Psychology

Go to: Division of Philosophy, Religion, Psychology, and Linguistics

Faculty

Kristen G. Anderson
Developmental psychopathology, addictions, gender, clinical psychology.

Jennifer Henderlong Corpus
Developmental psychology, academic motivation. On sabbatical 2024-25.

Leia A. Harper
Health psychology, health informatics, psychophysiology, stress and the psychosocial determinants of health and health disparities.

Kevin J. Holmes
Cognitive science, language and thought, categorization, abstract concepts.

Greg Jensen
Behavior analysis, comparative cognition, applied statistics.

Kathryn C. Oleson
Social psychology, interpersonal relations, social cognition.

Michael Pitts
Cognitive neuroscience, sensation and perception, attention and consciousness.

Vasiliy Safin
Cognitive psychology, judgement and decision-making, behavioral economics, cooperation and prosocial behavior.

Curriculum

Courses in psychology focus on issues in the understanding of both human and nonhuman animal behavior. The department adopts an empirical approach, believing it is through research that we best gain the information necessary to address a broad range of psychological questions. Psychological, neural, and social factors are considered in the context of research findings and current theories of motivation, learning, thinking, language, perception, and human development. Students are encouraged to develop objective and analytic attitudes toward psychological phenomena.

The focus on empirical research begins in the introductory course (PSY 101 ), which includes opportunities for students to discuss psychological research in conferences and to participate in conceptual and applied laboratories. These introductory experiences represent several disciplinary areas within psychology. The 200-level psychological science labs offer an opportunity for students to explore each specialty area via structured research projects. Other 200-level courses provide further exposure to selected research areas within psychology, with few or no prerequisites. Students majoring in psychology gain breadth in the field by completing four “core” courses and by writing a research proposal based on selected readings required to pass the junior qualifying exam. It is not uncommon for psychology students to publish the results of their research in professional journals jointly with faculty members.

In addition to the laboratory and computer facilities in the department, there are opportunities for students to conduct research or to work as participant observers in a number of community settings, including day care centers, local schools, crisis centers, and juvenile detention centers. Students also have access to research programs at the Oregon Health & Science University and the Oregon National Primate Research Center.

Students who major in psychology often pursue professional or graduate training in the discipline. Those who intend to do graduate work in psychology should broaden their preparation in mathematics, the other natural and lab sciences, philosophy, linguistics, or the social sciences, rather than concentrating on psychology alone. Some students combine a major in psychology with preparation for medical school, veterinary medicine, law school, or other advanced professional training. Recent psychology majors have also entered careers in such diverse areas as computer science, finance, and politics.

200-level Psychological Science/Methods Labs

The 200-level psychological science labs (PSY 200-210) are offered in a seven-week sequence in the first or second half of each semester. Each lab section examines research methods and current topics in various subdisciplines of psychology. Students gain hands-on experience carrying out psychological experiments, leading group discussions, and preparing written and/or oral research presentations. Registration priority is given to intended/declared psychology or neuroscience majors. Consent of the instructor is required for non-intended/declared majors. Note: students who plan to major in psychology would typically register for one full unit over the course of the semester, which would require two labs in each quarter. Not all topics offered every year.

Programs

Majors

Psychology