Undergraduate

Students interested in declaring a major in the Department of Psychology must complete the Major Declaration Form and have it approved by a department advisor. The Dept. of Psychology offers both virtual and in-person advising - refer to Undergraduate Advising for office hours.

The following are required to declare a major in Psychology:

• Completion of PSYCH 100 in addition to any other 100-level psychology course (both passed with a minimum grade of 'B'); a required mathematics course with a minimum grade of 'C' and have a minimum GPA of 2.00.
• The mathematics requirement can be satisfied by STAT 11300 or MATH 12400 (STEM), or by earning exemption from the mathematics requirement. Based on placement exams or transferred courses, students may place into advanced Mathematics or Statistics courses without taking Hunter College pre-requisites. See the Mathematics and Statistics department for details.

Completion of the Psychology Major requires a broad selection of coursework across 3 major “Content Areas” (Biopsychology; Cognitive/Developmental Psychology; and Social/Clinical/Health Psychology).

Students also have the option to further ‘tailor’ their Psychology major within one of 7 specialized “Focus Areas” that are grouped within these broader Content Areas: Animal Behavior; Physiological Psychology; Cognitive Psychology; Developmental Psychology; Social Psychology; Clinical Psychology; or Health Psychology.

Students who prefer not to ‘tailor’ their major within a specific Focus Area may choose the “General Psychology” option.

Below is the full curriculum for the Psychology Major (43-50 credits)

Notes:
*PSYCH 24800 and PSYCH 25000 cannot be taken simultaneously. PSYCH 24800 is a pre-requisite of PSYCH 25000. They cannot be taken as co-requisites, no exceptions.

**PSYCH 25000 is a pre-requisite for all upper-division, 300-level classes. Therefore, these levels cannot be taken simultaneously, no exceptions.

***PSYCH Electives can be fulfilled by completing any PSYCH class 200-level or higher. Independent study courses as well as an honors project (i.e., Departmental Honors) can only fulfill the psych electives requirement.

Note:

Honors in Psychology PSYCH 396/398 is designed as a capstone experience for Psychology Majors. It involves a full year commitment of intensive research under the supervision of a faculty member and a written thesis in APA style. In addition, students completing the Honors in Psychology present their research projects at one of three conferences held over the course of the year where awards are given for both the best poster and oral presentation. For more information on the honors thesis review Departmental Honors. For more information on how to create a Poster for the Honors presentation review our presentation guide.

Grading

Courses applied to the Psychology major cannot be completed with a P/NC (Pass/No Credit) option.

Residence Requirement and Classes Taken on Permit

1. Psychology classes 200-level and above taken on Permit will only transfer to Hunter as a General Elective. 200 and 300-level Psychology classes must be taken in residence (at Hunter College) to apply towards the major.
2. Transfer students can apply equivalent classes toward the major. Students are required to complete a minimum of 19 credits in residence to satisfy the major requirements.

To declare a Psychology Minor, the student must have completed any 100-level psychology course with a minimum grade of 'C' and a required mathematics course with a minimum grade of 'C' or 'CR'. The mathematics requirement may be satisfied by STAT 11300 or MATH 12400 or by an appropriate score on the mathematics placement test.

The minor in Psychology consists of 15 credits in Psychology in addition to 3 to 4 credits for the Math requirement [18-19 cr.], as follows:

• Students must speak with an advisor to declare the Minor in Psychology.
• Students can apply up to 2 transferred psychology courses towards the minor. The remaining courses must be completed at Hunter.

The concentration brings together students with similar interests in a set of core courses, offers mentored research experience in faculty laboratories, opportunities for student research presentations and participation in the Psychology Honors program. The neuroscience concentration is a particularly good option for students who plan to do graduate study in neuroscience or neuroscience-related fields or attend medical school for neurology, neurosurgery, or psychiatry specialties.

Because of the large number of required courses, and the Honors Research component, it is very important that interested students meet with Psychology advisers to obtain detailed information on the program and declare the Concentration as early in their college career as possible after successful completion of classes listed in Level 1. The program's major template includes a checklist that should be used to maintain an ongoing record of your performance in the required coursework.

The BNC requires students obtain and maintain a 3.5 major GPA and a 3.0 overall GPA. These GPA indexes are required both to declare and remain in the program.

These courses provide an initial assessment of the student’s ability to complete basic STEM courses in the curriculum with a grade point level that suggests they will be able to deal, satisfactorily, with upper level courses in the concentration. To declare the BNC, students must complete the 100-level classes in addition to obtaining as well as maintaining overall and major GPAs of 3.0 and 3.5, respectively.

