The Ohio State University at Mansfield offers a major in psychology that can be completed entirely on the Mansfield campus. Given that the requirements and courses are the same regardless of which OSU campus is attended, you will be receiving an Ohio State University degree. Students have the option of taking some of their courses in Mansfield and others in Columbus or at one of the three other OSU regional campuses (Lima, Marion, Newark). Classes at any of the OSU regional campuses meet the same high standards for courses at the Columbus campus in terms of subject matter, requirements, and performance expectations.
Psychology majors must fulfill the basic requirements for the College of Arts and Sciences as well as specific requirements of the department. Your academic adviser will work with you to ensure that these requirements are met. Psychology majors have the choice of earning a B.A. or a B.S.
Overview of Major Requirements
· Forty-eight
(48) credits in Psychology department (or department approved) coursework
at the 300-level and above (Exception Psych. 320: Introduction to Data Analysis
in Psychology does not count toward the major). This coursework is
distributed across three levels: Core Requirements, Advanced Requirements,
and Elective Courses.
· Psych. 100: General Psychology and Psych. 300: Introduction to Research in Psychology are required of all psychology majors (Psych. 100 fulfills a GEC requirement; Psych. 300 counts toward the major).
100 General Psychology (5 credits)
Introductory psychology, a prerequisite to advanced courses; the application of the scientific method to behavior; topics include learning, motivation, perception, personality, physiological basis of behavior. GEC/LAR course. SS Admis Cond course.
300 Research in Psychology: An Introduction (4 credits)
An overview of issues, methods, and techniques of scientific psychological research. Prerequisite: 100.
· Minimum of one course in each of the Core Requirement areas (A-E) as listed below in Section I.
· Minimum of two additional courses at the 500-level and above (Advanced Requirements). Choose from two of the five sub-areas as listed below in Section II. Note: Psych. 475: The Self and Psych. 695: Seminars in Psychology can be used as advanced requirement courses. Psych. 693 cannot be used to meet this requirement.
· Minimum grade of a "C-" in any course to be counted toward the major. Minimum major GPA of 2.0 for graduation (Does not include Psych. 100 nor Stats. 145).
· If Psych. 367.01 is used as a second-level writing course for the GEC requirement, it may also be used to satisfy the core requirement in the Social Psychology sub-area. However, the credits are not applied to the total credits for the major. A third-level writing course (Psych. 500, 510, and 520) is not required for the B.A. in psychology. However, it is recommended, as well as Psych. 321, for those students considering graduate work in psychology.
· B.A. students in psychology must take Stats. 145 or an equivalent course (e.g. Psych. 320) to meet the "Data Analysis" requirement of the GEC.
· B.S. students in psychology must
take either Stat. 245 or Psych. 320, which will not be counted toward
the major. B.S. students must also take Psych. 321 and one of the
advanced research methods courses (Psych. 500, 510, or 520) and these will
be counted toward the major.
Only courses taught regularly at the Mansfield campus are listed here. Other courses may be offered from time to time. Students interested in the BS degree will need to take the advanced statistics and advanced research methods courses at another campus of OSU. The Mansfield campus does not offer these courses at this time. Click here to see a complete listing of the OSU course that meet the psychology major requirement for the BA, or the BS.
Section I. Core Requirements (Choose one course from each of the
five subareas of this section.)
A. Cognition/Attention/Performance
312 Learning, Memory, and Cognition (4 credits)
An introduction to experimental study of human memory, learning, and cognition. Prerequisite: 100; and 219 or 220, or Stat 125 or 245.
B. Clinical/Counseling Psychology
331 Psychopathology and Psychotherapy I (5 credits)
Examination of current problems, issues, theories, and approaches to psychological deviance. Prerequisite: 100.
335 Psychology of Adjustment
(4 credits)
Examination of psychological concepts and theories related to individual adjustment and adaptation. Prerequisite: 100 .
