Psychology

Return to: USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences  

The Department of Psychology has five topical areas: 1) Brain and Cognitive Science focuses on understanding cognition, motivation, decision-making, computational modeling, emotion, and perception in terms of the underlying brain processes and manifested behaviors. Faculty work at the confluence of psychology, biology and neuroscience. 2) Clinical Science applies scientific theories and methods to examine psychosocial issues associated with significant societal problems including alcohol abuse, dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, early identification of psychosis, family environments and risk and resilience in youth, bullying and peer victimization. Specialization is available in clinical-aging, child and family clinical, and adult clinical. 3) Developmental Psychology studies change in human behavior, cognition, language, neurological structure and emotions across the lifespan from childhood through early adulthood. 4) Quantitative Methods provides training in basic and advanced research methods and statistics used in psychometrics and measurement, longitudinal data analysis, behavior genetics modeling decision making, and methods for analyzing multivariate data. 5) Social Psychology studies the thoughts, feelings and actions of individuals as they are influenced by other individuals and by groups.

The department also participates in the Dornsife College’s interdisciplinary program in Neuroscience.

Research is integral to psychology; it enables the faculty to make contributions in the field and to be more effective teachers. Undergraduate students are encouraged to work with members of the faculty on research projects. The most direct way for students to participate in research is to enroll in a directed research course (PSYC 290  or PSYC 490 ), but it is also possible to take part in ongoing research in less formal ways. Further options for research training also includes the honors program for psychology majors. The department now offers two MS programs in Applied Psychology (MAPP) and Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA).

Seeley G. Mudd Building 501
(213) 740-2203
FAX: (213) 746-9082
dornsife.usc.edu/psyc

Chair: Antoine Bechara, PhD

Faculty

University Professor and David Dornsife Chair in Neuroscience and Professor of Psychology, Neurology and Philosophy: Antonio Damasio, MD, PhD

University Professor and Dana Dornsife Chair in Neuroscience and Professor of Psychology and Neurology: Hanna Damasio, MD

Dana and David Dornsife Chair and Professor of Psychology: Joseph Arvai, PhD

Harold Dornsife Chair in Neurosciences and Professor of Psychology and Computer Science: Irving Biederman, PhD

H. Leslie Hoffman and Elaine S. Hoffman Chair in Cancer Research and Professor of Psychiatry and the Behavioral Sciences and Psychology: Caryn Lerman, PhD (Psychiatry and the Behavioral Sciences)

W.M. Keck Chair in Neurogentics and Professor of Pediatrics and Psychology: Pat Levitt, PhD (Cell and Neurobiology)

University Professor and ARCO/William F. Kieschnick Chair in the Neurobiology of Aging and Professor of Gerontology, Psychology, Biological Sciences and Anthropology: Caleb E. Finch, PhD (Gerontology)

Niki and Max Nikias Chair in Engineering and Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Linguistics, Psychology, Neuroscience, Pediatrics, Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery: Shrikanth (Shri) Narayanan, PhD (Electrical and Computer Engineering)

University Professor and Milo Don and Lucille Appleman Professor of Biological Sciences and Professor of Biological Sciences and Psychology: Larry W. Swanson, PhD (Biological Sciences)

Stephen H. Crocker Professor of Education and Psychology: Gale M. Sinatra, PhD (Education)

Distinguished Professor and Orrin B. Evans Professor of Law and Professor of Law and Psychology: Elyn R. Saks, JD (Law)

Provost Professor of Public Policy, Psychology and Behavioral Science: Wandi Bruine de Bruin, PhD (Public Policy)

Provost Professor of Psychology and Marketing: Norbert Schwarz, PhD

Provost Professor of Psychology and Business: Wendy Wood, PhD

Dean’s Professor of Psychology and Professor of Psychology, Education and Communication: Daphna Oyserman, PhD

Mendel Silberberg Professor of Social Psychology and Professor of Psychology: Stephen J. Read, PhD

Professors: Laura A. Baker, PhD; Antoine Bechara, PhD; Sarah Bottjer, PhD (Biological Sciences); Peter Carnevale, PhD (Business); Giorgio Coricelli, PhD (Economics); Gerald C. Davison, PhD*; JoAnn M. Farver, PhD*; Ernest Greene, PhD; Andrea Hollingshead, PhD (Communication); Laurent Itti, PhD (Computer Science); Richard John, PhD; David G. Lavond, PhD; Adam Leventhal, PhD (Preventive Medicine); Steven Lopez, PhD; Thomas D. Lyon, JD, PhD (Law); Franklin R. Manis, PhD*; Gayla Margolin, PhD*; Mara Mather, PhD (Gerontology); Beth E. Meyerowitz, PhD*; Lynn Miller, PhD (Communication); Carol A. Prescott, PhD; Dan Simon, SJD (Law); Elizabeth Sowell, PhD (Pediatrics); Arthur Stone, PhD; Steven Yale Sussman, PhD (Institute for Prevention Research); Suzanne Wenzel (Social Work); Rand Wilcox, PhD; Elizabeth Zelinski, PhD (Gerontology)

