment possibilities in the schools and
mental health settings.
Professional psychologists are employed in colleges and universities as
instructors, researchers, and counselors. State and federal governments
utilize psychologists in a variety of agencies and settings (mental hospitals,
rehabilitation centers, prisons, employment testing, and personnel work).
Finally, some psychologists are in private practice as counselors and psychotherapists,
or consulting psychologists.
Psychology
Courses