Student Guidebook

Psychology Department

Haverford College

Aug 2022 revision

Table of Contents

1. About the Department

2. Information for First Year Students (and other students new to the department)

3. Information for Majors (and Prospective Majors)

4. Information for Minors (and Prospective Minors)

5. Information about Courses

6. Senior Thesis

7. Sample Plans for Completing the Psychology Major

8. Student Worksheet for Tracking Progress in the Major

9. Departmental Policies and Procedures

10. Links and Other Resources

11. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Note: Linked elements within this document are in BLUE; external links are in RED.

1. About the Department

1.1. Departmental Philosophy and Orientation

Psychology applies the methods of the social and natural sciences to the problems of mind, brain, and behavior that have fascinated thinkers for eons. Some of the deepest puzzles (“How does the brain produce behavior? What is the nature of human memory? How do cultural environments and genes produce normal and abnormal behavior?”) are now yielding to systematic scientific investigation.

The psychology program at Haverford is designed to help students understand the evolutionary, physiological, cognitive, cultural, social, and intrapersonal processes underlying behavior and experience. It further aims to integrate this understanding with opportunities to engage in research projects that span a wide range of approaches to scientific psychology.

We emphasize research and the scientific approach to psychology because we feel that a liberal arts education and informed participation in the real world require a critical understanding of how scientific methods can (and cannot) be applied to human behavior. Our faculty members are active researchers as well as teachers who can offer students collaborative research opportunities.

1.2  Faculty and Staff (2022-23)

Laura Been, Associate Professor. Ph.D., Georgia State University. Behavioral neuroscience; neurobiology of motivated behaviors; sexual and aggressive behaviors; experience-dependent plasticity.

Marilyn Boltz, Professor. Ph.D., Ohio State University. Memory and cognition; time and behavior; psychology of music; cross-modal perception; social cognition; psycholinguistics.

Rebecca Compton, Professor. Ph.D., University of Chicago. Cognitive neuroscience, psychophysiology, neuropsychology of emotion and attention.

Samantha Fortin, Visiting Assistant Professor. Ph.D., University of Illinois, Chicago. Behavioral neuroscience; neuroendocrine control of ingestive behaviors; neurobiology of reinforcement and aversion 

Erin Haughee, Research Coordinator. B.A., The College of New Jersey.

Benjamin Le, Professor & Associate Provost for Faculty Development. Ph.D., Purdue University. (he/him/his) Open science and transparency in psychology; scientific access and inclusion.

Ryan Lei, Assistant Professor. Ph.D., Northwestern University. Developmental social cognition, stereotyping and prejudice, motivation.

Jennifer Lilgendahl, Associate Professor. Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley. Personality, self-identity, and narrative life history.

Megan Massa, Visiting Assistant Professor. Ph.D., University of California, Los Angeles. Neuroendocrinology; feeding & metabolism; neuroscience integrations with queer and feminist theories.

Megan Nadzan, Visiting Assistant Professor. Ph.D., University of Delaware. Close relationships, belonging, social rejection, student achievement, and learning science.

Patrese Robinson-Drummer, Assistant Professor. Ph.D., University of Delaware, Behavioral Neuroscience; development of learning and memory systems; effects of early life insult on developmenting memory systems.

Shu-wen Wang, Department Chair and Associate Professor. Ph.D., University of California, Los Angeles. Clinical psychology, cultural psychology, stress and coping, relationship processes, Asian-American psychology.

2. Information for First Year Students

(and other students new to the department)

Beginning Your Study of Psychology

For the vast majority of students, the first step in studying psychology at Haverford is to enroll in Psychology 100, Foundations of Psychology. We typically offer two or three sections of the course each Fall and Spring (for a total of four to six each year). This course provides a broad introduction to the field of psychology and serves as the prerequisite for more advanced courses in the major. A parallel course at Bryn Mawr (PSYC 105) can also be taken to substitute for the Haverford Foundations course. Students with AP Psychology credit from high school (and a score of 4 or 5 on the AP exam), or who scored 5 or above on the higher level IB Psychology exam, or who scored A or B on the higher level A-levels Psychology exam, have the option to waive the Foundations course and enroll in 200-level courses; this should be done only after consultation with a faculty member in the Psychology Department.  See more about AP, IB, and A-levels credit here.

Because Foundations is designed as an introductory course with first-year students in mind, we reserve the majority of seats in the course for first year students. To ensure access to students who have a strong motivation to take the course in the first year, we prioritize the spring semester slots to first year students who attempted unsuccessfully to enroll in the course in the fall. Students who did not try to enroll in the course in the fall or those who got in but chose not to enroll in the fall will be entered into a lottery for the remaining slots.

