This online guide summarizes everything psychology students need to know about advising and registration (but may have been afraid to ask)! Don’t see your question below? Contact your advisor!

It is each student’s responsibility to read this guide in full and follow the instructions for advising and registration.

How do I register?

Below is a step-by-step guide for registration. Please read it carefully! The best way to make sure you get the classes you want/need is to carefully follow these instructions.

1. Make sure you understand how the registration process works.
   Basic information on the registration process is available from the Records and Registration office.
2. Retrieve your Progress Report.
   Progress reports are available by logging into my.newpaltz.edu. Please download or print a PDF of your progress report to share with your advisor. To do so, click the “Print” icon on the top right of your progress report, then click “Open PDF.” You will be given the option to save the progress report as a PDF or print it. If all else fails, copy and paste your progress report into an email to your advisor. Please don’t send screen shots, photos, or zipped files of multiple images.
3. Confirm that you are a declared psychology major or minor.
   Many psychology classes are restricted to declared majors and minors. See course descriptions for which courses are or aren’t restricted. Information on declaring a major or minor in psychology is available on the department website.
4. Check remaining degree requirements.
   This information is available in your progress report. Pay special attention to college-wide degree requirements–including total credits needed to graduate (120), as well as General Education (GE), Diversity (DIVR), liberal arts, upper division, and major/minor requirements. By the way, on your progress report, requirements have a green check next to them if completed, a blue half-moon next to them if in progress, and an empty red circle next to them if neither completed or in progress.
5. Look at the Schedule of Classes.
   The Schedule of Classes is available online.
6. Use My Schedule Planner to make a draft schedule.
   Make a draft schedule based on what courses you need and what is being offered using My Schedule Planner, which can be found in my.newpaltz.edu. Make sure to have back up courses selected in case one or more of your first-choice classes are full by the time you register. Here is a video on how to use My Schedule Planner:
   
7. Identify what time you are scheduled to register.
   This is available in my.newpaltz.edu.
8. Consult with your academic advisor.
   Contact your academic advisor. When you communicate with your advisor, be sure to share (a) your draft schedule and (b) the PDF of your progress report. If sending this information by email, ideally you should encrypt the email by clicking the encrypt icon in your email browser before sending it. Your advisor will review your course selections, communicate with you about them by email, phone, video conference, or in person (check with them for their preferences), and then clear you for registration upon approving your schedule. Once you have been cleared for registration, you will be able to register at or after your time assignment.
9. Check for holds on your account.
   Look in your my.newpaltz.edu account to find out if any holds have been placed on your account. Resolve any holds by contacting the office(s) that placed them.
10. Register at your designated time.
    At your designated time assignment, go onto my.newpaltz.edu and register for classes using My Schedule Planner. Please be aware that psychology classes fill up quickly, so you should take care of advising in advance so you can register without a problem at your assigned registration time. Do not email your advisor or the department chair and ask to be cleared without having received advising from one of them.

What if I don’t know who my academic advisor is?

Your academic advisor is listed on your Progress Report.

How do I get in touch with my academic advisor?

If you want to know how to get in touch with your advisor, check the department directory and click your advisor’s name for email, phone, and office hour information.

If no psychology major advisor is listed on your progress report, please contact the undergraduate advising assistants by email. Note that psychology minors are not assigned psychology advisors, so they should consult with their non-psychology academic advisors; if further guidance is needed, psychology minors may contact the chair or assistant chair for further assistance.

When should I contact my advisor?

Don’t procrastinate! Contact your advisor as soon as possible, ideally well before your advance registration time.

One of the biggest mistakes you can make when it comes to registration is waiting until right before (or even worse, after!) your registration time to contact your advisor. Don’t risk having the classes you want fill up by not leaving sufficient time to (1) email your advisor, (2) plan a coherent schedule, and (3) get cleared to register.

What are the important dates for registration?

