Psychology

Professor Mahzarin Banaji, Head Tutor

Psychology is the scientific study of thought and behavior, and as such is an extremely broad discipline. To understand the events, internal and external, that lead us to behave as we do, we need to know a number of things. We must look at the biological basis of behavior, such as the nervous system, the endocrine system, and genetic influences. We also need to consider the role of learned behaviors acquired through experience and about the roles of sensation, perception, memory, and cognition. We have to address individual differences, such as the characteristics that distinguish the individual from every other. We also need to consider the effects of social interaction, for people live among others and are influenced by their contacts and communications with other people. Because people change over time, we also need to know something about developmental processes. Understanding the roles of these various factors in the production of thought and behavior is a complex task, and therefore psychology is a complex and fascinating discipline.

Although many people believe that psychology is concerned primarily with the diagnosis and treatment of mental illness, most of the research conducted in Harvard's Department of Psychology concerns basic psychological processes such as perception, memory, social influence, motivation, social support, nonverbal communication, and decision making. Many members of the department have interests in behavioral neuroscience, such as understanding the biological basis of temperament and understanding how various brain structures are related to behavior. Some members of the department use psychology to understand other disciplines, such as law, medicine, and business. Finally, some members of the department conduct research on the etiology, development, and treatment of psychopathology. All members of the department share the common goal of understanding behavior through empirical investigation, and their teaching and research reflects this goal.

The Department understands that undergraduates concentrate in psychology for various reasons. Some seek to prepare themselves for graduate work in psychology or a related discipline; some plan to go on to professional work; and some see a concentration in psychology as interesting and valuable intellectually but do not base their future vocational plans upon it. The Department has kept all these reasons in mind in designing its concentration requirements.

REQUIREMENTS
Basic Requirements: 12 half-courses

1. Required courses:
1. Introductory: Psychology 1, half-course, first or sophomore year. Letter-graded.
2. Sophomore Tutorial: Normally full course, sophomore year. Letter-graded. (See item 2a.)
3. Basic Methods: Psychology 1900, Introduction to Quantitative Methods in Psychology, half-course, sophomore year. Must be passed with a grade of C or higher.
4. Advanced Methods: Psychology 1901, Methods of Behavioral Research, half-course, junior year.
5. Concentration Electives: Seven half-courses. All letter-graded. (See items 2b, 2c, and 5a.)
2. Tutorials:
1. Sophomore Tutorial: Psychology 970 is a full-year, House-based tutorial required for most concentrators. Students who enter the concentration late may enroll in Psychology 971, a one-term tutorial. Both versions of sophomore tutorial will examine from a variety of perspectives issues and phenomena addressed in contemporary psychological research. Both versions also require a Sophomore Essay, which for Psychology 970 is normally due on the last Thursday before spring Reading Period; deadlines for Psychology 971 will appear on the psychology undergraduate website. Students completing Psychology 971 must take one additional concentration half-course.
2. Senior Seminar: General Psychology (Psychology 995): Optional one-term group tutorial that provides an overview of the field for senior concentrators not engaged in a thesis project.
3. Supervised Research (Psychology 910r): Optional one-term individual tutorial consisting of empirical research conducted under the supervision of a departmental faculty member. A research report or equivalent paper is required. May not be taken more than three times and only twice for basic concentration credit. May be taken Pass/Fail if not for concentration. Applications must be approved by the Undergraduate Office prior to filing of study cards.
3. Thesis: None.
4. General Examination: None.
5. Other information:
1. Elective Requirement, Nondepartmental Courses: Up to two nondepartmental half-courses may be taken in partial fulfillment of the concentration elective requirement. These courses may be any combination of affiliate, expedited, or petition courses. These courses vary each year; a current list and relevant deadlines are available on the concentration website. Students completing Psychology 971 must take one additional concentration half-course. Not counting toward the limit of two nondepartmental courses are those taught by regular psychology faculty (Science B-29, B-44, B-49, B-60, B-62; Social Analysis 43, Freshman Seminar 26p).
2. Affiliate Courses are nondepartmental courses taught by departmental affiliates. Affiliated courses in Education require cross-registration with instructor and departmental signatures.
3. Expedited Courses are nondepartmental courses that include significant psychological content and could be a useful component of one's concentration in psychology. These courses are automatically approved but require students to designate them for concentration credit by emailing psychology@wjh.harvard.edu by the appropriate deadline.
4. Petitioned Courses are other nondepartmental courses that students believe will contribute significantly to their study of psychology. These courses must include significant psychological content and relate directly to their own concentration program. A petition is required (forms available in the Undergraduate Office and on the concentration website) and must be submitted by the appropriate deadline.
5. Graded Course Requirement: All courses taken for concentration must be letter-graded. The only exceptions are cross-listed Freshman Seminars.
6. Undergraduate Teacher Education Program: Concentrators may be eligible to obtain certification to teach middle or secondary schools in Massachusetts and states with which Massachusetts has reciprocity. See page 46 for more information about the Undergraduate Teacher Education Program (UTEP).

