Professors Jeffrey B. Brookings, Clifford E. Brown,
and Josephine F. Wilson
Associate Professors Jennifer Butler and Mary Jo Zembar, Chair
Assistant Professor Stephanie Little
Visiting Assistant Professor Michael D. Anes
Visiting Instructor Diane Bonfiglio
Requirements for Major (B.A.)
The minimum requirements for a B.A. major in psychology are 39
semester hours in psychology, which include, as required courses,
Psychology 110 -160 (12 semester hours); Psychology 207 (five
semester hours); eight semester hours at the 200 level beyond
Psychology 207; 10 semester hours at the 300 level; Psychology 390:
Junior Seminar; and one course at the 400 level, which must be either
400, 410, or 499, at least four semester hours. In addition to the
required 39 semester hours in psychology for the major, a student must
complete a statistics course: Psychology 107, Management 210, or
Mathematics 127.
Recommended in Psychology
The student who plans a career in a service-oriented field related
to psychology may not need graduate training. This student may
choose additional courses in psychology related to the interest area.
The student planning a professional career as a psychologist should
prepare to go to graduate school, and additional courses at the 300-and
400-level are recommended.
Recommended in Other Departments
Each student is urged to take courses in biology, Computer Science
150, language courses, including a conversational course, Mathematics
201 and Philosophy 240. The student planning to go to graduate
school should also take Mathematics 202 and further courses in
biology, chemistry and physics. Additional courses in expository
writing and in the social sciences and humanities should reflect the
student’s needs and interests.
Requirements for Major (B.S.)
Required in Psychology
The minimum requirements for a B.S. major in psychology are 43
semester hours in psychology, which include as required courses:
Psychology 110-160 (12 semester hours); Psychology 207 (five
semester hours); eight semester hours at the 200 level beyond
Psychology 207; 10 semester hours at the 300 level; Psychology 390
Junior Seminar; and two courses at the 400 level, which must be either
400, 410, or 499, at least eight semester hours.
Required in Other Departments
In addition to the required 43 semester hours in psychology for the major, a
student must complete a statistics course; Psychology 107, Management 210, or
Mathematics 127 or 227. Additional preparation in mathematics and the natural
sciences or economics is required for the student wishing to complete the B.S.
In consultation with the academic adviser, the B.S. candidate will take Math
201 or above, eight semester hours; and 16 semester hours from any of the following:
Philosophy of Science, Biology 170, 180, or above, Chemistry 121 or above, Computer
Science 150 or above, Economics 190 or above, Geology 150 or above, Mathematics
202 or above, or Physics 101 or above.
Requirements for Minor
The minimum requirements for a psychology minor are 20
semester hours in psychology, which include, as required courses, at
least eight semester hours of the Proseminars, Psychology 110-160;
the remaining 12 semester hours are to be selected in consultation with
the minor adviser. Psychology 100 cannot be used to satisfy the
requirements for a minor in psychology. The student must also
complete a statistics course: Psychology 107, Management 210, or
Mathematics 127.
Introductory-level survey course in psychology intended for the student who does not plan to major or minor in psychology. Covers topics in biological foundations of behavior, learning, memory, cognition, development across the life span, personality, and abnormal and social psychology. Note: A student may not receive credit for Psychology 100S if the student has received credit for any of the six Psychology Proseminars (110N-160S). Every year.
107Q. Statistics. 4 semester hours.Application-oriented introduction to descriptive and inferential statistics. Includes techniques and principles used in the behavioral, natural and social sciences. Prerequisite: appropriate level on the Math Placement Exam. Note: a student may not receive credit for more than one statistics course: Psychology 107, Mathematics 127 or 227 or Management 210. Every year.
110N. Proseminar I - Physiological. 2 semester hours.Introduction to the study of the biological bases of behavior, including the structure and function of neurons, brain organization, and sensation and perception. Every year.
120B. Proseminar II - Learning. 2 semester hours.Introduction to the scientific bases, methods, theories, and findings in the study of learning and memory in humans and animals. Includes laboratory exercises. Every year.
130S. Proseminar III - Developmental. 2 semester hours.Exploration of developmental changes that occur across the life span. Physical, cognitive, social, emotional and personality development are emphasized. Every year.
140S. Proseminar IV - Differential. 2 semester hours.Introduction to psychological tests and their applications, and a survey of the structure and dynamics of personality. Every year.
150S. Proseminar V - Abnormal. 2 semester hours.Introduction to the powerful motivations and emotions of animals and humans. The central role of motives and emotions in mental illness and its treatment is examined. Every year.
160S. Proseminar VI - Social. 2 semester hours.Social psychology is the scientific study of how others influence our beliefs, emotions and behavior. Topics examined include conformity, persuasion, social cognition, attribution, attitudes, prejudice, aggression and nonverbal communication. Every year.
180. Introductory Topics. 2-4 semester hours.Examination of special topics not included under other course descriptions. Offered occasionally according to student and faculty interest. Such topics may include, but are not limited to, violence, impact of television and racism. Courses at this level do not count toward the psychology major or minor. This course may be repeated for credit.
190S. Psychology of Women. 4 semester hours.Introduction to emerging theories and research concerning women and their behavior, emphasizing uniquely female experiences throughout the life cycle and influences on women in contemporary society. Every year.
