PSYC 100: Understanding Psychology (4 sem. hrs.) J. Butler, D. Hilty, S. Little
Prerequisites: None
An introductory-level survey course in psychology with a focus on how psychology can be applied to other fields of study and life in general; intended for students who do not plan to major or minor in psychology. Covers topics in biological foundations of behavior, learning and memory, developmental psychology, motivation and emotion, abnormal psychology and psychotherapy, personality and social psychology.
PSYC 107: Statistics (4 sem. hrs.) C.Brown
Prerequisites: To register for Psychology 107, a student must have a 23 or higher Mathematics Placement Level. Contact the Math Workshop for details regarding this prerequisite. A student may not receive credit for more than one statistics course.
This course is a course in applied statistics. Its emphasis is on the mechanics of summarizing and analyzing data, with examples from the behavioral sciences. The purpose of the course is to prepare students for other courses in Psychology and related disciplines and to help them interpret data.
PSYC 120: Proseminar II: Learning (2 sem. hrs.) E. Eimer
Prerequisites: None
This course is an introduction to the scientific bases, methods, theories, and findings in the study of learning and memory in humans and animals. Includes operant conditioning laboratory exercises. Grade is based on two exams and a written lab report. In addition, students are required either to participate in a limited number of research studies or to write a research paper.
PSYC 140: Proseminar V: Differential (2 sem. hrs.) J. Brookings
Prerequisites: None
An introduction to psychological tests and their application, emphasizing ability measurement, and a survey of the structure and dynamics of personality. In addition, students are required either to participate in a limited number of research studies or to write a research paper.
PSYC 190: Psychology of Women (4 sem. hrs.) S. Little
Prerequisites: None
This writing intensive course provides an overview of emerging psychological theory and research concerning women and their behavior. Particular attention is paid to uniquely female experiences throughout the life cycles and to influences which affect women in contemporary society. A broad, multicultural approach emphasizing the diversity of experience among women is taken. Writing assignments are designed to assist students in thinking critically and writing persuasively. The class uses a range of formats, including lectures, discussion, student presentations, and films.
PSYC 207: Experimental Design (5 sem. hrs.) E. Eimer
Prerequisites: Psychology 107 or another statistics course.
This laboratory course offers a systematic introduction to relevant aspects of the scientific enterprise, namely the design and analysis of experiments. The focus of the course is on the design of experiments in an analyzable manner, and on their subsequent statistical analysis. In the laboratory, participants will perform statistical analysis by calculator and computer. Course performance evaluation is based on lab projects, tests, and class participation. Considerable discussion is devoted to the nature and limitation of scientific models and scientific knowledge. Test: Elmes, Kantowitz, & Roediger, Research Methods in Psychology. 6th ed. (1999), St. Paul, MN: West Pub. Co.
PSYC 231: Child Development (4 sem. hrs.) M. Zembar
Prerequisites: Psychology 130
The developmental study of children from prenatal development to preadolescence, with emphasis on motor, cognitive, language, social and personality development. Monthly observations of infants and children help students apply theoretical developmental models and research findings. Final Grade is based on four essay exams and four observation projects.
PSYC 241: Psychology of Personality (4 sem. hrs.) J. Brookings
Prerequisites: Psychology 140
Personality psychology is the scientific study of the person. Personality psychologists-- or personologists-seek to understand the ways in which every individual is "like . . . all other persons, like some other persons, and like no other person." In this course, the scientific study of persons will be considered from four distinct perspectives. Course requirements include midterm and final exams and papers. Each paper involves using one of the four perspectives to interpret a human life, as portrayed via text or film.
Writing intensive.
PSYC 251: Abnormal Psychology (4 sem. hrs.) S. Little
Prerequisites: Psychology 150
A study of the etiology, diagnosis and treatment of emotional disorders. Various theories, models and diagnostic and therapeutic procedures are investigated in the context of case studies. An advanced course which primarily serves students interested in clinical psychiatry, social work, occupational therapy and related health specialities.
Writing Intensive.
PSYC 311: Behavioral Neuroscience (5 sem. hrs.) J. Wilson
Prerequisites: Psychology 107 or another statistics course and Psychology 110
This course provides the student with a solid background in the physiological basis of behavior. Topics covered in lectures include the study of neurons, gross and fine neuroanatomy, neuropysiology, sensory systems, and the physiological basis of movement, motivation (thirst, hunger, sex, sleep), emotions, learning, brain damage and psychopathology. Final grade is based on four tests, in different formats, a final exam, and laboratory reports on weekly 3-hour laboratory sessions.
PSYC 361: Experimental Social Psychology (5 sem. hrs.) C. Brown
Prerequisites: Psychology 107, Psychology 160, and Psychology 207
This writing intensive course in experimental social psychology provides students with a scientifically based understand of human social behavior. Topics include social perception, attitudes, conformity, group processes, aggression and prejudice. The course emphasizes the experimental method and the particular challenges of applying it to study people in a social context. Given the complexity of social behavior, social psychology relies heavily on experiments that employ factorial designs which allow investigators to examine the independent and combined effects of several factors (variables) simultaneously. This course will include more than 30 hours of laboratory experience.
PSYC 390: Junior Seminar J. Wilson
This seminar meets one hour per week and is designed to help students understand their various options as psychology majors. This includes topics such as senior research projects and internships, their senior comprehensive and GRE exams, possible career paths, graduate school applications, and graduate school and job interviews. Students are required to take this no-credit seminar for one semester during their junior year.
PSYC 400: Research : The Self in a Social World (4 sem. hrs.) J. Butler
Prerequisites: Psychology 207 and consent of instructor
In this course, students will be exploring how our mental processes help us to understand events and to function in everyday life. Students will use tools from social and cognitive psychology to explore topics such as self-esteem, self-regulation, risk-seeking, and performance in high-pressure situations. Students will read past research literature about a specific topic, design and conduct a laboratory experiment on their chosen topic, and write a research paper describing their work. Emphasis will be placed on becoming comfortable with reading and writing in APA writing style, on analysis of day-to-day activities from the perspective of social psychology, and on formal research presentation at a conference (when possible).
PSYC 400: Research: Interpersonal Rejection (4 sem. hrs.) J. Brookings
Prerequisites: Psychology 140, Psychology 207, and permission of instructor
In this course, students will design and complete one or more research studies on personality variables related to interpersonal rejection. Students will participate in designing the studies, collecting and analyzing the data, writing up the results, and submitting them fro presentations at a professional conference. Preparation for the research will involve reading and discussing published studies on interpersonal rejection, and becoming acquainted with relevant research methodologies and instruments. Course grades are based on class participation and contributions to the project(s).
PSYC 400: Research: Developmental (4 sem. hrs.) M. Zembar
Prerequisites: Psychology 130, Psychology 107, or another statistics course, Psychology 232 or Psychology 231 and permission of instructor
The purpose of this course is to provide the student with research experience with children/ adolescents. Students will become familiar with the literature in a specific area, they will learn how to administer assessment tools, collect and analyze data and write a research paper using the APA format. Great emphasis is placed on refining writing skills as numerous drafts of the paper are encouraged. The final grade is based on class contribution, drafts of the paper and the final paper. The class typically meets twice a week.
Writing intensive.
