Psychology Courses

• 100 General Psychology. 4.
  Introduction to the science of behavior including study of motivation, learning and remembering, the brain, perception and thinking, social processes, and behavior disorders. Fulfills social science requirement.

• 213 Class, Race and Gender (SOAN 213). 4.
  The study of socioeconomic class, race, and gender, and the complex ways that these three interact. Fulfills diversity in the U.S. requirement. Taught each year in the spring semester.

• 217 Literacy Seminar (EDUC 217, ENGL 217, JPS 217, SOAN 217, WMST 217). 2.
  Students are trained as literacy tutors and spend four hours per week tutoring in community literacy programs. Wider issues of literacy and related problems are considered. CR/NC.

• 224 Developmental Psychology. 4.
  Psychological aspects of human growth and development from conception through death, with emphasis on emerging capacities, expanding behavior, and increasingly complex social interactions. Includes field work. Fulfills social science requirement.

• 232 Introduction to Personality. 4.
  The study of personality from a variety of perspectives; emphasis on different theories, techniques of assessment, and research. Fulfills social science requirement.

• 241 Mass Media. 4.
  The study of mass media, including the impact of mass media on the ways we conceptualize the world, and the impact of mass media on the ways we behave. The course will look at a variety of media, including books and magazines, television, radio, film, and the Internet. Offered once a year (in the fall one year and in the spring the next).

• 242 Psychology of African Americans. 4.
  The study of African Americans from a psychological point of view, with emphasis on theories, research, and models as they pertain to African Americans. The course examines a variety of issues, such as: ethnic identity, personality traits, nonverbal communication, racism, mental health, and the legal system. Fulfills diversity in the U.S. requirement. Offered once a year (in the fall one year and in the spring the next).

• 250 Special Topics. 4.

• 270 Interpersonal Communications (JPS 270). 4.
  Using an experiential learning laboratory approach, this course provides students with a solid theoretical foundation for understanding interpersonal communication, the internal dynamics that lead individuals to construct meaning, and the skills needed to maintain effective relationships of all kinds.

• 290 Internship. 1-4.
  Field experiences which are individually arranged so that students can become directly involved in work within the community. Highly recommended for all majors. May also be offered at the 390 level.

• 301 Research Methods and Analysis. 4.
  Application of methods for collecting and handling behavioral science data and for drawing inferences from such data. Prerequisite: PSY 100.

• 332 Industrial and Organizational Psychology. 4.
  Application of psychology to problems of employee selection, motivation, training, work environment, and human relations in business, industry, and other organizations. Prerequisite: PSY 100.

• 336 Exceptional Children and Adolescents. 4.
  Psychological characteristics and educational needs of exceptional children and youth, including the mentally retarded, intellectually superior, physically challenged, and emotionally disturbed. Includes field work. Prerequisite: PSY 224. Alternate years.

• 337 Emotional Disturbances in Childhood and Adolescence. 4.
  Childhood and adolescent problems encountered by clinical psychologists, special education teachers, social workers, counselors, and school psychologists examined in the context of normal child development. Emphasis is on psychological factors in deviant and disturbed behavior and treatment procedures. Includes field work. Prerequisite: PSY 224. Alternate years.

• 340 Psychobiology (BIOL 340). 4.
  Study of behavior from a biological point of view. Focus on the structure and function of the nervous system and on the relationships between behavior and the nervous system. Laboratory work. Prerequisites: two prior courses in biology and/or psychology. Alternate years.
• 341 Psychotherapy. 4.
  Studies psychotherapy’s theoretical foundations and the therapist’s practical skills. The course will explore 4-6 therapeutic approaches in depth. The therapies chosen will vary each semester, as will the focus on individual, group, family, or child modalities. Pre-requisites: PSY 100, PSY 224, or PSY 232.
  

• 342 Abnormal Psychology. 4.
  Abnormal behavior studied in the context of modern life; genetics, sociocultural milieu, and learning in the development and amelioration of behavioral abnormality. Prerequisite: PSY 100 or 232.

• 343 Sensory Systems (BIOL 343). 4.
  Detailed study of each of the major sensory systems, including the anatomy and physiology of each system, an analysis of the stimulus and measurements of sensory abilities. Laboratory work. Prerequisites: two prior courses in biology and/or psychology. Alternate years

• 344 Environmental Psychology (IDS 441). 4.
  Study of the impact of human knowledge, attitudes, and behavior on environmental problems and their solution. Prerequisite: PSY 100 or ENVS 100. Fulfills social justice/environmental responsibility requirement. Alternate years.

• 345 Health Psychology. 4.
  Study of behavioral factors in illness and disease, and the application of psychological principles to wellness, prevention, and recovery from illness. Traditional and alternative treatment approaches are considered; the impact of stress on various bodily systems is emphasized. Alternate years.

• 346 Learning and Behavior Modification. 4.
  Theory and application of principles of conditioning and complex learning, including principles of reinforcement and stimulus control. Includes consideration of biological influences on the range of learned behaviors as well as introduction to cognitive approaches. Prerequisite: PSY 100. Alternate years.

• 347 Social Psychology. 4.
  Factors affecting the behavior of the individual in the social setting; laboratory and field research in social interaction. Prerequisite: PSY 100.

• 348 Cognitive Psychology. 4.
  Study of the structures of thinking (such as concepts and schemas), the uses of thinking (such as reasoning and decision-making), and remembering and forgetting. Prerequisite: PSY 100. Alternate years.

• 349 Multiculturalism and Psychology. 4.
  Examines various areas in which multiculturalism has been applied, such as education, mental health and counseling, and inter-group relations. Students investigate cultural differences in development, examine cultural and personal identity, and explore ways of improving relations among cultures. Prerequisite: PSY 100. Fulfills diversity in the U.S. requirement.
• 351 Psychology and Gender. 4.
  Variable title. Repeatable.
  

• 445 History and Contemporary Issues. 4.
  Selected theoretical and methodological issues of contemporary psychology viewed in historical perspective. Prerequisites: PSY 301 and senior standing.

• 450 Special Topics. 4.
  Recent offerings include "The American Upper Class" and "Family Ghosts." Prerequisites vary.

• 460 Independent Study. 1-4.
  Intensive reading and/or independent research on a topic of interest to the student. By departmental approval. May also be offered at 260 level.

• 470 Senior Thesis. 4.
  Major research project designed and conducted under the supervision of a faculty member.

• 490 Departmental Honors. 4-8.