Psychology

Department Overview

Psychology is the scientific study of human and animal behavior, in all of its many manifestations. The Department of Psychology of Saint Joseph’s offers students an exciting and challenging curriculum. The broad range of courses provides opportunities for understanding Psychology as a scientific, clinical, and corporate discipline. The Department’s focus is on relevant, current research and the application of that research in experimental, clinical, counseling, health care and business settings. The full spectrum of activities and concerns of psychologists are covered, with consideration given to ethical issues.

University students with a wide range of interests find Psychology personally appealing and professionally relevant. Students use the Psychology major as a gateway to a diverse range of employment opportunities, including the health and legal professions, human resources and management positions, education and school counseling, and other social, industrial and organizational situations. Students wishing to pursue careers in the mental health professions can take advantage of our clinical concentration of courses. For those students interested in pursuing graduate study in Psychology, the Department offers training in the areas of behavioral neuroscience, clinical psychology and neuropsychology, behavioral pediatrics, social psychology, cognitive psychology, and developmental psychology.

Our graduates are currently college professors, researchers, school psychologists, clinical psychologists, counselors, developmental psychologists, personnel managers, educators, learning disability specialists, social workers, physicians, attorneys, and successful businessmen and women.

Departmental Mission

Few abilities are more central to a person’s successful and productive functioning in modern society than the sophisticated, insightful appreciation of human behavior. The psychology curriculum provides a theoretical and scientific framework for students to develop sophisticated insight into behavior, both their own and that of others.

The Department promotes excellence through the teacher/scholar model and provides an atmosphere for students to be intellectually curious, socially responsible, to reason well, and to become independent learners. This academic experience will change the way they conceive of their world and themselves and will promote a life-long commitment to social justice and learning.

The Department serves its academic discipline and the larger community through faculty scholarship and the preparation of future scholars, as well as providing students with the intellectual, interpersonal, and communication skills that promote success in a variety of career paths.

Guided by the philosophy of science as a worldview and its application to psychological processes, the Department of Psychology supports the University’s mission by:

  • Excelling in teaching, scholarship, and service.
  • Making a vital contribution to the general education of the University’s students.
  • Modeling cura personalis through advising, mentoring, community and professional service, and assuming positions of leadership within and outside the University.
  • Preparing courses that reflect the historic roots of the discipline as well as contemporary thought, and making explicit the connections between basic science and real world applications.
  • Emphasizing professional ethics of psychology as a discipline.
  • Conducting and disseminating high quality research, in partnership with students.
  • Providing students with experientially based learning.
  • Preparing students to contribute to the common good.

Faculty members in the Department of Psychology serve the larger community by providing students with the intellectual, interpersonal and communication skills that promote success in a variety of career paths. Faculty publish on a wide range of topics including neuropsychology, sleep processes, sensory and perceptual processing, psychopharmacology, depression and anxiety disorders, autism, human visual memory, moral development in children, the neural and hormonal mechanisms of social behavior and much more.

Department of Psychology Faculty & Staff

PSY 100 Introductory Psychology (3 credits)

This course introduces the student to the research problems, methods, findings, and basic theory that constitute the scientific investigation of human and animal behavior.

Attributes: GEP Social Science, Undergraduate

PSY 101 Intro Psychology Seminar (3 credits)

This course introduces the student to the research problems, methods, findings, and basic theory that constitute the scientific investigation of human and animal behavior.

Restrictions: Students cannot enroll who have a major in Psychology.

Attributes: GEP Social Science, Undergraduate

PSY 120 Lifespan Development (3 credits)

This course looks at the changes that take place in our lives: in our bodies, our personalities, our ways of thinking, our feelings, our behavior, our relationships, and the roles we play during different periods of our lives. In this course we seek to describe these changes through the scientific research that has observed, measured, recorded and interpreted objective data on growth and development. Additionally we will seek to explain these changes in so far as possible, attempting answers to why they have occurred and what influential roles heredity and environment play. NOTE: This course counts toward the Psychology minor, but not the Psychology major. This course is not open to students who have already completed PSY 231. This course is only open to students who are not and do not plan to be Psychology majors. Psychology majors should take PSY 231 instead.

Restrictions: Students cannot enroll who have a major in Psychology Five Year or Psychology.