Requirements for Honors Eligibility: 14 half-courses

1. Required courses:

	a-d.	Same as Basic Requirements.
	e.	Concentration Electives: Six half-courses. All letter-graded (see item 5a of Basic Re-quirements).
	f.	Laboratory Methods Requirement: Half-course, sophomore or junior year. Letter-graded. Select one from a list that varies each year. See item 5b.
	g.	Psychology 990, Senior Tutorial, full course. Graded SAT/UNS. (See item 2c.)

2. Tutorials:
1. Sophomore year: Same as Basic Requirements.
2. Junior Tutorial: Preparation for the Honors Thesis (Psychology 985): Optional but recommended one-term tutorial consisting of individual reading and research leading to a thesis prospectus, under the supervision of a Departmental faculty member, supplemented by occasional required group meetings. Particularly recommended for students working outside of department or planning summer research. Graded SAT/ UNS. Prospectus or paper required. Application must be made to the Undergraduate Office prior to filing Study Card. See also item 3.
3. Senior Tutorial: The Honors Thesis (Psychology 990): Full-year individual tutorial consisting of research leading to submission of the thesis, supplemented by required spring poster session and occasional optional but highly recommended group meetings. Graded SAT/UNS.
4. Supervised Research (Psychology 910r): May count towards concentration requirements only once. May be taken subsequent times as a College elective (see also item 2c of Basic Requirements).
3. Thesis: Required. An adviser-approved thesis application is normally due in April of the junior year. A thesis prospectus meeting giving thesis committee approval of the prospectus is normally required by late October of the senior year. The completed thesis is due the Wednesday before spring recess of the senior year. Required poster session spring of senior year.
4. General Examination: None.
5. Other information:
1. Same as Basic Requirements.
2. Laboratory Methods Requirement: Laboratory methods courses acquaint students with research in various areas of psychology, and provide valuable preparation for honors candidates designing thesis projects. The list of concentration courses varies each year; see the website.
3. Graded Course Requirement: All concentration courses except Psychology 985, Psychology 990, and cross-listed Freshman Seminars must be letter-graded.
4. Admissions Requirement: An honors application is required, normally in April of the junior year. To apply to the honors thesis program, students must have completed basic, advanced, and laboratory methods and have a 3.5 college grade point average .
5. Determination of Departmental Honors: Honors degree recommendations are normally determined by a combination of the concentration grade point average and the thesis evaluation.
6. Joint Concentrations: Qualified honors candidates may combine Psychology with other fields. An application is required. We recommend students apply as soon as they are reasonably certain they wish to pursue a joint concentration. Applications must be submitted no later than the first term of the junior year. Specific requirements are listed on the psychology undergraduate website.
7. Undergraduate Teacher Education Program: See item 5c of Basic Requirements.

