Introduction

The course offerings have been designed to meet the needs and interests of four groups of students:

• those who wish to explore a few topics in psychology
• those who wish to major or concentrate psychology
• those who wish to major in neuroscience and behavior
• those seeking to fulfill the science requirement

Many opportunities exist for becoming involved in research projects in the Department of Psychology. All qualified students are welcome. Students may volunteer to work in a lab, register for supervised individual research (W3950), or participate in the Department's two-year Honors Program. Information on faculty research is available on the Department's web site. You are invited to read about the research laboratories on faculty webpages and go to the professor's office hours to discuss potential research opportunities.

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Planning Your Program

Majors and concentrators in psychology, and majors in neuroscience and behavior, should begin planning a program of study as early as possible. All necessary forms and information are available outside 406 Schermerhorn or online at http://www.columbia.edu/cu/psychology/dept/ugrad/infopack.html. You should complete a Major Requirement Checklist before consulting an advisor. Returning students should check the department web pages for recent updates to the curriculum.

Please see the Program Planning Tips page for more suggestions regarding program planning.

Major Advisors and Administrative Assistants
Director of Undergraduate Studies, Undergraduate Programs, and Laboratories
Prof. Lois Putnam		314 Sch	x4-4550	putnam@psych.columbia.edu
Program Advisors Contact a Program Advisor when you have questions regarding degree requirements, transfer credit, or other administrative aspects of your major. Bring a completed Major Requirement Checklist to every meeting with your advisor.
Program Advisors for Psychology Majors and Concentrators in CC & GS
A-K	Prof. Patricia Lindemann	354A SchX	x4-8285	pgl2@columbia.edu
L-Q	Prof. Carl Hart	316 Sch	x4-5313	clh42@columbia.edu
R-Z	Prof. Betsy Sparrow	355C SchX	x4-1348	sparrow@psych.columbia.edu
Program Advisors for the Neuroscience and Behavior Major
Psych	Prof. Hakwan Lau	355D SchX	x4-1925	hakwan@psych.columbia.edu
Psych	Prof. Tor Wager	370 SchX	x4-5318	tor@psych.columbia.edu
Bio (CC)	Prof. Stuart Firestein	923 Fairchild	x4-4531	sjf24@columbia.edu
Bio (GS)	Prof. Debby Mowshowitz	744D Mudd	x4-4497	dbm2@columbia.edu
Program Advisor for the Psychology Post-Bac and Second Majors Programs
Prof. Patricia Lindemann		354A SchX	x4-8285	postbac@psych.columbia.edu
Pre-Clinical Advisor
Prof. Catherine Monk		356 SchX	x4-9236	cem31@columbia.edu
Undergraduate Curriculum Assistant
Andrew Johnson		406 Sch	x4-8859	uca@psych.columbia.edu
Dept. Administrative Coordinator
Joanna Borchert-Kopczuk		406 Sch	x4-3940	jb2330@columbia.edu
Psychology Faculty and Peer Advisors
See the Faculty Advisors and Peer Advisors web pages

Guide to Course Numbers

Subcategories within the 2000, 3000, and 4000 levels correspond to the three groups in our Distribution Requirement for undergraduate psychology majors:
(1) Perception and Cognition (2200s, 3200s, and 4200s),
(2) Psychobiology and Neuroscience (2400s, 3400s, and 4400s), and
(3) Social, Personality, and Abnormal (2600s, 3600s, and 4600s).

Science Requirement: PSYC W1001 The Science of Psychology, W1010 Mind, Brain, and Behavior, and any course numbered in the W2200s or W2400s may be used to fulfill the science requirement. W2600-level and some other psychology courses (including BC1001 Introduction to psychology) may not be used to fulfill the science requirement. For psychology courses that may be applied toward the science requirement, refer to the core requirements section of your College or General Studies Bulletin, and see the "Sci" column in the Table of all Courses.

