Director of Undergraduate Studies, Undergraduate Programs, and Laboratories:
Prof. Lois Putnam, 314 Schermerhorn; 854-4550; putnam@psych.columbia.edu

Directors of Psychology Honors Program:
Prof. Kevin Ochsner, 369 Schermerhorn; 854-4458; kochsner@psych.columbia.edu
Prof. Lois Putnam, 314 Schermerhorn; 854-4550; putnam@psych.columbia.edu

Directors of Undergraduate Studies:
Psychology Major:
Prof. Patricia Lindemann, 354A Schermerhorn Extension; 854-8285; pgl2@columbia.edu
Prof. Carl Hart, 316 Schermerhorn; 854-5313; clh42@columbia.edu
Prof. Betsy Sparrow, 355C Schermerhorn Extension; 854-1348; sparrow@psych.columbia.edu

Neuroscience and Behavior Major:
Psychology: Prof. Hakwan Lau, 355 Schermerhorn Extension; 854-1925; hakwan@psych.columbia.edu
Psychology: Prof. Tor Wager, 370 Schermerhorn Extension; 854-5318; tor@psych.columbia.edu

Biology: Prof. Stuart Firestein (C.C.); 923 Fairchild; (212) 854-4531; sjf24@columbia.edu

Biology: Prof. Deborah Mowshowitz (G.S.); 744D Mudd; (212) 854-4497; dbm2@columbia.edu

Preclinical Advisor: Prof. Catherine Monk, 356 Schermerhorn Extension; 854-5576; cem31@columbia.edu

Administrative Coordinator: Joanna Borchert-Kopczuk, 406 Schermerhorn; 854-3940; jb2330@columbia.edu

Undergraduate Curriculum Assistant: Andrew Johnson, 406 Schermerhorn; 854-8859; uca@psych.columbia.edu

Departmental Office: 406 Schermerhorn; 854-3608

• http://www.columbia.edu/cu/psychology/
• Undergraduate InfoPack
  http://www.columbia.edu/cu/psychology/dept/ugrad/infopack.html
  
  

The Department of Psychology offers students a balanced curriculum in experimental methods, perception, cognition, neuroscience, developmental, social, personality, and clinical areas. The curriculum prepares majors for graduate education in these fields and provides a relevant background for social work, education, medicine, law, and business. The department offers an honors program for outstanding students and encourages majors to participate in advanced seminars and supervised research.

The course offerings have been designed to meet the needs and interests of four groups of students: (a) those who wish to explore a few topics in psychology, (b) those who wish to major or concentrate in psychology, (c) those who wish to major in neuroscience and behavior, and (d) 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 (PSYC W3950), or participate in the department’s two-year Honors Program. Information on faculty research is available on the department’s web site. Students are advised to read about the research laboratories on faculty lab sites and go to the professor’s office hours to discuss potential research opportunities. At the beginning of each term, the department also hosts a lab-preview event which students may attend to learn about research opportunities for the upcoming semester.

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 in the Undergraduate Student InfoPack. Students should complete a Major Requirement Checklist before consulting an adviser and before starting their final semester. Returning students should check the department Web site for recent updates to the curriculum.

Advising

Current and prospective neuroscience and behavior majors should consult either Prof. Lau or Prof. Wager. Current and prospective psychology majors and concentrators whose last names begin with A-K should consult Prof. Lindemann. Students whose last names begin with L-Q should consult Prof. Hart. Students whose last names begin with R-Z should consult Prof. Sparrow. Students who cannot contact their adviser should consult Prof. Putnam. For additional information about program, faculty, peer, and pre-clinical advising please see the Psychology Undergraduate Advising Resources Webpage.

Guide to Course Numbers

Course numbers reflect the structure of the psychology curriculum. The 1000 level contains introductions to psychology, introductory laboratory courses, and statistics. PSYC W1001 The Science of Psychology and PSYC W1010 Mind, Brain, and Behavior are introductory courses with no prerequisites. Either one can serve as the prerequisite for most of our 2000-level courses. The 2000 level contains lecture courses that are introductions to areas within psychol­ogy; most require PSYC W1001 or PSYC W1010 as a prerequisite. The 3000 level contains more advanced and specialized undergraduate courses, most of which are given in a seminar format and require instructor permission. The 3900s are the courses providing research opportuni­ties for undergraduates. The 4000 level contains advanced seminars suitable for both advanced undergraduates and graduate students.

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).

Grading:

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 requirements. Courses taken on a Pass/Fail or Pass/D/Fail basis may not be 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.

Honors Program

The department offers an honors program, designed for a limited number of juniors and seniors interested in participating in research. Beginning in the first term of their junior year, honors students take the honors seminar (PSYC W3910) and simultaneously participate in an honors research course (PSYC W3920) under the supervision of a member of the department. Students make a formal presentation and complete an honors essay based on this research toward the end of their senior year. To qualify for honors, students must take a total of 6 points beyond the number required for their major and satisfy all other requirements for the major. The additional 6 points may include the honors seminar and research courses. Interested students should apply at the end of their sophomore year. Instructions and an application form are available on the department's website.

Requirements for Admission to Graduate Programs in Psychology

Most graduate programs in psychology, including those in clinical psychology, require undergraduate courses in introductory psychology (PSYC W1001), laboratory course in experimental psychology (PSYC W1420, W1440, W1450, W1455, W1480, or W1490), and a course in statistics (e.g., PSYC W1610, STAT W1001, STAT W1111, or STAT W1211). Students should also take a variety of more advanced undergraduate courses and seminars and participate in supervised individual research (PSYC W3950).

Students interested in clinical psychology should obtain experience working in a community service program, in addition to supervised individual research experience. Consult the department's pre-clinical advisor, Dr. Catherine Monk, if you need additional information. Additional information on preparing for graduate study in psychology, and for careers in clinical psychology, is available on the Department of Psychology’s Website.

On-Line Information

The Department of Psychology maintains an active Web site, with syllabi posted for most lecture and lab courses and for many advanced seminars. Please read the on-line course syllabi prior to registering for psychology courses. For assistance in finding the resources you need, please contact the Undergraduate Curriculum Assistant, 406 Schermerhorn, 854-8859, uca@psych.columbia.edu.

Science Requirement

W1001 The Science of Psychology, W1010 Mind, Brain, and Behavior, and any PSYC course numbered in the W2200s or W2400s may be used to fulfill the science requirement. W2600-level and some other psychology courses (including PSYC BC1001 Introduction to Psychology) may not be used to fulfill the science requirement. For more detailed information regarding psychology courses that may be applied toward the science requirement, see Core Curriculum in this bulletin.

Evening and Columbia Summer Courses

The department normally offers at least one lab course (currently W1450 and W1420) in the late afternoon with evening labs. A number of other courses are occasionally offered in late afternoon and evening hours. No more than one quarter of the courses required for the major are normally available in the evening. Working students may find the wide variety of early morning (9:10 a.m.) classes, as well as Summer Session offerings, helpful in completing degree requirements.

Any “S” course offered by the Psychology Department during the Summer Session is applicable toward the same major requirement(s) as the corresponding “W” course of that same number offered during the academic year. (For instance, PSYC S1001 meets the same major requirements as does PSYC W1001.) See Programs of Study—The Columbia Summer Session in this bulletin for additional information.

Any “S” course offered by the Psychology Department during the Summer Session is applicable toward the same major requirement(s) as the corresponding “W” course of that same number offered during the academic year. (For instance, PSYC S1001 meets the same major requirements as does PSYC W1001.)