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Psychology Department Homepage

PSY 100. Introductory Psychology (1 course)

This course is a thorough survey of the major areas and approaches in psychology. As a discipline, psychology examines how humans and other organisms develop, function and adapt, including such topics as: how the brain and nervous system function; how we sense and perceive information from our environment; how we learn, remember, think about and interact with the world and each other; how we change during development from birth to old age; why we are motivated to act as we do; the factors that make each of us distinct individuals; what causes psychological disorders; and how those disorders are treated. The course places particular emphasis on scientific methodologies within the discipline.

PSY 210. Statistics for Behavioral Sciences (1 course)

Application of descriptive and inferential statistics to the behavioral sciences. Includes measures of central tendency, variability and correlation, estimation and tests of significance, including chi square, t-test and analysis of variance. Prerequisite: PSY 100. Required of Psychology majors as a prerequisite for PSY 220. May not be taken Pass-Fail. Students who have completed MATH 340 or ECON 350 may not take PSY 210 for credit.

PSY 220. Research Methods (includes laboratory) (1 course)                               

A course in methods of research, experimental design and statistical applications. Lab includes collection of data on human and animal behavior for analysis and report writing. Prerequisite: PSY 100 and PSY 210. Required of Psychology majors. May not be taken Pass-Fail. 

PSY 240. Topics in Psychology (1/2-1 course)

May be repeated for credit with different topics. Prerequisite: PSY 100.

PSY 250. Brain and Behavior (1 course)

The brain's role in such functions as emotion, language, learning, sexual behavior, perception, sleep and rhythms, motivation, abnormal behavior, etc. May be used as a precursor to other courses in Psychology, particularly on the topics above, and as an introduction to the topics covered more thoroughly in PSY 401. Prerequisite: PSY 100. Not open to students with previous credit for PSY 401.

PSY 260. Social Psychology (1 course)

An examination of the effects of the presence and influence of others on human behavior. Topics to be covered include conformity, persuasion, aggression, prejudice, interpersonal attraction and behavior within groups. Prerequisite: PSY 100. Not open to students with credit in SOC 319.

PSY 280. Cognitive Psychology (1 course)

Examination of the psychological structures and processes involved in the acquisition, retention and use of knowledge. Topics covered include perception, pattern recognition, attention, memory, thinking, language, problem solving and decision making. Prerequisite: PSY 100.

PSY 290. Developmental Psychology (1 course)

The psychological factors in human development from conception through adolescence. Attention is given to cognitive, emotional, social and physical development. Prerequisite: PSY 100.

PSY 310. Industrial and Organizational Psychology (1 course)

The application of psychological methods and principles to industrial and organizational behavior. Topics include: personnel selection, performance appraisal, assessment validity, motivation, management, supervision, organizational climate, human factors, job design and the different behavioral consequences of these methods in various settings. Prerequisite: PSY 100. May not be taken Pass-Fail.

PSY 320. Consumer Psychology (1 course)

The concepts, findings, theory and methods of research in consumer behavior. Psychological data, consumer differentiation, market segmentation and media applications are presented as the basis for advertising strategy. Prerequisite: PSY 100. May not be taken Pass-Fail.

PSY 325. Psychological Assessment (1/2-1 course)

The theory, interpretation and administration of psychological tests. Emphasis on group tests, standardized administration, norms, reliability, validity, item analysis and co-relational research methods. Recommended for majors who plan to work in clinical, industrial and educational settings. Prerequisite: PSY 100.

PSY 339. Child and Adolescent Psychopathology (1 course)

An in-depth consideration of the issues related to children and adolescents exhibiting social and behavioral deficits, learning disorders and mental retardation. For the majority of the course, a developmental paradigm is used to consider the pathology exhibited by these children; however, other paradigms are considered when necessary. The role of parents, teachers and other caregivers in the lives of these children is addressed, as is the diagnostic, educational and therapeutic procedures used to identify and address the pathology.

PSY 340. Topics in Psychology (1/2-1 course)

Prerequisite: PSY 100. May be repeated for credit with different topics.

PSY 345. Psychology of Gender (1 course)

This course examines the theory and data concerning the psychological and experiential similarities and differences between females and males. Topics/issues covered may include: development of sex roles; sex differences in verbal and mathematical ability; experiences of sexuality, parenthood and friendship; differences in career-work attitudes and experiences; violence against women; and gender issues in mental health-therapy. Prerequisite: PSY 100.