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

For a Major in Psychology

• One Introductory Psychology Course (W1001 The science of psychology)
  
• One Laboratory Course chosen from among the following:
  • W1420 Experimental psychology: human behavior
  • W1440 Experimental psychology: learning and motivation
  • W1450 Experimental psychology: social cognition and emotion
  • W1455 Experimental psychology: social and personality
  • W1480 Experimental psychology: perception and attention
  • W1490 Experimental psychology: thinking and decision making
    
• One Statistics Course chosen from among the following:
  • PSYC W1610 Introductory statistics for behavioral scientists
  • STAT W1001 Introduction to statistical reasoning
  • STAT W1111 Introduction to statistics (without calculus)
  • STAT W1211 Introduction to statistics (with calculus)

  Majors are advised to complete the laboratory and statistics requirements by the junior year. We recommend that statistics be taken before, or concurrently with, the laboratory course.
  

• Three Courses meeting the Distribution Requirement.
  In addition to the introductory, laboratory, and statistics courses described above, one course must be taken from each of the following three groups.
  
  • Group I - Perception and Cognition: Courses numbered in the 2200s, 3200s, or 4200s. Also W1420, W1480, or W1490.
    
  • Group II - Psychobiology and Neuroscience: Courses numbered in the 2400s, 3400s, or 4400s. Also W1010 or W1440.
    
  • Group III - Social, Personality and Abnormal: Courses numbered in the 2600s, 3600s, or 4600s. Also W1450 or W1455.
    
• Additional Courses ("electives") for a total of 30 points. These may include Barnard psychology courses, as described below.

No course may be counted twice in fulfillment of the above requirements.

Grades: A grade of C-, or higher, must be earned and revealed on your transcript in any Columbia or Barnard course-- including the first-- that is used to satisfy the major or concentration requirements. The grade of P will not be accepted for psychology major or concentration credit; only if the P is uncovered by the Registrar's deadline will the course be applicable towards the major or concentration requirements.

Research credits: No more than 8 points of Supervised individual research (PSYC W3950) may be applied toward the major, and no more than 4 pts may be taken in any one term.

Barnard courses: No more than 9 points from Barnard psychology courses, including BC1001, may be applied as credit toward the major. BC 1001 will fulfill the introductory course (PSYC W1001) requirement, but Barnard courses may not be applied toward the laboratory or statistics, or distribution (Group I, II, and III) requirements. Written approval is not required for BC1001, or for any Barnard course applied as elective credit.

Transfer Credits: No more than 9 transfer credits (including any Barnard credits) will be accepted toward the psychology major. Approval of transfer credits on a student's Entrance Credit Report toward general requirements for the bachelor's degree does not grant approval of these credits toward the psychology major. Approval of transfer credits to fulfill psychology requirements must be obtained in writing from a psychology program advisor using the Major Requirement Substitution Form. To be approved for the major a course taken at another institution should be substantially similar to one offered by the department and the grade received must be B- or better.With the exception of Barnard courses, students should consult their Program Advisor before registering for psychology courses offered outside the department.

Students who have completed an introductory psychology course at another institution prior to declaring a psychology major should consult a Program Advisor to verify whether or not this course meets departmental standards for major transfer credit. If transfer credit toward the major is not approved, the student must enroll in PSYC W1001 or PSYC BC1001 to complete this major requirement. Note that College Board Advanced Placement (AP) psychology scores will not satisfy the PSYC W1001 requirement, nor will they confer elective credit toward the major.

Overlapping Courses: Students will not receive credit for two courses--one at Columbia and one at Barnard--whose content largely overlaps (e.g., PSYC BC1001--Introduction to Psychology and W1001--The Science of Psychology or PSYC BC1138--Social psychology and W2630--Social psychology).

In planning your Psychology Major, please refer to the Program Planning Tips page and use the appropriate Major Requirement Checklist from the Undergraduate InfoPack.

For a Concentration in Psychology

A concentration in psychology requires a minimum of 18 points, including an introductory psychology course (PSYC W1001) and courses in at least two of the three groups listed under Distribution Requirements above. Restrictions on research credits (PSYC W3950), Barnard credits, and transfer credits are modified from those of the major as follows: (1) only 4 points of W3950, (2) only 5 points from Barnard (including BC1001), and (3) only 5 points total (including any Barnard points) from psychology courses taken outside the department may be applied toward the concentration. Except as noted above, other regulations outlined in the Psychology Major section regarding grades, transfer credits, and overlapping courses also apply toward the concentration.

