Course Descriptions
PSY 200: Introduction to Psychology
A survey of the major content areas and methods of psychology, including history, biological correlates, cognition, language, intelligence, motivation, emotion,
development, personality, abnormal, therapy, and social behavior. Credit will not be awarded to students who
have credit for PSY 200W. Gen. Ed. VB, VC, or VII (SBS).
PSY 200W: Introduction to Psychology: Writing Intensive
A writing intensive survey of the major content areas and methods of psychology, including history, biological correlates, cognition, language, intelligence, motivation, emotion, development, personality, abnormal, therapy, and social behavior. Prerequisites: ENG
102 or 105 (B) or HON 102. Credit will not be awarded to students who have credit for PSY 200. Gen. Ed. VB, VC, or VII (SBS).
PSY 250: Information Literacy in PSY
Completion of developmental reading and writing requirements. Information literacy, reading, evaluating, summarizing scientific literature in Psychology; scientific writing (APA format); basic research terminology. Pre or Corequisite: PSY 200.
PSY 280: Lifespan Developmental Psych
A survey of theory and research in developmental psychology across the entire life span. May not be applied to the Psychology major. Credit will not be awarded to students who have credit for PSY 280W. Gen. Ed. VB, VC, or VII (SBS).
PSY 280W: Life Span Developmental Psychology: Writing Intensive
A writing-intensive survey of theory and research in developmental psychology across the entire life span. Prerequisites: PSY 200; ENG 102 or ENG 105 (B) or HON 102. May not be applied to the Psychology major. Credit will not be awarded to students who have credit
for PSY 280. Gen. Ed. VB, VC, or VII (SBS).
PSY 300: Social Psychology
Study of contemporary institutions and problems such as prejudice, affection, love, altruism, aggression, and small group behavior. Contemporary research and
theory will be discussed. Prerequisite: PSY 200 or PSY 200W. Credit will not be awarded to
students who have credit for PSY 300W. Gen. Ed. VB, VC, or VII (SBS).
PSY 300W: Social Psychology: Writing Intensive
A writing intensive study of contemporary institutions and problems such as prejudice, affection, love, altruism, aggression, and small group behavior. Contemporary research and theory will be discussed. Prerequisites: PSY 200 and ENG 102 or ENG 105 (B) or HON 102. Credit will not be awarded to students who have credit for PSY 300. Gen. Ed. VB, VC, or VII (SBS).
PSY 305: Psychology of Personality
Basic approaches to the study of personality. Theory and fact upon which these approaches are based are related to various kinds of behavior patterns.
Prerequisite: PSY 200.
PSY 308: Abnormal Psychology
Descriptive study of the nature, course, classification and prevalence of abnormal behavior, with attention to intellectual, personality, cognitive, sensory and motor functions. Prerequisite: PSY 200.
PSY 309: Statistical- Experimental I (Formerly PSY 291)
Introduction to techniques and problems of the experimental method and statistical analysis in psychology. Representative experiments and data analysis will be discussed. Prerequisite: MAT 105 or 106 with a grade of “C” or better or any MAT course above 106, PSY 200
and 250 or departmental approval. Cross listed as HEA 450. Credit will not be awarded to students who have credit for HEA 450 or PSY 291.
PSY 310: Statistical-Experimental II (Formerly PSY 301)
Continuation of PSY 309. Prerequisite: a minimum grade of “C” in PSY 291 or 309. Credit will not be awarded to students who have credit for PSY 301.
PSY 311: Physiological Psychology
Facts, concepts, and principles regarding physiological events that underlie behavior. Attention to contemporary research methods and problems
undergoing study. Prerequisites: PSY 200 and PSY 250 or departmental approval.
PSY 312: Infant and Child Development
Theoretical and empirical approaches to the development of the infant and child with attention to perceptual, behavioral, social, and cognitive development and the capacity for learning. Prerequisite: PSY 200.
