Bachelor of Arts (BA)
Psychology
Degrees and Certificates
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Psychology,
Courses
PSY1001: General Psychology
Credits 4.0An introduction and overview of the major principles in the field of Psychology including: mental disorders, personality, social understanding, stress and coping, learning, memory, neuroscience, and consciousness. Students will also gain a broad understanding of how these areas are interconnected from a theoretical and practical worldview in addition to scientific modes of thought about behavior. This course contains a component of the Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) initiative, "Keeping it Real: Classroom to Career," whose overarching goals are student success and early career engagement.
PSY2007: Statistics for Behavioral Sciences
Credits 4.0An investigation of the methodological principles regarding behavioral science research, descriptive and inferential techniques, and the process of using these techniques for psychological experimentation and data analysis.
PSY2008: Statistics for Behavioral Sciences Lab
Credits 2.0An understanding of the statistical principles associated with the study of behavioral science research through application and computerized data analysis (i.e., Minitab).
PSY2010: Abnormal Psychology
Credits 4.0A survey of psychological disorders, contrasting theoretical views and representative research investigating these disorders. A concentration on classification, etiology, diagnosis, and treatment of mental disorders.
PSY2022: Human Growth and Development
Credits 4.0In Human Growth and Development, students will learn the normal developmental stages of the human life cycle. The stages of human development will be examined within the context of the biological, psychological, sociological, intellectual and emotional processes. Relevant cross-cultural comparisons are used to illustrate the unity and diversity of human life.
PSY2050: History and Systems
Credits 4.0A survey of the major and modern theories in psychology through an examination of historical controversies. An understanding of the roots of psychology in natural and social sciences. A consideration of the diversity of psychological study and the future of psychology.
PSY2060: Research Methods
Credits 4.0Research design and methodology. An analysis of the approaches to developing, understanding, and interpreting psychological phenomena. Topics include experimental vs. non-experimental research such as survey, observation, case study, and archival data. An understanding of reliability, validity, and experimental control issues.
PSY2061: Research Methods Lab
Credits 2.0An understanding of the methodological principles associated with behavioral science research through an application of the theoretical, conceptual, and practical principles.
PSY3001: Cognitive Psychology
Credits 4.0Historical and current perspectives regarding the examination of human attention, language, vision, memory, and other forms of information processing (e.g., decision-making).
PSY3002: Cognitive Psychology Lab
Credits 2.0The design, operation, analysis, and write-up of experiments which focus on human cognition (e.g., attention, memory and information processing).
PSY3010: Social Psychology
Credits 4.0The study of intrapersonal and interpersonal processes such as conformity, social perception, attribution theory, altruism, aggression, prejudice, persuasion, group dynamics, self-concept and self-esteem.
PSY3011: Social Psychology Lab
Credits 2.0An understanding of the methodological principles associated with research in social psychology. The application of psychosocial processes such as learning, attitudes, and social behaviors.
PSY3200: Biological Psychology
Credits 4.0A study of the biological mechanisms of behavior in psychology. Topics include the development of the brain, brain-behavior relationships, hormones and sexual behavior, the biology of learning, memory, and mental disorders. Emphasis will be placed on human findings and applications
PSY3300: Personality
Credits 4.0The major theoretical perspectives of personality development, structure, dynamics, assessment, and psychological adjustment. Additional topics include consideration of biological and environmental indices of personality.
PSY3400: Sensation and Perception
Credits 4.0This course explores the major concepts in the study of sensation and perception. Topics include vision, audition, chemical, tactile, and proprioceptive senses, receptor mechanisms, psychophysical methods and perceptual phenomena.
PSY3500: Motivation
Credits 4.0The course will provide an examination of human motives and the impact of emotion on the decision-making process. Consideration of primary and secondary motivators regarding theoretical and practical application for reward, punishment, and avoidance scenarios will be explored.
PSY3520: Child/Adolescent Development
Credits 4.0An understanding of the major developmental theories associated with childhood (age 3) through adolescence (age 21). The primary areas of exploration include cognitive, interpersonal, intrapersonal, physical, and emotional systems in addition to contextual approaches involved in understanding these systems.
PSY3530: Adult Development
Credits 4.0This course explores the major developmental theories and processes associated with adulthood (ages 18 through 65). The primary areas of exploration include cognitive, interpersonal, intrapersonal, physical, and emotional systems in addition to the contextual approaches involved in understanding these systems.
