PSYC-PSYCHOLOGY
PSYC 1110G. Introduction to Psychology
3 Credits (3)
This course will introduce students to the concepts, theories, significant findings, methodologies, and terminology that apply to the field of psychology.
Learning Outcomes
- Explain how the scientific method and psychological research methodologies are used to study the mind and behavior.
- Recall key terms, concepts, and theories in the areas of neuroscience, learning, memory, cognition, intelligence, motivation and emotion, development, personality, health, disorders and therapies, and social psychology.
- Explain how information provided in this course can be applied to life in the real world.
- Identify the major theoretical schools of thought that exist in psychology as they relate to the self, the culture, and the society.
PSYC 1115. Introduction to the Psychology Major
1 Credit (1)
This course is designed to give Psychology majors the knowledge and tools they need to get the most out of the major and assist them in making informed decisions about career choices in Psychology. There are two main goals for this course. The first is to provide students with helpful tools and resources to enhance their experience as a Psychology major. The second goal is to delineate the knowledge and skills that students are expected to acquire with a Psychology degree and to convey how these can be applied in their future academic, professional, and personal endeavors beyond graduation. During the semester, students will discuss the subdisciplines of Psychology and explore career options with varying levels of education. Students will learn about course requirements for the Psychology major and experiential learning opportunities available outside the classroom. This 1-credit course is required for Psychology majors. It is recommended that students take this course as soon as they declare Psychology as their major. This course may be taken in conjunction with Introduction to Psychology.
Prerequisite/Corequisite: PSYC 1110G.
Learning Outcomes
- Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the subdisciplines of Psychology.
- Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the requirements of the Psychology major and experiential opportunities available to Psychology majors.
- Identify career opportunities available to individuals with varying levels of education in Psychology and related fields (e.g., BA, MA, PhD, etc.).
- Adopt strategies to prepare for future success in a job search or graduate school application.
- Exhibit information literacy skills (e.g., literature searches, use of APA format) that will facilitate success in future Psychology courses.
- Identify personal attributes as a student, areas of Psychology that are aligned with personal strengths, and strategies to make the most of personal strengths as a student.
PSYC 2110. Social Psychology
3 Credits (3)
This course is an introduction to the scientific study of human social influence and interaction, and explores how an individual's actions, emotions, attitudes and thought processes are influenced by society and other individuals. May be repeated up to 3 credits.
Prerequisite: PSYC 1110G, MATH 1215, and ENGL 1110G.
Learning Outcomes
- Identify concepts, theories, scientific methods, and research findings relevant to social psychology.
- Explain how situational, social, and individual factors influence behavior.
- Apply social psychological concepts to real-life events, current social issues and problems, and one's own life.
PSYC 2120. Developmental Psychology
3 Credits (3)
Study of human physical and psychological change and stability from a lifespan development perspective. May be repeated up to 3 credits.
Prerequisite: PSYC 1110G, MATH 1215, and ENGL 1110G.
Learning Outcomes
- Explain theories, methods and research findings of lifespan developmental psychology.
- Describe the interaction between physical, cognitive, and psychosocial development across the lifespan.
- Compare and contrast major developmental theories and discuss what each brings to or adds to the study of lifespan developmental psychology.
- Identify factors that influence psychological development across the lifespan.
- Apply basic principles of developmental psychology to one's own life experiences.
- Analyze historical and cultural factors that influence development across the lifespan.
PSYC 2210. Abnormal Psychology
3 Credits (3)
This course provides students with an introduction to the field of abnormal psychology. Subject areas include history, methods, theories, etiologies, classification and treatment of disorders. May be repeated up to 3 credits.
Prerequisite: PSYC 1110G, MATH 1215 and ENGL 1110G.
Learning Outcomes
- Recognize terms used within the field of abnormal psychology.
- Compare various methods for defining abnormal behavior.
- Evaluate the development of classification systems that define "normal" and "abnormal" from historical, social, and cultural contexts.
- Critically evaluate the symptoms and etiologies of mental health disorders in the current psychological diagnostic system.
- Describe treatment modalities for mental health disorders.
- Identify biological and psychological processes in mental health disorders.
PSYC 2220. Cognitive Psychology
3 Credits (3)
The course provides an overview of human cognitive processes such as attention, perception, memory, language, categorization, decision-making, reasoning, and problem solving. Includes methods, theories, and applications. May be repeated up to 3 credits.
Prerequisite: PSYC 1110G, MATH 1215, and ENGL 1110G.
