PSYC 101 - INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY
This course will survey basic principles of psychology. Topics discussed include basic history of psychology, research methods-descriptive methods, case studies, observational research and correlations, neuroscience and behavior, nature, nurture, human diversity, development through the lifespan, thinking and language, intelligence, psychological disorders, and therapy.
Hours credit: 3.
PSYC 102 - INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY
This course will survey basic principles of psychology. Topics discussed include research methods-experimental methods, sensation and perception, states of consciousness, learning, memory, motivation, emotions, stress and health, personality, and social psychology.
Hours credit: 3.
PSYC 205 - SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY
An introduction to the scientific study of social behavior. Traditional areas such as attitudes, aggressive and prosocial behavior, interpersonal attraction, person perception, and group dynamics are covered, as well as the application of social psychological research to contemporary social problems.
Hours credit: 3. Prerequisite: Psychology 101 and 102.
PSYC 208 - DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY
An overview of growth, maturation, and change in the human from conception to adolescence. The topics discussed include prenatal effects on the development of behavior, development of cognitive abilities in early childhood, and the effects of social interactions on development of personality and cognition.
Hours credit: 3. Prerequisite: Psychology 101 and 102 or permission of the instructor.
PSYC 212 - PSYCHOLOGY OF GENDER
Consideration of how gender is related to the way people think, feel, and act in the world, and how gender-related differences develop. Course will focus on theories, questions, methods, and findings of psychological research on gender and gender development. The role of gender will be studied in relation to gender roles, identity, child and adolescent development, sexuality, health (physical and mental), close relationships, family life, work (paid and unpaid), violence, and harassment.
Hours credit: 3. Prerequisite: PSYC 101 and 102 or G ST 201. Offered alternate years.
PSYC 213 - ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY
A survey of the etiology, diagnosis, and treatment of the various forms of psychopathology, e.g., a comparison of the physiological and environmental explanations of depression and the implication of each of these explanations for treatment.
Hours credit: 3. Prerequisite: Psychology 101 and 102.
PSYC 220 - ENVIRONMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY
This course explores the interaction of humans with the designed physical environment. Topics include personal space, territoriality, and crowding, as well as the effects of noise and temperature on humans. Emphasis is placed on theories of environment-behavior relationships and applications of environmental psychology in architecture and urban planning, with particular focus on contributions of psychology to design of sustainable buildings and communities.
Hours credit: 3. Prerequisite: PSYC 101 and 102 or permission of the instructor. Offered alternative years.
PSYC 227 - RESEARCH METH IN PSYC I
An introduction to the research process as it is practiced in Psychology. Most of this course is focused on the application of statistical principles in that process. Statistical topics include sampling, descriptive statistics, statistical inference, and introduction to both nonparametric and parametric statistical tests. Students will also gain experience reading articles from the research literature and begin the library work for a project that will be completed in Research Methods II. Hours credit: 3. Prerequisites: Psychology 101 or 102 or permission of the instructor. A student may not receive credit for both Psychology 227R and Mathematics 227.
PSYC 228 - RESEARCH METH IN PSYCHOLOGY II
Discussion of techniques used in psychological research. Topics include basic research designs, ethical concerns, the use of descriptive and inferential statistics within psychological research, drawing conclusions from results, and writing and reporting findings. Throughout the semester, students will develop an original research hypothesis and will write a research proposal in an APA-style paper.
Hours credit: 3. Prerequisite: Psychology 101 and 102 and 227.
PSYC 240 - CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT: A GLOBAL VIEW
An examination of the issues of child abuse and neglect, focusing on an international comparison of this social problem. Readings will provide a world-wide comparative perspective addressing the following: the history, legal definitions, and prevalence of abuse; children's role in the legal system; resources available for investigating allegations of abuse and neglect, and penalties for abusing a child.
Hours Credit: 3. Prerequisites: PSYC 101 and 102. Offered alternate years.
PSYC 304 - CHILD & ADOL PSYCHOPATHOLOGY
The focus of this course will be on examining theories, characteristics, etiology and treatments of the major categories of behavioral and emotional disorders affecting children and adolescents. Topics include autism, separation anxiety, school refusal, aggression, substance abuse, mental retardation and other developmental disorders. Emphasis will be on understanding the impact of these disorders in relation to family life, educational functioning, and community functioning.
Hours credit: 3. Prerequisite: Psychology 208 or 213 or 228R. Offered alternate years.
PSYC 305 - RESEARCH PROBLEMS IN PSYCHOLOGY
Each student investigates a special problem under the direction of the instructor. The research is supplemented by readings and conferences.
Hours credit: 1, 2, or 3. Open only to psychology majors in consultation with faculty. Individual conferences to be arranged. Prerequisite: Psychology 228R. May be repeated for credit up to a maximum of 9 semester hours. Sections might be offered on a Pass/Fail basis at the discretion of the instructor.
PSYC 311 - EXPERIMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY:COGNITION
An examination of the empirical research that studies the processes that underlie the workings of the human mind. This course examines the acquisition and use of knowledge through a wide range of psychological processes including sensation and perception, attention, memory, problem solving, reasoning, decision making, and language. Students will also gain an understanding of how the study of these processes is applicable to real-life situations (e.g., eyewitness accuracy, air-traffic controller performance, performance while working under stress) through a focus on applied cognitive research.
Hours credit: 3. Prerequisite: Psychology 228 or permission of the instructor. Offered alternate years.
