Psychology

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Faculty members draw from their ongoing research and professional work in clinical, community, developmental, cognitive, neuro-physiological, social, cross-cultural and educational psychology to improve students' understanding of the material.

The Psychology Department provides students with a background in the major areas of expertise within the modern discipline of psychology.

Completion of requirements for either Bachelor’s degree in Psychology offered by SUNY Old Westbury ensures that students have been given an extensive background in research methods and have been introduced to the basic areas of specialization within psychology.

  • The B.A. program provides majors with a strong background for entering graduate studies in many related fields of human service.
  • The B.S. program provides majors with a strong background for entering forensic/criminal sciences, nursing, developmental disabilities, special education, gerontology/rehabilitative science, pharmacology, psychiatry, neurology, neurobiology, in addition to basic and clinical research.
Undergraduate Offerings
Graduate Offerings
Declaring the Major

The Psychology Department must approve the Application for Psychology Major before any student can declare to become a major in either undergraduate program. All students must meet with a faculty advisor in the Psychology Department, and bring a transcript of all courses taken at Old Westbury and elsewhere. In order to be able to declare a major in Psychology, students must meet the following requirements:

  1. At least 32 credits, taken either at Old Westbury or elsewhere
  2. Cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher
  3. Introduction to Psychology (PY 2010) or its equivalent with a grade of C or higher
  4. One other Psychology course applicable to the requirements for the major with a grade of C or higher
  5. Math Proficiency
  6. Writing Proficiency

    Department Mission Statement

    The Psychology Department trains students to become ethically responsible decision makers and agents of change in their personal, professional, and civic lives through the socially conscious and culturally informed practice and research of psychology across settings.

    Psychology Honor Societies

    Psi Chi

    Psi Chi is an international honor society whose purpose is to encourage, stimulate, and maintain excellence in scholarship of the individual members in all fields, particularly in psychology, and to advance the science of psychology.  SUNY Old Westbury became a chartered member of Psi Chi in 1998.

    Numerous Old Westbury Psi Chi students have been actively engaged in independent research and have presented their research at national, regional, and local conferences, such as the American Psychological Association (APA), Eastern Psychological Association (EPA), National Conference of Undergraduate Research (NCUR), and Collegiate Science Technology Educational Program (CSTEP) Conference.

    Psi Chi offers students numerous additional advantages and opportunities that enhance their education and professional development.  Such opportunities include:  academic scholarships, grant funding for research, invitation to present their research at regional and national conferences, and travel funds in support of conference presentations.  Student researchers also have the opportunity to have their research published in the organization’s peer-reviewed journal, Psi Chi Journal of Psychological Research. 

    Ps Cho Honor Society Blue Logo

    Nu Rho Psi

    The Psychology Department oversees the Neuropsychology minor and, with it, membership processes for induction the National Nu Rho Psi Undergraduate Neuroscience Honor Society.

    SUNY Old Westbury is the 5th college or university in New York State with an approved Nu Rho Psi Charter. For that reason, the group is is dubbed “Chapter Epsilon” after the 5th letter of the Greek Alphabet. SUNY Old Westbury was the 93rd Nu Rho Psi Chapter to be approved nationally.

    Nu Rho Psi is the only nationally-recognized honor society in the area of brain research. The purpose of Nu Rho Psi is to:

    • encourage professional interest and excellence in scholarship, particularly in neuroscience;
    • award recognition to students who have achieved such excellence in scholarship;
    • advance the discipline of neuroscience; encourage intellectual and social interaction between students, faculty, and professionals in neuroscience and related fields;
    • promote career development in neuroscience and related fields;
    • increase public awareness of neuroscience and its benefits for the individual and society; and
    • encourage service to the community.
    Nu Rho Si honor society gold logo
    Contact

    Lillian Park

    Chair, Psychology Department
    Associate Professor
    Cognitive Psychology & Cognitive Neuroscience
    Psychology
    School of Arts and Sciences
    Building
    New Academic Building
    Room
    2067
    E-mail