Chair: Alan Kluger (Gillet Hall, Room 113)
Department Faculty: Professors: Alan Kluger, Fred D. Phelps; Associate Professors: Jean Bresnahan, Xiangdong Jia, Humberto Lizardi, David Manier, John McDonald, Vincent Prohaska, Anne Reid, Kevin Sailor, Suzanne Yates; Assistant Professors: Keith Happaney, Ruby S.C. Phillips, Sarah Shuwairi; Lecturer: Minda Tessler
The undergraduate program in Psychology is intended to serve three principal objectives: (1)to contribute to the liberal education of all students by providing an understanding of psychology as a science and as a profession; (2)to provide an understanding of psychological principles and techniques for those students interested in work in other behavioral and social sciences and in professional fields such as education, social work, and medicine; and (3)to establish a sound foundation for those planning to pursue graduate studies in psychology that can lead to careers in college teaching, scientific research, clinical psychology, and school psychology or to professional work in industry, government, and social agencies.
PROGRAMS
Students are required to consult with Department advisers for guidance and approval of course selection. The required courses and credits are distributed as follows:
Credits (35)
14 In required courses: PSY 166 (3), 226 (4), 305 (4), and 348 (3).
6 One 3-credit course from each of two of the following three options:
Option 1: PSY 217, 218, or 219
Option 2: PSY 234 or 320
Option 3: PSY 240 or 330
6 One 3-credit course from each of two of the following three options:
Option 1: PSY 310 or 245
Option 2: PSY 314 or 317
Option 3: PSY 316 or 366
9 In additional PSY courses: Three 200-, 300-, or 400-level Psychology courses.
Students planning to pursue graduate study in psychology and related fields should consult with Department faculty. The Department encourages students to participate in faculty research programs.
Students who wish to qualify for Departmental honors are required to take PSY 495: Honors Research in Psychology.
The minor consists of four courses, of which at least two must be at the 300 level or above. Note that PSY 166, a prerequisite to all courses in the minor, cannot be counted toward the minor.
Those students who are interested in preparing for careers in mental health professions, such as clinical and community psychology, psychiatry, social work, guidance, and rehabilitation counseling, should consult with Department faculty.
See the description of this program contained later in this Bulletin.
See the description of this track within the Interdepartmental Concentration in Anthropology contained earlier in this Bulletin.
PSY 135: Psychology of Personal Adjustment. 3 hours, 3 credits. Application of psychological concepts to everyday life, with a focus on the description and understanding of human behavior. Includes topics such as personality, normal and abnormal behavior, and adjustment to stress. Note: This course does not fulfill distribution requirements or requirements for a major or minor in Psychology.
PSY 166: General Psychology. 3 hours, 3 credits. Introduction to the fundamental concepts and methods of modern psychology. Consideration of the scientific basis of psychology and of the significant problems in the areas of learning, motivation, emotion, individual differences, physiological bases of behavior, perception, developmental processes, personality, and social behavior. Note: There is a research requirement for this course that students can fulfill either by writing about their participation as a subject in approved studies or by writing their reactions to approved articles or colloquia.
Note: All of the following PSY courses carry PSY 166 as a prerequisite. Additional prerequisites are indicated where appropriate.
PSY 201: Science and Practice of Psychology. 3 hours, 3 credits. A writing-intensive course in which students will gain experience in locating, reading, understanding, and evaluating primary empirical research from the various sub-fields within psychology and learn to use standard A.P.A. format in writing research reports, case studies, progress reports, and review papers.
PSY (WST) 209: Psychology of Women. 3 hours, 3 credits. Survey of empirical and theoretical issues regarding the psychology of women, dynamics of personality, and inherent and learned factors influencing their behavior.
PSY 217: Child Psychology. 3 hours, 3 credits. Consideration of theories, research findings, and methodology with respect to physical growth, sensorimotor, emotional, cognitive, perceptual-conceptual, language, and intellectual development of the individual prior to adolescence.
PSY 218: Psychology of Adolescence. 3 hours, 3 credits. Adolescence as a transition between childhood and adulthood. Theory and research on age-related changes, developmental tasks, and role in society. Topics include physical and cognitive development, self-concept and autonomy, family, school, and peer relations, and the adolescent at risk.
PSY 219: Psychology of Adulthood and Aging. 3 hours, 3 credits. Development from adulthood to the final stages of life. Theory and research findings on age-related biological, cognitive, personality, and sensory changes. Topics include sex roles, parenting, family relationships, work, leisure, retirement, death, and bereavement.
PSY 226: Statistical Methods in Psychology. 4 hours, 4 credits. Descriptive and inferential statistics and their applications to the analysis and interpretation of psychological data. Among the topics discussed are central tendency, variability, correlation and regression, hypothesis testing, analysis of variance, power analysis, and the relationship of research design to statistics. Hand calculators and computers will be introduced and utilized throughout the course as adjuncts to data analysis. PREREQ: MAT 104 or equivalent, any MAT course that has MAT 104 as a prerequisite, or Departmental permission.
