As a psychology major you’ll learn how mental processes work and why humans behave as they do. You’ll take an empirical approach to the field—one based on knowledge, observation,and analytical reasoning skills. You won’t be given simple answers. Instead, you’ll be given tools to investigate psychological questions creatively and scientifically, and conduct your own original research.
With the neuroscience minor, students have the opportunity to gain expertise in the various aspects of neuroscience while pursuing a major in Biology, Psychology or another course of study.
On this page:
Curriculum
Students seeking a psychology major or a neuroscience minor take core courses, electives, and engaging labs that deepen their understanding of the field of psychology. However, the neuroscience minor provides a greater focus on biology. Both the psychology major and neuroscience minor investigate subjects involving the brain and behavior, allowing students to explore diverse topics that pique their interest.
First Year Advising and Registration recommendations
Psychology 101 is an appropriate starting place for students interested in Psychology. Students who have received a 4 or 5 on the Psychology Advanced Placement Exam may register for 200-level psychology electives in the fall. If you have taken the AP exam and believe you have done well, but have not yet received your score, please contact Amanda Whitcomb, (awhitcom@gettysburg.edu) before it’s time to register for courses. We can arrange permission for you to enroll temporarily in a 200-level elective until your scores arrive.
Prospective majors may elect to take Psychology 101 in either the fall or spring. New first-year students, with AP, IB, or transfer credit for Psychology 101 may not take Psychology 205 until they are declared majors in psychology. We strongly encourage students to wait until their sophomore year to take Psychology 205. Although the College grants course credit for AP Statistics if students receive a 4 or a 5 on the AP Statistics exam, psychology majors must still take Psychology 205 as an additional course.
In addition to psychology courses, psychology majors must take two natural science courses with a lab component. Appropriate courses for the fall include Biology 101, Biology 111 (for those considering a major or minor in biology), Chemistry 107, Physics 103, and Astronomy 101. Prospective psychology majors are not required to take a natural science course in the first semester, but they may find these courses easier to schedule as first-year students than later in their career. Please note that the Gettysburg curriculum requires students to take one natural science course with a laboratory and one natural science course that may or may not have a laboratory. Psychology majors take both their natural science courses with laboratories. Natural science courses without laboratories fulfill the Gettysburg curriculum requirement but do not meet the psychology major's requirement.
For complete information, consult the First Year Advising and Registration Guide.
For advising help, contact Prof. Daniel McCall. For more information, contact the Chair, Nathalie Goubet.
Major
For Classes up to and including 2028, the psychology department requires 9 courses for the major. For classes 2029 and beyond, the department requires 10 courses for the major. The Psychology major allows for the flexibility to explore other disciplines and integrate that new knowledge into their ongoing study of psychology.
A hallmark of the Gettysburg psychology major is its focus on research. In fact, all majors take two research seminar/laboratory courses, and many conduct independent research, working one-on-one with a faculty mentor.
Double Major/Minor: With early planning, many psychology majors double major in psychology and one of the other disciplines, or minor in neuroscience, education, or another field.
Departmental Honors are awarded to graduating majors who have:
- Demonstrated academic excellence in course work in the major (in the combined judgment of the faculty), and
- Completed an individualized empirical research project, honors research, or an honors thesis.
Psychology Major Requirements - FOR CLASS OF 2029 and later
The Psychology major for the Class of 2029 and later provides a strong foundation in psychological theory, research, and methods. Students complete core courses in introductory, research, and data analysis (Psych 101, 205, 305, 341), along with four 200-level courses—two each from cognitive/neuroscience and social/developmental areas. The major culminates in two 400-level capstone courses, including at least one advanced laboratory. Prerequisites build sequentially from introductory to advanced work, preparing students for honors research or graduate study. Majors not receiving a grade of C of better in Psych 305 should consider retaking the class. The Department also has a special Honors Research Program. Refer to the catalog for more information.
