Course Descriptions

PSYC100 Introduction to Psychological Science (3 sh) Back to top

A comprehensive overview of what psychological science has discovered about human behavior and mental processes over the last century. Students will be introduced to the many areas of academic and applied psychology as well as persistent themes that characterize the field (e.g., nature vs. nurture).The practical applications of psychological knowledge will be emphasized. Students will gain an understanding and appreciation of the psychological phenomena that occur in their daily life. In addition, a habit of thinking clearly about the relationship between knowledge claims and evidence will be fostered. Fulfills general education requirement.

PSYC102 Child Development (3 sh) Back to top

The unique emphasis of this course is on the processes and products of human development that typically occur between the moment of conception and the onset of adolescence. The major sections include: the historical, theoretical, and methodological foundations of developmental psychology; heredity, prenatal development, and birth; neural, sensory, and perceptual development; the acquisition of learning, memory, information processing, and problem-solving skills; the development of language, intelligence, and creativity; social, emotional, and personality development; and the development of self-control, prosocial behavior, and moral reasoning. Non-education majors should take PSYC100 to satisfy general education requirement.

PSYC103 Adolescent Development (3 sh) Back to top

The course examines the processes, products, and effects of changes experienced by adolescents as they develop from late childhood into early adulthood. The major topics will include: foundations, principles, and methods of research; theoretical positions and perspectives; biological processes and physical development; cognitive development and social cognition; information processing and intelligence; family processes and relationships with parents; sibs, peers, friends, and group relationships; schools and culture; the sense of self and identity; sex roles and sexuality; moral development, values and religion; achievement, careers, and work; and the problems and disturbances related to underachievement, drug and alcohol abuse, delinquency, pregnancy and parenthood, loneliness, eating disorders, depression, suicide, and psychopathology. Non-education majors should take PSYC100 to satisfy general education requirement.

PSYC201 Educational Psychology (3 sh) Back to top

An introduction to the aspects of psychology related to the learning process and to the school as a social system. Among the topics considered are learning theories and their applications, the identification and evaluation of abilities and achievements, the effects of social deprivation on intellectual development, characteristics of students and teachers, styles of teacher leadership, and instructional technology. Prerequisite: PSYC102 or 103 or permission of the instructor. Does not meet the educational psychology requirement for Secondary Education Majors. Secondary Education Majors must take EDUC317.

PSYC202 Psychological Methods (3 sh) Back to top

This course will present an introduction to psychological methodology and theory through the use of exercises, small experiments, in-class discussion, and lecture. Experimental, quasi-experimental, and non-experimental methodological techniques of social science research are explored. Prerequisite: Minimum grade of C minus in PSYC100.

PSYC204 Writing for Psychology (3 sh) Back to top

This course focuses on writing papers for Psychology courses or professional journal articles. Students will develop information-seeking strategies, identify types of sources needed, and develop search strategies for locating psychology and related reference material utilizing traditional and electronic resources. Students will learn to summarize material and incorporate it into well written experimental and non-experimental papers that conform to APA style. Emphasis will also be given to basic writing elements, such as grammar, organization, and logical writing. Prerequisites: PSYC100 and ENGL100. Fulfills Writing Emphasis (WE) and Information Literacy (IL) requirements.

PSYC205 Applied Psychological Statistics (3 sh) Back to top

This course will teach students how to utilize statistics in specific psychological settings in order to answer important theoretical and practical questions. Examples from inferential (parametric and nonparametric) statistics and correlational statistics will be presented and applied to real research problems. Difficult decisions such as what statistics to use, how to determine necessary sample size, and how to insure both random samples and representative treatments will be discussed. Prerequisite: PSYC100, PSYC202 and MATH107 (Minimum grade of C minus in all three), or permission of the instructor.

PSYC209 Psychology of Early Childhood (3 sh) Back to top

The course covers social, personal, and emotional development in depth from birth through late childhood. Emphasis is on parent-child relations, socialization, disciplinary approaches and outcomes, and moral and pro-social development. Prerequisite: PSYC102.

PSYC215 Brain and Behavior (3 sh) Back to top

This course will introduce students to the relationship between the activity of the brain and an organism's thoughts, experiences, and actions. The course provides the necessary background in neuroanatomy, the mechanics of synapses, sensory neurophysiology, and other basic building blocks of the nervous system. Subsequently, the students will be shown the behavioral connection by stressing more applied topics like the biological bases of mental illness, language, sleep, and sexual behavior. Prerequisite: PSYC100.