Preparing to Major in Psychology

First Year

We recommend that students interested in majoring in Psychology take PSYC 100 (Foundations of Psychology) during their first year at Haverford. It does not matter if Foundations is taken in the Fall or Spring semester of the first year; as long as it is taken that year, students will be on-track for the major.

Note that while it is preferable to take Foundations during the first year, it is still possible to become a psychology major if you begin your course of study in the sophomore year. However, in that case, we strongly recommend that you consult with a psychology faculty advisor to plan carefully and ensure that you’ll be prepared for declaring the major.

Thinking Ahead to Your Sophomore Year

After taking Foundations in the first year, it is recommended that prospective majors take Research Methods and Statistics (PSYC 200 at Haverford or PSYC 205 at Bryn Mawr) during the sophomore year. This course is offered once a year at Haverford, and at least once a year in the alternate semester at Bryn Mawr. Along with Research Methods and Statistics, students should consider registering for one or two other 200-level Psychology courses during the sophomore year, although we know that sometimes it can be difficult to get into Psychology courses as a sophomore (because limited enrollment priorities usually favor juniors and seniors).

Thinking Further Ahead: Are You Planning to Go Abroad as a Junior?

For students planning to go abroad in the junior year, taking Research Methods and Statistics (PSYC 200 at Haverford or PSYC 205 at Bryn Mawr) during the sophomore year is strongly recommended; it can be difficult to take Stats/Methods, go abroad, and begin laboratory work all as a junior. Please consult with your academic advisor or the department chair if you are considering taking Research Methods and Statistics and going abroad as a junior.

Click here for more information about planning for being a major.

3.  Information for Majors (and Prospective Majors)

The psychology major is one of the most popular majors at Haverford. In the past few years, between 30 and 40 students have graduated each year with a psychology major. Bryn Mawr students are able to major in psychology at Haverford, assuming they complete the coursework listed below.

3.1. Summary of the Major

• PSYC 100 (Foundations) - 1 credit

• PSYC 200 (Research Methods and Statistics; lecture and lab) - 1 credit

• Six upper-level courses (200- or 300-level) - 6 credits
• One course each from biological, cognitive, social/personality areas
• Three additional courses
• One of these courses must be a full-credit 300-level course (i.e., a seminar)

• Two half-credit 300-level labs taken in the Haverford Psychology Dept. - 1 credit

NOTE: only one half-credit lab will be required for students in the graduating classes of 2021 and 2022, due to COVID-19-related changes in course offerings.

• Two semesters of senior thesis work (or one semester + additional course) - 2 credits

___________________________

Total = 11 credits  [10.5 credits for students in graduating classes of 2021 and 2022]

3.2. Specific Requirements of the Psychology major

The psychology major consists of 11 credits [10.5 for students in graduating classes of 2021 and 2022] that fall into two categories: courses that fulfill our (a) breadth requirement and (b) research requirement. According to college policy, a student must earn a 2.0 or above in a course in order for it to count towards the major.

3.2.1. Breadth Requirement

Because psychology is a broad discipline, the major requires exposure to the variety of perspectives that comprise modern psychological inquiry. At the introductory level, students take the Foundations of Psychology course (PSYC 100), which introduces all of the perspectives represented in the department. In addition, students take six advanced courses, at least one from each of the following three areas: biological, cognitive, and social/personality.

• PSYC 100 - Foundations of Psychology (a.k.a., “Intro Psych”); the corresponding introductory course at Bryn Mawr (PSYC 105) can be taken in lieu of PSYC 100. Introductory Psychology courses at other institutions may count; consult with the Chair of the department. We accept AP, IB, and A-levels credit (see more information on AP/IB/A-levels credit here), although students skipping PSYC 100 need to complete an additional 200- or 300-level class (7 instead of 6 courses, so that they complete the same number of credits as majors who took PSYC 100).

• Six 200- and/or 300-level courses, with at least one of these courses fulfilling each of three areas: biological, cognitive, and social/personality. One of these courses must be a full-credit 300-level course (i.e., a seminar). See here for a listing of how courses serve the breadth requirement.

Other notes about the breadth requirement:

• Advanced courses (200- and 300-level) offered in the Psychology Departments at Bryn Mawr and Swarthmore can count toward the breadth requirement, although not all count towards the three breadth areas (biological, cognitive, and social/personality). Credit can only be received once for courses with similar content; for example students can receive credit for Bryn Mawr’s Human Cognition course or Haverford’s Memory and Cognition course, but not both. See here for a list of sample classes at Bryn Mawr, including their associated breadth area and Haverford counterpart courses.

