Psychology

Chair: Peter S. Kaplan
Program Assistant: Gay Freebern
BA Undergraduate Advisor: Mitchell Handelsman
BS Undergraduate Advisor: David Albeck
Director of Clinical Training: Allison Bashe
Office: North Classroom, 5002
Telephone: 303-556-8565
Fax: 303-556-3520
Web site: www.cudenver.edu/psychology/index.html

Undergraduate Programs
Graduate Programs

Faculty

Professors:

James Grigsby, PhD, University of Colorado

Mitchell M. Handelsman, PhD, University of Kansas

Peter S. Kaplan, PhD, Indiana University

Associate Professors:

David Albeck, PhD, University of Colorado

Richard Allen, PhD, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Eric Benotsch, PhD, University of Iowa

Joy L. Berrenberg, PhD, University of Colorado

Evelinn Borrayo, PhD, University of North Texas

Mary Coussons-Read, PhD, University of North Carolina

Michael Zinser, PhD, University of Wisconsin, Madison

Assistant Professors:

Elizabeth Sandin Allen, PhD, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Abbie Beacham, PhD, University of Louisville

Kristin Kilbourne, PhD, University of Miami

Research Assistant Professor:

Jennifer H. Adams, PhD, University of Houston

Senior Instructors:

Allison Bashe, PhD, Stony Brook University

Matthew Bealor, PhD, University of Colorado

Joan Bihun, PhD, Wayne State University

Kevin Everhart, PhD, University of South Carolina

Emeritus Professors:

Rick M. Gardner, PhD, University of Nevada

Gary S. Stern, PhD, University of Massachusetts

Psychology is the scientific study of behavior, consisting of the following major areas of study: experimental psychology, biopsychology, animal behavior, developmental psychology, social psychology, cognitive psychology, personality, industrial/organizational psychology and abnormal psychology. The requirements for the major are designed to introduce the student to the spectrum of psychology, including an early exposure to research methods and statistics.

The psychology major prepares students for employment and for graduate study in psychology and related fields. The psychology department also offers an MA in psychology with a clinical emphasis and a PhD in clinical health psychology.

Undergraduate

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MAJOR: BA

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MAJOR: BS

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Honors

The psychology department has approved a very rigorous set of requirements for Latin honors. Students interested in research are encouraged to pursue opportunities as early in their academic career as possible. Successful completion of an honor’s project is at least a yearlong, multifaceted process. To be eligible to graduate with honors in psychology, a UC Denver psychology major must have an overall GPA of 3.5 or higher at the start of the project (75 semester hours completed toward the degree) and a GPA of 3.5 or higher in psychology courses taken at UC Denver.

Upon successful completion and defense of an honors project, level of honors will be determined by GPA according to the following scale: 3.8–4.0, summa cum laude; 3.6–3.79, magna cum laude; 3.5–3.59, cum laude. Worthiness of a given project for the award of honors will be determined by the student’s honors committee.

During the first semester of a project, a student must enroll for 3 semester hours of independent study. For these semester hours, the student must complete a committee-approved, detailed, written honors research proposal by the end of the semester. In the final semester, the student must enroll for 3 semester hours of PSY 4840. During this semester, the student will complete the project, submit it to his or her committee and defend the project. Acceptable projects include:

an original empirical study designed and carried out by the student and approved by the honors committee
a substantive, integrative library review in an area approved by the honors committee
a substantive, integrative critical analysis of a major theoretical issue in the field of psychology, approved by the honors committee

Students interested in earning honors should consult with the psychology faculty during their junior year. More information about honors projects can be found on the psychology department Web site.

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MINOR

Graduate

The psychology department offers a master of arts (MA) degree in psychology with an emphasis in clinical psychology and a doctor of philosophy (PhD) degree in clinical health psychology. In general, our programs train students within the context of the scientist-practitioner model. That is, we value an integrated approach to both the science and practice of clinical psychology. Our training emphasizes the contribution of research to the understanding, treatment and prevention of human problems, and the application of knowledge that is grounded in scientific evidence. Detailed information about admissions and requirements for both graduate programs can be found on the department Web site.

Admissions

We admit new students only for the fall semester. In order to be considered for admission, you must have a BA or BS from a college or university of recognized standing and a minimum GPA of 3.0 for the MA program and 3.5 for the PhD program. You must also have completed undergraduate courses in introductory psychology, psychological statistics and abnormal psychology. Research methods is an additional prerequisite for the PhD program. The GRE general test is required for both programs, and the psychology subject test is optional. Previous clinical and research experience are weighted heavily in the admissions process.

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MA IN PSYCHOLOGY, CLINICAL EMPHASIS

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE PhD IN CLINICAL HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY

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