PSY 232: Childhood Psychopathology. 3 hours, 3 credits. Study of the concept of abnormality as it applies to children and adolescents. Consideration of specific syndromes such as anxiety disorder, depression, A.D.H.D., conduct disorders, autism, and schizophrenia with regard to etiology, diagnosis, and treatment.
PSY 234: Abnormal Psychology. 3 hours, 3 credits. Examination of the concept of abnormality and of the major categories of psychopathology with regard to symptoms and diagnosis. Consideration of etiology and treatment of psychological disorders from psychodynamic, behavioral, cognitive, humanistic, sociocultural, and biological perspectives.
PSY 238: Environmental Psychology. 3 hours, 3 credits. Study of the relationship of the individual and the natural and "built environment." Analysis of the psychological dimension of problems such as pollution, crowding, and energy conservation.
PSY 240: Industrial/Organizational Psychology. 3 hours, 3 credits. Survey of current research problems; practices in personnel selection and training; management; consumer, marketing, and advertising psychology.
PSY 245: Psychological Testing and Assessment. 3 hours, 3 credits. Basic concepts of psychological testing and assessment. Survey of the major methods of assessment and tests of general ability, aptitude, achievement, interest, and personality. Examination of the contribution of psychological tests to applied psychology and their role in contemporary society.
PSY 248: Introduction to Primate Behavior Studies. 3 hours, 3 credits. Overview of the Order Primates as a biological entity, with a focus on monkeys and apes. Methods for studying their behavior in captivity and in native habitats. Note: Course will include field trips to zoos and appropriate animal laboratories.
PSY 305: Experimental Psychology I. 6 hours (2, lecture; 4, lab), 4 credits. Theory and method of psychological experimentation and measurement as applied to the study of behavioral phenomena. Design and execution of selected experiments in such areas as learning, thinking, motivation, personality, and social behavior. PREREQ: PSY 226.
PSY 306: Experimental Psychology II. 6 hours (2, lecture; 4, lab), 4 credits. Continuation of PSY 305, including such areas as sensation and perception, with emphasis on independent research on selected topics. PREREQ: PSY 305.
PSY 307: Research in Social Psychology. 6 hours (2, lecture; 4, lab), 4 credits. Use of laboratory and field techniques in the investigation of social psychological topics, such as attitudes, conformity, social interaction, altruism, and ethics of research. Individual and group research projects in the laboratory and in the community, where possible. PREREQ: PSY 226 and 330.
PSY 308: Motivation and Emotion. 3 hours, 3 credits. Study of motives (hunger, sex, aggression, etc.) and emotions (anger, love, fear, etc.) as underlying causes of behavior.
PSY 310: Psychology of Learning. 3 hours, 3 credits. Survey of fundamental concepts, empirical findings, and theoretical issues in animal and human learning. Topics include conditioning, extinction, reinforcement, generalization, discrimination, problem solving, retention, and forgetting.
PSY 314: Cognitive Psychology. 3 hours, 3 credits. A consideration of the manner in which humans process, code, and store information. Current ideas and research pertaining to selective attention, short- and long-term memory, consciousness, and the constructive nature of perception and thinking.
PSY 316: Physiological Psychology. 3 hours, 3 credits. An introduction to the nervous system and its relation to the understanding of such psychological processes as sensation, perception, attention, learning, motivation, memory, arousal, sleep, and dreaming.
PSY 317: Psychology of Sensation and Perception. 3 hours, 3 credits. Review of the classic concepts of sensation and perception. Examination of each of the major senses, with emphasis on vision and hearing. Survey of modern perceptual formulations and appraisal of current theories.
PSY 318: Comparative Psychology and Ethology. 3 hours, 3 credits. Comparative analysis of animal behavior with special emphasis on instinct, imprinting, and territoriality. Comparative and ethological methods in the study of learning, aggression, sexual behavior, motivation, and social organization.
PSY 319: Social and Emotional Development. 3 hours, 3 credits. Social and emotional competencies from birth to early adulthood.
PSY 320: Theories of Personality. 3 hours, 3 credits. Review of the major theories of personality development, including the psychoanalytic, constitutional, behavioral, and biosocial.
PSY 326: Advanced Statistical Methods in Psychology. 3 hours, 3 credits. Comprehensive treatment of selected topics, including experimental design and nonparametric and multivariate techniques. PREREQ: PSY 226.
PSY 328(WST 348): Family Psychology. 3 hours, 3 credits. Study of the psychological dynamics affecting contemporary families, including family structures, development, communication patterns, disorders, and treatment approaches.
PSY 330: Social Psychology. 3 hours, 3 credits. Consideration of theoretical approaches, research methodology, and findings pertinent to the study of individuals in their social context. Emphasis is given to attitude formation and change, interpersonal perception, group structure and processes, leadership, conformity, and communication.
PSY 331: Psychology and the Law. 3 hours, 3 credits. The role of psychology in the legal process. Psychological issues in problems of confidentiality; evidence and testimony; jury selection and decision making; the insanity defense.