Attributes: Undergraduate

PSY 121 Child Development (3 credits)

An attempt will be made to understand the development of children as it occurs in biological, psychosocial, and cultural contexts. Emphasis will be given to contemporary psychological research on children and its implications for the understanding of the everyday behavior of the child. Notes: This course is only open to students who are not and do not plan to be Psychology majors. This course is not open to students who have taken PSY 231.

Restrictions: Students cannot enroll who have a major in Psychology.

Attributes: Undergraduate

PSY 122 Psychological Disorders (3 credits)

How do we define what behaviors are abnormal? This course will provide an overview to the study of psychopathology, more commonly known as abnormal psychology. As an introductory course to abnormal psychology, it will focus primarily on the description of various psychological disorders, their clinical course, and the current understanding of the causes of these disorders. Notes: This course counts toward the Psychology minor, but not the Psychology major. This course is not open to students who have already completed PSY 232 . This course is only open to students who are not and do not plan to be Psychology majors. Psychology majors should instead take PSY 232.

Restrictions: Students cannot enroll who have a major in Psychology Five Year or Psychology.

Attributes: Undergraduate

PSY 123 Psychology of Men and Women (3 credits)

Stop being part of the problem and try becoming part of the solution!! Find out what the battle between the sexes, sometimes referred to as "The Longest War," is really about. Explore the nature of the psychological experiences unique to growing up male and female in contemporary society and its effects on behavior and relationships. Current non-technical readings drawn from diverse disciplines (Biology, Sociology, History, as well as Psychology) will serve as the basis of classroom discussions. These will be supplemented by lectures summarizing the latest psychological research on gender similarities and differences. Note: This course does not count toward Psychology major.

Attributes: Undergraduate

PSY 124 Human Sexuality (3 credits)

The human sexual experience will be examined openly and objectively from physical, social, and psychological perspectives. Issues of current concern such as pornography, homosexuality, and sexuality and the handicapped will be explored in depth. Lectures and discussions may be supplemented by audio-visual materials and guest speakers.

Attributes: Gender Studies Course, Undergraduate

PSY 125 Forensic Psychology (3 credits)

This course will provide a broad overview of the field of forensic psychology and the numerous ways that the discipline of psychology may be applied to the practice of the law. Forensic psychology focuses on the application of psychological research, methods, and expertise to issues that come before the legal system. The mental disorders that are encountered in forensic evaluations will be considered, along with the manner in which forensic psychologists assist judges and juries in determining criminal responsibility and punishment. Students will learn about the psychological underpinnings of crime; issues around competency to stand trial; issues around the insanity defense, capital murder and the death penalty; issues around child custody matters; jury selection; and interrogation procedures. Note: May be used for Psychology minor. Does not count for Psychology major. For majors, counts as free elective only.

PSY 126 Psychology of Culture (3 credits)

How does culture affect human behavior? The aim of this course is to use psychological theory and research to examine culture's effects on people cross-culturally. This course will examine how people are influenced by their culture and how people consider culture in the way they think about and treat others. This course will also focus on facets of cultures, including gender, race, ethnicity, and poverty. In addition, the course will examine how interactions among these facets influence people across-cultures.

Attributes: Undergraduate

PSY 127 Behavioral Economics (3 credits)

This course will explore recent discoveries in human psychology that have transformed our understanding of economics and created the influential new field of behavioral economics. Classical economics assumed that people make rational decisions based on all available information to optimize their well-being. However, beginning in the 1970s, psychologists proved that people take mental shortcuts that lead to predictable errors, such as always expected a new war to be quickly won, or becoming swept up in speculative bubbles for houses or stocks. This class will provide examples of how social scientists are applying this new understanding of human decision making to improve outcomes in a broad array of fields, including personal finance, artificial intelligence, government regulation, emergency medicine, commercial aviation and even the selection of NFL and NBA draft picks. Note: This course does not count toward the Psychology major. It may be counted toward the Psychology minor.

Attributes: Undergraduate

PSY 128 Psychology and Architecture (3 credits)

This course explores the relationships between psychology, architecture, and urban planning. A primary focus will be how the intersection of these disciplines can influence the future of communities and the communities of the future. Students will gain an understanding of how psychological theory can inform the development of successful spaces, buildings, and cities, and thriving and sustainable communities. Current research topics and theories to be covered include environmental psychology, psychology of architecture, and urban anthropology. Note: This course does not count toward the Psychology major. It may be counted toward the Psychology minor.

