Psychology, Emphasis in Industrial and Organizational Psychology, B.A. in Liberal Arts and Sciences

(SIMS Code: 778312)

Also Offered at SDSU Imperial Valley

Emphasis in Industrial and Organizational Psychology

This emphasis offers students an opportunity to complete a four-course sequence (within the scope of a bachelor’s degree in psychology) that will facilitate students’ competitiveness in the job market and admission to graduate programs in industrial and organizational (I/O) psychology or related fields. Students will learn about theories, research, and practice in industrial and organizational psychology. Advanced courses will provide students with opportunities to complete applied projects and written assignments.

A minor is not required for this major. However, depending on career goals, students may wish to consider minors in areas such as biology, business, public administration, recreation, social work, statistics, and others.

Preparation for the Major

(20 units)

With the exception of PSY 201 , these prerequisite courses may not be taken for credit/no credit (Cr/NC).The minimum grade in each class is C (2.0) or better, except for PSY 280 which requires a grade of B (3.0) or better.

PSY 101 - Introductory Psychology Units: 3
PSY 201 - Academic and Career Opportunities in Psychology Units: 1
PSY 211 - Introduction to Cognitive Psychology Units: 3
PSY 230 - Developmental Psychology Units: 3
PSY 260 - Introduction to Physiological Psychology Units: 3
PSY 280 - Statistical Methods in Psychology Units: 4
BIOL 100 - General Biology Units: 3
or
BIOL 203 - Principles of Cell and Molecular Biology Units: 3 But not both.

Note

Psychology majors may use PSY 280 to satisfy Mathematics/Quantitative Reasoning General Education requirement.

Note Also

A college level statistics course will be accepted from another department (CIV E 160 ; ECON 201 ; LING 270 ; POL S 201 ; SOC 201 ; STAT 119 or STAT 250 ) combined with PSY 281 in lieu of PSY 280 .

Language Requirement

Competency (successfully completing the third college semester or fifth college quarter) is required in one language other than English to fulfill the graduation requirement. Refer to section of catalog on “Graduation Requirements .”

Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement

Completing one of the approved upper division writing courses (W) with a grade of C (2.0) or better. See “Graduation Requirements ” section for a complete listing of requirements.

Requirements for the Major

A minimum of 31 upper division units in psychology to include

PSY 301 - Introduction to Research Methods in Psychology Units: 4
or
PSY 410 - Advanced Research Methods Laboratory Units: 5

12 Units to Include

PSY 319 - Industrial and Organizational Psychology Units: 3
PSY 420 - Personnel and Industrial Psychology Units: 3
PSY 421 - Organizational Psychology Units: 3
PSY 370 - Psychological Testing and Measurement Units: 3

Methods

All majors must complete PSY 301 or PSY 410 or both. PSY 301 is suitable for most psychology majors, including those planning to enter the job market after graduation, those undecided about career plans, and those planning to pursue graduate work in related fields such as counseling.

Students planning to pursue graduate work in psychology (research degrees) should take PSY 370 and PSY 410 as early as possible.

Note

Students enrolling in these courses must have earned a grade of B (3.0) or better in PSY 280 or its equivalent. Students unsure of their statistical or computer competence may wish to take PSY 301 before enrolling in PSY 370 or PSY 410 .

Breadth

All majors must complete three courses or nine units; one course selected from groups I, III, and IV:

Group I

PSY 340 - Social Psychology Units: 3
PSY 344 - Psychology and Culture Units: 3

Group II

Satisfied by emphasis core courses.

Group III

PSY 331 - Psychology of Infant and Child Development Units: 3
PSY 332 - Psychology of Adolescent and Early Adult Development Units: 3
PSY 333 - Developmental Psychopathology Units: 3
PSY 350 - Psychopathology Units: 3
PSY 407 - Health Psychology Units: 3

Group IV

PSY 360 - Behavioral Neuroscience Units: 3
PSY 361 - Neuropsychology Units: 3
PSY 362 - Cognitive Neuroscience Units: 3
PSY 380 - Intermediate Cognitive Psychology Units: 3
PSY 388 - Sensation and Perception Units: 3

Additional Psychology Units

An additional 5-6 elective units selected from 300- to 500-level psychology courses and WMNST 325 * to satisfy the 31 units required for the psychology major.

Note

* WMNST 325 for SDSU Imperial Valley students only.

Recommendations for Psychology Electives

Employment with the B.A.

Electives should be selected in accord with general career goals. Students interested in health and human services may take courses that focus on psychological health and well-being or issues related to child development. Those interested in business may take courses that focus on industrial, organizational and consumer issues or that emphasize computer skills, measurement, data analysis, or some combination of these.

Masters Programs in Counseling

At SDSU, a Master of Science degree in Counseling is offered by the College of Education and a Master of Social Work degree is offered by the College of Health and Human Services. For these programs students have considerable latitude in the selection of psychology electives, but it is important to develop an appropriate profile of volunteer or work experience.

Graduate Programs in Psychology

Most masters or doctoral programs in psychology require students to have strong research profiles. SDSU psychology majors can accomplish this by completing PSY 370 , PSY 410 , and becoming involved as early as possible in faculty-sponsored research.