Courses and Course Descriptions
General Psychology - PSY 111
Prerequisites: None
Description: Comprehensive introduction to psychology as a behavioral science through a survey of historical, empirical, and theoretical perspectives of psychological research. Topics may include biological bases of behavior, development, learning, personality, cognition, perception, motivation, behavior disorders, and social psychology.
Research Methods and Statistics- PSY 201/202
Prerequisites: Psychology 111 and a course in mathematics.
Description: Introduction to the principles of experimentation, experimental design, hypothesis testing, and statistical analysis (through factorial analysisof variance). Designed to acquaint students with the experimental study of behavior; covers the basic methodological background necessary for several advanced courses. Lab work, computer analysis of data, and written reports of lab projects are integral parts of the course.
Childhood and Adolescence- PSY 211
Prerequisites: Psychology 111
Description: Study of the mental, physical, social, and emotional life of the individual throughout the life span, with primary emphasis on child development through adolescence. Emphasis on theories of development, developmental processes, and changes that take place in the course of aging. Pertinent research in various aspects of development is reviewed.
Social Psychology - PSY 212
Prerequisites: Psychology 111
Description: Study of Individual human behavior as it affects and is affected by other people in social interaction. Topics include the self, attitudes, group dynamics, prejudice, interpersonal relationships, impression formation, attribution, aggression, and prosocial behavior. A group research project is an important aspect of this course.
Adulthood and Aging- PSY 213
Prerequisites: Psychology 111
Description: Developmental changes associated with typical aging including changes in memory functioning, personality, speed of behavior, and socio-emotional processing. Selected topics related to atypical aging, such as Alzheimer's disease and living to be acentenarian may also be addressed.
Abnormal Psychology - PSY 311
Prerequisites: Psychology 111 plus one other course in psychology.
Description: An introduction to the study of psychopathology. Topics covered include the definition, assessment, and classification of psychopathology; a survey of the types of disorders, their etiologies, symptoms, and treatments.
Health psychology - PSY 214
Prerequisites: Psychology 202 or Biology 222
Description: The goal of this course is to provide an overview of the biological, psychological and social factors that influence disease and well-being. We will examine current theories as well as empirical data. Areas of focus include: stress, social support, coping, socio-demographic factors, health behaviors and the role of personality.
Theories of Personality - PSY 216
Prerequisites: Psychology 111
Description:Study of the major theories of personality that have provided the historical groundwork and perspective for current personality research. Topics include psychoanalytic, trait, cognitive, behavioral, and humanistic theories. Students will learn about different personality theories and how they are tested empirically, become familiar with different methodologies for studying personality, and better understand what personality is and the role it plays in our lives. 4 credits.
Psychometrics and Assessment - PSY 314
Prerequisites: Psychology 202 , or permission of instructor.
Description: Anintroduction to the psychometric principles of test construction and test use and to the theories and methods of psychological assessment.
Clinical Psychology - PSY 318
Prerequisites: Psychology 202 and Psychology 311
Description: Historical perspective on contemporary psychology. Various approaches
to defining and studying psychology are analyzed in a seminar format.
Introduction to Biopsychology - PSY 320
Prerequisites: Psychology 202 or Biology 222
Description: Study of the biological bases of behavior. Appropriate for all majors, particularly those with potential interest in neuroscience or neuropsychology. Fundamentals of brain structure (gross and fine anatomy) and function (neurophysiology and chemical transmission). Overview of sensory systems from peripheral to central processing, including perception. Study of motor pathways and diseases of movement. Introduction to human neuropsychology and cognition. Lab projects focus on neuroanatomy and sensory systems.
Psychopharmacology - PSY 321
Prerequisites: Psychology 111 and 202 and 320, or permission of instructor.
Description: An introduction to the mechanisms of drug action, effects use and abuse. General topics include principles of pharmacology, neural substrates underlying drug addiction, and the therapeutic use of drugs for mental function.
Memory and Cognition- PSY 322
Prerequisites: Psychology 202 or Biology 222.
Description: Examination of the research and theories of human memory and cognition. Topics include perception, attention, encoding and retrieval processes, forgetting, the nature of long-term memory, and decision-making. Experimental approaches to studying these topics will be discussed. Lab projects forcus on experimental and statistical methods for studying and analyzing cognitive processes.
Animal Behavior - PSY 323
Prerequisites: Psychology 202 or Biology 222 , or permission of instructor.
Description: Comparativeanalysis of behavior among a variety of nonhuman species. Evolutionarytheory is emphasized in the study of social behavior, aggression,reproductive and parental behavior, territoriality, predator-prey relationships, and other topics. Lab projects with birds, insects, mammals, fish, and reptiles emphasize the development of adaptive behaviors.
Learning - PSY 324
Prerequisites: Psychology 202 or Biology 222.
Description: Introduction to the empirical facts and theories of animal and human learning. Historical perspective provided for the development of experimental approaches to learning. Topics include classical and instrumental conditioning, reinforcement, learning related to emotion and motivation, generalization, and discrimination. More recent cognitive emphases also considered. A research report is an important aspect of the course.
