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Course Descriptions
Required Courses for Psychology Major:
Psychology 111: Introductory Psychology
Prerequisite to all upper-division psychology courses. Survey of the major content area of psychology, introducing the basic vocabulary, concepts, principles, and theories of the discipline. Specific topics include history and methods of psychology; biological bases of behavior; sensation and perception; learning and memory; cognition, language, and intelligence; motivation and emotion; lifespan development; personality; psychological disorders; psychological treatment/psychotherapy; and social psychology.
Psychology 221: Applied Behavioral Statistics
Understanding and analyzing data in psychology research; descriptive statistics, inferential statistics, appropriate use of statistics, use of computer to do necessary computations and data analysis. Prerequisite: 111.
Psychology 235: Research Methods
Basic design and interpretation of empirical approaches to psychology. Emphasis on theory and practice of psychological experimentation and writing scientific reports. Prerequisite: 221.
Group 1 (12 Credits for a Major)
Note: Not all courses are taught every semester
Psychology 320: Principles of Learning Behavior
An exploration of the basic principles of conditioning and learning. The course covers the phenomena of Pavlovian and Operant conditioning as well as their place in the larger theoretical framework of psychology. The course also covers application of these principles to understanding social and individual behavior. Prerequisite: 235.
Psychology 330: Perception
An exploration of the ways in which we construct a world of things and events from the flow of stimulus energy. Covers such topics as color vision, form perception, perception of space and movement, perceptual constancies, music and speech perception. Prerequisite: 111.
Psychology 331: Cognitive Processes
The study of the higher mental processes. Special emphasis is given to memory, attention, imagery, pattern recognition and language. Some consideration will also be given to the theory of artificial intelligence. Prerequisite: 111.
Psychology 340: Physiological Psychology
A survey of psychological topics from the biological perspective. Topics may include behavior genetics, neuroanatomy, sensation and perception, learning and memory, drives, emotion, language, and abnormal behavior. Physiological psychology typically includes a hands-on laboratory component involving either empirical research with rats or sheep brain anatomy. Prerequisite: 235. Offered every semester.
Psychology 350: Social Psychology
The study of psychological processes of individuals interacting in social settings. Varied topics considered with special emphasis upon research findings as illustrations of theories considered. Prerequisite: 111.
Group 2 - Capstone Courses (4 Credits for a Major)
Psychology 392: History of Psychology
An historical analysis of psychology from the field's beginnings in philosophy and the natural sciences through the 1950s. Students will give presentations and engage in other activities (e.g., class discussion) based on their own research on the history of psychology. Prerequisites: Senior standing and 20 credits in psychology.
Psychology 393: Psychology Seminar
Detailed consideration of special topic; library research and possible laboratory work included; participants will prepare and present a major paper to seminar participants. Prerequisites: Senior standing and 20 credits in psychology.
Psychology 396: Senior Research Project
Limited study examining a student's own researchable hypothesis in consultation with one or more department members. Prerequisites: Senior standing and 20 credits in psychology. Fall only.
Psychology 398: Honors Senior Essay, research or Creative Project
Required for graduation with "All-College Honors" and "Departmental Distinction in Psychology." Prerequisite: HONR 396 and approval of the department chair and director of the honors program. For further information see HONR 398.
Psychology 399: Psychology Teaching Practicum
Meet twice per cycle for a teaching seminar plus direct experience developing and teaching introductory psychology laboratories. Based on a broad review of psychology, the practicum emphasizes acquisition of skills in teaching, facilitating discussion, developing organizational skills and interacting with students in a leadership role. Prerequisites: 20 credits in psychology, upper-division standing and permission of instructor.
Electives (16 Credits for a Major)
Note: Not all courses are taught every semester
Psychology 280: Theories of Personality
Survey of the major theoretical orientations in personality psychology, including psychoanalytic, trait, cognitive, humanistic/existential, and social-behavioristic perspectives; includes the investigation of their basic concepts and principles, views of personality development, assessment techniques, treatment applications, and the extent to which they meet standard criteria for judging the scientific adequacy of theories. Prerequisite: 111.
