Psychology Curriculum
The major course work is organized in a common structure for the baccalaureate curriculum: a required introductory course, three methodology courses, six advanced content courses, and the tutorial. Common elements of the curriculum include active and collaborative learning, research projects, fieldwork, practice and community service, discussion of ethical issues and values, and courses and research methods that heighten the student’s understanding of diversity in human behavior. Learning about psychology occurs in multiple settings: the classroom, internships, participation in psychology Psi Chi (the National Honor society for Psychology), and attendance and presentation of research at regional and national conferences. The program places a strong emphasis on effective student advising that goes beyond guidance in course selection and information about institutional procedures. The intent is to motivate students to explore and develop their values, interests, abilities, and career and life goals and to encourage students to consider post-baccalaureate educational possibilities, including graduate and professional school.
The psychology curriculum enables students to think scientifically about behavior and mental processes, to appreciate and respect others, and to pursue a variety of post-baccalaureate alternatives, including employment and graduate or professional school. This major is applicable to any career in which an understanding of human thought and behavior is central, including the health sciences, personnel/human resources, social work, introductory level counseling, interviewing, and data collection.
Program Requirements
+ Major Requirements
12 courses, including: |
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| PSY101 | General Psychology
An introduction to the scientific study of behavior with an emphasis on the origins of behavior, learning, social influences, physiological factors, individual differences, personality, and adjustment and maladjustment. | 3 |
| PSY213 | Statistics and Research Design
This course is designed to introduce students to essential research tools. Topics include frequency distributions, indices of central tendency, variability, and various inferential statistics, including nonparametric techniques. This course also examines research design procedures with an emphasis on analysis of variance. Priority given to psychology, social work and forensics majors. Prerequisite(s): PSY 101 | 3 |
| PSY214 | Foundations of Behavioral Research
This course examines the scientific method employed by psychologists. Topics include sampling, validity and reliability, experimentation, and field research. Students also conduct laboratory assignments on areas within learning, cognition, and social psychology. Prerequisite(s): PSY 101 and 213 or permission of the instructor. | 3 |
| PSY498 | Tutorial: Psychology | 4 |
| PSY499 | Tutorial: Psychology | 4 |
1 course in learning and cognition from the following: |
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| PSY307 | Cognitive Psychology
A survey of theories and research concerned with human cognitive processes. Topics include attention, memory, problem solving, and concept formation. Prerequisite(s): PSY 101 or by permissio of instructor. | 3 |
| PSY326 | Psychology of Learning
An overview of the principles and research associated with modern learning theory. Topics include classical conditioning, operant learning, reinforcement theory, and stimulus control of behavior. Prerequisite(s): PSY 101 or by permission of instructor. | 3 |
| PSY324 | Motivation
A survey of concepts and data related to the arousal and direction of behavior. Prerequisite(s): PSY 101 | 3 |
1 course in individual differences, personality and social from the following: |
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| PSY323 | Personality
A survey of individual characteristics from four conceptual strategies: psychoanalytic, dispositional, phenomenological, and behavioral. All conceptual strategies address issues of theory, assessment, research, and personality change. Emphasis is on enduring principles and contemporary issues, illustrated with selected examples and personal application. Prerequisite(s): PSY 101 or by permission of instructor. | 3 |
| PSY331 | Social Psychology
An examination of human social behavior with an emphasis on social influences that people have upon the beliefs or behaviors of others. The course covers methods of inquiry as well as the scientific study of how we think about, influence, and relate to one another. Representative topics include conformity, persuasion, social cognition, prejudice, aggression, and interpersonal relationships. Prerequisite(s): PSY 101 | 3 |
| PSY333 | Abnormal Behavior