PSY 313: Learning
Experimental study of learning, transfer, and retention processes with an analysis of various kinds of learning. Prerequisites: PSY 200; PSY 291 or 309; or departmental approval.
PSY 314: Adolescent and Adult Development
Survey of biological, psychological, social, cognitive, and historical influences on adolescent and adult development. Prerequisite: PSY 200.
PSY 315: Sensation and Perception
Experimental study of sensation and perception, the sensory and cognitive processes by which we come to know our world. Prerequisites: PSY 200; 250; or departmental approval.
PSY 315L: Sensation and Perception with Lab
Experimental study of sensation and perception, the sensory and cognitive processes by which we come to know our world. Prerequisites: PSY 200 and PSY 309 or departmental approval. 3 Lec/2 Lab.
PSY 316: Aging and Senescence
Theory and facts about aging changes in sensory processes, intellect, memory, personality, family and psychopathology. Prerequisite: PSY 200.
PSY 317: Cognitive Psychology
Theoretical and empirical approaches to human cognition. Topics include knowledge acquisition and organization, memory, language,
problem solving, and thinking skills. Prerequisites: PSY 200; 291 or 309; or departmental approval.
PSY 317L: Cognitive Psychology with Lab
Theoretical and empirical approaches to human cognition. Topics include knowledge acquisition and organization, memory, language, problem solving, and thinking skills. Prerequisites: PSY 200 and PSY 309 or departmental approval. 3 Lec/2 Lab.
PSY 319: Industrial/Organizational Psy
Principles of psychology as applied to industry, business, and organizations. Course will focus on the individual employee, the job, the organization,
and the work environment. Prerequisites: PSY 200; 250; or departmental approval.
PSY 333: Comparative Psychology
A survey of theory and research in the pscyhology of animals. Topics include history of scentific studies, learning, memory, representation, intelligence, knowledge, innovation, culture, communication, development, emotion, social skill, consciousness, and theory of mind. Prerequisites: PSY 200 or PSY 200W and PSY 250 or departmental approval.
PSY 349: Applied Learning in Psychology
Work in placements related to academic studies. A minimum of 80 hours employment required for each semester hour credit. Three hours may be applied toward the major,
not applicable toward a minor. Prerequisite: 15 hours in PSY. Graded Satisfactory/ Unsatisfactory.
PSY 349 A-N: Cooperative Study: Psychology
Work in placements related to academic studies. A minimum of 80 hours employment required for each semester hour credit. Three hours may be applied toward the major,
not applicable toward a minor. Prerequisite: 15 hours in PSY. Graded Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory.
PSY 355: Affection and Aggression
Theoretical and research perspectives on the topics of attachment, bonding, liking, love and sexuality. Also an exploration of the theories and empirical findings in the domains of aggression and violence. Prerequisite: PSY 200.
PSY 358: Beyond an Undergraduate Degree
Designed to aid qualified psychology majors to identify and attain professional career goals. Prerequisite: PSY 250 or departmental approval.
PSY 400: Senior Seminar: ______
The senior seminar examines contemporary psychological issues from each of the five core perspectives. Issues vary from semester to semester. May be retaken once,
provided the subject matter differs each time. Prerequisite: Completion of PSY 301 or PSY 310 and any three of the five area requirements.
PSY 401: Senior Thesis
Design, execution, and writing of a supervised independent research project. Prerequisite: PSY 310 or instructor approval.
PSY 402: Independent Work in Psychology
Results must be presented in a formal paper. May be retaken to a maximum of six hours provided different problems are studied. Prerequisite: student must have the independent study proposal form approved by faculty supervisor and department chair prior to enrollment.
PSY 403: Practicum in Psychology
Supervised field experience. May be retaken to a maximum of six hours. Prerequisite: student must have the independent study proposal form approved by faculty supervisor and department chair prior to enrollment.