Psychology and Neuroscience Track
Requirements: 14 half-courses

The Psychology and Neuroscience track is affiliated with the University-wide Mind/Brain/ Behavior (MBB) Interfaculty Initiative, and is administered through the Psychology Undergraduate Office. An application is required. MBB tracks are also available in Human Evolutionary Biology, Computer Science, History and Science, Linguistics, and Philosophy.

1. Required courses:

      a. Psychology 1: Half-course, first or sophomore year. Letter-graded.
      b. Sophomore Tutorial: Psychology 970, full course, sophomore year.
          Letter-graded.
      c. Basic Methods: Psychology 1900, half-course, sophomore year.
          Letter-graded; must be passed with a grade of C or higher.
      d. Science B-49, half-course, recommended first year.
          Letter-graded.
      e. MCB 80 (formerly Biological Sciences 80), half course,
          sophomore year. Letter-graded.
      f. Seminar in Mind/Brain/Behavior: Half course, junior year.
          Letter-graded. Select one from a list that varies each year.
      g. Advanced Methods: Psychology 1901, half-course, junior year.
          Letter-graded.
      h. Laboratory Methods: Half course, sophomore or junior year.
          Letter-graded. Select one from a list on the concentration website.
      i. Senior Tutorial: Psychology 992, full course, senior year.
          Graded SAT/UNS. See item 5a.
      j. Track Electives: three half-courses. Letter-graded.
          See item 5b.

2-4. See Psychology Requirements for Honors Eligibility.

5. Other information:

      a. Senior Tutorial: Psychology 992 requires participation in the
          psychology spring poster session and MBB thesis activities;
          attendance at optional group meetings of Psychology 990 is
          also highly recommended.
      b. Track Electives: Track electives are selected in consultation
          with a concentration adviser, and may include non-departmental courses
          by petition.
      c. Admission Requirements: Admission to the track is by
          application. To apply to the track, students must have a 3.5 college
          grade point average. We recommend that students apply as soon as
          they are reasonably certain they want to be in the track.
          Applications must be submitted no later than the first term of the junior year.

Social and Cognitive Neuroscience Track
Basic Requirements: 12 half-courses
Requirements for Honors Eligibility 14 half-courses

Social and Cognitive Neuroscience is a specialized track within the Psychology concentration and part of the Life Sciences cluster of concentration options. As such, it is one of the major paths toward bridging the social and life sciences at Harvard. The track reflects the increasingly interdisciplinary nature of learning and research in psychology, emphasizing integration across the sub-disciplines within psychology (social psychology, cognitive psychology, development, psychopathology) as well as connections between psychology and the other life sciences. Students in this track have the opportunity to study the interplay between traditional interests in psychology such as vision, memory, language, emotion, intergroup relations, and psychological disorders, and recent developments in neuroscience and evolutionary science.

To support this learning, the track will provide a strong foundation of basic knowledge in psychology and the life sciences, as well as analytical, quantitative, and laboratory research skills scientists in these areas employ. Students will also take more advanced courses in social and cognitive neuroscience and conduct research in a faculty laboratory. A thesis option is available for students with strong interests in the research component of the program.

