Department of Psychology
Michael Scheier, Department HeadDepartment Office: Baker Hall 346-C
http://www.psy.cmu.edu
Can newborn infants perceive the world as we do, or is it just "a blooming buzzing confusion"? Do personality, beliefs and social factors influence health? How do scientists and young children make discoveries, and what abilities make these insights possible? How does brain activity reveal differences in thinking? Can computers think the way people do?
These are some of the questions that psychologists at Carnegie Mellon are trying to answer.
For the student who is majoring in Psychology or Cognitive Science, studying with faculty who are on the leading edge of research on questions like the above can be a very exciting experience.
The Psychology Department at Carnegie Mellon has long been noted as one of the pioneering Psychology Departments in the world, particularly in such areas as cognitive psychology, cognitive science, social psychology, developmental psychology, cognitive neuroscience, and health psychology. The Psychology Department offers B.A. and B.S. degrees in Psychology, as well as a B.S. degree in Cognitive Science, and together with the Department of Biological Sciences, a unified B.S. double major in Psychology and Biological Sciences.
The Major in Psychology
Psychology is a science that embraces both biological and social sciences. It is a science concerned with establishing principles and laws regarding the ways in which people think and behave through the scientific study of human behavior.
The orientation of the Carnegie Mellon Psychology curriculum is toward developing highly skilled and knowledgeable graduates. A bit more than half of our graduates go on to graduate or professional school. The remainder seek to expand their problem-oriented skills so that job opportunities beyond those typically open to liberal arts students are available.
Majors in the department are expected not only to learn about findings already established by psychologists, but also to become proficient in the investigation and analysis of behavior. This includes observing behavior, formulating hypotheses, designing experiments to test these hypotheses, running experiments, performing statistical analysis, and writing reports. The department has many resources for students to use in acquiring these skills. For instance, students interested in child development may be involved in the child development laboratory and observational facilities which are a part of the Carnegie Mellon Children's School. Students interested in environmental or health psychology might have opportunities to work in applied settings, and all Psychology majors have access to extensive computer facilities for data analysis and simulation work. The department also has a state of the art set of undergraduate research laboratories and computer clusters, and has recently acquired, through the Scientific Imaging & Brain Research Center a magnet for conducting brain imaging studies using fMRI.
In addition to formal class work, students are encouraged to participate in research, project and field work via a number of opportunities available to them. They may register for Independent Reading in Psychology, Independent Research in Psychology, or an Internship in Clinical or Developmental Psychology. In the Independent Research course, the student may work on an ongoing research project or develop and carry out a new research project with a faculty member. There is university and departmental funding available to help support student-initiated research projects and student travel to present research results at scientific meetings and conferences. In the Readings courses, the student reads extensively on a particular topic. The faculty member and student meet to discuss the readings, and the student writes a paper on the topic selected. The Psychology Department Website (www.psy.cmu.edu/), Graduate Catalog and Undergraduate Research Brochure provide descriptions of faculty research interests that the student can use in determining who should be approached to supervise a particular research or reading project. Clinical internships are available with a variety of clinical settings including the prestigious Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic (the teaching hospital of the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh). During the internship, students get first-hand experience with different clinical populations. Developmental Internships are available in the department-run CMU Children's School. Finally, outstanding students are invited to participate in an Honors Program during their senior year. Over the course of their senior year, these students develop and carry out an original research project under faculty supervision.
Curriculum
The curriculum includes three levels of psychological course work. These result in a breadth of knowledge of psychology, training in research methods and in-depth advanced course work in student chosen areas of psychology. Both the B.A. and the B.S. degrees are available in Psychology. Candidates for both degrees must also complete two semesters of calculus. There are three options in completing this requirement: 21-111 /21-112 or 21-120 and either 21-122 or 21-256 . Students are also required to complete a statistics sequence consisting of 36-201 or it's equivalent, followed by 36-309 , Experimental Design. Both courses should be completed before the junior year. A one-semester computer programming course is also required for all Psychology majors. Finally, in addition to the H&SS General Education Natural Science requirement, B.A. candidates take one, and B.S. candidates take three additional semesters of natural science courses outside the department. This breadth of technical and scientific preparation has proven to be valuable both for students going on to graduate or professional schools and those entering the job market upon graduation.
