Frequently Asked Questions
Information on this page is designed to address frequently asked questions about Duke's Undergraduate Programs in Psychology. Select the heading from the list below that is most relevant to your question.
Can you have more than one "area" in the Psychology major?
Yes, you can have more than one "area" in psychology. As long as you have taken the Introductory/Survey course and two other courses in a particular area, you are considered to have a concentration in that area. Our requirement is that you have at least one fulfilled by the time you graduate. There is no problem switching "areas" or concentrations.
Can my methods courses satisfy both my Psychology major seminar requirement and my Psychology methods requirement?
No, research methods courses in the PSY 301-315 series do not satisfy the Psychology requirement for a seminar. It does satisfy the Psychology requirement for a research methods course.
Can an Independent Study count toward the three courses in my area of concentration? How many Independent Study credits can I use toward my Psychology major?
One Independent Study can count toward your "area" and you may count a total of two toward the major. Additional Independent Studies (up to 4 total) may count toward your 34 credits for graduation.
I am planning on double majoring in both Psychology and Biology. Can I count a Psychology course cross-listed with Biology toward both majors?
Yes, you can use courses cross-listed in both departments to count toward both majors. Since Biology also accepts some other psychology classes toward its major that are not cross-listed, you could end up with several "cross-overs". Just a word of warning though--make sure that your choice of courses is driven by your future goals and not by which courses will count toward both majors. Anyone looking at your record in a thoughtful fashion (graduate school, prospective employer) will be looking at the specific courses you took, not just the fact that you double majored.
What courses can count toward the B.S. degree in Psychology?
Students who matriculated fall 2012 or after must choose from the approved courses listed in the last two pages of the Major worksheet. Students matriculated before fall 2012 may complete NS courses from at least two of the departments:
Can the courses taken to fulfill the pre-med requirements count toward a B.S. degree in psychology?
Courses that you have taken for the pre-med program can also count toward the B.S. degree in Psychology as long as they are from the designated departments (see above listing), or if they are listed in the the last two pages of the new Major worksheet.
I took BIOCHEM 227 (Introduction to Biochemistry). It really seemed like a natural science to me. Can I count it toward the B.S. degree?
No, only the departments specifically designated (see above) offer courses that count toward the B.S. degree in Psychology. There is a university wide regulation that states that Professional School courses may not be used to satisfy any A&S/Trinity College requirements except credit. That means that no courses offered through the Medical School unless they are cross-listed with one of the designated departments above will count toward the B.S. degree in Psychology.
What is the difference between an Independent Study and a Research Practicum (PSY 203)?
Independent Study courses are more academic in nature than the Research Practicum courses. Independent Study students must be supervised by a faculty member (not a graduate student, post doc, or a lab technician), they must meet weekly with their faculty mentors, they should engage in discussions of assigned readings, hypotheses, etc. with their mentors to better understand the context of the work they are engaged in, and finally they must write a substantial paper as the culmination of their Independent Study. Students taking Independent Studies are customarily juniors and seniors. A sophomore who has had considerable background in psychology may get special permission to enroll in Independent Study, but a letter of justification must be written to the Dean for that student to be enrolled.
In contrast, the Research Practicum courses are 1/2 credit Pass/Fail courses that are seen as perhaps forerunners of Independent Studies. In the Research Practicum courses students serve as research assistants basically learning by doing. They do not have to be supervised by their faculty sponsors, but can be supervised by whoever is in charge of the research project they are working on, and they are expected to be heavily involved in the act of research (e.g., data collection, data analysis, etc). At the end of the research Practicum a final paper is required in the form of an Independent Study proposal using the Independent Study form for this purpose. This does not oblige the student to take the Independent Study.
Do I have to actually write a phrase on the proposal form showing my intent to write a paper for my Independent Study?
Yes. If students submit their Independent Study proposals and simply describe the research project and only mention that they will be collecting data or analyzing data, there is no way of knowing whether this experience goes beyond simply being a research assistant who is naive as to why certain decisions are being made, why certain procedures are being followed, what hypotheses are being tested, etc. It is also a way of ensuring that both students and their faculty mentors are aware that a requirement of the Independent Study is that it culminates in a substantial paper.
I have heard that doing an Independent Study and getting research experience is very important for a Psychology major, but how exactly does an undergraduate go about finding these opportunities?
You are absolutely right that gaining research experience is a very important part of a Psychology major. In addition to the required research methods course, undergraduates can acquire research experience through Independent Study (PSY 393, 394, 493, 494) and/or by taking a Research Practicum (PSY 203). Some students also gain research experience through working as paid research assistants or volunteering to work on professors' projects or in professors' labs. There are a number of such opportunities posted on the Bulletin Board across from the Undergraduate Psychology office, Room 242 Soc/Psych.
I am planning on working in a Psychology lab over the summer. Can I then continue working with this same professor in the fall as an Independent Study?
You may be able to continue your lab work from the summer as an Independent Study if the professor has an appointment in Psychology or if someone who does have an appointment in Psychology will sponsor it. You cannot get paid for work and count it as an Independent Study at the same time. The study would have to be written up in the form of a proposal and submitted to the Director of Undergraduate Studies for approval. Independent Study forms are available on the Psychology Undergraduate Office door, Room 242 Soc/Psych and on-line.
Questions About Certificate Programs and the Psychology Major
I am a Psychology major and I am also getting my certificate in Human Development. Will some courses satisfy both my major and the certificate?
There are some courses that count toward both the Psychology major and the Human Development program. You can use two courses this way. So if you take PSY 235/SOC224/HDV 224 (required for the HDV certificate), it can count toward both the Psychology major and the HDV certificate. The same is true of PSY 474S or PSY 236 (and you must take one of these for HDV). But two courses "co-counting" between a certificate and a major is the limit.
Are there different rules for the "co-counting" of courses toward certificates than for other majors or minors?
Yes, the rules governing co-counting classes between majors and certificates differ from those governing co-counting classes between major/minor or major/major. The limit of 2 courses co-counted applies only to the major/certificate/program combinations. There is no limit to co-counted classes for major/minor or major/major combinations. However, a word of caution - Beware of trying to fulfill two majors by using as many co-counted classes as possible. Make sure you first consider what classes you should take to realize your post graduation goals. Employers and graduate schools are going to examine your record beyond the fact that there are two majors (or a minor, or a certificate, etc). They will be looking to see if you selected challenging, thoughtful and purposeful courses.