PSY 129 Industrial/Organizational Psyc (3 credits)

Industrial/Organizational Psychology is the scientific study of human behavior in organizations and workplaces. The focus of I/O Psychology is both individual and group performance, satisfaction, safety, health and well-being through a variety of quantitative and qualitative methods. By studying worker attitudes and behaviors, I/O psychologists are able to recommend or create improved hiring practices, training programs, feedback systems and management techniques to boost company performance.

Attributes: Undergraduate

PSY 130 Art Therapy (3 credits)

Art therapy uses different forms of creative expression to help people explore and transform feelings, thoughts, and ideas. It can help to process and cope with emotional issues, as well as facilitate self-awareness, understanding, healing, and well-being. Art therapy can be especially useful for people who find it difficult to talk about their thoughts and emotions. In this course, students will examine theories and models of art therapy. Through discussion of readings, sharing of experiences, group work, and art therapy activities, students will increase their understanding of the history, theory, practice, and applications of art therapy in various settings.

Attributes: ARTS Major ILC Courses, GEP Art/Literature, Undergraduate

PSY 131 Controversies in Psychology (3 credits)

This course will examine major controversial issues throughout the history of psychology. From ancient Greeks arguing about where the mind is to 20th century disputes about how the brain works and beyond, we will address the many philosophical, historical, and biological inputs leading to modern psychology. Colorful characters include: Frankenstein, Mesmer, Darwin, Pavlov, Freud, James, Watson, Binet, Piaget, Skinner, Maslow, and many more. Controversies about eugenics and the treatment of women and minorities in psychology will be addressed as well.

Attributes: Undergraduate

PSY 132 Professional Development (3 credits)

This course is intended to give students a comprehensive understanding of the similarities and differences among the various mental health professions; for example, the similarities and differences among social work, counseling, and clinical psychology. The course will examine differences in theoretical orientation and areas of specialization in the various disciplines that make up the modern field of mental health professions. Students will gain an in-depth understanding of the various career paths in the mental health professions and will be able to consider and explore their interests among the various paths. The course will also cover multicultural and ethical issues in practice. Guidance and support for the application process for various Master-level programs will be offered to students. This PLS course is required for the post-baccalaureate certificate program. Students not enrolled in the post-baccalaureate program will need permission to take the course from the program director.

Attributes: Undergraduate

PSY 150 Gender Matters (3 credits)

This course provides an overview of research and theories on the biological, psychological, and the social aspects of gender. Areas of similarities as well as differences between men and women will be discussed. Significant attention will be given to the impact gender has on the everyday lives of women and men in contemporary American society today. Does not count toward Psychology major or minor.

Attributes: Diversity Course, First-Year Seminar, Gender Studies Course, Undergraduate

PSY 170 Special Topics in Psychology (3 credits)

Topics will vary according to the semester in which the class is offered.

Attributes: Undergraduate

PSY 190 Intro Research Method Soc Sci (3 credits)

This introductory course in research methods prepares students to understand and apply the techniques and methods of descriptive and inferential research as they are applied to the social sciences. Topics include the scientific method, ethical issues in research, survey design, research design, and basic analysis of data. This foundational course of study will take the student through the various steps of a traditional research design.

Prerequisites: (PSY 100 or PSY 101 or SOC 101) and ENG 101

Attributes: Undergraduate, Writing Intensive Course- GEP

PSY 191 Applied Stats for Social Sci (3 credits)

This course is an introduction to the basic principles of statistical analyses. Topics will include basic probability theory, types of data, and statistical reasoning. Students will learn common statistical analyses involving differences between means, correlation, and regression.

Prerequisites: PSY 100 or PSY 101

PSY 200 Personality Psychology (3 credits)

What are the forces that make us who we are, and uniquely different from all others? Is it our unique genetic make-up, our familial environment, our neighborhoods and peers, our culture? This course examines and strives to integrate human personality from several levels of analysis: trait level, biological level, motivational level, environmental level including microenvironments (family) as well as macro environments (neighborhoods, culture), and cognitive level. Important psychological questions are built into this analysis, including the nature/nurture debate, conscious/unconscious processes, and free-will/determinism.

Prerequisites: PSY 100 or PSY 101 or PS 101 or PS 111

Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to students with a major, minor, or concentration in Psychology.

Attributes: Undergraduate

PSY 201 Biological Bases of Behavior (3 credits)

This is an introductory-level course exploring the relationship between human behavior and the functioning of the brain. Topics to be covered include research techniques in neuroscience, the structure and function of the peripheral and central nervous systems, the structure and function of nerve cells, the chemistry of the nervous system, and drug effects in the nervous system.

