Psychology courses familiarize students with the scientific study of mind and behavior. This discipline relies on methods ranging from simple observation to rigorous experimentation. Its subjects include how we develop and learn, how our actions are motivated, how we perceive the world around us, how we respond to it intellectually and emotionally, and how these processes change throughout life and are integrated into the personality under social influences. The department offers courses that apply psychology to a variety of practical settings, including the workplace, clinical, legal, and school environments.
Psychology is the scientific study of human behavior and the mind. According to the American Psychological Association, "Psychology is a diverse discipline, grounded in science, but with nearly boundless applications in everyday life. Some psychologists do basic research, developing theories and testing them through careful honed research methods involving observation, experimentation and analysis. Other psychologists apply the discipline's scientific knowledge to help people, organizations and communities function better."
Baruch faculty have particular strengths in industrial-organizational, clinical, social, cognitive neuroscience, and developmental psychology. The psychology major is the most popular course of study among undergraduate students nationwide. Many psychology majors ultimately establish careers outside the field of psychology, but will do so in areas that rely upon an understanding of human thought and behavior. Psychology is an appropriate major for those who plan to work, for example, in business, law, the health care professions, education, public affairs, nonprofit agencies, and computer science.
To prepare for a career in psychology or an allied profession, such as social work or counseling, students must earn a master's or doctoral degree. Graduate programs in psychology are selective and take into consideration a student's academic record, letters of recommendation, field and research experience, and, in most cases, GRE scores. A number of American Psychological Association publications, including the APA Guide to Graduate Study in Psychology, are useful when making academic and career plans.
Baruch offers a 25-credit BA major in Psychology. This includes one required course in research methods, 12 credits of foundation courses, and 9 credits of electives.
You are required to meet with a faculty advisor in psychology to declare a major. The faculty advisor will discuss with you the foundations and elective courses that best meet your career goals. Students who wish to develop their research skills should consider pursuing an independent study or honors thesis project. It is also recommended that students take courses in other departments that focus on the scientific method, logic, communication skills, and the understanding of cultural and social systems.
Prerequisite Courses 6 credits | |||
| General Psychology | 3 credits | |
| Statistics for Social Science | 3 credits | |
| |||
Psychology Core | |||
| Required Course: 4 credits | |||
| Research Methods in Psychology (formerly | 4 credits | |
Foundation Courses: 12 credits Choose four of the following courses | |||
| Abnormal Psychology | 3 credits | |
| Social Psychology | 3 credits | |
| Developmental Psychology: Personality in 3 Childhood and Adolescence * | 3 credits | |
| or | |||
| Developmental Psychology: Adult Personality * | 3 credits | |
| Personality and Individual Differences (formerly PSY 4061 Theories of Personality) | 3 credits | ||
| Psychology of Motivation and Learning | 3 credits | |
| Cognitive Psychology | 3 credits | ||
| Mind, Brain and Behavior | 3 credits | |
* Students may not take both PSY 3059 and PSY 3060 to fulfill the core requirement. | |||
Elective Courses (3000-level or above): 6 credits | |||
Two courses of students' choosing. They may include courses that constitute part of the required core in psychology, if not otherwise used to fulfill core curriculum requirements, as well as any other elective courses offered by the department. | |||
| Elective Course (4000-level or above): 3 credits | |||
| One course of students' choosing. It must be at the 4000-level or above, and it must be completed at Baruch College. PSY 4035 and PSY 5030-5032 do not fulfill this requirement, but can be used as 3000-level or above elective courses. | |||
Industrial/Organizational Psychology
The major in industrial/organizational psychology is a broadbased one. It offers courses in all areas of psychology while emphasizing the field of industrial/organizational psychology. This major is within the Zicklin School of Business. All BBA requirements apply.
For many students, the BBA in industrial/organizational psychology is a terminal degree. They may pursue careers in business, including sales, advertising, marketing, and human resource management. They may also pursue careers in a variety of governmental agencies or engage in public opinion or market research.
Some career objectives may require or recommend that the student pursue a master's (MBA or MS) or PhD degree in industrial/organizational psychology.
Base Courses 6 credits No credit toward the major | |||
| General Psychology | 3 credits
| |
| Business Statistics | 3 credits | |
| Required Courses 16 credits | |||
| Research Methods in Psychology | 4 credits | |
| Industrial and Organizational Psychology | 3 credits | |
PLUS three of the following: | |||
| Social Psychology | 3 credits | |
| Personality and Individual Differences (formerly PSY 4061 Theories of Personality) | 3 credits | |
| Psychology of Motivation and Learning | 3 credits | |
| Cognitive Psychology | 3 credits | |
| Mind, Brain, and Behavior | 3 credits | |
Elective Courses 9 credits Three of the following: | |||
| Diversity in the Workplace | 3 credits | |
| Advanced Personnel Psychology | 3 credits | |
| Advanced Organizational Psychology | 3 credits | |
| Occupational Health Psychology | 3 credits | |
| Psychology of Career Development and Planning | 3 credits | |
| Leadership and Managerial Development (formerly PSY 3184) | 3 credits | |
| Psychology of Organizational Training and Development | 3 credits | |
The minor comprises three courses in Psychology, at least one of which must be a foundation course in psychology and at least one of which must be a capstone course at the 4000 level or above. The capstone course should be one of the department’s communications-intensive options and must be taken at Baruch College. The selection of a suitable capstone should take the student’s background in the discipline and academic interests into account and should be determined in consultation with the Department of Psychology.