Psychology 304: Industrial/Organizational
Study of human behavior in organizations, using psychology and other social science disciplines to pursue two major questions: 1) Why do people behave the way they do within organizations? and 2) How can we use this information to improve the effectiveness of the organization and lives of its members? Topics include: organizational culture, motivation, leadership, communication, decision making, worker stress and health. Prerequisite: 111. Note: This course may also be fulfilled in the management department as MGMT 301.
Psychology 308: Psychology of Gender
This course will cover the broadest areas of academic and applied psychology viewed through the lens of gender. All topics will be explored with gender as the salient variable of analysis. The course will begin with the development of psychology as a science with inherent scientific gender biases. Major psychological principles and theories will be analyzed by gender in the areas of human development, physiological processes, social relationships, applied psychology in the workplace, mental health and illness issues and psychotherapy. Prerequisite: 111.
Psychology 309: Selected Topics in Psychology
Topics in psychology of particular relevance to the interests and needs of psychology majors and/or students in psychology. The topics for the course will be announced each semester. Prerequisite: announced with course listing.
Psychology 310: Community Psychology
The major emphasis of the course will be on the values and assumptions of a "community psychology," as well as the strategies for the prevention of mental illness and mental health promotion. A particular emphasis will be put on understanding individual and group behavior within the context of communities. Topics will include collaborative community research, the psychological sense of community, psychological stress and social support, the development of community interventions, prevention, organizing community change, and citizen participation in mental health initiatives. Prerequisites: 111 and junior/senior standing.
Psychology 342: Psychopharmacology
This course is designed to familiarize students with current drugs including antipsychotics, antidepressants, antianxiety agents, and drugs of abuse. An emphasis will be placed on the action of these drugs at the synaptic level, indications and contraindications for their use, and potential side effects. Prerequisite: 111. Alternate years.
Psychology 343: Health Psychology
This course will survey various models of the mind-body interaction as related to physical health. Topics may include: psychoneuroimmunology, the role of stress on mental and physical health, psychosomatic disorders, behavioral medicine, and the psychology of illness and wellness. Recommended for pre-med, pre-physical therapy, and pre-occupational therapy majors. Prerequisite: 111.
Psychology 345: Human Sexuality
This course surveys human sexual behavior from a variety of perspectives including: biological, cross-cultural, developmental, clinical, legal, historical and inter-personal. In addition students will address the more controversial issues in greater detail through class discussions. For juniors and seniors only.
Psychology 347: Tests and Measurements
Review of theoretical and practical concepts consistent with an introductory experience. Topic areas include: the history of testing, the language of testing, measurement and evaluation, measurement statistics and various types of testing instruments. Prerequisite: 221.
Psychology 349: Motivation and Emotion
The words "motivation" and "emotion" come from the same root: both refer to the psychological "forces" underlying action (behavior). This course will examine the biological, psychological, and social bases that consciously or unconsciously direct our behavior. Topics may include: the physiology of emotion, moral development, attachment and "free will." Prerequisite: 111.
Psychology 360: Developmental Psychology
The study of age-related changes which occur as the individual moves through life. Major theoretical perspectives, concepts, research methods for examining physical, cognitive, moral and social-emotional development. Prerequisite: 111.
Psychology 370: Clinical and Counseling Psychology
The purpose of this course is to provide an introduction to the fields of clinical and counseling psychology. Historical antecedents to the fields will be explored in addition to educational background of professional use of assessment techniques and types of clientele. Basic helping skills, which are useful in any form of communication, are developed. In addition, the theories most representative of the various schools of psychotherapy are explained. Prerequisite: 111.
Psychology 381: Abnormal Psychology
This course is designed to be an overview of the various forms of abnormal behavior. Etiology, assessment and treatment for each disorder will be included. Diagnostic classification will be emphasized. Prerequisite: 111.
Psychology 382: Neuropsychology
This course explores one of the fastest growing areas of psychology. Neuropsychology is the study of brain-behavior relationships in health and disease. This course will cover assessment, diagnosis and treatment of various difficulties from infancy through old age. Central to this will be a working understanding of the central nervous system. Prerequisite: 111.
Psychology 397: Psychology Internship
Internship in an approved setting. Work experience in an area of applied psychology supervised by agency personnel and department coordinator. Prerequisites: Senior standing, 20 credits in psychology and signature of chair.