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-210 Developmental Psychology

LASC Categories: HBS

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-224 Positive Psychology

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

Exploration of the psychology research on a fulfilling and flourishing life including happiness, self-esteem, love, goal setting, mindfulness and spirituality.

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

PS-230 Brain and Behavior

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

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-261 Couples and Family Psychology

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

Couples and family psychology will be explored, focusing on dating, partnering, separation, divorce, intimacy, sexuality, prenting, and aging families.

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

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

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

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

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

Spring 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 with a C- or above.

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

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

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 with a C- or above.

Adulthood and old age are studied with special emphasis on current developmental theories.

Fall and Spring and 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-330 Theories of Personality

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

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

Other or on demand and every year. 3 Credits

PS-335 Abnormal Psychology

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

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-340 Psychological Testing and Measurement

Prerequisites: PS-101 and PS-275 with a C- or above.

How do psychologists evaluate individual characteristics like extroversion, depression, and attention? 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 measurement theory, psychometric research, and clinical assessment.

Other or on demand 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

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

This course will examine social and personality development from Piagetian, Neo-Piagetian and Sociocultural perspectives.

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-381 Physiology of Behavior

Prerequisites: PS-101,PB-200, PS-230, or PS-380 with a C- or above.

The use of physiological methods in physiological research covering topics such as emotion, motivation, sleep, and learning.

Every year. 3 Credits

PS-385 Motivation

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

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-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 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-410 Capstone: Seminar in Developmental Psychology

LASC Categories: CAP

Prerequisites: PS-101 PS-210 PS-275 PS-276 and PS-307 with a grade of C- or above. Take PS-312 or PS-322 and PS-325 or PS-345 with ah grade of C- or above. Take PS-230 or PS-380 with a grade of C- or above. Take 3 electives from PS-310, PS-318, PS-320, PS-355, PS-400 with a grade of C- or above.

Patterns of physical, mental and emotional development are explored with emphasis on independent work.

Fall only and every year. 3 Credits

PS-435 Clinical Psychology

Prerequisites: PS-101 and PS-335 with a grade of C- or above.

Practical issues, methods and techniques of current psychotherapies with emphasis on psychonanalytic, client-centered, and behavioral approaches.

Fall only 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-485 Psychobiology of Mental Disorders

Prerequisites: PS-101. Take PS-230 or PS-380 with a C- or above.

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

PS-492 Capstone: Seminar in Mental Health

LASC Categories: CAP

Prerequisites: Completed Mental Health Concentration Required PS-330 and PS-335 and PS-340 and PS-435 Take PS-400 or PS-318 or PS-315 with a C- or above.

A capstone course dealing with recent and emerging topics, issues, and methods in mental health. Content and format varies with instructor.

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

PS-499 Honors Thesis

Prerequisites: PS-101 PS-276 PS-275 PS-307 with a grade of C- or above
Prerequisites or Corequisite: PS-407 with a C- or above, or consent of instructor.

Students participate in a seminar, complete an ongoing Honors Project, and prepare a thesis and summary poster for presentation.

Spring only and every year. 1 Credit