A study of definitions of normality and abnormality, functional and organic syndromes, theories of causation, and procedures for the diagnosis and modification of disturbed behavior. Prerequisite(s): PSY 101 or by permission of instructor. | 3 |
1 course in biological bases from the following: |
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| PSY340 | Psychopharmacology
The influence of drugs on behavior and psychological state. Topics include neuron morphology, neurochemistry, principles of pharmacology, and the action and effects of psychotropic drugs. Prerequisite(s): PSY 101 or permission of the instructor. | 3 |
| PSY341 | Psychobiology
An examination of the biological correlates of behavior. Emphasis is placed on the central nervous system and its structure, organization, and function. Specific topics considered are sleep, learning, memory, sexual behavior, motivation, and complex processes such as thought and language. Prerequisite(s): PSY 101 or by permission of instructor. | 3 |
| PSY230 | Animal Behavior
A general introduction to the study of animal behavior from evolutionary and sociobiological perspectives. Emphasis is on social behaviors and interactions. Prerequisite(s): PSY 101 or permission of the instructor. | 3 |
1 developmental course from the following: |
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| PSY351 | Childhood and Adolescence
A general introduction to theories and methods of developmental psychology. The course covers patterns and possible mechanisms of behavioral development from conception through adolescence. Audio- and videotapes of infants, children, and their families supplement lectures, discussions, and written exercises. The life-span perspective is continued in PSY 352. Prerequisite(s): PSY 101 or by permission of instructor. | 3 |
| PSY352 | Adult Development
The periods of adolescence and adulthood are examined through current theories of development. A life cycle perspective is adopted to study physical, cognitive and social/emotional development. Questions of qualitative changes, continuity/discontinuity stages, individual differences and the impact of biological, environmental and cultural factors throughout adulthood are addressed. This course is designed to follow PSY 351, but may be taken as a stand-alone course. Prerequisite(s): PSY 101 or by permission of instructor. | 3 |
| PSY357 | Adolescence & the Transition to Adulthood
An in-depth study of the biological, cognitive, and psychosocial aspects of adolescent development and the transition to adulthood (including individuals ages 18-25 years), with a focus on how healthy development during this period can be enhanced by parenting and educational strategies. Prerequisite: PSY 101 or by permission of instructor. | 3 |
| 3 additional psychology program electives | ||
+ Interdisciplinary Major Requirements
8 courses, exclusive of the tutorial: |
||
| PSY101 | General Psychology
An introduction to the scientific study of behavior with an emphasis on the origins of behavior, learning, social influences, physiological factors, individual differences, personality, and adjustment and maladjustment. | 3 |
| PSY213 | Statistics and Research Design
This course is designed to introduce students to essential research tools. Topics include frequency distributions, indices of central tendency, variability, and various inferential statistics, including nonparametric techniques. This course also examines research design procedures with an emphasis on analysis of variance. Priority given to psychology, social work and forensics majors. Prerequisite(s): PSY 101 | 3 |
| PSY214 | Foundations of Behavioral Research
This course examines the scientific method employed by psychologists. Topics include sampling, validity and reliability, experimentation, and field research. Students also conduct laboratory assignments on areas within learning, cognition, and social psychology. Prerequisite(s): PSY 101 and 213 or permission of the instructor. | 3 |
1 course in learning and cognition from the following: |
||
| PSY307 | Cognitive Psychology
A survey of theories and research concerned with human cognitive processes. Topics include attention, memory, problem solving, and concept formation. Prerequisite(s): PSY 101 or by permissio of instructor. | 3 |
| PSY326 | Psychology of Learning
An overview of the principles and research associated with modern learning theory. Topics include classical conditioning, operant learning, reinforcement theory, and stimulus control of behavior. Prerequisite(s): PSY 101 or by permission of instructor. | 3 |
| PSY324 | Motivation
A survey of concepts and data related to the arousal and direction of behavior. Prerequisite(s): PSY 101 | 3 |
1 course in individual differences, personality and social from the following: |
||
| PSY323 | Personality
