Psychology (B.A., B.S.)

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.
(Normally offered every fall and spring semester.)

This course, intended for the newly declared psychology major, is a reflection upon the historical development, the current state, and the future of psychology. The practicalities of being an undergraduate psychology major will be presented. Discussion of the student's future in psychology will emphasize professional issues related to graduate/professional school admission and employment opportunities after graduation.
Prerequisite(s): A major in psychology and PSYCH 1010/PSYCH 1010FYW Introduction to Psychological Science.
(Normally offered each spring semester.)

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, analysis of variance, and correlation. A laboratory section is required for computational experience.
Prerequisite(s): PSYCH 1010/PSYCH 1010FYW Introduction to Psychological Science and sophomore standing.
Recommended: College level mathematics course.
(Normally offered each semester.)

A course designed to introduce, apply, and evaluate 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 building skills in interpreting findings and in written communications.
Three lectures and one lab per week.
Prerequisite(s): PSYCH 1010/PSYCH 1010FYW Introduction to Psychological Science and PSYCH 2100 Psychological Statistics.
(Normally offered each semester.)

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 1010/PSYCH 1010FYW Introduction to Psychological Science.
(Normally offered each fall semester.)

The behaviorist viewpoint and the methodology of behavioral 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 1010/PSYCH 1010FYW Introduction to Psychological Science.
(Normally offered each fall semester.)

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 1010/PSYCH 1010FYW Introduction to Psychological Science and BIO 1400FYW Introduction to Biological Inquiry or permission of the instructor.
(Normally offered each spring semester.)

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 1010/PSYCH 1010FYW Introduction to Psychological Science.
Recommended: PSYCH 2100 Psychological Statistics and PSYCH 2110 Research Methods in Psychology
(Normally offered each fall semester.)

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 1010/PSYCH 1010FYW Introduction to Psychological Science.
Recommended: BIO 1400FYW Introduction to Biological Inquiry.
(Normally offered each spring semester of odd numbered years.)

This course will explore the history of cognitive psychology, current research, how the field changes over time, and what current cognitive psychologists define as the important issues in the study of  attention, perception, memory, language, problem solving, reasoning, and decision making.
Prerequisite(s): PSYCH 1010/PSYCH 1010FYW Introduction to Psychological Science.
(Normally offered each spring semester.)

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.
Prerequisite(s): PSYCH 1010/PSYCH 1010FYW Introduction to Psychological Science.
Recommended: BIO 1400FYW Introduction to Biological Inquiry.
(Normally offered each spring of even-numbered years.)

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.
Prerequisite(s): PSYCH 1010/PSYCH 1010FYW Introduction to Psychological Science.
(Normally offered each semester.)

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 1010/PSYCH 1010FYW Introduction to Psychological Science.
(Normally offered each spring semester.)

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 1010/PSYCH 1010FYW Introduction to Psychological Science.
(Normally offered each spring semester.)

An investigation of the symptoms, etiology, and treatment of psychological disorders including those associated with anxiety, mood, psychosis, dissociation, somatoform reactions, personality, substance use, sexual dysfunctional/deviance, eating disorders, neurodevelopmental, and neurocognitive disorders.
Prerequisite(s): PSYCH 1010/PSYCH 1010FYW Introduction to Psychological Science or permission of the instructor.
(Normally offered each semester.)

Students will have the opportunity to broaden their perspective of and appreciation for the developmental processes that occur in the early developmental periods of childhood and adolescence. The course will follow bioecological and other systems perspectives with a strong focus on diversity in childhood experiences. Topics will include socialization of children and attitudes about childhood and child-rearing; self and identity processes; family interactions; peer interactions; and educational experiences, all from multiple cultural contexts. Additional attention will be spent on less common childhood circumstances such as living on the street, exposure to war or heavy conflict, and experiences of trauma and violence.

Prerequisite(s): PSYCH 1010/PSYCH 1010FYW Introduction to Psychological Science; PSYCH 2350 Lifespan Development or by permission of instructor.

This course will examine theories, research, and applications of development in the adult years, gaining perspective and appreciation for the developmental and aging processes that occur in this time period. In particular, the course will follow biopsychosocial perspectives with a strong focus on diversity in adult development, examining how factors might affect development differently for different people. These factors will include, but are not limited to, mental health status, socioeconomic status, race, ethnicity, cultural influences, sexual identity, gender identity, ability, and developmental history.

Prerequisite(s): PSYCH 1010 Introduction to Psychological Science/PSYCH 1010FYW Introduction to Psychological Science; PSYCH 2350 Lifespan Development; or instructor permission.

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 1010/PSYCH 1010FYW Introduction to Psychological Science.
Recommended: PSYCH 2100 Psychological Statistics.

A survey of the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment procedures utilized in clinical psychology, along with a discussion of professional issues in the field, including training, ethical practice, and understanding of and appreciation for diversity.
Prerequisite(s): PSYCH 2700 Abnormal Psychology.
(Normally offered each fall semester.)

Explore the complexities of creating a comprehensive psychology for a global context. Study cultural concepts and controversies, integrate cultural issues into mainstream psychological science, and develop culturally responsive practices. Elaborate a broad definition of culture (that includes ability status, age, ethnicity/race, gender, geographic location, language, migration, national origin, politics, religion, sexual orientation and social class) to examine the intersectionality of diversity through a sociocultural lens. Cultivate a worldview of psychology outside the dominant perspectives of the Global North and promote human dignity and justice.
Prerequisite(s): PSYCH 1010/PSYCH 1010FYW Introduction to Psychological Science.

A practical introduction to the skills and techniques of counseling in a variety of human service settings. Emphasis is on skill development and application. Includes an overview and integration of well-established theories of counseling and psychotherapy.
Prerequisite(s): PSYCH 1010/PSYCH 1010FYW Introduction to Psychological Science or permission of the instructor.
(Normally offered each spring semester.)

This is an empirical research investigation in which each student majoring in psychology conducts the research project proposed during PSYCH-4980: Introduction to Senior Research. After obtaining Institutional Review or Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee approval, the student will collect and analyze the data, and prepare a formal report of the investigation consistent with the publication style of the American Psychological Association and give a conference-style presentation. Either laboratory or field research is acceptable. Normally taken during the fall semester following PSYCH 4980 Introduction to Senior Research.

Prerequisite(s): PSYCH 2100 Psychological Statistics, PSYCH 2110 Research Methods in Psychology, PSYCH 4980 Introduction to Senior Research, and permission of the instructor.

This capstone course for the psychology major requires 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, to write a research proposal using APA style, and to complete a professional oral presentation of the research proposal. Small group collaboration and peer review will be encouraged. The proposed research may be conducted during PSYCH 4990 Senior Research. Normally taken during the senior year.

Prerequisite(s): Major in psychology, PSYCH 2110 Research Methods in Psychology, and permission of the instructor.