Introduction to Psychology (PSY 1003) This course serves as a general introduction to psychology as the science of the mind and behavior, and as such, is a survey of the different specialties and approaches within the broad field of psychology. Topics include development, learning, and aspects of mental health. 3 credits. Independent Study in Psychology I (PSY 2003) This course will consist of one-on-one independent study projects sponsored by an instructor. Applications for independent study must be submitted by the student and approved by the Department Chair. Prerequisite: Junior or Senior standing. 3-4 credits. Special Topics in Psychology (PSY 2015) This course will be offered upon sufficient demand provided an instructor is available. Topics covered will vary according to the preferences of students and instructor. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor. 3 credits. Theories of Personality (PSY 2034) This course introduces students to a number of perspectives related to the development of the adult personality offered by prominent psychologists. Topics in measurement are also included. Prerequisite: PSY 1003 Introduction to Psychology or permission of instructor. 3 credits. Human Development I: Infancy through Pre-Adolescence (PSY 2041) This course is an introduction to the physical, cognitive, emotional, social, and personality development of the child from the pre-natal through pre-adolescent periods with a focus on major theoretical perspectives and current research in the field. Prerequisite: PSY 1003 Intro to Psychology or permission of instructor. 3 credits. Human Development II: Adolescence through Later Adulthood (PSY 2042) Major theoretical perspectives, current psychological research, and literary works will form the basis for a study of the developing, growing, maturing human individual. Special emphasis will be placed on human potential for full actualization. Prerequisite: PSY 1003 Intro to Psychology or permission of instructor. 3 credits. Positive Psychology (PSY 2057) Positive psychology deals with an area of psychology which is concerned with human potential, resilience and the prevention of disorders. The course will examine current research in the area as well as the history of the way psychology has progressed from dealing almost exclusively with the disease model to a current emphasis on wellness. Prerequisites: PSY 1003 Intro to Psychology, or permission of instructor. 3 credits. Biological Bases of Behavior (PSY 2063) An introduction to the relationships between physiological processes and behavior, this course presumes no prior knowledge of biology on the part of the student. Beginning with a basic exposition of the nervous system, the hormonal system and evolution, the course considers the effects of psychoactive drugs, the processing of information by the nervous system, and the interaction of biological and environmental factors that affect behavior. Prerequisite: PSY 1003 Intro to Psychology or permission of instructor. 3 credits. Independent Study in Psychology II (PSY 3003) This course will consist of one-on-one independent study projects sponsored by an instructor. Applications for independent study must be submitted by the student and approved by the Department Chair. Prerequisite: Junior or Senior standing. 3-4 credits. Practicum I (PSY/SOC 3000) This course involves 60 hours of participation and observation in an off-campus institutional setting under close faculty supervision. Students will record observations in a daily journal, conduct a project related to their work at the institution, and write a formal paper describing their work and the institution. Students meet on a regular basis with faculty for guidance and ongoing assessment. Final evaluation by the faculty advisor will include an evaluation by the student’s on-site supervisor. 3 credits. Psychopharmacology (PSY 3009) This course will cover all major classes of drugs that humans consume and abuse. We will focus on the effects of these substances on our bodies and explore the influence of both set and setting as determinants of drug action. Issues of treatment and prevention of abuse will also be discussed. Overall, we will encounter the complexities of human drug consumption on biological, psychological, and social levels. Prerequisite: 2063 Biological Bases of Behavior. 3 credits. Social Research I (PSY 3011/ SOC 3010) This course, the first in a two semester sequence, provides an introduction to research design, measurement, and analysis including descriptive and inferential statistics, the elements of hypothesis testing, and issues of validity and reliability. Students will make extensive use of SPSS as they learn to analyze data and interpret results. They will use current literature in psychological and social research as they explore the structure and function of the components of professional journal articles. Prerequisites: Completion of ELA math or Level IV math placement or permission of instructor. 4 credits. Perception (PSY 3012) This course will focus on the human visual system and the phenomena of consciousness such as the perception of color, depth, objects, and motion. We will study the neural correlates as well as the theories of visual perception. We will relate our study to everyday experience and to clinical disorders. Prerequisite: PSY 1003 Intro to Psychology or permission of instructor. 3 credits. Abnormal Psychology (PSY 3013) This course is a systematic study of human behavior disorders. The role of the individual and of society in the understanding, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of abnormal behavior is given special emphasis. Prerequisite: PSY 2034 Theories of Personality or permission of instructor. 3 credits. Social Research II (PSY 3014/SOC 3012) The second course in a two semester sequence, this course provides opportunities for student-generated research projects that involve a significant literature review, the collection and analysis of data using SPSS, and the production of a professional-style journal article in APA format. Students will be familiar with correlations and both parametric and non-parametric inferential statistics including ANOVA, regression, and the use of post-hoc techniques. Prerequisite: PSY 3011 Social Research I. 3 credits. Special Topics in Psychology (PSY 3015) This course will be offered upon sufficient demand provided an instructor is available. The topics covered will vary according to the preferences of students and instructor. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor. 3 credits. Social Psychology (PSY/SOC 3023) This course is an examination of individual and group responses to social influence. Emphasis is on major theories, research methods, and current research topics in social psychology. This course may also be taken as Sociology 3023. Prerequisites: PSY 1003 Introduction to Psychology and one 2000 level PSY course. 3 credits. Psychology of Aging (PSY 3043) This course will focus on the physiological, cognitive, and social-psychological changes as we age and the factors that influence them. Both research data and real life examples will be integrated into a greater picture of what it is like to be an older adult in the United States and in other parts of the world. Discussion of older adults images in literature and media and how they shape our own expectations of aging will also be taken up. Prerequisite: PSY 1003 Introduction to Psychology. 3 credits. Independent Research I (PSY/SOC 3063) With the assistance of a faculty mentor, the student will investigate a topic or issue of particular interest using one of the methods available in social science; e.g. experimentation, survey, or content analysis. The results of the research will be presented in a formal paper in the style of a journal article. Prerequisites: PSY 3014 Social Research II and Permission. 3 credits. Independent Research II (PSY/SOC 4003) With the assistance of a faculty mentor, the student will investigate a topic or issue of particular interest using one of the methods available for research: e.g. experimentation, survey, or content analysis. The results of the research will be presented in a formal paper in the style of an APA journal article. Prior to registration for this course, the student must fill out an application and obtain the permission of a faculty mentor. Prerequisites: Social Research II and permission of the instructor. 3 credits. Counseling and Psychotherapy (PSY 4005) This course provides students with an opportunity to understand the therapeutic process from various perspectives, that of the counselor or psychotherapist, that of the consumer of counseling or psychotherapy services, and that of the scientist concerned with the effects and benefits of the therapeutic process. As an introduction to the field, this course in no way prepares students to engage in counseling and psychotherapy, which would require far more training and education. As a senior level course, however, the course assumes a broad knowledge of various theoretical perspectives and a broad background of study in psychology. Prerequisite: PSY 1003 Intro to Psychology, PSY 3013 Abnormal Psychology, or permission of instructor. 3 credits. Advanced Research Methods and Statistics (PSY 4007) Students will immerse themselves in all stages of the scientific process. The enhancement of critical thinking skills and sound scientific methodology will be emphasized. In addition to class research projects, students will design and execute their own independent research projects. Students will statistically analyze data and write papers in APA format. Prerequisites: PSY 1003 Introduction to Psychology and PSY 3014 Social Research II, and Junior or Senior standing or permission of instructor. 3 credits Supervised Field Placement in Psychology (PSY 4011) This course involves 120 hours of participation, observation, and preparation for work in an off-campus institutional setting under close faculty supervision. Students will record observations in a weekly journal, conduct a comprehensive final project related to their work at the institution, write a formal paper describing their work and the institution, and discuss their experiences with fellow classmates. Students will meet on a weekly basis with the course instructor and fellow students for guidance, ongoing assessment, and discussion related to their experiences. In addition, students will meet with the course instructor on a weekly basis for individual supervision. Final evaluation by the course instructor will include an evaluation by the student’s on-site supervisor. Prerequisites: PSY 1003 Intro to Psychology, PSY 3013 Abnormal Psychology, PSY 4005 Counseling Psychotherapy, or permission of instructor. 3 credits Special Topics in Psychology (PSY 4015) This course will be offered upon sufficient demand provided an instructor is available. The topics covered will vary according to the preferences of students and instructor. This course will satisfy the requirement of course electives within the division at the 4000 level. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor. 3 credits. Senior Seminar (PSY 4021) This course provides an opportunity for psychology members to explore, in depth, topics of current or historical importance to the discipline. The topic will change and the course may be taken a second time as an upper-level elective. Normally taken in the senior year, it may be taken by junior psych majors with the permission of the instructor. It may be taken by non-majors only with the permission of the instructor. 3 credits. Psychology & Gender (PSY/WST 4022) This course will facilitate an examination of gender as it exists in our lives, as a cultural construct having profound psycho-social implications and as an object of theoretical discourse. By means of a close study of primary texts, attention will be given to historical transformations of concepts of gender in psychology since Freud. Prerequisites: PSY 1042 Human Development I or PSY 2042 Human Development II, PSY 3034 Theories of Personality and Junior standing. May also be taken as WST 4022. 3 credits. Assessment & Management of Behavior (PSY/EDU 4031) The course includes presentation and intensive discussion of learning approaches based on respondent and operant conditioning paradigms in classroom and clinic venues. Legal and ethical issues pertaining to behavior modification techniques, including IEP development, permissible and prohibited techniques of behavior modification and case management are covered. Consideration is given to such topics as token economies, modeling, desensitization, punishment, and approaches to behavioral problems. Required of all education majors. Prerequisite: EDU 1062 Teacher as Decision Maker. 3 credits.