History and Systems - PSY 329
Prerequisites: Psychology 202 plus four other courses in psychology
Description: Historical perspective on contemporary psychology. Various approaches
to defining and studying psychology are analyzed in a seminar format.
Organizational Psychology - PSY 215
Prerequisites: Psychology 212
Description: Covers applied research and practices in social psychology specific to organizational behavior. Topics covered include: personnel recruitment, performance appraisal, training, leadership, motivation, conflict resolution, strategic planing, development, ethics, and diversity issues. Project involving eight hours of on-site observation and/or participation in a local organization is required.
Behavioral Neuroscience - PSY 402
Prerequisites: Psychology 111 and 201 and 20, or permission of instructor.
Description: Advanced study of the relationship between the brain and behavior, including fundamental principles of neurobiology, neuroanatomy and neurochemistry/pharacology, and application to complex problems in the field of behavioral neuroscience. Seminar discussion of current research in neuroscience, including genetics, mood disorders, drug abuse, and cognition. Group and independent laboratory research required (Lab fee required).
Perspectives on Self and Identity - PSY 403
Prerequisites: Psychology 212
Description: Advanced study of current and classic research on the self, particularly the processes involved in maintaining positive self-views. Topics may include the biases inherent in attributions, memories, and self-assessments, and the possible drawbacks associated with such biases. Read and discuss primary literature. Taught in seminar format.
Autism - PSY 404
Prerequisites: Psychology 211 and Psychology 202 or Biology 222
Description: Historical and contemporary theory and scientific research related to autism will be examined. Areas of focus will include biological and environmental underpinnings of the disorder, aspects of cognition and social development that are affected, and current interventions. An important part of the course is discussion with area experts who specialize in autism.
Current Topics in Aging: Research and Practice - PSY 413
Prerequisites: Psychology 202 and 313
Description:This seminar requires students to read and discuss primary literature on current issues in the study of Adulthood and Aging. Topics may include memory, everyday problem solving, communication, caregiving, social networks and lifestyle. Group and independent research involving on-site observations and working directly with seniors will be required.
Advanced Research Techniques - PSY 450
Prerequisites: Psychology 202
Description:An introduction to and preparation for independent research in a specific sub-field of psychology. Topics include specialized research methodologies, advanced statistics, oral and written communication of research findings, and ethics. A literature review, research proposal and oral presentation. May Experience ONLY
Placebo Effect - PSY 483
Prerequisites: Psychology 202 or Biology 202
Description:This seminar will investigate the history and nature of the placebo
effect. Students will discuss the primary literature in order to better
understand topics such as placebo analgesia, the role of placebos in
research and clinical settings, ethics, and potential mechanisms
underlying the placebo effect. Students will contribute to class
discussions and complete a research proposal.
Brain Imaging - PSY 481
Description: In-depth look into to the variety of medical brain imaging techniques
that are used to address scientific questions in both the clinical and
pre-clinical settings. Areas of focus will include: autoradiography,
positron emission tomography (PET), Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI),
and Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI).
Individualized Internship - PSY 503
Prerequisites: Psychology 202 or Biology 222, one other course in psychology, and permission of supervising faculty member.
Description: Provides majors with experience in professional psychology. Interns complete a minimum of 25 hours per credit of on-site activities related to internship objectives, complete a comprehensive paper, participate in scheduled seminar meetings, and have individual meetings with their faculty and on-site supervisors. Cannot contribute to major requirements. Variable credit.
Group Internship in Psychology - PSY 505
Prerequisites: Psychology 202 or Biology 222, one other course in applied psychology, and permission of supervising faculty member.
Description: Provides majors with experience in applied mental-health related psychology. Students develop objectives for the internship experience, read relevant literature, complete a comprehensive paper, submit weekly reflective summaries of their internship activities, participate in biweekly seminar meetings, and present on their internship experience. Interns complete a minimum of 35 hours per credit of on-site activities related to internship. Does not contribute to major requirements. Pass-fail only. Variable credit.
Supervised Research - PSY 509
Prerequisites: Psychology 202 or Biology 222, and permission of supervising faculty member.
Description:Participation in all or several phases of the research process, including literature review, research design, creation of materials andstimuli, data collection, data entry, and data analysis and interpretation. Must produce a written or oral summary of the research project. Does not contribute to major requirements.
Thesis - PSY 510
Prerequisites: Psychology 202 or Biology 222 and permission of supervising facultymember.
Description: Conduct original research under the supervision of a three-person committee (chaired by the supervising faculty member). A proposal, research paper and an oral presentation are required. May be counted once to major requirements.
Special Topics in Psychology - PSY
Prerequisites: Psychology 111 and permission of instructor.
Description: Topics vary with each offering and are announced in advance for each course. May be counted two times toward the 10 - course major.
Major Requirements for Psychology [PDF]
Schedule of Class Offerings 2013-1014 (PDF)