PSYC235 Interpersonal and Leadership Skills (3 sh) Back to top

This course introduces students to the fundamental interpersonal skills of empathy, assertion, and negotiation and integrates these skills into the leadership skills of planning, organizing, leading-communicating, controlling, and assessing. Students read articles both on basic communication skills and the skills of leadership such as decision making, team-building, conflict management, and personal influence. They accomplish projects which assess and develop their skills in each of these areas. Students receive feedback from their peers and the instructor on interpersonal and leadership skills. Prerequisite: 3 sh of psychology. Some sections fulfill Writing Emphasis (WE) requirement.

PSYC240 Life-span Development (3 sh) Back to top

This second level psychology course, a requirement for students in the nursing program, introduces the student to summary overviews of the major physical, intellectual, personality, and social developments unique to each stage of life from conception to death in old age. Patterns and rates of these age-related changes will be examined within a life-span perspective. The salient contributions of physical maturation and health, qualitative cognitive changes, and family and societal influences to the processes of individual development over the normal life-span will be analyzed. Prerequisite: PSYC100.

PSYC250 Social Psychology (3 sh) Back to top

An introduction to the study of individual behavior in social situations. Course focuses on human interaction or how individuals affect and are affected by others. Topics such as interpersonal perception, attitudes, prejudice, aggression, altruism, attraction, group behavior, and social exchange are explored and discussed. Prerequisite: PSYC100 or permission of the instructor.

PSYC305 Theories of Learning (3 sh) Back to top

A survey approach to the topic of learning with emphasis placed upon the major theoretical orientations of the 20th century and how they have influenced education, psychotherapy and technology. Primary emphasis will be placed throughout the course on the influence of early behaviorist theories and cognitive theories upon approaches to education and therapy, and how later theorists have attempted to clarify, extend and eliminate contradictions in earlier theoretical formulations. Emphasis will also be placed upon the recent advent of mathematical and machine models of learning and how they have challenged traditional explanations. Finally, there will be an emphasis upon the use of learning theory in the design of psychoeducational techniques and technology. Prerequisite: PSYC100.

PSYC306 History and Systems of Psychology (3 sh) Back to top

This course is designed to orient the student to the historical antecedents of contemporary psychology. Attention will be given to contemporary trends in the U.S. and other countries. Prerequisite: PSYC100.

PSYC306 Abnormal Psychology (3 sh) Back to top

The nature and extent of mental illness and its historical antecedents with special attention to relevant topics in community psychology. Examination of various approaches to mental abnormalities and an introduction to important research areas. Prerequisite: PSYC100 and three additional semester hours in Psychology.

PSYC308 Psychology of Personality (3 sh) Back to top

The course provides the student with an in-depth study of the scientific study of personality. The theoretical models and research methods from a variety of points-of-view will be studied. Prerequisite: PSYC100 and three additional semester hours in Psychology; PSYC307 strongly recommended.

PSYC310 Cognitive Psychology (3 sh) Back to top

The data and theories in perception and human information processing will be covered. An emphasis will be placed on attention, memory and visual as well as auditory processing. Prerequisite: BIOL101 or 106, PSYC100 and 202; or permission of instructor.

PSYC313 Industrial and Organizational Psychology (3 sh) Back to top

This course provides a comprehensive study of the application of the methods, facts, and principles of the science of human behavior to people at work. Students will study the designing of organizations which effectively integrate new technologies toward profitable and socially satisfactory ends. Prerequisite: PSYC100 and three additional semester hours in Psychology.

PSYC315 Health Psychology (3 sh) Back to top

Health Psychology is a survey course in the psychology of health and wellness. Findings using the bio-psycho-social model of health and disease are discussed. The course covers such topics as the definitions of disease and wellness, pain management, addictions, behavioral aspects of heart disease and cancer, psychoneuroimmunology, personality and wellness, and the psychology of healing. Prerequisite: PSYC100 and any one from the following --PSYC215, 410, or HLTH251, or permission of the instructor.

PSYC322 Drugs and Human Behavior (3 sh) Back to top

This course provides information about the physiological and psychological effects of prescription, over the counter, and illegal drugs. Theories of addiction and methods of rehabilitation will be covered and the government agencies and laws which regulate the manufacture and distribution of drugs will also be considered. An emphasis will be placed on the narcotics, alcohol, stimulants, depressants and hallucinogenics. Prerequisite: PSYC100 and one of the following - BIOL101, 106, or HLTH251.

PSYC369 Psychology Pre-Pressional Internship (3 to 12 sh) Back to top

The psychology internship is designed to give students on-hands experience in the field of psychology. Students can be placed in a variety of community settings, such as schools, mental health agencies, correctional facilities, group homes, hospitals, or other settings where psychology is practiced. The precise activities involved in the internship will vary according to the nature of the setting selected. However, all students must keep a log of their activities and write a final paper. Prerequisite: 60 earned credits, 2.5 GPA overall, 2.5 GPA in psychology to apply. Usually approved for 6 sh credit.

