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Courses
PSY 101. Introductory Psychology (3).
A one semester broad overview of contemporary psychology-its diverse approaches to the understanding of behavior and the basic principles and research findings associated with each of these approaches. Specific areas of psychological inquiry discussed include physiological, cognitive and social psychology; learning, sensation and perception; emotion and motivation; personality and psychopathology. This course is a prerequisite for most psychology courses.
PSY 201. Introduction to Research Methods (3).
An introduction to major correlational and experimental methods employed by research psychologists in the study of behavior. Topics include methods of data collection, instrumentation, experimental designs and their corresponding statistical tests and research evaluation. Laboratory experience is also provided. Suitable for both majors and non-majors. Prerequisite: PSY 101 or permission of the instructor.
PSY 215. Child and Adolescent Psychology (3).
An examination of the emergence of basic competencies (e.g., language, cognitive abilities, interpersonal skills) from birth to adolescence, and the integration of these competencies in the person of the growing child at successive life-stages. Various theoretical and experimental approaches to the study of human development are investigated. The practical implications of developmental processes will be explored in selected areas. Prerequisite: PSY 101 or permission of the instructor.
PSY 230. Motivation and Emotion (3).
A survey of the major theories concerned with the motivation of behavior. Individual and environmental determinants are examined. Emphasis is on the role of emotional and cognitive factors as motivational variables. Related research is presented and critically analyzed. Theories and research are applied to practical situations. Prerequisite: PSY 101 or permission of the instructor.
PSY 250 (SPE 250). Cognition (3).
A study of contemporary issues in human behavior. Specific topics include attention, memory, concept attainment, problem solving, the interaction of language with these processes, and the disorders experienced by those with deficiencies in these areas. Research on these topics and various theoretical models designed to explain human information processing are examined. Prerequisites: PSY 101 or permission of the instructor.
PSY 260. Social Psychology (3).
Introduction to the theoretical and empirical investigations of how interaction with others influences the thoughts, emotions and behavior of the individual. Topics include person perception (e.g., impression formation, liking and loving), attitude formation and change (e.g., persuasion, conformity), aggression, helping behavior and group process (e.g., leadership, group decision making). Prerequisite: PSY 101 or permission of the instructor.
PSY 270 (SPE 270). Learning (3).
A general survey covering principles of animal and human learning, theories of learning and application of learning principles. Topics include the basic learning processes of classical and instructional conditioning, discrimination and generalization, and escape and avoidance learning, as well as more complex processes of verbal learning, retention and transfer. Applications of basic learning principals such as behavior modification, with emphasis on helping those with learning disabilities, are presented. Prerequisites: PSY 101 or permission of the instructor.
PSY 275 (WMS 275). The Psychology of Women (3).
This course explores empirical research and theory in areas of psychology relevant to women and sex roles. Topics include sex roles and sex-role stereotyping; biological and psychosocial origins of gender; and gender differences in behavior personality and abilities. Readings and class discussions encourage application of concepts to a variety of settings, including female-male relationships, parenting, education, occupation, the media, et al. Students are expected to develop an in-depth topic of special interest for a term paper and/or class presentation. Prerequisites: PSY 101 or permission of the instructor.
PSY 280. ABNORMAL/Normal PSYCHOLOGY for the Health Professions (3).
An introduction to the issues and problems associated with defining, understanding, and relating to maladaptive behavior for individuals planning careers in one of the health professions. Historical and philosophical perspectives on the subject covered briefly. The major schools of thought and systems of classifying abnormal behavior are presented and discussed. Questions related to diagnosis, treatment, and research are raised and societal issues concerning maladaptive behavior are also examined. Prerequisite: PSY 101 or permission of the instructor.
PSY 300. History and Systems of Psychology (3).
A historical survey of the evolution of particular schools of thought and systematic approaches in psychology. Theories and systems such as Gestalt, psycho dynamic and behavioristic psychology are examined in terms of their antecedents, the problems on which they focused and their contributions to contemporary psychology (e.g., James, Freud and Skinner) are studied within the context of the theories with which they are associated. Prerequisite: PSY 101 or permission of the instructor.