Prerequisites: PSY 100 or PSY 101 or PS 101 or PS 111

Attributes: Undergraduate

PSY 205 Neuroscience Foundations (3 credits)

This course will introduce students to the diverse disciplines of the neurosciences, with an emphasis on methodologies and historical research and perspectives. Students will obtain an understanding of the anatomy of the central and peripheral nervous systems, with a specific focus on electrical and chemical cellular transmission, and the pharmacology of synaptic transmission. Note: This course is an elective that can also be used to satisfy the requirements of the Behavioral Neuroscience minor.

Prerequisites: (BIO 102 or BIO 119 or BIO 133 or BS 110 or BS 134 or BS 136 or PSY 201)

Attributes: Undergraduate

PSY 206 Behavioral Neuroscience (3 credits)

In this advanced course, students will explore the neural and hormonal regulation of social behavior. Topics to be covered will include: sleep and other biological rhythms, neurological and psychiatric disorders, emotion, learning and memory, behavioral endocrinology, ingestive behavior, and reproductive behavior. Note: This course is an elective that can also be used to satisfy the requirements of the Behavioral Neuroscience minor.

Prerequisites: PSY 205 or BIO 412

Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to students with a minor in Behavioral Neuroscience.

PSY 207 Cognitive Neuroscience (3 credits)

This course will introduce students to the emerging interdisciplinary field of cognitive neuroscience. Students will learn methodological and investigative techniques and strategies used in research in cognitive neuroscience. Students will be also exposed to current research in psychophysiology and neuroradiology that further understanding of behaviors such as attention, perception, learning and memory, language, reasoning, and consciousness. Note: This course is an elective that can also be used to satisfy the requirements of the Behavioral Neuroscience minor

Prerequisites: PSY 205 or BIO 412

PSY 208 Human/Animal Relations (3 credits)

Non-human animals play an integral part in lives of humans. This course will explore the important relationship between human and non-human animals. Topics to be covered include: the history of animal domestication, and the influence of animals on human culture and religion. Moreover, the ethical implications of human interactions with animals in the laboratory, in captivity, as livestock, and in the wild will be considered. Note: This course is an elective that can also be used to satisfy the requirements of the Animal Studies minor.

Prerequisites: PSY 100 or PSY 101

Attributes: Undergraduate

PSY 209 Autism:Co-Occurring Conditions (3 credits)

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a developmental and psychiatric disorder characterized by significant difficulties with social interaction, communication, and repetitive behaviors, which is estimated to affect approximately 1 in 68 individuals. This course is designed to examine and review a range of medical, psychiatric, and other conditions which commonly co-occur with ASD. These include genetic disorders, seizure disorders, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety disorders, depression, obsessive compulsive disorder, sleep disturbances, gastrointestinal problems, eating disorders, overweight and obesity, and lowered quality of life. We will review and discuss the nature, time-course, impact, assessment, and treatment for each co-occurring condition, as time permits. The ultimate goal of this course is to broaden understanding of the critical role that co-occurring conditions play in the lives of individuals with ASD and their families, as well as in helping us to better understand the causes and characteristics of ASD.

Prerequisites: PSY 100 or PSY 101

PSY 210 Research Methods (3 credits)

This course is an introduction to the techniques and methods of descriptive and inferential research as they are applied to psychological science. Topics include archival research, naturalistic observation, participant-observer research, clinical-case studies, correlational research, quasi-experimental designs, between- and within-subject experimental designs, and factorial-design research. Particular emphasis on ethical issues in psychological research is given.

Prerequisites: (PSY 101 or PSY 100) and ENG 101

Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to students with a major in Psychology.

Attributes: Undergraduate, Writing Intensive Course- GEP

PSY 211 Stats for the Social Sciences (4 credits)

This course is an introduction to the basic principles of statistical analyses, descriptive and inferential, that are used in the social sciences. Topics include measures of central tendency, variability, correlational analyses, regression, estimation, hypothesis testing, and selected parametric and non-parametric tests. Laboratory work will include the use of computer-based statistical packages to aid in analysis and interpretation of discipline- appropriate research data.

Prerequisites: PSY 100 or PSY 101

Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to students with a major in Psychology.