Category | Courses |
---|---|
Core Courses | Psych 101: Introduction to Psychology; Psych 205: Research Methods; Psych 305: Data Analysis; Psych 341: Experimental Psychology |
200-Level Group A (take 2) | Psych 215: Human Cognition; Psych 216: Sensation and Perception; Psych 236: Intro to Brain and Behavior; Psych 237: Psychopharmacology; Psych 238: Cognitive Neuroscience |
200-Level Group B (take 2) | Psych 210: Cultural Psychology; Psych 214: Social Psychology; Psych 221: Personality Psychology; Psych 222: Abnormal Psychology; Psych 223: Child & Adolescent Psychopathology; Psych 225: Developmental Psychology: Infancy and Childhood; Psych 226: Developmental Psychology: Adolescence; Psych 230: Health Psychology; Psych 232: Clinical and Counseling Psychology |
400-Level Capstone Courses (take 2) |
One course from each group:
Group A: Psych 415, 416, 436, 438 Group B: Psych 410, 414, 421, 427, 428 At least one must be an advanced laboratory course. |
Additional Information | Psych 101 is a prerequisite for all psychology courses. Psych 205 and 305 are prerequisites for Psych 341 and all capstones. Psych 205 may not be repeated for the major. Students not earning a grade of C or better in Psych 305 should consider retaking it. The department also offers an Honors Research Program—see the catalog for details. |
Category | Courses |
---|---|
Capstone Requirement | Two 400-level Capstone Courses (one must be an advanced laboratory) |
Group A (take 1; Psych 305 required) | Psych 415 – Seminar/Laboratory in Thinking and Cognition (prereq: 215); Psych 416 – Seminar/Laboratory in Perception (prereq: 215, 216, 238); Psych 436 – Seminar/Laboratory in Behavioral Neuroscience (prereq: 236 or 237); Psych 438 – Seminar/Laboratory in Cognitive Neuroscience (prereq: 238) |
Group B (take 1; Psych 305 required) | Psych 410 – Seminar/Laboratory in Cultural Psychology (prereq: 210); Psych 414 – Seminar/Laboratory in Social Psychology (prereq: 214 or 230); Psych 421 – Seminar/Laboratory in Personality and Psychopathology (prereq: 221, or 222, 223, 232); Psych 427 – Seminar/Laboratory in Cognitive and Perceptual Development (prereq: 223, 225 or 226); Psych 428 – Seminar/Laboratory in Social and Emotional Development (prereq: 225 or 226) |
Psychology Major Requirements - FOR GRADUATING CLASSES UP TO AND INCLUDING 2028
Requirements for a major include Psychology 101, 205, 305; four additional 200-level courses in psychology, two from each of the following groups: A) 215, 216, 236, 237, 238 and B) 210, 214, 221, 222, 223, 225, 226, 230, 232; two 400-level capstone courses (advanced laboratories taken in separate semesters), one from each of the following groups: A) 415, 416, 436, 438 and B) 410, 414, 421, 427, 428. Psychology 101 is a prerequisite for all psychology courses. Psychology 205 and 305 are prerequisites for all advanced laboratories. Psychology 205 may not be repeated for the major. Majors not receiving a grade of C of better in Psych 305 should consider retaking the class. The Department also has a special Honors Research Program. Refer to the catalog for more information.
Category | Courses |
---|---|
Capstone Requirement | Two 400-level Capstone Courses (advanced laboratories taken in separate semesters) |
Group A (take 1; Psych 305 required) | Psych 415 – Laboratory in Thinking and Cognition (prereq: 215); Psych 416 – Laboratory in Perception (prereq: 215, 216, 238); Psych 436 – Laboratory in Behavioral Neuroscience (prereq: 236 or 237); Psych 438 – Laboratory in Cognitive Neuroscience (prereq: 238) |
Group B (take 1; Psych 305 required) | Psych 410 – Laboratory in Cultural Psychology (prereq: 210); Psych 414 – Laboratory in Social Psychology (prereq: 214 or 230); Psych 421 – Laboratory in Personality and Psychopathology (prereq: 221, or 222, 223, 232); Psych 427 – Laboratory in Cognitive and Perceptual Development (prereq: 223, 225 or 226); Psych 428 – Laboratory in Social and Emotional Development (prereq: 225 or 226) |
Course | Description / Prerequisite |
---|---|
Psych 400 | Seminar (prereq: permission of instructor) |
Psych 450–453 | Individualized Study Tutorial (prereq: permission of instructor) |
Psych 460–463 | Individualized Study Empirical Research (prereq: permission of instructor) |
Psych 464 | Honors Research (by invitation of Department only) |
Psych 470–473 | Individualized Study Internship (see Internship Coordinator) |
Psych 474–475 | Individualized Study Summer Internship (see Internship Coordinator) |
Psych 466 | Honors Thesis (by invitation of Department only) |
Minor
Neuroscience is the interdisciplinary study of the relationship between the brain, the mind, and behavior. It is available as a minor at Gettysburg College. Oversight for the Neuroscience minor is provided jointly by the Biology and Psychology departments although any student can minor in Neuroscience.
With the minor, students have the opportunity to gain expertise in the various aspects of neuroscience while pursuing a major in Biology, Psychology or another course of study.
- The interdisciplinary nature of neuroscience is reflected in the courses that comprise the minor. These include offerings in biology, chemistry, health sciences, philosophy, physics, and psychology.
- The minor not only prepares students for graduate study in neuroscience, but provides tools for graduate work in other areas of biology and psychology, as well as medical school.
Requirements
The neuroscience minor consists of four core courses and two electives.
- The core courses provide an introduction to neurobiology, neurophysiology, and behavioral and cognitive neuroscience.
- The electives may be selected from a variety of courses, allowing students to focus their studies on a particular aspect of neuroscience.
Students intending to go to graduate school in a field of neuroscience are strongly encouraged to complete an independent empirical research project with a neuroscience emphasis in their major discipline, as well.
Courses
About the Electives
It's important to note that there are restrictions as to which electives can be used towards the neuroscience minor.
- For Biology and Psychology majors: Courses taken within the major discipline -- or which otherwise satisfy a major requirement -- may not be used as electives towards the minor.
- Any other majors may use any of the above elective courses towards the minor, with no restrictions.
Students should tailor choices of electives to their specific interests in consultation with one of the coordinators of the neuroscience minor.
Psychology Courses
This list is a sampling of the kinds of courses offered through the Psychology department curriculum. Not all courses shown here will be offered every semester. For a complete list of currently available courses, students may log into their account on Student Center.