Psychological Sciences Courses: Fall 2023



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. Research requirement. All students will be required to complete research participation or an alterative assignment as part of their course credit. (UG)


PSY 210: Social Psychology

3 Credit Hour(s)

Fulfills core competencies: Critical Thinking and Contextual Integration 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. (UG)


PSY 214: 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. (UG)


PSY 215: 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. (UG)


PSY 216: 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: PSY 103 or equivalent. (UG)


PSY 217: 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. (UG)


PSY 218: Theories of Personality

3 Credit Hour(s)

This course will examine several of the major personality theories, as well as current research findings, in a general survey of crucial factors in the development and organization of human personality. Prerequisite: PSY 103 or permission of instructor. (UG)


PSY 219: 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- TR, March, 2022). Current theories of the causes of mental disorders are also discussed, along with recent research evidence to support or question these explanations. Controversies associated with 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. (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. (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. Prerequisite: PSY 103. (UG)


PSY 301: The Psychology of Human Sexuality and Sexual Health

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. (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. Evidence-based counseling techniques will be discussed. Prerequisite: PSY 103 or permission of instructor. (UG)


PSY 306: 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 expert testimony, 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. (UG)


PSY 308: 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. (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, personality traits, and mental health. 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. (UG)


PSY 314: Biological Bases of Behavior

3 Credit Hour(s)

Fulfills core competencies: Critical Thinking and Problem Solving; Contextual Integration. 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. (UG)


PSY 318: Heroes, Healers, and Do-Gooders: The Psychology of Helping and Altruism

3 Credit Hour(s)

Fulfills core competency: Contextual Integration. Coming primarily from a Social Psychological perspective, this course covers the psychology of how, when, and why people contribute to the well-being of others. Topics covered will include the evolutionary origins of prosocial behavior, cost-reward considerations when deciding to help, and the influence of norms and emotions on willingness to help. Further consideration will be given to the debate over the existence of altruistic acts, volunteerism, the traits that characterize being a helper and a helpee, and cooperation both within and between groups. Prerequisites: PSY 103. (UG)


PSY 333: Statistics for Psychology and Social Sciences

4 Credit Hour(s)

Fulfills core competency: Critical Thinking and Problem Solving; Quantitative Literacy requirement. The purpose of this course is to provide an introduction to the basic statistical procedures used in modern behavioral sciences, as well as the tools and basic procedures used for computing them in statistical software packages (e.g., SPSS). In doing so, students will gain both the conceptual and computational knowledge necessary to appropriately employ such statistical analyses. Topics include (but are not limited to) assessing and constructing graphs/tables, probability, descriptive and inferential statistics, correlation, prediction through regression, analysis of variance, parametric versus nonparametric tests, interpreting statistical significance, and using statistical software to achieve these goals. By the end of this course students will recognize statistical analyses as an integral component to the scientific process. Students will not only be able to apply such analytical techniques to their own research efforts, but will develop their ability to critically evaluate conclusions derived from such procedures offered by the scientific community and the popular media. Corequisite: PSY 333L. (UG)


PSY 333L: Statistics for Psychology and Social Sciences Laboratory

0 Credit Hour(s)

Laboratory component of PSY 333. Beginning instruction in SPSS statistical software and related analytic tools and their proper application, interpretation, and presentation across research designs. Corequisite: PSY 333 (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. (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 core 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 culminates in a required literature review that forms the basis of a research proposal. This course will require small group projects, computer lab sessions in which students statistically analyze data, library sessions for database and other literature review/research, and research experiences in which students collect data and/or analyze existing data. Therefore, students should expect to work outside of class at least two hours per week throughout the semester on course-related projects. Prerequisite: PSY 333 with C- or better and upper division status. (UG)


