Psychology Course Descriptions

PSY-K 300 Statistical Techniques (3 cr.)

Fall, Spring. P: MATH M125 or equivalent. R: MATH M118. Introduction to statistics, nature of statistical data, ordering and manipulation of data, measures of central tendency and dispersion, elementary probability. Concepts of statistical inference decision-making, estimation, and hypothesis testing. Special topics include regression and correlation, analysis of variance, nonparametric methods.

PSY-P 103 General Psychology (3 cr.)

Every semester. Introduction to psychology: its methods, data, and theoretical interpretations in areas of learning, sensory psychology, psychophysiology, individual differences, personality development, and abnormal and social psychology.

PSY-P 199 Planning Your Psychology Career (1 cr.)

Fall, Spring. Where do you want to be ten years from now? How can you get there? Information for undergraduate majors to help them intelligently organize their undergraduate studies. Information about what psychologists do, professional and practical issues in career choice, course selection, intern/research experience, and planning a course of study.

PSY-P 211 Methods of Experimental Psychology (3 cr.)

Fall, Spring. P: P103. R: W132. Critical analysis of psychological claims, design and execution of simple experiments, treatment of results, search of the literature, and preparation of research reports.

PSY-P 216 Life Span Developmental Psychology (3 cr.)

Every semester. P: P103. A survey course that integrates the basic concepts of physical, cognitive, and psychosocial development from the prenatal period to death. Throughout the life span, theories, research, and critical issues in developmental psychology are explored, with consideration of practical implications. Credit not given for both P216 and P316.

PSY-P 303 Health Psychology (3 cr.)

Spring 2009. Alternate years. P:P103. R: completion of 26 credit hours. Focuses on role of psychological factors in health and illness. Through readings, lecture, and discussion, students will become better consumers of research on behavior-health interactions and develop a broad base of knowledge concerning how behavior and other psychological factors can impart health both positively and negatively.

PSY-P 319 Psychology of Personality (3 cr.)

Fall 2009. Alternate years. P: P103. R: 26 credit hours. Methods and results of scientific study of personality. Basic concepts of personality traits and their measurements; developmental influences; problems of integration.

PSY-P 320 Social Psychology (3 cr.)

Fall 2008. Alternate years. P: P103. R: completion of 26 credit hours. The study of psychological theories and research dealing with social influence and social behavior, including topics such as conformity, personal perception, aggression, attitudes, and group dynamics.

PSY-P 324 Abnormal Psychology (3 cr.)

Fall, Spring. P: P103. R: completion of 26 credit hours. A first course in abnormal psychology, with emphasis on forms of abnormal behavior, etiology, development, interpretation, and final manifestations.

PSY-P 325 Psychology of Learning (3 cr.)

Fall. P: P103. R: completion of 26 credit hours. Facts and principles of human and animal learning, especially as treated in theories attempting to provide a framework for understanding what learning is and how it takes place.

PSY-P 326 Behavioral Neuroscience (3 cr.)

Spring 2008. Alternate years. P: P103. R: BIOL L100 or L105 and completion of 26 credit hours. Central nervous system functions in relation to sensory processes, motivation, and learning.

PSY-P 335 Cognitive Psychology (3 cr.)

Fall, 2008. Alternate years. P: P103. R: completion of 26 credit hours. Introduction to human cognitive processes, including attention and perception, memory, psycholinguistics, problem solving, and thinking.

PSY-P 391 Psychology of Gender and Ethnicity (3 cr.)

Spring, 2008. Alternate years. P: P103. R: completion of 26 credit hours. Basic psychological concepts and research from the perspectives of gender and ethnicity, focusing on both the similarities and differences across gender and ethnic groups. Explores the impact of social and political forces on psychological development and adjustment. Contemporary theory on ethnicity, gender, and class will also be examined.

PSY-P 430 Behavior Modification (3 cr.)

Spring 2008. Alternate years. P: PSY P325 or EDUC P250. Completion of 56 credit hours. Principles, techniques, and applications of behavior modification, including reinforcement, aversive conditioning, observational learning, desensitization, self-control, and modification of cognition.

PSY-P 434 Community Psychology (3 cr.)

P: P103. R: completion of 26 credit hours. An ecological orientation to the problems of mental-health, social adaptation, and community change.

PSY-P 457 Topics in Psychology: Senior Seminar (3 cr.)

Spring. P: 15 credit hours of psychology, including K300. R: Completion of 86 credit hours. Studies in special topics not ordinarily covered in other departmental courses. Topics vary with instructor and year.

PSY-P 459 History and Systems of Psychology (3 cr.)

Fall. P: P103. R: completion of 12 credit hours of psychology. Historical background and critical evaluation of major theoretical systems of modern psychology: structuralism, functionalism, associationism, behaviorism, Gestalt psychology, and psychoanalysis. Methodological problems of theory construction and system-making. Emphasizes integration of recent trends.

PSY-P 493 Supervised Research I (1-3 cr.)

Fall. P: consent of instructor. Active participation in research. An independent experiment of modest magnitude; participation in ongoing research in a single laboratory. Students who enroll in P493 will be expected to enroll in P494.

PSY-P 494 Supervised Research II (1-3 cr.)

Spring. P: P493. A continuation of P493. Course will include a journal-type report of the two semesters of work.

PSY-P 495 Readings and Research in Psychology (cr. arr.)

Every semester. P: Consent of instructor.

PSY-P 495 Practicum in Psychology (3 cr.)

Every semester. P: Consent of instructor. Participation in a field experience in an applied area. The

applied areas focus on problems in the community, such as problems of the mentally retarded, children, the elderly, family relations, industrial relations, and mental health.