Attributes: Undergraduate

PSY 212 Multicultural Psychology (3 credits)

We live in a multicultural society that requires an appropriate understanding of cultural diversity. This course will provide students with a theoretical and practical understanding of the effects of culture on human thinking and behavior. The course considers current theories and research on culture, gender, race and ethnicity with the goal of better understanding the ways in which the multicultural context influences psychological processes. The aim of the course is to achieve a better appreciation of cultural groups and consideration of cultural issues in interpreting social experiences.

Prerequisites: PSY 100 or PSY 101

Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to students with a major in Psychology.

Attributes: Diversity Course, Gender Studies Course, Undergraduate

PSY 220 Sensation and Perception (3 credits)

The world around us abounds with all manner of sensory stimuli-visual, olfactory, auditory, tactile, and gustatory. This course will explore the manner in which we internalize this information and use it as knowledge about what is going on around us. Each of the senses will be considered from biological and phenomenological perspectives, and the process by which we derive meaning from sensory activity will be examined. Topics to be covered include object perception, visual attention, music and speech perception, somatosensory processing, taste preferences, and smell recognition.

Prerequisites: PSY 100 or PSY 101

Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to students with a major, minor, or concentration in Psychology.

Attributes: Undergraduate

PSY 221 Animal Learning and Memory (3 credits)

Other than that which is genetically coded, everything we know is derived from and reflects memory for information that we have learned in the past. This course introduces the student to the scientific investigation of the basic processes of learning and memory. Topics of discussion will include the traditional theories, methodologies, and empirical findings of habituation and sensitization, classical conditioning, and instrumental conditioning. In addition, mechanisms of retention, sources of forgetting, and the biological basis of learning and memory processes will be considered.

Prerequisites: PSY 100 or PSY 101

Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to students with a major, minor, or concentration in Animal Studies, Psychology Five Year or Psychology.

Attributes: Undergraduate

PSY 222 Neuropsychology (3 credits)

Neuropsychology will introduce students to understanding human brain/behavior relationships. Emphasis will be placed on commonly used approaches in assessing and measuring human behavior and how the human brain is responsible for cognition, language, memory, spatial processing, emotion, and personality. Students will gain an understanding of principles of brain organization, individual differences, and professional and clinical issues in neuropsychology.

Prerequisites: (PSY 100 or PSY 101 or PS 101 or PS 111) and (BIO 102 or BS 119 or BS 133 or PSY 201)

Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to students with a major, minor, or concentration in Psychology.

Attributes: Undergraduate

PSY 223 Health Psychology (3 credits)

Health psychology is a field that incorporates many sub-disciplines of psychology with modern medicine. This course seeks to provide the student with an understanding of how social, psychological, and biological variables combine to cause illness, and how behavior and environments can be changed to promote health. One important focus of the course concerns understanding the nature of stress and the impact stress has on health.

Prerequisites: PSY 100 or PSY 101 or PS 101 or PS 111

Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to students with a major, minor, or concentration in Psychology.

Attributes: Undergraduate

PSY 224 Drugs, the Brain, & Behavior (3 credits)

How do drugs affect consciousness and behavior? This course will examine the action of many different drugs, both medicinal and illicit, from biological, behavioral, and social perspectives. The relationship between alterations in behavior produced by drug administration and the changes that the drug produces in the functioning of the nervous system will be emphasized. Topics to be covered include routes of drug administration, drug absorption, transport and elimination, mechanisms of drug action, the histories of miscellaneous drugs, and the behavioral and biological activity of alcohol, nicotine, caffeine, the opiates, the hallucinogens, the antipsychotics, amphetamines, and cocaine.

Prerequisites: PSY 100 or PSY 101

Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to students with a major, minor, or concentration in Psychology.

Attributes: Undergraduate

PSY 225 Comparative Animal Behavior (3 credits)

This course examines the evolution and development of animal behavior. Students will gain an understanding of the behavioral diversity and commonalities among animal species. An emphasis will be placed on comparing the characteristics of human behavior with those of other species, with special attention given to the cognitive capabilities of non-human animals.

Prerequisites: PSY 100 or PSY 101

Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to students with a major in Psychology Five Year or Psychology.

Attributes: Undergraduate

PSY 226 Psychology of Emotion (3 credits)

This course will introduce students to major theories and topics of the psychology and biology of emotion. Areas explored include the role of the brain and peripheral physiology in emotion, how emotion is expressed, the role of cognition, cultural differences, social aspects of emotion, development of emotions, and the role of emotion in health and psychopathology.

Prerequisites: PSY 100 or PSY 101 or PS 101 or PS 111

Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to students with a major, minor, or concentration in Psychology.