In planning your Psychology Concentration, please refer to the Program Planning Tips page and use the appropriate Major Requirement Checklist from the Undergraduate InfoPack.

For a Major in Neuroscience & Behavior

• (CC) - Prof. Stuart Firestein, 923 Fairchild, 854-4531, sjf24@columbia.edu
• (GS) - Prof. Debby Mowshowitz, 744D Mudd, 854-4497, dbm2@columbia.edu

• Prof. Hakwan Lau, 355D SchX, 854-1925, hakwan@psych.columbia.edu
• Prof. Tor Wager, 370 SchX, 854-5318, tor@psych.columbia.edu

I. Required Biology Courses

(See Biology Dept. for the Definitive List of Biology Requirements)

• B.1. Biology C2005 -Intro. Bio I: Biochemistry, Genetics, and Molecular Biology
• B.2. Biology C2006 -Intro. Bio II: Cell Biology, Development, and Physiology
• B.3. Biology W3004 - Neurobio I: Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology
• B.4. Biology W3005 - Neurobio II: Development and Systems
• B.5. One additional 3000 or 4000 level biology course from a list approved by the Biology Department advisor to the major.

II. Required Psychology Courses

• P. 1. The Science of Psychology:
• W1001* or S1001* The Science of Psychology (Summer 2009)
  
  
• P. 2. Neuroscience Intro:
• W1010* or S1010* Mind, Brain, and Behavior (Summer 2009) or
• W2450 * or S2450* Behavioral Neuroscience (Summer 2009)
  
  
• P. 3. Reseach Methods:
  • W1610 * Introductory Statistics for Behavioral Scientists or
  • S1610 * Introductory Statistics for Behavioral Scientists (Summer 2009), or
  • STAT 1111 * or STAT 1211 *
  • W1420 * Exp. Psych.: Human Behavior or
  • W1440 - Exp. Psych.: Learning & Motivation or
  • W1450 * Exp. Psych.: Social Cognition and Emotion or
  • W1480 - Exp. Psych.: Perception & Attention or
  • S1480 * Exp. Psych.: Perception & Attention (Summer 2009) or
  • W1490 - Exp. Psych.: Thinking & Decision Making
    
    
• P. 4. One additional 2000 or 3000 level Psychology course from a list approved by the Psychology Departmental Advisor to the program. Possible courses are listed below:
  • W2210 - Cognition: Basic Processes
  • W2215 * Cognition: Mind & Brain
  • W2220 - Cognition: Memory & Stress
  • W2225 * Attention & Perception
  • W2230 - Perception & Sensory Processes
  • S2230 * Perception & Sensory Processes (Summer 2009)
  • W2235 * Thinking and Decision Making
  • W2240 - Human Communication
  • W2250 * Evolution of Cognition
  • W2280 * Intro to Developmental Psychology
  • W2420 - Animal Behavior
  • S2450 - Behavioral Neuroscience
  • W2460 * Drugs and Behavior
  • S2460 * Drugs and Behavior (Summer 2009)
  • W2480 - Developing Brain
  • W2620 * Abnormal Behavior
  • S2620 * Abnormal Behavior (Summer 2009)
    
