Psychology Undergraduate Program

Psychology Defined
Facilities and Faculty
Undergraduate Curriculum
The Freshman Year
Research a Research Participant
Opportunities for Research Experience
Outreach Undergraduate Mentoring Program
Psi Chi & Psychology
Career Opportunities
The UNLV Campus
Additional information

 Psychology Defined

A broad definition of modern psychology is "the science of behavior." How we learn, how we act, and how to measure both are the principal topics of study in psychology. Specifically, psychologists investigate such problems as development of personality, learning, memory, language acquisition, emotion, aggression, intelligence, group behavior, and the diagnosis and treatment of behavior disorders.

As a discipline, psychology might be thought of as falling between biology and philosophy in its methods and goals. Like biologists, psychologists have an interest in the brain and the rest of the nervous system as well as in the glands and other organs that affect human behavior. On the other hand, like philosophers, psychologists are concerned with man as a social being, whose interpersonal, moral, and religious behavior is greatly influenced by what other people say and do, including parents and teachers as well as people who lived thousands of years ago. They ask the age-old questions of what constitutes happiness and how one can remain true to oneself while adjusting to others.

 Facilities and Faculty

The size of the Psychology Department lends itself to an atmosphere of learning and sharing through close contact between students and faculty. The teaching staff consists of 20 full-time faculty as well as part-time faculty and graduate students.

Faculty areas of expertise include clinical psychology, industrial psychology, human sexual response, child psychology, cognitive psychology, sensation and perception, social psychology, human factors, learning, creativity, the psychology of aging, and applied behavioral analysis. More advanced students often help in research directed by faculty and some students initiate their own projects. Students also have the opportunity to participate in the University Honors Program.

 Undergraduate Curriculum

The Department of Psychology has designed a diversified undergraduate curriculum that provides a broad and balanced treatment of psychology for students seeking a liberal arts degree or for those intending to enter advanced training in psychology, education, medicine, or related fields.

The department offers the Bachelor of Arts degree as well as a minor in psychology.

The B.A. degree requires, in addition to university and college general education core requirements, a minimum of 36 credit hours in psychology. A minor may be earned by taking PSY 101, 210, and 240 plus an additional 12 upper-division credits in psychology to total a minimum of 22 credits. Please see the course catalog appropriate to your year of entrance for detailed requirements.

Course Requirements (Wilson Advising Center, WRI-B131 (702) 895-1997)

 The Freshman Year

 Being a Research Participant

Psychology students in specified classes are given the opportunity to earn credit towards their course grade by participating in Psychology experiments or by completing summaries of research articles. Click here for more information.

 Being a Researcher

Undergraduate students at UNLV are encouraged to gain research experience by becoming a research assistant in a Psychology lab. By getting involved in laboratory research, students can enhance their understanding of the methods psychologists use and the process through which they discover new information about Psychology. In addition, as a research assistant, student, students are an active member of a research team, where they interact with undergraduates who have similar educational and career interests and where they work in close proximity to faculty and graduate students. In some cases, their research may culminate in an honors thesis, presentation, or publications. Students can volunteer, sign up for Psy 496 (Independent Study) or Psy 498 (Independent Research) for academic credit, or apply for paid positions. Click here for a list of graduate students and faculty currently seeking research assistant.

 Outreach Undergraduate Mentoring Program (OUMP)

The Department of Psychology at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas has an outreach program to mentor undergraduate students from diverse backgrounds who are interested in pursuing a graduate degree in Psychology. The main goals of this program are to provide students traditionally underrepresented in the field of Psychology with information regarding class work, research, and other areas required for eligibility and entrance into graduate programs.

We are specifically targeting students with one or more of the following demographics:

• students from a low socioeconomic background
• students who self-identify as a member of a racial or ethnic minority group
• students who self-identify as being gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender
• students with physical or learning disabilities
• international students or students who have English as a second language.

Please note this list is not all-inclusive, so interested students not meeting one of the above demographic variables are encouraged to contact the Graduate Student Coordinator to determine eligibility. Students in the program will work closely with the OUMP Faculty Coordinator and Graduate Student Coordinator to support their development. Currently, approximately 30 undergraduate students are participating in the outreach program.