• Up to two of these courses can be taken at institutions other than Haverford/Bryn Mawr/Swarthmore (e.g., during study abroad or summer school at other institutions). See more about study abroad courses here.

• Please note that PSYC 200 (see below) does not count toward these 6 courses for the breadth requirement, nor do the half-credit lab courses described below.

3.2.2. Research Requirement

The goals of the research requirement are to train students to think critically and analytically about psychological questions, to understand the scientific method as applied to the discipline, and to understand the specific methods and techniques used by psychological researchers to address particular questions about behavior. Thus, majors obtain hands-on training in conducting original research in Psychology with the following coursework:

• PSYC 200 - Research Methods and Statistics; the corresponding course at BMC (PSYC 205) also counts. This course meets for 3 hours of lecture per week plus a 90-minute lab each week (note, for Fall 2021 we are experimenting with a “flipped classroom” structure that meets for 3 hours a week in a combined lecture/lab format). In this course, students learn the principles of statistics coupled with principles of research design. In lab sessions, students apply the statistical techniques they learn during lectures by designing and carrying out several different kinds of data collection and analyses   during the semester. We highly recommend that students take Research Methods and Statistics at Haverford or BMC; it is very unusual for students to fulfill this requirement elsewhere (consult with the chair of the department).

• Two half-credit laboratory courses; typically, these are numbered as PSYC 3xx and typically correspond with a 200-level lecture course on the same topic. These lab courses assume a prior working knowledge of statistics and research design principles. Students gain experience in designing and conducting small-scale research projects and interpreting data within the context of specialized methods in psychology subdisciplines (e.g., personality, developmental, cognitive, or biological psychology). These two labs should be taken in the Psychology Department at Haverford.

NOTE:  due to changes in course offerings resulting from Covid-19, psychology majors in the graduating classes of 2021 and 2022 are only required to take one 0.5-credit lab course for the major, rather than two. This means that students in those graduating classes will be expected to accrue only 10.5 rather than 11 credits towards the major. Please consult with your major advisor if you have questions about this change. We anticipate that this change will apply ONLY to the classes of 2021 and 2022.

Research Methods and Statistics (PSYC 200) is typically a prerequisite for 300-level lab courses (see here for a table showing lab courses). The corresponding 200-level lecture course is typically taken concurrently with, or before, its 300-level lab (with the exception of the PSYC 360, Cognitive Neuroscience lab, which is a stand-alone course and can be taken independently of the PSYC 260 lecture; see this table for notes on the pairing of lecture and lab courses).

Typically the half-credit laboratory courses are not taken outside of Haverford, while Research Methods and Statistics can be taken at Bryn Mawr (their PSYC 205).

• Senior thesis (PSYC 39x); By the time psychology majors reach the senior year, they will have completed PSYC 200 and preferably both of their lab course requirements (see here for information on timing of classes). Therefore, students are well prepared to carry out the senior research requirement, typically a year-long original empirical project (a.k.a., a “two-semester” thesis). Students are involved in all phases of the research process, from formulating the questions, the study's design and the manipulations or measures, collecting, analyzing, and interpreting the data, and presenting the research both orally and in writing. An alternative to the two-semester thesis is a one-semester project that does not include original data collection. Students choosing a one-semester thesis must complete an additional course (i.e., 7 instead of 6 courses, so that they complete the same number of credits as students doing a two-semester thesis).

See more about the senior thesis experience on the Psychology Department website (external link).

3.3. How to declare the Psychology major

Each spring, sophomores receive the relevant dates and procedures for declaring a major from the college. Typically the department hosts an informational meeting at the end of March or the beginning of April, prior to the major declaration period, to meet prospective majors and answer questions about the department. Major declaration corresponds with spring pre-registration, typically around the second or third week in April. We expect prospective psychology majors to follow the deadlines and procedures mandated by the college regarding signing up for the major.

• Make an appointment with a faculty member to sign up for the major. Only tenure-track faculty (Been, Boltz, Compton, Le, Lei, Lilgendahl, Robinson-Drummer, and Wang) who are not on sabbatical can sign students up and be advisors. Please note that when faculty are on sabbatical, they do not serve as major advisors.

• When you meet with a member of the department to declare the major, you will fill out the online Major Declaration Form together, so it is helpful if you bring your laptop to that meeting. You will also need to be able to access your unofficial transcript, which is available on Bionic (click on Self Service" and then "Academic Records").

