Psychology
Major and minor offered
The primary objectives of the psychology department are to discover and
teach the factors that underlie behavior. Our scientific
approach to understanding behavior is featured in the introductory psychology
course, which covers a wide variety of topics, including the history of
psychology, the brain and behavior, sensation and perception, learning,
memory, development, motivation, social behavior, personality and abnormal
behavior. In-depth investigation of these topics is offered in upper-level
courses, seminars, independent study programs and the senior project.
Although
the major focus of the department is on psychological theory
and research, students are also offered the opportunity to use their knowledge
of psychology in practical settings. These opportunities vary from semester
to semester, but include courses of an applied nature in environmental
psychology, community psychology, clinical psychology, independent study
and independent research projects designed by the student in collaboration
with a faculty member.
Numerous laboratory courses
allow students to learn in a “hands-on” fashion,
practicing research techniques, replicating experiments
and investigating topics of individual scholarly interest. The department
also operates a pre-school playgroup through which students, primarily
in the developmental psychology course, may observe child behavior and
relate it to their in-class learning.
Enrollment in psychology courses
is typically limited to 35 students. Laboratory sections
and seminars are smaller, allowing for a more personalized educational
experience.
Several students are hired each semester as departmental assistants.
Most of the opportunities are in the pre-school playgroup
and in the laboratory courses.
The
department strongly encourages and rewards meritorious
achievement. Students with an overall average of at least 3.2 and a psychology
average of at least 3.4 (based on a minimum of four psychology courses
completed at St. Lawrence)
may join Psi Chi, the national psychology honorary. In addition, each spring,
psychology faculty members select outstanding senior majors as recipients of
the J.H.L. Roach Award and the Peter Silverhart Award, which are presented at
the Moving-Up Day ceremony.
Currently, approximately 140 junior and senior students are majoring in
psychology. Alumni surveys indicate that a substantial number (about 45
percent) of our graduates have entered graduate school in psychology and
related fields. In addition, the Bachelor of Science degree in psychology
has provided many students with the liberal arts foundation for careers
in business, law, medicine, education, social work and other areas.
Major Requirements
A major must complete at least eight semester units of psychology courses. The department wants students who graduate from St. Lawrence with a degree in psychology to have a comprehensive background in the discipline's various subfields. One of the requirements for a major is the successful completion of Psychology 100 or 101 (Introductory Psychology), which is a prerequisite for admission to all other psychology courses.
All majors must also take Math 113 (Statistics) and Psychology 205 (Research Methods).
In addition, to complete the major, students are required to take courses from each of the following groups:
I. Biological/Acquisition Processes (two courses):
326. Hormones and
Behavior.*
327. Sensation and
Perception.*
331. Physiological
Psychology.*
401. Fundamentals
of Learning.*
402. Memory and Cognition.*
432. Animal Behavior.*
II. Developmental/Social Processes (one course):
207. Developmental
Psychology.
253. Personality.
325. Social Psychology.*
III. Applied Areas (two courses):
238. Psychology and Law.
255. Sport Psychology.
313. Industrial/Organizational
Psychology.
317. Abnormal Behavior.
318. Environmental
Psychology.*
413. Community Psychology.
442. Mental Retardation/Developmental Disabilities
443. Introduction
to Clinical Psychology.
456. Health Psychology.
At least two courses beyond 101 and 205 must be taken
for laboratory credit. Options include the courses indicated by (*).
If a course is taken with laboratory, 205 or the instructor’s
permission is required.
It is also recommended that each major explore topics that may result in independent study or research.
Students must have
at least a 2.5 overall GPA to take either independent study (471,
472) or independent
research (496,
497).
Seniors may enroll in the Senior-Year Experience (SYE) version of independent study (489, 490) or independent research (468, 469).
To receive laboratory credit in a course, a student
must receive a passing grade for both the laboratory and lecture components
of the course. A failing grade for the laboratory component will result
in the student being re-registered into the non-laboratory (lecture)
section of the course. No more than one psychology unit in a St. Lawrence
international program may be counted toward the minimum requirements
for the major. If a matriculated St. Lawrence student wishes
to take a course at another college or university for transfer credit,
the student and the department chair should agree in advance on the
appropriateness of the course(s) and which of the above requirements,
if any, will be satisfied. A transfer student and the student’s
advisor should confer with the department chair about the student’s
transferred psychology courses and which requirements remain to be
filled. Courses for laboratory credit must be taken at St. Lawrence.
Minor Requirements
A minor must complete at least six psychology courses. Required courses include Psychology 100 or 101 (Introductory), Math 113 (Statistics)
and 205 (Research Methods). At least one course from two of the three groups of courses listed above under requirements for the major must be completed satisfactorily. At least one course beyond 101 and 205 must be taken for laboratory credit. If a course is taken with laboratory, 205 or the instructor's permission is required. No more than one psychology unit in a St. Lawrence international program may be counted toward the minimum six-course minor.
Honors
Honors are awarded on the basis of quality point standing in psychology (see Honors in the Curriculum section of this Catalog ) and successful completion of Psychology 498 and 499 (SYE: Senior Project) with a grade of at least 3.5. Two types of projects are acceptable for the senior project:
1. Independent research involving either pure or applied investigation.
2. Independent study involving an integration and critical analysis of research and theory in a given area of psychology.
Following are the criteria for successful completion of the senior project:
1. Enroll in Psychology 498 and 499 (SYE: Senior Project) during the senior year.
2. Give a preliminary presentation of the proposed study to other students and faculty involved in the senior project course.
3. Attend colloquia of other senior project students and guest lectures.
4. Satisfactorily complete the course during the senior year (Psychology 499).
5. Give a formal colloquium or a presentation at the Festival of Science on the completed project.
6. File a copy of the final project paper in the psychology department office as well as with the project supervisor.
Professors
Thomas Cooper Greene, B.A., Wyoming; M.S., Ph.D., Colorado State
Gaines Professor of Psychology
Alan Searleman, B.S., Massachusetts; Ph.D., SUNY Stony Brook
Professor of Psychology
Catherine A. Crosby–Currie, B.A., Hamilton;
J.D., Maryland School of Law; M.A., Ph.D., Virginia
Associate Professor of Psychology
Loraina Lynn Ghiraldi, B.A., Russell Sage; Ph.D., SUNY Albany
Associate Professor of Psychology
Kim Marie Mooney, B.A., Franklin Pierce; M.A., Ph.D., New Hampshire
Associate Professor of Psychology and Director of the Center for Teaching and Learning
Ronald Arlo Sigmundi, B.A., Northern Iowa; Ph.D.,
Washington
Associate Professor of Psychology
James Robert Wallace, B.A., Notre Dame; M.A., Ph.D., Kent State
Associate Professor of Psychology and Chair of Department
William Earle DeCoteau, B.A., Mercyhurst; M.S., Ph.D., Utah
Assistant Professor of Psychology
Makiko Deguchi, Ph.D., Boston College
Visiting Assistant
Professor of Psychology
Sharon Hannigan, B.A., Assumption; M.A.T., TESOL, Ph.D., Boston
Assistant Professor of Psychology
Cheryl Pettijohn Stuntz, B.A., Bowdoin; Ph.D., Virginia
Assistant Professor of Psychology
Pamela V. Thacher, B.A., M.A., Ph.D., Connecticut
Assistant Professor of Psychology