Associate Professors: Carl Andrew Castro, PhD (Social Work); Morteza Dehghani, PhD; Stanley J. Huey, Jr., PhD; Mary Helen Immordino-Yang, PhD (Education); Toben Mintz, PhD; Henrike Moll, PhD; John Monterosso, PhD*; Judy Pa, PhD (Neurology); Joseph Priester, PhD (Business); Darby Saxbe, PhD; David Schwartz, PhD; April Thames, PhD; David A. Walsh, PhD; Amy West, PhD (Pediatrics); Marian Williams, PhD (Pediatrics); Jason D. Zevin, PhD

Assistant Professors: Christopher Beam, PhD; Teal Eich, PhD (Gerontology); Chardee Galan, PhD; Leor Hackel, PhD; Hok Chio (Mark) Lai, PhD; Shan Luo, PhD (Medicine); Santiago Pamplona, PhD; Raina Pang, PhD (Preventive Medicine); Jonathan Stange, PhD

Professor of the Practice of Psychology: Ellen Leggett, EdD

Professors (Research): Margaret Gatz, PhD; Jonathan Gratch, PhD (Computer Science)

Associate Professors of the Practice of Psychology: Shannon Couture O’Flinn, PhD; Meredith Lepley, PhD; Jonathan Tarbox, PhD; Steven Westberg, PhD

Associate Professor (Research): Karen Hennigan, PhD

Assistant Professors of the Practice of Psychology: Samantha Broitman, PhD; Lauren Shapiro, PhD

Assistant Professors (Teaching): C. Miranda Barone, PhD; Jorge Barraza, PhD; Clayton Stephenson, PhD

Assistant Professors (Research): Assal Habibi PhD; Jonas Kaplan, PhD; Matthew Kirkpatrick, PhD (Preventive Medicine); Gale M. Lucas, PhD (Computer Science)

Lecturers: William Breland, PhD; Vitaliya Droutman, PhD; Sule Guney, PhD; Canan Ipek, PhD; Patricia George, PhD; Leslie Berntsen, PhD; Shirin Birjandi, PhD

Emeritus: Elaine Anderson, PhD; Michael A. Arbib, PhD (Computer Science); Kathleen Chambers, PhD; Norman Cliff, PhD; Michael Dawson, PhD; William W. Grings, PhD; Jerald Jellison, PhD; Albert R. Marston, PhD; John J. McArdle, PhD; Norman Miller, PhD; Robert Rueda, PhD (Education)

*Recipient of university-wide or college teaching award.

Undergraduate Programs

Minor in Critical Approaches to Leadership

See the Department of Interdisciplinary Studies .

Honors Program

The department offers an honors program for outstanding students in the BA, Psychology major who desire advanced research training in preparation for graduate work in the social sciences or in professional schools. The primary focus of the honors program is the completion of a research study under the guidance of a faculty adviser. Students are admitted to the program in the fall semester of their junior year and enter the program in the spring of their junior year by enrolling in PSYC 380 . To be eligible for admission, a student must have an overall GPA of at least 3.5 at the time of application to the program. This program is not available to students majoring in Social Sciences with an emphasis in Psychology. Students in the honors program complete all major requirements, including PSYC 380 Junior Honors Seminar  during the spring semester of their junior year and PSYC 480 Senior Honors Seminar  during the spring semester of their senior year. Students complete an honors thesis proposal as part of the Junior Honors Seminar and must submit a completed senior honors thesis by April 1 of the senior year. Students are also expected to have an overall GPA of at least 3.5 at the time of graduation. For further information, contact the undergraduate adviser or the director of the program, Dr. JoAnn M. Farver.

Psi Chi

Psi Chi is the national honor society in psychology. Membership is open to graduate and undergraduates who meet the minimum qualifications. Psi Chi is a member of the Association of the College Honor Societies and is an affiliate of the American Psychological Association and the American Psychological Society.

Graduate Degrees

The Department of Psychology offers an MS in Applied Psychology, an MS in Applied Behavior Analysis, an MS in Computational Psychology, an MA in Psychology and five programs of study that lead to the PhD degree: (1) clinical science, including specializations in adult clinical, clinical-aging and child and family; (2) developmental psychology, including child and adolescent development and adult development and aging; (3) brain and cognitive science, including cognitive neuroscience, behavioral neuroscience, clinical neuroscience and behavioral genetics; (4) quantitative methods; and (5) social psychology. All five specialty PhD areas provide training for careers in research, teaching and applied work. 

