For the Psychology major, at least 20 hours must be taken in the Department of Psychology at Nebraska Wesleyan University. This includes a minimum of 12 hours from upper-level (200-299) courses.
| Psychology electives | |
| Sufficient electives to fulfull 36 hour requirement |
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PSYCH 101 Introduction to Psychological Science (4 hours)
The Introduction to Psychological Science course will engage students in a learner-centered approach to the science of behavior and mental processes by synthesizing these areas of psychology: Scientific Inquiry, Biopsychology, Development and Learning, Sociocultural Context, Individual Variations, and Applications of Psychological Science.
PSYCH 110 Psychological Statistics (4 hours)
An introduction to descriptive and inferential statistics as decision-making guides in psychology and related fields. Topics include organization, analysis, presentation, and interpretation of data with emphasis on the hypothesis testing model of inference. Specific procedures include z-tests, t-tests, ANOVA, correlation, and Chi-square tests. A laboratory section is required for computational experience.
Prerequisite(s): PSYCH 101 Introduction to Psychological Science and sophomore standing.
(Normally offered each semester.)
PSYCH 111 Research Methods in Psychology (4 hours)
A course designed to introduce and apply the basic research methods of psychology. Emphasis is placed upon problems of research design and analysis in the laboratory and in natural settings. Students conduct investigations applying various designs and methods. Interpretation of findings and preparation of research reports are treated.
Three lectures per week. One 2-hour lab per week.
Prerequisite(s): PSYCH 101 Introduction to Psychological Science and PSYCH 110 Psychological Statistics
(Normally offered each semester.)
PSYCH 292 Introduction to Senior Research (4 hours)
In preparation for the psychology major's senior research project, the Introduction to Senior Research class allows the student to explore potential topics, to evaluate the literature within the student's topic of choice, to identify appropriate measurement instruments for the senior research project, and to write a research proposal using APA style. Small group collaboration and peer review will be encouraged. Typically taken the semester prior to PSYCH 299 Senior Research.
Prerequisite(s): Major in psychology and PSYCH 111 Research Methods in Psychology.
PSYCH 294 Professional Seminar (4 hours)
A reflection upon the field of psychology in general and selected issues in particular. The relationships of psychology to the larger academic community, to society, and to an individual philosophy of life are considered. Informal discussion and student presentation are featured.
Prerequisite(s): A major in psychology or permission of the instructor.
PSYCH 140 Social Psychology (4 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 101 Introduction to Psychological Science.
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 101 Introduction to Psychological Science.
(Normally offered each fall semester.)
PSYCH 165 Perception (4 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 101 Introduction to Psychological Science.
Recommended: BIO 060 General Biology of Animals.
(Normally offered each spring semester.)
PSYCH 170 Cognitive Psychology (4 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 101 Introduction to Psychological Science.
(Normally offered each fall semester.)
PSYCH 180 Psychology of Sleep and Dreaming (4 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 101 Introduction to 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 (4 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 101 Introduction to Psychological Science and BIO 050 General Biology of Plants.
(Normally offered each spring semester.)
PSYCH 215 Psychopharmacology (4 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 101 Introduction to Psychological Science.
PSYCH 118 Health Psychology (4 hours)
An introduction to the field of health psychology, which is devoted to understanding how people stay healthy, why they become ill, and how they respond to illness and disease. Topics will be discussed from local, national, and global perspectives, and will include the behavioral aspects of the health care system, exercise and nutrition, health-compromising behaviors, stress, AIDS, and the etiology and correlates of health, disease, and dysfunction.
Prerequisite(s): PSYCH 101 Introduction to Psychological Science
(Normally offered each spring semester)
PSYCH 130 Child and Adolescent Psychology (4 hours)
An introduction to development from infancy through adolescence. Topics include cognitive, physical, social and personality development, and child-rearing practices.
Prerequisite(s): PSYCH 101 Introduction to Psychological Science.
PSYCH 135 Lifespan Development (4 hours)
This class will provide a perspective on the changes that take place during an individual's life from infancy to old age/death. Participants will study and describe the developing person at different periods in the lifespan. The processes of growth and change taking place in early, middle, and late adulthood will be considered as well as the more traditional concern with development in childhood.
PSYCH 203 Theories of Personality (4 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 101 Introduction to Psychological Science.
(Normally offered each spring semester.)
PSYCH 217 Psychological Testing (4 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 101 Introduction to Psychological Science.
Recommended: PSYCH 110 Psychological Statistics.
(Normally offered each fall semester.)
PSYCH 231 Abnormal Psychology (4 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.
Prerequisite(s): PSYCH 101 Introduction to Psychological Science or permission of the instructor.
(Normally offered each semester.)
PSYCH 245 Introduction to Clinical Psychology (4 hours)
A survey of the assessment and treatment procedures utilized in clinical and counseling psychology, along with a discussion of professional issues in the field. Students are given rudimentary training in interviewing and case study of a nonclinical population.
Prerequisite(s): PSYCH 231 Abnormal Psychology.
(Normally offered each fall semester.)
PSYCH 299 Senior Research (4 hours)
This is an empirical research investigation in which each student majoring in psychology formulates his or her own research topic, collects and analyzes the data relevant to that topic, and prepares a formal report of the investigation consistent with the publication style of the American Psychological Association. Either laboratory or field research is acceptable. Normally taken during the fall semester of the senior year, although selection of the research topic may be done during the second semester of the junior year in Introduction to Senior Research (PSYCH 292 Introduction to Senior Research).
Prerequisite(s): PSYCH 110 Psychological Statistics, PSYCH 111 Research Methods in Psychology, PSYCH 292 Introduction to Senior Research, and permission of the instructor.
