Catalog

2011-2012

Minor:

Psychology

Departments/Programs:

Psychology Minor (18 hours)
Courses
PSYCH 001 Basic Psychological Science	3 hours
PSYCH 002 Applied Psychological Science	3 hours
Experimental Psychology (select from the following): PSYCH 160 Basic Learning Principles PSYCH 165 Perception PSYCH 170 Cognitive Psychology PSYCH 180 Psychology of Sleep and Dreaming PSYCH 212 Behavioral Neuroscience PSYCH 215 Psychopharmacology	3-4 hours
Applied Psychology (select from the following): PSYCH 130 Child and Adolescent Psychology PSYCH 140 Social Psychology PSYCH 203 Theories of Personality PSYCH 217 Psychological Testing PSYCH 231 Abnormal Psychology	3 hours
Psychology electives	6 hours

PSYCH 001 Basic Psychological Science (3 hours)

Lectures and demonstrations that present psychology as a science of behavior and mental processes. Emphasis is on the topics of scientific methodology, learning, memory, thinking, states of consciousness, language, sensation, perception, motivation, emotion, and the nervous system. Basic Psychological Science and Applied Psychological Science are not sequential. Basic Psychological Science may be taken prior to or following Applied Psychological Science.

(Normally offered each semester.)

PSYCH 002 Applied Psychological Science (3 hours)

Lectures and demonstrations that present psychology as a science of behavior and mental processes. Emphasis is on the topics of scientific methodology, development, intelligence, personality description and assessment, psychopathology, psychotherapy, social psychology, and health psychology. Applied Psychological Science and Basic Psychological Science are not sequential. Applied Psychological Science may be taken prior to or following Basic Psychological Science.

(Normally offered each semester.)

PSYCH 160 Basic Learning Principles (4 hours)

The behaviorist viewpoint and the methodology of experimental analysis is introduced in this course. The emphasis is on theories derived largely from non-human research and applied to everyday human behavior. Topics include an analysis of the basic operations of classical and operant conditioning and the biological constraints on learning. A practical animal lab is used to demonstrate the methods of behavior analysis and modification.

Prerequisite(s): PSYCH 001 Basic Psychological Science.

(Normally offered each fall semester.)

PSYCH 165 Perception (3 hours)

An overview of the physical and cognitive mechanisms of the different perceptual modalities is presented in this course. The past and current methods of studying the relationship between physical stimuli and the perceptual experience are investigated. The emphasis is on the visual system and the role of the individual in depth perception, perceptual constancies and illusions.

Prerequisite(s): PSYCH 001 Basic Psychological Science.

Recommended: BIO 060 General Biology of Animals.

(Normally offered each spring semester.)

PSYCH 170 Cognitive Psychology (3 hours)

An introduction to the theories and research literature pertaining to memory, language, problem solving, creativity, cognitive development, and perception. Cognitive demonstrations on the computer will be involved.

Prerequisite(s): PSYCH 001 Basic Psychological Science.

(Normally offered each fall semester.)

PSYCH 180 Psychology of Sleep and Dreaming (3 hours)

Emphasis is on the psychological and physiological aspects of sleep and dreaming in humans. Topics include comparative studies, developmental changes, physiological and biochemical mechanisms of REM and NREM sleep and arousal, sleep disorders, dream content and dream recall, and functional theories of sleep and dreaming. Some laboratory experience will be required involving electrophysiological methods of sleep recording, and methodologies for analysis of sleep records.

Prerequisite(s): PSYCH 001 Basic Psychological Science.

Recommended: BIO 001 Perspectives in Biological Science or BIO 060 General Biology of Animals.

(Normally offered each fall of even-numbered years.)

PSYCH 212 Behavioral Neuroscience (3 hours)

An introduction to neurophysiological bases of general behavior, sleep, perception, emotion, learning, cognition, and mental disorders. The relevance of these topics to applied problems in psychology will also be considered, as will the methods for investigating the relationship between brain and behavior.

Prerequisite(s): PSYCH 001 Basic Psychological Science and BIO 050 General Biology of Plants.

(Normally offered each spring semester.)

PSYCH 215 Psychopharmacology (3 hours)

Psychopharmacology is a course intended to introduce the student to the effects of drugs on human behavior. The course will cover routes of drug administration, how drugs affect society, and the physiological mechanisms by which drugs produce their effect(s). The course will investigate the major drug categories (i.e., stimulants, sedatives, narcotics, hallucinogens, and psychotropics). For each drug, the student will learn about its historic background, modes of action in the brain, use and abuse, and ways to treat addiction.

Prerequisite(s): PSYCH 001 Basic Psychological Science and PSYCH 002 Applied Psychological Science.

PSYCH 130 Child and Adolescent Psychology (3 hours)

An introduction to development from infancy through adolescence. Topics include cognitive, physical, social and personality development, and child-rearing practices.

Prerequisite(s): PSYCH 001 Basic Psychological Science or PSYCH 002 Applied Psychological Science.

PSYCH 140 Social Psychology (3 hours)

A scientific study of the way in which thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are influenced by other people and situational factors. Topics include research methodology, conformity, social cognition, attitudes, persuasion, aggression, prejudice, and interpersonal attraction.

Prerequisite(s): PSYCH 001 Basic Psychological Science or PSYCH 002 Applied Psychological Science.

PSYCH 203 Theories of Personality (3 hours)

A survey of leading theories of personality and supporting research. Includes consideration of psychodynamic, behavioral, cognitive, trait, humanistic, and interactionist approaches. Important historical figures in personality theory, current day applications, personality testing, and basic methods of personality research will be explored.

Prerequisite(s): PSYCH 002 Applied Psychological Science.

(Normally offered each spring semester.)

PSYCH 217 Psychological Testing (3 hours)

An introduction to the theory, construction, administration, and interpretation of standardized psychological tests. Tests considered include IQ assessments, general interest surveys, personality inventories, and projective techniques. General methodological and statistical issues in testing and measurement are also covered.

Prerequisite(s): PSYCH 002 Applied Psychological Science.

Recommended: PSYCH 110 Psychological Statistics.

(Normally offered each fall semester.)

PSYCH 231 Abnormal Psychology (3 hours)

An investigation of the symptoms, etiology, and treatment of mental disorders including those associated with anxiety, moods, psychosis, dissociation, somatoform reactions, personality, substance use, sexual dysfunctional/deviance, eating, aging, child/adolescent development, and brain dysfunction. Students are encouraged to enroll concurrently in PSYCH 232 Abnormal Psychology Practicum.

Prerequisite(s): PSYCH 001 Basic Psychological Science and PSYCH 002 Applied Psychological Science or permission of the instructor.

(Normally offered each semester.)