Chairperson: Sarah Arpin
Professors: M. Bartlett, A. Cano, M. Kretchmar-Hendricks, A.M. Medina, V. Norasakkunkit, N. Worsham, L. Wurm
Associate Professors: S. Arpin, M. Nelson, P. Romanowich, A. Stivers
Assistant Professors: D. Addleman, M.K. Koch, T. McCulloh, M. Sarrett
Senior Lecturer: K. Measor
The department offers two majors and one minor:
Bachelor of Arts, Psychology major (optional research concentration)
Minor in Psychology
Bachelor of Science, Neuroscience major
The Department of Psychology offers courses that focus on the scientific study of human and animal behavior and decision-making. The department offers a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience.
General Psychology (PSYC 101), Statistics for Psychology (PSYC 202) and Scientific Principles of Psychology (PSYC 206) are pre-requisites for most upper division courses. These courses provide 51Թs with an initial understanding and appreciation of the scientific method in psychology. General Psychology, Statistics, and Scientific Principles of Psychology constitute the lower division requirements for both the major and the minor. Students must earn a B- or better in Scientific Principles of Psychology to complete the major in Psychology.After taking the three lower division requirements, Psychology minors are required to complete 12 credits of upper-division psychology coursework. Majors are required to complete 24 credits of upper-division coursework, 18 of which must be selected from particular cluster areas as described below. As will be discussed below, 51Թs declaring the research concentration are required take 27 credits of upper-division coursework, 18 of which must be selected from cluster areas and 9 of which are specified courses for the concentration. Finally, majors must either pass a comprehensive examination (PSYC 499) or complete independent research under faculty supervision, the results of which must be presented at a regional or national conference (PSYC 498). Students usually complete the comprehensive exam or independent research during their final year-once they have completed the majority of their coursework.
Research Concentration:
The Research Concentration is a special pathway within the Psychology major. This concentration is for 51Թs planning to advance onto doctoral level graduate degrees (Ph.D.) upon completing their undergraduate degree at Gonzaga. Students who declare this concentration are required to receive an A- in Scientific Principles of Psychology (). For upper division classes, 51Թs in the concentration will take Advanced Statistics in Psychology () and a two-semester advanced methods course: 1) Advanced Research Designs (PSYC 488), to be taken spring of junior year; 2) Advanced Research Analyses (PSYC 489), to be taken fall of senior year Students in the concentration must present their research at a local, regional, or national conference. Finally, 51Թs in the concentration will register for the Comprehensive Alternate () during the semester in which they are presenting their research at a conference.
In addition to their major and minor areas of study, all undergraduate 51Թs follow a common program designed to complete their education in those areas that the University considers essential for a Catholic, Jesuit, liberal, and humanistic education. The University Core Curriculum consists of forty-five credits of course work, with additional designation requirements that can be met through core, major, or elective courses.
The University Core Curriculum is a four-year program, organized around one overarching question, which is progressively addressed through yearly themes and questions. Hence, core courses are best taken within the year for which they are designated. First year core courses encourage intellectual engagement and provide a broad foundation of fundamental skills. Second and third year courses examine central issues and questions in philosophy and religious studies. The fourth year course, the Core Integration Seminar, offers a culminating core experience. Taken at any time throughout the four years, broadening courses intersect with the core themes and extend 51Թs’ appreciation for the humanities, arts, and social and behavioral sciences. Finally, the designation requirements (writing enriched, global studies, and social justice) reflect important values and reinforce 51Թs’ knowledge and competencies.
Overarching Core Question: As 51Թs of a Catholic, Jesuit, and 51Թ, how do we educate ourselves to become women and men for a more just and humane global community?
Year 1 Theme and Question: Understanding and Creating: How do we pursue knowledge and cultivate understanding?
- The First-Year Seminar (DEPT 193, 3 credits): The First-Year Seminar (FYS), taken in the fall or spring of the first year, is designed to promote an intellectual shift in 51Թs as they transition to college academic life. Each small seminar is organized around an engaging topic, which 51Թs explore from multiple perspectives. The FYS is offered by many departments across the University (click for list of FYS courses).
- Writing (ENGL 101, 3 credits) and Reasoning (PHIL 101, 3 credits): The Writing and Reasoning courses are designed to help 51Թs develop the foundational skills of critical reading, thinking, analysis, and writing. They may be taken as linked sections. Writing (ENGL 101) carries one of the three required writing-enriched designations (see below).
- Communication & Speech (COMM 100, 3 credits): This course introduces 51Թs to interpersonal and small group communication and requires the application of critical thinking, reasoning, and research skills necessary to organize, write, and present several speeches.