• April 10 – Matriculated Graduate student registration begins
• April 17 – Matriculated Undergraduate student registration begins
• April 24 – Non-Matriculated Graduate student registration begins (REGISTRATION FOR GRADUATE COURSES ONLY)
• August 21 – Non-matriculated, Cross-Registered, and Visiting Undergraduate registration begin
• Schedule of Classes

When does Summer Session registration begin?

• April 10.

Do I need to be cleared by my advisor to register for summer classes?

No, but it is still probably a good idea to consult with your advisor about what classes you plan to take. You can do this when you communicate with your advisor about fall registration.

Research methods lectures and labs now have separate course numbers. What’s the deal?

PSY301 Psychology Research Methods was previously a single 4-credit class that included both lecture and lab meetings. As of Fall 2023, we are dividing the course into a 3-credit lecture class (PSY301) and a 1-credit lab (PSY311). Students must register for both of them in the same semester but are free to choose whatever lecture and lab sections best fit their schedules.

If you are registering for research methods in the fall, you must concurrently register for BOTH PSY301 Psychology Research Methods (3 credits) and PSY311 Research Methods Lab (1 credit).

Ask your advisor if you have questions.

What are the PSY498 Seminar in Psychology topics?

The capstone requirement for psychology majors is PSY498 Seminar in Psychology. The topic of each seminar is different. The following descriptions can help you decide which one you would like to take.

Summer 2023

Section 01
Title: Positive Evolutionary Psychology (3 credits)
Instructor:  Dr. Glenn Geher

Focuses on the emerging field of positive evolutionary psychology. Readings and advanced discussion about cutting-edge topics in this field, which generally integrates ideas from both positive and evolutionary psychology. Includes writing an APA-style research proposal, in stages and with feedback, connected to positive evolutionary psychology.

Fall 2023

Section 01
Title: The Storm and Stress of Adolescence: Resilience, Risk, and Crisis (3 credits)
Instructor:  Dr. Jennifer Stellavato

Explores adolescence, the journey through it, and the ways in which we can persevere and struggle while growing up. Uses stories, case studies, research, and theories to understand the adolescent experience and the nature of crisis in teens today. Topics include but are not limited to identify/self development, depression and anxiety, suicidality, emotions, love and relationships, gender identity, academic achievement/underachievement, and moving on/moving away.

Section 02
Title: Cultural Psychology (3 credits)
Instructor:  Dr. Tabitha Holmes

Considers the ways in which culture influences human development (and how culture is in turn influenced by developing members of a particular culture). Uses ecological theories and theories of cultural and cross-cultural psychology to understand how social, cognitive, emotional, and physical development unfolds within a particular cultural context. Also uses research to explore why it is so difficult for people from different cultural backgrounds to understand (and respect) each other. Given that cultural psychology is a result of the interaction and intersection of scholarly work from a variety of sciences and social sciences, scholarship in psychology, anthropology, sociology, education, and related fields is drawn upon.

Section 03
Title: The Psychology of Morality (3 credits)
Instructor:  Dr. Matthew Wice

Provides an overview of the major theories, concepts, and debates within moral psychology, with an emphasis on thinking critically about these theories as well as their practical implications. Topics covered include moral development, cooperation, punishment, and the role of emotion in moral judgment.

Section 04
Title: TBA (3 credits)
Instructor:  TBA

Section 05
Title: Psychology in Film (3 credits)
Instructor:  Dr. Maurey Levitz

Explores the intersection of film and psychology; provides an exposure to different ways of interpreting film, primarily Freudian and Auteur Theory. Explores concepts from psychology as represented and misrepresented in film, including concepts of the therapist, client, and mental illness; as well as different schools of psychology such as psychoanalytic, behaviorism, humanism, and social learning, and multiple topics from social psychology.

How do I register for PSY392 Internship in Psychology?

Students must be approved to register for the internship class.

