PSY1100 General Psychology (4 semester hours)
The study of psychology as a behavioral science; basic research methods and design, learning, motivation, emotion, perception, development, personality, abnormal behavior, and the social and biological bases of psychology (Fall and Spring)
No prerequisites.
Meets General Education "Observation of Ourselves and Others" Group A requirement.
PSY2210 Careers in Psychology (1 semester hour)
This course is designed to help students decide whether a degree in psychology will prepare them for the career they wish to pursue or identify the kinds of careers they could pursue once they obtain a degree in psychology. Topics and issues to be explored include: life as a psychology major; what can you do with a B.A. in psychology; psychology majors in the workplace; presenting yourself to employers; preparing and applying to graduate school; credentialing and licensure; psychology as a profession; and issues of special interest groups. (Fall)
Prerequisite: PSY1100.
PSY2300 Learning and Motivation (4 semester hours)
This course is an introduction to the topics of learning and memory, with an emphasis on experimental studies that have applications to human behavior. The topics of learning theories will include classical and instrumental learning, reinforcement, generalization, forgetting, and the limits of learning. Additionally, this course will cover factors that motivate humans in terms of their behaviors, desires and aspirations. To fully appreciate human motivation, this course will explore conditions in the person, environment and culture that explain human behavior, goals and thoughts. Applied areas such as addictions, phobias, depression, and eating disorders will also be explored.
Prerequisite: PSY1100.
PSY2340 Personality (3 semester hours)
A study of the major historical and contemporary theoretical viewpoints advanced to explain human behavior and personality development. (Fall and Spring)
Prerequisite: PSY1100.
PSY3250 Lifespan Development (4 semester hours)
Cognitive, physical, biological, emotional, moral, and social development of the normal individual from conception through old age and death. Developmental process, issues, and stages will be explored. Note that credit cannot also be earned in either PSY3350 or PSY3360. (Fall and Spring)
Prerequisite: PSY1100.
Meets General Education "Observation of Ourselves and Others" Group A requirement.
Psychology maors should not enroll in this course, as this course does not count toward the psychology major.
PSY3350 Child and Adolescent Development (4 semester hours)
This course introduces the cognitive, physical, emotional, social, and sex/gender role development of the normal individual from conception through adolescence. Racial/ethnic variation and vocational development of the adolescent are also explored. (Fall and Spring)
Prerequisite: PSY1100 or EDU2260.
Meets General Education "Observation of Ourselves and Others" Group A requirement.
PSY3360 Adult Development and Aging (4 semester hours)
Cognitive, physical, biological, emotional, moral, and social development of the normal individual from emerging adulthood through old age and death. (Fall and Spring)
Prerequisite: PSY1100.
Meets General Education "Observation of Ourselves and Others" Group A requirement.
PSY3380 Brain and Behavior (4 semester hours)
A study of the anatomical, biochemical, and neurological bases of behavior with particular attention to such phenomena as cognition, emotion, perception, sensation, and behavioral pathologies. (Fall and Spring)
Prerequisites: PSY1100 and a course in cell biology or human anatomy.
PSY3400 Cognitive Psychology (4 semester hours)
This course is an introduction to the concepts in cognitive psychology including theories and applications of memory systems, pattern recognition, attention, decision-making, problem solving, language and text comprehension, reasoning, and neurocognition. (Fall)
Prerequisite: PSY1100.
PSY/SOC3430 Gender, Sexuality, and Society (4 semester hours)
Cross-listed with SOC3430. See SOC3430 for description.
PSY/SOC3450 Social and Applied Psychology (4 semester hours)
This course is a general survey of the field of social and applied psychology. Although a broad range of subjects is sampled, the primary focus of this course is on individuals and their social environment. Social psychology focuses on how one's social environment affects his or her thoughts, attitudes and behaviors. (Fall and Spring)
Prerequisite: PSY1100.
PSY3460 Exceptional Individual (3 semester hours)
Focuses on causes and characteristics of persons evidencing exceptionality. Also includes the psychology of prevention, identification, rehabilitation, and methods of teaching the exceptional individual. Covers major areas of exceptionality, including learning disabilities. (Fall and Spring)
Prerequisites: PSY1100 required; PSY3350 recommended.
PSY3470 Industrial/Organizational Psychology (3 semester hours)
A survey course of industrial/organizational psychology: Includes selection, testing, interviewing, EEO law, training, performance evaluation, leadership, organizational structure, motivation, and stress. (Fall — every other year)
Prerequisite: PSY1100.
PSY/SOC3500 Research and Statistical Methods (4 semester hours)
Basic research methodology and the scientific method of inquiry for psychological research. Concepts, methods and designs involved in the statistical evaluation of research data. Instruction in the SPSS statistical package. Includes laboratory work. (Fall and Spring)
Prerequisites: PSY1100 and MTH1100 with a "C" or better.
PSY3520 Experimental Psychology (4 semester hours)
Advanced research methods for psychological research. Student projects will involve a literature review, research design, recruitment of appropriate participants, data collection, statistical analyses, and an APA style research report. Includes SPSS laboratory work. (Fall and Spring)
Prerequisites: PSY1100 and PSY 3500 with a "C" or better.
PSY3660 Abnormal Psychology (4 semester hours)
Major categories of mental illness and maladjustment affecting adults and aging persons; causes, symptoms, methods of treatment, and prevention. (Spring) Prerequisites: PSY1100, PSY2340.
PSY4200 Sensation and Perception (4 semester hours)
This advanced laboratory course examines the mechanisms of our primary senses as well as how our brain interprets stimuli in order to allow us to respond with thoughts, emotions and behaviors. The influence of experience, cultural background, mood, social situations, and physiological factors on our interpretation of sensory stimuli will also be explored. There is a laboratory component with this class. (every other year)
Prerequisite: PSY3520.
PSY4520 Psychological Assessment (3 semester hours)
Major concepts of testing: sample populations; random samples; reliability; validity. Includes the nature, administration, scoring, interpretation, and use of representative tests of ability, aptitude, interest, intelligence, and personality. (Spring — every other year)
Prerequisites: PSY1100, PSY3500.
PSY4550 Introduction to Clinical and Counseling Psychology (4 semester hours) This class is an introduction to the theory and practice of clinical and counseling psychology with an emphasis on clinical interviewing, psychodiagnostic methods and psychotherapeutic techniques appropriate to helping those with personal disorders or maladaptive behavior. (every other year)
Prerequisites: PSY1100, PSY2340 and upper class status (abnormal psychology highly recommended).
PSY4700 Contemporary Issues in Psychology (4 semester hours)
Students select topics from the major areas of contemporary psychology for in- depth study. May cover such areas as mental health, industrial psychology, developmental psychology, personality theory, social psychology, physiological psychology, behavior disorders, learning, motivation, perception, or group dynamics. (Fall and Spring)
Prerequisites: PSY1100, PSY3520.
Academic information on departmental websites reflects the university's most current curriculum. The print version of the catalog, which is also posted online, may differ from this information.