PSY 404: Environmental Psychology
Study of ways in which people are influenced by their physical and social environments. Issues covered include lighting, noise, temperature, privacy,
crowding, and way-finding. Prerequisites: PSY 250 and 300; or departmental approval.
PSY 405: Psychological Interviewing and Reporting
Principles and techniques of interviewing and case reporting, with emphasis on applications in human services and personnel work. Prerequisite: 12 hours in PSY.
PSY 406: Introduction to Behavior Therapy
Principles and techniques of applying behavioral principles in the analysis of complex human behavior. Emphasis is placed on methods of observing behavior
and analyzing functional relationships between behavior and environment. Prerequisite: 12 hours in PSY.
PSY 408: Child Psychopathology
Descriptive study of behavior disorders in children, with attention to symptoms or behavioral patterns, etiological influences, relevant research, theoretical underpinnings, and approaches to assessment and intervention. Prerequisites: PSY 308, and PSY 280 or PSY 312; or instructor approval.
PSY 410: Health Psychology
Theoretical and research perspectives on the relationship between psychological factors and health. Emphasis on utilizing psychological principles and
methodology to understand and change illness and health behaviors. Prerequisite: PSY 200 or departmental approval.
PSY 411: Psychology in the Legal Process
Course covers the area of research that applies psychological theory and research to the legal arena. Course touches on juries’ perception
of trial events, the role of psychologists in the legal arena, and the psychology of eyewitness testimony. Prerequisites: PSY 200 and PSY 300 or departmental approval.
PSY 412: The Psychology of Art
Exploration of the ways in which selected psychological principles contribute to our understanding of art and the artist. Prerequisite: PSY 200 or departmental approval.
PSY 413: Mind and Brain
A bridging discipline between cognitive science and biopsychology that examines the neural bases of mental processes and complex behavior. Major topics include functional brain imaging, neural networks, perception, memory, language, and consciousness. Prerequisite: PSY 311 or 313 or 315 or 317 with a grade of “C” or better.
PSY 414: Political Psychology
Seminar covers research that applies psychological methods and theory to politics. Areas covered include personality and politics, and the
psychological perspectives of media bias, ideology, conflict, prejudice, and terrorism. Prerequisites: PSY 200 and PSY 300, or departmental approval.
PSY 415: Multicultural Psychology
Examines the value-laden nuances of mainstream psychology and its early history of promoting discrimination toward diverse groups in
American society, while introducing the multicultural approach for combating the resulting “isms” (e.g. racism, genderism). Prerequisites: PSY 200 and PSY 250, or departmental approval.
PSY 420: The Psychology of Women
Psychological theory and research about important facets of girls’ and women’s lives from birth through old age. Prerequisite: PSY 200.
PSY 490: Clinical Psychology
Survey of clinical theories, methods, and approaches. Prerequisite: PSY 200.
PSY 497: Topics in Psychology: _______
Selected topics for study. Variable topics across semesters in terms of student interest and available faculty. May be retaken, provided the subject matter
differs each time. Prerequisites: PSY 200, plus nine hours of PSY.
PSY 577: The Autism Spectrum
Introduction to assessment, diagnosis, and intervention in autism spectrum disorders across the life span. Development of skills in applied assessment and intervention. Prerequisites: 12 credit hours in psychology or departmental approval.
PSY 579: History and Systems of Psychology
A survey of the history of psychology and its various schools of thought and approaches to the study of behavior and mental processes. Prerequisite: PSY 200.
PSY 590: Tests and Measurements
Study of measurement principles with application in psychology, business, industry, and government. Interpretation, use, and evaluation of
measurement and job analysis methods. Reliability, validity, utility, ethical/legal concerns are examined. Prerequisites: PSY 200; 291 or 309; or departmental approval.
PSY 597: Advanced Topics in Psychology:______
Selected topics for advanced study. Topics vary across semesters depending on student interest and available faculty. May be retaken, provided the
subject matter differs each time. Prerequisite: PSY 200 or departmental approval.
