Psychology

PSYC 105 — (E) Brain and Human Nature — 3 credits

An examination of the human mind, brain and why we are the way we are. Topics include: the mind-body problem, the nature of consciousness, the evolution of behavior, addictions (e.g., love), eating disorders, depression, and aggression. (Credit cannot be earned for this course and PSYC 231; not open to Psychology majors or minors.)

PSYC 106 — (E) Drugs and Behavior — 3 credits

This course will examine interactions between drugs and behavior. Behavioral topics will include: tolerance, addiction, learning, aggression, sexual behavior, eating, anxiety, depression and schizophrenia. Drug/drug categories will include: alcohol, cannabis, opiates, antidepressants and anti-anxiety. (Credit cannot be received for this course and PSYC 384; not open to Psychology majors or minors.)

PSYC 110 — (S) Fundamentals of Psychology — 3 credits

An introduction to the scientific study of behavior through a survey of psychology’s principal methods, content areas and applications. Course requirements include participation in psychological research or preparation of a short article review.

PSYC 110L — Demonstrations For Fundamentals of Psychology — .5 credits

This lab is offered only in the fall semester and is restricted to and required only for students who enter the University as freshman Psychology majors and who are enrolled in the Psychology majors’ fall section of PSYC 110. It is team taught by the psychology faculty and will entail exercises, simulations and applications. The course is graded pass/fail.

PSYC 210 — (Q) Statistics in the Behavioral Sciences — 3 credits

Basic statistics in the behavioral sciences, including organization and display of data; measures of central tendency; variability; correlation and regression; one- and two-sample t-tests; confidence intervals, one-way and two-way analysis of variance, chi-square; and consideration of effect size, power, and null hypothesis testing including types of errors. Introduction to the computerized statistical-analysis package SPSS-PC.

PSYC 220 — (S) Social Psychology — 3 credits

(Prerequisite: PSYC 110) Social determinants of behavior from a psychological perspective. Topics include liking, love, conformity, persuasion, attitude change, and person perception.

PSYC 221 — (S) Childhood and Adolescence — 3 credits

(Prerequisite: PSYC 110) Survey of psychological research dealing with the development and behavior of children. The physical, cognitive and social aspects of development, from infancy to adolescence, are considered.

PSYC 222 — (S) Adulthood and Aging — 3 credits

(Prerequisite: PSYC 110) Survey of psychological research dealing with the age-graded aspects of behavior in adulthood. Course will consider the physical, cognitive and social aspects of the aging process from late adolescence to death. Topics include occupation selection, marriage, parenthood, middle age, retirement and dying.

PSYC 224 — (S) Personality — 3 credits

(Prerequisite: PSYC 110) A survey and critical evaluation of personality and its implications for assessment, psychotherapy, and research.

PSYC 225 — (S) Abnormal Psychology — 3 credits

(Prerequisite: PSYC 110) A comprehensive survey of mental and behavioral disorders from biological, psychological, and sociocultural perspectives. The course will consider diagnosis and labeling, overview of specific disorders, and various treatment approaches.

PSYC 230 — Sensation and Perception — 3-4 credits

(Prerequisite: PSYC 110) Concerns the study of sensory mechanisms and perceptual phenomena. Optional lab entails supervised individual experimentation. Lecture, 3 credits; optional 1-credit laboratory. Lab fee; lab offered only in spring.

PSYC 231 — (E) Behavioral Neuroscience — 3-4.5 credits

(Prerequisite: PSYC 110 or BIOL 141-142) Introduction to the field of neuroscience, examining the cellular bases of behavior, effects of drugs and behavior. brain/body correlates of motivation and emotion, and neural changes accompanying pathology. Three hours lecture and optional 1.5-credit laboratory. Lab fee; lab offered fall only.

PSYC 234 — (S) Cognitive Psychology — 3-4 credits

(Prerequisite: PSYC 110) Considers a number of approaches to the study of human cognitive processes with an emphasis on the information processing model. Topics include pattern recognition, attention, memory, imagery, concepts and categories, and problem solving. Lecture, 3 credits; optional 1-credit laboratory. Lab fee; lab offered fall only.

PSYC 235 — Conditioning and Learning — 3-4.5 credits

(Prerequisite: PSYC 110) Concerns the experimental study of both classical and instrumental conditioning. Optional lab involves supervised animal and human experimentation. Lecture, 3 credits; optional 1-credit laboratory. Lab fee; spring only.

PSYC 236 — Industrial/Organizational Psychology — 3 credits

(Prerequisite: PSYC 110) The psychological study of people at work. Topics include personnel selection and training, motivation, leadership, the physical work environment, and computer applications. Fall only.