The Department desires that majors acquire breadth in the subject matter of Psychology. The requirement for demonstration of breadth can be met by taking Introduction to Psychology (85-102 ) and three 200 level survey courses; it is recommended that this be started as early as possible in the student's program. Alternatively, the breadth requirement can be met by taking an additional Survey course beyond the required set of three as a substitution for the later course.
There are three suggested major tracks starting with the 200-level survey courses. These are cognitive or cognitive-neuroscience, developmental, and social-health-personality. The tracks are designed to provide increasing depth of knowledge in a particular area of psychology, although the student may as an alternative elect to combine advanced courses from more than one area into a meaningful program.
Overall, the major includes Introduction to Psychology (or a 4th survey course), 36-309 , three survey courses at the 200-level, two research methods courses, two advanced courses and an experimental design course. These include a total of 81 units. Advanced courses, which are often in the form of seminars, examine in great depth portions of the three track areas. The 18-unit advanced course requirement must be fulfilled by taking content seminars or courses rather than through Independent Research, Independent Reading, or Internship courses. In addition to the small number of required psychology courses, the department offers a variety of other courses, seminars, independent research and supervised experiences. Students are encouraged to sample these by means of the large number of elective units that are part of the program.
Prospective Psychology majors are encouraged to begin major requirements and prerequisites prior to the junior year, if possible. In particular, completion of the calculus and statistics sequences, Introduction to Psychology and/or one or more Psychology Survey courses would enable students to take corresponding research methods courses in the sophomore or early in the junior year, and thus prepare themselves to take advantage of research opportunities in the department.
37-38 unitsMathematics & Statistics Prerequisites
| 21-111 & 21-112 Calculus I-II | 20 | |
| or | 21-120 Differential and Integral Calculus (10 units) and | |
| 21-256 Multivariate Analysis (9 units) | ||
| or | 21-120 Differential and Integral Calculus (10 units) and | |
| 21-122 Integration, Differential Equations and Approximation (10 units) | ||
| 36-201 | Statistical Reasoning and Practice | 9 |
| 36-309 | Experimental Design for Behavioral and Social Sciences | 9 |
9 unitsBreadth Requirement
| 85-102 | Introduction to Psychology * | 9 |
* This, together with three survey courses, constitutes the breadth requirement.
27 unitsSurvey Courses
| Complete three of the following survey courses. | ||
| 85-211 | Cognitive Psychology | 9 |
| or | 85-213 Human Information Processing and Artifical Intelligence (9 units) | |
| 85-219 | Biological Foundations of Behavior | 9 |
| 85-221 | Principles of Child Development | 9 |
| 85-241 | Social Psychology | 9 |
| 85-251 | Personality | 9 |
18 unitsResearch Methods
| Complete two courses. | ||
| 85-310 | Research Methods in Cognitive Psychology * | 9 |
| 85-320 | Research Methods in Developmental Psychology * | 9 |
| 85-340 | Research Methods in Social Psychology * | 9 |
* Prerequisites for all Research Methods courses: 36-309 or equivalent, and corresponding survey course.
(Note: 36-309 may be taken concurrently as a co-requisite)
18 unitsAdvanced Courses
Complete two courses.
Any advanced content course or seminar in psychology or any psychology course higher than 85-341 . Exceptions: 85-480 , 85-482 , 85-484 , 85-484 , 85-506 , 85-507 , 85-508 , 85-601 , 85-602 , 66-501 , 66-502 .
10 units minimumComputer Science Requirement
| 15-110 | Principles of Computing | 10 |
Natural Science Requirement (B.A. 18 units, B.S. 36 units)
The Psychology major requires (for B.S. candidates) three additional natural science courses (with two in the same science) beyond the College's General Education natural science requirement. For the B.A. the requirement is one course beyond the General Education requirement in natural science. Given the growing relevance of biology to psychology, it is strongly recommended that for the B.S. a minimum of two courses in biology be included as part of the natural science requirement.
More generally, for the B.S., at least two courses should come from the same science (biology, chemistry, or physics).
