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Major
To complete a major in psychology, students must complete seven required foundation courses and five elective courses, where at least one course is taken from each discipline area. The degree awarded is the Bachelor or Arts; thus, in addition to the courses required for the major, students must complete at least one semester of a foreign language at the second semester elementary-level or higher. Any course taken outside of the traditional undergraduate program to satisfy degree requirements must be approved by the department. Transfer courses may satisfy major requirements if shown on an official transcript and approved by psychology faculty.
Minor
A minor in psychology consists of Introduction to Psychology and any four additional courses in psychology. No course can be used to satisfy both major and minor requirements.
Required Foundation Courses
PSY 101. Introduction to Psychology
BIO 101. General Biology I
BIO 102. General Biology II
MAT 111. Statistics
PSY 301. Research Methods
PSY 302. Advanced Experimental Psychology
PSY 405. History and Systems
Clinical Psychology Discipline Area
PSY 205. Theories of Personality
PSY 206. Abnormal Psychology
PSY 303. Psychological Testing
PSY 490. Advanced Special Topics in Clinical Psychology
Cognitive/Developmental Psychology Discipline Area
EDU 201. Educational Psychology
PSY 201. Developmental Psychology
PSY 307. Cognitive Psychology
PSY 490. Advanced Special Topics in Psychology
Psychology/Biology Discipline Area
PSY 308. Sensation and Perception
PSY 309. Behavioral Neuroscience
PSY 310. Drugs, Brain and Behavior
PSY 490. Advanced Special Topics in Psychology
Social Psychology Discipline Area
PSY 202. Organizational Psychology
PSY 204. Social Psychology
PSY 490. Advanced Special Topics in Psychology
PSY 101. Introduction to Psychology..........................................................................4 hours
This course provides a general introduction to psychology, with an emphasis on helping students appreciate how psychologist attempt to answer questions using the scientific method. Topics within neuropsychology, learning, memory, development, clinical and social psychology are considered from an empirical point of view. Offered every semester.
PSY 201. Developmental Psychology..........................................................................4 hours
The ways in which individuals understand the world and each other change dramatically from birth to adolescence. This course will trace these developments, particularly those of cognition, social behavior and self-concept. The factors influencing development, such as heredity and the social/cultural environment will be emphasized. Offered annually in the spring. Prerequisite: PSY 101 with a grade of “C-” or higher.
EDU 201. Educational Psychology.............................................................................4 hours
A study of learning theory and its application to such problems as classroom management, the organization of learning activities, understanding individual differences and evaluating teaching and learning. Emphasis is given to factors which facilitate and interfere with learning. Offered annually in the spring. Prerequisite: PSY 101 with a grade of “C” or higher.
PSY 202. Organizational Psychology..........................................................................4 hours
Organizations and the individuals who function within them will be examined from the perspective of psychological theory and research. Consideration will be given both to broad topics relevant to all organizations, such as communications, groups and leadership, and to topics specific to the work environment, such as employee selection, training and evaluation. Offered odd years in the spring. Prerequisite: PSY 101 with a grade of “C-” or higher.
PSY 203. Learning and Conditioning .........................................................................4 hours
This course examines the empirical and theoretical issues surrounding learned behavior. Most of the data discussed come from studies in animal learning but special emphasis will be placed on how learning principles explain everyday human behavior and are used in the treatment of abnormal behavior patterns. Offered annually in the fall. Prerequisite: PSY 101 with a grade of “C-” or higher.
PSY 204. Social Psychology.........................................................................................4 hours
Social psychology is the study of human beings in interaction with each other or under the pressure of forces of social influence. The course will include a consideration of conformity, persuasion, attraction, aggression, self-presentation and other relevant aspects of the social life. Offered annually in the fall. Prerequisite: PSY 101 with a grade of “C-” or higher.
PSY 205. Theories of Personality ...............................................................................4 hours
The goal of this course is to acquaint the student with the major theories of personality and with approaches to the scientific evaluation of them. Students will be encouraged to engage in critical analysis and theoretical comparisons of the ideas presented from diverse, and often contradictory, perspectives. Offered annually in the fall. Prerequisite: PSY 101 with a grade of “C-” or higher.
PSY 206. Abnormal Psychology..................................................................................4 hours
There are three main goals in this course. The first is to enhance the student’s understanding of psychopathology and major treatment approaches. The second is to help the student learn to evaluate critically the research evidence regarding therapeutic interventions. The third is to encourage a self-examination of the student’s attitudes and those of our society regarding mental illness and the full range of human individual differences. Offered annually in the spring. Prerequisite: PSY 101 with a grade of “C-” or higher.
PSY 290. Special Topics in Psychology ..…....................................................... 4 hours
Courses of selected topics will be offered periodically as determined by the needs of the curriculum. Prerequisite: See individual course listing in the current semester class schedule.
PSY 291. Special Topics in Clinical Psychology ..….......................................... 4 hours
Courses of selected topics will be offered periodically as determined by the needs of the curriculum. Prerequisite: See individual course listing in the current semester class schedule.