• Do not wait until the last minute to sign up for the major; meetings with faculty advisors cannot be guaranteed without an appointment; please be in touch with a faculty member early during the declaration period.

• The department expects that prospective majors will have a minimum GPA of 2.7 in completed psychology courses upon declaring the major. Admittance to the major with a psychology GPA lower than 2.7 is at the discretion of the psychology faculty advisor and/or department chair, and may include a provisional admittance to the major contingent on performance in future psychology courses. Similarly, students completing only one or two courses in the department prior to declaring the major may be admitted provisionally.

• The faculty member you signed up with will be your new faculty advisor, beginning with pre-registration during the spring of your sophomore year. The department distributes advisees among the faculty equitably, so you may be reassigned, although we try to keep students with their preferred advisor.

3.4. Double-Majoring

It is possible for students to double-major in Psychology and another major. Please consult with your faculty advisor and/or the chair of the Psychology Department if you intend to double major. Note that the psychology major requires a senior thesis project (see more about senior thesis here), so double-majors will typically do two separate thesis projects (one for Psychology, one for the other major), although it may be possible to do a joint senior thesis that satisfies both majors simultaneously.

3.5 B.A. or B.S.

Students sometimes wonder about whether to select the B.A. or B.S. for their degree as psychology majors. The choice of B.A. or B.S. is entirely up to each student to decide based on their preference, and may be influenced by each student's relative focus in the kinds of courses taken and scholarly interests, as well as future goals for jobs and/or graduate school. Students can discuss this with their major advisor if they wish.

4. Information for Minors (and Prospective Minors)

The psychology department offers a minor; in the recent past, between 10 and 15 students per year have graduated with a psychology minor.

4.1. Summary of the Minor

• PSYC 100 (Foundations) - 1 credit
• Five upper-level courses (200- or 300-level) - 5 credits
• One course each from two of the three areas: biological, cognitive, social personality
• Three additional courses

___________________________

Total = 6 credits

4.2. Requirements of the Psychology Minor

The psychology minor consists of 6 credits. Students must earn a 2.0 or above for a course to count towards the minor.

• PSYC 100 - Foundations of Psychology (a.k.a., “Intro Psych”); the corresponding introductory course at Bryn Mawr (PSYC 105) can be taken in lieu of PSYC 100. Introductory Psychology courses at other institutions may count; consult with the Chair of the department.We accept AP/IB/A-levels credit (see more information on AP/IB/A-levels credit here), although students skipping PSYC 100 need to complete an additional 200- or 300-level class (6 instead of 5 courses, so that they complete the same number of credits as minors who took PSYC 100).

• Five 200- and/or 300-level courses, with at least one course in two of three areas: biological, cognitive, and/or social/personality. See here for a listing of how courses serve the breadth requirement. PSYC 200 (Research Methods and Statistics) can count as one of these courses, but does not count towards one of the three breadth areas.

4.3. Declaring the Psychology Minor

• To declare a minor in psychology, please follow the same procedures as for declaring the major (see section 3.3 of this document).

5. Information about Courses

This is not intended as a replacement for the official Haverford College Course Catalog, but rather as a guide that lists courses that are taught regularly, or have been taught recently in the department, along with information about how these courses fulfill departmental requirements.

5.1. Foundations of Psychology (PSYC 100)

Typically 2-3 sections of Foundations are offered each semester.

• Read more about Foundations of Psychology here.
• More information about AP/IB/A-levels credit is available here.

5.2. Research Methods and Statistics (PSYC 200)

Research Methods and Statistics is offered at least once a year at Haverford and at least once a year at Bryn Mawr, although in recent years it has been taught both semesters at both Haverford and Bryn Mawr.

It is highly recommended that students take this course at Haverford (PSYC 200) or Bryn Mawr (PSYC 205). Ideally, this course is taken during the sophomore year and no later than fall semester of the junior year, although students planning on going abroad as a junior should take it during their sophomore year.

• Read more about Research Methods and Statistics here.

5.3. Haverford Courses at the 200- and 300-level (and their associated breadth area; read more about the breadth requirement here). Labs are listed separately below.

Regularly Offered Courses

1This is a rough schedule of when these courses are typically offered, although scheduling in future years can vary depending on changes in staffing patterns and other faculty responsibilities.

2B = Biological, C = Cognitive, SP = Social/Personality

3Sem = 1-credit 300-level seminar course

4For courses fulfilling multiple breadth areas, students must pick which area it will count for; double-counting is not permitted.

Courses Taught by Visiting Faculty, Cross-listed Courses, and Other Past Classes

1This is a listing of courses offered by visiting faculty in the past five years, or courses taught by other faculty that we do not have immediate plans to teach again. This list may change with new people joining our department in future years, and is intended for reference only and not for future planning.