Sample Curriculum
| Junior Year | Senior Year | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Spring | Fall | Spring |
| Survey Course | Survey Course | Advanced Course | Advanced Course |
| 36-309 Experimental Design for Behavioral and Social Sciences | Research Methods Course | Research Methods Course | Elective |
| Supplementary Science Requirement B.A./B.S. | Supplementary Science Elective for B.S. only | Supplementary Science Elective for B. S. only | Elective |
| Computer Science Elective | Elective | Elective | Elective |
This is presented as a two-year (junior-senior) plan for completing major requirements. Its purpose is to show that this program can be completed in as few as two years; not that it must be. Students may enter their major, and begin major course requirements, as early as the start of sophomore year, and in some instances in the first year. Students should consult their advisors when planning their programs.
Additional Major
In order to complete an additional major in Psychology, a student must fulfill all of the Psychology major requirements within the department -- in other words, the breadth requirement, computing requirement, three survey courses at the 200-level, two research methods courses, and two advanced courses. These courses must include at least 81 units, plus calculus prerequisites and the 36-201 statistics course or equivalent and 36-309 . In addition, B.S. candidates must take the three-course science requirement and B.A. will complete one science course beyond the GenEd requirement.
Unified Double Major in Psychology & Biological Sciences
This major is intended to reflect the interdisciplinary nature of current research in the fields of biology and psychology, as well as the national trend in some professions to seek individuals broadly trained in both the social and natural sciences.
Note: Students entering from the College of Humanities and Social Sciences will earn a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Biological Sciences. Students in the Mellon College of Science will earn a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences and Psychology. Students in the joint Science and Humanities Scholars (SHS) program can complete the SHS educational core and choose either departmental order for their diploma.
Depending on a student's home college (H&SS or MCS), General Education (GenEd) requirements will be different. GenEd requirements for H&SS and MCS are found on their respective Catalog pages.
Degree Requirements:
| Biological Sciences | Units | |
| 03-121 | Modern Biology | 9 |
| 03-231 | Biochemistry I | 9 |
| 03-240 | Cell Biology | 9 |
| 03-201 /202 Undergraduate Colloquium for Sophomores | 2 | |
| 03-330 | Genetics | 9 |
| 03-343 | Experimental Techniques in Molecular Biology | 12 |
| 03-411 | Topics in Research | 1 |
| 03-412 | Topics in Research | 1 |
| 03-xxx | General Biology Elective | 9 |
| 03-3xx | Advanced Biology Elective | 9 |
| 03-3xx | Advanced Biology Elective | 9 |
| Total Biology units | 79 | |
| Mathematics, Statistics, Physics and Computer Science | Units | |
| 21-120 | Differential and Integral Calculus | 10 |
| 21-122 | Integration, Differential Equations and Approximation | 10 |
| 36-247 | Statistics for Lab Sciences | 9 |
| 36-309 | Experimental Design for Behavioral and Social Sciences | 9 |
| 33-111 | Physics I for Science Students | 12 |
| 33-112 | Physics II for Science Students | 12 |
| 15-110 | Principles of Computing * | 10 |
| 99-10x | Computing at Carnegie Mellon | 3 |
| Total Science units | 75 | |
* 15-101 Exploring Programming with Alice can substitute for 15-110 towards completion of the Programming course requirement.