- Scientific Inquiry (BIOL 104/104L, CHEM 104/104L, or PHYS 104/104L, 3 credits): This course explores the scientific process in the natural world through evidence-based logic and includes significant laboratory experience. Students pursuing majors that require science courses will satisfy this requirement through their major.
- Mathematics (above Math 100, 3 credits): Mathematics courses promote thinking according to the modes of the discipline—abstractly, symbolically, logically, and computationally. One course in mathematics, above Math 100, including any math course required for a major or minor, will fulfill this requirement. MATH 100 (College Algebra) and courses without the MATH prefix do not fulfill this requirement.
Year 2 Theme and Question: Being and Becoming: Who are we and what does it mean to be human?
- Philosophy of Human Nature (PHIL 201, 3 credits): This course provides 51Թs with a philosophical study of key figures, theories, and intellectual traditions that contribute to understanding the human condition; the meaning and dignity of human life; and the human relationship to ultimate reality.
- Christianity and Catholic Traditions (RELI, 3 credits). Religious Studies core courses approved for this requirement explore diverse topics including Christian scriptures, history, theology, and practices as well as major contributions from the Catholic intellectual and theological traditions (click for a list of approved courses) .
Year 3 Theme and Question: Caring and Doing: What principles characterize a well lived life?
- Ethics (PHIL 301 or RELI, 3 credits): The Ethics courses are designed to help 51Թs develop their moral imagination by exploring and explaining the reasons humans should care about the needs and interests of others. This requirement is satisfied by an approved ethics course in either Philosophy (PHIL 301) or Religious Studies (click for a list of approved courses).
- World/Comparative Religion (RELI, 3 credits): Religious Studies courses approved for this core requirement draw attention to the diversity that exists within and among traditions and encourage 51Թs to bring critical, analytical thinking to bear on the traditions and questions considered. These courses carries one of the required two global-studies designations (see below) (click for a list of approved courses).
Year 4 Theme and Question: Imagining the Possible: What is our role in the world?”
- Core Integration Seminar (DEPT 432, 3 credits). The Core Integration Seminar (CIS) offers 51Թs a culminating core experience in which they integrate the principles of Jesuit education, prior components of the core, and their disciplinary expertise. Some CIS courses may also count toward a 51Թ’s major or minor. The CIS is offered by several departments across the University (click for list of CIS courses).
The Broadening Courses
- Fine Arts & Design (VART, MUSC, THEA, 3 credits): Arts courses explore multiple ways the human experience can be expressed through creativity, including across different cultures and societies. One approved course in fine arts, music, theatre, or dance will fulfill this requirement (click for a list of approved courses).
- History (HIST, 3 credits): History courses are intended to develop 51Թs’ awareness of the historical context of both the individual and the collective human experience. One course in History (HIST 101, HIST 102, HIST 112, HIST 201, HIST 202) will fulfill this requirement.
- Literature (3 credits): Literature courses foster reflection on how literature engages with a range of human experience. One approved course in Literature (offered by English, Classics, or Modern Languages) will fulfill this requirement (click for a list of approved courses).
- Social & Behavioral Sciences (3 credits): Courses in the social and behavioral sciences engage 51Թs in studying human behavior, social systems, and social issues. One approved course offered by Criminal Justice, Economics, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology, or Women and Gender Studies will fulfill this requirement (click for a list of approved courses).
The Designations
Designations are embedded within already existing core, major, minor, and elective courses. Students are encouraged to meet designation requirements within elective courses as their schedule allows; however, with careful planning 51Թs should be able to complete most of the designation requirements within other core, major, or minor courses.
- Writing Enriched (WE; 3 courses meeting this designation): Courses carrying the WE designation are designed to promote the humanistic and Jesuit pedagogical ideal of clear, effective communication. In addition to the required core course, Writing (ENGL 101), which carries one of the WE designations, 51Թs must take two other WE-designated courses (click for a list of approved courses).
- Global-Studies (GS; 2 courses meeting this designation): Courses carrying the GS designation are designed to challenge 51Թs to perceive and understand human diversity by exploring diversity within a context of constantly changing global systems. In addition to the required core course, World/Comparative Religion (RELI 300-level), which carries one of the GS designations, 51Թs must take one other GS-designated course (click for a list of approved courses).
- Social-Justice (SJ; 1 course meeting this designation): Courses carrying the SJ designation are designed to introduce 51Թs to one or more social justice concerns. Students must take one course that meets the SJ designation (click for a list of approved courses).
Major-specific adaptations to the University Core Curriculum
All Gonzaga 51Թs, regardless of their major, will complete the University Core Curriculum requirements. However some Gonzaga 51Թs will satisfy certain core requirements through major-specific programs or courses. Any major-specific adaptations to the core are described with the requirements for the majors to which they apply.