PSY&CD Department Phone/Email 

Phone: (805) 756-2033
Email: psycd@calpoly.edu

Click here to submit an item for Tuesday Newsday

STAY CONNECTED. STAY INFORMED. STAY ENGAGED.

1. Read Tuesday Newsday every week!
2. Follow the PSYCD Department on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn
3. Get involved in the Poly Child Development Club, the Psychology Club, Psi Chi (the National Honors Society for Psychology), and or the Cognitive Neuroscience club (see below). 

 

 JUMP TO...

• Department News
• Course Offering Updates and Registration Information
• Campus Events and Resources
• Off-Campus Opportunities 
• Office Hours and Advising Opportunities

Semester Curriculum Info Sessions for PSY & CD Majors!

 

10/16, 11am-noon: for PSY juniors, PSY seniors & PSY transfer students on Zoom (calpoly.zoom.us/my/clangner)

10/30, 11am-noon: all CD majors, at 10-220

10/30, 1-2pm: PSY freshmen and PSY sophomores [location TBD]

*If you cannot make the session designated for your major/year, you may still find one of the other sessions helpful. We will hold more info sessions in Winter.

Recruiting Student Volunteers for PSY 323: Helping Relationship

Support your fellow PSY/CD students and volunteer to be a "Helpee" for PSY 323 in Spring 2026! This is a meaningful opportunity to participate in the peer-to-peer experience.

For more information, watch this YouTube HERE

Google Sign-Up Link HERE

Research Track

Are you a junior PSY/CD major thinking about pursuing a Ph.D. after graduation? Consider applying to the department's Research Emphasis Track! The Research Emphasis Track aims to provide PSY/CD students who have a strong interest in pursuing a Ph.D. with an opportunity to participate in advanced independent research training. The track begins in junior year with a two-quarter research internship under the supervision of a faculty member and continues into senior year, culminating with a two-quarter independent empirical senior project. Applicants must be junior PSY or CD majors with a minimum overall GPA of 3.0 and major GPA of 3.5.  

For more information on timeline and expectations, please see the attached information sheet, and check out this helpful video: https://youtu.be/OHiNXAUEICs 

Application Deadline: Friday, October 10, 2025

Apply HERE

Questions? Email Dr. Laura Cacciamani at Lcacciam@calpoly.edu

Below is a list of the faculty members who are potentially accepting new Research Track students this year. We encourage you to read about their research on their faculty webpage in order to find the best fit with your interests and reach out to them to discuss their research further prior to applying (please do not apply to faculty members not on this list). This list will continue to be updated, so check back next week for any changes! 

Dr. Jessica Kaczorowski

Dr. Linda Lee

Dr. Jay Bettergarcia

Dr. Ivan Hernandez

Dr. Corrina Klein

Dr. Julia Vaisarova

Dr. Tessa Bai

Dr. Lucy Bencharit

Dr. Daniel Rodriguez

Dr. Jennifer Beatty-Wright

Dr. Laura Cacciamani 

 

****CALLING ALL SENIORS*****

If you are now a senior based on completed coursework, make sure that your intended graduation date is updated with the Cal Poly “changing your graduation term” form at the registrar website.

Tentative Course Offerings (TCO)

The PSY&CD Tentative Course Offerings page has been updated for Academic Year 25-26. Plan ahead for our last year on quarters: https://psycd.calpoly.edu/undergraduate/tentative-course-offerings

College-wide you can check out Summer courses here: https://cla.calpoly.edu/summer-cla-tentative-course-offerings

 

UNDERSTANDING PSY&CD INTERNSHIPS

There are TWO types of internships that are usually completed in junior or senior year...

Fieldwork: Students gain experience working within local social service and governmental agencies, schools, businesses, and other organizations.

Research: Qualified students interested in research experience may find opportunities to work within faculty research labs. These positions are limited. 

See our internships page for more detail.

FIELDWORK INTERNSHIP PROCESS

 

INTERESTED IN A RESEARCH INTERNSHIP?

There are additional options beyond the 'research track' (applications due at beginning of Junior year). When faculty members are looking for research interns, we will post that info in the Tuesday Newsday. Another way to seek out research experience is to talk to your professors in office hours about your interest in research and whether they know of any projects or will keep you in mind for future projects. A few of our students have secured research internships with faculty in other departments at Cal Poly and in some cases it is possible to substitute internship units for the PSYCD internship requirements.

 

   

Honoring Latinx Heritage Month 

From September 15 to October 15, we honor Latinx Heritage Month, a time to recognize the rich histories, diverse cultures and far-reaching contributions of Latinx communities on our campus and across the nation. Throughout the month, departments across campus will host events, celebrations and conversations that affirm Latinx identities and experiences.  