PSY3540: Elderly Development
Credits 4.0An understanding of the major developmental theories associated with late adulthood (age 65 and older). The primary areas of exploration include death and dying, cognitive, interpersonal, intrapersonal, physical, emotional systems in addition to the contextual approaches (e.g., family dynamics, leisure, retirement, bereavement) involved in understanding these systems.
PSY3800: Introduction to Psychological Testing and Assessment
Credits 4.0This course will provide an overview of psychological testing and measurement techniques, including self-report, interview, observation, and collateral information. The importance of construction, utilization, and the psychometric background of tests will be considered for intellectual, emotional, behavioral, and personality applications. The course will also involve the ethical and pragmatic considerations involved with testing and measurement according to developmental level.
PSY4001: Addictions
Credits 4.0A theoretical, conceptual, and practical overview of internal and external determinants of addictive behaviors across the lifespan. Assessment and treatment approaches will be discussed along with issues influencing recidivism.
PSY4030: Multicultural Psychology
Credits 4.0This course will examine multicultural trends that include varied characteristics and populations of diverse groups. Topics will include gender, ethnicity, religion, geography, culture, age, sexual orientation, physical disability, education, and social class. Students will be exposed to the impact of these contexts on the intrapersonal and interpersonal psychosocial framework.
PSY4040: Human Sexuality
Credits 4.0This course will introduce students to a biopsychosocial perspective of the determinants of human sexual behavior. Developmental views of normal and abnormal sexual behavior, treatment, and cultural influences will also be highlighted. The goal of this course is to increase student awareness of the field of human sexuality as well as their own beliefs and perceptions related to human sexuality.
PSY4200: Psychology and the Media
Credits 4.0A historical and contemporary examination of the psychological influences of the media. Consideration of the local, regional, national, and international influences of varied information sources including television, the Internet, print media, electronic communication devices, and radio within a developmental context.
PSY4320: Psychology and Gender
Credits 4.0A historical and contemporary examination of the psychological issues of gender from a social, emotional, personality, physiologic, geographic, and cultural perspective. Specific topics will include career development, marriage, family, sex role development and expectations, role conflict, achievement, and sexuality.
PSY4400: Child and Adolescent Disorders
Credits 4.0An introduction to the field of abnormal child psychology and the associated major theories. Students will be exposed to the pathogenic process (i.e., developmental sequence) of psychological disorders from early childhood to late adolescence. A major goal of the course it to promote critical thinking on major issues such as the genetic, biological, and environmental influences on behavior, emotions, and personality in conjunction with associated assessment, diagnostic, and treatment procedures.
PSY4420: Health Psychology
Credits 4.0This course will provide an overview of the major theories and trends associated with health psychology. Key areas of focus include stress, mind-body connection, health behaviors, coping strategies, and the psychological impact of chronic illness. The psychological approaches to treating and preventing disease will be explored.
PSY4470: Forensic Psychology (formerly Psychology and Law)
Credits 4.0This course introduces students to forensic psychology, which lies at the intersection between psychology and the justice system, and the fundamental legal principles and jurisdictional considerations involved therein. Topics will focus on the various responsibilities afforded to forensic psychologists, including competency evaluations for criminal defendants, child custody evaluations, threat assessments for schools, competency evaluations for the elderly, screening and selection of law enforcement applicants, assessment of post-traumatic disorder, and the delivery and assessment of intervention and treatment programs for juvenile and adult offenders. Lastly, as forensic psychologists must possess the ability to testify in court as an expert witness, the course will address how to reformulate psychological findings into the legal language of the courtroom.
PSY4480: Psychology of Religion
Credits 4.0This course will provide an examination of the contemporary issues in psychology regarding religious beliefs, values, experience, and practice. Additional topics include psychosocial comparisons of major religions, religious development, and the connection between religion and health-promotion.
PSY4540: Introduction to Professional Counseling
Credits 4.0This course will examine the theoretical, conceptual, and practical application of counseling regarding assessment, treatment, diagnostic, and ethical issues in Professional Counseling. Students will gain an understanding of contemporary assessment and interview techniques for mental health disorders and the array of specialties in the counseling profession.
PSY4541: Introduction to Clinical Psychology
Credits 4.0This course will examine the theoretical, conceptual, and practical applications of psychology regarding assessment, treatment, diagnostics, and ethical issues in the field of clinical psychology. Students will gain an understanding of the contemporary assessment and interview techniques for mental health disorders and the subspecialties within clinical psychology.
PSY4560: Industrial Organizational Psychology
Credits 4.0Industrial/organizational (I/O) psychology is an applied discipline of psychology that specializes in the theory and application of psychological principles to understanding behavior in the workplace and within organizations. This course examines the main aspects of I/O psychology including job analysis, training, performance, organizational culture and dynamics, leadership, worker satisfaction, improving the workplace environment, group behavior and conflict in the work place.