| Chemistry | Units | |
| 09-105 | Introduction to Modern Chemistry I | 10 |
| 09-106 | Modern Chemistry II | 10 |
| 09-217 | Organic Chemistry I | 9 |
| or | 09-219 Modern Organic Chemistry (10 units) | |
| 09-218 | Organic Chemistry II | 9 |
| or | 09-220 Modern Organic II (10 units) | |
| 09-221 | Laboratory I: Introduction to Chemical Analysis | 12 |
| 09-222 | Laboratory II: Organic Synthesis and Analysis | 12 |
| Total Chemistry units | 62 | |
| Psychology Courses | Units | |
| 85-102 | Introduction to Psychology | 9 |
| 85-219 | Biological Foundations of Behavior | 9 |
| 85-2xx | Survey Psychology Courses ** | 18 |
| 85-310 | Research Methods in Cognitive Psychology | 9 |
| or | 85-340 Research Methods in Social Psychology (9 units) | |
| or | 85-320 Research Methods in Developmental Psychology (9 units) | |
| 85-3xx | Advanced Psychology Electives | 18 |
| Total Psychology units | 63 | |
** Excluding 85-261 Abnormal Psychology
Additional Advanced Elective
9 units(Choose one of the following courses)
| 85-3xx | Advanced Psychology Elective | 9 |
| or | ||
| 03-3xx | Advanced Biology Elective | 9 |
Additional Laboratory or Research Methods
9-12 units(Choose one of the following courses)
| 03-344 | Experimental Biochemistry | 12 |
| 03-345 | Experimental Cell and Developmental Biology | 12 |
| 85-310 | Research Methods in Cognitive Psychology | 9 |
| 85-320 | Research Methods in Developmental Psychology | 9 |
| 85-340 | Research Methods in Social Psychology | 9 |
| Elective Units | Units | |
| Free Electives | 33-36 | |
| H&SS/CFA Electives | 36 | |
| Total Elective units | 69-72 | |
360
Minimum number of units required for degree:
The Major in Cognitive Science
The Psychology Department offers a B.S. degree in Cognitive Science. The field of cognitive science has grown out of increasingly active interaction among psychology, linguistics, artificial intelligence, philosophy, and neuroscience. All of these fields share the goal of understanding intelligence. By combining these diverse perspectives, students of cognitive science are able to understand cognition at a deep level. Because this major is administered by the Psychology Department, it focuses on human cognition and the experimental study of the human mind as illuminated by the techniques of the above disciplines.
Curriculum
The Cognitive Science major is only offered as a B.S. degree. Candidates should complete before the junior year the two-semester calculus sequence 21-120 /21-256 (or alternatively 21-120 /21-122 )* and a statistics sequence (36-201 or equivalent and if possible, 36-309 ). In addition, candidates complete 15-112 Fundamentals of Programming, as their departmental computing course.
Because of the number and sequential nature of required courses, prospective Cognitive Science majors are encouraged to begin course work for the major prior to the junior year. In particular, completion of calculus, 36-201 , and 85-211 or 85-213 before the junior year will enable students to complete 85-310 by the Fall semester of the junior year and, if interested, to then take advantage of research opportunities in the department.
Similarly, completion of 15-122 and 21-127 early in their program of studies will allow students to move into the 15-150 /15-251 sequence by the Junior year and prepare them for further work in artificial intelligence.
*The 3-Semester sequence 21-111 /21-112 /21-256 may be substituted by students who have already taken 21-111 before deciding on the major.
10 unitsComputing Prerequisite
| 15-112 | Fundamentals of Programming | 12 |
37-38 unitsMathematics & Statistics Prerequisites
| 21-120 & 21-256 Differential and Integral Calculus - Multivariate Analysis * | 19 | |
| or | 21-120 Differential and Integral Calculus (10 units) and | |
| 21-122 Integration, Differential Equations and Approximation (10 units) | ||
| 21-127 | Concepts of Mathematics | 9 |
| 36-201 | Statistical Reasoning and Practice | 9 |
| 36-309 | Experimental Design for Behavioral and Social Sciences | 9 |
Computational/ 29–31 units Cognitive Modeling Core
| Two of the following: | Units | |
| 15-122 | Principles of Imperative Computation | 10 |
| 15-150 | Principles of Functional Programming | 10 |
| 15-251 | Great Theoretical Ideas in Computer Science | 12 |
| Plus one of the following: | Units | |
| 85-412 | Cognitive Modeling | 9 |
| 85-419 | Introduction to Parallel Distributed Processing | 9 |
| 85-426 | Learning in Humans and Machines | 9 |
Cognitive Psychology Core
| Units | ||
| 85-211 | Cognitive Psychology | 9 |
| or | 85-213 Human Information Processing and Artifical Intelligence (9 units) | |
| 85-310 | Research Methods in Cognitive Psychology | 9 |
| One of the following: | Units | |
| 85-219 | Biological Foundations of Behavior | 9 |
| 85-355 | Introduction to Cognitive Neuroscience | 9 |
| 85-414 | Cognitive Neuropsychology | 9 |
Cognitive Science Concentration (4 courses, concentration approval required)
These four courses are chosen in conjunction with your advisor to form a coherent area of concentration from the course list under "Cognitive Science Concentration" in the current Undergraduate Catalog. Before proceeding with the choice of courses, students must fill out the concentration form, obtained from their advisor, with a description of the concentration area and the planned set of four courses. Courses not represented on the list may, with pre-approval of advisor and department, be used to satisfy part of this requirement.
