Graduate & Continuing Studies Curriculum Catalog and Handbook 2005-2006

Psychology

A minor in Psychology is available. See Minors for requirements. Courses listed below may not all be available starting with the Fall 2005 semester.

Course Descriptions

CHS 114: The Child: Life span and Cross-Cultural Perspective
The developmental period that spans the early childhood and elementary years is studied from the traditional areas of child development (physical, social, emotional and intellectual) within a life span and cross-cultural perspective. Through opportunities to interact with children, students develop an understanding of the whole child, using observation and participation as a base. Students will have opportunities to clarify career interests.

MAT 207: Introduction to Statistics
Prerequisites: Elementary Algebra or one year of high school algebra and good arithmetic skills.

A study of elementary statistics as used in psychology, business or information management.  Topics include organization of data, measures of central tendency and variability, the normal distribution, sampling distributions, estimation, statistical inference, correlation, and chi-square tests.  Equipment:  Calculator with a square root key.

Method of Evaluation: Nine assignments and four examinations, and a comprehensive final exam.

PSY 111: Introduction to Psychology
A survey of the methods, concepts and findings of contemporary psychology. Areas covered are perception, motivation and emotion, learning and cognition, the biological aspects of behavior, consciousness, and development of personality. This diversity gives the student the opportunity to become familiar with the various fields of psychology today and to become prepared to take further courses in psychology and related areas.
Method of Evaluation: The student will respond to essay questions corresponding to each chapter.

PSY 203: Psychological Research Methods
Prerequisite: PSY 111 and one other PSY course.
Designed to introduce research methods, which are used in psychology. Students will incorporate the class materials into research on their own, guided by the instructor.
Method of Evaluation: Study questions will be required following each chapter, and several projects are assigned which will lead the student into the development of a research project.

PSY 211: Educational Psychology
Prerequisite: PSY 111 or equivalent.
A study of the nature and conditions of human learning, methods of assessing relevant intellectual and personality characteristics of pupils, and personality and social dynamics as they enter into the learning process.
Method of Evaluation: To be determined.

PSY 271: Human Sexuality
Prerequisite: PSY 111 or sophomore standing
Course examines human sexuality from several perspectives (biological, social, cultural, ethical). Topics include anatomy and reproduction, gender roles, love, varieties of sexual expression, birth control, the development of sexuality over the life span, diseases, dysfunction and treatment.

PSY 280: Topics in Psychology
Topics courses are devoted to special subjects that may not be covered in depth in other courses. Topics previously offered include Health Psychology.

PSY 301: Psychology of Women
Prerequisite: PSY 111 and one other PSY course.
A survey of research findings and theory on the psychology of women and sex differences. Physiology, developmental psychology, personality theory and social theory will be studied.
Method of Evaluation: To be determined.

PSY 310: Developmental Psychology
Prerequisite: PSY 111 or permission of instructor; must be psychology major or minor
This course uses major psychological theories to explore the normal stages of development from birth until death. Selected controversial issues and case studies relating to development will also be discussed.

PSY 315: Social Psychology
Prerequisites: PSY 111 or permission of instructor
A survey of major topics in social psychology, including social perception, social interaction and social influence, will form the core of this course, with attention to stereotypes, aggression, conformity and persuasion.

PSY 317: Psychology of Personality
Prerequisite: PSY 111 or equivalent with grade of C or better
Review and evaluate the major theories of personality--from the psychoanalytic, to the humanistic, to the behaviorist. To accomplish this review and evaluation, the student selects eight key ideas on which to analyze each theory for its strengths and weaknesses.
Method of Evaluation: Grade is based on evaluation of the eight papers on key ideas, plus two chapter summaries.

PSY 320: Abnormal Psychology
Prerequisite: PSY 111 and one other PSY course; PSY 317 strongly recommended.
A survey of the field of abnormal behavior. Review the history and status, concentrating on the various approaches to the etiology and treatment of neuroses and functional psychoses.
Method of Evaluation: Grading will be based on the quality of papers and exercises. A final examination may be required.

PSY 331: Learning and Cognition
Prerequisites: PSY 111 and 6 hours of PSY/EDC courses
Provides an introduction to the study of learning and cognition through an examination of the basic learning paradigms of classical and instrumental conditioning and issues fundamental to the structure and function of cognitive theory. Emphases on applied and theoretical findings.

PSY 333: Sensation and Perception
Prerequisites: PSY 111 and 6 hours of PSY/EDC courses; BIO 111 recommended
Surveys (1) the anatomy and physiology of the various sensory organs, neural processing and brain centers for the different sensory systems; and (2) psychological studies of the various aspects of perception and brain anatomy and sense organs. Offered every other year.

PSY 380: Topics in Psychology
Topics courses are devoted to special subjects that may not be covered in depth in other courses.

PSY 390: History and Systems of Psychology
Prerequisite: PSY 111 and two other PSY courses.
Study of the history of the major schools and concepts of modern psychology and of the people who developed them. Attention is placed primarily on the emergence of modern psychology from the work in philosophy and physiology in the time period, from the 17th to 20th centuries, and mostly in Europe. A key course in many undergraduate school programs in psychology, and is usually required for admission to graduate school in psychology.
Method of Evaluation: Students performance will be evaluated on the basis of 9 written papers. Six of these papers will be primarily biographical; three will be conceptual. These will be graded on the basis of their comprehensiveness, organization and clarity.

PSY 430: Physiological Psychology
1.0 course
Prerequisites: at least 9 hours of PSY/EDC courses
This course uses current knowledge of the brain, nervous system and endocrine system to explore the roles of physiological factors in health, disease, behavior, emotions, and mental disorders.

PSY 441: Senior Research: "Health and Psychology"
Prerequisite: Five full courses in psychology plus Senior standing as a Health Care/Health Science and Psychology major
Note: Available ONLY through contract study
This course is a senior capstone writing experience that will, in collaboration with the faculty member, provide the student with the opportunity to complete original research and write a 15-page (approximately) APA (American Psychology Association) style research paper. The student will, with help from the faculty member and a variety of readings, choose a hypothesis/topic within the area of "Health and Psychology." This hypothesis will then be tested by the student with the results being part of the final research paper.
Method of Evaluation: One 15-page (approximately) APA style research paper.

PSY 441: Senior Research: "Arranged Topic"
Prerequisite: Five full courses in psychology plus Senior standing as a psychology major
Note: Available ONLY through contract study
This course is a senior capstone writing experience that will, in collaboration with the faculty member, provide the student with the opportunity to complete original research and write a 15-page (approximately) APA (American Psychology Association) style research paper. The student will, with help from the faculty member and a variety of readings, choose a hypothesis/topic. This hypothesis will then be tested by the student with the results being part of the final research paper.
Method of Evaluation: One 15-page (approximately) APA style research paper.

PSY 481: Internship
(Prerequisites: psychology major and at least sophomore standing
Students complete 126 hours (per 3 semester hours of credit) of work in an agency or institution as a contributing member of the staff. Student carries on as wide a range of duties as she is qualified to execute under the direct supervision of a professional in the agency or institution.

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