Program Description

Psychology is the study of behavior and experience. As such, it includes topics as diverse as emotion, cognition, personality, social processes, psycho-biology, psychopathology, and psychological development in children and across the lifespan. The Psychology Program at Purchase College offers basic and advanced courses, as well as research opportunities, in all of these areas. Regardless of the subject matter, there is a strong emphasis on the use of scientific methodology to pursue knowledge.

Many of our graduates pursue graduate training in psychology, social work, education, neuroscience, medicine and/or law; others want a broad-based liberal arts education in psychology, but do not pursue advanced work after graduation. The psychology major is designed to serve the needs of both types of students.

Program Faculty

Requirements for the Major

• Introduction to Psychology
• Behavioral Statistics
• Experimental Psychology
• Physiological Psychology
• Five elective courses in psychology (at least four must be upper level)
• General Biology I or General Biology II or Human Anatomy and Physiology I
• One course in philosophy
• One course in anthropology or sociology
• Psychology Junior Seminar
• Psychology Senior Seminar I & II
• Senior Project in Psychology

Representative Elective Courses

Psychology of Emotion
Psychology of Communication
Adolescent Psychology
Personal/Social Relationships
Child Development
Psychology of Stereotypes, Prejudice, and Discrimination
Psychology of Women
Social Psychology of Prison
The Psychology of Stigma
Abnormal Psychology
Psychological Perspectives on the Self
Sports Psychology
Psychology of Terrorism
Social Development
Social Issues in Developmental Psychology
Developmental Psychopathology
Human Memory
Psychology of Personality
Cognitive Psychology
Practicum in Child Development
Social Psychology
Internship in Psychology

Representative Alumni

• Stephanie Columbia-Mueller ’96, M.S.W., Fordham University; youth and family social worker
• Michael Gayle ’86, Ph.D., SUNY Stony Brook; associate dean, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, SUNY New Paltz
• Elizabeth Gruskin ’92, M.P.H., D.P.H., University of California, Berkeley; research scientist, Kaiser Permanente
• Rachel Kallen ’00, Ph.D., University of Connecticut; visiting assistant professor, Colby College
• Joe Khanna ’92, J.D., SUNY Buffalo School of Law; corporate attorney
• Amy Malkin-Ingoglia ’95, Ph.D., University of Maryland; staff psychologist, Veterans Affairs New York Harbor Healthcare System
• Ronen Marmur ’90, M.D., Ph.D., Einstein College of Medicine; physician, New York-Presbyterian Hospital
• Susan Nappi (Krasnicki) ’93, M.P.H., Yale University; executive director, Susan E. Rosen Women’s Center, Griffin Hospital
• Philip Santoro ’97, M.S., Queens College, City University of New York; school psychologist

For more information, visit the Psychology site in Academic Programs.

Updated May 27, 2008