36 units
Computer Science
| 15-384 | Robotic Manipulation | 12 |
| 15-385 | Computer Vision | 9 |
| 15-453 | Formal Languages, Automata, and Computability | 9 |
| 10-601 | Machine Learning | 12 |
| 05-410 | User-Centered Research and Evaluation | 12 |
| 05-432 | Cognitive Modeling and Intelligent Tutoring Systems | 9 |
Psychology
| 85-219 | Biological Foundations of Behavior | 9 |
| 85-352 | Evolutionary Psychology | 9 |
| 85-355 | Introduction to Cognitive Neuroscience | 9 |
| 85-370 | Perception | 9 |
| 85-375 | Crosscultural Psychology | 9 |
| 85-380 | In Search of Mind: The History of Psychology | 9 |
| 85-382 | Consciousness and Cognition | 9 |
| 85-390 | Human Memory | 9 |
| 85-392 | Human Expertise | 9 |
| 85-395 | Applications of Cognitive Science | 9 |
| 85-406 | Autism: Psychological and Neuroscience Perspectives | 9 |
| 85-412 | Cognitive Modeling | 9 |
| 85-414 | Cognitive Neuropsychology | 9 |
| 85-419 | Introduction to Parallel Distributed Processing | 9 |
| 85-421 | Language and Thought | 9 |
| 85-422 | Infancy | 9 |
| 85-423 | Cognitive Development | 9 |
| 85-426 | Learning in Humans and Machines | 9 |
| 85-429 | Cognitive Brain Imaging | 9 |
| 85-601 /602 Senior Thesis | 9 | |
| 66-501 /502 H&SS Senior Honors Thesis I | 9 | |
Philosophy
| 80-210 | Logic and Proofs | 9 |
| 80-211 | Logic and Mathematical Inquiry | 9 |
| 80-220 | Philosophy of Science | 9 |
| 80-254 | Analytic Philosophy | 9 |
| 80-255 | Pragmatism | 9 |
| 80-270 | Philosophy of Mind | 9 |
| 80-310 | Logic and Computation | 9 |
| 80-311 | Computability and Incompleteness | 9 |
| 80-314 | Logic and Artificial Intelligence | 9 |
Linguistics
| 76-385 | Introduction to Discourse Analysis | 9 |
| 80-280 | Linguistic Analysis | 9 |
Decision Sciences
| 88-302 | Behavioral Decision Making | 9 |
Neurosciences
| 03-362 | Cellular Neuroscience | 9 |
| 03-363 | Systems Neuroscience | 9 |
| 42-202 | Physiology | 9 |
| 15-386 | Neural Computation | 9 |
| 15-883 | Computational Models of Neural Systems | 12 |
Appropriate courses offered by the Department of Neuroscience at the University of Pittsburgh (available during the academic year through cross-registration) may also be included as part of this breadth option. This would include the following courses (course numbers are University of Pittsburgh numbers, offered through its Department of Neuroscience):
| NROSCI1000 Introduction to Neuroscience | ||
| NROSCI1011 Functional Neuroanatomy | ||
| NROSCI1012 Neurophysiology | ||
| NROSCI1017 Synaptic Transmission | ||
| NROSCI1030 Psychiatric Disorders and Brain Function | ||
| NROSCI1032 Functl Organization of the Human Nervous System | ||
| NROSCI1034 Neural Basis of Cognition | ||
| NROSCI1036 Neurobiology of Aging | ||
| NROSCI1040 Biological Basis of Learning and Memory | ||
| NROSCI1041 Developmental Neuroscience | ||
| NROSCI1042 Neurochemical Basis of Behavior | ||
(minimum) 18 unitsSupplementary Science Requirement
The Cognitive Science program requires two additional science courses (in the same science) beyond the college's two-course Science and Technology General Education requirement.
| These can be selected from any one of the following areas. | ||
| 03-xxx | Biology * | |
| 09-xxx | Chemistry 33-xxx Physics | |
* Those interested in a cognitive neuroscience focus are recommended to take biology courses, including if possible, 03-362 , or 03-363 .