PSY 301 (SPE 301). Psychological Testing (3).
This course surveys the major psychological tests used in schools, clinics, industry, government and psychological research. This course covers how such tests are constructed, administered, interpreted and validated, and outlines current issues and controversies of the field. Topics include the history and ethics of testing; tests of achievement, interests and special abilities; personality assessment; the use of these tests in identifying exceptionality; and the controversy surrounding intelligence tests. Prerequisites: PSY 101 and MTH 111 (or an equivalent semester of Statistics I) or permission of the instructor.
PSY 302. Personality (3).
Introduction to the theoretical and empirical investigations of the development, maintenance and modification of the unique thoughts, emotions and behaviors characteristic of the individual. Topics include theoretical perspectives based primarily upon the concepts of conflict (e.g., Freud, Jung), fulfillment (e.g., Rogers, Maslow), consistency (e.g., Kelley), trait (e.g., Allport, Cattell) and learning (e.g., Skinner, Bandura) and empirical investigations of self-esteem, anxiety and defense mechanisms. Prerequisite: PSY 101 or permission of the instructor.
PSY 303 (BIO 303). Animal Behavior (4).
See BIO 303 for description. Prerequisite: PSY 101 and eight hours of biology or permission of the instructor. Three lectures and two hours laboratory per week for one semester.
PSY 309 (CFM 409). Culture and Mental Disorder (3).
See course description for CFM 409.
PSY 315 (SPE 315). Childhood Disorders (3).
This general introduction to the field of childhood psycho pathology will consider basic issues in the etiology, diagnosis and treatment of common behavioral disorders and developmental deviations. Topics included are: childhood schizophrenia and autism, phobias and psychosomatic disorders, mental retardation and specific learning disabilities, hyperactivity and antisocial behavior. Prerequisites: PSY 101 and 215 or 280 or permission of the instructor.
PSY 325. Sensation and Perception (3).
The study of the physical structures and psychological processes involved in vision. Topics include the perception of form, color, space and movement. Various theoretical issues and experimental investigations in visual perception are examined. Prerequisite: PSY 101 or permission of the instructor.
PSY 340. Brain and Behavior (3).
A study of the relationship of the brain and body to behavior. Emphasis is on the central nervous system. Topics include neuroanatomy, neural cell processes, hemispheric functions, hormonal regulation of behavior, physiological mechanisms involved in attention, arousal and sleep, and the neural bases of emotions learning and memory, and psychological disorders. Prerequisites: PSY 101 or permission of the instructor and BIO 103 or equivalent.
PSY 350. Health Psychology (3).
Health psychology is a survey course exploring the relationship between behavior and health. All topics will be covered from a bio psychosocial perspective, illustrating the interaction among variables within an individual's environment. Topics discussed within the course include: psycho neuroimmunology, anger/hostility and health, smoking cessation, weight control, health care systems, heart disease, cancer, AIDS, psychosomatic illness, gender and socio cultural differences, stress, pain management and alternative treatments. Prerequisite: PSY 101.
PSY 360. Human Sexuality (3).
An examination of the behavioral, emotional and cognitive components of human sexuality. An emphasis will be placed on psychological, social, health and legal aspects of behavior that define our human sexuality. This course intends to help students clarify their attitude toward their own and others' sexuality. Areas to be investigated include sexual values, intimacy, sexual anatomy, gender identity, STDs and sexual variance. Prerequisite: PSY 101 or permission of the instructor.
PSY 380. Counseling and Psychotherapy (3).
An introduction to techniques and theories of counseling and psychotherapy. Components, which are believed to underlie effective counseling and therapy regardless of theoretical orientation and which are applicable to a variety of interpersonal situations, are studied in some detail. The major theoretical approaches to counseling are covered, and students are introduced to research on the process and effectiveness of psychotherapy. One area in which such skills are applied-the treatment of persons with emotional problems-will be examined. This course does not attempt to train professional counselors, but to provide a framework and a basis for understanding and evaluating the counseling process from which students can, after further training and experience, become effective counselors. Prerequisites: PSY 101 and 280 or 302 or permission of the instructor.
