Psychological Sciences Courses: Fall 2015



Psychology

PSY 103: Introduction to Psychological Science

(3) Credit Hour(s)

Fulfills core competency: Contextual Integration. A single-semester introduction to psychological science, including research methods, brain and behavior, individual differences and intelligence, memory, learning, development, motivation, perception, personality, mental disorders, and social psychology. Offered Each Semester. (UG)


PSY 209: Sexuality and Psychology of Love

(3) Credit Hour(s)

Fulfills core competency: Critical Thinking and Problem Solving. This course examines the biological, psychological, emotional, and social components of human sexual behavior. Sample topics include historical aspects of human sexuality, theories of human sexual behavior and attitudes, love and attraction, gender identity, sexuality across different stages of development, sexual dysfunctions and disease, and forms of sexuality that are currently listed in the DSM 5 as symptomatic of a paraphilic disorder. Topics will be discussed within the framework of the scientific method, and may also address ethical and legal considerations. Presentation of course material and the discussions that occur will sometimes require exposure to sexually explicit materials and/or content. Prerequisite: PSY 103 or permission of instructor. Offered As Needed. (UG)


PSY 220: Life Span Development

(3) Credit Hour(s)

This course will explore human psychological development from birth through aging, including physiological, cognitive, and psychosocial changes that occur from birth until death. The role of individual/personality characteristics, relationships with others, and the sociocultural environment in which individuals live will be discussed with regard to their influence on social, cognitive, emotional, and psychophysiological development. Current research and theories used to describe and explain human growth and change will be discussed within the framework of the scientific method. Prerequisite: PSY 103. Offered as needed. (UG)


PSY 223: Forensic Psychology

(3) Credit Hour(s)

Fulfills core competency: Critical Thinking and Problem Solving. This course surveys multiple ways in which the field of psychology and the legal system interact. Theories of criminal behavior, available treatment for mentally ill offenders, and ethical controversies related to psychologists' involved in law are also discussed. Topics include mental disorders and crime, competency to stand trial and the insanity defense, eyewitness testimony and other questions of evidence, forensic assessment (polygraph testing, hypnosis), psychopathy, serial murder, sexual offending, and juvenile crime. Prerequisite: PSY 103 or permission of instructor. Offered Each Year (Fall or Spring). (UG)


PSY 229: Health Psychology

(3) Credit Hour(s)

Fulfills core competency: Critical Thinking and Problem Solving. This course examines psychosocial influences on how we stay healthy, why we become sick, and why individuals have different responses when they become ill. The biopsychosocial model will be discussed as it relates to individuals' risk for illness, resilience, ability to achieve optimal wellness, and longevity. Topics include placebo and nocebo effects, stress and coping, trauma and resilience, personality and disease, emotional influences on illness, health behavior change, addiction, eating disorders, and medical adherence. Prerequisite: PSY 103 or permission of instructor. Offered Alternate Years (Fall or Spring). (UG)


PSY 231: Behavior Disorders of Childhood and Adolescence

(3) Credit Hour(s)

This course introduces psychological conditions that occur in childhood and adolescence (infancy to 18 years) including Anxiety and Mood Disorders, Conduct Disorder, Attention Deficit Disorders, Language and Learning Disabilities, Intellectual Disability, Autism Spectrum Disorder, disorders of basic physical functions (for example, eating disorders), and psychological aspects of medical conditions. The course is grounded in psychological science, and therefore is evidence based and includes research methods and ethical issues in research and treatment of developmental psychopathology. It also includes treatment issues, with special attention to Applied Behavior Analysis. The course is a Psychology elective and covers topics required in the sequence of courses that prepares students for Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst certification. Prerequisite: PSY 103. (UG)


PSY 302: Developmental Psychology: Infancy Through Childhood

(3) Credit Hour(s)

Fulfills core competency: Critical Thinking and Problem Solving. This course explores human psychological development from infancy through childhood, including cognitive and language development, socialization, and personality. The course will also include a critical evaluation of current methodologies used to study development, and discussions of practical and social applications of psychological knowledge about children. This course includes observations of children in real life settings. Prerequisite: PSY 103 or permission of instructor. Offered as Needed. (UG)


PSY 304: Counseling and Interviewing

(3) Credit Hour(s)

This course is an introduction to theories of counseling and psychotherapy, emphasizing the acquisition of basic skills in listening and interviewing. This is a practical and applied as well as theoretical course including demonstrations of counseling techniques, and practice using these techniques in class. Course format is varied, including lecture, group discussion, team based activities, and hands-on practice of skills being learned in lecture portions of the course. Prerequisite: PSY 103 or permission of instructor. Offered as Needed. (UG)


PSY 309: Assessment in Psychology and Education

(3) Credit Hour(s)

This course considers historical, political, and legal aspects of testing and reviews currently available tests of aptitudes, skills, and personality traits. The course will review test construction, test item selection and interpretation, and ethical issues that arise in testing/assessment situations. Students in this course will participate in hands-on activities that help them develop skills in test use and interpretation of test results. Prerequisite: PSY 103 or permission of instructor. Offered As Needed. (UG)


