Course Descriptions
FSEM 108 SCIENCE OR PSEUDOSCIENCE
Why do people believe weird things? It may be surprising to learn that strange beliefs can develop from the normal ways the human brain processes information. It may be less surprising to know that people sometimes take advantage of this and use “sciencey” language to spread (or sell!) their own strange beliefs. You will learn to develop a healthy skepticism by learning to distinguish real science from pseudoscience, explore the psychological processes that make pseudoscience so appealing, and figure out for yourself whether the next weird thing is “too good to be true.”
PSYC 103 INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY I (C)*
This course provides students with a fundamental grasp of the research, principles, and theories of psychology. Students will acquire a better understanding of their behavior through such topics as development, learning, memory, personality, social behavior, abnormal behavior and therapy (3 credits).
PSYC 104 INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY II
This course provides students with a fundamental grasp of the application of the scientific method to the study of psychology. Topics include: research methodology, biological bases of animal and human behavior, sensation and perception, motivation, intelligence, and problem-solving. Open to Psychology majors only (3 credits).
Open to psychology majors only. Pre-requisite: PSYC 103 (required) & MATH 102 (strongly recommended).
PSYC 205 PSYCHOLOGICAL STATISTICS
In this course, students will apply descriptive and inferential statistics to Psychological research. Topics include: measures of central tendency and variability, correlation and regression, students t-test, and analysis of variance. Statistical computer packages will be used for data analysis. Open to Psychology majors only (3 credits).
PSYC 240 PSYCHOLOGY OF WOMEN
An introduction to the psychology of women, surveying psychological, social, and biological determinants of behavior (3 credits).
PSYC 302 PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTING
This course surveys the various tests available to psychologists, including intelligence, achievement, aptitude, and personality tests. The student is not trained for clinical interpretations (3 credits).
Prerequisite: PSYC 205
PSYC 315 RESEARCH METHODS I (WE)*
This course examines the application of the scientific method to psychology, focusing on such methods as surveys, simple experiments and complex experiments. Laboratory work, library research, and writing of research reports are required (3 credits).
Open to psychology majors only. Prerequisites: PSYC 104 and PSYC 205
PSYC 320 ADULTHOOD AND AGING
This course examines the physical, social, emotional, and intellectual alterations occurring in adulthood and old age. The fundamental research and theories explaining the stages and developmental tasks of adulthood will be described and evaluated (3 credits).
PSYC 321 SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY
This course studies the processes by which the behaviors, thoughts, and feelings of the individual are influenced by his/her social environment. Topics include: social perception and attribution, attitude development and change, interpersonal attraction and interpersonal relations, such as friendship, aggression, and prosocial behavior (3 credits).
PSYC 324 LEARNING AND MEMORY
The first part of this course covers essential theories of learning, focusing on the principles of classical conditioning, operant conditioning and cognitive theories of learning. Memory processes of encoding, storage, and retrieval and memory distortions and failures are covered in the second half of the course (3 credits).
Prerequisite: PSYC 103
PSYC 326 LIFESPAN DEVELOPMENT
This course explores the major milestones of development across the human life-span, theories that explain these developments, and individual differences in human development from the psycho-bio-social perspective. The course emphasizes how this content relates to working with individuals in health care settings (3 credits).
This course is only open to nursing majors.
PSYC 327 PRINCIPLES AND TECHNIQUES OF INTERVIEWING AND COUNSELING
This course explores the techniques for establishing a stable working relationship with a client and examines prominent contemporary approaches to interviewing and counseling from theoretical and practical standpoints (3 credits).
Prerequisite: PSYC 103
PSYC 329-339 RESEARCH IN PSYCHOLOGY I and II
First and second semester of supervised participation in research design, data collection, statistical analysis, and interpretation of results in conjunction with ongoing research projects in psychology. Students must complete an application and obtain permission of the faculty mentor before registration (3 credits each).
Prerequisite for PSYC 329 is PSYC 103; Prerequisite for PSYC 339 is PSYC 329
PSYC 330 SPECIAL TOPICS IN PSYCHOLOGY
This course explores new course offerings in any area of psychology. Topics are listed in the registration book. Descriptions of specific topics are posted in the psychology department. Specific requirements will depend on topic.
