PS-101 General Psychology

LASC Categories: HBS

Introduction to history of psychology, scientific method, brain/nervous system, development, learning, motivation, sensation/perception, personality, psychopathology, psychotherapy, cognitive processes, social behavior.

Fall and Spring and every year. 3 Credits

PS-193 Special Topics in Psychology for First Year Students

LASC Categories: FYS

Introductory level course covering topics of sepcial interest to first year students. Offered only as a First Year Seminar.

Fall only and every year. 3 Credits

PS-201 Career Exploration in Psych

LASC Categories: HBS, ICW

Prerequisites: PS-101.

This course guides students in exploring the broad range of career opportunities in the field of psychology. The class is for any student who is considering the field of psychology and intended for those beginning their undergraduate careers. This class provides students with the information about the intersection between areas in psychology, related careers and graduate school options. It debunks the myth that you must go to graduate school if you major in psychology.

Alternating and every year. 3 Credits

PS-210 Developmental Psychology

LASC Categories: HBS, ICW

Prerequisites: PS-101 with a C- or above.

Physical, social, emotional, intellectual, and moral development from conception to adolescence is examined within a framework of various theories.

Fall and Spring and every year. 3 Credits

PS-222 Introduction to Health Psychology

Prerequisites: PS-101 with a C- or above.

Introduction to the areas and methods of Health Psychology. Topics include: epidemiology, behavior change, compliance, alternative medicine, healing, chronic illness.

Other or on demand and every year. 3 Credits

PS-230 Brain and Behavior

LASC Categories: NSP

Prerequisites: PS-101 (Majors must pass with a C- or better). Credit will not be granted for both PS 230 and PS 380

An introduction to the biological basis of behavior.

Fall and Spring and every year. 3 Credits

PS-240 Introduction to Abnormal Psychology

LASC Categories: HBS

Prerequisites: PS-101. Psychology majors must pass with a C- or above. Credit will not be provided for both PS-240 and PS-335.

Etiology, dynamics and treatment of psychopathology and their relation to normal personality are considered from traditional and contemporary perspectives.

Fall and Spring and every year. 3 Credits

PS-250 Social Psychology

Prerequisites: PS-101 with a C- or above.

The psychological dynamics of social interaction including verbal and non-verbal communication, group dynamics and attitude formation and change.

Other or on demand and every year. 3 Credits

PS-252 Applied Social Psychology

Prerequisites: PS-101 with a C- or above.

Survey of applied social psychology including psychology in educational, organizational, and legal settngs; diversity, environmental, health, media, and consumer issues.

Other or on demand and every year. 3 Credits

PS-254 Persuasion

Prerequisites: PS-101 with a C-

Explores the areas of persuasion, social influence, and compliance gaining in various situations by utilizing psychological theories/approaches to explain behavior.

Other or on demand and every year. 3 Credits

PS-255 Psychological Foundations of Diversity

Prerequisites: PS-101 with a C- or above.

Explores the gender, racial/ethnic, multiple-group membership, cultural, social class, religious, disability and sexual orientation facets of diversity.

Other or on demand and every year. 3 Credits

PS-260 Psychology of Human Sexuality

Prerequisites: PS-101 with a C- or above.

Sexuality as a foundation of personality. The wide range of human sexuality is explored; sexual development, roles, attitudes and behaviors.

Other or on demand and every 2-3 years. 3 Credits

PS-263 Psychology of Women

Prerequisites: PS-101 with a C- or above.

Women's psychological development throughout the lifespan will be examined, including female development, achievement, stereotyping, stress, violence and psychological disorders.

Other or on demand and every 2-3 years. 3 Credits

PS-270 Psychopharmacology

LASC Categories: NSP

Prerequisites: PS-101 with a C- or above.

This course will explore the effects of psychotropic drugs on the brain and subsequent effects on behavior.

Other or on demand and every year. 3 Credits

PS-275 Psychological Statistics

LASC Categories: QR, QAC, NLL

Prerequisites: PS 101 with a C- or above, and a passing grade in a college level math, or an Math Placement Test of 3 or higher

Data tabulation; graphing; measurement of central tendency, variability and correlation; hypothesis testing applied to psychological and sociological data. Hand and computer analysis.

Fall and Spring and every year. 4 Credits

PS-276 Research Methods

LASC Categories: WAC

Prerequisites: PS-101 with a grade of C- or above, EN-102 PS-275 with a grade of C_ or above, and 3 credits in another 200 level Psychology course C- or above..

