Academic Program

Requirements for Major

For students who enter the college in or after the Fall 2012 semester

Prior to Moderation in psychology, students entering the College in or after the fall semester of 2012 are required to complete the following courses with a grade of C or higher: Introduction to Psychological Science (Psychology 103), preferably in the first year (although a score of 5 on the AP Psychology exam fulfills the requirement); a sophomore sequence of Statistics for Psychology (Psychology 203) in the fall and Research Methods in Psychology (Psychology 204) in the spring; and at least two 200-level courses in psychology.

Psychology students must complete the following requirements to graduate: two additional 200-level courses in psychology; one course in biology, chemistry, computer science, mathematics, or physics; two 300-level courses following Moderation, at least one of which must be completed before beginning the Senior Project; and the Senior Project. At least one 200-level course must be completed from each of the following course clusters:

Cluster A: Personality Psychology (Psychology 245); Development and Psychopathology (Psychology 210); Adult Psychopathology (Psychology 264).

Cluster B: Developmental Psychology (Psychology 216); Social Psychology (Psychology 240).

Cluster C: Cognitive Psychology (Psychology 228); Neuroscience (Psychology 230).

Although the Psychology Program is housed in the Division of Science, Mathematics, and Computing, students decide at the time of Moderation whether they will pursue their degree in psychology from either the Division of Science, Mathematics, and Computing (SM&C) or the Division of Social Studies (SSt). These divisional degrees are distinguished by two features:
a) an SSt degree entails at least two courses in one or more related disciplines in the Social Studies Division (see the link below for a pdf of particular courses that fulfill this requirement) and b) the Senior Project for an SM&C degree must have an empirical focus, in which the student collects and analyzes data, or presents a detailed plan for doing so. The SSt Senior Project does not carry this requirement, though it may of course do this. An SSt degree may be particularly suited for those intending to pursue law, social work, or education; and an SM&C degree may be particularly suited for students intending to pursue a research degree in psychology, medicine, or the natural sciences.

File: Courses Fulfilling Psych SSt Requirement.pdf

Click to see Moderation Guidelines

Requirements for Major

For students who entered the college prior to Fall 2012

Prior to Moderation, students are required to take Introduction to Psychology (PSY 103), preferably in the first year (although a score of 5 on the AP psychology exam fulfills the requirement), and a sophomore sequence of Introduction to Statistics in the fall (PSY 203) and Research Methods in Psychology in the spring (PSY 204). In addition, at least one 200-level course should be taken prior to Moderation. For the Moderation Board (during the second semester of the sophomore year), the student prepares two short papers that describe his or her academic past experiences and future plans, and a longer paper that summarizes and critically evaluates an empirical article. In the Upper College, moderated students are required to take at least one additional 200-level course and two 300-level courses (seminars and/or laboratory courses), with at least one of the 300-level courses being completed prior to the start of Senior Project (and only one 300-level course being taken in Psychology per semester semester).

Click to see Moderation Guidelines

Requirements for Senior Project

All seniors will be asked to submit their tentative plans for Senior Project, and matches between advisors and advisees will be made by the Psychology Program. It is imperative that you submit your plans when asked (and by the deadline implemented each semester)! All majors work on Senior Project during their last two semesters at Bard, and this project may take the form of an empirical study (with associated paper) or detailed proposal for a study to test a novel hypothesis  (with associated paper). We strongly suggest, however, that you consider doing an empirical study if you have aspirations to enroll eventually in a doctoral program in psychology. (For further details about Senior Project, please see the expectations and grading rubric that follow later in this handbook.) 

Opportunities for Additional Learning

Students are strongly encouraged to pursue opportunities for research or community-based practicum experiences that complement their regular course work and that connect academic learning with practical applications. The program offers independent laboratory courses in clinical psychology, cognitive psychology, developmental psychology, social psychology, and neuroscience under the direction of program faculty that provide ideal opportunities for learning how to conduct research in each psychology discipline. In addition, opportunities to gain experiences in applied settings exist in local communities in the realms of clinical, developmental, and counseling psychology. Students are also encouraged to gain experience through summer research opportunities in the Bard Summer Research Institute, as well as pursue opportunities for obtaining summer research positions at other academic centers. For students especially interested in clinical psychology with the associated goal of entering a doctoral program in the field, we recommend strongly that you also consider pursuing additional research experiences (typically in a two- to three-year research assistantship) after graduating from Bard.

Rockefeller University Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF)