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PSY 121: Introduction to Psychology 3 credits
A survey of the major areas in psychology. Principal topics covered are physiological bases of behavior, personality, mental disorders and treatment, social influences, and other basic issues. The course introduces students to the broad spectrum of theories used in understanding human behavior. Offered annually.
PSY 201: The Psychology Major: Academic and Professional Issues 3 credits
Prerequisites: PSY 121; taken concurrently with PSY 205 or before student can complete fourth psychology course.
This course is a required three-credit course that was designed to be completed during the freshman or sophomore year. The course addresses the practical skills and knowledge needed by majors to successfully complete their psychology degree. Course content includes such topics as the scientific inquiry process in psychology, introduction to Internet and literature searches, American Psychological Association writing format, introduction to software used by psychologists, preparing the résumé, and conducting a successful job search or application process to graduate school. Offered annually.
PSY 205: Research Methods I 3 credits
Prerequisites: PSY 121; MAT 128 or MAT 131 completed or taken concurrently
The first of two courses in understanding research methods in psychology and the statistical techniques that are used to analyze psychological data. The course will focus on ethical research practice, reviewing the psychological literature, basic nonexperimental research designs (observation, relational research), and descriptive and correlational statistical analyses. Students will gain experience in reading, researching, proposing, conducting, analyzing, interpreting, and reporting scientific research.
PSY 305: Research Methods II 3 credits
Prerequisite: PSY 205
A continued examination of research methods in psychology, with emphasis on experimental design and inferential statistical analysis. Students will enhance their experience in researching, reading, proposing, conducting, analyzing, interpreting, and reporting scientific research.
PSY 315: Psychology of Criminal Behavior 3 credits
Prerequisite: PSY 121
This course will provide an introduction to personality theories and learning styles in the context of psychological theories of criminal and aggressive behavior. Historical and contemporary theoretical conceptualizations of criminal behavior are explored, including behavioral, social learning, cognitive, psychoanalytic, psychodynamic, developmental, biological, and socio-cultural perspectives. Selected topics may be considered including alcohol and crime, sex crimes, juvenile delinquency, and women and crime.
PSY 321: Psychological Tests and Measurements 3 credits
Prerequisites: PSY 121 and PSY 205
A study of basic principles underlying test construction as well as a review of the most common psychological tests used to assess ability, personality, and occupational preference. Offered in alternate years.
PSY 322: Physiological Psychology 3 credits
Prerequisite: PSY 121
The structure and function of the central nervous system as related to emotion, motivation, learning, and theory of brain functions. Offered in alternate years.
PSY 325: Developmental Psychology 3 credits
Prerequisite: PSY 121
A survey of the major areas in human development with an equal emphasis placed on child, adolescent, and adult development. Examines developmental changes over the course of development and the processes underlying these changes. All major areas are reviewed, including biological, cognitive, language, personality, emotional, moral, social, and career development. Offered in alternate years.
PSY 327: Abnormal Psychology 3 credits
Prerequisite: PSY 121
This course offers a review of the historical and current scientific approaches to the study of abnormal behavior, emphasizing theories of causation, symptomatology, and treatment. Emphasis is on the DSM classification. Offered annually.
PSY 328 Social Psychology 3 credits
Prerequisites: PSY 121 and PSY 205
A study of the perceptions, attitudes, personality, motivations, relationships, and behavior of the individual as a function of social situations. The course emphasizes theory, research, and application. It is a course that is highly desirable for students in Social Work, Education, Pre-Law, Pre-Med, Pre-Nursing, Public Administration, Marketing, and Management.
PSY 329: Directed Study: Readings or Research 3 credits
Prerequisites: Permission of faculty member and school dean
Designed for small groups of students to pursue a particular aspect of psychology that is not covered or is treated lightly in regular course offerings. The course is taught in seminar fashion and meets for 36 contact hours. Offered as needed.
PSY 330: Forensic Psychology 3 credits
Prerequisite: PSY 121
Forensic psychology is the application of the science and profession of psychology to questions and issues relating to law and the legal system. This course will introduce students to the specialty area of forensic psychology. Particular emphasis will be on the applied aspects of the field.
PSY 331: Interviewing and Counseling Skills 3 credits
Prerequisites: PSY 121 and sophomore standing
This course provides students with a basic framework of skills in the area of interpersonal communication for use in clinical settings and in a wide spectrum of human service settings. Offered in alternate years.
PSY 332: Psychology of Aging 3 credits
Prerequisite: PSY 121
The purpose of this course is to provide an orientation to aging processes in adulthood and later life. Students will be introduced to basic theoretical models, research methods, and current information on the psychology of adulthood and aging and shown how these concepts can be applied to understanding and helping older adults. An emphasis is placed on strategies for successful aging.
PSY 334: Child and Adolescent Development 3 credits
Prerequisite: PSY 121
A survey of the major areas in human development with an emphasis placed on child and adolescent development. The course examines developmental changes from conception to adolescence and the processes underlying these changes. All major areas are reviewed, including biological, cognitive, language, personality, emotional, moral, and social development.
PSY 335: Psychology of Gender 3 credits
Prerequisite: PSY 121
A seminar discussing psychological and other literature that attempts to explain the personality and behavior of both women and men from the perspective of gender. Equal attention is given to men's and women's issues. Topics covered include the social constructivism of gender, equity in the workplace, victimization, biological factors and gender differences in personality and development, interpersonal relationships, cultural influences on gendered behavior, and child-rearing practices.
PSY 336: Military Psychology 3 credits
Prerequisite: PSY 121
This course provides a survey of the major areas in military psychology. Principal topics covered are leadership training, persuasion and propaganda, human factors engineering, selection, classification and assignment, optimizing human performance under adverse conditions, ethnic diversity and gender issues, clinical and consulting activities, and careers in military psychology. The course introduces the student to the application of psychological principles, theories, and methods to the military environment. Offered as needed.
PSY 337: Human Sexuality 3 credits
Prerequisite: PSY 121
This course provides a survey of the major areas of human sexuality. Principal topics covered are sexual and reproductive anatomy, the sexual response, sexually transmitted diseases, pregnancy, birth control and childbirth, gender identity and gender roles, sexual development, sexual behaviors and attitudes, love and relationships, sexual dysfunctions, sexual disorders and sex therapy, sexual values, religion and sex, and communicating about sex. Offered in alternate years.
PSY 338: Industrial and Organizational Psychology 3 credits
Prerequisite: PSY 121
This course examines both sides of industrial and organizational psychology to include an overview of legal issues in employee selection, job analysis, research design, selection tools, performance evaluation, designing and evaluating training, employee motivation and satisfaction, as well as leadership and other organizational development issues.
PSY 339: Social and Cultural Foundations of Behavior 3 credits
Prerequisite: PSY 121
This course explores social and cultural issues in psychology as they relate to the application of psychological theories and principles to diverse groups. Special attention is given to racial/ethnic minority issues and cultural diversity, a key component of which is developing an understanding of personal cultural development and how this pattern of development influences perceptions of interactions with others and general human behavior.
PSY 341: Psychology of Parenting 3 credits
Prerequisite: PSY 121
A comprehensive introduction to parenting with emphasis on the developmental process of children's and parents' growth and their changing relationships over time. Covers theories and research with a focus on application to practical parenting issues.
PSY 343: Close Relationships 3 credits
Prerequisite: PSY 121
This course provides an introduction to the exciting area of close relationships. Parent-child relationships, friendships, and romantic relationships will be examined from social psychological and interdisciplinary perspectives. The course will include discussion of theories as well as empirical research. In addition, students will have the opportunity to share their relationship experiences in the form of a relationship journal. Students are encouraged to share in class as well as the classroom, which will operate in a confidential manner. Topics covered include but are not limited to relationship conflict, breakups, sexuality, attraction, communication, and love. The goals of this course are to increase students' multicultural awareness and to help students develop an awareness of how psychological concepts and research can be applied in personal relationships. The course will include small group exercises, journal-writing, discussion, and lectures.
PSY 345: Human Memory: An Integrated Exploration 3 credits
Prerequisite: PSY 305: Research Methods II completed or taken concurrently
The purpose of this course is to provide a multifaceted and integrated approach to the psychological study of human memory. This course will explore the recent, converging evidence from cognitive psychology, neuroscience, developmental psychology, and applied memory research. It will also introduce principal issues in memory research and describe important research paradigms. Topics include the history of human memory research, memory and the brain, memory for facts and skills, working memory, forgetting, memory models, developmental changes in memory, emotional memories, memory disorders, issues in memory research, and ways to improve your memory.
PSY 347: Human Behavior in Crisis 3 credits
Prerequisite: PSY 121
A survey of crisis theory and intervention strategies for major situational and developmental life crises. The course provides a model for single-session intervention and ongoing crisis counseling for individual responses to crisis events such as sexual assault, domestic violence, substance abuse, disaster trauma, and death. This course is an upper-level elective course and is recommended for students in Psychology, Criminal Justice, Human Services Counseling, Sociology, Social Work, and Nursing.
PSY 100-400: Special Topics 1-3 credits
Prerequisites: Permission of faculty member and school dean/center director
A variable-content course in psychology that is designed for a specific class level: freshman (100) through senior (400). This course may explore such topics as specific counseling theories, the aging process, or other special topics. The topic to be covered is announced in advance of registration. Offered as needed.
PSY 401: Introduction to Community Counseling and Mental Health 3 credits
Prerequisite: PSY 121
Issues unique to community counseling are explored, including the role of community counselors, diverse client populations, theory and techniques of community needs assessment, principles of community intervention, and settings in which community counselors function.
PSY 405: Research Methods III 3 credits
Prerequisite: PSY 305
An advanced applied research methods course in which students continue discussion on issues in research in psychology and complete an individual research project in psychology, including writing a research report and presenting their work as a poster session.
PSY 412: Cognitive Psychology 3 credits
Prerequisite: PSY 305 completed or taken concurrently
An examination of higher-level thought processes including such topics as attention and perception, memory, language, reasoning, concept formation, and problem solving. Theories of cognitive functions are examined with an emphasis on research findings and methodologies. Offered in alternate years.
