圣路易斯華盛頓大學(xué)

The field of psychology encompasses a large and diverse area of study that is empirical, theoretical and practical. As the science concerned with the study of behavior, psychology includes such areas as biological bases of behavior; brain-behavior interactions; learning; memory; cognition; motivation; emotion; sensation and perception; the study of social interactions, persuasion and attitudes; aging and development; personality; clinical, abnormal, and health psychology; and leisure and work experiences. Psychology is a multipurpose, valuable discipline in which to major. It has relevance for those considering careers in law, medicine, the health professions, education and business. In addition, it provides important skills and knowledge for those who may not be planning additional schooling.

Total units required: 34 units, of which at least 25 must be at the 300 level or above.

Concentrations in Psychological & Brain Sciences

To augment the broadly based psychological & brain sciences major, the department offers concentrations for students who wish to engage more intensively with a specific area within the discipline. The concentrations are meant as an enrichment of the major, but the units for the concentrations may be part of the regular P&BS major requirements.

A concentration requires a minimum of 12 units, which include required and elective courses, one of which must be at the 400 level. In addition, to complete a concentration, students will have to undertake an approved research assistantship (Psych 444C Independent Study for a Concentration in Psychological and Brain Sciences), or an approved internship, practicum, or honors thesis.

A concentration will be a valuable experience for students planning on graduate study in psychology or related fields, or for those who have a particular interest or want to gain expertise in one of the approved concentrations. Each concentration will have a member of the faculty as the contact person to meet with and advise students in the concentration.

Courses taken for a concentration may be used to fulfill no more than one of the Core categories or distribution requirements of a psychological & brain sciences major. None of the units for a concentration can be counted for any other major or minor (i.e., there is no double counting). For those doing the psychological & brain sciences: cognitive neuroscience major, the cognitive neuroscience concentration is not an option.

There are six concentrations:

Cognition in Children - This concentration allows students to acquire deeper knowledge of cognition and its development in the first few years of life.

Cognitive Neuroscience - This concentration allows students to acquire deeper knowledge of the relation between mind and brain.

Reading, Language, and Language Acquisition - This concentration provides students with a deep and broad knowledge of linguistic development.

Lifespan Development - Many introductory courses in developmental psychology focus on changes that occur from birth to adolescence.

Experimental Psychopathology - This concentration allows students to acquire more advanced knowledge of the ways in which psychologists study mental disorders.

Personality and Individual Differences - This concentration allows students to acquire deeper knowledge of how and why individuals differ from one another and the ways in which individual (e.g., personality, self) and group differences (e.g., gender) influence behavior, emotion, experience, identity and psychopathology.