Prerequisite: PSYC 103
PSYC 332 BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR
This course will explore the underlying neural mechanisms of thoughts, feelings, and behavior as well as the reciprocal relationship between behavior and the brain. Topics will range from the basic cellular structure of the nervous system to the biological basis of complex behaviors such as memory, emotion, states of consciousness, and psychopathology (3 credits).
Prerequisite: PSYC 103
PSYC 341 PSYCHOLOGY OF HEALTH AND STRESS
This course focuses on the psychological processes that affect health with a focus on stress and stress management. Topics include: psychological analysis of health promoting and health compromising behaviors and psychobiological perspectives on stress, pain management, chronic illness, and terminal illness (3 credits).
Prerequisite: PSYC 103
PSYC 344 GROUP DYNAMICS
This course is an introduction to small group processes, including theory, research and application. Topics include leadership, power, decision-making, and conflict (3 credits).
Prerequisite: PSYC 103
PSYC 345 PSYCHOLOGY OF CHILDHOOD
This course is the study of the physical, mental, emotional, and social development of the child from conception to adolescence. Topics include: factors affecting prenatal development, sensation and perception, cognition, personality, and social development (3 credits).
PSYC 346 PSYCHOLOGY OF ADOLESCENCE
This course is the study of the physical, mental, emotional, and social development of the adolescent (3 credits).
PSYC 347 PERSONALITY
An examination of the research and theories explaining the development of personality and its functioning (3 credits).
Prerequisite: PSYC 103
PSYC 355 ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY
This course surveys a variety of psychological disorders ranging from anxiety to depression and schizophrenia. Current theories regarding their causes are discussed and compared. Approaches to treating the disorders are also covered with particular emphasis on the psychotherapies and associated behavioral techniques (3 credits).
Prerequisite: PSYC 103
PSYC 360, 460 INDEPENDENT STUDY IN PSYCHOLOGY
This course is designed to allow psychology majors to pursue an area of special interest in psychology. Students must present a preparatory outline to qualify. Permission of the faculty mentor is required at the time of registration (3 credits each).
Prerequisite: PSYC 103
PSYC 365 MULTICULTURAL PSYCHOLOGY
This course is designed to introduce students to the current theories and research methods that drive the field of multicultural psychology. Emphasis will be placed on practical applications of multicultural psychology as it pertains to diverse groups living in the United States. The course will explore the meaning of multicultural psychology, critique mainstream American psychology’s methods and theoretical base in the context of alternative frameworks, and review current research and practice related to diverse human experiences (3 credits).
Prerequisite: ENGL 120
PSYC 373 INDUSTRIAL PSYCHOLOGY
This course involves the application of psychological principles and methods to the study of individuals and groups in the workplace. Topics include: personnel selection, placement and evaluation, training and development, and human factors engineering (3 credits).
Prerequisite: PSYC 103
PSYC 374 ORGANIZATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY
This is an analysis of human behavior in organizations. Topics include: organizational structures and dynamics, motivation and job satisfaction, management styles, and problems in human relations (3 credits).
Prerequisite: PSYC 103
PSYC 375, 475 INTERNSHIP
The internship provides students with the opportunity to explore the ways in which psychologists function in various institutional settings. Students are required to sign a contract which specifies the number of hours or days that will be spent in the institution, the responsibilities that must be fulfilled, and the project that must be completed. The contract is signed by the supervisor, the faculty member, and the internship coordinator at the time of registration (3 credits each).
Prerequisite: PSYC 104
PSYC 390 ENVIRONMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY
The interdisciplinary field of environmental psychology is rooted in questions such as: How do our attitudes and behaviors shape the places where we live, learn, work, and play? How do our surroundings shape us? This course applies psychological concepts (e.g. perception, cognition, culture, identity, attachment) to explore the relationship between people and places through a lens of social and environmental justice (3 credits).