PSY4580: Psychometrics and Assessment
Credits 4.0This course will examine the topic of psychometrics in reference to testing and assessment via paper and electronic surveys. Students will be exposed to the essential factors involved with survey design and research according to the current and future demands of social and occupational settings.
PSY4600: Anxiety and Mood Disorders
Credits 4.0This course examines the major, minor, and associated categories of anxiety and mood disorders and the dynamic interplay of biological, psychological, and social factors in the development, course, and outcome of each of these disorders. Of specific focus are the etiology, prevalence rates, course, duration, assessment, diagnosis, and treatments related to each of the anxiety and mood disorders. Attention also will be drawn to the observed developmental differences and the relative contributions of research within these fields of study. Lastly, students will learn about ongoing changes in categorization, including emerging ideas about the "spectrum" disorders.
PSY4610: Advanced Analysis and Methods
Credits 4.0This course will address multivariate research design and methodology. Students will be exposed to an analysis of the approaches to developing, understanding, and interpreting multivariate psychological phenomena. The primary topics will include MANOVA, MANCOVA, multiple regression, logistic regression. Additional areas will include a concentration on an understanding of reliability, validity, and experimental control issues.
PSY4620: Learning and Memory
Credits 4.0To provide a comprehensive introduction to the theories and basic processes relevant to learning and behavior, with an emphasis on associative learning (classical and instrumental conditioning). We will discuss how these theories contain applicability to real world phenomena, such as training our pets, raising our children, treating mental illness, and treating drug addiction. In addition, you will gain exposure to the scientific method as well as improve your critical thinking skills through reading and critiquing scholarly work.
PSY4630: Principles of Behavioral Neuroscience
Credits 4.0This course will emphasize familiarity with the basic anatomy and physiology of the human nervous system and its control of physical functions as well as cognitive and motor behaviors. By the very nature of the subject matter, the course requires learning the terminology that is typically used to describe components of the nervous system. In addition, students will learn to identify the components of the nervous system and their function. Much of this information is provided in the textbook, but lectures will provide important supplemental information. The course will also review the effects of pathology and injury to the nervous system on motor function, sensation, cognition and emotion.
PSY4640: Comparative Cognition
Credits 4.0An exploration of the evolution and function of cognition across species. Topics include perception, attention, learning, tool use, categorization, decision making, memory, and language. By studying animal behavior, students will appreciate what makes humans unique. Material will be drawn from the fields of zoology, evolutionary biology, psychology, and neuroscience
PSY4650: Human Neuropharmacology
Credits 4.0The nervous system uses a very precise system of neurochemical messengers to produce all aspects of sensation, perception, feelings, emotions, motivation, movement, and conscious experience. This course will address the role of neurochemicals in normal brain functioning and also describe how drugs are used to treat neurological and psychological disorders. Drug abuse and toxicology will also be discussed.
PSY4800: Senior Seminar
Credits 4.0This capstone course provides an exploration of historical and contemporary issues in the field of psychology. Specific emphasis is placed on application of psychological concepts and their connection to real-world examples. Students will conduct extensive research and critical analysis designed to support their understanding in the discipline of psychology.
PSY4861: Senior Thesis I
Credits 2.0This course is designed to guide students toward the completion of a research proposal in the behavioral sciences. Historical and current theories will be investigated and applied to specific research hypotheses. Students will conduct literary research, identify a relevant and specific research topic, design strategies for assessment, and develop specific research hypotheses through the production of an undergraduate thesis proposal.
PSY4862: Senior Thesis II
Credits 2.0This course constitutes the completion of the senior thesis initially proposed in PSY4851. Students will complete the research project proposed in Senior Thesis I by collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data. Posters appropriate for presentation at a professional conference will be developed.
PSY4900: Field Placement
Credits 4.0This field placement is designed to provide psychology majors with a shadowing experience that exposes them to the practice of psychology and other human services professions. Students are required to spend a minimum of 10 hours per week at the field placement site, a site that the student will secure and the field practicum instructor must approve. In addition, students are required to participate in one and a half hours of weekly group supervision with the field practicum instructor and other students who are engaged in the field placement experience. Finally, students are required to participate fully in the didactic component of the course. The global aims of the field placement experience are for students to see the work of professionals first hand, integrate prior coursework with their field placement observations, and to gain insight into whether they are interested in pursuing a career in one of these areas.