Learning Outcomes
- Describe research findings in the major areas of human cognition.
- Differentiate the research methods used to study the various topics in cognitive psychology.
- Apply theories of cognition to the results of laboratory research.
- Apply the research on cognitive psychology to topics in the real world.
PSYC 2221. Applied Psychology
3 Credits (3)
Explanation of the psychological principles of everyday living. Emphasizes motivation, learning of intelligent behavior, and applications of psychology to social issues. Community Colleges only.
Learning Outcomes
- The objective of this course is to orient students to the personality characteristics, interpersonal competencies, ethical decision-making skills, and other professional traits associated with pursuing a career in a helping profession.
- Identify the requirements for becoming a helping professional, characteristics of a skilled helper, and cultural factors that impact helping professionals
- Explain your personal strengths and weaknesses as a potential helper.
- Demonstrate appropriate helping strategies based upon the special characteristics of clients.
- Compare the capabilities that individual, family, group, community, and online interventions offer you as a future helper.
- Identify the ethical and legal issues that impact helping professionals
- Analyze the potential impact of your future ethical and professional standards as a helping professional
- Explain how your role as a helping professional is impacted by your professional affiliation and ethical principles
- Analyze how worsening personal problems and increasing stress can impact the kinds and quality of our responses to life and the people around us.
PSYC 2230. Psychology of Adjustment
3 Credits (3)
This course focuses on the individual's adjustment to society, and the application of psychological principles to the understanding of adjustment.
Learning Outcomes
- Explain the internal and external factors associated with the psychology of adjustment.
- Evaluate contributions from psychology to adjustment concepts and processes.
- Describe the different explanations of how individuals adjust to their environments.
- Describe how self-identities develop and how they affect relations with others.
- Identify resources available for assistance with adjustment-related concerns.
PSYC 2250. Brain and Behavior
3 Credits (3)
A general survey of the biological foundations of behavior and mental processes. Students will gain an understanding of anatomy, physiology, and chemistry of the nervous system and their relationships to human behavior. May be repeated up to 3 credits.
Prerequisite: PSYC 1110G, MATH 1215 and ENGL 1110G.
Learning Outcomes
- Identify and describe basic neuroanatomical structures and functions.
- Identify and describe chemical processes of the nervous system.
- Apply course concepts to psychological processes, such as learning, memory, sensation, perception, drive states, sleep, and language.
- Apply course concepts to psychological disorders, such as schizophrenia and mood and anxiety disorders.
- Describe the techniques used to study the relationship between brain and behavior.
PSYC 2311. A Study of Substance Abuse through Learning
3 Credits (3)
Physiological and psychological impact of drug use on human behavior. Emphasizes practical applications of intervention and prevention in the community. Community Colleges only.
Learning Outcomes
- Through readings and discussions, students will be able to describe the role that gender, ethnicity, and age have in alcohol and drug use.
- Through readings and discussions, students will be able to learn past and current perspectives of addiction.
- Through readings, discussions and student presentations, students will be able to distinguish between different types of abuse-able drugs and be able to classify them.
- Through readings, discussions, lectures and guest speaker’s students will be able to describe the role of addiction and criminal behavior.
- Through readings and discussions, students will be able to discuss the Models and Theories of Drug Dependence and Addiction.
- Through readings, discussions and evaluation of case studies students will be able to discuss the definitions of Substance Abuse, Dependence Addiction.
- Through readings and discussions, students will be able to acquaint themselves with the effects of Addictive Behavior on Family Systems.
- Through readings discussions, students will be able to Discuss Disorders Co-Occurring with Substance Abuse
- Through readings and community service learning outing, students will be able to discuss how important the concepts of Prevention, Intervention and Treatment in drug addiction.1
- Through readings and community service learning outing students will be able to discuss Alcohol/Drug Recovery Treatment Relapse Prevention 1
- Through completion of Service Learning and field assignment students will be able to discuss the role of AA/NA in Recovery Treatment. 1
- Through attendance of a Drug Court Hearing students will be knowledgeable of the role of Drug Courts in prevention and treatment of drug addiction.
PSYC 3110. Experimental Methods
4 Credits (2+4P)
The basic skills of literature search, experimental design, research methodology, and research reporting are emphasized; includes laboratory. May be repeated up to 4 credits.
Prerequisite: PSYC 1110G, and either MATH 1350G, MATH 2350G, or A ST 311.
