PSYC - Psychology

PSYC 1101. Introduction to General Psychology (3-0-3) Survey of contemporary psychology as a science. Topics include development, biological foundations of behavior, sensation and perception, learning, personality, abnormal behavior and therapies, and social psychology.

PSYC 3125. Abnormal Psychology (3-0-3)Prerequisite: PSYC 1101 with a grade of C or better. An introduction to the explanation of abnormal behavior and intervention techniques.

PSYC 3145. Clinical Psychology (3-0-3)Prerequisite: Prerequisite: PSYC 1101 with a grade of C or better. Introduction to the activities of the clinical psychologist, including psychodiagnosis, psychotherapy, and clinical research.

PSYC 3185. Child Development (3-0-3)Prerequisite: PSYC 1101 with a grade of C or better. An introduction to research and theories in human physical, cognitive, and emotional development through infancy and childhood.

PSYC 3205. Pseudopsychologies and the Paranormal (3-2-4)Prerequisite: PSYC 1101 with a grade of C or better. An objective analysis of popular psychological and paranormal phenomena to determine if they are scientifically credible. Laboratory practices will demonstrate and evaluate various claims.

PSYC 3211. Research Design and Methodology 1 (3-2-4)Prerequisites: PSYC 1101 and STAT 1127, each with a grade of C or better. An introduction to the principles and methodologies involved in conducting, analyzing, and evaluating psychological research. Laboratory will provide hands-on experience with computer-based and traditional research techniques along with computer-based statistical analysis. (Course fee required.)

PSYC 3212. Research Design and Methodology 2 (3-2-4)Prerequisite: PSYC 3211 with a grade of C or better. A continuation of PSYC 3211 in which students will study more complex research designs and related statistical analyses. Laboratory will continued hands-on experience with research techniques and computer-based statistical analysis. (Course fee required.)

PSYC 3215. Tests and Measurement (3-2-4)Prerequisites: PSYC 1101 and STAT 1127 both with a grade of C or better. An introduction to basic theories and facts about how psychologists construct and use tests to measure behavior. Laboratory will be used to provide experience with commercially available tests commonly used to measure various characteristics such as intelligence, personality traits, etc. (Course fee required.)

PSYC 3235. Learning and Behavior Analysis (3-2-4)Prerequisite: PSYC 1101 with a grade of C or better. An introduction to classical and operant conditioning and the experimental analysis of behavior. Findings from human and non-human animal research will be presented. Laboratories will illustrate principles and methods of conditioning and behavior analysis. (Course fee required.)

PSYC 3255. Social Psychology (3-2-4)Prerequisite: PSYC 1101 with a grade of C or better. An introduction to basic theories and facts about how human behavior is affected by the real or imagined presence of others, including topics such as persuasion, attitudes and discrimination. In laboratories, demonstrations of classic social psychology studies will be provided. 

PSYC 3265. Evolutionary Psychology (3-0-3)Prerequisite: PSYC 1101 and BIOL 1215 both with a grade of 'C' or higher. This course will provide an introduction to the emerging field of evolutionary psychology. We will consider a broad range of topics that have been addressed from an evolutionary perspective, including mating strategies, sexual jealousy, cheater detection, pregnancy sickness, parental nurturance and negligence, spatial memory, landscape preferences, and aggression and violence. 

PSYC 3555. Selected Topics in Psychology with Lab (3-2-4)Prerequisite: PSYC 1101 with a grade of C or higher. Various topics offered to meet interests and needs of students or to emphasize a contemporary topic not otherwise included in the major curriculum. Includes a laboratory component. May be repeated for credit with consent of advisor if topics differ.

PSYC 3565. Selected Topics in Psychology (1-3 hours)Prerequisite: PSYC 1101 with a grade of C or better. Various topics offered to meet interests and needs of students or to emphasize a contemporary topic not otherwise included in the major curriculum. May be repeated for credit with consent of advisor if topics differ. 

