The Psychology major coursework at lona begins with Psychology 201 and Psychology 202. These courses provide an accurate grasp of the very different careers possible within Psychology. One learns that Psychology is a science; that it is quantitative, inductive, and empirical; that it is slow to label and to categorize individuals; and that it is young, vigorous and immensely interesting.

Once the student has completed Psychology 201 and 202 during the freshman year and wishes to continue with Psychology as a sophomore, the Department suggests Psychology 338 (Psychology of Learning), Psychology 339 (Personality Theory), and/or Psychology 341 (Physiological Psychology) in the fall semester, and Psychology 441 (Developmental Psychology) in the spring semester. These courses are themselves interesting and provide a firm grasp of fundamental tools in all branches of psychology. In addition, they increase your options during the junior and senior years when you may wish to have more selectivity and take advanced courses like Psychology 461 (Abnormal Psychology), Psychology 412 (Social Psychology) and the series of internship courses.

A Psychology major (BA) requires 24 credits in major courses. The Department requires enrollment in Psychology 323 (Quantitative Research Methods) and in Psychology 390 (Experimental) because the skills acquired in these courses are very basic to all other areas. One cannot do anything else in Psychology without an understanding of quantitative research and experimental methodology. The student is free to select the remaining 18 credits of major courses.

It is also possible for students to obtain a Bachelors degree while at the same time begin work towards their Masters degree. Special requirements must be met before admission is granted to this program. The Department of Psychology offers a five-year combined bachelors/masters program. BA-MA Program Plan (printer friendly)

Some may wish to pursue a professional career in Psychology. In that event, it is important to select courses which are required by nearly all graduate schools. They expect the student to be well-grounded in experimental, statistics, physiological and learning. Many graduate schools perceive their mission as preparing the student directly for careers in developmental, child, school, counseling, etc. Such graduate schools are therefore not concerned with, for example, the state of your knowledge of the latest theories in Clinical Psychology. They believe it is their job to teach you that! What graduate schools do prefer, however, is a rich background of skills and knowledge which can be applied to the clinical, or to any other field.

In addition to coursework, a second important consideration for the budding Psychologist is the Graduate Record Exam (GRE). The exam has subsections, each counting equally toward your score, and is heavily biased toward learning, physiology, perception, sensation, physiological approaches to motivation and emotion and testing. Since a high score on the GRE is generally required to be accepted in graduate school and since this national exam is given during the Fall of senior year, the student should plan the scheduling of courses accordingly.

A third element to consider is that one might not know, during the freshman or sophomore years, whether a career as a professional psychologist will eventually be selected. A Bachelor of Arts or Science in Psychology possesses all the value of a College Degree in any other discipline, with the added edge provided by the student's experimental papers. They provide solid evidence to business firms and other prospective employers that the student is capable of organizing and interpreting data in a sophisticated manner.

It is always sound advice to adopt a plan of study sufficiently comprehensive to prepare for all eventualities. Psychology majors, especially seniors, are always most happy to discuss career plans with the student, particularly because it frequently helps them to clarify their own future ambitions. The Psychology faculty is noted for its availability to students for advisement and counseling. Aiding the student is the teachers' most rewarding responsibility. The Department welcomes and invites your consideration of a major in Psychology at Iona College. Walsh Hall, the Psychology Department's home, is yours.

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