    
• P. 5. One advanced psychology seminar from a list approved by the Psychology Department Advisor to the program. Possible courses are listed below:
  • W3250 /G4230 * Seminar in Space Perception / Sensation and Perception
  • W3255/G4255 * Modern Classics in Visual Percept., Vis. Science, and Vis Neuroscience
  • W3265 * Auditory Perception
  • W3270 * Computational Approaches to Human Vision
  • S3280 - Seminar in Infant Development
  • W3410 - Seminar in Emotion
  • W3435 * Neurobiology of Reproductive Behavior
  • W3440 * Issues in Brain and Behavior
  • W3450/G4450 * Evolution of Intelligence and Consciousness
  • W3460 * Evolution of Behavior
  • W3480 - Seminar in Cognitive Neuropsychology
  • W3485/G4485 - Neuroscience of Cognitive and Emotional Control
  • W3615* - Children at Risk (seminar)
  • W3620 * Seminar in Developmental Psychopathology
  • W3680/G4685 - Social Cognitive Neuroscience
  • G4215* Memory Representations
  • G4220* Cognition and Psychopathology
  • G4222* The Cognitive Neurosci of Aging
  • G4225 * Consciousness and Attention
  • G4227 * Philosophical and Empirical Issues of Consciousness
  • G4233 - Language and Music (MUSI-PSYC)
  • G4235 * Special Topics in Vision
  • G4240 * Theory of Mind and Intentionality
  • G4270 * Cognitive Processes
  • G4275 - Contemporary Topics in Language & Communication
  • G4410 - Human Psychophysiology
  • W4415 - Methods and Issues in Cognitive Neuroscience
  • G4420 * Animal Cognition Seminar
  • G4430 * Learning and the Brain
  • G4440 * Topics in Neurobiology and Behavior
  • G4490 * Inheritance
  • G4690 - Soc. Factors & Psychopathology

* Offered in 2009-10. Click on course number to see course description, prerequisites, term, and time offered. Also see the Table of All Courses and the Psychology Information Packet. For assistance in planning the psychology portion of your Neuroscience and Behavior Major, please refer to the Program Planning Tips page and use the appropriate Major Requirement Checklist from the Undergraduate InfoPack.

Transfer Credit for Psychology Courses taken elsewhere. Students should consult the psychology advisor before registering for psychology courses offered outside the Department. With the advisor's approval, one Barnard psychology course, but not more than one, may be applied toward the 1st, 3rd, 4th, or 5th psychology requirement. Alternatively, a student may apply to the advisor to have one course from another institution applied toward the psychology portion of the Neuroscience and Behavior major. Students who wish to obtain transfer credit should complete the Major Requirement Substitution Form. To be approved for the major, a course taken at another institution should be substantially similar to one offered by the department and the grade received must be B- or better. Advanced placement (AP) psychology scores will not satisfy the PSYC W1001 requirement.

NOTE: No course may be counted twice in fulfillment of the above biology or psychology requirements. A grade of C-, or higher, must be earned and revealed on your transcript for any Columbia or Barnard course --including the first-- that is used to satisfy the major requirements. The grade of P will not be accepted for neurosciene and behavior credit; only if the P is uncovered by the Registrar's deadline will the course be applicable toward the major requirements.

Most graduate programs in Neuroscience require one year of calculus, one year of physics, and chemistry through organic.

Double Majors/Concentrations

All students attempting to complete double majors, double concentrations, or a combination of a major and a concentration should keep in mind that they must complete separate sets of required and related courses for each field. A single course may not be counted twice. Please consult with one of the Directors of Undergraduate Studies or Program Advisors if you have questions. Statistics courses are special cases; see an explanation and examples of how to deal with them.

Evening and Summer Courses

Any "S" course offered by the Psychology Dept. in the Summer Session is applicable toward the same degree requirement(s) as a "W" course of that same number offered during the academic year. (For instance, S1001D meets the same requirements as W1001X or W1001Y.) To see what requirements each course may be applied toward, please see the last three columns in the Table of Courses.

Honors Program

For additional information, see the Department of Psychology Honors Program

Requirements for Admission to Graduate Programs in Psychology

Students interested in clinical psychology should obtain experience working in a community service program, in addition to supervised research experience. Consult the department's pre-clinical advisor, Dr. Catherine Monk, if you need additional information. Dr. Monk is available by e-mail appointment. A handout on preparing for a career in clinical psychology is available on the web and in the department office. Undergraduate courses in clinical psychology (e.g., Psychology W2620) are available in the department.  

For additional web-based resources, be sure to consult "How to Get In: Your guide to applying to graduate schools in psychology." Also see "Applying to Grad School" in the Post-bac Psychology Program web site.

Additional Information & Updates