1. Required courses:
1. Psychology 1, half-course, first or sophomore year. Letter-graded.
2. Sophomore Tutorial: Psychology 975, half-course, sophomore year. Letter-graded. See item 2a.
3. Basic Methods: Psychology 1900, half-course, sophomore year. Letter-graded; must pass with a grade of C or higher.
4. Research Methods: Psychology 1901, half-course, sophomore or junior year. Letter-graded.
5. Laboratory Methods: half-course, sophomore or junior year. Letter-graded. Select from a list on the concentration website.
6. Life Sciences Courses: Life Sciences 1a or Life Sciences 1b (both may count, but only one is required); Molecular and Cellular Biology 80 (formerly Biological Sciences 80) (required); one or two additional basic-level courses in life sciences and related areas selected from a list on the concentration website to total four half-courses.
7. Track Electives: one foundation half-course (chosen from Psychology 13, 15, 16, 18) and two higher-level psychology courses. All three half-courses letter-graded.
8. For Honors Eligibility: Senior Tutorial: Psychology 993, full course, senior year. Graded SAT/UNS. See item 2c.
2. Tutorials:
1. Sophomore Tutorial (Psychology 975): Examines issues and phenomena addressed in contemporary psychological and life science research from a variety of perspectives. A sophomore essay is required.
2. Junior Tutorial: Preparation for the Honors Thesis (Psychology 985): Optional but recommended half-course tutorial consisting of individual reading and research leading to a thesis prospectus, supplemented by occasional required group meetings. Course particularly recommended for students working outside of department or planning summer research. Graded SAT/UNS. Prospectus or paper required. Application must be made to the Psychology Undergraduate Office prior to filing Study Card.
3. Senior Tutorial: The Honors Thesis (Psychology 993): Full-year individual tutorial consisting of research leading to submission of the thesis, supplemented by required spring poster session and occasional optional but highly recommended group meetings. Graded SAT/UNS.
4. Supervised Research (Psychology 910r): May count towards honors concentration requirements only once. May be taken up to two more times as a College elective.
3. Thesis: Required for honors eligibility. An adviser-approved thesis application is normally due in April of the junior year. A thesis prospectus meeting giving thesis committee approval of the prospectus is normally required by late October of the senior year. The completed thesis is due the Wednesday before spring recess of the senior year. Required poster session spring of senior year.
4. General Examination: None.

ADVISING

The Department of Psychology offers numerous opportunities for students to obtain advice about the field and concentration. They may get advice and information throughout the year in the Psychology Undergraduate Office from program staff and Assistant Head Tutors; House-based Concentration Advisers are also available to upperclass students throughout the academic year. Students may also email brief questions to psychology@wjh.harvard.edu. Concentration advising includes discussing concentration requirements, signing Study Cards and Plans of Study, helping plan future courses, and answering other related questions students may have.

Students also have Faculty Mentors to provide them with the opportunity to interact on an individual, informal basis with faculty members whose interests in the field match their own. Faculty Mentors provide students with substantive advice of an intellectual nature, including course selection, career choices, and application to graduate or professional school.

A more detailed description of advising resources is available on the concentration web-site.

RESOURCES

The Department of Psychology is situated in William James Hall, at the corner of Kirkland Street and Divinity Avenue. The building includes two libraries: the Psychology Research Library and the Social Relations Library. Each library has a copying machine. Special facilities exist for individual interviews; personality studies; observation of small groups, infants, and children; and for work in the areas of vision and perception, animal behavior, and the behavioral and cognitive neurosciences. These laboratories are directed by individual faculty members and access is arranged through them.

The Psychology Undergraduate Office is located on the second floor of William James Hall (218-222) and is open year-round, Monday through Friday, 9-1 and 2-5. Students are welcome to come here for general information about the concentration and related matters. In addition to the psychology undergraduate website (wjh.harvard.edu/psych/ug), the Undergraduate Office prepares a monthly e-newsletter and maintains several bulletin boards and files that provide information on concentration requirements, prizes, awards, volunteer and job opportunities, graduate schools, and various psychology-related activities throughout the University and the country.

The Department of Psychology has long been committed to active student involvement in departmental activities. Each year, several concentrators serve as student representatives to the departmental Committee on Undergraduate Instruction (CUI). The CUI considers a wide variety of policy matters, and student participation in its deliberations allow concentrators to help plan and review aspects of the undergraduate curriculum and programs.

HOW TO FIND OUT MORE

The Psychology concentration has an extensive website (wjh.harvard.edu/psych/ug) that includes information about basic and honors concentration requirements, joint concentrations, the psychology MBB and Life Science tracks, and sample plans of study in general psychology, pre-medical studies, pre-clinical studies, and pre-professional studies. Also on the website is information on departmental research opportunities, potential non-department thesis advisers, grant applications, and other forms.

ENROLLMENT STATISTICS
Number of Concentrators as of November