Undegraduate Program
INTRODUCTION
Psychology as a Major
Our program reflects the diversity of the discipline as
well as the interests of faculty and students. Our courses
range from neuropsychology to covering the lifespan from
infancy through old age, people as individuals and as
members of groups, and adaptive and maladaptive behavior.
We provide a strong foundation for graduate and professional
studies, such as education, counseling, social work, business,
and law. We encourage students beginning in their junior
year to participate actively in faculty research, the
honors program, the departmental colloquium series, and
to present their research papers at undergraduate symposia.
We also encourage students to consider volunteer work
in local mental health facilities. Many hospitals and
private organizations can assist with finding paid positions.
The department offers well-equipped computer facilities
for students’ use during official working hours.
(These facilities are sometimes included in course work.)
The department’s laboratories and research space
are up to date and well equipped and include an animal
facility.
Approximately 1,500 students per year major in Psychology,
and approximately 15,000 students take our courses each
academic year. With a B.A. in Psychology, students can
pursue graduate studies in psychology or in a related
field, or look for positions dealing with people such
as retailing, advertising, industrial relations, social
work, government human service agencies. Psychology provides
a background for teaching at the secondary level. For
more information, contact UCSD Educationn Studies (EDS). The section on Internships
and Career Services offers suggestions on ways to prepare
for this time after graduation. Experience as a volunteer
or intern is relatively easy to obtain.
Our courses will also give students a more developed understanding
of how society functions, children learn, and how mental
states can influence the physical function of our bodies,
e.g., heart disease and cancer. Many of today’s problems,
including AIDS, heart disease, pollution, and violence,
are the consequences of human behavior. Psychology offers
the tools to recognize, understand, and change these problems,
as well as our attitudes towards them.
Clinical Psychology, Psychiatry, and Experimental Psychology
Many students are under the impression that a degree in psychology
leads only to counseling professions in which one provides
therapy for psychological problems. Many psychotherapists
are psychiatrists who have an M.D. and specialize in psychiatry.
They can prescribe medication to their patients. Most
other psychotherapists are clinical psychologists. The
experimental psychologist can be either a clinical or
nonclinical researcher, and engage in research to advance
our knowledge of mental processes in human or animal behavior,
thinking, perception, personality, child development,
social interaction, and other areas (See information on our faculty). As students progress through
their courses the differences between these professions
becomes more clear.
Other fields related to general psychology include:
Anthropology
Architecture
Advertising
Art - Music, Dance, Theater
Biology
Business Administration
Economics
English, Communications, Journalism
Environmental Studies
History, Government
Human Resources
Industrial Relations
Law
Medicine, Nursing
Religion
Sociology
Urban Planning
Your academic advisor can offer suggestions of possible course
concentrations for a career in these fields.
To declare or change your major, use the online major/minor tool on MyTritonlink. For specific questions about the psychology undergraduate program contact the Psychology Student Service Office.