Why was OUMP formed?

The United States includes a diverse group of people. It is important that psychologists reflect the diversity of individuals, so that the profession is equipped to work with individuals from many different backgrounds. Our goal is to help students traditionally underrepresented in psychology to become professionals in the field. It is our hope that our efforts will have some impact on meeting the needs of people throughout the U.S. and other countries.

Benefits of OUMP participation

1. Individualized mentoring services involving preparation for graduate school and careers in psychology.
2. Assistance in identifying opportunities to become involved in psychology research.
3. Participation in workshops dealing with grad school applications (e.g., writing personal statements), psychology careers, and issues related to graduate school (e.g., funding, things to consider when choosing a school).
4. Access to GRE study materials.
5. Opportunities to meet other students interested in graduate school and careers in psychology.
6. Participation in OUMP listserv.
7. Online access to APA's Graduate Studies in Psychology database.

Relevant resources

1. American Psychological Association Graduate Studies:
     http://www.apa.org/apags/

2. McNair Scholar Institute: 
     http://www.unlv.edu/studentserv/caeo/Programs/McNair/index.htm

If you are interested in participating in OUMP, we encourage you to contact:

Sarah Akter, M. A., OUMP Graduate Student Coordinator, oumpunlv@yahoo.com

Link to SELECTED DIVERSITY-RELATED thesis and disseration Projects

Links to Faculty Members Conducting Multicultural Research:
Bradley Donohue, Ph.D.
Christopher Kearney, Ph.D.
Marta Meana, Ph.D.
Jennifer Rennels, Ph.D.
Clayton N. Silver, Ph.D.
Cortney Warren, Ph.D.

 Psi Chi & Psychology Club

 Career Opportunities

Career opportunities in psychology vary greatly with the areas of specialty. While some areas are very competitive, others such as clinical, school, and industrial psychology still have a need for well-qualified people.

Students who earn the B.A. often find their knowledge of human behavior very useful when coupled with a variety of careers requiring person-to-person contact, including personnel, sales, public relations, and social service.

Those who earn advanced degrees may become researchers in academic settings, psychotherapists in clinics and in private practice, psychometricians and counselors in schools and the judicial system, or practicing psychologists in the military or industry.

The Career Services Office in the Student Services Complex, Room 301 has an extensive career library for you to browse through. Check with it early. As students near graduation, this office arranges on-campus interviews with organizations interested in hiring psychology majors. It now offers on-line job search techniques on the web; contact that Career Services for more information at 702-895-3495. Psychology majors should speak with the Career Development Counselor. Additional Information about careers in Psychology is available from APA at http://psyccareers.apa.org/

 The UNLV Campus

The University of Nevada, Las Vegas is committed to academic excellence in each of its more than 148 undergraduate and graduate programs. Following a decade of unprecedented growth in enrollment and facilities, the campus is now focusing its resources on those qualities which make a university great: its academic offerings, its faculty and staff, and its students.

The university's commitment to learning is reflected in the core curriculum required of every student. The core provides a solid background in the humanities, fine arts, mathematics, science, English, and social sciences. Its purpose is to broaden the knowledge of all students, regardless of major.

Approximately 20,000 students attend classes at UNLV's 337-acre campus, located in the nation's fastest growing city. While most students are Nevada residents, a lively mixture of international and out-of-state students adds to the cosmopolitan quality of the campus.

Residence halls on the UNLV campus are the home of more than 1,000 students. Each double-room arrangement shares a full bathroom. The complex is complete with meeting rooms, recreational facilities, mail services, fitness rooms, and computer labs.

All academic programs at UNLV are fully accredited by the Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges, and many programs have received further accreditation from independent national accrediting bodies.

 For additional information

For additional information see the Undergraduate Catalog or contact the Department of Psychology.

College of Liberal Arts
Department of Psychology
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
4505 S. Maryland Parkway
Box 455030
Las Vegas, NV 89154-5030
Phone: (702) 895-3305

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