Psychology (PSY)
For information, please contact the office, 989-774-3001,101 Sloan Hall; https://www.cmich.edu/colleges/chsbs/Psychology/
Why Study Psychology?
The study of psychology at the undergraduate level will develop your knowledge and understanding of behavior. There are three reasons why this knowledge will be beneficial to you. The first is that you will better understand yourself and your environment. In other words, the study of psychology will enhance your life. The second reason for studying psychology is to acquire skills that will improve your performance in the career of your choice. The third reason for studying psychology at the undergraduate level is to prepare for graduate study in psychology or related fields such as social work or counseling.
The three reasons for studying psychology are reflected in the three basic goals adopted by the Psychology Department. These goals are (a) to help students gain an awareness of the psychological processes operating within themselves and their environment; (b) to develop the technical competence for careers that require knowledge and skills in human development, mental health, behavior analysis, and other psychological areas; and (c) to provide students with a strong foundation in the basic knowledge and skills necessary to pursue graduate study in psychology or related fields.
Psychology at CMU
In order to achieve the goals listed above, the Psychology Department offers an extensive array of undergraduate course offerings. In addition, the department offers graduate programs leading to the master’s degree in applied experimental and industrial-organizational psychology, the specialist degree in school psychology, and the doctoral in philosophy (Ph.D.) in clinical, experimental, industrial-organizational, and school psychology. A more detailed description of the undergraduate program, including required and suggested courses for majors and minors can be found in the Undergraduate Handbook available for viewing and download at the website above. Additional information available for download includes guides regarding additional opportunities at CMU and career possibilities in psychology.
Advising. If you are considering a major or minor in psychology, you will need to meet with a faculty advisor. Please call (989-774-3001) or come to the Psychology Department office (Sloan Hall 101) to be assigned a faculty advisor. Next schedule an appointment to meet with your advisor. Make sure to familiarize yourself with all the requirements for the major/minor (listed below) before meeting with your advisor.
To supplement faculty advising, Psi Chi, the International Honors Society in Psychology offers meetings during the academic year dealing with general issues for any student considering a psychology major or minor and describing volunteer opportunities in human service settings in the Mt. Pleasant area. Times and dates of Psi Chi meetings are posted in Sloan Hall.
Prerequisites. PSY 100 (or an equivalent course transferred in from another school) is a prerequisite for all other psychology courses except PSY 334. Course descriptions later in this Bulletin list other prerequisites. Recommended courses are not required, but are listed in the course descriptions to provide information on important background materials.
Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst (BCaBA). The Psychology Department offers a course sequence that meets the educational requirements of the Behavior Analyst Certification Board to become Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analysts (BCABA). Completion of the course sequence listed below, the experience requirements, and passing the BCABA certification exam are required for certification. The Behavior Analyst Certification Board, Inc., has approved the following course sequence as meeting the coursework requirements for eligibility to take the Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst Examination: PSY 370, PSY 384, PSY 570, and PSY 586. Students interested in the BCABA course sequence should complete an advisor form at 180 Sloan Hall or contact BCBA@cmich.edu.
The Faculty
Jane Ashby, Renee Babcock, Richard Backs, Terry A. Beehr, Emily Bloesch, Neil Christiansen, Stephen Colarelli, Christopher Davoli, Sarah Domoff, Daniel Drevon, Gary L. Dunbar, Stephanie Fredrick, James Gerhart, Bryan Gibson, Kyunghee Han, Timothy S. Hartshorne, Michael Hixson, Kenneth Jenrow, Carl M. Johnson, Yannick Marchalant, Elizabeth Meadows, Sandra Morgan, Larissa Niec, Kimberly O’Brien, Hajime Otani, Kevin Park, Debra Poole, Matthew Prewett, Mark Reilly, Katrina Rhymer, George Ronan, Michael Sandstrom, Kyle Scherr, Reid Skeel, K. Roger Van Horn, Nathan Weed
The Programs
Psychology Major
Psychology Minor
Neuroscience Major (Interdisciplinary)