2B = Biological, C = Cognitive, SP = Social/Personality

3Sem = 1-credit 300-level seminar course

4For courses fulfilling multiple breadth areas, students must pick which area it will count for; double-counting is not permitted.

5Elective classes count towards the six 200- or 300-level courses that are required for the major (see here for more details), but do not count towards fulfilling a breadth area.

5.4. A Sample of Psychology Courses at Bryn Mawr College

This is a sampling of classes our students have taken in the past. If you have a question regarding a specific course not listed below, please ask the chair of the Haverford department. The list does not include the Bryn Mawr introductory (PSYC 105) or stats/methods (PSYC 205) courses, although these can substitute for the corresponding Haverford courses, or their 100-level “focus” classes (which do not count towards the Haverford Psychology major).1 We do not have information about when (or if) these courses will be offered in the future.

1The half-credit 100-level “focus” courses at BMC (e.g., Psychology of Terrorism, Genocide, and Negotiations, respectively) do NOT count towards the Psychology Major at Haverford.

2Students may get credit for either the Haverford or Bryn Mawr course, but not both (e.g., you cannot get credit for both Human Cognition at Bryn Mawr and Memory and Cognition at Haverford).

3B = Biological, C = Cognitive, SP = Social/Personality; for courses fulfilling multiple breadth areas, students must pick which area it will count for; double-counting is not permitted.

4Elective classes count towards the six 200- or 300-level courses that are required for the major (see here for more details), but do not count towards fulfilling a breadth area.

5.5. Courses fulfilling the laboratory requirement

Below is a list of laboratory courses that count towards the two laboratory courses that are required to complete the Psychology major (see more about the research requirement here and laboratory courses here).

Usually labs and lectures share the last two digits of their respective course numbers (e.g., 210 for the Developmental Psychology lecture and 310 for the corresponding laboratory).

Note that the corresponding Bryn Mawr lecture courses, when available, can be taken concurrently (if offered) or serve as prerequisites for labs.

6. Senior Thesis

A senior thesis is required of all Psychology majors. There are two formats for the thesis project: a two-semester thesis or a one-semester thesis. Much more detail about the thesis project is available on the Psychology Department website (external link), but in summary:

• A two-semester thesis consists of a year-long project in which students, working in small groups (2-4 students), develop an original research project and collect/analyze data to test their hypotheses. In the fall, each student writes a research proposal (i.e., literature review), and in the spring each student submits a complete research report describing all aspects of the project. Occasionally students have worked with an off-campus research supervisor (e.g., Bryn Mawr or UPenn) if they have an existing relationship with that researcher (e.g., worked in their lab previously).

• A one-semester thesis consists of a paper that the student writes, either in the fall or spring semester, on a topic of their choice that may not be amenable to collecting original empirical data. It may take the form of a literature review, theory development, program design, and/or intervention/application. Students choosing the one-semester option must take an additional 200- or 300-level course (7 rather than six), so that they complete a total of 11 credits in the major.

• Matching of students and thesis advisors occurs during the first two weeks of the fall semester of the senior year. Students enroll in a PSYC 39x course corresponding to their thesis advisor and/or area of research.

• For both types of theses, students have a primary advisor and a second reader. The thesis advisor is separate from the academic/major advisor (i.e., a student’s academic advisor is not necessarily her/his thesis supervisor). See here for more information about the difference between the major advisor vs. thesis advisor.

7. Sample Plans for Completing the Psychology Major

Please note that the below prototypes are just samples and are not meant to be inflexible or prescriptive. Instead, they highlight the key parameters to consider for progressing smoothly through the major, with the following in mind:

• completing the two laboratory courses prior to beginning senior thesis; ideally, this is during the junior year, however it is not uncommon for students to complete their lab work as a senior.

• completing PSYC 200 prior to taking the two laboratory courses; ideally, this is during the sophomore year if you want to go abroad as a junior, or by the end of the fall semester of the junior year if not going abroad. In other words, if you’re planning on going abroad, try to get Research Methods and Statistics (PSYC 200) done during your sophomore year. Otherwise, make sure to complete PSYC 200 no later than fall of your junior year.

Here’s a decision-making chart and sample plans for completing the major (see below for a description of each of these plans).