¡Adelante! HSI Symposium featuring Las Cafeteras 
Monday, October 6 from 8:30 am to 4:00 pm in Chumash Auditorium, with a closing community resource fair and concert in UU Plaza from 4:00 to 5:00 pm. Click here to RSVP! 

October is Graduate School and Fellowship Month!

Next month, the Office of Student Research is offering many events, along with great partners. Visit the Career Services’ website for October’s full schedule HERE 

Fall Welcome From Strategic Enrollment Management and Student Affairs

Areas of support span from enrollment to graduation, encompassing multiple functions that support students, from financial aid to basic needs. Our departments and services work in partnership with Academic Affairs to advance and promote student success outside of the classroom environment. Learn more about Strategic Enrollment Management and Student Affairs by visiting our websites. 

• New Campus Locations – Several Student Diversity and Belonging programs including the Black Academic Excellence Center, the Dream Center, and La CASA have moved to Building 15.  
• Downloadable vCards - Students can download vCards to their phones and have after-hours contact information for Campus Health and Wellbeing, Career Services, Office of the Dean of Students and University Housing, among other important resources. 

New Mustang Makerspace

Welcome back, Cal Poly students! As we start the new 2025-2026 year, the Cal Poly Machine Shops, under the College of Engineering, would like to invite you to our new Mustang Makerspace! Located in Bonderson (Building 197) next to Mustang ‘60, the Makerspace is the new space for all things digital fabrication. This space is a completely free resource for class projects, senior projects, or personal projects! It is open to ALL students, regardless of major or engineering experience. See the flyer for more information.  

CLA Group Career Counseling

                                  

The Puente Program

Puente translates from Spanish to bridge because we like to say that we create the bridge to success. The Puente Program is a state funded program generally found in Northern California high schools and community colleges as a college preparatory program. At Cal Poly we are a club that advances the lineage of puente beyond their high school graduation or associate's degree.

This year is the first year that puente has expanded onto college campuses in order to have former puente students from high schools or community colleges come onto campus and feel an immediate community that they can identify with. Along with being a social club for Puentistas, we also host several campus tours for Puentistas who are thinking about applying to cal poly. Puente is important because it primarily serves low income, first generation students in order to restore equity and help them cross over the bridge. Puente is a family and it is open to anyone who wants to succeed, but especially those who want to see others succeed!

https://now.calpoly.edu/organization/cppuente

cppuente@calpoly.edu

Campus Health Resources 

-Health services

-Pharmacy 

-Mental health services through Health Center

-Mental health services via our department's clinic

-Food pantry

Kennedy Library Resources

On Campus Study Locations

Click here for a list of study locations on campus. This list includes real-time occupancy information for some of the temporary spaces.

 

Call for Undergraduate Research Papers 

Have you completed a research paper in a psychology-related field? Are you looking for a platform to publish your work?

If so, The Undergraduate Research Journal of Psychology at UCLA (URJP) WANTS YOU to submit your papers for our annual publication, expected to be released Spring 2026. 

The deadline to submit papers is Friday, December 5th, 2025 at 11:59 P.M. PST. 

1. Read Submission Criteria 

2. Submit paper to eScholarship Portal 

3. Complete URJP 2025 Article Submission Form 

California Forum for Diversity in Graduate Education at UC Merced

Registration is now open for all undergraduate and master’s level students! This free event aims to increase access to graduate degree programs. Learn about academic pathways and opportunities for graduate education. Bus transportation from Cal Poly and meals are provided. Select "bus" when you register to reserve your seat. See event details below:

Info Session: Thursday, October 2, 2025 @ 10:10-11:00 AM via Zoom

Info Session Zoom Link HERE 

Application Deadline: Monday, October 6, 2025 (limited spaces available)

Application HERE

Questions? Email studentresearch@calpoly.edu

 

TMHA Student Speaker Opportunity

 

Jobs and Grad Program Opportunities

SDSU Psychology Master's Program Virtual Open House

San Diego State University is hosting a virtual Open House for the Department of Psychology’s Master’s Program. See the flyer for more information.  

Biomedical Sciences Master of Science Program

Childcare Jobs

Looking for paid experiences working with children? Be sure to join the Poly Child Development Club Jobs Facebook group! 

The PSY&CD department does not advertise family care opportunities in the Tuesday Newsday; see the "Poly Child Development Club Jobs Page" at https://www.facebook.com/groups/371465039705611/. You will have to request to be added to the group and then, once approved, you will be able to post.