540 Counseling Psychology: An Introduction (4 credits)
Introduction to the theories, research, and practice of counseling psychology. Prereq: 100 and an additional 5 cr hrs of course work in psychology.
C. Developmental Psychology
340 Introduction to Life Span Developmental Psychology (5 credits)
A survey of developmental psychology from birth through old age. Prerequisite: 100.
550 Psychology of Childhood
(4 credits)
Presentation of psychological aspects of growth and development in early and middle childhood. Prerequisite: 100.
A study of the outstanding characteristics of the adolescent, the educational and social problems arising at this period, and means for dealing with these problems. Prerequisite: 100.
D. Behavioral
Neuroscience
310 Basic Psychology: Perception (4 credits)
Theory, methods, and physiological correlates of sensory and perceptual processes; emphasis on the relation of behavior to stimulus variation. Prerequisite: 100; and 320, or Stat 125 or 245.
313 Behavioral Neuroscience
(5 credits)
Introduction to the structure and function of the nervous system in relation to behavior.
Prerequisite: 300.
E. Social Psychology
367.01 Social
Psychology (5 credits)
Survey of group processes as they affect individual behavior; topics include individual motivation, group behavior, attitudes, and perception of self and others. Prerequisite: 100, English 110 or 111 or equivalent and sophomore standing or above. GEC/LAR Second Writing Course. Not open to students with credit for 320.
375 Stereotyping
and Prejudice (4 credits)
Lectures address experimental research in stereotyping and prejudice; readings focus on historical, cultural, and sociological perspectives on issues related to gender, tthnicity, and social class. Prereq: 100. GEC social diversity course.
Section II. Advanced Requirements
(Choose at least one course from two of the five subareas of this section.
These courses cannot be the same as those taken to meet a Core Requirement.)
A. Cognition/Attention/Performance
In this class we will discuss cognitive, perceptual, and statistical issues that have special application to performance in sports. This course will examine how psychological principles can be applied to understand the behavior and enhance the performance of athletes, coaches, umpires, and fans. Prereq: Written permission of instructor; either 219 or 220 or 320, or Stat 145 or 245; and 17 credit hours in Psychology above the 200 level; or graduate standing. No more than six credits of any 695 work will count toward the major.
B. Clinical/Counseling
Psychology
540 Introduction to Counseling Psychology (4
credits)
Introduction to the theories, research, and practice of counseling psychology. Prereq: 100 and an additional 5 cr hrs of course work in psychology.
543 Psychology
of Women (5 credits)
Exploration of the nature and causes of sex differences in behavior patterns and factors influencing development of women through psychological theory and research. Prerequisite: 100 and an additional 7 credit hours in psychology.
C. Developmental Psychology
550 Psychology
of Childhood (4 credits)
Presentation of psychological aspects of growth and development in early and middle childhood. Prerequisite: 100.
A study of the outstanding characteristics of the adolescent, the educational and social problems arising at this period, and means for dealing with these problems. Prerequisite: 100.
555 Adolescent Sexuality
An examination of the psychological, biological, and social influences
on adolescent sexuality. Prerequisite: 100 and 340 or 551 or equivalent.
D. Behavioral Neuroscience
513 Introduction to Cognitive Science (4 credits)
Examination of the neuroscientific approach to the study of cognition; primary focus on the psychobiology of memory, attention, language, and spatial orientation. Prerequisite: Psych 313 or permission of instructor.
601 Comparative Psychology (5 credits)
Research on animal behavior by psychologists and ethologists; studies of the behavior of different species in the lab and in the field. Prerequisite: Psychololgy 100 and an additional 15 credit hours in psychology or zoology, or permission of instructor.
E. Social Psychology
None at present.
Section III. Elective Courses
(Any 300-level or higher Psychology Department or department-approved course not otherwise taken to meet one of the Core and/or Advanced Requirements listed previously, and the courses listed below. See also the current Ohio State University Course Offerings Bulletin.)