Plan 1

• First year: Foundations of Psychology (PSYC 100)
• Sophomore year: Research Methods and Statistics (PSYC 200) + two 200-level courses, if possible
• Junior year (going abroad for one semester): Two 200-level lectures and their accompanying labs
• Senior year: Two 200- or 300-level courses, two semesters of senior thesis

Plan 2

• First year: Foundations of Psychology (PSYC 100)
• Sophomore year: Two 200-level courses, maybe Research Methods and Statistics
• Junior year (NOT going abroad): Research Methods and Statistics (PSYC 200) completed by the fall, two 200-level lectures and their accompanying labs, another 200- or 300-level course
• Senior year: One 200- or 300-level course, two semesters of senior thesis

Plan 3

• First year: No Psychology courses
• Sophomore year: Foundations of Psychology (PSYC 100) during the fall semester, one 200-level course and Research Methods and Statistics (PSYC 200) in the spring semester
• Junior year (going abroad for one semester): Two 200-level lectures and their accompanying labs
• Senior year: Three 200- or 300-level courses, two semesters of senior thesis

Plan 4

• First year: No Psychology courses
• Sophomore year: Foundations of Psychology (PSYC 100) during the fall semester, one 200-level course and Research Methods and Statistics (PSYC 200) in the spring semester
• Junior year (NOT going abroad): Two 200-level lectures and their accompanying labs, and one other 200- or 300-level course
• Senior year: Two 200- or 300-level courses, two semesters of senior thesis

Taking labs as senior

Occasionally students take one of their lab courses during their senior year. Although it is not ideal, it may be unavoidable due to study abroad or other circumstances. This scenario is not described above; please discuss it with your advisor if you think it might make sense for you.

8. Student Worksheet for Tracking Progress in the Major

Students can use this worksheet to track progress towards the psychology major.

1See here for more information on using AP/IB/A-levels credit in lieu of Foundations.

2See this table for more information about pairing lectures and labs.

3Read more about senior thesis here.

4Read more here (external link to Haverford College course catalog; “at least 19 course credits must be taken outside of a student's major field of study”).

9. Departmental Policies and Procedures

9.1. Entry to the major

• The department expects that prospective majors (sophomores) will have a minimum GPA of 2.7 in completed Psychology courses upon declaring the major. Admittance to the major with a Psychology GPA lower than 2.7 is at the discretion of the psychology faculty advisor and/or department chair, and may include a provisional admittance to the major contingent on performance in future Psychology courses. Similarly, students completing only one or two courses in the department prior to declaring the major may be admitted provisionally.

9.2. Earning Major or Minor credit for a course

• For a class to count towards the major or minor, students must receive a final course grade of 2.0 or higher. Classes with final course grades below 2.0 will not be counted towards either the major or minor.

9.3. Laboratory courses

• Although there is no formal policy on the timing of laboratory courses, it is recommended that labs be completed by the end of the junior year and prior to commencing the senior thesis.

• Please note that laboratory courses have different requirements and pre/co-requisites regarding whether (a) Research Methods and Statistics (PSYC 200) must be completed prior to the lab or can be taken concurrently and (b) whether the corresponding lecture needs to be taken prior or concurrently, or if the lecture can be taken after the lab (or not at all). See here for details about each lab.

9.4. Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), and A-levels Credit

• Students receiving a 4 or 5 on the AP Psychology exam, or 5 or above on the higher level IB Psychology exam, or A or B on the higher-level A-levels Psychology exam, may choose to skip Foundations of Psychology (PSYC 100).

• For majors, if you use AP/IB/A-levels credit to skip Foundations, you’ll need to complete an additional 200- or 300-level course (i.e., 7 instead of 6), so that you complete the same number of courses as those students taking our PSYC 100 course.

• For minors, if you use AP/IB/A-levels credit to skip Foundations, you’ll need to complete an additional 200- or 300-level course (i.e., 6 instead of 5), so that you complete the same number of courses as those students taking our PSYC 100 course.

• Why you might want to use your AP/IB/A-levels credit to skip PSYC 100...

• Although we offer multiple sections of Foundations, it is possible that those sections conflict with other classes you want (or need) to take, and/or you might not get into your preferred section Foundations due to student demand.
• The content of your high school psychology course may overlap significantly with our Foundations course.

• Why you might not want to use your AP/IB/A-levels credit to skip PSYC 100...

• Due to the demand for the courses, first-year students might not get into 200-level courses; so if first-year student skips Foundations (PSYC 100), it is possible that they will not be able to take any Psychology courses until their sophomore year. So if you want to become involved in the department in your first year, Foundations is the best way to do so, even if you have AP/IB/A-levels credit.
• Our Foundations course has been designed to provide the necessary background knowledge for our 200-level courses. While AP/IB/A-levels classes might overlap with our course, it is possible that the content covered in your AP/IB/A-levels class differs significantly.