PSY 335: Health Psychology. 3 hours, 3 credits. Role of psychological factors in health and illness. Topics include stress-related physical disorders; psychological assessment in medical settings; prevention and treatment of illness; health attitudes; management of pain; chronic and terminal illness.
PSY 336: The Psychology of Ethnicity. 3 hours, 3 credits. The dynamics of ethnic identification. The effect of psychological, physiological, cultural, demographic, and socialization factors associated with ethnicity on individual development and behavior.
PSY 338: Community Psychology. 3 hours, 3 credits. Consideration of the contributions of psychology to problems of social intervention in community mental health centers, schools, and the like. Review of various social intervention projects in order to study present and possible future contributions of psychology. Attention will be given to ethical problems and interdisciplinary relationships.
PSY 340: Evolutionary Psychology. 3 hours, 3 credits. Evolutionary bases of human thought, behavior, and brain structure. Topics include the role of phylogenetic evolution on food preferences, sexual and mating strategies, parenting, kinship, group living, aggression, language, and problem solving.
PSY 348: History of Psychology. 3 hours, 3 credits. Study of the evolution of theory and methods in psychology as it has developed from its early philosophical roots to its present status as a science and profession. The contributions of major individuals and theoretical systems and their influence on contemporary psychology will be reviewed.
PSY 350: Special Topics in Geropsychology. 3 hours, 3 credits. Examination of selected areas in the psychology of aging. Topics to be announced each semester.
PSY 366: Clinical Neuropsychology. 3 hours, 3 credits. Consideration of the effects of brain damage on psychological functioning, with emphasis on impairments in perception, attention, emotion, memory, and language abilities.
PSY 410: Learning Theory. 3 hours, 3 credits. Critical evaluation of the major theories of learning, stressing an examination of relevant research methodology and experimental data. PREREQ: PSY 310.
PSY 415: Seminar in Theories of Developmental Psychology. 3 hours, 3 credits. Research and theory concerning the development of human behavior from conception to death. Focus upon developmental research in the areas of cognitive, social and moral, perceptual, physiological, and linguistic psychology. Consideration of major developmental concepts, such as stage, critical periods, and maturity, and of major developmental theorists, such as Piaget and Erikson.
PSY 416: Seminar in Physiological Psychology. 3 hours, 3 credits. Selected topics dealing with the physiological bases of behavior are studied in depth. Current literature in the field is emphasized. PREREQ: PSY 316 and instructor's permission.
PSY 430: Seminar in Social Psychology. 3 hours, 3 credits. Examination of the application of psychological concepts and research to contemporary social and cultural issues. PREREQ: PSY 330.
PSY 433: Methods of Psychological Intervention. 3 hours, 3 credits. Psychological intervention techniques: interviews, modes of counseling, behavioral- and psycho-therapies. PREREQ: 12 prior credits in Psychology, including PSY 234.
PSY 434: Seminar in Abnormal Psychology. 3 hours, 3 credits. Intensive consideration of current issues and research relevant to selected problem areas. PREREQ: PSY 234.
PSY 440: Seminar in Psychological Services. 2 hours, 2 credits. Analysis of field experiences. COREQ: PSY 470.
PSY 445: Seminar in Psychological Testing and Assessment. 4 hours, 4 credits. Principles, applications, and contemporary issues in psychological testing and assessment. Supervised administration, scoring, and interpretation of measures of general ability, aptitude, achievement, interest, and personality. Instruction in computerized testing applications. PREREQ: PSY 226.
PSY 450: Advanced Seminar in Contemporary Issues in Psychology. 3 hours, 3 credits. (Maximum 6 credits; only 3 credits may be applied to requirements of the major.) Intensive analysis of experimental and theoretical material on specific significant problems of contemporary psychology. PREREQ: PSY 166 and 12 additional PSY credits and permission of the instructor.
PSY 470: Practicum in Psychological Services. Hours to be arranged, 2-4 credits. Supervised placement in one of a variety of occupational settings in which the student may obtain firsthand experience in the provision of psychological services to clients. PREREQ: PSY 333, 15 additional credits in psychology, and permission of the instructor. Note: Students in the Specialization in Psychological Services may take a second semester of fieldwork with credit toward completion of the specialization. Other students may be permitted to repeat the course for elective credit only.
PSY 485: Independent Study in Psychology. One semester, 3 credits (maximum 6 credits; only 3 credits may be applied to requirements of the major). Individual research project (e.g., lab, library, or community oriented), under the direction of a member of the Psychology faculty. Written report required for each semester of work. PREREQ: A 2.75 G.P.A., a 3.0 G.P.A. in Psychology, instructor's and Departmental permission.
PSY 495: Honors Research in Psychology. One semester, 3 credits (maximum 6 credits). A preliminary outline for the student's independent research must be approved by a faculty screening committee that will include the student's Departmental adviser. Granting of credit will be contingent upon presentation of a report of the research at a Departmental seminar and the filing of the research paper in the Departmental office before the end of the senior year. PREREQ: PSY 305, completion of 12 credits in Psychology, a 3.2 G.P.A., a 3.5 G.P.A. in Psychology, and Departmental permission.