PSY 422: Psychology of Learning 3 credits
Prerequisite: PSY 305 completed or taken concurrently
A study of the significant concepts and experimental methods of learning. Topics include past and current research and theory on classical and instrumental conditioning, extinction processes, schedules of reinforcement, generalization and discrimination, verbal learning, and memory. Offered in alternate years.
PSY 423: Educational Psychology 3 credits
Prerequisite: PSY 121
Understanding the applications of psychological principles to the educational process. Offered as needed.
PSY 425: Internship in Psychology 6-12 credits
Prerequisites: Senior standing in psychology; a minimum GPA in the major of 2.5; PSY 331, PSY 327, PSY 427, and approval of the Psychology Internship Committee and APA student affiliate membership. Corequisite: PSY 426.
Supervised internship placement giving students the opportunity to work in local agencies with individuals and groups for 16 hours (6 credits) to 32 hours (12 credits) per week for 12 weeks. Placements are available in mental health facilities, schools, rehabilitation centers, hospitals, and other human service agencies. Grading is pass/fail. Offered in spring semester. Students must apply for internship one year before they plan to participate.
PSY 426: Internship Seminar 3 credits
Corequisite: PSY 425
Assists students in integrating and strengthening their various field experiences. Examines the application of psychological ideas and concepts to clinical practice through discussion, written assignments, readings, and case presentations. Assists students in identifying, clarifying, and developing specific professional goals. Offered in spring semester.
PSY 427: Personality Theory 3 credits
Prerequisites: PSY 121 and junior standing
A review of the major historical and contemporary personality theories that attempt to explain and describe human behavior. Offered annually.
PSY 428: Counseling Principles and Practices 3 credits
Prerequisites: PSY 327 and PSY 331
A study of counseling psychology from a theoretical and applied perspective. Topics include individual versus group counseling, counseling special populations, and counseling in various settings. Topics will be presented in both a didactic and experiential format. In addition, legal and ethical issues will also be addressed. Offered in alternate years.
PSY 429: Advanced Directed Study and Research 1-3 credits
Prerequisites: Permission of faculty member and school dean
Intensive individual study in a particular aspect of psychology that is not covered in regular course offerings. This enrichment option is limited to students who have demonstrated the potential to pursue independent scholarly activity beyond that which is expected in regular courses. Request for enrollment must be made prior to registration in the form of a written proposal. May be repeated for credit. Weekly meetings with faculty member. Offered annually.
PSY 431: Childhood Disorders 3 credits
Prerequisite: PSY 327
The study of the causes, symptoms, and treatment of abnormal behaviors in childhood and adolescence. Emphasis on understanding disorders within a developmental framework. Offered in alternate years.
PSY 432: Psychology of Motivation and Emotion 3 credits
Prerequisite: PSY 205
A review of the major theories that attempt to explain motivated behavior from a physiological, cognitive, social, environmental, and/or learning point of view. Offered as needed.
PSY 433: Sensation and Perception 3 credits
Prerequisite: PSY 121
A study of sensory and perceptual phenomena, including all basic sensory systems and such topics as pain perceptions, illusions, and hallucinations, sensory deprivation, color vision and color blindness, deafness, sensory-motor development, and altered states of consciousness. Offered in alternate years.
PSY 435: Practicum in Psychology 3 credits
Prerequisites: PSY 331, PSY 327, PSY 427; senior standing; minimum GPA in the major of 2.5; APA student affiliate membership; and approval of the Psychology Internship/Practicum Committee
This course is designed to give students the opportunity to gain practicum experience in psychology. The course combines seminar experience and is less intensive than PSY 426: Internship Seminar.
PSY 441: Evolutionary Psychology 3 credits
Prerequisite: PSY 121
This course presents an overview of the growing field of evolutionary psychology. Students will be exposed to empirical research findings, theoretical bases, and methodological issues related to sociobiology, behavioral genetics, and the evolution of species. Students will become familiar with concepts of natural and sexual selection, inclusive fitness, competition, evolved psychological mechanisms, and environmental influences on species.
PSY 445: Experimental Design, Analysis and Program Evaluation 3 credits
Prerequisite: PSY 305
Expands upon the research topics addressed in the PSY 205 and 305 research methods classes by examining more complex research and analytic issues, experimental designs (including higher order factorial designs), data analysis, data interpretation, and output dissemination. This course is particularly important for students who plan to pursue graduate study or a career with an applied research or critical thinking emphasis.
PSY 496: Comprehensive Psychology Examination 0 credits
Corequisite: PSY 499
Final comprehensive written examination for students majoring in psychology. Examination is administered in the PSY 499: Senior Seminar in Psychology course. Test fee. Offered annually.
PSY 499 Senior Seminar in Psychology 3 credits
Prerequisites: Senior standing in psychology with a minimum of six psychology courses including PSY 305. Corequisite: PSY 496.
Designed as the capstone course in psychology. A review of the evolution, theoretical underpinnings, and history of major systems of psychology, including structuralism, functionalism, behaviorism, Gestalt psychology, psychoanalysis, and the humanistic and cognitive movements.
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