PSYC 100: Understanding Psychology
4 semester hours
Bonfiglio, Diane and Little, Stephanie
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 semester hours
Brown, Clifford
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 conduct and interpret statistical analyses.
PSYC 110: Proseminar I: Physiological
2 semester hours
Wilson, Josephine
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 three 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.
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 semester hours
Bonfiglio, Diane
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 160: Proseminar VI: Social
2 semester hours
Brown, Clifford
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 semester hours
Bonfiglio, Diane
Prerequisite: 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. 8th edition, St. Paul, MN: West Pub. Co.
PSYC 232: Psychology of Adolescence
4 semester hours
Zembar, Mary Jo
Prerequisite: Psychology 130 or EDUC 111 or 112
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 journal, quizzes and a group presentation. The class typically meets 3 times a week and is writing intensive.
PSYC 243: Community Psychology
4 semester hours
Brookings, Jeffrey
Prerequisite: Psychology 100 or any of the following PSYC 110, 120, 130, 140, 150, 160
The purpose of this course is to introduce you to Community Psychology and Prevention Science. 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 251: Abnormal Psychology
4 semester hours
Little, Stephanie
Prerequisite: Psychology 150
A study of the causes, 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 psychology, social work, counseling, and related health specialties. Writing Intensive. Service Learning 100 is possible with this course.
PSYC 321: Learning, Memory, and Cognition
5 semester hours
Anes, Michael
Prerequisites: Psychology 120 and Psychology 207
This is a course in which we study major operations of the human mind; perceiving, remembering, acting, and thinking. Specific areas of coverage include attention, visual search and object recognition, visual memory, general memory mechanisms (working and long-term), language, imagery, reasoning, and judgment. We will discuss learning and memory in other species as well, and attempt to draw parallels that inform our understanding of human cognition.
Specific proposals about how the mind accomplishes particular tasks (models) have been advanced in the short, 50-year history of modern cognitive psychology. We will see how these models have been tested, in part by participating in replications of classic cognitive psychology experiments. Data, including the data we generate ourselves, will be discussed in detail. We will write APA-style papers describing the nature of these tasks, the methods used, and the results obtained in the tasks. Finally, we will plan and execute group experiments.
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
No Credit
Brookings, Jeffrey
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 Seminar: Hemispheric Specialization
4 semester hours
Anes, Michael
Prerequisite: Permission of the Instructor
The class is part seminar, and part lab class. Initially, we will learn a lot about the brain’s specialization for facial identity and facial expression processing, and perhaps for language if desired. We will experimentally investigate one or more themes. Among these themes could be the right hemisphere’s general specialization for recognizing facial expressions, the role of the right and left hemispheres in self-face recognition, and the role of the different hemispheres in responding to faces of different races. Participants will gain experience in all aspects of the research experience, from idea generation to design, execution and writing. The ultimate goal of the research we produce in this class will be presentation at a regional, national or international conference, and eventually publication.
PSYC 400: Research Seminar: Interpersonal Behavior
4 semester hours
Brown, Clifford
Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.
Students in this course will work with the instructor on interpersonal behavior 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. Students will review previous research, 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. Writing Intensive.
