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Undergraduate ProgramsUWM Undergraduate Bulletin
Psychology is the science of behavior. Courses in psychology provide an understanding of the social and biological bases of behavior, proficiency in scientific methods and statistics, knowledge of the factors influencing behavior, insight into the applicability of psychological principles to everyday problems, and familiarity with many core areas of knowledge, including conditioning and learning, personality, social behavior, psychopathology and therapy, human development, health, stress and coping, gender, race and ethnicity, sensation and perception, language, memory, and individual differences. Psychology is a fundamental component of a liberal arts education. Individuals who have majored or minored in psychology at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee have found employment in a wide variety of occupations in business, education, and the social services or have gone on to graduate or professional school. Program of Studies Program of StudiesAll psychology majors begin their study with introductory psychology. Additional coursework includes both survey courses and more specialized courses referred to as research methods courses, systems courses, and foundation courses. The goal of research methods courses is for students to become knowledgeable and proficient in scientific methods. The objective of systems courses is to familiarize students with the major theories of psychology. Finally, foundation courses strive to increase students' knowledge of the major content areas in psychology. The Department's teaching philosophy and strategies emphasize the concept of active learning. The faculty believe that students learn best when they actively participate in their own learning. Our philosophy is captured in a Chinese proverb: I hear, and I forget, I see, and I remember, I do, and I understand. Wherever possible, Psychology faculty provide opportunities for active learning. Related to the importance placed on active learning in psychology coursework at UWM, is the value placed on teaching important skills such as how to write, how to do math, and how to use a computer. In the process of learning about psychology, UWM psychology students learn invaluable skills that will serve them well throughout their lives. Psychology faculty teach computer literacy skills in many courses. For example, in Freshman Seminars students publish their presentation on the Web and become familiar with HTML in the process. In Introductory Psychological Statistics, a computer is used to present course materials. These materials are not static overheads. Rather, the information changes as students work on the computer with the help of their lab instructor. In Advanced Psychological Statistics, a Monte Carlo program enhances student learning of probability theory. In addition, students are taught SPSSX and are taught how to communicate by e-mail and use a reflector system. In Neuropsychology, students call up graphics such as depictions of brain tumors, EEG tracings, and CAT scans. Students further develop computer literacy in at least seven other courses including Research Methods, Experimental Design, Psychophysiology, Conditioning and Learning, Cognitive Processes, Experimental Personality, and Physiological Psychology. UWM Psychology graduates are highly literate, and moreover, they have been trained to write in more than one literacy format. Psychology majors at UWM are accustomed to writing essays and papers and are given training in the technique of concise writing within a set format as they write up research reports. This is a skill that is much valued in the commercial and business worlds. The attention paid to developing good writing skills is illustrated by the Department's formal assessment of writing proficiency in graduating seniors. It is highly unusual to produce graduates who are simultaneously proficient with words and numbers, yet our graduates are both. Students are trained in 16 credits of required coursework to interpret data, and to understand probability statements, and they become familiar with a wide range of statistical procedures and processes. When faced with numerical information, our graduates feel competent and seek to discover what the numbers imply. And, as in the case of writing skills, graduating seniors' knowledge and proficiency in descriptive and inferential statistics is formally assessed. Psychology's educational objectives also emphasize familiarity with major theories of psychology and schools of thought. Although students are exposed to theory in every course in Psychology, systems courses are specialized courses dealing with theories and/or processes in sub fields of psychology or the history of psychology. The curriculum for the undergraduate major in Psychology also emphasizes scientific methods. All psychology majors take a sequence of three laboratory courses in research methods. The first (Psy 325--Research Methods in Psychology) teaches the basic techniques and ethical principles of research and introduces the research designs used in many psychological studies. The second and third research methods course builds upon this knowledge base by providing first-hand laboratory experience with research techniques in a particular area of psychology such as psychophysiology, social psychology, cognitive psychology, personality, physiological psychology, applied behavior analysis, or conditioning and learning. Declaring the MajorStudents are encouraged to declare the major as soon as they have completed 45 university credits and have passed Psy 325-- Research Methods in Psychology. Students must have a mean GPA of at least 2.67 in Psy 101 and Psy 210 to enroll in Psy 325. (Check the GPA grid at the end of this document). After completing Psy 325, students must bring an unofficial transcript available from the Registrar's Office (Mellencamp 274) to the main office of Psychology (Garland 138). The Department will examine the transcript to verify eligibility to declare the major and process the paperwork. Undergraduate Research ApprenticeshipsMany majors enroll in Psy 290 (Undergraduate Research Lower Division) and Psy 690 (Undergraduate Research Upper Division) to get additional hands-on research experience. Psy 290 and Psy 690 are essentially research apprenticeships with a faculty mentor. These apprenticeship opportunities allow students to acquire considerable expertise in research, measurement, problem solving, interpersonal awareness, critical evaluation, and higher order analysis. These research experiences are excellent preparation for the job market and graduate and professional school. The commitment of UWM Psychology faculty to providing you with an extremely rich and extensive education is illustrated by the amount of time we devote to training students in Research courses. Individualized research courses do not count toward faculty teaching loads. Yet, Psychology faculty have provided research training to more students than all other faculty at UWM combined. Moreover, UWM Psychology faculty have provided more individualized research training than many other Psychology departments in Wisconsin. Individual research opportunities are important because they allow students to develop a portfolio of valuable skills for the job market and/or graduate and professional school. Psychology faculty are committed to developing the intellectual talents of all students. Our commitment is reflected in the outstanding record of Psychology faculty participation in the Committee on Institutional Cooperation Summer Research