100-Level Classes [30 Credits]

• PSYCH 10000: Introduction to Psychology [3 cr.]
• PSYCH 1_____: Additional 100-level class [3 cr.]
• MATH 15000: Calculus [4 cr.]
• CHEM 10200: General Chemistry I [4 cr.]
• CHEM 10400: General Chemistry II [4 cr.]
• CHEM 10600: General Chemistry Laboratory [3 cr.]
• BIOL 10000: Principles of Biology I [4.5 cr.] - Spring only
• BIOL 10200: Principles of Biology II [4.5 cr.] - Fall only

200-Level Classes [25.5 Credits]

• PSYCH 22400: Neuroscience (Biopsychology Content Area) [3 cr.]
• PSYCH 2____: (Cognitive/Developmental Content Area) [3 cr.]
• PSYCH 2____: (Social/Clinical/Health Content Area) [3 cr.]
• PSYCH 24800: Statistical Methods in Psychology [4 cr.]
• PSYCH 25000: Experimental Psychology: General [4 cr.]
• BIOL 20300: Molecular Biology and Genetics [4.5 cr.] - Spring only
• CHEM 22200: Organic Chemistry Lecture [4 cr.]

After satisfactory completion of Level II courses, students should obtain an appointment with the BNC adviser to discuss arrangements for selecting a laboratory within which to carry out their Honors Research.

Neuroscience Electives [12 credits]

A list of eligible electives is provided below. 12 credits of coursework are required, including:
Two 300-level PSYCH courses with neuroscience content,
One 300-level BIOL or PSYCH seminar with neuroscience content, and
One 300-level BIOL course with neuroscience content.

300-Level Psychology Classes [6 credits]

• PSYCH 30100: Sensation and Perception [3 cr.]
• PSYCH 30900: Behavioral Neuroendocrinology [3 cr.]
• PSYCH 32700: Motivation and Emotion [3 cr.]
• PSYCH 36900: Behavioral Pharmacology [3 cr.]

Seminar Class [3 credits]

• PSYCH 31600: Cognitive Neuroscience [3 cr.]
• PSYCH 38200: Current Topics in Biopsychology [3 cr.]
• BIOL 47100: Special Topics [3 cr.]

300-Level Biology Class [3-4 credits]

Permission to take upper-level biology courses must be obtained first from the BNC advisor and then from the Biology Department.

• BIOL 37000: Neurophysiology [4 cr.] - Spring only
• BIOL 37600: Endocrinology [3 cr.] - Spring only
• BIOL 38000: Molecular Neurobiology [3 cr.] - Fall Only

Honors Research [6 Credits]

This is a critical component of the Concentration both because it involves training in research ethics, writing and presentation and because your research mentor is an import reference in applications for postgraduate study. The mentor will usually be a Hunter college faculty member, but research mentors at other institutions may be acceptable with the approval of the BNC adviser.  Students will carry out this work while enrolled in PSYCH 39600 and 39800, (Prof. Jennifer Ford, Ph.D.).

• PSYCH 39600: Honors Research I
• PSYCH 39800: Honors Research II

Approval of the mentor is based on a 2-3-page summary of the research project and the student's role in the project. The summary must be signed by both the student and mentor, then submitted to the BNC Adviser for approval. View the list of approved Faculty laboratories in Psychology and Biology (also available from the Psych Advisers' office).

Notes:

1. For Biology Majors, a comparable Concentration in Neurobiology is offered by the Dept. of Biological Sciences.
2. The current BNC Director is Professor Nesha Burghardt.
3. Permission to enroll in upper level Biology courses is required by the Dept. of Biological Sciences.
4. Honors courses do not count towards the 12 BNC elective credits. 

There are various benefits to obtaining fieldwork or laboratory experience:

• Obtaining credits for psychology-related work
• Obtaining letters of recommendation
• Obtaining a new skill set
• Improving your resume
• Gain laboratory or fieldwork experience
• Graduate schools either highly recommend or require laboratory/fieldwork experience

Students can earn (3) credits for psychology-related work through Independent Study classes. Below is a list of optional courses:

• PSYCH 20100 - Independent Study in Psychology
  Designed to meet the needs of individual students under the direction of a particular faculty sponsor. The course may involve independent readings, tutorials, work as an advising assistant or peer counselor, field placement, an individual research project, or participation in ongoing faculty research, any of these culminating in a written report.
  Pre-req: 6 credits in Psychology (including PSYCH 10000, an additional PSYCH class) and departmental consent.
• PSYCH 39500 - Independent Research in Psychology
  Designed to meet the needs of individual students under the direction of a particular instructor at a more advanced level than PSYCH 20100. Such study may involve independent reading, tutorials, independent research projects, or participation in ongoing faculty research, any of these culminating in an APA-style research report or literature review.
  Pre-req: PSYCH 25000 and departmental consent.

• You must be an undergraduate student and declared major in Psychology.
• Have a GPA of 2.5 or higher.
• A minimum of 100 hours per semester is required for PSYCH 201.
• A minimum of 126 hours is required for PSYCH 395.
• If you are not doing laboratory research for credit, the minimum number of hours will be decided by your mentor.

1. The first step is to find the opportunity (e.g., fieldwork or research project).
   • See our Faculty and Staff page to review a listing of eligible faculty mentors for research opportunities.
   • Refer to the Career Development Services Office for guidance with finding suitable placement in an internship site.
2. The second step is finding a psychology faculty mentor.
3. The third step is filling and signing the Independent Study/Research Agreement Form.