A survey of individual characteristics from four conceptual strategies: psychoanalytic, dispositional, phenomenological, and behavioral. All conceptual strategies address issues of theory, assessment, research, and personality change. Emphasis is on enduring principles and contemporary issues, illustrated with selected examples and personal application. Prerequisite(s): PSY 101 or by permission of instructor. | 3 |
| PSY331 | Social Psychology
An examination of human social behavior with an emphasis on social influences that people have upon the beliefs or behaviors of others. The course covers methods of inquiry as well as the scientific study of how we think about, influence, and relate to one another. Representative topics include conformity, persuasion, social cognition, prejudice, aggression, and interpersonal relationships. Prerequisite(s): PSY 101 | 3 |
| PSY333 | Abnormal Behavior
A study of definitions of normality and abnormality, functional and organic syndromes, theories of causation, and procedures for the diagnosis and modification of disturbed behavior. Prerequisite(s): PSY 101 or by permission of instructor. | 3 |
1 course in biological bases from the following: |
||
| PSY340 | Psychopharmacology
The influence of drugs on behavior and psychological state. Topics include neuron morphology, neurochemistry, principles of pharmacology, and the action and effects of psychotropic drugs. Prerequisite(s): PSY 101 or permission of the instructor. | 3 |
| PSY341 | Psychobiology
An examination of the biological correlates of behavior. Emphasis is placed on the central nervous system and its structure, organization, and function. Specific topics considered are sleep, learning, memory, sexual behavior, motivation, and complex processes such as thought and language. Prerequisite(s): PSY 101 or by permission of instructor. | 3 |
| PSY230 | Animal Behavior
A general introduction to the study of animal behavior from evolutionary and sociobiological perspectives. Emphasis is on social behaviors and interactions. Prerequisite(s): PSY 101 or permission of the instructor. | 3 |
1 developmental course from the following: |
||
| PSY351 | Childhood and Adolescence
A general introduction to theories and methods of developmental psychology. The course covers patterns and possible mechanisms of behavioral development from conception through adolescence. Audio- and videotapes of infants, children, and their families supplement lectures, discussions, and written exercises. The life-span perspective is continued in PSY 352. Prerequisite(s): PSY 101 or by permission of instructor. | 3 |
| PSY352 | Adult Development
The periods of adolescence and adulthood are examined through current theories of development. A life cycle perspective is adopted to study physical, cognitive and social/emotional development. Questions of qualitative changes, continuity/discontinuity stages, individual differences and the impact of biological, environmental and cultural factors throughout adulthood are addressed. This course is designed to follow PSY 351, but may be taken as a stand-alone course. Prerequisite(s): PSY 101 or by permission of instructor. | 3 |
| PSY357 | Adolescence & the Transition to Adulthood
An in-depth study of the biological, cognitive, and psychosocial aspects of adolescent development and the transition to adulthood (including individuals ages 18-25 years), with a focus on how healthy development during this period can be enhanced by parenting and educational strategies. Prerequisite: PSY 101 or by permission of instructor. | 3 |
| One additional approved psychology program elective. | ||
+ Minor Requirements
6 courses, including: |
||
| PSY101 | General Psychology
An introduction to the scientific study of behavior with an emphasis on the origins of behavior, learning, social influences, physiological factors, individual differences, personality, and adjustment and maladjustment. | 3 |
| PSY213 | Statistics and Research Design
This course is designed to introduce students to essential research tools. Topics include frequency distributions, indices of central tendency, variability, and various inferential statistics, including nonparametric techniques. This course also examines research design procedures with an emphasis on analysis of variance. Priority given to psychology, social work and forensics majors. Prerequisite(s): PSY 101 | 3 |
| PSY214 | Foundations of Behavioral Research
This course examines the scientific method employed by psychologists. Topics include sampling, validity and reliability, experimentation, and field research. Students also conduct laboratory assignments on areas within learning, cognition, and social psychology. Prerequisite(s): PSY 101 and 213 or permission of the instructor. | 3 |
| 3 additional approved psychology program electives | ||