The biological, affective, cognitive and social domains of human development are studied individually and integrally as the stages of growth are traced from conception to death.
Credit Hours: 3
/ offered in spring semester
/
Prerequisites: PSY 101
A study of development in adulthood and old age. The psychological, social and biological determinants of age-related changes are discussed. Current theory and empirical evidence are considered. Topics include psychomotor, intellectual functioning, learning, personality and adjustment, and mental health.
Credit Hours: 3
/ offered in fall semester
/
Prerequisites: PSY 101
A study and application of descriptive and inferential statistics used in psychological research including presentations of data, descriptive statistics, and testing of hypotheses.
Credit Hours: 3
/
Prerequisites: PSY 101
An introduction to methodological concepts in psychological investigation including problems in experimental design, procedure and application of statistical principles. Students should have some background in statistics before taking this course.
Credit Hours: 3
/
Prerequisites: PSY 101, PSY 221
This course explores the relationship between the brain, its related systems, and behavior. The basic goals are to examine the physiological and neurological basis of behavior and to approach psychology from a biological perspective. Topics covered include: neuroanatomy and neurochemistry, sleep and arousal, biological rhythms, sexual differentiation and behavior, feeding behavior, the physiology of mental disorders, and neurological disorders.
Credit Hours: 3
/ offered in spring semester
/
Prerequisites: PSY 101
This laboratory, designed to be taken concurrently with PSY 231, will provide students with hands-on experience in neuroanatomy, small animal care, and behavioral testing. Students will also be afforded direct contact with the principles of research design and analysis by conducting laboratory experiments in physiological psychology. The course is optional for students enrolled in PSY 231 and is also open to students who have completed PSY 231.
Credit Hours: 1
/ offered in spring semester
/
Prerequisites: PSY 101, PSY 231
This course emphasizes the study of diverse personality theories representing psychoanalytic, psychometric trait, social learning, and phenomenological viewpoints as well as related assessment techniques, research findings, and their respective applications.
Credit Hours: 3
/ offered in spring semester
/
Prerequisites: PSY 101
Applications of psychological principles to problems in the workplace are explored from the point of view of the individual employee and groups within and the organization. The course focuses on leadership, motivation, job satisfaction and factors influencing productivity. Personnel selection, placement, training, development, appraisals, and organizational theory are also considered.
Credit Hours: 3
/ offered in fall semester
This course is concerned with the detailed experimental study of both classical and operant conditioning, the major theories of learning in psychology. Topics to be covered include schedules of reinforcement, punishment and avoidance learning, discrimination and generalization, learned helplessness, and the influence of genetics on learning. Human applications of classical and operant conditioning will also be discussed.
Credit Hours: 3
/ offered in fall semester
/
Prerequisites: PSY 101
Special topics courses in psychology are offered whenever departmental resources are sufficient to do so. Topics could include, but are not limited to, health psychology, sport psychology, forensic psychology, and biological basis of mental disorders. Students may take up to three special topics courses.
Credit Hours: 3
/
Prerequisites: PSY 101
This course utilizes the concepts of developmental psychology to examine in detail physical, social, emotional, and cognitive development from the prenatal period until pubescence. Typical problems of parenting and child rearing are considering along with research.
Credit Hours: 3
/ offered in fall semester
/
Prerequisites: PSY 101
This course is designed to provide a basic introduction to the field of psychological assessment. Theories, methods, applications, and limitations of assessment in the areas of intelligence, interest, aptitude, personality, and psychopathology are included, as well as problems of test administration, construction and evaluation. As part of the course, students will be afforded direct experience with many well-known psychological assessment methods.
Credit Hours: 3
/ offered in spring semester
/
Prerequisites: PSY 101
An introduction to the study of animal behavior integrating classic and recent work in psychology, animal learning, zoology, neurobiology, physiology, and behavioral ecology. Evolutionary theory is used as an organizing framework for comparing behavior patterns in humans and other species.
Credit Hours: 3
/ offered in spring semester
/
Prerequisites: PSY 101
Cognitive psychology is the scientific study of how people acquire and use information. The course emphasizes major theories in the field and the experimental investigation of such topics as pattern recognition, attention, knowledge representation, memory, problem solving, reasoning, and language.
Credit Hours: 3
/ offered in fall semester
/
Prerequisites: PSY 101
An experimental-theoretical approach to the processing of sensory information and perceptual phenomena. The research questions, methods, and findings from basic sensory processes to complex cognitive processes are discussed. Major emphasis is on the visual and auditory systems. Practical applications are considered.
Credit Hours: 3
/
Prerequisites: PSY 101
The study of motivation is an inquiry into the drives, needs, desires, and numerous other controlling forces operating in goal-seeking behavior. Physiological and behavioristic approaches, activation arousal theory, cognitive, social and self-actualizing theories and research will be examined and compared.
Credit Hours: 3
/ offered in spring semester
/
Prerequisites: PSY 101
This course considers how the variety of social influences impinging upon us daily contributes as one of the many determinants of our behavior in a variety of contexts. Topics covered include: impression formation, interpersonal attraction, the psychology of helping behavior, the development of attitudes, conformity behavior in groups, leadership, and the influence of physical environment on social behavior.
Credit Hours: 3
/ offered in fall semester
/
Prerequisites: PSY 101
An examination of the dimensions, theories, and empirical findings in psychopathology. Topics will include the concept of abnormality, problems and schemes of classification, a review of theoretical approaches to understanding the etiology of psychopathology, a survey of various clinical syndromes, and a discussion of the treatment of selected disorders.
Credit Hours: 3
/ offered in fall semester
/
Prerequisites: PSY 101
This course surveys the major theoretical approaches and intervention techniques within the field of clinical psychology. Approaches covered include the psychodynamic, person-centered, gestalt, cognitive, and behavioral perspectives. Audio and video clips, demonstrations, and role-play exercises are used to supplement the traditional lecture-discussion format.
Credit Hours: 3
/ offered in spring semester
/
Prerequisites: PSY 101
This course examines the evidence for the existence of sex differences in behavior and the biological and social theories which attempt to account for gender differences in our society as well as cross-culturally. An attempt is made to understand the dynamic and perplexing changes facing men and women today.
Credit Hours: 3
/ offered in fall semester
/
Prerequisites: PSY 101
An overview of the historical development of the major doctrines in psychology is presented. This includes integrating social and political events with competing value systems in the formation of scientific thought, and examining how psychology was influenced by different philosophic schools of thought. Special attention will also be devoted to critical issues in the philosophy of science and theory construction.
Credit Hours: 3
/ offered in spring semester
/
Prerequisites: PSY 101
This course is designed to provide the student with a working knowledge of the basic principles of pharmacology, and an understanding of the behavioral and physiological effects of psychoactive compounds. An emphasis is placed on examining how the behavioral effects of drugs are brought about through their actions within the brain.
Credit Hours: 3
/ offered in fall semester
/
Prerequisites: PSY 101
This course is restricted to seniors, and is the capstone course in the psychology major. It involves an intensive investigation of a specific topic in psychology. Students will apply the knowledge and skills acquired over the course of their program to the study of the selected topic. The topic will be determined by the instructor and will vary from semester to semester. Emphasis will be placed on student presentations and participation in a seminar format.
Credit Hours: 3
/
Prerequisites: PSY 101
The opportunity to obtain applied experience in psychology through weekly volunteer work in local agencies carried out under supervision of a professor. Students will meet as a group on a regular basis to discuss their experiences.
Credit Hours: 3
/ offered 2005-2007
/
Prerequisites: PSY 101