207. Experimental Design. 5 semester hours.Laboratory course developing a systematic understanding of research design and statistical analysis and their interdependence. Statistical procedures, their application and their interpretation are examined, with emphasis on computer software exercises. Prerequisite: Psychology 107 or another statistics course, e.g. Management 210 or Mathematics 127 or 227. Every semester.
211. Sensation and Perception. 4 semester hours.Study of the sensory systems and human perception from physiological, sensory, psychophysical, information-processing and cultural perspectives. Prerequisite: Psychology 110. Alternate years.
212. Health Psychology. 4 semester hours.Introduction to theory, research and practice in health psychology, emphasizing the promotion and maintenance of health, the identification of causes of particular illnesses, and behavioral prevention and treatment of illness. Prerequisite: Psychology 107 or another statistics course. Alternate years.
231. Child Development. 4 semester hours.The study of children from prenatal development to preadolescence, with emphasis on motor, cognitive, language, social and personality development. Theoretical issues such as nature versus nurture, critical periods and cultural differences, as well as more current topics such as the effects of daycare and divorce are examined. Prerequisite: Psychology 130. Every year.
232. Psychology of Adolescence. 4 semester hours.The study of youth from puberty to adulthood. Changes in cognition, morality, sexuality and identity, and how they influence adolescent behavior are examined. Prerequisite: Psychology 130. Writing intensive. Every year.
241. Psychology of Personality. 4 semester hours.Study of the structure and dynamics of personality, emphasizing psychoanalytic, interpersonal, cognitive, behavioral and existential/ humanistic theories. Prerequisite: Psychology 140. Writing intensive. Every year.
242. Industrial/Organizational Psychology. 4 semester hours.Introduction to the study of work-related behavior. Topics covered include job analysis, personnel selection and training, performance appraisal, motivation, job satisfaction, leadership and human factors engineering. Prerequisite: Psychology 107 or another statistics course, e.g., Management 210 or Mathematics 127 or 227. Alternate years.
243. Community Psychology. 4 semester hours.Introduction to theory, research and practice in community psychology, emphasizing the prevention of psychological, social and health-related problems, e.g., psychopathology, child abuse and AIDS. Prerequisite: Psychology 107 or another statistics course. Alternate years.
251. Abnormal Psychology. 4 semester hours.Study of the etiology, diagnosis and treatment of emotional disorders. Various theories, models, and diagnostic and therapeutic procedures are presented and discussed. Prerequisite: Psychology 150. Every year.
253. Introduction to Counseling. 4 semester hours.An introduction to the major theories of counseling and psychotherapy, including humanistic-existential, cognitive-behavioral and psychoanalytic. Students will learn beginning counselor skills and methods. Prerequisite: Psychology 251. Every year.
280. Topics in Psychology. 4 semester hours.In-depth examination of special topics not included under other course descriptions. Offered occasionally according to student and faculty interest. Such topics may include, but are not limited to, psychology of aging, environmental psychology, forensic psychology and human factors. This course may be repeated for credit.
311B. Behavioral Neuroscience. 5 semester hours.Laboratory course examining the biological bases of behavior, including the functioning of the nervous system, motivational and attentional processes, and clinical syndromes. Prerequisites: Psychology 110 and 207. Every year.
321B. Learning, Memor, and Cognition. 5 semester hours.Laboratory course examining methods, findings, and theoretical interpretations in the study of learning, memory and cognition. Prerequisites: Psychology 120 and 207. Writing intensive. Every year.
341B. Psychological Testing. 5 semester hours.Laboratory course examining principles of test construction, validation, and interpretation with emphasis on measures of cognitive ability, personality characteristics and vocational interests. Prerequisites: Psychology 140 and 207. Every year.
361B. Experimental Social Psychology. 5 semester hours.Laboratory course examining current research and theories in social psychology. Emphasis on experimental investigations done both in the laboratory and in the field. Topics include attribution, social cognition attitude formation and change, altruism, aggression, nonverbal communication and group dynamics. Prerequisites: Psychology 160 and 207. Writing intensive. Every year.
390. Junior Seminar. No credit.This seminar is designed to help students prepare for senior research projects and internships, senior comprehensive and GRE exams, graduate school applications, and graduate school and job interviews.
400. Research. 4 semester hours.Advanced seminar in which the participants, under the guidance of the instructor, perform all phases of actual, i.e. not simulated, research in an area consistent with the skills and research interest of the instructor. Prerequisites include appropriate content and methods courses as specified by the instructor and permission of the instructor. The course may be taken repeatedly but only with different instructors. Every year.
410. Senior Thesis. Variable credit.Intensive research project, extending over one or two semesters. Requirements include a written thesis. See advisor or Departmental Chair for further information and prerequisites. Writing intensive. Every year.
490. Independent Study. Variable credit.Intensive research under close faculty supervision. Reserved for the advanced student. Permission of the Chair required. Writing intensive. Every year. This course maybe repeated for credit.
492. Research Internship. Variable credit.Open to the junior and senior psychology major by Departmental permission only. See adviser or Chair for details. Writing intensive. Every year. This course may be repeated for credit.
496. Urban Term. Variable credit.(See Urban Studies for description.) Open to the junior and senior pyschology major by Departmental permission only. See adviser or Department Chair for details. Every year.
499. Honors Thesis/Project. Variable credit.
Prerequisite: 3.50 GPA and permission of the Department Chair.