PSY 301. Research Methods........................................................................................4 hours
Through a combination of class discussion and hands-on research activity, this course provides students with exposure to a variety of research approaches. The course begins with an examination of descriptive methods, such as naturalistic observation, surveys and archival research, and concludes with an analysis of controlled experimental methods. Quasi-experimental designs and applications of research methods are also explored. Offered annually in the fall. Prerequisites: PSY 101 with a grade of “C-” or higher and MAT 111.
PSY 302. Advanced Experimental Psychology ..........................................................4 hours
This sequel to the introductory research methods course provides an in-depth analysis of controlled experimentation in a laboratory setting. Each student will design and conduct an individual research project to fulfill the laboratory component of the course. Offered annually in the spring. Prerequisite: PSY 301.
PSY 303. Psychological Testing .................................................................................4 hours
This course covers the selection, interpretation and applications of psychological tests, including tests of intellectual ability, vocational and academic aptitudes and personality. The most common uses of test results in educational institutions, clinical settings, business, government and the military will be considered. The history of psychological testing and the interpretation of test results also will be considered from both traditional and critical perspectives. Although students will have the opportunity to see many psychological tests, this course is not intended to train students actually to administer tests. Offered odd years in the spring. Prerequisites: PSY 101 with a grade of “C-” or higher and MAT 111.
PSY 307. Cognitive Psychology...................................................................................4 hours
This course explores the nature and function of human thought processes. Topics to be considered include perception, attention, remembering and forgetting, mental imagery, psycholinguistics, problem solving and reasoning. Offered even years in the fall. Prerequisite: PSY 101 with a grade of “C-” or higher.
PSY 308. Sensation and Perception ............................................................................4 hours
This course explores how the brain and body transduce, organize and interpret information from the environment. Topics covered will include psychophysical methods, signal detection theory and the neural mechanisms underlying vision, hearing, taste, smell and touch. Offered even years in the spring. Prerequisites: PSY 101 with a grade of “C-” or higher and BIO 102. (Biology majors only need BIO 102.)
PSY 309. Behavioral Neuroscience.............................................................................4 hours
This course focuses on the neural and hormonal correlates of behavior including sleep, feeding, sexual behavior, learning and memory, language, movement and psychopathology including mood disorders and schizophrenia. Other topics include methods used in the brain sciences, the connection between stress and illness and how the brain recovers from injury. Offered annually in the fall. Prerequisites: PSY 101 with a grade of “C-” or higher and BIO 102. (Biology majors only need BIO 102.)
PSY 310. Drugs, the Brain and Behavior...................................................................4 hours
This course examines the effects of psychoactive drugs on the central nervous system and behavior. Both recreational and illicit drugs (opiods, stimulants, sedatives, hallucinogens) and those used to treat mental disorders (antianxiety agents, antidepressants, antipsychotics) will be covered. Drug action at the synaptic level, dose-response functions, tolerance and sensitization and toxicity will be discussed. Offered odd years in the spring. Prerequisites: PSY 101 with a grade of “C-” or higher and BIO 102. (Biology majors only need BIO 102.)
PSY 405. History and Systems of Psychology.............................................................4 hours
A study of the historic development of modern psychology, this course covers its philosophical and scientific ancestry, the major schools of thought, the contemporary systems of psychology and their theoretical and empirical differences. Recommended for the senior year. Offered annually in the spring. Prerequisites: Two or more psychology courses and senior standing or permission of the instructor.
PSY 406. Directed Research in Psychology................................................................4 hours
Original investigations and detailed studies of the literature in selected areas of psychology will be supervised by a faculty member. Emphasis will be on original research. Prerequisites: PSY 301 and permission of the instructor.
PSY 407. Internship in Psychology ..........................................................................1-4 hours
An internship is designed to provide a formalized experiential learning opportunity to qualified students. The internship generally requires the student to obtain a faculty supervisor in the relevant field of study, submit a learning agreement, work 30 hours for every hour of academic credit, keep a written journal of the work experience, have regularly scheduled meetings with the faculty supervisor and write a research paper dealing with some aspect of the internship. Written work should total five pages of academic writing for every hour of credit. An extensive list of internships is maintained by career services, including opportunities mentioned in the major overview. Graded on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis. Prerequisites: Permission of the faculty exedcommit
PSY 408. Independent Study in Psychology ............................................................1-4 hours
This course provides the opportunity for an intense study of diverse topics under the direct supervision of the instructor. Prerequisite: Submission of a proposed outline of study that includes a schedule of meetings and assignments approved by the instructor, the division chair and the provost no later than the second day of classes of the semester of study. For additional criteria, see Independent Study Policy in the Academic Regulations and Policies section of this Bulletin.
PSY 490. Advanced Special Topics in Psychology.....................................................4 hours
The seminar will provide examination and discussion of various topics of contemporary interest in psychology. Prerequisite: PSY 101 with a grade of “C-” or higher.
PSY 491. Advanced Special Topics in Clinical Psychology.......................................4 hours
The focus of the course is on the examination and discussion of topics of contemporary interest in clinical psychology. Offered even years in the spring. Prerequisite: PSY 306.
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