PSY 390-399. Independent Study.
A student who wishes to pursue an independent study project for academic credit must submit, prior to registration, a proposed plan of study that includes the topic to be studied and goal to be achieved, the methodology to be followed, schedule of supervision, end product, evaluation procedure and number of credits sought. The proposal must be approved by the supervising faculty member, the department chair and the academic dean. It will be kept on file in the academic dean's office. Three hours work per week for each credit. Hours and credit to be determined by the instructor and student. Experiential course.
PSY 401. Advanced Research Methods (3).
Students carry out an independent research project on the topic of their choice with the advice and supervision of a faculty member. The course is designed to give the student an opportunity to use the skills acquired in Introduction to Research Methods (PSY-201) and to examine an area of interest through designing and conducting an experiment. Prerequisites: PSY 101, 201.
PSY 404. The Psychology of Decision Making (3).
Following a seminar format, this course explores theoretical approaches to the process of decision making and relates theory and data to applied situations. The course addresses issues relevant to decisions made on both an individual and a group level. Discussions cover a range of settings including business, medicine and matters of personal relevance. A variety of factors is considered, including cognitive, perceptual and subjective value judgments. Prerequisite: PSY 101.
PSY 440-449. Advanced Topics in Psychology (3).
Courses in this series offer an in-depth exploration of specific issues and topics within the various subspecialties of psychology. These courses are intended for students who wish to pursue their studies in a particular field beyond the basic course offered in areas such as clinical, cognitive, developmental and social psychology. Problems of academic and social significance are chosen for study. Topics will be changed each semester Prerequisite: PSY 101 and either a basic course in psychology subspecialty in which an advanced topics course is being offered or permission of the instructor.
PSY 440 (CFM 417). Medical Social Psychology (3).
Organized around the problem of "medical noncomplicance," this course views patients as decision makers who decide whether or not to follow medical advice. Intra- and interpersonal factors that affect these decision are studied. Topics include health care as an interpersonal process, models of patient decision making and behavior, how patients make sense out of physical symptoms, and patient-provider communication.
PSY 442. Infancy (3).
A comprehensive overview of growth and development during the first three years of life. Topics covered will include how infants gather information from the world around them, what we know about infants' relationships with other people, and about the uniqueness of their personalities. A concerted effort will be made to achieve a balance between theory, research, and practical information.
PSY 443. Integrating Eastern and Western Approaches to Psychology (3).
The purpose of this course is to familiarize students with orientations from both Eastern and Western psychology. This includes focus on theory and research, along with experiential classroom exercises in various healing approaches, such as Buddhism, Sufism, Morita Therapy, Psychoanalysis, Behavior Therapy, and Cognitive Therapy, among others. Emphasis will be upon expanding one's thinking by integrating Eastern and Western approaches, toward enlarging the view of possibilities in understanding ourselves and others, and in promoting healing and growth. Prerequisite: PSY 101.
PSY 444. Narrative Psychology (3).
Employing a pro-seminar format, this course examines the emergence of narrative or story construction as an increasingly influential and integrating paradigm in psychology. The conceptual foundations of the narrative perspective will be traced thematically and contrasted with more traditional models of human psychological functioning. Particular attention will be paid to autobiographical memory, self-narrative and identity development as well as narrative interpretations of psychoanalysis and psychotherapy. Contributions of the cultural and social constructionist traditions to narrative psychology will be cited throughout. Recent advances in narrative research methodologies will be examined, particularly those qualitative approaches which focus upon interview and other autobiographical sources of data. Each student will be expected to prepare a major seminar presentation. Prerequisites: PSY 101, PSY 201 (or equivalent) and at least one major psychology subspecialty course at the 200-or 300-level. Limited to juniors and seniors.
PSY 445. The Psychology of Grief: Current Understandings and Interventions (3).
Psychology 445 will examine grief processes that take place within individuals and families as they experience loss. The course will focus on the nature and causes of grief as well as strategies for effective counseling interventions. There will be an emphasis on loss due to death, however, other types of psychosocial and physical losses will also be considered. Accordingly, we will explore a variety of factors that facilitate and/or impede the ability to function after loss.