Special Education Teaching Assistant Opportunity

UCSF Assistant Clinical Research Coordinator Position

The HALP (Hyperactivity, Attention, and Learning Problems) program at UCSF is hiring an assistant clinical research coordinator to help coordinate federally funded research studies on school-based behavioral interventions for children with ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder). This position provides a unique opportunity to work in a multidisciplinary, cross-university collaboration with diverse community partners, contribute to innovative research on evidence-based interventions for children with ADHD, and contribute to the development of digital health tools. Current projects examine the use of team-effectiveness research and digital health technology to support school-based intervention implementation. This position may be of particular interest to candidates interested in ADHD, school-based interventions, child mental health, or implementation science and who are looking for ways to prepare for graduate school. The candidate will receive mentorship from the program director (Dr. Linda Pfiffner), program faculty, and post-doctoral fellows. Projects are being conducted in collaboration with Dr. Miguel Villodas (San Diego State University) and multiple school districts in Northern and Southern California.

A two-year commitment is preferred and the position will start as soon as position is filled.

For more information on our lab’s research, see here: https://psych.ucsf.edu/HALP/research

Apply here: https://sjobs.brassring.com/TGnewUI/Search/Home/Home?partnerid=6495&siteid=5861#home

Enter the following job code in the search bar: 82346BR

If you have any questions about the position, please contact Jazzy Benes at jazzy.benes@ucsf.edu.

Full-Time Preschool Teacher Job Posting 

Now Hiring: Full-Time Preschool Teacher

Are you passionate about early childhood education? Do you love working with young children, including those with special needs? If you bring creativity, patience, and enthusiasm to your work, we want YOU to join our team!

Position: Full-Time Lead Preschool Teacher

Location: Little Wings Preschool

Start Date: ASAP

Competitive Pay & Benefits

We are an inclusive school dedicated to providing a nurturing and supportive environment for all children, including those with special needs. As a Preschool Teacher, you will play a vital role in creating an enriching, engaging, and respectful classroom where all children can thrive.

What We’re Looking For:

A compassionate, fun, and patient individual who enjoys working with children of all abilities

Strong understanding of special needs and inclusive practices (experience in this area is a plus)

A teacher who fosters social, emotional, and academic development through play-based learning

Excellent communication skills to collaborate effectively with families, specialists, and your teaching team

A team player who is committed to creating a positive classroom culture

Availability to start ASAP

Qualifications:

At least 12 units in Early Childhood Education or related field and/or a Bachelor's degree in a related field

Experience or training in special education or working with children with disabilities is a plus

Ability to adapt teaching methods to meet the individual needs of children

Strong classroom management skills with a focus on inclusion, respect, and empathy

We Offer:

• Competitive pay
• Supportive, inclusive work environment
• Ongoing professional development opportunities
• Access to resources and specialists for working with children with special needs
• A team-oriented approach with collaborative teaching
• Quarterly Team outings and events 

At Little Wings, we believe in the power of inclusion and strive to create a community where every child feels valued, respected, and supported. If you’re passionate about making a difference and working in a dynamic, inclusive classroom, we’d love to hear from you!

Please email Dani Burg at Littlewingsofatascadero@gmail.com for more information. 

Apply today and become part of our incredible team! We can’t wait to meet you!

Graduate Program - Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences

The Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences program at the University of Connecticut will be offering a Pre-Masters in Speech Language Pathology summer program for the Summer 2025 term. 

Graduate Program - Applied Psychology at NYU

The Psychology and Social Intervention (PSI) doctoral program in the Department of Applied Psychology at New York University (NYU) Steinhardt has ten faculty members who study a wide range of settings (e.g., families, schools, neighborhoods, policy contexts, programs) and interventions pertaining to child and youth development, inclusive education, mental health, intergroup relations, racial socialization, critical consciousness, social movements, suicide prevention, and poverty reduction. Current projects span local, national, and international contexts. We encourage you to visit our website to learn more about our current projects. 

We offer a wide variety of teaching, research, and practical opportunities for students throughout their doctoral training. We provide students with funding for all five years of the program, as well as multiple opportunities for scholarships, awards, and teaching or research assistantships.

We encourage students who are interested in careers in academia, policy, nonprofits, industry, and beyond. We are actively working to recruit students with a variety of lived experiences.

CAL Fresh: You may be eligible!

We are an on-campus organization known as CalFresh Outreach. We aim to raise awareness of student eligibility for CalFresh benefits, which can provide students with up to $291/month for groceries if they qualify. 

Because of expanded eligibility through “Local Programs that Increase Employability (LPIEs),” an estimated ~15,000 students at Cal Poly are now eligible, even based only on their major. Approved programs include:

• most undergraduate majors in CLA
• every undergraduate major in CENG
• every undergraduate major in CAFES
• every undergraduate major in COSAM
• every undergraduate major in CAED
• most undergraduate majors in OCOB
• many grad programs

Enrollment in one of these majors alone could make a student likely eligible for CalFresh benefits (they must also meet basic eligibility criteria). This short survey is a great resource to explore eligibility & share with students: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CALFRESHQUIZ.