Psychology (PSY) (PSY)
A survey of the basic theories, concepts, principles, and research findings in the field of Psychology. Core course.
This course will provide a survey of the basic theories, concepts, principles, and research findings in the field of Psychology. Along with the broad overview provided by the course, students will participate in a more in-depth examination of selected special topics (e.g. those topics generating controversy in the research community and in our society) as selected by the instructor. By contrast with the PSY 120 Introduction to Psychology course already being taught, the Honors General Psychology course will provide a more thorough coverage of selected topics. Prerequisite: Special permission.
Research methods in psychology with an emphasis on the experimental method.
Laboratory in research methods in psychology with an emphasis on the experimental method.
An overview of human development from conception to death. Special emphasis will be placed on cognitive and social development. Core course.
Theories and principles of psychology pertaining to the experience of black Americans. Includes the development of the black psychological perspective, African-American historical developments and philosophy, identity development and the determinants of the black personality, and contemporary issues in the black community.
Selected topics in psychology. May be repeated for credit when course content varies for a total of 12 credit hours.
An introductory survey of research and theory in neuroscience as it applies to the understanding of behavior. Focus will be on understanding basic mechanisms of neuron function and general coverage of topics such as sensory and motor systems, motivation and emotion, learning and memory, language and thinking, and mental disorders.
An introduction to the principles of behavior intended as a prerequisite to the specific strategies and procedures practiced by behavior analysts. This course will present the historical and scientific foundations of behavior analysis as applied in educational and other human service settings.
Experience in applying methodological and statistical concepts introduced in PSY 220 and ST 210, as well as instruction in additional topics such as research and analysis. The course will emphasize the use of computers in conducting behavioral research (e.g. literature searches, collecting data, analyzing data, writing reports).
Laboratory in research methods in psychology with an emphasis on applying methodological and statistical concepts introduced in PSY 220 and PSY 320.
Nature and development of deviant behavior.
The development and psychosocial aspects of childhood and adolescence.
Specific topics and research findings introduced through the reading of appropriate professional and scientific literature. Requires special permission. May be repeated for a total of 8 credit hours.
Supervised experience in an area of psychology. May include supervised placement in an applied setting. May be repeated for a total of 12 credit hours.
The historical foundations of modern psychology and the development of major theories in psychology.
This course serves as a practical capstone for Psychology students interested in careers in professional Psychology. Through a series of lectures, readings, exercises, films, and demonstrations, this course will introduce student to the ways that clinical psychologists approach the conceptualization, assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of health problems. The course will focus on the scientific basis for the practice of clinical psychology.
An overview of psychological research and theory in cognitive psychology. The course will emphasize how people gather, process, represent, and use information to guide thought and action. This course is an approved elective for students seeking gerontology certification.
An introduction to the principles of behavior intended as a prerequisite to the specific strategies and procedures practiced by behavior analysts. This course will present the historical and scientific foundations of behavior analysis as applied in educational and other human service settings. Prerequisites: PSY 120 or PSY 121 and PSY 220 or Education Teacher candidacy.
Behavioral assessment techniques and operant and respondent methods for deceleration of inappropriate behavior will be covered. Operant methods for accelerating appropriate behaviors, teaching new behaviors, and maintaining behaviors will be covered. Data-based decision making strategies will be used in developing and altering individual programs.
Behavioral assessment techniques and experimental designs for the evaluation of behavior change programs will be covered. Data-based decision making strategies for formative program evaluation and modification are also included.
Theories, experimental findings, and methods of investigation in learning.
Selected topics in psychology and criminal Justice. An overview of the relevant federal and state laws, federal regulations and court rulings which address the issues of justice for preserving the rights of individuals with mental illness.
A critical analysis of the main theories and research trends in sensation and perception. This course will include computer simulations and demonstrations, and will also emphasize computer applications for data collection, data analysis, and for reporting results. This course is an approved elective for students seeking gerontology certification.
A survey and analysis of major theoretical and experimental topics of interest in social psychology, such as how we perceive others. attitude, interpersonal attraction, aggression, prejudice and altruism.
A survey and critical analysis of major historical and current theories about personality. The course will also examine research relevant to the different approaches and consider various techniques of personality assessment.
The development and psychosocial aspects of adulthood and late life. This course is an approved elective for gerontology certification.
Application of psychological principles and techniques to business, industry, and government.
This course will provide a survey of the methodology of assessment, test design and construction, test administration and scoring, achievement and intelligence testing, personality observations and inventories, and issues in ethics and applications of testing.
The study of theories and research in intellectual disabilities and related areas.
A critical analysis of the main theories and research trends in comparative and evolutionary psychology. This course is an approved elective for students seeking gerontology certification.
Current theories, research and applications in health psychology.
The study of psychological research on gender differences and theories regarding the origins of these differences.
Selected topics in psychology. May be repeated for a total of 12 credit hours when course content varies.
A survey of basic theories, concepts, principles, and research findings in a particular focal topic in psychology. Students will study topics in depth by reading and presenting research reports, review papers and book chapters, and through active in-class discussion of the reading materials. Requires permission of department chair. May be repeated up to 2 times when content varies for a total of 6 credit hours.
Directed study and research. Requires special permission. May be repeated for a total of 8 hours.
Student conducts an independent research project under the supervision of a faculty sponsor. Recommended for psychology majors planning graduate school. Permission of department chair is required prior to registration. Requires GPA of 3.3 or higher. May be repeated for a total of 6 credit hours.
Theories and principles of research design and elements of modern statistics. Introduction to computer programs for statistical analysis will be included.