Course description: Supervised experience working in an applied setting related to psychology. This course is repeatable up to a maximum of 15 credits in practicum, fieldwork and independent study credits.

Contact Dr. Jonathan Rust for interview/registration information: rustj@newpaltz.edu or (845) 257-2373. Students must provide a resume and successfully complete an interview to gain permission to take the course.

Students who are registered for the disaster studies minor will be given priority registration for the fall PSY333 Disaster Psychology course. Those interested should contact the IDMH Graduate Assistant, Taylor O’Connor, at oconnort7@newpaltz.edu to declare the minor before the Declaration Moratorium takes effect from March 27th-April 28th. Students will not be allowed to declare a major or minor during this time.

How do I register for DIS492 Practicum in Disaster Response?

Students must be approved to register for the practicum in disaster response class.

Course description: Supervised experience working in an applied setting related to psychology. This course is repeatable up to a maximum of 15 credits in practicum, fieldwork and independent study credits. Requirement for Disaster Studies minors, Disaster Studies Minors only, Disaster Psychology must be fulfilled as a prerequisite

Contact Mr. Andrew O’Meara for interview/registration information at omearaa2@newpaltz.edu.

Are there any selected topic classes?

Yes! See below. Selected topic classes count as electives toward the major and minor.

Fall 2023

PSY493 Selected Topic: Advanced Research in Evolutionary Psychology (3 credits)
Instructor: Dr. Glenn Geher

Explores the interface of positive and evolutionary psychology using a hands-on, research-based approach. As a class, we will develop hypotheses related to positive evolutionary psychology and we will develop research projects designed to test these hypotheses. Students in this class will get a full research-team experience and will develop skills related to research methods in the behavioral sciences that can be highly transferable.

What if I want to do an independent study?

Enrolling in an independent study requires the approval of a faculty member who will serve as the instructor/advisor.

It is the student’s responsibility to find a faculty member who will sponsor his/her independent study project. Once a faculty member has agreed to serve as advisor, the faculty member will give the student the appropriate paperwork to complete. Once completed, the student submits the paperwork to the faculty member, who forwards it to the department chair for approval. Independent study credits count as advanced elective credits for psychology majors and minors.

Independent studies can be done at the 200-level (PSY295) or 400-level (PSY495), depending on the precise project undertaken.

Faculty member’s scholarly interests can be found on the department’s faculty profiles page.

What about the Research Experience requirement for majors?

On your progress report, the Research Experience requirement is listed under major requirements for psychology majors. This requirement is not a class, but rather 6 hours of approved experiences with research that all majors must complete. Students must establish a SONA account to complete the Research Experience. Details on both SONA and the Research Experience are available here. Students are advised to complete it prior to their last semester at New Paltz whenever possible. Ask your advisor or the psychology undergraduate advising assistants if you have questions about the Research Experience.

I declared my major/minor before Fall 2021. What does that mean for me?

If you declared your psychology major or minor prior to Fall 2021, you are under the old major/minor requirements. On your progress report, many courses will be listed under their old names and numbers. While the course names and/or numbers for most courses are different, the new curriculum does not interfere with your ability to complete whatever version of the old psychology major, minor, or concentration in which you are enrolled. New versions of courses count as equivalent to old versions, and vice versa. See the New-to-Old Psychology Courses crosswalk document to determine new/old course equivalencies.

For everything you need to know about the new versus old curriculum, see the Frequently Asked Questions page, which includes the new major and minor plans. Majors/minors under the old plan may elect to opt into the new requirements by redeclaring.

I am not yet a declared major or minor. What classes can I take?

Non-majors and non-minors are eligible to register for PSY101, 221, 231, 241, 351, and 361 (the two 300-level classes require being at least a sophomore). These classes all count toward the major and minor. Non-majors and non-minors are also eligible to take PSY130, which does not count toward the major or minor (unless you are in the old curriculum, declared pre-Fall 2021) but does count for the Diversity (DIVR) graduation requirement.