Prerequisite: ENGL 120
PSYC 405 ADVANCED RESEARCH METHODS (WE)
This course involves the examination of research techniques, methodological issues and recent theoretical models in one area of Psychology. Field and laboratory studies will be designed, implemented, and reported. This course is offered once every 2 years (3 credits).
Prerequisite: PSYC 315
PSYC 424 COGNITION
This course surveys operations of the mind as viewed from the information processing perspective. The focus is on experimental cognitive psychology with additional attention given to research in neuropsychology that connects cognitive theories to brain processes. Attention, perception, the representation of knowledge, problem solving, reasoning, and language are studied (3 credits).
Prerequisite: PSYC 315
PSYC 430 CONTEMPORARY PSYCHOTHERAPY THEORY AND PRACTICE
This course is designed to provide students with an understanding of the major theories of counseling and clinical practice, as well as the ethical application of the techniques and strategies that are used in these clinical modalities. Students will also be introduced to the foundational skills of counseling practice as well as the use of clinical skills when working with some of the more common psychological disorders. There will be a significant experiential component to this course and students will be expected to participate through roleplays, case analyses, and in-class discussion (3 credits).
Prerequisite: PSYC 315
PSYC 432 MOTIVATION AND EMOTION
This course explores human motivation and its interactions with emotions, surveying the research and theories of motivational states such as hunger, sex, affiliation, achievement, and of emotions such as happiness, fear, and anger (3 credits).
Prerequisite: PSYC 315
PSYC 442 ATTACHMENT: EXAMINING CLOSE RELATIONSHIPS
This course will focus on the analysis and discussion of scholarly, peer reviewed research on attachment theory. Topics include the origins of attachment theory, development of attachment styles, and attachment processes in romantic relationships, disorders, coping, and everyday life (3 credits).
Prerequisite: PSYC 315
PSYC 446 DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOPATHOLOGY
This course provides students with a fundamental understanding of psychological disorders that develop in infancy, childhood and adolescence. Students will explore multidimensional explanations of disorders (e.g., neurobiological, psychological, sociocultural), examining disorders with regard to etiology, assessment, diagnosis, developmental pathway, intervention/treatment, and prevention where appropriate (3 credits).
Prerequisite: PSYC 315
PSYC 450 CAPSTONE SEMINAR
In this capstone experience, students will integrate and apply skills and knowledge acquired as a Psychology major. Students will explore their own interests in psychology using self-directed learning. This will include reading and discussing journal articles, and completing an independent project in which they apply their knowledge to an existing controversy, social problem or research question (3 credits).
Prerequisite: PSYC 315
(C)* May be taken to meet Core Requirements
(WE)* Writing Emphasis
Students select courses from the Foundational Courses, Major Content Areas, and Psychology Electives based on requirements for their specific degree as described.
Foundational Courses |
| PSYC 103 Introduction to Psychology I |
| PSYC 104 Introduction to Psychology II |
| PSYC 205 Psychological Statistics |
| PSYC 315 Research Methods I |
| PSYC 405 Advanced Research Methods |
Major Content Areas |
| Biological |
| PSYC 432 Motivation and Emotion |
| Clinical |
| PSYC 302 Psychological Testing |
| PSYC 327 Interviewing and Counseling |
| PSYC 355 Abnormal Psychology |
| Developmental |
| PSYC 320 Psychology of Adulthood and Aging |
| PSYC 345 Psychology of Childhood |
| PSYC 346 Psychology of Adolescence |
| Cognitive |
| PSYC 324 Learning and Memory |
| PSYC 424 Cognition |
| Social |
| PSYC 321 Social Psychology |
| PSYC 347 Personality |
| PSYC 365 Multicultural Psychology |
Psychology Electives |
| PSYC 240 Psychology of Women |
| PSYC 330 Special Topics |
| PSYC 341 Health and Stress |
| PSYC 344 Group Dynamics |
| PSYC 360, 460 Independent Study |
| PSYC 373 Industrial Psychology |
| PSYC 374 Organizational Psychology |
| PSYC 329, 339 Research in Psychology I and II |
| PSYC 375, 475 Internship I and II |
Senior Capstone |
| PSYC 450 Capstone Seminar |