PSY 353L: Research Methods in Psychology Laboratory

0 Credit Hour(s)

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


PSY 354: Advanced Research Methods in Psychology

4 Credit Hour(s)

Fulfills core competency: Information Literacy, Research, and Presentation requirement, Writing Intensive. The purpose of this course is to introduce undergraduate Psychology majors to more advanced research methods used in the field of psychological science, as well as to further practice and begin to master their corresponding applications. Some of these advanced methodologies represent more complex versions of the simpler methods learned in the prerequisite research sequence course (PSY 353), whereas others represent conceptually new methods that have not yet been introduced. The goals of this course are to encourage students to consider important philosophical, ethical, and measurement concepts as they relate to more advanced methodologies, both experimental and non-experimental, and to apply selected statistical concepts to these more advanced methodologies. Most importantly, all students should demonstrate continued improvement and development towards mastery relative to the prior course in the research sequence (PSY 353) in assessing the value, validity, and proper application of research claims. This critical evaluation of research claims means learning to read and understand peer reviewed research, consider the methodology used to arrive at a particular finding, and evaluate whether such methodologies are capable of providing the information such claims suggest. In this second more advanced methods course, students should demonstrate significant development relative to the first course in their ability to understand peer reviewed research papers/findings, and their ability to evaluate whether or not the conclusions based on particular methodologies are reasonable given the nature of the research designs. In addition, students in this second course should demonstrate continued development and progress towards mastery in using APA style to report research findings, and to develop literature reviews and research proposals. This course will require small group projects, computer lab sessions in which students statistically analyze data, library sessions for database and other literature review/research, and research experiences in which students collect data and/or analyze existing data. Therefore, students should expect to work outside of class at least two hours per week throughout the semester on course-related projects. Prerequisite: PSY 353/L with C- or better and upper division status. (UG)


PSY 354L: Advanced Research Methods in Psychology Lab

0 Credit Hour(s)

Laboratory component of PSY 354. Advanced research and statistical analysis techniques in 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. (UG)


PSY 391: Psychology and Culture

3 Credit Hour(s)

Fulfills core competency: Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, and Contextual Integration. Given the increasing rate of intercultural contact through the media, technological advances in communication, and of face-to-face contact, an appreciation of human behavior as it develops and is understood within diverse cultures is essential. This course will explore how culture influences human thought and behavior. Students will explore to what extent our identities and ways of thinking are common across the different cultures in our world and to what extent are they unique to our own cultural environments and experiences. In order to thoroughly examine this, the course will explore the individual, universal, and cultural-specific influences involved in human development, morality, emotion, cognition, mental health and treatment, relationships and attraction, and gender conceptualizations. This course will integrate multiple sub-fields within psychology challenging students to integrate and examine psychological theories and principles through the lens of culture. Through examining scientific literature, classroom discussion, and applying psychological principles and theories learned previously, students will consider how culture has shaped their own personal experiences and beliefs as well as develop an application of why certain cultures engage in specific behaviors and belief systems. Prerequisite: PSY 103 Completion of 55 credits. (UG)


PSY 393: The Origins of Psychology

3 Credit Hour(s)

A perusal of the various journals in psychology or an examination of any psychology conference schedule seems to suggest that psychology is a highly disjointed discipline. However, psychology is unified through its historical traditions and systems of thought. In this course, we will explore the roots of modern psychological thought and methodology. We will trace these roots from their origins in philosophy and the natural sciences through the early schools of psychology (e. g., Functionalism, Structuralism, Gestalt, etc.) and on into its current form. We will also examine the lives and works of the men and women whose work created psychology's foundation. Through these explorations we will discover the common threads and patterns interwoven into the broad tapestry of psychology. Prerequisite PSY-103, completion of 55 credits. (UG)


PSY 444: Senior Thesis

3 Credit Hour(s)

Fulfills core competency: Information Literacy. Research and Presentation requirement. Writing Intensive. This capstone course is one of the options for the capstone requirement that represents the culmination of the required research sequence for psychology majors. Activities include: completion and submission of the HSRRC proposal, 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 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. (UG)


PSY 445: Senior Practicum in Psychology

3 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. This course enables students to apply the theories, research, and specific psychology content they have learned to date in their undergraduate curriculum to a real world setting. Therefore, this course will supplement students' classroom learning to date, with first-hand experience in professional settings which are appropriate for their academic background and career objectives. As this course is meant to be a senior capstone experience, there will also be an academic component of the course, which includes a weekly seminar involving presentations and discussions of relevant ethical and organizational issues related to psychology as both a scientific and and applied discipline. In addition, students will be required to complete a scholarly, critical review of the theoretical and empirical literature on an issue/topic related to the practicum experience they are completing and design a possible intervention based on the empirical literature that could assist with a problem or issue they identify as relevant to their field site. Students will also make a public oral presentation of their applied research analysis. Prerequisites: successful completion of PSY 354/354L (C- or better) and senior status in psychology. (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 register for this course (see department chair and/or your faculty mentor for details). (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. This is not the same as the PSY 445 capstone course. 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.) (UG)