PSYC 3120. Psychological Measurement
3 Credits (3)
The objective of this class is for you to develop broad conceptual knowledge, as well as specific concrete skills, when developing, analyzing and interpreting psychological measures and the data that come from them. We will learn through in-depth discussion and hands-on applications: e.g., exploring the purpose and meaning of measurement, taking a wide range of actual measures, analyzing measurement data in a variety of different ways. Overall, you will learn from this class whether a measure/test is measuring what we think it should, on the basis of reliability, validity, and fairness.
Prerequisite: PSYC 1110G, PSYC 2110, PSYC 2220.
Learning Outcomes
- Learn how to develop, analyze, and interpret psychological measures.
- Learn how to determine whether a measure/test is measuring what we think it should, on the basis of reliability, validity, and fairness.
PSYC 3210. Perception
3 Credits (3)
Primary emphasis on vision. Topics include measurement of sensations, development of visual-motor coordination, reading, speech perception, picture perception, illusions, 3-dimensional space, and causes and consequences of visual abnormalities.
Prerequisite: PSYC 1110G, and one of: MATH 1350G, MATH 2350G, or A ST 311, and PSYC 3110.
Learning Outcomes
- To provide a comprehensive knowledge of topics within sensation and perception, including topics in vision, hearing, smell, taste, and touch.
PSYC 3220. Learning
3 Credits (3)
Covers: habituation, Pavlovian conditioning, Thorndikian learning, stimulus generalization, transfer of training, and the learning and forgetting of related and unrelated material.
Prerequisite: PSYC 1110G, and one of: MATH 1350G, MATH 2350G, or A ST 311, and PSYC 3110.
Learning Outcomes
- Recognize and distinguish between various learning situations, especially classical/Pavlovian and Instrumental learning and their many facets and applications.
- Identify some of the key conditions necessary for learning to take place, and that may prevent learning from taking place – rather more nuanced than most intro psych books suggest.
- Identify and evaluate different basic situations to suggest how learning might be structured to cause changes in behavior in both humans and other animals.
PSYC 3230. Memory
3 Credits (3)
Examines facets of human memory from the information processing viewpoint, including encoding, storage, and retrieval and memory-aiding techniques.
Prerequisite: PSYC 1110G, and one of: MATH 1350G, MATH 2350G, or A ST 311, and PSYC 3110 or consent of instructor.
PSYC 3310. Emotion
3 Credits (3)
An overview of the past century of research on human emotion from WIlliam James to Antonio Damasio. Explores a cognitive science perspective on emotion that includes questions about developmental, physiological, and evolutionary aspects of emotion and an exploration of the proximate and ultimate functions of emotion. Topics range from understanding the feeling component of emotion to understanding the role of facial displays of emotion.
Prerequisite: PSYC 1110G, and one of: MATH 1350G, MATH 2350G, or A ST 311G, and PSYC 3110 or consent of instructor.
PSYC 3320. Psychology of Personality
3 Credits (3)
Introduces personality theories and supporting research. Psychoanalytic, physiological, and behavioral theories as they apply to personality are examined. Focuses on normal personality functioning.
Prerequisite: PSYC 1110G, and one of: MATH 1350G, MATH 2350G, or A ST 311, and PSYC 3110.
PSYC 3330. Sexual Behavior
3 Credits (3)
Examines viewpoints of the evolution, control and function of human sexual behavior. Includes human sexuality, reproduction, male-female conflicts and the social implications of sex.
Prerequisite: PSYC 1110G, MATH 1215, and ENGL 1110G.
PSYC 3410. Health Psychology
3 Credits (3)
Life stress, surgical stress, coronary-prone behavior, biofeedback, pain control, psychosocial approaches to geriatrics and cancer, behavioral treatments for addictions, obesity, and interpersonal issues in health care.
Prerequisite: PSYC 1110G.
PSYC 3510. Psychology and the Law
3 Credits (3)
Discretionary practices in the judicial system including pretrial procedures, jury selection, jury decision making, eyewitness testimony, insanity, expert witnesses, and probation judgments.
Prerequisite: PSYC 1110G.
PSYC 3520. Evolutionary Psychology
3 Credits (3)
This course introduces the student to the science of Evolutionary Psychology. In this class we will explore how evolutionary psychologists think about a variety of topics ranging from our capacity for (and appreciation of) art, emotions, and beauty to an exploration of the "design" of our minds in regards to mating, status striving, social behavior and cultural production.
Prerequisite: PSYC 1110G, and one of: MATH 1350G, MATH 2350G, or A ST 311G, and PSYC 3110 or consent of instructor.