Recommendation:

• Apply 3-6 months in advance.
  • If you're interested in conducting research, the best way to be granted a signature and approval from a mentor is by taking the time to speak with him/her during the semester. Students are encouraged to take at least one course with a mentor and get to know him/her by asking questions after class sessions and visiting the instructor during office hours. It's imperative to foster a connection as this will help grant you access to the faculty member's lab and potentially garner a letter of reference for graduate school or future employment.
  • If you're interested in gaining practical experience, then an externship may be best. The Career Development Services Offices in Hunter East, Room 805 can assist in finding a suitable internship for credit. The student can seek a signature from a mentor once the internship is secured. A minimum of 100 hours and a 7-10 page paper (all subject to the mentor's approval) is required to receive a grade for this independent course of study.

Mentor's Expectations for Research Opportunities:

• A professional Curriculum Vitae (CV).
• You thoroughly understand the work your mentor(s) performs.
• You have read all material on the mentor's respective listing page—including publications or articles.

How can I find an internship opportunity?

Visit the Handshake website and join millions of students on the best place to get hired.

I am a graduate student, can I apply to this internship?

No, unfortunately we are not accepting graduate students on the program at this time.

Do I have to be a psychology major in order to be placed into a laboratory?

No, we are accepting any science major or minor. However, if you are taking this to fulfill PSYCH 395, you must be a psychology major.

How long should I be prepared to spend on this internship?

The time will be determined by your mentor and you.

How many hours am I expected to work per semester?

• For PSYCH 201: a minimum of 100 hours
• For PSYCH 395, 396/398: a minimum of 126 hours

In short, you are expected to work 6 to 10 hours per week.

What is required if taking this class as an independent study course (i.e. for credit)?

At the end of the project, you will be expected to write a paper. The length and the topic should be discussed with your mentor. Also, you are required to sign a contract in which you and your mentor promise to fulfill the course expectations. You may also be required to attend to laboratory meetings.

If I want to work in a laboratory, do I HAVE to take this as an independent study course (i.e. for credit)?

No, you do not have to take this for credit; you may simply work in someone's laboratory without receiving course credit.

Can I do research work outside of Hunter?

Yes, you can do this. However, if you want to earn credit, you must find a Hunter sponsor. (Speak to the Placement Advisor to help you find a sponsor.)

Which independent study should I sign up for?

• If you have taken 250 (Experimental Psychology), you need to take PSYCH 395 (Independent Research).
• If you have not taken Experimental Psych, then you should take PSYCH 201 (Independent Study).
• For honors, take PSYCH 396/398.

Who are the mentors from the psychology department?

Each member of our faculty is a mentor. See our Faculty and Staff page for the list of our mentors.

What is the correct way of approaching a mentor?

1. Before you apply for a specific lab:
   • Know what is the mentor's field of interest and what kind of research he/she does.
   • Read their full faculty biography and the articles they have written. Mentors want to know if you understand and are interested in learning what he/she does.
2. During the interview:
   • Make a great impression on your potential mentor: Show that you have aptitude and explain why you are interested in working in his/her laboratory.
3. Keep in mind:
   • Do not expect the mentors to do the work for you, they will help you, but it is your responsibility to work and learn, and get the experience you need from them.
   • Remember that your mentor will be writing recommendation letters for you.
   • Your mentor is the person that is going to guide you on your laboratory work, therefore you need to be respectful and refer to them accordingly.
4. When addressing your mentors:
   • Address them by their appropriate title. (Most likely Professor or Dr. )
   • Be very formal when writing e-mails or letters.
   • Check spelling and grammar several times before you send him/her e-mails.
   • Be precise and write no more than what is necessary.

Remember: Mentors have full schedules and may not get back to you immediately. You may want to write a follow up e-mail if too much time has passed.

How can I find a mentor's research articles?

You can find them on any of these sites:

• Psychology Department' Mentors
• Hunter Library
• Pub med

What is a resume?

A resume is a one or two page summary of your education, skills, accomplishments and work experience. (Career Development Services definition).

What is a Curriculum Vitae (CV)?

A Curriculum Vitae is a brief account of a person's education, qualifications, and previous occupations. It is a Latin phrase meaning 'course of life.' (Oxford dictionary definition).

What are the differences between a resume and a CV?

The differences between a resume and a Curriculum Vitae are:

• A resume is a brief summary of your skills and experience, while a CV is a more detailed and extended summary of your academic and work background.
• A resume is mainly used for job applications, while a CV is mostly used for academic purposes.
• A CV is more specific to educational background, and is the most proper way to present yourself when applying for educational or research positions.

Do I need a resume or a CV when applying for Lab Placement?

You definitely need a CV.

 I don't know how to make a CV or a resume for my application, where can I get help?

Career Development Services has helpful resources that can guide you step by step during your resume making process. See their Resume and Cover Letter Guide.

After I have made my CV, can someone review it for me?

Yes, the Career Center office has counselors that can review your CV. They are located in Hunter's East Building, Room 805. View their office hours here.