Sample Curriculum
| Junior Year | Senior Year | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Spring | Fall | Spring |
| 15-211 Fundamental Data Structures and Algorithms | 15-251 Great Theoretical Ideas in Computer Science | Third Artificial Intelligence Course | Elective |
| 85-211 Cognitive Psychology or 85-213 | 85-310 Research Methods in Cognitive Psychology | 85-412 Cognitive Modeling ,85-419 or 85-423 | Elective |
| 36-309 Experimental Design for Behavioral and Social Sciences | Elective | Cognitive Science Breadth Requirement | Cognitive Science Breadth Requirement |
| Elective | Elective | Elective | Elective |
This is presented as a two-year (junior-senior) plan for completing major requirements. Its purpose is to show that this program can be completed in a few as two years; not that it must be. Students may enter their major, and begin major course requirements, as early as the start of the sophomore year, and in some instances in the first year. Students should consult their advisors when planning their programs.
Additional Major
In order to complete a double major in Cognitive Science, a student must fulfill the major requirements as listed under the Cognitive Science major. These include the programming requirement (15-112 ), the Mathematics and Statistics prerequisites, Computational/Cognitive Modeling Core, The Cognitive Psychology Core, the Cognitive Science Concentration Requirement, and the Supplementary Science Requirement. Students will be assigned a department advisor to help plan their program of studies in Cognitive Science.
The Minor in Psychology
The minor in Psychology is available to all students across the university.
There are three broad areas of concentration in the department, as defined by the three research methods courses together with associated prerequisite survey courses and related advanced courses and seminars.
73 unitsCurriculum
| I. Introductory course | ||
| 85-102 | Introduction to Psychology | 9 |
| II. Area Survey courses | ||
| Complete two courses. | ||
| 85-211 | Cognitive Psychology | 9 |
| or | 85-213 Human Information Processing and Artifical Intelligence (9 units) | |
| 85-219 | Biological Foundations of Behavior | 9 |
| 85-221 | Principles of Child Development | 9 |
| 85-241 | Social Psychology | 9 |
| 85-251 | Personality | 9 |
| III. Statistics | ||
| 36-201 | Statistical Reasoning and Practice | 9 |
| 36-309 | Experimental Design for Behavioral and Social Sciences | 9 |
27 unitsUpper Level Courses
Complete three courses from categories IV and V, with at least one course from each.
| IV. Research Methods Courses (minimum 9 units) | ||
| 85-310 | Research Methods in Cognitive Psychology * | 9 |
| 85-320 | Research Methods in Developmental Psychology * | 9 |
| 85-340 | Research Methods in Social Psychology * | 9 |
* Prerequisites for all Research Methods courses: 36-309 and the appropriate survey course.
(Note: 36-309 may be taken concurrently as a co-requisite.)
V. Advanced courses (minimum 9 units)
These courses exist within three areas (cognitive, cognitive neuroscience, developmental and social psychology), and carry course numbers from 85-341 to 85-442 . In cases where it is not obvious which track an advanced course belongs to from the title/description, the advanced courses usually include the appropriate survey course or research method course as a prerequisite in their catalog course description.
The Honors Program
The Honors Program provides recognition of outstanding performance by students in Psychology or Cognitive Science. Participation enables students to pursue their own research ideas through completion of an honors thesis. The honors thesis is completed during the senior year. By completing a thesis, the student earns 18 units of credit and qualifies for graduation with “College Honors.” To qualify for the Honors Program, the student must maintain a quality point average of at least 3.50 in the major and 3.25 overall, and be invited by the college to become a participant. A year long senior thesis course exists for students interested in pursuing a sizable research project who do not qualify for the honors program.