Course Listings - Spring 2003

PSYC 100:Understanding Psychology(4 sem. hrs.)Staff, 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 110: Proseminar I: Physiological( 2 sem. hrs.), J. Wilson
Prerequisites: None
This course is an introduction to the study of the biological bases of behavior, including the structure and function of neurons, brain organization, and sensation and perception. Required texts include a basic psychology textbook and O. Sacks’ The Man Who Mistook His Wife For a Hat. Grade in course is based on 3 exams in multiple choice and essay format. 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 150: Proseminar V: Abnormal(2 sem. hrs.), S. Little
Prerequisites: None
This course is an introduction to the realm of psychology that focuses on identifying and treating psychological disorders, along with promoting healthy living. The course applies different theoretical views to behavior disorders and treatment approaches for disorders.

PSYC 160: Proseminar VI: Social(2 sem. hrs.), C. Brown
Prerequisites: None
This course is an introduction to social psychology, the scientific study of how others influence our beliefs, emotions, and behavior. Topics include conformity, persuasion, social cognition, attribution, attitudes, prejudice, aggression, and nonverbal communication. Three tests assess performance. In addition, students are required either to participate in a limited number of research studies or to write a research paper.

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. Text: Elmes, Kantowitz, & Roediger, Research Methods in Psychology. 6th ed. (1999), St. Paul, MN: West Pub. Co.

PSYC 232: Psychology of Adolescence(4 sem. hrs.), M. Zembar
Prerequisites: Psychology 130
This course examines the physical and psychological consequences of making the transition to adolescence. Current psychological theories and research are presented to clarify the changes that occur during this stage of development. Emphasis is placed on contemporary issues such as eating disorders, parent-adolescent conflict, peer pressure, teenage motherhood, delinquency, etc. The format of the course includes lecture/discussion, films, and in-class group exercises. Outside assignments include a weekly journal, short papers and a group presentation. The class typically meets twice a week and is writing intensive.

PSYC 242: Industrial/Organizational(4 sem. hrs.), D. Hilty
Prerequisites: Psychology 107 or another statistics course
Industrial/Organization Psychology is the scientific study of work-related behavior. Work behavior can be viewed from several different perspectives (e.g., organization, societal); because this is a psychology course, our primary level of analysis will be the individual worker. That is, we will focus on what individual workers do in their jobs, how well they do it, and how we select and train people to do those jobs. In addition, we will consider organizational and physical environment influences on employee performance. Finally, because we are concerned with workers’ well being, as well as with their performance, we will examine current employment practices (e.g., honesty testing, downsizing) that affect the quality of work life.

PSYC 243: Community Psychology(4 sem. hrs.), J. Brookings
Prerequisites: Psychology 107
The purpose of this course is to introduce you to Community Psychology and sub discipline of Preventive Psychology. Beginning with traditional, treatment-oriented approaches to mental disorders, we will trace the evolution of the community mental health movement into the broader discipline of Community Psychology, with particular emphasis on programs designed to prevent psychological disorders and a variety of other problems (e.g., teenage pregnancy, AIDS, rape, substance abuse). At the same time, we will consider the costs and benefits of the psychologist’s decision to venture out of traditional professional settings and into the social, political and economic givens of the “real world.” Class activities will include lectures, films and videotapes, occasional field trips and guest speakers, and student presentations of proposed intervention programs. Writing Intensive.

PSYC 253: Introduction to Counseling (4 sem. hrs.), S. Little
Prerequisites: Psychology 150, and preferably Psychology 251.
An introduction to the art and science of counseling psychology. The history of counseling, theoretical perspectives that underlie the practice of counseling, as well as the counseling process will be examined. Practical exercises will provide an opportunity to learn communication skills vital to the practice of counseling.

PSYC 321: Learning, Memory, and Cognition (5 sem. hrs.), E. Eimer
Prerequisites: Psychology 120 and Psychology 207
This course serves to introduce participants cognitively and experientially to the field of learning. It examines methods, findings, and theoretical interpretations in the study of learning, memory, and conceptual processes. Class sessions are conducted in lecture/discussion form. The course includes an intensive laboratory component. Lab exercises include studies of acquisition, extinction, and spontaneous recovery as a function of different reinforcement schedules, and the study of cognitive animal learning processes. The lab is partly computer-controlled. Course participants write several drafts and eventually an integrated final report based on the laboratory.

PSYC 341: Psychological Testing ( 5 sem. hrs.), J. Brookings
Prerequisites: Psychology 140 and Psychology 207.
This is a laboratory course examining principles of test construction, validation, and interpretation, with emphasis on measures of cognitive ability, personality characteristics, and vocational interests. Classes will be in lecture/discussion format. Lab exercises emphasize psychometric evaluation of published psychological tests. A group project requires students to construct and validate a psychological test.

PSYC 390: Junior Seminar, J. Brookings
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, senior comprehensive and GRE exams, possible career paths, graduate school applications, and graduate school and job interviews. This class may include guest speakers and field trips based on students’ interests. Psychology majors are required to take this no-credit seminar for one semester during their junior year.

PSYC 400:Research: Social (4 sem. hrs.), C. Brown
Prerequisites: Permission of instructor.
Students in this course will work with the instructor on research in the area of social psychology. Students will become familiar with the current literature in a specific area of social psychology, and meet twice weekly to discuss research literature, develop hypotheses, and design studies to test their hypotheses. Teams of students will plan and conduct studies, analyze the data and write research papers summarizing their findings. It is anticipated that these papers will be submitted to regional conferences. Microcomputers will be used extensively in each of these stages. Course grades are based on class participation, contributions to the projects, and the research paper.