Theories and principles of advanced research design and elements of modern statistics. The use of computer applications such as SPSS to analyze empirical data sets will be covered.
Elements of modern statistics with emphasis on application to psychological research. Multivariate statistical techniques to include multiple regression, multivariate analysis of variance, discriminant, canonical, and factor analysis will be discussed.
An introduction to professional and ethical issues as they pertain to psychology. Focus is on the development of an ethical and professional awareness in the practice of psychology, including teaching and research.
This course provides instruction through readings, lecture, and case studies in the application of ethics in the professional practice of psychology. In addition, the course focuses on the philosophical foundations, professional identity, and standards of practice found in both clinical psychology and counseling psychology.
This course provides a foundation in the techniques of advanced psychophysiological methods. The course covers the history of psychophysiology, including the electrical properties of cells, and major organ systems, with particular emphasis on the electroencephalogram (EEG) and neuroimaging techniques. Students are introduced to the principles of psychophysiological recording, common applications of psychophysiology, safety and ethics in psychophysiological research, instrumentation, and research design issues in psychophysiology. Relevant statistical treatment of psychophysiological data will be discussed, including multiple regression, complex ANOVA, scaling of data, and non-parametric alternatives such as boot-strapping.
An advanced course in the historical foundations of modern psychology and the development of major theories in psychology.
A survey of research and theory in learning.
An advanced survey of research and theory in cognitive psychology. Topics include pattern recognition, attention, memory, language processing, decision making, and problem solving. This course is an approved elective for students seeking gerontology certification.
A critical analysis and evaluation of major theories and current research trends in personality.
This course provides a foundation for conducting quantitative research in personality and social psychology. Topics covered will include (a) measurement of personality and individual differences (e.g., narcissism, self-esteem), (b) measurement of cognitive and behavioral outcomes in laboratory and non-laboratory settings (e.g. decision-making, implicit cognitions), and (c) data analytic techniques (e.g. testing for mediation/moderation, structural equation modeling).
Analysis of theories, research methods, and major findings of sensory, perceptual, social, and cognitive changes across the lifespan, from infancy to late life. Research in social and cognitive development, including cognitive disabilities, the underlying mechanisms involved in thinking and learning processes, and age-related cognitive models are central to this course. **This course is an approved elective for students seeking gerontology certification.
This course provides a multidisciplinary analysis of how the sensory systems analyze physical stimuli to support perception and successful actions. Consideration is given to how the anatomy and physiology of the major sensory systems extract information using low- and high-level mechanisms to create meaningful percepts. Other topics include psychophysics, comparative studies, communication, production and performance, face and object recognition, attention, and event perception.
Theories, principles and techniques of interviewing, behavioral observation and classification of psychological disorders.
Current research and theoretical aspects of psychopathology in children and adults.
Theories and methods of test construction and principles of measurement and evaluation in the behavioral sciences.
Principals and methods of individual intelligence testing, including the administration of the Wechsler and the Stanford-Binet tests. Practical experience in the administration, interpretation and report writing of a psychological evaluation using intelligence tests.
Theory, development and interpretation of selected personality assessment instruments. Methods and procedures in administering and interpreting personality, aptitude and career interest tests.
Study of the theoretical and empirical foundations of the major systems of psychotherapeutic change.
This course will focus on theoretical models, research, techniques, and interventions for working with culturally diverse populations in various settings. Specific issues to be addressed include world views, acculturation and acculturative stress, prejudice and prejudice-reduction techniques, racial/ethnic identity, culture and assessment, and the nature of multicultural competence in Psychology. Issues related to ethnic and racial identity will form the primary focus; however, other types of diversity (e.g., religion, gender, sexual orientation, physically challenged) will also be considered.
A follow up course to PSY 550, this course will survey theory, research and application of cognitive behavior therapy. Focus will be on treatment strategies and application to a variety of psychological disorders of adults and children.
Supervised experience with adult and children clients. Includes case conference and seminars. May include supervised placement in an applied setting. May be repeated up to five times for a total of 18 credit hours.
Supervised placement in an applied setting. May be repeated four times for a total of 15 credit hours.
A study of theories and research related to Intellectual Disabilities and Autism Spectrum Disorders.
The description and etiology of deviant behavior patterns in children and adolescents.
An in-depth analysis of the proximal and ultimate causes of animal and human behavior examined from the perspectives of comparative and evolutionary psychology, psychobiology and ethology. Relevant research in animal models of biological and cognitive systems, learning and motivation, lifespan development and related biopsychosocial factors will be included. ** This course is an approved elective for students seeking gerontology certification.
This course includes an advanced and integrative study of the experimental study of cognition and neuroscience. Topics include sensation and perception, memory, learning, language, metacognition, intelligence, problem solving, decision making, mental imagery, consciousness, attention, and the development of cognition through the life span. Major theoretical perspectives and current research within the fields of cognition and neuroscience are discussed. This course also provides students with a basic understanding of the neural underpinnings of a variety of cognitive processes.
Selected topics in psychology. May be requested for credit when course content varies for a total of 12 credit hours.
Individual study under the direction of a member of the graduate faculty. May be repeated for up to 9 hours credit.
Completion of a research project, program proposal, program evaluation, major literature review or other comparable experience under the direction of a member of the graduate faculty. IRB or Animal Use and Care Committee approval may be required for some projects. May be repeated for up to 6 hours credit. A minimum of 3 hours is required to meet degree requirements.
Completion and oral defense of a master's thesis based upon original research. May be repeated for up to 9 hours credit. A minimum of 6 hours is required to meet degree requirements. Prerequisite: Approval of research prospectus including IRB or Animal Use and Care Committee approval if applicable.