Opportunities Program and the Ronald E. McNair Post-baccalaureate Achievement Program for low income, and/or first generation, and/or traditionally underrepresented undergraduate students. In addition, for over a decade, faculty have served as mentors in the Milwaukee Public Schools Partnership Program. Each year, a few high school students have come to the department to learn about psychology in general, research methods, scale development, data collection techniques, statistical analysis, computer programming and scientific writing. They also have sought academic advice. Our faculty have also been involved in the American Psychological Association's Minority Undergraduate Students of Excellence Program which helps undergraduate students of color gain entry into graduate programs in psychology. The faculty has also encouraged talented freshmen and sophomores to apply for the American Psychological Association Summer Research Institute. The Department takes great pride in the fact that many of our undergraduates have carried out research under the supervision of Psychology faculty that has resulted in publications in some of the best journals in the field. The record shows that there are over 125 scholarly products that UWM Psychology undergraduates and faculty have produced together. (Note that this is the number of scholarly products with undergraduate and faculty authors. Psychology faculty have also produced many scholarly products with graduate students, other collaborators, and alone.) Field PlacementsThe Department also offers Psy 292 (Field Placement in Psychology Lower Division) and Psy 692 (Field Placement in Psychology Upper Division). Field Placement in Psychology is an additional way for students to learn by doing and at the same time increase their marketability and/or chances for admission to graduate school. Senior ThesisIn addition to providing research apprenticeships and field placements in psychology, the Department allows especially talented seniors to complete a thesis. Completion of Psy 698, Senior Thesis, allows a student to demonstrate his or her ability to formulate a research idea and pursue independent and original investigation. Students who complete a thesis are in a very competitive position with respect to graduate admission. AdvisingReflecting our strong interest in providing undergraduates with individualized guidance, all members of the Psychology faculty serve as advisors. Students meet with their advisors to discuss career choices and to select coursework that will best prepare them for their goals. In addition to one-on-one advice from a psychology faculty member, psychology students and intended majors receive a detailed handout that clearly explains the requirements for the major and minor in psychology as well as the educational objectives. Students also attend an annual meeting in which the undergraduate program of studies and educational objectives are reviewed and any questions they have are answered. Furthermore, students are encouraged to consult with the Associate Chair of Psychology who handles all inquiries about undergraduate matters, including course transfers, career options, admission to graduate programs in psychology, course- related questions, and special problems and grievances that arise. Psychology Preview Days, held each September, allows students to have increased contact with their faculty advisor. In this two-day event, each faculty member gives a formal presentation of his or her teaching and research interests, and then socializes with students. This event allows majors to get to know their advisor better and gives beginning students a chance to meet all of the faculty in the department and select an advisor and/or research mentor within the first month of enrollment at UWM. The Department also maintains folders with current course syllabi and summaries of faculty teaching evaluations. These materials are located in the main office of Psychology, Garland 138. Special Undergraduate EventsThe Psychology Department hosts a number of special events for undergraduates each year. As noted, Psychology Preview Days, allows students to get to know the faculty outside of the classroom, and select an academic advisor and/or research mentor. The Psychology Open Forum, held in the Spring semester, presents an opportunity for students to provide feedback on how well the faculty is doing in educating them. In this forum, the learning goals for the major are reviewed as is the program of studies. This focused group event not only has increased the accessibility of psychology faculty to undergraduates, but has also stimulated an ongoing critique and resulted in a variety of improvements in the Department, including the creation of Psy 692--Field Placement in Psychology, and a handbook about how to get into graduate school. Another special undergraduate event held each year is, How to Get into Graduate School. A faculty member, selected by the Psi Chi membership delivers this talk. Undergraduates are also involved in the life of the department as full-voting members of department committees, such as the Undergraduate Program Committee and Colloquium Committee. Psi Chi, Undergraduate Honor SocietyPsi Chi is a national undergraduate honor society in Psychology and for forty years, the UWM chapter has nurtured and promoted excellence in psychology through a variety of programs and activities, which range from serving the community to initiatives in the public understanding of psychology. A sampling of Psi Chi's activities during the past year includes a series of ten presentations by psychologists. Attendance for this series totaled more than 500. The talks covered topics such as autism, domestic violence, sexual assault prevention, health promotion, and the implications of psychology for law. PSI CHI has also co-sponsored "Body Balance", a two day program designed to increase understanding of eating disorders. The program included a screening for eating disorders and a panel discussion. Thanks to Psi Chi, many young women and even some young men were offered information, advice, and help on how to change their unhealthy behavior patterns. The UWM chapter of PSI CHI is one of the most active in the nation. Psi Chi provides many opportunities for student fellowship, academic support and an increased understanding of the field of psychology. To join, all you need is 12 psychology credits, a 3.0 overall GPA, and a 3.0 GPA in all completed psychology courses. After UWMOur former undergraduates have been extraordinarily successful in terms of their professional placements and accomplishments. They have secured careers as marketing and finance executives, personnel managers, research and development specialists, psychologists, counselors, lawyers, physicians, professors, and administrators. We have just started work on our first UWM Psychology Alumni Directory, which will provide you with a complete and up-to-date reference of all UWM psychology graduates for career networking purposes. The Department also plans to invite some of our distinguished alumni back to explain in a panel discussion the career paths they took and how the undergraduate program of studies in Psychology at UWM helped them achieve their goals. Finally, Psi UWM, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Department of Psychology Newsletter will be published annually to keep you abreast of activities, faculty and alumni accomplishments, and in general, how your alma mater continues to move forward. Click here to learn more about careers options with an undergraduate degree in Psychology. |
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