The course will initially trace the development of dominant models of grief and their historical and theoretical underpinnings. Considerable emphasis will be on examining the grief process as it is played out in the context of family. The family is seen as an interactive system, with a complex mix of actions, perceptions and expectations that influences relationships and the experience of grief among family members. This course will also consider a postmodern view of bereavement as a complex phenomenon embedded in a unique context involving social, cultural, philosophical and psychological factors.
PSY 446. Cognition and Aging (3).
This course will examine the normal cognitive changes that our growing senior population faces. We will discuss and distinguish between the types of cognition that remain stable with age and those that tend to decline with age. Specifically, this course will focus on how attention, memory, language processing, and problem solving change are affected by the aging process. The course will also question whether intelligence changes with age and will examine how creativity and wisdom contribute to definitions of intelligence. Students will be required to write a term paper I APA style on a topic related to cognition and aging. Prerequisites or corequisites: Senior psychology major or permission of instructor.
PSY 447. Psychology of Stereotype, Prejudice and Discrimination (3).
This course is designed to enhance the understanding of the development and persistence of stereotypes. The psychology of social cognition with regard to the accuracy and inaccuracy of those stereotypes will be addressed as well as how the inaccuracies may lead to prejudice and discrimination. We will explore how this affects our social interactions; specifically addressing the areas of race, class and gender. Students will read book chapters and journal articles and are expected to contribute to classroom discussions of these materials. Students will also complete a writing project. Prerequisites or corequisites: PSY 101 and PSY 201 or permission from instructor. SENIORS ONLY.
PSY 448. CLINICAL NEUROPSYCHOLOGY (3).
Clinical neuropsychology studies human behavior following damage to or dysfunction of the nervous system. Such study seeks to establish both (a) the accurate assessment and remediation of damage or dysfunction and (b) a more complete understanding of the intact nervous system. Utilizing a proseminar format, this course is designed to introduce the advanced undergraduate student of psychology to the research findings and clinical applications of this developing subfield within psychology. Both case studies and laboratory-based research will be reviewed. Topics will include general principles of the brain-behavior relationship, basic and higher cognitive functions of the cerebral cortex, neuropsychological testing and assessment, and processes of rehabilitation. Prerequisites: PSY 101 and BIO 103 or equivalent, or permission of the instructor.
PSY 449. The Psychology of Disability (3).
This course explores in-depth some of the major psychological issues relevant to the field of disabilities. Following a seminar format, topics to be discussed include: autism, cerebral palsy, mental retardation, deafness, blindness, dual diagnosis, housing alternatives, self advocacy, sibling relationships, the social meaning of disabled, deinstitutionalization and human relationships. The perspective of the person with a disability and/or their family and support systems will be considered. Prerequisites: PSY 101; PSY 315 recommended.
PSY 471. Projects in Psychology (1-3).
Under faculty supervision, students who are especially interested and qualified may assist faculty members in research. Requirements to be determined by the student and faculty member. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor. Hours and credit to be determined by the instructor and student. Experiential course.
PSY 490-491. Field Experience in Psychology (3) and (3).
This course offers students an opportunity to synthesize and integrate their academic knowledge within a field setting in psychology. Students are placed in a mental health or other human service agency in which psychologists work or psychological concepts and principles significantly inform the goals and practices of the organization. Each student receives close supervision within the agency setting. Students also meet weekly in a group with the course instructor to discuss issues and problems related to their experience. Offered on a high pass/pass/fail basis only. Eight hours field experience and one hour classwork per week for two semesters. Only open to senior psychology majors with permission of the instructor or department chair. Must be taken for two semesters. Experiential course.
PSY 499. Research in Psychology.
An upper-class student who wishes to undertake a research project for academic credit during a given semester must submit a research proposal prior to registration and a research report at the end of the semester. The proposal, indicating the number of credits sought, must be approved by the research director, the department chair and the assistant academic vice president. It will be kept on file, along with the research report, in the assistant academic vice president's office. Three hours work per week for each credit. Hours and credit to be determined by the instructor and student. Experiential course.