PSYC 311L - EXPERIMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY:COGNITION LAB
Students participate in research experiments demonstrating classic studies in cognition. Emphasis is placed on understanding the research methodology and on learning to write research reports based on experimental results in the style of the American Psychological Association. Hours credit: 1. Corequisite: Psychology 311. Offered alternate years.
PSYC 313 - EXPERIMENTAL PSYC:PHYSIOLOGICAL PROCESS
A discussion of the physiological basis of behavior. The first part of the course consists of an introduction to functions of the nervous system; the latter part of the course explores the application of those concepts to explanations of behavior. If the student wishes to include laboratory work, Psychology 313L should be taken concurrently.
Hours credit: 3. Prerequisite: Psychology 228R or permission of the instructor. Offered alternate years.
PSYC 313L - EXP PSYC:PHYSIOLOGICAL PROCESSES LAB
Laboratory experiments and exercises to supplement the concepts and methods learned in Psychology 313.
Hours credit: 1. Offered alternate years.
PSYC 314 - EXP PSYC:ADV SOC PSY
Exploration of research topics in social psychology through readings from primary sources, e.g., journal articles and chapters from edited volumes.
Hours credit: 3. Prerequisite: Psychology 205 and 228 or permission of the instructor. Offered alternate years.
PSYC 314L - EXP PSYC:ADV SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGICAL LAB
Experiments and exercises in laboratory and field research methods in social psychology. Students collect, analyze, and interpret data on human social behavior, and write research reports in the style of the American Psychological Association.
Hours credit: 1. Corequisite: Psychology 314. Offered alternate years.
PSYC 316 - TESTING & MEASUREMENTS
This course explores the theory and practice of psychological assessment. Major topics include test construction and validation, with attention to statistical techniques; appropriate test use, including legal and ethical issues; and major tests for measuring mental abilities, achievement, personality, and psychopathology. Throughout the semester, students will develop and validate an original measurement tool and will report on their research in an APA-style paper.
Hours credit: 3. Prerequisite: Psychology 228R. Offered alternate years.
PSYC 330 - HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY
A study of psychological influences on health, illness, coping, stress, pain, and health-related behaviors. Discussion of how health is related to attitudes, emotions, personality, and social support. A focus on health-enhancing and health-compromising behaviors will allow students to develop and implement a personal health behavior modification program.
Hours credit: 3. Prerequisite: PSYC 228R or permission of instructor. Offered alternate years.
PSYC 330L - HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY LAB
Students conduct experiments and exercises in laboratory and field research methods in health psychology. They collect, analyze, and interpret data related to psychological influences on health and health-related behaviors. Emphasis is on understanding the research methodology, conducting and interpreting statistical analyses, and writing research reports in the style of the American Psychological Association.
Hours credit: 1. Corerequisite: PSYC 330. Alternate years.
PSYC 341 - EVOLUTIONARY PSYCHOLOGY
An examination of how the processes of evolution have influenced the development of human thinking and behaviors. Exploration may include the study of reproductive behaviors, parental behaviors, aggression, altruism, emotional expression, language, and others. The course will be conducted primarily as a seminar and include readings from popular press texts, theoretical scholarly articles, and original reports of research results.
Hours Credit: 3. Prerequisite: PSYC 228 or permission of instructor.
PSYC 351 - HISTORY OF PSYCHOLOGY
This course addresses the roots of modern psychological thought and methodology, from their origins in philosophy and the natural sciences through the refinements of psychology in its current form. In addition to learning about the major schools of psychology, e.g., Behaviorism, Psychoanalysis, students will explore how cultural forces shape psychological theories and the experiences of the people who develop them.
Hours credit: 3. Prerequisite: fifteen hours in psychology or permission of the instructor.
PSYC 486 - AUTISM
This course is designed to provide students with a thorough knowledge of autism spectrum disorders and evidence-based techniques for working with affected children. The pervasiveness of autism in society underscores the distinct need for psychologists, clinicians and educators to understand how to successfully interact with children who have autism. This course will cover the latest research on brain development, plasticity, symptomology, diagnostic criteria, and interventional models for helping individuals with autism.
Hours Credit: 3. One time only.
Prerequisites: PSYC 228 or PSYC 208 or EDUC 361 or EDUC 661 or permission of instructor
PSYC 493 - SENIOR SEMINAR
The seminar is focused on supporting development and execution of a senior research project. Supporting assignments include discussion of issues in contemporary psychology, research ethics, methodology, and style of presentation for psychological research. During the first semester each student, in consultation with faculty, develops a proposal for a research project in a chosen area of psychology. These projects are carried out during the second semester and are presented both in an American Psychological Association style research paper and orally to the seminar. Students present the results of their research at a regional conference.
Hours credit: 3. Prerequisite: Psychology 228R and six additional hours in psychology.
PSYC 494 - SENIOR SEMINAR
The seminar is focused on supporting development and execution of a senior research project. Supporting assignments include discussion of issues in contemporary psychology, research ethics, methodology, and style of presentation for psychological research. During the first semester each student, in consultation with faculty, develops a proposal for a research project in a chosen area of psychology. These projects are carried out during the second semester and are presented both in an American Psychological Association style research paper and orally to the seminar. Students present the results of their research at a regional conference.
Hours credit: 3. Prerequisite: Psychology 228R and six additional hours in psychology.
PSYC 497H - DEPARTMENTAL HONORS
PSYC 498H - DEPARTMENTAL HONORS