321 Quantitative and Statistical Methods in Psychology (4 credits)
A concentrated examination of appications of statistical tools in inference in contemporary psychology; hypothesis testing, regression, correlation, and analysis of variance. Prerequisite: 100; 320, or Stat 145 or 245.
333.02 Human Behavior Problems: Sexual (5credits)
A survey of scientific research on human sexuality using a psychological perspective with emphasis on selected social issues such as AIDS, homosexuality, adolescent pregnancy, sexual violence pornography. Prerequisite: 100.
505 Historical Development
of Psychology (5 credits)
A consideration of the development of modern scientific psychology from its roots in the school of the 19th century to its contemporary status. Prerequisite: 100 and an additional 11 credit hours in psychology.
693 Individual Studies (1-15)
Individual reading or research projects by special agreement between instructor and student. Prerequisite: 100, an additional 9 credit hours in psychology, and permission of instructor. No more than six hours of Psychology 693 may be applied toward the 40 hours required for the major. Graded S/U.
699 Undergraduate Research in Psychology (credits are variable)
Supervised, collaborative research in psychology. Prereq: 100 and permission of instructor. Repeatable to a maximum of 15 cr hrs. No more than 6 hrs (together with Psych 693.0x) may be counted toward psychology major requirements. Graded S/U.
H783 Honors Research
A program of readings, conferences, and reports selected to aid the student in completing a senior honors thesis. Prerequisite: Candidate for degree with distinction. Only four credits hours may count toward the major.
1. A psychology major offers liberal arts students considerable depth and breadth of exposure to disciplined inquiry into human and animal behavior. A major in psychology can provide a strong foundation for professional training or graduate study in psychology. However, the undergraduate degree alone is not sufficient training for a career in psychology.
2. In general, students interested in graduate training in psychology should gain a broad background in psychology rather than concentrate in any one area. Research experience via Psychology 693 or 699 is also highly valuable and strongly encouraged. Not more than six credit hours of Psychology 693, 699 or Psychology 489 Internship may be applied toward the 48 hours required for the major. However, many students choose to earn more than six credits of 693 research experience.
The total number of 693 credit hours awarded for pre-approved (by the Advising Office), psychology-related, community service activities will be limited to four hours. A short reaction paper (two pages typed), describing the students' impressions of their volunteer activities is required in the eighth week of the quarter. Please see the Advising Office for registration information regarding this opportunity.
3. Seminar offerings (Psychology 394, 594, 695 and 794) are available to advanced undergraduates. Students should keep informed of these seminars by contacting the Advising Office or checking their website. A maximum of six hours of Psychology 695 can be applied to the major.
4. H783 is a three-course sequence for students pursuing a senior honors thesis. Those students who wish to undertake a senior honors thesis (an application to the Honors Program is required) work closely with a Department of Psychology faculty mentor. Students propose a research topic, conduct the study, write an honors thesis, and take an oral examination on their work. Completing the honors thesis successfully and maintaining an overall GPA of 3.3 and a 3.5 GPA in psychology permits the student to graduate with "Distinction in Psychology". It is best for students to find a faculty mentor with whom to work by the spring quarter of the year before they graduate. Only four of the nine credits earned through H783 will be applied to the major. The remainder of the credits is applied to total credits required for graduation.
5. Students who have a research proposal formulated before April 15 of the preceding spring may apply for an undergraduate research scholarship through the Colleges of Arts and Sciences. Applications may be obtained at the Honors Office in Denney Hall and are due about the middle of April. Recipients will receive a monetary award to support their research. In addition, there are two research scholarships (the Alkire Research Scholarship or Frederick Y. Billingslea Research Scholarship) available through the Department of Psychology. Please contact the Advising Office, 136 Townshend for further information.
Students who pursue research in the department may also participate in the Department of Psychology Undergraduate Research Colloquium and the university-wide undergraduate research colloquium held during spring quarter.