| Foundation Courses: 3-6 credits | |||
| Abnormal Psychology | 3 credits | |
| Social Psychology | 3 credits | |
| Developmental Psychology: Personality in 3 Childhood and Adolescence * | 3 credits | |
| or | |||
| Developmental Psychology: Adult Personality * | 3 credits | |
| Personality and Individual Differences (formerly PSY 4061 Theories of Personality) | 3 credits | ||
| Psychology of Motivation and Learning | 3 credits | |
| Cognitive Psychology | 3 credits | ||
| Mind, Brain and Behavior | 3 credits | |
* Students may not take both PSY 3059 and PSY 3060 to fulfill the foundation requirement. | |||
| Elective courses 0-3 credits | |||
| Thought and Reality ( | 3 credits | |
| Philosophy of Psychology ( | 3 credits | |
| Psychology and Culture | 3 credits | |
Special Problems in Psychology Series I | 3 credits | ||
| The Psychology of Sleep | 3 credits | |
| Psychology of Religion | 3 credits | |
| Small Group Processes | 3 credits | |
| Psychology of Stress Management | 3 credits | |
| Health Psychology | 3 credits | |
| Psychology and the Law | 3 credits | |
| Psychology of Gender | 3 credits | |
| Political Psychology ( | 3 credits | |
| Industrial and Organizational Psychology | 3 credits | |
| Environmental Psychology | 3 credits | |
| Experimental Philosophy ( | 3 credits | |
| Psychology of Advertising | 3 credits | |
| Literature and Psychology ( | 3 credits | |
| Capstone Course | Choose one the following: | ||
| Diversity in the Workplace | 3 credits | |
| Evolution of Modern Psychology | 3 credits | ||
| Advanced Personnel Psychology | 3 credits | |
| Psychology of the Family | 3 credits | |
| Sensation and Perception | 3 credits | ||
| Drugs, Brain, and Society | 3 credits | ||
| Advanced Organizational Psychology | 3 credits | ||
| Occupational Health Psychology | 3 credits | ||
| Psychology of Career Development and Planning | 3 credits | ||
| Leadership and Managerial Development | 3 credits | ||
| Psychology of Training and Development | 3 credits | ||
| Psychological Approaches to Contemporary Problems | 3 credits | |
| Independent Study in Psychology (requires departmental permission) | 3 credits | |
| General Psychology | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Research Methods in Psychology | 2 recitation hours; 4 lab hours; 4 credits | |
| Thought and Reality ( | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Practice in Laboratory and Research Methodology I | 3 field hours; 1 credit | |
| Practicum in Laboratory and Research Methodology II | 3 field hours; 1 credit | |
| Philosophy of Psychology ( | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Psychology and Culture | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Special Problems in Psychology Series I | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Psychology of Women | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Psychology of Stress Management | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Special Problems in Psychology | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Tests and Measurements | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| The Psychology of Sleep | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Abnormal Psychology | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Social Psychology | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Psychology of Religion | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Small Group Processes | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Developmental Psychology: Personality in Childhood and Adolescence | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Developmental Psychology: Adult Personality | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Psychology of Stress Management | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Health Psychology | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Personality and Individual Differences (formerly PSY 4061 Theories of Personality) | 3 hours; 3 credits | ||
| The Psychology of Motivation and Learning | 3 hours; 3 credits | ||
| Psychology And Law | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Psychology of Gender | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Psychology and the Internet | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Cognitive Psychology | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Mind, Brain, and Behavior | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Psychology of Learning | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Political Psychology ( | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Industrial and Organizational Psychology | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Environmental Psychology | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Experimental Philosophy ( | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Psychology of Advertising | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Psychology Internship | 1 hour; 1 credit | ||
| Literature and Psychology ( | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Diversity in the Workplace | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Evolution of Modern Psychology | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Advanced Personnel Psychology | "3 hours, 3 credits" | |
| Practicum in Community Psychological Services | 6 hours; 4 credits | |
| Psychopathology of Childhood | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
Special Problems in Psychology Series II | 3 hours; 3 credits | ||
| Psychology of Death | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Psychology of the Family | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Sexuality: Alternative Life Styles and Identities | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Sensation and Perception | 3 hours; 3 credits | ||
| Drugs, Brain, and Society | 3 hours; 3 credits | ||
| Advanced Organizational Psychology | 3 hours; 3 credits | ||
| Occupational Health Psychology | 3 hours; 3 credits | ||
| Psychology of Career Development and Planning | 3 hours; 3 credits | ||
Leadership and Managerial Development | 3 hours; 3 credits | ||
| Psychology of Training and Development | 3 hours; 3 credits | ||
| Psychological Approaches to Contemporary Problems | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Independent Study I-V | hours and credits to be arranged | |
| Research Practicum in Psychology | Variable (3 to 9 hours; 1 to 3 credits) | |
| Advanced Research Methods in Psychology | 3 hours; 3 credits | ||
| Psychology Honors I | 3 hours; 3 credits per semester | |
| Psychology Honors II | 3 hours; 3 credits per semester |