Exploration of psychological research methodologies including: scientific method, design, conduction, analysis, and reporting of research, ethical principles and APA format.

Fall and Spring and every year. 3 Credits

PS-280 Sensation and Perception

LASC Categories: NSP

Prerequisites: PS-101. (Majors must pass with a C- or better)

Selected sensory and perceptual processes are studied in the context of current theory and research.

Fall and Spring and every year. 3 Credits

PS-295 Special Topics in Psychology

Prerequisites: PS-101 with a C- or above.

Selected areas of mutual interest to instructor and students. Topics and prerequisites are announced in advance.

Other or on demand and other or on demand. 3 Credits

PS-297 Research in Psychology

Prerequisites: PS-101, and PS-275 or PS-276.

Lab and/or field based research on a specific research topic under the supervision of a faculty member. May include assisting faculty with ongoing research. Written report required.

Fall and Spring and every year. 1-3 Credits

PS-307 Applied Research Methods

LASC Categories: WAC

Prerequisites: PS-101, PS-205 or PS-276, PS-275 EN-102 with a C- or above.

Extension of research design and methods introduced in PS-276: Research Methods, including applied research design, statistical analysis, and scientific writing.

Fall and Spring and every year. 3 Credits

PS-310 Development of Exceptional Children/Youth

LASC Categories: HBS

Prerequisites: PS-101 and PS-210. (Majors must pass with a C- or better)

Characteristics and needs of children with exceptionalities including intellectual disabilities, learning disabilities, physical and sensory disabilities, social-emotional difficulties, and giftedness.

Fall only and every year. 3 Credits

PS-312 Psychology of Adolescence

Prerequisites: PS-101 and PS-210 with a C- or above.

The mental, emotional, social and physical changes of contemporary adolescence are examined with emphasis on family, peer and school influence.

Fall and Spring and every year. 3 Credits

PS-315 Physical and Sexual Abuse

Prerequisites: PS-101-General Psychology with a C- or above. Either PS240 or PS335 with a C- or above or by permission of instructor for the Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Minor.

Etiology, characteristics, consequence, treatment and prevention of various forms of physical, sexual and emotional abuse in children, adolescents and adults.

Other or on demand and every 2-3 years. 3 Credits

PS-318 Behavior Management Techniques

LASC Categories: HBS

Prerequisites: PS-101 and either PS240 or PS335 with a grade of C- or above. Must be completed prior to taking this course.

Considers the basic concepts of behavior management, including behavior modification for exceptional and normal populations.

Other or on demand and every year. 3 Credits

PS-320 Development of Thinking and Knowing

Prerequisites: PS-101 and PS-210 with a C- or above.

This course will examine the development of human thinking and knowing from Piagetian, information processing and sociocultural perspectives, with an emphasis on infancy and childhood.

Spring only and every year. 3 Credits

PS-322 Psychology of Aging

Prerequisites: PS-101, and PS-210 or IS 160 with a C- or above.

Adulthood and the aging process are studied with special emphasis on current developmental theories.

Every year. 3 Credits

PS-325 Psychology of Learning

Prerequisites: PS-101 with a grade of C- or above.

Learning as a fundamental concept in understanding behavior; examines principles and theories of learning, emphasizing experimental findings.

Fall and Spring and every year. 3 Credits

PS-326 Psychological Distress and Well-Being

LASC Categories: ICW, HBS

Prerequisites: PS101, and either PS240 or PS335 with a grade of C- or above. Must be completed prior to taking this course.

A broad range of topics will be examined in relation to the knowledge base of psychological distress and well-being. This course will address cultural, systemic, and individual factors in risk and resilience in the manifestation and maintenance of psychological distress and well-being.

Spring only and every year. 3 Credits

PS-330 Theories of Personality

LASC Categories: HBS

Prerequisites: PS 101 and either PS 240 or PS 335 or PS 210. Psychology Majors require a C- or higher in each pre-requisite course. Must be completed prior to taking this course

A survey of major theories of personality. Why people think, feel, and behave as they do is explored through the different theories.

Fall only and every year. 3 Credits

PS-340 Psychological Testing and Measurement

LASC Categories: ICW, QR

Prerequisites: PS101 either PS 240 or PS335; and PS275. Psychology majors need a grade of C- or above.