9.5. Study Abroad Courses

Up to two credits of Psychology courses taken during study abroad may count towards the major or minor. To get major/minor credit for courses taken abroad, follow the following procedures:

a. Contact the department chair prior to going abroad, providing her/him with as much information about the course as possible, including (a) a syllabus and (b) description of assignments (syllabi/assignments from previous sections of the course are okay).

b. The chair, in consultation with other faculty, will evaluate and approve the course for major/minor credit if appropriate. The general rule of thumb is that courses meeting for roughly the same amount of time as a Haverford course (~45 hours) and having exams and/or assignments will be approved, although the specific content and orientation of the course will also be considered.

c. Keep all of your notes and work following the completion of the course, should the department chair need to verify the content of the course.

d. If course materials are not available beforehand, we will consider courses retroactively. Upon returning from study abroad, students can provide course materials (i.e., a syllabus, completed assignments/exams, readings) to the department chair, who will consult with other faculty about the appropriateness of giving credit for the course. However, it is important to get courses pre-approved when possible, and a retroactive approval should only be considered as a last resort.

In summary, please get courses pre-approved before leaving for study abroad. We cannot guarantee that courses presented retroactively will be approved.

Here is a list of classes that we have approved for major credit in the past (note: this list is very much in progress and will be expanded slowly over time):

• DIS Copenhagen: Cross-Cultural PsychologySP, Positive PsychologySP, Psychology of Criminal Behavior, Psychology of Crisis, Psychology of Leadership, Human Sexuality, Applied Psychotherapy, Social BrainB,SP, Neuroscience of FearB, European Clinical Psychology (lecture, not the practicum), Developmental Disorders, Psychology of Adolescence: A Scandinavian Perspective, Public Mental Health, Ethical Brain: Philosophy and Neuroscience,Cyberpsychology, Psychology of Peak Performance, Cognitive Neuroscience of Creativity, Identity Lab: Transforming Prejudice, Discrimination, and ConflictS/P, NeuroplasticityB, Neuropsychology of Brain InjuryB, Neuroplasticity: The Brain and BehaviorC,B
• DIS Sweden: Forensic Psychology, Developing BrainB
• University of Edinburgh: Psych of Music C, Psychological Perspectives on Health and Care, Moral Judgment and BehaviorS/P
• University of Melbourne: Psychology of Sleep and EmotionsB, Development of the Thinking Child, Developmental Psychology, Biological PsychologyB
• ICU (International Christian University) Japan: Psychology of LanguageC
• University of Veracruz, Mexico: PsycholinguisticsC
• CIEE Prague: Third Force Psychology in a Central European Context
• CIEE Hyderabad, India: Cognitive PsychologyC
• IES Granada, Spain: Cross-Cultural PsychologySP
• IES Nantes, France: Social PsychologySP
• IES Rome, Italy: Cross-Cultural PsychologySP, Child Development: Italian best practices in pre-school education 
• Pontifical Catholic University of Chile: Intelligence, Thought, and LanguageC
• University of Otago, New Zealand:  Developmental Psychology, Psychology of the Criminal Contexts
• Other programs coming in the future...

For the study abroad courses listed above B= fulfills department’s biological requirement; C= cognitive, SP= social/personality.

Online courses approved for credit include:

• George Mason University online: Intro to Clinical Psychology, Personality TheorySP 

9.6. Courses taken at other institutions

To request major/minor credit for courses taken at institutions other than Haverford, Bryn Mawr, or Swarthmore, please follow the procedures outlined above for study abroad courses.

Typically no more than two courses in total (i.e., including study abroad) can be taken at institutions other than Bryn Mawr or Swarthmore for major/minor credit, although exceptions can be made at the discretion of the department chair (e.g., in the case of transfer students etc.).

It is highly unusual for students to take classes at institutions other than Bryn Mawr in lieu of PSYC 200 (Research Methods and Statistics) or our half-credit laboratory courses. Please consult with the department chair.

10. Links and Other Resources

10.1 Graduate school workshop

The department typically hosts a workshop to discuss graduate school in psychology, usually in mid/late-spring. Please ask the department chair about this workshop if it has not been announced.

10.2 Psychology-related jobs Facebook group

Periodically the faculty in the Psych Dept receive announcements for psych-related jobs and research opportunities. If you want to receive these announcements, join our Facebook Group for job postings by clicking here (external link).

10.3 Neuroscience minor

Many students choose to major in Psychology and minor in Neuroscience. Learn more about Neuroscience at Haverford here (external link to the Haverford website).

