Psychology
Major and minor offered

The primary objectives of the psychology department are to discover and teach the factors that underlie behavior. Our scientific approach to understanding behavior is featured in the introductory psychology course, which covers a wide variety of topics, including the history of psychology, the brain and behavior, sensation and perception, learning, memory, development, motivation, social behavior, personality, and abnormal behavior. In-depth investigation of these topics is offered in upper-level courses, seminars, independent study courses and the senior project.

Although the major focus of the department is on psychological theory and research, students are also offered opportunities to use their knowledge of psychology in practical settings. These opportunities vary from semester to semester, but include courses of an applied nature in environmental psychology, community psychology, clinical psychology, independent study, and independent research projects designed by the student in collaboration with a faculty member.

Numerous laboratory courses allow students to learn in a “hands-on” fashion, practicing research techniques, replicating experiments and investigating topics of individual scholarly interest. The department also operates a pre-school playgroup through which students, primarily in the developmental psychology course, may observe child behavior and relate it to their in-class learning.

The department strongly encourages and rewards meritorious achievement. Students with an overall average of at least 3.2 and a psychology average of at least 3.4 based on a minimum of four psychology courses completed at St. Law-rence may join Psi Chi, the national -psychology honorary. In addition, each spring psychology faculty members select outstanding senior majors as recipients of the J.H.L. Roach Award and the Peter Silverhart Award, which are presented at the Moving-Up Day ceremony.

Currently, approximately 140 junior and senior students are majoring in psychology. Alumni surveys indicate that a substantial number (about 45 percent) of our graduates have entered graduate school in psychology and related fields. In addition, the Bachelor of Science degree in psychology has provided many students with the liberal arts foundation for careers in business, law, medicine, education, social work and other areas.

Major Requirements

A major must complete at least eight psychology courses worth at least 1.0 unit each, including Psychology 100 or 101 (Introductory Psychology), which is a prerequisite for admission to all other psychology courses. Majors and minors must also take Math 113 (Statistics) and Psychology 205 (Research Methods). Students who double-major with economics may count Economics 200 as a substitute for Math 113.

In addition, the department wants students who graduate from St. Lawrence with a degree in psychology to have a comprehensive background in the discipline’s various subfields. Thus, to complete the major, students are required to take courses from each of the following groups:

I. Biological/Acquisition Processes (two courses):
326. Hormones and Behavior.*
327. Sensation and Perception.*
331. Physiological Psychology.*
401. Fundamentals of Learning.*
402. Memory and Cognition.*
432. Animal Behavior.*

II. Developmental/Social Processes (one course):
207. Developmental Psychology.
215.  Cultural Psychology.
253. Personality.
325. Social Psychology.*

III. Applied Areas (two courses):
238. Psychology and Law.
255. Sport Psychology.
313. Industrial/Organizational Psychology.
317. Abnormal Behavior.
318. Environmental Psychology.*
413. Community Psychology.
442. Mental Retardation/Developmental Disabilities
443. Introduction to Clinical Psychology.

At least two courses beyond 101 and 205 must be taken for laboratory credit. Options include the courses indicated by (*), which are credited as 1.25 units. If a course is taken with laboratory, 205 or the instructor’s permission is required. It is also recommended that each major explore topics that may result in independent study or research. Students must have at least a 2.5 overall GPA to take either independent study (471, 472) or independent research (496, 497). Seniors may enroll in the Senior-Year Experience (SYE) version of independent study (489, 490) or independent research (468, 469).

To receive laboratory credit in a course, a student must receive a passing grade for both the laboratory and lecture components of the course. A failing grade for the laboratory component will result in the student being re-registered into the non-laboratory (lecture) section of the course. No more than one psychology unit in a St. Lawrence international program may be counted toward the minimum requirements for the major. If a matriculated St. Law-rence student wishes to take a course at another college or university for transfer credit, the student and the department chair should agree in advance on the appropriateness of the course(s) and which of the above requirements, if any, will be satisfied. A transfer student and the student’s advisor should confer with the department chair about the student’s transferred psychology courses and which requirements remain to be filled. Courses for laboratory credit must be taken at St. Lawrence.

Minor Requirements

A minor must complete at least six psychology courses worth at least 1.0 unit each. Required courses include Psychology 100 or 101 (Introductory), Math 113 (Statistics) and 205 (Research Methods). At least one course from two of the three groups of courses listed above under requirements for the major must be completed satisfactorily. At least one course beyond 101 and 205 must be taken for laboratory credit. If a course is taken with laboratory, 205 or the instructor's permission is required. No more than one psychology unit in a St. Lawrence international program may be counted toward the minimum six-course minor.

Honors

Honors are awarded on the basis of quality point standing in psychology (see Honors in the Curriculum section of this Catalog ) and successful completion of Psychology 498 and 499 (SYE: Senior Project) with a grade of at least 3.5. Two types of projects are acceptable for the senior project:

1. Independent research involving either pure or applied investigation.

2. Independent study involving an integration and critical analysis of research and theory in a given area of psychology.

Following are the criteria for successful completion of the senior project:

1. Enroll in Psychology 498 and 499 (SYE: Senior Project) during the senior year.

2. Give a preliminary presentation of the proposed study to other students and faculty involved in the senior project course.

3. Attend colloquia of other senior project students and guest lectures.

4. Satisfactorily complete the course during the senior year (Psychology 499).

5. Give a formal colloquium or a presentation at the Festival of Science on the completed project.

6. File a copy of the final project paper in the psychology department office as well as with the project supervisor.

Professors

Thomas Cooper Greene, B.A., Wyoming; M.S., Ph.D., Colorado State
Gaines Professor of Psychology

Alan Searleman, B.S., Massachusetts; Ph.D., SUNY Stony Brook
Professor of Psychology

Catherine A. Crosby–Currie, B.A., Hamilton;
J.D., Maryland School of Law; M.A., Ph.D., Virginia
Associate Professor of Psychology

Loraina Lynn Ghiraldi, B.A., Russell Sage; Ph.D., SUNY Albany
Associate Professor of Psychology

Kim Marie Mooney, B.A., Franklin Pierce; M.A., Ph.D., New Hampshire
Associate Professor of Psychology and Director of the Center for Teaching and Learning

Ronald Arlo Sigmundi, B.A., Northern Iowa; Ph.D., Washington
Associate Professor of Psychology

James Robert Wallace, B.A., Notre Dame; M.A., Ph.D., Kent State
Associate Professor of Psychology and Chair of Department

William Earle DeCoteau, B.A., Mercyhurst; M.S., Ph.D., Utah
Assistant Professor of Psychology

Makiko Deguchi, Ph.D., Boston College
Visiting Assistant Professor of Psychology

Cheryl Pettijohn Stuntz, B.A., Bowdoin; Ph.D., Virginia
Assistant Professor of Psychology

Pamela V. Thacher, B.A., M.A., Ph.D., Connecticut
Assistant Professor of Psychology

Cynthia Lonsbary, B.S., York; M.A., Ph.D., Houston
Visiting Assistant Professor of Psychology

Jennifer MacGregor, B.S., St. Lawrence; M.A., Boston University; M.A., Ph.D., Michigan
Visiting Assistant Professor of Psychology