Required Orientation Checklist for the Prospective Psychology Major
Effective: Sp14
Prior to declaring a major in psychology:
All students seeking to major in psychology are required to read and initial statements 1-21 on this document, prior to declaring a major in Psychology. It outlines the Psychology Department’s expectations for Psychology majors and orients new majors to the departmental culture. It also requires the pre-major to take several actions that must be completed before a major declaration form will be signed.
After you have completed and initialed this checklist, please email the Chair () to make an appointment to meet and declare your major. Please bring this completed checklist to that meeting.
Departmental Expectations for Psychology Majors
Please initial each statement to indicate you have read and/or completed it:
1. I understand that psychology is a social science, and as such, it emphasizes science as the basis for all knowledge in the discipline. ______(please initial here)
2. Recognizing the importance of science in psychology, I pledge to learn the fundamentals of psychological research, statistics, and scientific principles as part of my training. ______
3. I have read the university’s policy on academic misconduct and plagiarism in the Student Handbook. ______
4. I have visited and reviewed the available information and resources on the Psychology Department website, which are posted for my benefit. ______
5. I know how to locate the Psychology and Life (PAL) events calendar on the departmental website. ______
6. If I ask to be added to the unofficial departmental email list, I agree to read and respond (if requested) to all emails sent by the Chair of the Psychology Department. ______
7. I understand that Psychology faculty should be addressed as “Dr.” or “professor”, rather than Mr., Mrs./Ms., or by first names. ______
8. I know where the Psychology Main Office is located, and the Departmental Associate who staffs that office should be addressed as “Mrs. Shandor”. ______
9. I am aware there are bulletin boards in the Psychology Department devoted to graduate school, volunteer/work opportunities, undergraduate research, student clubs, PAL events, and alumni/faculty accomplishments. ______
10. I am aware that the Psychology Department has two student clubs/organizations, and I can name those organizations upon request. ______
11. I have reviewed the university’s Graduation Checklist for the major requirements in Psychology, and I can recite the broad categories of the basic requirements upon demand. ______
12. I understand that when I declare Psychology as a major, I will be assigned a PSYC faculty advisor, with whom I will consult regularly for information about class, career, and other issues. ______
13. I have read about PSYC 412 (Senior Seminar in Psychology, required for all majors) on the website, and I understand the commonalities and differences in the three formats for this course. ______
14. I understand that I am not guaranteed my first choice of a PSYC 412 course format in any given semester, and that the internship sections of PSYC require an application in advance, posted on the department’s website. ______
15. I understand that I will take the major competency exam (a 100-item, multiple-choice test covering introductory-level psychology) and complete my oral competency requirement in PSYC 412. ______
16. I know how to use PsycINFO (provided through Ramsey Library) to access original research in psychology. ______
17. I understand that I will complete the Senior Exit Survey in the semester of my graduation. ______
18. I understand that it is important for psychology majors to engage in the community, and I will participate in some volunteer or service learning opportunities on/off campus, as part of my psychology major training. ______
19. I will begin thinking about my future career path during my junior year, attending relevant PAL events and discussing options for employment or graduate school with my advisor and/or other PSYC faculty. ______
20. I understand that undergraduate research is not required by the major, but it is available to qualified students who take the initiative to secure a PSYC faculty research supervisor in advance. ______
21. For those planning to apply to graduate school: I understand that graduate school in psychology is competitive, requiring a high GPA and a respectable score on the Graduate Record Examination-General. I also understand that the GRE requires extensive advance preparation and should never be taken “cold”. ______
Please leave this section blank until the declaration meeting with the Chair:
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This orientation checklist was reviewed by ______(student) and the Chair of Psychology on ______(date).
Student is approved to be a Psychology major: _____ Yes _____ No
Student signature: ______
Chair signature: ______
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