PSYC 359. Psychology of Gender
3 Credits (3)
Examines theories and research on the psychological functioning of women and men in North American society, including influential theories of gender in psychology and current controversies in the psychological literature. Topics include those unique to women and unique to men in development across the lifespan, work, physical and mental health, sexuality, victimization, gender stereotypes, gender comparisons in abilities and personality, and biological, social, and cultural influences on behavior. Crosslisted with: GNDR 359.
Prerequisite: PSYC 1110G.
PSYC 3910. Advanced Research Seminar
4 Credits (2+4P)
Psychological research in conjunction with designing, conducting, writing, and presenting an independent research project. May also include various computer applications. Will discuss issues regarding application to graduate programs. Course should be taken no later than the first semester of senior year. May be repeated up to 4 credits.
Prerequisite: PSYC 3110.
PSYC 3996. Special Topics
1-3 Credits
May be taken under different subtitles announced in the Schedule of Classes for unlimited credit. May not be taken twice under the same subtitle. May be repeated up to 12 credits.
Prerequisite: PSYC 1110G.
PSYC 4210. Thinking
3 Credits (3)
Research and theory pertaining to human thinking and problem solving. Effective problem-solving methods and common obstacles to problem solving are analyzed.
Prerequisite: PSYC 1110G and PSYC 3110.
PSYC 4220. Human-Computer Psychology
3 Credits (3)
Theories, methodologies, and data from psychology applicable to interface design, with an emphasis on construction and application of conceptual psychological models.
Prerequisite: PSYC 1110G, and one of: MATH 1350G, MATH 2350G, or A ST 311, and PSYC 3110 or consent of instructor.
PSYC 4510. History & Systems of Psychology
3 Credits (3)
History of the scientific study of the mind and behavior. Covers the historical origins of philosophical and scientific approaches to Psychology and the development of influential schools of thought in psychology from the Classical Period through the Modern Era.
Prerequisite: PSYC 1110G and PSYC 3110.
Learning Outcomes
- Apply knowledge of important historical events/figures in scientific psychology by demonstrating an ability to explain how past ideas/thinkers/events have shaped current theory and methodology in scientific psychology.
- Explain key ideas and concepts in contemporary scientific psychology by demonstrating an ability to draw connections between our current understanding and earlier approaches to the study of the mind.
- Generate sophisticated arguments/opinions regarding contemporary questions in scientific psychology by demonstrating an ability to frame questions that draw upon a sophisticated understanding of the history of scientific psychology, while also being able to distinguish between well-informed and naïve answers to those questions.
PSYC 4991. Research
1-3 Credits
Individual research projects supervised by a department faculty member. May be repeated up to 6 credits.
Prerequisite: PSYC 3110 and consent of instructor.
Learning Outcomes
- Varies.
PSYC 4992. Directed Readings
1-3 Credits
May be repeated up to 6 credits.
Prerequisite: PSYC 1110G and consent of instructor.
PSYC 4996. Special Topics
1-3 Credits
Specific subjects to be announced in the Schedule of Classes. May be repeated up to 12 credits.
Learning Outcomes
- Varies.
PSYC 4998. Field Experience
1-3 Credits
Working with preschool, juvenile delinquent, handicapped, aged, convict, or mentally ill. Approximately five hours scheduled work per week per credit. May be repeated up to 6 credits.
Prerequisite: 6 psychology credits and consent of instructor.
Learning Outcomes
- Varies.
PSYC 4999. Senior Capstone Seminar in Psychology
1 Credit (1)
In an architectural context, a capstone is the top-most stone that completes a building. In an academic context, a capstone is the final class that completes a student’s curriculum. Capstone classes provide students with an opportunity “to demonstrate comprehensive learning in their major through some type of product or performance” (Palomba & Banta, 1999, p. 124). In other words, a capstone is a class in which senior psychology majors are required to pull together what they have learned in their previous classes and use this integrating experience to demonstrate they are capable of doing what they should be able to do when they graduate from the program (e.g., think critically and develop a realistic plan to pursue a career in psychology or a psychology-related field). This process serves a dual purpose. First, it allows psychology majors with a final opportunity to practice and demonstrate the skills they will need to succeed after graduation on the job or in graduate school. Second, it provides the Psychology Department with a final opportunity to assess whether or not it has been successful in its mission to produce competent psychology majors.
Prerequisite: PSYC 1110G, PSYC 3110.