PSY 310: Social Psychology

(3) Credit Hour(s)

This course focuses on the ways in which individuals' thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are influenced by the presence of others/social interaction. Experimental findings will be used to understand individuals in a social context. Sample topics include stereotyping and prejudice, conformity and obedience, attitude formation and persuasion, and aggression and conflict. In addition, practical application of theory and research findings will be discussed (e.g., jury decision making, reducing prejudice). Prerequisite: PSY 103 or permission of instructor. Offered Each Year (Fall or Spring). (UG)


PSY 311: Psychology of Adolescence

(3) Credit Hour(s)

Fulfills core competency: Critical Thinking and Problem Solving. This course introduces students to psychological changes that occur between childhood and adulthood, including psychological correlates of physical maturation, cultural definitions of adolescence, cognitive change, and social challenges facing adolescents. Prerequisite: PSY 103 or permission of instructor. Offered Each Year (Fall or Spring). (UG)


PSY 312: Psychology of Adult Development and Aging

(3) Credit Hour(s)

Fulfills core competency: Critical Thinking and Problem Solving. This course views adulthood and aging as developmental stages. Sample topics include the interaction between behavior and physical change, cognitive and role change, life stage theories, and cultural definitions of adulthood and aging. Although the course focuses on normal development, consideration of psychological aspects of problems associated with aging will also be discussed. Prerequisite: PSY 103 or permission of instructor. Offered As Needed. (UG)


PSY 313: History and Systems of Psychology

(3) Credit Hour(s)

This course traces the evolution of psychology from its historical roots in philosophy and nineteenth century physiology through the present. Past and present theories that have shaped and continue to shape the science and practice of psychology will be discussed. Strengths and weaknesses of theory and methodology that has evolved over time within the discipline will also be analyzed. Prerequisite: PSY 103 or permission of instructor. Offered As Needed. (UG)


PSY 315: Cognitive Psychology: Learning, Thinking and Problem Solving

(3) Credit Hour(s)

This course introduces students to the scientific study of mental processes and human information processing, with emphasis on theory and research findings, both historical and present. Sample topics include: visual and auditory processing, attention, memory, language acquisition and processing, reasoning, decision making, and problem solving. Prerequisite: PSY 103 or permission of instructor. Offered Each Year (Fall or Spring) . (UG)


PSY 316: Principles of Learning and Behavior Modification

(3) Credit Hour(s)

This course introduces the principles and procedures of Learning and Behavior Modification, including operant and respondent conditioning and their component procedures, including reinforcement, extinction, punishment, stimulus control, discrimination, generalization, shaping, prompting, and chaining. Students will be introduced to the research designs, data recording methods, and data analytic procedures of behavior modification, and will apply course material by designing and conducting a self-management project. Prerequisite: PSY103 or equivalent. Offered Each Year (Fall or Spring). (UG)


PSY 321: Sensation and Perception

(3) Credit Hour(s)

Fulfills core competency: Critical Thinking and Problem Solving; Information Literacy; Writing Intensive. This course introduces students to theories, empirical data, and research tools and techniques related to sensation and perception. Perceptual organization and the relationship of perception to clinical and social areas will be considered. Prerequisites: CMP 101 and PSY 103. Offered Each Year (Fall or Spring). (UG)


PSY 333: Statistics for Psychology and Social Sciences

(3) Credit Hour(s)

Fulfills core competency: Critical Thinking and Problem Solving; Quantitative Literacy requirement. This course covers topics such as probability, frequency distributions, and descriptive and inferential statistics, including correlational, and ANOVA. Emphasis will be placed on the application of statistics to the analysis of research data. Prerequisite: PSY 103 and 3 credits MTH 100 or higher or Placement test score in credited math course. Offered Each Semester. (UG)


PSY 335: Junior Seminar in Psychology

(3) Credit Hour(s)

This course involves students in an in-depth exploration of a specific topic or a series of related topics in contemporary psychology through primary source readings in the research literature, and secondary source material relevant to discussion and analysis (topics may vary each semester). Course format is generally discussion rather than lecture oriented. Brief lectures may be used to provide a framework for discussion and debate. Students develop critical thinking, critical reading, analytic, research, and writing skills by preparing discussion topics in both oral and written format. Prerequisite: Upper division status in Psychology and completion of PSY 353/353L with C or better, or permission of instructor. Offered Each Semester. (UG)


PSY 353: Research Methods in Psychology

(4) Credit Hour(s)

This course is the first in a required sequence of research courses for upper division psychology majors. The main purpose of this course is to help students understand psychology as a behavioral science by introducing them to the methods by which psychologists gather, analyze, and evaluate data. Topics include: Experimental methods, correlational methods, survey methods, observational designs, single subject methods, and validity and reliability of methods and measures. Students will engage in hands-on laboratory exercises involving literature review, planning research studies, collecting and statistically analyzing data with a statistical software program, and reporting research in the style and format of the American Psychological Association. This course culimnates in a required literature review that forms the basis of a research proposal. Prerequisite: PSY 333 with C or better and upper division status. Offered Each Semester. (UG)


