Minor in Psychology

Minor

Psychology

On Campus

Psychology is a fascinating and complex discipline with a rich history and a range of subfields that intersect in some capacity with nearly every other field of academic study. This minor presents psychology not only as a clinical practice, but from the perspective of the natural, social and applied sciences.

A psychology professor demonstrates a perceptual illusion using his hands outstretched toward two students

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Program Overview

In the Minor in Psychology program, you’ll examine modern therapy methods, as well as the approaches of classical and contemporary psychology in studying human behavior, cognitive growth and emotional development. You’ll understand the many variables that affect how individuals learn, interact and function from childhood through adolescence and into adulthood.

The minor allows you to select topics that most complement your academic and career goals. Electives in social psychology expose you to how the environmental factors and societal norms at work each day influence the development of personality, identity and sexuality. Other courses focus on the application of statistical analysis, while industrial and organizational psychology connects concepts and principles to issues in the workplace, such as worker motivation and performance appraisal.

Alumni Spotlight

Psychology alumnus Adam Hoffman smiles while mentoring students during a lunch meeting

Adam Hoffman ’12

All it took was one developmental psychology course, and Adam Hoffman ’12 knew he’d found his career.

“I was fascinated by how humans come to understand themselves and make sense of their social world,” Hoffman said. “I knew I wanted to learn more about the processes and mechanisms behind human thought and behavior.”

After graduating from Quinnipiac, Hoffman earned his PhD in developmental psychology from the University of North Carolina, and later completed a postdoctoral research fellowship at the University of Michigan. He is currently a research fellow in the Department of Psychology at North Carolina State University.

Hoffman’s work focuses on the development of ethnic, racial and gender identities in adolescents, and how they can be shaped to improve academic motivation, achievement and mental health.

“The ideas I developed at Quinnipiac provided the foundation for what I would study as a graduate student and even today as a psychologist,” Hoffman said.

Hoffman has returned to Quinnipiac to share his research with faculty and students at the psychology department’s annual spring speaker event. He also has offered advice and encouragement at alumni panels to undergraduate students who are developing their own research ideas.

“It is so rewarding and meaningful to come back to my intellectual ‘home’ and share the research that I have completed since my time at Quinnipiac,” Hoffman said.

Psychology Minor Curriculum

The minor requires 18 credits of psychology courses; PS 101 and 5 additional courses at the 200 level or higher. Course selection should be based on the student’s interest and goals; however the following courses are reserved for majors only: PS 206, PS 307, PS 308, PS 353, PS 391, PS 393, PS 394 and PS 401.

Course List
Code	Title	Credits
Possible courses include:
PS 101	Introduction to Psychology	3
PS 200	Special Topics in Psychology	3
PS 210	Human Sexuality	3
PS 225	Health Psychology	3
PS 232	The Concept of Personality and Its Development	3
PS 233	Cognitive Psychology	3
PS 234	Adult Development & Aging	3
PS 235	Communicating Effectively: A Cognitive Perspective	3
PS 236	Child and Adolescent Development	3
PS 242	School Psychology	3
PS 244	Psychology of Prejudice	3
PS 245	Exploring Psychological Perspectives through Film	3
PS 250	Parenting Science	3
PS 251	Learning and Memory	3
PS 252	Biological Psychology	3
PS 261	Social Psychology	3
PS 262	Psychology of Women and Gender (WGS 262)	3
PS 265	Psychology in the Workplace	3
PS 268	Occupational Health Psychology	3
PS 272	Psychopathology	3
PS 283	Introduction to Forensic Psychology	3
PS 284	LGBTQ Identities and Communities	3
PS 286	Psychology and the Law	3
PS 290	The Psychology of Self-Improvement: Popular and Scientific Perspectives	3
PS 300	Special Topics in Psychology	3
PS 320	Psychology of Sport and Exercise	3
PS 333	Applied Cognition	3
PS 354	Sensation and Perception	3
PS 357	Drugs, Brain and Behavior	3
PS 360	Psychology of Meditation	3
PS 366	Advanced Personnel Psychology	3
PS 367	Advanced Organizational Psychology	3
PS 371	Clinical Psychology	3
PS 372	Child Psychopathology	3
PS 373	Positive Psychology	3