PSY 385. Sensation and Perception (1 course)

A survey of past and current theories and data concerning human acquisition of information from the environment through the senses. Topics range from the anatomy and neuroanatomy of the sensory systems (visual, hearing, smell, taste, touch) to perception of visual illusions, color, motion, time, music and speech. Prerequisite: PSY 100. Recommended: PSY 280.

PSY 390. Abnormal Psychology (1 course)

An introductory survey of maladaptive and disordered behaviors and thought processes in humans. The objectives of this course include developing an understanding of the definition of abnormality and the historical and social values that play a role in this definition. In addition, the contributions of clinical research on abnormal behavior are considered, as are different theoretical approaches that attempt to explain the onset of abnormal behavior. Finally, issues related to the assessment and diagnosis of abnormality, and defining characteristics of each of the major diagnostic categories are covered. Prerequisite: PSY 100.

PSY 401. Physiological Psychology (1 course)

The physiological mechanisms underlying behavior. Includes basic neurophysiology, sensory functions, motivation, emotion, memory, etc. Prerequisite: PSY 100.

PSY 403. Motivation (1 course)

An experimental course that focuses on theories and research pertaining to the arousal, direction and persistence of behavior. The course is organized around specific motivational issues. Prerequisite: PSY 100.

PSY 406. History of Psychology (1 course)

An introduction to the classical and contemporary approaches to the science of psychology. Theoretical positions are discussed in terms of their historical antecedents, formal founding and development and later influences. Classical schools such as Structuralism, Functionalism, Behaviorism, Gestalt and Psychoanalysis, and more recent developments in psychology are presented. Prerequisite: PSY 100.

PSY 411. Psychology of Personality (1 course)

A survey and evaluation of the major contemporary theories of personality. In addition, personality measurement and research on topics of current importance are covered. Prerequisite: PSY 100.

PSY 415. Psychotherapy and Behavioral Change (1 course)

A survey of the major approaches to affecting cognitive and behavioral changes in both adults and children, including psychoanalysis, behavior modification, cognitive and cognitive-behavioral therapies, humanistic and existential therapies, and others. Special attention is given to the development of the therapeutic relationship and the ethical guidelines followed by psychologists. Ethical, legal and moral dilemmas in the practice of therapy are also considered. Prerequisite: PSY 100.

PSY 420. Psychology of Learning (1 course)

This course examines the mechanisms that allow humans and other organisms to adapt to their environments based on experience within a lifetime. The course opens with coverage of innate adaptive mechanisms, then focuses on: A. how organisms acquire new information, and; B. how that information guides action within environmental constraint. The course places particular emphasis on links between the study of learning and other areas of psychology, e.g., physiological, developmental, social, cognitive and abnormal, and also biology. Prerequisite: PSY 100.

PSY 440. Directed Research (1/2-1 course)

Opportunity to work with faculty members on research in psychology. Contact individual faculty members to learn of their current research interests. Prerequisite: a minimum final course grade of B- in PSY 210 and PSY 220; at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA in the major; permission of the instructor. May be repeated to earn a total of one credit.

PSY 450. Senior Seminar (1 course)

Individual work on selected topics. A major literature survey and paper. (Includes additional examination which must be taken the fall semester as part of senior comprehensive requirement.) This course is designed for students who do not plan to take the 451-452 Seminar-Senior Thesis sequence. Prerequisite: PSY 210, PSY 220 and a major in Psychology. This course or the PSY 451-452 sequence is required of Psychology majors in the senior year. May not be taken Pass-Fail.

PSY 451. Independent Senior Projects (1 course)

Extensive literature survey, oral reports and written proposal of a research design. (Includes additional examination which must be taken the fall semester as part of senior comprehensive requirement.) Prerequisite: minimum final course grades of B in PSY 210 and PSY 220, at least a 3.0 overall cumulative GPA; a major in Psychology. This course or PSY 450 is required of Psychology majors in the senior year. Students must register for same section time second semester (PSY 452). May not be taken Pass-Fail.

PSY 452. Senior Thesis (1 course)

Each student is required to complete an individual research project (designed in PSY 451) under staff supervision and to submit a thesis. Prerequisite: PSY 451 and permission of research sponsor. This course or PSY 450 is required of Psychology majors in the senior year. Students must remain in same section as first semester (PSY 451).

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