300

PSY 303 Abnormal Psychology

A systematic presentation of concepts related to the etiology, symptoms and treatment of psychological disorders.

Credit Hours: 4
Clinical Emphasis.

Prerequisites

PSY 101, PSY 211, and one other 200-level course.

PSY 304 The Psychology of Prejudice

Prejudice, a biased attitude toward people due to their group membership, continues to pose a serious threat to society. It can exist at both an explicit and/or implicit (hidden) level and seems to serve several fundamental psychological functions, making it difficult to eradicate. In this course, we will explore prejudice using a scientific lens and attempt to answer some crucial questions. Why does prejudice exist? Where does it come from? What forms does it take? How has it evolved throughout history? What functions does it serve? And what can we do to eradicate it?

Credit Hours: 4
Social Emphasis.

Prerequisites

PSY 101, PSY 211, and one other 200-level course.

PSY 305 Applied Psychology: Consumer Psychology

Focuses on the application of the principles of psychology to consumer behavior.

Credit Hours: 4
Organizational Emphasis.

Prerequisites

PSY 101, PSY 211, and one other 200-level course.

PSY 310 Emerging Adulthood

This course explores the developmental changes that take place during a newly documented developmental period, emerging adulthood, which spans the ages of 18 to the late 20s. Over the course of the semester, we will investigate several questions about this developmental period by turning to the psychological literature, including: (1) What does it mean to be an adult? (2) What developmental changes are taking place during the college-age years? (3) Does being an emerging adult give one a “free pass” on deviant behaviors? (4) How does the current generation of college students differ from previous generations?

Credit Hours: 4
Developmental Emphasis.

Prerequisites

PSY 101, PSY 211, and one other 200-level course.

PSY 311 Evolutionary Psychology

Examines theory and research in evolutionary psychology. The course is structured around ultimate explanations, descriptions that focus on the survival and reproductive consequences of (sometimes difficult to explain) human behaviors, and how they could have been shaped by natural selection. Comparative examples from pertinent animal literature are provided where appropriate.

Credit Hours: 4
Biopsychology Emphasis.

Prerequisites

PSY 101, PSY 211, and PSY 220.

PSY 312 Statistics and Experimental Methods II

Extension of elementary statistical and experimental methodological topics begun in PSY 211. Statistical coverage includes correlation, regression, and one-way and two-way analyses of variance. Methodological coverage includes a review of ethics, hypothesis testing, various experimental designs and control in experimentation.

Credit Hours: 4
PSY major foundation.

Prerequisites

PSY 101, PSY 211 with a grade of "C" or better, and one other 200-level course.

PSY 316 Psychopharmacology

Examines current and possible future drug treatments for psychopathological symptoms. Addictive drugs of abuse and their biological mechanisms are covered, as are controversies involving the possible overdiagnosis and overmedication of disorders that also respond well to behavioral and other therapeutic interventions. Critical interactions between "talk therapy" and the client's medicated or unmedicated state are addressed.

Credit Hours: 4
Biopsychology Emphasis.

Prerequisites

PSY 101, PSY 211, and PSY 220.

PSY 317 Psychology of Adult Development and Aging

The course focuses on the growth, decline, and stability of psychological functioning in adulthood and aging. Some topics to be covered include physical and cognitive development, perception, memory, language, intelligence, thinking, knowledge, and moral reasoning. (Service learning may be required.)

Credit Hours: 4
Developmental Emphasis.

Prerequisites

PSY 101, PSY 211, and one other 200-level course.

PSY 318 Sensation and Perception

Explores the sensory and physiological bases of perception and how people process relevant information in their environments. All five senses are covered, with primary emphasis on vision. Focal topics include the perceptual process, neural processing, perceiving objects, color, depth, size, movement, sound, speech, touch, flavor and odor.

Credit Hours: 4
Cognitive Emphasis.

Prerequisites

PSY 101, PSY 211, and PSY 220.

PSY 319 Psychology of Personal Relationships

Examines current theory and research in the field of relationships. Primary approach is social psychological, but other major theories of relationships are examined.

Credit Hours: 4
Social Emphasis.

Prerequisites

PSY 101, PSY 211, and one other 200-level course.

PSY 324 Cognitive Psychology

The various roles of the mind are examined in this course. Central topics investigated may include neurocognition, pattern recognition, selective and divided attention, sensory memory, working memory, long-term memory, acquisition and retrieval processes, memory errors, models of long-term memory, language, visual knowledge, and conscious versus unconscious thinking.

Credit Hours: 4
Cognitive Emphasis.

Prerequisites

PSY 101, PSY 211, and PSY 220.

PSY 326 Memory and Executive Functioning

This course examines the cognitive psychology of human memory and executive functioning. Memory refers to the maintenance of learned information or skills over time, and executive functioning refers to strategic control processes that regulate our thoughts and behaviors. The course will discuss theories about and distinctions between various forms of memory (e.g., working memory, long-term memory, implicit memory) and types of executive functioning (e.g., maintenance of task goals, shifting attention, prioritizing, updating, sequencing, inhibiting). Additional topics will include metamemory, false memories, dual-task interference, directed forgetting, interference resolution within memory, and recollection versus familiarity.
Credit Hours: 4
Cognitive Emphasis.

Prerequisites

PSY 101, PSY 211, and PSY 220

PSY 330 Selected Topics in Psychology

A course involving special topics in psychology. Provides students with the opportunity to explore subject matter in psychology more thoroughly than is possible in a formal class.

Credit Hours: 4

Prerequisites

PSY 101, PSY 211, and one other 200-level course.

PSY 340 Behavior Modification

This course is designed to provide an in-depth overview of the principles of behavior that have been developed from research on how people and animals learn. There will be a specific focus on learning and scientific principles from behavioral and clinical psychology. Students will learn how these principles explain human behavior and are applied to alter behavior.
Credit Hours: 4
Clinical Emphasis.

Prerequisites

PSY 101, PSY 211, and one other 200-level course.

PSY 399 Careers in Psychology

For psychology majors only, to be taken in student’s junior year. This course is required and is offered on a pass/fail basis. The goals of the course include individual reflection on the student's personal experiences and education at UT, and preparation for life after graduation, including career possibilities and postgraduate education.
Credit Hours: 1
PSY major foundation.

Prerequisites

Junior or senior standing. Psychology majors only.