-
Program
-
People
-
Opportunities
|
Psychology courses
- PSY111 General Psychology (general education option under social science) This course is an
overview of the field of psychology and includes topics such as
biological bases of behavior, learning and memory, motivation and
emotion, human development, personality, intelligence, abnormal behavior
and therapy. The course emphasizes methodologies including observation,
correlational and experimental as they are used in the study of
psychology. A major purpose is to have the student struggle with the
question, "What is psychology." Finally, this course provides students
with the necessary background in psychology to move on to other more
advanced topics in the field. (4 credits)
- PSY214 Social Psychology This course involves the study of the way individuals think about,
influence and relate to one another. Topics include: attitude change,
social thinking, conformity, obedience, persuasion, prejudice,
aggression, altruism, roles, norms and environmental influences on
social behavior. The major aim of the course is to encourage an
appreciation of the relationship between personal and situational
determinants of social behavior. Prerequisites: Psychology 111, 221, or
Sociology 101. Cross-referenced in sociology. (4 credits)
- PSY215 Research Design and Introductory Statistics This course acquaints the student with basic empirical research
techniques in the behavioral sciences including political science,
psychology, social work and sociology. The course aims to enable the
student to function as a conductor and a consumer of behavioral science
research. Techniques include: observation, questionnaire and survey,
interview, single-subject designs, qualitative research, and experimental
and quasi-experimental methodologies. Topics include: descriptive and
basic inferential statistics, sampling methods and research ethics.
Prerequisites: Psychology 111, Sociology 101, Political Science 101, or
Political Science 105; and fulfillment of the general education math
requirement. (4 credits)
- PSY216 Research Design and Advanced Statistics Skills in statistical analysis and interpretation of psychological
research are developed in this course with emphasis on correlation,
regression and analysis of variance. Basic skills learned in Research
Methods I are extended through practice in conducting, analyzing and
reporting research using statistical software such as SPSS. Prerequisite:
Psychology 215. (4 credits)
- PSY221 Developmental Psychology: Childhood (general education option under social science) The study of the
physical and mental development of the child from the prenatal period
into adolescence. The course includes the study of physical, cognitive,
moral, social and personality development of childhood and adolescence.
(4 credits)
- PSY224 Developmental Psychology: Adolescence Adolescents experience many changes in a few short years as they
transition from childhood to adulthood. This course explores the major
psychological issues and theories in adolescent development with emphasis
on cognitive development, self-concept, peer relationships and
sexuality, among others. (4 credits)
- PSY225 Developmental Psychology: Adulthood This course explores psychological issues and theories in normal adult
development, with emphasis on cognitive, social and personality
functioning from young adulthood to old age. (4 credits)
- PSY230 Industrial/Organizational Psychology This course covers the psychological issues of the work place such as
personnel selection and development, organizational psychology and the
work environment. The professional activities of I/O psychologists are
examined including selection and the placement of new employees, staff
training and development, performance management, organizational
development, analysis of the quality of work life, and ergonomics. (2
credits; alternate years, consult department)
- PSY260 Psychology of Personality Includes theories about the dynamics and structure of personality and
current research on personality. The course emphasizes psychoanalytic,
trait, humanistic and behavioral views of personality. Prerequisites:
Psychology 111, 221, or Psychology 224 and 225. (4 credits)
- PSY315 Learning and Cognition An introduction to the topics of learning, memory, and cognition within
the field of experimental psychology. An emphasis will be placed on
approaching problems as an "experimental psychologist." Advantages and
limitations of the experimental approach and applications of the
knowledge base of experimental psychology will be highlighted.
Prerequisites: Psychology 111 and 215. (4 credits; alternate years,
consult department)
- PSY319 Motivation and Emotion Why do we do what we do? How do we know what we want and what we need?
How do we set goals for ourselves and act to achieve them? These are some
of the questions that the psychology of motivation and emotion attempt to
answer. This course will examine universal and specific motivations and
emotions in the context of physiological, cognitive and affective
systems. It will also pursue applications of motivation and emotion to
the psychology of addiction, health, coping and optimal functioning.
Prerequisites: Psychology 111 and 215. (4 credits; alternate years,
consult department)
- PSY360 Psychopathology A study of the disordered personality including theories of causation,
diagnosis and characteristics of disorders. The system found in the
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual IV of the American Psychiatric
Association will be followed. Prerequisites:4 credits of psychology. (4 credits)
- PSY390 Psychology Seminar A study of a selected topic. The course may be repeated on different
topics for a total of 8 credits. Prerequisite: Psychology 111 and four
additional credits in psychology. (2 or 4 credits; alternate years,
consult department)
- PSY398 Directed Study
- PSY402 Introduction to Clinical Psychology This course provides a first exposure to the theory and practice of
clinical psychology. A major emphasis will be a review of the various
theories of psychotherapy. The way in which these theories are applied
within professional psychology constitutes a secondary, but strong,
emphasis. Prerequisites: Psychology 111 and eight additional credits in
psychology. (4 credits; alternate years, consult department)
- PSY405 History and Systems of Psychology An overview of the history and theories which have shaped contemporary
psychology. Particular attention is given to the assumptions and
presuppositions underlying the discipline. Prerequisite: 12 credits of
psychology courses. (4 credits; alternate years, consult department)
- PSY406 Psychology Research Lab As a culminating experience, senior students conduct a semester-long
empirical research project and produce an APA-formatted report. This is
substantive project that allows the student to individually explore a
self-selected research topic in depth and to experience the research
process from initial idea to finished publication-ready manuscript. It
challenges the student to think creatively, to integrate knowledge and
skills obtained throughout the psychology curriculum, and to produce a
worthwhile contribution to the field. Prerequisites: 20 credits of
psychology courses including Psychology 215 and 216. (4 credits)
- PSY417 Internship (4 credits may apply toward the major)
- PSY418 Christ and Psychology This course challenges thoughtful Christians to be critical but genuinely
appreciative of the increasing role psychology is playing in modern life.
A sizeable literature has developed which focuses on the relationship
between orthodox evangelical Christianity and the formal discipline of
psychology. The course examines some of this literature and asks: How
can a scientific psychology be compatible with a person-oriented
Christianity? Can a better system of psychology be built on a different
understanding of science? Prerequisite: At least one course in
psychology. (4 credits; alternate years, consult department)
- PSY420 Directed Research Directed research involves students in research projects conducted under
the supervision of department faculty. Encouraged for those students with
expectations of graduate study. With the approval of the department,
students may register for more than one semester. Prerequisites: 8
credits of psychology, approval of the research director and the
department chair. (1-4 credits)
- PSY499 Honors Research
|
|
|
|
