Psychology

Psychology Courses

PSY 111. General Psychology           3
A survey course designed to introduce students to the field of contemporary psychology, including the principles and perspectives of biological, behavioral, cognitive, socio-cultural, developmental, and clinical approaches. Topics include physiological and environmental interactions, human development, motivation and emotions, learning and forgetting, the influences of culture on the psyche, personality theories, psychopathology and treatment, and other topics appropriate to an introduction to psychology. Fall and Spring. Meets the Social Science Connector requirement.

PSY 221. Cognition           3
This course is designed to introduce students to cognitive psychology with an emphasis on cognitive methods. Cognitive psychology examines internal mental processes such as attention, memory, language, and reasoning. By the end of this course, students should understand the historical and current theories of attention, memory, language, and reasoning by knowing 1) the relevant research, and 2) the methods used to measure these internal mental processes. Prerequisite: PSY 111. Fall.

PSY 222. Physiological Psychology           3
This course explores the biological structures and processes which underlie and produce human behavior. The focus is on motivation, emotion, perception, and cognition and how these events are affected by neural, metabolic, homeostatic, and evolutionary processes. Prerequisites: PSY 111 and NS 111 or BIO 113. Spring.

PSY 225. Research Methods in Psychology           3
This course is an applied introduction to the skills and methods used to conduct social science research. Students will learn the basic principles of research methodology including study design, data collection, statistical analysis, and report writing. As a result of this course, students will be able to critique existing research designs, propose alternatives to poor research designs, and create new research designs. They will gain those skills through homework assignments, quizzes, and research report writing. Class time will be devoted to discussion of assigned reading, homework, and individual and group project work. Prerequisite: PSY 220. Spring.

PSY 308. Social Psychology           3
An overview of social psychological theory and research, both classic and contemporary, and a focus on how our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are influenced (positively and negatively), controlled, or limited by past or present social interactions with other people, social structures, and social institutions. This course focuses on the complex relationships between society and the individual, paying particular attention to how being a part of a group profoundly affects our thoughts and actions. Prerequisites: SOC 111 or PSY 111. Fall and/or Spring.

PSY 311. Personality Theory           3
An analysis of the major psychological theories of human nature including psychodynamic, interpersonal, behavioral, cognitive, humanistic, and trait theories. Pre-requisite: PSY 111 and a 200-level psychology course which may be taken concurrently with 311. Fall.

PSY 312. History, Philosophy, and Systems           3
The development of systematic psychological thought from its ancient philosophical and religious roots through Renaissance conceptualizations and to those modern scientific and philosophical approaches which define today’s boundaries of the discipline. Prerequisites: PSY 111, a 200-level psychology course, and LAA 211. Spring.

PSY 313. Child Psychology           3
The development of behavior and mental processes as a result of learning and maturation. Emphasis is on infants and children. Prerequisite: PSY 111. Fall.

PSY 314. Adolescent and Adult Development           3
The development of behavior and mental processes with emphasis on cognitive, emotional, social, and physical dimensions. Characteristic behavior patterns, problems, and issues in adolescence and adulthood are studied, including characteristics of exceptionality. Prerequisite: Psychology 111. Fall and Spring.

PSY 316. Language, Culture, and Psychology           3
The study of language use in cultural contexts as an entryway into understanding human beings. Topics include language acquisition and development, connections between language, cognition and behavior, the relationship between the individual and culture, the power of language and the relationship between power and language, language prejudice and cultural diversity, and the role that language and culture play in human suffering and clinical treatment. Prerequisite: PSY 111. Offered every other year.

PSY 317. Psychology of Gender and Sexuality           3
This course introduces scholarly debates about gender identities and expression, and sexual identities. We examine how people experience gender – what it means to be a man or a woman – and sexuality in a variety of historical and cultural contexts. The course is a combination of discussions, debates, and research regarding gender and sexuality from physiological, psychological, and sociological perspectives. Prerequisite: PSY 111. Offered every other year.

PSY 327. Special Topics           3
Options for students to study a wider variety of topics than can be taught on a regular basis. The topic for a semester will be announced through the department. Prerequisite: PSY 111. Fall or Spring, according to demand.

PSY 333. Forensic Psychology           3
An overview of the field of forensic psychology. The primary focus is on the interaction between the psychological and legal professions. Psychological issues underlying criminal behavior will be emphasized. The course will also address the use of psychology in civil and criminal court proceedings as well as in criminal investigations. Prerequisite: PSY 111 or SOC 111. Fall.

PSY 334. Comparative Animal Behavior           3
The evolution, development, and ecology of animal behavior. Prerequisites: PSY 111 and BIO 101 or 111. Offered according to demand.

PSY 400. Research Activity           3
Advanced participation in planning, design and conduct of research with faculty supervision. A written report or scholarly paper must be submitted to the department at the end of the project. Prerequisites: PSY 111, BSS 220, PSY 225, a written proposal copied to the department chair describing the research planned. Fall or Spring.

PSY 421. Abnormal Behavior           3
An introduction to psychopathology with a focus on the clinical features of the major psychological disorders in the DSM classification system. Emphasis is on the causes, characteristics, prevention, and treatment of the major disorders. Prerequisite: PSY 111 or PSY 333. Fall or Spring.

PSY 422. Foundations in Counseling and Psychotherapy           3
An overview of the different theories and techniques of therapy and counseling that work towards the opening of psychic possibilities and the alleviation of human suffering. An examination of the different approaches’ models of personality development, etiology of psychopathology, and conceptions and tools of healing. The approaches include psychoanalytic, psychodynamic, existential-phenomenological, interpersonal-humanistic, cognitive, behavioral, cognitive-behavioral, eastern psychology, multicultural counseling, and group therapy including family therapy. Prerequisites: PSY 111, and either PSY 311 or PSY 421. Spring.

PSY 426. Social and Psychological Aspects of Religion           3
See SOC 426. Prerequisite: an upper-level course in the discipline or permission of the instructor. Offered according to demand.

PSY 457, 458. Directed Readings           3
Readings chosen by the professor in collaboration with the student. A reading and examination plan must be completed, approved and copied to the department chair prior to the registration day of the semester in which the course is undertaken. Prerequisite: PSY 111 plus six additional hours in psychology and permission of instructor. If the student makes reports on readings without taking exams, course will be graded S/U. Fall and Spring.

PSY 461. Internships           3
Field work off campus in applied psychology. This experience must be arranged and coordinated through the host agency involved and a supervising faculty member in psychology. Students should make arrangements well in advance of the semester in which the work is to be done. Graded S/U. Prerequisites: PSY 111, 12 additional hours in psychology, and a proposal copied to the department chair describing the work to be undertaken. Spring.

PSY 470. Senior Thesis and Seminar           3
Designed to summarize and synthesize students’ study in the field and to give them the opportunity to investigate, discuss and write a thesis on a key issue. Prerequisites: Senior standing or permission of instructor; PSY 111, 220, 225, and one course from each of the subgroups A-D. Fall.