How do psychologists evaluate individual characteristics like extroversion, depression, and inattention? How do mental health providers and researchers administer psychological assessments and interpret their results? This class will explore the theory and practice of psychological testing, including sections on ethics and controversies around standardized testing, measurement theory, and clinical assessment.

Spring only and every year. 3 Credits

PS-345 Cognitive Psychology

LASC Categories: WAC

Prerequisites: PS-101 PS-275 PS-276 with a grade of C- or above and EN-102

This course introduces students to areas of cognitive psychology including memory, language processing and decision making.

Fall and Spring and every year. 3 Credits

PS-355 Social and Personality Development

LASC Categories: HBS

Prerequisites: PS-210. (Majors must pass with a C- or better)

This course will examine social and personality development from various developmental psychology perspectives. Attention is given to the development of self, attachment, emotions, and others in the social context such as family and peers.

Fall only and every year. 3 Credits

PS-365 Cultural Psychology

LASC Categories: TLC, HBS, WAC

Prerequisites: PS-101, EN-102, PS-210 with a C- or above.

This course addresses the role culture plays in human psychological processes and approaches to researching cultural aspects of human action.

Other or on demand and every 2-3 years. 3 Credits

PS-385 Motivation

LASC Categories: HBS

Prerequisites: PS 101 either PS240 or PS335; with a grade of C- or above. Must be completed prior to taking this course.

A study of conditions that arouse, direct and sustain behavior. Topics include: goals, competence, control, arousal, self-esteem, achievement and stress.

Other or on demand and every year. 3 Credits

PS-391 Clinical Psychology

LASC Categories: HBS

Prerequisites: PS 101 and either PS240 or PS335; with a grade of C- or above. Must be completed prior to taking this course.

Topics include current controversies in clinical psychology, the ethics of mental health treatment, clinical research methods, cultural competency in practice, clinical diagnosis, and treatment approaches with an emphasis on humanistic, cognitive, and behavioral styles.

Fall only and every year. 3 Credits

PS-400 Internship in Psychology

Provides opportunity to advanced students to increase experience through internship with sponsoring community organization, institution, or business under appropriate supervision.

Fall and Spring and every year. 1-3 Credits

PS-405 Independent Study: Topics in Psychology

Prerequisites: PS 101 and either PS-275, or PS-276, with a grade of C- or above.

Student will pursue an area of special interest in psychology under close supervision of a faculty member.

Fall and Spring and every year. 1-3 Credits

PS-407 Advanced Research in Psychology

Prerequisites: PS-101 PS-275 and PS-307. Take PS-205 or PS-276.

Advanced lab and/or field based research on a specific research topic under the supervision of a faculty member. Written report required.

Fall and Spring and every year. 1-3 Credits

PS-408 Directed Study: Psychology

Directed study offers students, who because of unusual circumstances may be unable to register for a course when offered, the opportunity to complete an existing course with an established syllabus under the direction and with agreement from a faculty member.

3 Credits

PS-409 Honors Thesis Research

Prerequisites: PS-275 and PS-276 and PS-307 with a C- or above.

As part of the Psychology Department Honors program, students design and carry out advanced, independent lab and/or field based research on a specific research topic under the supervision of a faculty member. Written report required.

Fall and Spring and every year. 3 Credits

PS-450 Capstone: Contemporary Issues in Psychology

LASC Categories: CAP

Prerequisites: PS-101 PS-275 PS-276 PS-307 with a C- or above. Take six additional courses in the major with a C- or above.

A Capstone course dealing with recent and emerging topics, issues, and methods in psychological science. Content and format varis with instructor.

Fall and Spring and every year. 3 Credits

PS-492 Capstone Seminar in Mental Health Services: Transition to Practice

LASC Categories: CAP

Prerequisites: All core courses in the Psychology major: PS-101, PS-275, PS-276, PS-307, PS-240 (or PS-335), and any two courses from among PS-315, PS-318, PS-326, PS-330, PS-340, PS-385, and PS-391 (or PS-435), and three other psychology courses. Majors must earn a C- or above in all pre-requisite courses.

A capstone course addressing the transition from coursework to practice in mental health services.

Spring only and every year. 3 Credits

PS-495 Special Topics: Psychology

Prerequisites: PS-101 with a C- or above.

Selected areas of mutual interest to instructor and students. Topics and prerequisites are announced in advance.

Other or on demand. 3 Credits