PSYC 237 — (D, S) Psychology of Women — 3 credits

(Prerequisite: PSYC 110) Examines the biological, sociological and cultural influences on the psychology of women. Topics include gender socialization, sex roles, and the impact of gender on personality, communication, achievement, and mental health. Fall, every other year.

Special Topics courses at the 200 level are developed by individual faculty to provide in depth coverage of a specific area. Prerequisites include PSYC 110, at least sophomore status, and other Psychology courses as determined by the instructor. This course and PSYC 384 may be used only once to satisfy major elective requirements.

PSYC 284 — Special Topics: Behavior Modification — 3 credits

PSYC 284 — Special Topics: Sports Psychology — 3 credits

PSYC 284 — Special Topics: Psychology of Language — 3 credits

PSYC 330 — Research Methods in the Behavioral Sciences — 5 credits

(Prerequisites: PSYC 110; a grade of C or higher in PSYC 210) A survey of scientific method and research design in the behavioral sciences. Topics include single subject, survey, correlational and experimental research. Lecture and lab involve computerized data analyses. Lab also includes supervised research and scientific writing. Lecture, 3 credits; lab, 2 credits. Lab fee; lab offered only in spring. The laboratory is writing-intensive (W).

PSYC 335 — (W) Psychological Testing — 3 credits

(Prerequisites: PSYC 110; a grade of C or higher in PSYC 210) Provides a thorough grounding in principles of testing and a review of the major types of assessment, including intellectual, personality, and interest.

PSYC 360 — (W) Clinical Psychology — 3 credits

(Prerequisites: PSYC 110; a grade of C or higher in PSYC 225) An overview of contemporary clinical psychology focusing on its practices, contributions and directions. Topics include clinical research, psychological assessment, psychotherapy systems, community applications, and emerging specialties, such as health and forensic psychology. Fall only.

Special Topics courses at the 300 level are developed by individual Psychology faculty to provide in-depth coverage of a specific area. Prerequisites include PSYC 110, at least sophomore status, and other Psychology courses as determined by the instructor. This course and PSYC 284 may be used only once to satisfy major elective requirements.

PSYC 384 — Special Topics: Psychopharmacology — 3 credits

(Prerequisite: a grade of C or higher in PSYC 231)

PSYC 384 — Special Topics: Cognitive Psychotherapies — 3 credits

(Prerequisite: a grade of C or higher in PSYC 225)

PSYC 384 — Special Topics: Multivariate Statistics — 3 credits

(Prerequisite: a grade of C or higher in PSYC 210)

PSYC 390 — Academic and Career Development in Psychology — 1 credits

(Prerequisites: Junior standing; Psychology major) This seminar, designed for Psychology majors in their junior year, will entail studying, discussing, and applying information on academic planning, career development, and graduate school. Course requirements include attendance at several academically- related department events or psychologically related university presentations. Graded Satisfactory/ Unsatisfactory. Fall only.

PSYC 480 — Field Experience in Clinical Settings — 3 credits

(Prerequisites: Junior or senior status; a grade of C or higher in PSYC 225; PSYC 335; PSYC 360; permission of instructor) This course entails supervised field experience in a mental health or social-service facility in the community. Students are required to spend 8 hours a week at their placement and 1.5 hours a week in a seminar throughout the semester. The professor provides classroom instruction, and the on site supervisor provides clinical supervision. Graded Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory.

PSYC 481 — Field Experience in Personnel Psychology — 3 credits

(Prerequisites: Junior or senior status; a grade of B or higher in PSYC 236 and 335; MGT 361; permission of instructor) This course entails supervised field experience in a personnel office. Students are required to spend 10 hours a week at their placement and one hour periodically throughout the semester in a seminar. Graded Satisfactory/ Unsatisfactory. Offered as a reader.

PSYC 490 — History and Literature of Psychology I — 2 credits

(Prerequisites: Senior standing; Psychology major or minor) This lecture and discussion course will examine the history of modern psychology from pre-Socratic philosophers to contemporary perspectives. Emphasis will be placed on the influential works of various schools of thought that have shaped the emergence of psychology. Fall only.

PSYC 491 — (W) History and Literature of Psychology II — 1.5 credits

(Prerequisite: Senior standing; a grade of C or higher in PSYC 490) This seminar, designed for students with a major or minor in Psychology, will entail critical reading, analysis, and discussion of selections from the seminal literature in psychology, including selected works of William James, Sigmund Freud, and B.F. Skinner. Individual professors will choose additional readings on the basis of their interests and student preferences. Spring only.

PSYC 493-494 — Undergraduate Research — 3-6 credits

(Prerequisites: Junior or senior standing; PSYC 330; a grade of B or higher in PSYC 330 lecture and the Psychology course most relevant to research topics; permission of instructor) Individual study and research on a specific topic under the supervision of a faculty member. Students are expected to spend a minimum of 10 hours a week on research activities throughout the semester.