Course Listings - Fall 2003

PSYC 100: Understanding Psychology
(4 sem. hrs.)
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 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, lab performance, and a written lab log. In addition, students are required either to participate in a limited number of research studies or to write a research paper.

PSYC 130: Proseminar III: Developmental
(2 sem hrs.)
M.Zembar
Prerequisites: None

This course examines development across the life span. The first half of the course focuses on prenatal development and the changes in physical, motor, cognitive and social skills that take place in the early years of life. The second half of the course focuses on developmental issues unique to adolescents (puberty, at-risk behavior) adults (marriage, career development) and the aged (retirement, Alzheimer's disease). Students are required to participate in a limited number of research studies and to gain practical experience with children and adults by completing an observational and interview project.

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. There are three exams and two brief written projects.

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 analyses 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. 7th ed. (2003), 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 personologist--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 psychological disorders in adults. Various theories, models and diagnostic and therapeutic procedures are investigated in the context of research and case studies. An advanced course which primarily serves students interested in clinical psychological, social work, counseling, and related health specialties. 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 biological basis of behavior. Topics covered in lectures include the study of neurons, gross and fine neuroanatomy, neuropysiology, sensory systems, and the psychological basis of movement, motivation (thirst, hunger, sex, sleep), emotions, learning, memory, 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 understanding 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 effect 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: Abnormal
S. Little

Students in this course will work with the instructor on research in the area of abnormal psychology. Students will become familiar with the current literature in a specific area of abnormal psychology and meet to discuss research literature, develop hypotheses, and design one or more studies to test their hypotheses. Students then will carry out the studies they planned, analyze the data, and write research papers summarizing their findings. It is anticipated that these papers will be submitted to regional conferences. This course is writing intensive.

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 from 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).