Admission Requirements

Psychology courses required for admission to the PhD program include the following courses: Introduction to Psychology, Statistics, Research Methods or Experimental Psychology; and at least one course from each of the following lists: (1) comparative psychology, physiological psychology, sensation and perception, learning and memory, motivation, and emotion; and (2) developmental psychology, social psychology, abnormal psychology, personality and history of psychology. Additional courses are desirable, as is work in the biological, physical and social sciences, in mathematics and in philosophy. Students with less background in psychology but outstanding undergraduate records in related fields are also encouraged to apply.

Students are selected on the basis of their undergraduate records, scores on the Graduate Record Examinations General Test, course background, letters of evaluation, personal statement of interests and goals and evidence of research skills or interests (e.g., publications or participation in research projects).

The faculty of each specialty area select the students to be admitted to that area. Therefore, applicants should designate the specialty area to which they seek admission.

Application for admission in psychology is completed online and all materials must be submitted by December 1 for admission to the following fall semester.

Degree Requirements

These degrees are under the jurisdiction of the Graduate School. Refer to the Requirements for Graduation  section and The Graduate School  section of this catalogue for general regulations. All courses applied toward the degrees must be courses accepted by the Graduate School.

Programs

Bachelor’s Degree

• •  Cognitive Science (BA)
• •  Psychology (BA)
• •  Social Sciences, with an Emphasis in Psychology (BA)

Minor

• •  Consumer Behavior Interdisciplinary Minor
• •  Psychology and Law Minor
• •  Psychology Minor

Master’s Degree

• •  Applied Behavior Analysis (MS)
• •  Applied Psychology (MS)
• •  Computational Psychology (MS)
• •  Psychology (MA)

Dual Degree

• •  Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology (Clinical) and Master of Public Health (Health Promotion) (PhD/MPH)

Doctoral Degree

• •  Psychology (PhD)

Courses

Psychology

• •  PSYC 551 Decision Neuroscience
• •  PSYC 552 Principles of Consumer Psychology
• •  PSYC 555 Introduction to Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging
• •  PSYC 556 Psychology of Interactive Media
• •  PSYC 565x Organizational Psychology
• •  PSYC 566 The Psychology of Employee Selection and Assessment
• •  PSYC 571 Foundations of Statistical and Data Analytic Methods in Psychology
• •  PSYC 573 Bayesian Data Analysis
• •  PSYC 575L Multilevel Modeling
• •  PSYC 576 Psycholinguistics
• •  PSYC 577 Analysis of Covariance Structures
• •  PSYC 578 Workshop in Quantitative Methods
• •  PSYC 586 Advanced Psycholinguistics
• •  PSYC 587 Practicum in Applied Behavior Analysis
• •  PSYC 590 Directed Research
• •  PSYC 591 Applied Psychology Internship
• •  PSYC 592 Applied Psychology Treatise
• •  PSYC 594a Master’s Thesis
• •  PSYC 594b Master’s Thesis
• •  PSYC 594z Master’s Thesis
• •  PSYC 595 Practicum in Clinical Psychology
• •  PSYC 596 Advanced Behavioral Theory
• •  PSYC 597 Internship for Curricular Practical Training
• •  PSYC 597a Capstone Project in Behavior Analysis
• •  PSYC 597b Capstone Project in Behavior Analysis
• •  PSYC 599 Special Topics
• •  PSYC 602 Self-concept and Motivation
• •  PSYC 612 Seminar in Advanced Social Psychology
• •  PSYC 616 Research Techniques for Non-Experimental Social Science
• •  PSYC 619 Psychological Intervention
• •  PSYC 621 Seminar in Quantitative Psychology
• •  PSYC 622 Decision Analysis and Behavioral Decision Theory
• •  PSYC 625 Applied Machine Learning
• •  PSYC 626 Computational Social Sciences
• •  PSYC 660 Seminar in Clinical Psychology
• •  PSYC 676 Seminar in Psycholinguistics
• •  PSYC 691a Internship in Clinical Psychology
• •  PSYC 691b Internship in Clinical Psychology
• •  PSYC 695 Advanced Practicum in Clinical Psychology
• •  PSYC 790 Research
• •  PSYC 794a Doctoral Dissertation
• •  PSYC 794b Doctoral Dissertation
• •  PSYC 794c Doctoral Dissertation
• •  PSYC 794d Doctoral Dissertation
• •  PSYC 794z Doctoral Dissertation