PSYC400 Advanced Topics Seminar (3 sh) Back to top

This course explores in depth important contemporary topics in psychology (e.g., hypnosis and recovered memories; evolutionary psychology; animal communication and language) in a seminar environment.  Active student involvement in literature reviews, presentations, and critical thinking about research design, theory, and data are emphasized.  The instructor teaching the course determines three general topical areas to be covered.  Prerequisites:  18 s.h. of Psychology including PSYC100 and PSYC202 or permission of the instructor.  Fulfills the Information Literacy (IL) requirement.

PSYC409 Experimental Psychology (3 sh) Back to top

A practical course providing research experience in psychology including literature search, theory construction, experimental design, apparatus construction, data collection and analysis, and manuscript preparation. Prerequisite: PSYC202 and 205 (Minimum grade of C minus).

PSYC410 Physiological Psychology (3 sh) Back to top

In this course students will study the physiological mechanisms responsible for sensory and motor processing and the control of motivation, learning, memory, and autonomic processes. An emphasis will be placed on the role of the central and peripheral nervous systems as well as the endocrine system in the regulation of these processes. Elementary neuroanatomy will be studied from a functional point of view with the assistance of preserved materials, and a brief introduction to pharmacology will be included. Prerequisite: PSYC100 plus BIOL101 or 106, or permission of the instructor.

PSYC412 Human Neuropsychology (3 sh) Back to top

This course will provide an introduction to the field of Neuropsychology. The instructor will cover basic brain anatomy relevant to higher mental functions and will describe the methods used in Clinical Neuropsychological assessment. The course will cover language dysfunctions affecting speaking, comprehending, reading, and writing. It will also cover descriptions and assessment of computation, movement and recognition deficits. Neglect, callosal, frontal lobe, amnestic, epileptic, emotional and dementia syndromes will conclude the topics for the course. Students will learn through reading and discussing case histories of patients who have suffered brain damage. The students will be expected to design treatment and management plans for some of these patients. Prerequisites: Minimum grade of C minus in PSYC215 or PSYC410, and PSYC307.

PSYC421 Psychological Assesment (3 sh) Back to top

Provides a general introduction to theory and practice of evaluation of intellectual functioning, interests, aptitudes, and personality. Prerequisite: PSYC100 and three additional semester hours in Psychology, or permission of the instructor.

PSYC425 Psychology of Women (3 sh) Back to top

This course will examine the psychology of women in the following areas: The status of women from a historical and current perspective; developmental issues; achievement motivation; female sexuality; and psychological disorders prevalent in women. Prerequisite: PSYC100 and three additional semester hours in psychology.

PSYC440 Adult Development and Aging Back to top

This course will focus on normal human development over the full span of the adult years, examining both stability and change in the physical, intellectual, emotional, and social dimensions of adult life. The major challenges, tasks, hazards, crises, achievements, and satisfactions typically experienced at each stage or era will be explored and discussed. Prerequisite: 9 sh of Psychology and including PSYC100 and either 102, 103, or 240, or permission of the instructor.

PSYC445 Neuroscience Laboratory (1 sh) Back to top

Students will be taught the techniques used in brain research. An emphasis will be placed on surgical procedures using rats. Stereotaxic implantation of cannulae and stimulating electrodes will be covered and RF frequency lesioning and ablation will be demonstrated. The procedures necessary to record electroencephalograms (EEGs), evoked potentials, and single cells will be included. Students will also learn how to perfuse, section, and stain brain tissue using paraffin embedding and freezing techniques. Once these techniques are mastered, they will be used in several lab projects during the semester. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor.

PSYC450 Psychotherapies (3 sh) Back to top

Psychotherapies will examine several major psychotherapeutic processes, including psychoanalysis, client centered therapy, Gestalt therapy, Existential therapy, behavior modification, and biofeedback as used in psychotherapy. The theoretical basis for each therapeutic process will be studied through assigned readings and occasional class discussion. Class meetings will be devoted primarily to the demonstration of psychotherapeutic processes and students will be expected to participate in the demonstrations. Such participation will be primarily in the role of the client but occasionally in the role of the facilitator. This course is not designed to develop competence as a psychotherapist. The student will develop a sufficient understanding of psychotherapeutic processes to enable him/her to enter into post bachelor's training programs. Prerequisite: PSYC100, 307 and 308.

PSYC470 Counseling Skills (3 sh) Back to top

Counseling Skills is designed for advanced psychology majors and other students who are interested in human service careers. The focus of this course is on the development of counseling relationship, specific skills that foster change and growth in others, and ethical considerations in helping. Prerequisite: PSYC307, 308 and 450, and six additional hours in psychology, or permission of the instructor.

PSYC501 Special Topis in Psychology (3 sh) Back to top