Learning Outcomes
- Demonstrate critical thinking skills by reading and discussing current topics in Psychology.
- Demonstrate content knowledge in Psychology by reading and discussing current topics in Psychology.
- Demonstrate critical thinking skills by performing standardized assessments administered by the Department of Psychology.
- Demonstrate content knowledge by performing standardized assessments administered by the Department of Psychology.
PSYC 5110. Quantitative Methods in Psychology I
3 Credits (3)
Statistical concepts emphasizing distributions and methods most appropriate to the data, models, and theories in psychology. Emphasis on distributions, probability and basic inferential statistics in Psychological research. Includes basics of Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and Multiple Regression in Psychological research.
Learning Outcomes
- Students will be able to recognize appropriate usage of, and be able to implement, basic statistical techniques: Central tendency, variability, z-scores, t-tests, ANOVA, correlation, two predictor regression.
PSYC 5120. Quantitative Methods in Psychology II
3 Credits (3)
Statistical concepts emphasizing distributions and methods most appropriate to the data, models, and theories in psychology. Emphasis on advanced ANOVA and Multiple Regression in Psychological research.
Prerequisite: PSYC 5110 or equivalent.
Learning Outcomes
- Students will become familiar with situations and applications of advanced ANOVA techniques and Multiple Regression and Correlation.
PSYC 5210. Computer Methodology
3 Credits (3)
Use of computers in psychological research with emphasis on developing experimental control programs.
PSYC 5220. Methods in Cognitive Psychology
3 Credits (3)
Experimental and correlational methodologies appropriate for investigating cognitive psychological theories and problems.
Prerequisite: PSYC 5320 or consent of instructor.
PSYC 5230. Methods in Social Psychology
3 Credits (3)
Experimental, quasi-experimental, and correlational methodologies appropriate for investigating social psychological theories and problems.
Prerequisite: Graduate student in psychology or consent of instructor.
PSYC 5310. Engineering Psychology
3 Credits (3)
Covers concepts, methods, and findings of human performance. Treats the human as a subsystem that receives, stores and processes information, makes decisions, and acts within a human-machine environment system.
PSYC 5320. Cognition
3 Credits (3)
Examines theoretical and empirical work on human cognition. Topics include: information processing theories, pattern recognition, memory, attention, language, problem solving, decision making, and reasoning.
PSYC 5330. Social Psychology
3 Credits (3)
Current and traditional theories, research findings, and research methodologies of social psychology.
PSYC 5340. Learning and Memory
3 Credits (3)
Classical areas of learning, including instrumental and classical conditioning paradigms, habituation, reinforcement variables, stimulus generalization and transfer, and memory.
PSYC 5350. Sensation and Perception
3 Credits (3)
Stimulus and decision variables in judging auditory and visual events. Topics include: detection of signals; signal intensity versus perceived strength; size, shape, and movement perception; reading and listening.
PSYC 540. History and Systems of Psychology
3 Credits (3)
History of scientific method emphasizing outstanding methodological problems of contemporary science, especially psychology. Covers recent history of psychology and development of schools of psychology.
PSYC 5410. Teaching of Psychology
3 Credits (3)
This class serves both new and experienced teachers. It will help new teachers design and conduct a successful course and help experienced teachers improve their teaching.
PSYC 5910. Research Seminar in Psychology
1 Credit (1)
Presentations on research by students, faculty, and guest speakers. May be repeated up to 99 credits.
Learning Outcomes
- Varies.
PSYC 5991. Special Research Programs
1-3 Credits
Individual investigations either analytical or experimental. May be repeated up to 99 credits.
Learning Outcomes
- Varies.
PSYC 5996. Special Topics
1-3 Credits
Specific subjects to be announced in the Schedule of Classes. May be repeated up to 99 credits.
Learning Outcomes
- Varies.
PSYC 5999. Master's Thesis
1-15 Credits
Thesis. May be repeated up to 88 credits.
Learning Outcomes
- Varies.
PSYC 698. Special Research Programs
1-3 Credits
Individual investigations either analytical or experimental. May be repeated for credit.
PSYC 6991. Doctoral Research
1-15 Credits
This course number is used for assigning credit for research performed prior to successful completion of the doctoral qualifying examination. May be repeated up to 88 credits.
Learning Outcomes
- Varies on research.
PSYC 7000. Doctoral Dissertation
1-15 Credits
Dissertation. May be repeated up to 88 credits.
Learning Outcomes
- Varies.