PSY - Psychology

An introduction to the basic principles of psychology.

A study of psychometric theory with emphasis on techniques and topics in clinical interviewing, self-assessment, and reliability and validity of psychological tests in counseling and healthcare settings.

Studies the application of psychological principles to business and industry. Includes topics such as personnel selection, training, job satisfaction and work motivation.

Introductory survey of basic concepts in social psychology including research methods, attitudes, interpersonal processes, and small group processes.

Focuses on psychological development in infants, children, and adolescents. Emphases are on applied, practical applications of research findings and consideration of the "how-to" as well as the "how" of growth and development. (Service learning may be required)

An introduction to statistical techniques and experimental methods. Statistical coverage includes frequency distributions, graphic representations, central tendency measures, variability measures, probability and the t-tests. Methodological coverage includes the nature of science, ethics, research approaches, the experimental approach, hypothesis testing, two-group designs and control for two-group designs. Students must complete PSY 211 with a grade of "C" or better to register for PSY 312.

Rehabilitation psychology is area 22 of the American Psychological Association, covering the psychology of disability and rehabilitation. This course takes an applied approach to some of the neuroscience relevant to the psychologist on a treatment and recovery team. The neuropathy of stroke, spinal cord and traumatic brain injury, pain, and chronic illness are discussed, as specific examples of neural pathways, neuroplasticity, loss of daily function, and the common comorbidities of depression and anxiety.

Introduces the student to fundamental concepts and examples in biological psychology and the study of learning and memory. The course focuses on topics essential to understanding the biological bases of behavior, including how the brain is organized, the units of brain function, and how neurons communicate sensory information, process perceptions and control behavior. Various aspects of learning including habituation, conditioned behaviors (classical/Pavlovian and instrumental/operant), theories of reinforcement and memory mechanisms are also discussed.

Game playing meets a variety of human psychological needs, such as cognitive, social, and emotional, leading every human culture to play games. Centered on the cognitive aspects of games, this course examines how humans interact with these creative endeavors. Students study how our psychology influences the games we play, and how our cognitions affect our responses to and within those games. All types of games are considered, from board games to games of chance to video games.

This course examines the dynamic relationship between the mind and body using a scientific lens. It investigates both the psychosocial and biological roots of many of the world’s leading health issues. This investigation includes (but is not limited to) personality characteristics that lead some people to be more vulnerable to illness, the impact of stress on physical and mental health, coping strategies for dealing with stress and illness, racial and socioeconomic health disparities, and methods for improving interactions between health care providers and patients.

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

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

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?

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

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.)

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.

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

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.

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.

A survey of the physiological, sociological and psychological aspects of human sexuality. Requires independent study project and seminar presentation.

Open only to psychology majors. A supervised internship in local organizations. Admission by application to the industrial/organizational internship coordinator. Graded on a pass/fail basis. May be repeated for credit if internship location varies.

Open only to psychology majors. A supervised internship with local or collaborative research-suitable institutions. Admission by application to the experimental psychology internship coordinator. Graded on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis. May be repeated for credit if internship location varies.

Examines the topic of sexual harassment as an organizational problem. Students will explore the topic from a psychological, historical, and legal perspective. Specific topics will include definitions and theories of sexual harassment, perceptions of harassment, legal definitions of harassment, harassment of men, effects of harassment and cross-cultural perspectives on harassment.

Students will take an in-depth look into childhood disorders in order to gain an accurate understanding of what qualifies as abnormal development in childhood. The information in this course will familiarize the student with how childhood disorders are diagnosed, assessed, and treated. Students will also learn about the etiology and characteristics of behavioral, emotional and developmental disorders.

Surveys current knowledge of the biological bases of behavior and psychological abilities (learning and memory), diseases (Alzheimer's, Parkinson's) and disorders (anxiety, depression, PTSD). Incorporates research findings from both animal models and human neuropsychiatric cases.

Examines the emerging field of cognitive science, a discipline encompassing cognitive psychology, computer science, philosophy, and linguistics, among others. Topics include problem solving, reasoning, expertise, categorization, and analogies. Upon completing this course students will have an appreciation of the current major research findings in the area.

A seminar 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. Requires an independent study project and a seminar presentation.

Involves independent study and Honors research on individual problems in psychology. May be repeated for credit if subject matter varies.

A substantial research and writing project expected to yield a journal-ready manuscript.