PSY 353L: Research Methods in Psychology Laboratory

(0) Credit Hour(s)

Fundamental research and statistical analysis techniques in psychological science. Corequisite: PSY 353. (UG)


PSY 354: Topics in Psychological Research Psychology

(4) Credit Hour(s)

This course is the second in a required sequence of research courses for upper dvision psychology majors. Building on skills learned in PSY 353 Plus Laboratory, students plan, conduct, analyze, and report several research projects focused on one topic area of psychology (topic varies by instuctor). Topics include personality and health, development, cognitive processes (e.g., attention, memory), biopsychology, and social psychology. As in Psy 353 Plus Laboratory, students will engage in hands-on laboratory exercises, collect data, and analyze data using statistical software. This course culimnates in a required research proposal and HSRRC application that forms the basis of the senior thesis requirement for graduation in the major. Prerequisite: PSY 353 Plus Laboratory with C or better and upper division status. Offered Each Semester. (UG)


PSY 354L: Topics in Psychological Research Lab Psychology Lab

(0) Credit Hour(s)

Fundamental research and statistical analysis techniques in specific areas of psychological science. Corequisite: PSY 354. (UG)


PSY 380: Drugs and Behavior

(3) Credit Hour(s)

Fulfills core competency: Critical Thinking and Problem Solving. This course surveys behavioral effects of psychotropic drugs as a result of drug distribution, drug elimination, and drug-receptor interactions in the body. It covers fundamentals of neuroanatomy and neurophysiology as they relate to these, and emphasizes current, historical, and moral vs. legal contexts for use and distribution in the US and other countries. Other drug classes are considered and discussed for comparative purposes. It includes drug classification and development and the role of learning and addiction as they relate to drug use/abuse. Because mental disorders are among the most debilitating conditions worldwide and are commonly comorbid with other psychiatric, and medical illnesses, the course is useful to students of behavioral, legal, and healthcare-related fields. Prerequisites: PSY 103. Offered each year (Fall or Spring). (UG)


PSY 404: Biological Bases of Behavior

(3) Credit Hour(s)

A survey of biological influences on behavior. The primary emphasis is on the physiological regulation of behaviors in humans and other vertebrate animals as they relate to neuronal, hormonal and developmental structure and function. Topics include perception, cognition, sleep, eating, sexual behaviors, learning, cognition, and mental disorders. Prerequisite: PSY 103 or permission of instructor. Offered As Needed. (UG)


PSY 408: The Psychology of Mental Illness

(3) Credit Hour(s)

Fulfills core competency: Critical Thinking and Problem Solving. This course surveys the origins, symptoms, and treatment of various forms of mental illness described in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (Revision 5, May, 2013). Current theories of the causes of mental disorders are also discussed, along with recent research evidence to support or question these explanations. Controversies associated wtih the cause, course, and treatment of mental illness as well as ethical considerations will be covered. Legal implications for mentally disordered offenders will be considered, along with other legal issues associated with mental disorders. Prerequisite: PSY 103 or permission of the instructor. Offered Each Year (Fall or Spring). (UG)


PSY 444: Senior Thesis

(3) Credit Hour(s)

Fulfills core competency: Information Literacy. Research and Presentation requirement. Writing Intensive. This capstone course is the final course in the required research sequence for psychology majors. Students complete the HSRRC application process and execute the research proposal completed in PSY 354. Activities include: continued research into psychological literature, preparation of all testing materials, arranging lab space for data collection, recruitment, data collection and analysis, completion of a manuscript prepared utilizing the format and style of the American Psychological Association, and a public oral presentation (poster format) of student research projects. Prerequisites: successful completion of PSY 354/354L (C or better) and senior status in psychology. Junior year students who meet the prerequisite requirements may be eligible by permission of instructor. Offered Each Semester. (UG)


PSY 457: Independent Study Or Research

(1 - 6) Credit Hour(s)

This course is an opportunity for students to become involved in research outside the classroom under the mentorship of a faculty member (s) in the department. Students may assist faculty with ongoing research, design their own project, or design an extension of prior faculty research or their own prior research. Prior coursework and skills required to participate may vary by project/faculty mentor. Open to juniors and seniors with a 2.5 GPA, no current Incomplete grades, and permission of the instructor. Sophomore students with exceptional preparation may also be considered. Students must complete an independent study contract in order to registerfor this course (see department chair and/or your faculty mentor for details). Offered Each Semester. (UG)


PSY 458: Field Experience in Psychology

(1 - 6) Credit Hour(s)

This course is an opportunity for students to gain practical experience in a community agency, business organization, or other psychology-related setting. Prerequisite: Permission of psychology department chair. Individual agencies/organizations may also require students to complete specific requirements prior to placement (e.g., specific coursework, background checks, upper division status, etc.) Offered Each Semester. (UG)