PSYC 4000. Baccalaureate Examination in Psychology (0-0-0)Prerequisites: Approval of Dept. Chair. Major field exit exam course required for all psychology majors to be taken during the term in which they will graduate. Completion of the major field test is required to earn a satisfactory grade in this course. (S/U grading).

PSYC 4115. History and Systems (3-0-3)Prerequisites: PSYC 1101 and PHIL 1105 both with a grade of C or better, and junior or senior standing. A treatment of psychology's roots in the disciplines of philosophy and physiology and perspectives in contemporary psychology that have developed from these beginnings.

PSYC 4125. Theories of Personality (3-0-3)Prerequisite: PSYC 1101 with a grade of C or better. An introduction to basic theories and facts about the nature and origins of human individual differences.

PSYC 4145. Psychology of the Workplace (3-0-3)Prerequisite: PSYC 1101 with a grade of C or better. An introduction to basic theories and facts about the nature of work in modern society, the three applied areas in psychology. The course will provide students with valuable, scientifically-based insights into an activity, work, that occupies most waking hours of most human adults.

PSYC 4165. Motivation (3-0-3)Prerequisite: PSYC 1101 & BIOL 1215, both with a grade of C or better, and junior or senior standing. An introduction to basic theories and facts about the question of what energizes and gives direction to behavior including topics such as sex, achievement motivation, and addictive behaviors.

PSYC 4205. Biological Psychology (3-2-4)Prerequisites: PSYC 1101 and BIOL 1215, both with a grade of C or better, and junior or senior standing. An introduction to the biological basis of behavior. Relationships between physiology, anatomy, and psychological phenomena will be presented. Laboratories will illustrate principles and methods of biopsychology. (Course fee required.)

PSYC 4215. Comparative Animal Behavior (3-2-4)Prerequisites: PSYC 1101 and BIOL 1215, both with a grade of C or better, and junior or senior standing. An introduction to the evolution, development, function, and causes of animal behavior. Comparisons will be made across species using an ecological, evolutionary perspective. Laboratories will illustrate principles and methods used in the study of animal behavior. (Course fee required.)

PSYC 4275. Cognitive Psychology (3-2-4)Prerequisite: PSYC 1101 and BIOL 1215, both with a grade of C or better, and junior or senior standing. An introduction to the basic principles and theories of human cognition, including findings from cognitive neuroscience. Laboratories will demonstration principles and methods of cognitive science.

PSYC 4285. Sensation and Perception (3-2-4)Prerequisite: PSYC 1101 and BIOL 1215, both with a grade of C or better, and junior or senior standing. An analysis of sensory systems, the organization of sensory input into perceptions, and how perceptions affects behavior. Laboratories will demonstrate principles and methods of sensation and perception.

PSYC 4698. Internship (1-9 hours)Prerequisites: PSYC 1101, at least nine hours of upper-level psychology courses, junior or senior standing, 3.0 cumulative GPA, approval by departmental faculty. Supervised experience in the field with an approved agency, company, or institution. (S/U grading.)

PSYC 4899. Independent Study (1-9 hours)Prerequisites: PSYC 1101 with a grade of C or better, junior or senior standing, 3.0 GPA, and department approval. Individual research conducted under faculty supervision, requiring design, execution, and quantitative analysis of data gathered in a behavioral research project. Project culminates in a formal paper or presentation.

PSYC 5105. Psychology of Aging (3-0-3)Prerequisite: PSYC 1101 with a grade of C or better. Overview of research methods and findings on psychological and behavioral processes during aging. Emphasis on current research on learning, memory, and cognition in aging.

PSYC 5108. Psychological Issues in Death & Dying (3-0-3)Prerequisite: PSYC 1101 with a grade of C or better. An examination of facts, concepts, and theories related to psychological issues in death and dying; examination of empirical data pertaining to controversial concepts.