10.4 Haverford Psychology Facebook page

If you want to stay in touch with the Haverford Psychology Department on Facebook, click here (external link).

11. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Can I skip Foundations because I have AP or IB or A-levels credit?

A: Yes, if you have a score of 4 or 5 on the Psychology AP exam or 5 or above on the higher level IB Psychology exam or A or B on the higher level A-levels Psychology exam, you can skip our Foundations courses (see here for more information, including why you would want to do this, and why you might not). If you end up majoring in Psychology, you need to take one additional upper-level course so that you have the same number of credits towards the major (or minor) as everyone else. In short, AP/IB/A-levels Psychology credit can allow you to skip Foundations, but it does not count as a major credit.

Q: What is the breadth requirement, and how do I know what area a course counts for towards the breadth requirement?

A: To fulfill the breadth requirement you must take at least one course in each of three areas: biological, cognitive, and social/personality. See here for a list of courses, including information on how each addresses the breadth requirement. Courses taught by visiting faculty may fit one of these areas; ask if you’re not sure.

Q: What is the seminar requirement, and how do I know if a course counts for towards this requirement?

A: To fulfill the seminar requirement you must take at least one full-credit 300-level course (i.e., a seminar). See here for a list of courses, with seminars noted. Courses taught by visiting faculty may count as a seminar.

Q: Do Bryn Mawr psychology courses count towards the Haverford major/minor?

A: Yes, most (but not all) BMC psychology courses will count towards the major/minor. Please see here for information on BMC psychology courses. Generally speaking, BMC courses with direct parallels at Haverford (e.g., BMC’s Social Psychology course) count for their respective breadth area, however some BMC courses (e.g., Developmental Psychology) do not fit one of these areas but do count overall towards the major/minor. Similarly, Bryn Mawr’s introductory course (PSYC 105) can substitute for Haverford’s Foundations (100) course. However, BMC labs do not count towards the Haverford major.

Q: What about Swarthmore or UPenn classes?

A: Typically classes from Swarthmore will count towards the major/minor, but you should consult with your advisor to confirm that particular courses satisfy major/minor requirements. Similarly, consult with your advisor if you plan on taking a course at UPenn.

Q: I’m thinking about going abroad. Is there anything I should plan for?

If you plan on going abroad it is important to take PSYC 200 (Research Methods and Statistics; or Bryn Mawr’s PSYC 205) during your sophomore year. Then during the semester of your junior year when you are on campus, take one or both of your labs. Taking Research Methods and Statistics during your junior year and going abroad for part of that year is discouraged. See here for more information on planning your classes as a psychology major.

Q: Does it matter if I take Research Methods and Statistics at Haverford versus Bryn Mawr?

No, it does not matter. They are equivalent courses and both will prepare you for your future work as a Psychology major.

Q: Can I get major credit for courses taken abroad?

A: In many cases, yes. However, you need to get official approval from the department chair, who may consult with other members of the department. The chair will expect to see a syllabus from the course you are planning to take, to ensure that it covers psychology material and doesn’t overlap too much with what you’ve already taken, and to make a decision about what area of the major it could count towards. If the course is not in English, you must provide a translation of the syllabus. Sometimes only a half-credit of major credit is awarded if the study abroad program has a shorter term or if the class does not seem to meet as often or involve roughly equivalent work to a full-credit Haverford course. We strongly recommend that you seek approval from the chair before taking the abroad course, though in some cases retroactive credit may be awarded. We typically do not award more than 2 credits towards the major from semester-long study abroad programs. See more here.

Q: Can I get major credit for a summer course at another institution?

A: In many cases, yes. We handle this in the same way that we handle study abroad courses (see above). See more here.

Q: Do I get to choose my faculty advisor, or will that person be assigned to me?

A: We attempt to balance two factors: the need to spread advising duties evenly across all faculty members and the desirability of matching students with advisors with whom they feel comfortable. Please note that faculty members do not serve as advisors when they are on sabbatical. Therefore, every summer we do some juggling of advisees, shifting advisees away from someone who is about to go on sabbatical and over to someone who is returning from sabbatical. If you know whom you would like to have as your advisor, you should sign up with that person and we will try to keep you matched with that person. If you do not have a preference, sign up with anyone in the department and simply tell that person that you do not have a preference, in which case you may be shifted during the summertime reassignment.

Q: Is my major advisor the same person as my thesis advisor?

A: No, not necessarily; they are different roles. Your thesis advisor is not determined until the end of the junior year, and that decision is not affected by your match with a major advisor (which is typically done at the end of the sophomore year).