Psychology - Major/Minor

For information, contact Professor Micah Sadigh, micasa@cedarcrest.edu mrsadigh@cedarcrest.edu, 610-606-4666, ext. 3715.

Program Description

The goal of the field of psychology is to study and understand the complex nature of human and non-human behavior. At Cedar Crest College, students approach psychology as both a science and a profession. As a science, students pursue knowledge of the field, using a variety of theories and methods such as experiments, observations and surveys. As a profession, students use experiential learning techniques to apply this knowledge to a range of practical problems.

A small student-faculty ratio allows for close personal instruction. Because of our faculty's diverse backgrounds we are able to offer courses in such sub-fields as Counseling and Clinical Psychology, Social Psychology, Cognitive Psychology, Biopsychology, Health Psychology, Forensic Psychology, Industrial/Organizational Psychology, and Animal Learning and Behavior. Students may also conduct independent research projects under the direct supervision of faculty members. Students may choose to earn their degree through traditional, hybrid or on-line courses offered during the day, evening, weekend or accelerated timeframes.

The Psychology Program’s objective is to ensure that every undergraduate receives high-quality instruction in all of the essential areas of psychology, and be exposed to a wide range of psychology sub-fields. Through one-on-one advising tailored to each student’s interest, the Department is committed to providing knowledge and experiences that enable students to make educated and informed decisions regarding future occupational and educational choices.

Mission Statement

Psychology is a diverse field that is best defined as the scientific study of behavior and experience. The mission of the psychology program at Cedar Crest College is, therefore, to provide students with a breadth of experiences that are based upon the historical, theoretical, and empirical foundation of the discipline of psychology. This foundation is consistent with the perennial basis of a liberal arts education, and is hence congruent with the college’s basic mission that focuses on scholarship and creativity. The multifarious nature of the faculty’s scholarship, as well as the multiplicity of courses taught by them, make the department highly distinctive and on the cutting edge of the developments in the field of psychology.

Total number of credits required by program

For the most recent and complete departmental policies and course listings, please refer to the Psychology Department website. A minimum of 43 psychology credits is required for a major in Psychology. A minimum of 21 Psychology credits for the major must be taken at Cedar Crest College. At least 18 psychology credits are required for a minor in Psychology, 9 of which must be completed at Cedar Crest College. Courses transferred in for the major or minor must be taken within the last 10 years.

Program Requirements

Any student desiring to declare Psychology as a major or a minor must have a cumulative grade point average at the college of at least 2.00.

PSY 100 is a prerequisite to all other psychology courses.
PSY 100/200 level courses are for 1st/2nd Year Students
PSY 300 level courses are for 3rd/4th Year Students

Double majors who are exempt from taking a particular psychology course(s) due to the completion of an another acceptable course(s) in their second major MUST meet the minimum credit requirement in psychology by substituting electives. The minimum number of credits in psychology in order to be awarded the major is 43.

Course Requirements for the Psychology Major

A minimum of 43 psychology credits is required for a major in Psychology. A grade of C or better must be obtained in each course to satisfy requirements for the psychology major; this includes all Liberal Arts requirements. A course may be repeated (taken a second time) only once due to a grade less than a C. A student wishing to repeat a course more than one time (taken a third time) must seek special permission from the Department and the Registrar's Office; permission will be granted only under extraordinary circumstances. A student withdrawal (for any reason) at any point in the course will count as taking the course; subsequently, the course from which a student withdraws could be repeated only one additional time. A student may NOT take a course (or its equivalent) more than 3 times- no exceptions.

PSY 100 Introduction to Psychology General Psychology 3 credits
PSY 170 Understanding and Using APA Editorial Style 1 credit (to be taken concurrently with PSY 211)
PSY 210 Life-Span Development 3 credits
PSY 211 Experimental Methods 4 credits
PSY 212 Statistical Methods 4 credits
PSY 215 Biological Psychology 3 credits
PSY 309 Abnormal Psychology 3 credits
OR
PSY 351 Theories of Personality 3 credits
PSY 317 Learning 4 credits
OR
PSY 336 Cognitive Psychology 4 credits
PSY 363 Senior Capstone 3 credits
ALSO 15 additional credits of Psychology electives (e.g., PSY courses) in any sub-field of psychology based on your interest.

Fulfillment of the General Education and Liberal Arts Curriculum (LAC) Requirements

To fulfill the Oral Presentation (OP) requirement, a student must successfully complete a specific course outside of the Psychology Department; that is, THS 105: Public Speaking. 


A student fulfills the Information Literacy (IL) requirement through the successful completion of PSY 211: Experimental Methods.


A student fulfills the Technology (Tech) requirement through the successful completion of PSY 212: Statistical Methods. This course also counts as a Math and Logic course.

To fulfill a LAC Natural Science (SCI) requirement, a student may NOT count PSY 215: Biological Psychology. That course counts as a Psychology requirement only. However, a student may take PSY 220 Sensation and Perception with or without the lab, and fulfill 1 SCI requirement. Additional SCI requirements must be fulfilled through qualified courses outside of the Psychology Department.


To fulfill a LAC Math and Logic (ML) requirement, a student must successfully complete a course outside of the Psychology Department; that is, MAT 102 or higher.


To fulfill the LAC Ethics (ETH) requirement, a student must successfully complete ETL 235 outside of the Psychology Department.

Other general education and LAC requirements (Writing, Global Studies, Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences) must be fulfilled through qualified courses outside of the Psychology Department. It should be noted that traditional students cannot take two LAC courses from the same discipline to fulfill certain requirements. SAGE students can take two courses from the same discipline to fulfill parts of the LAC.

Note: Successful completion of these courses requires a grade of a C or better.

Psychology Minor

For information, contact Professor Micah Sadigh, micasa@cedarcrest.edu , 610-606-4666, ext. 3715.

Course Requirements for the Psychology Minor (18 credits)

For the most recent and complete departmental policies and course listings, please refer to the Psychology Department website. At least 18 psychology credits are required for a minor in Psychology, 9 of which must be completed at Cedar Crest College. A grade of C or better must be obtained in each course to satisfy requirements for the psychology minor; this includes all Liberal Arts requirements. Courses transferred in must be taken within the last 10 years.

PSY 100 Introduction to Psychology 3 credits
PSY 210 Life-Span Development 3 credits
PSY 309 Abnormal Psychology 3 credits
OR
PSY 351 Theories of Personality 3 credits
PLUS 9 additional elective credits in psychology