Attributes: Undergraduate

PSY 227 Cognitive Psychology (3 credits)

Cognitive psychology is the study of how the human mind processes information. Learning and organizing new information, remembering facts and events, recognizing objects, reading, using language, and problem solving are examples of cognitive tasks people perform every day. In this course you will learn about the mental processes underlying these tasks. Particular emphasis will be given to mental representations of information, computational models of mental processes, and applications of cognitive psychology.

Prerequisites: PS 111 or PS 101

Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to students with a major, minor, or concentration in Psychology.

Attributes: Undergraduate

PSY 228 Science of Creativity (3 credits)

This course introduces undergraduate students to the scientific exploration of what it means to “be creative.” Students will evaluate the evidence that supports the definitions, approaches, assessments, models, and recommendations offered in support of cultivating creativity. The course will emphasize cognitive neuroscience approaches and include critical analysis of major domains of creativity, including musical, visual-artistic, and scientific.

Prerequisites: PSY 100 or PSY 101 or PS 101 or PS 111

Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to students with a major, minor, or concentration in Psychology.

Attributes: Undergraduate

PSY 229 Psycholinguistics (3 credits)

This course is an introduction to the study of how language is represented in the human mind and what processes are involved in language use, including producing, comprehending, and storing both spoken and written language. Together, we will explore questions such as the following: How do humans store and recognize words? How do we analyze speech? What processes are involved when we speak and read? We will study spontaneously-occurring speech errors and misperceptions and carry out experimental investigations on language production and comprehension.

Prerequisites: PSY 100 or PSY 101

Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to students with a major, minor, or concentration in Psychology.

Attributes: Undergraduate

PSY 230 Social Psychology (3 credits)

The discipline of social psychology can be described as the study of the "power of the situation." Although we like to think that our behavior and our attitudes are freely chosen by us, this course illuminates how powerful outside situational forces can be in shaping both. It involves the understanding of how people influence, and are influenced by, others around them; how we form impressions of others and of ourselves; what determines our attraction to others (or lack thereof); why we help one another, and why we hurt one another. In addition to a basic understanding of these phenomena, an equally important goal is to develop critical and integrative ways of thinking about theories and research in social psychology.

Prerequisites: PSY 100 or PSY 101 or PS 101 or PS 111

Attributes: Undergraduate

PSY 231 Developmental Psychology (3 credits)

This course examines the mechanisms that contribute to psychological growth and change throughout life. The goal of this course is to provide students with an understanding of the influence of biological, cognitive, emotional, social and cultural factors on development from infancy into adulthood. Theories of development and applications to real-world problems will provide a context for understanding how humans change during the life cycle. Lectures and discussions will interweave theory, methodology and research findings about how we develop and demonstrate our abilities to perceive, think, feel, remember, plan, and ultimately realize our potential as human beings. Note: This course is not open to students who have taken PSY 120 or PSY 121.

Prerequisites: PS 101 or PSY 100 or PS 111 or PSY 101

Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to students with a major in Psychology.

Attributes: Undergraduate

PSY 232 Adv. Psychological Disorders (3 credits)

This course will provide an overview to the study of psychological disorders or abnormal behavior. Our current understanding of psychological disorders from biological, behavioral, cognitive, and psychodynamic perspectives will be presented. Attention will be given to the nature, causes, and course of various psychological disorders as well as treatment for specific disorders. Note: This course is restricted to Psychology majors. Others should instead take PSY 122, Abnormal Psychology. This course is not open to students who have already completed PSY 122. This course is a prerequisite for PSY 300 (Clinical Psychology) and PSY 301 (Psychological Assessment), both of which are required for the clinical concentration.

Prerequisites: PSY 100 or PSY 101 or PS 101 or PS 111

Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to students with a major in Psychology.

Attributes: Undergraduate

PSY 233 Adulthood and Aging (3 credits)

Continuing demographic changes occurring globally as well as nationally have accelerated research in and theorizing about heretofore-neglected periods of human development. The 'graying' of the human population has accelerated interest in the topic of adulthood and aging at both the theoretical and empirical levels. This course will explore the adult experience using a life-span perspective and a contextual analysis including contributions from the fields of anthropology, biology, psychology, and sociology.

Prerequisites: PSY 100 or PSY 101

Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to students with a major, minor, or concentration in Psychology.

Attributes: Undergraduate

PSY 234 Psychology of the Self (3 credits)

This course has been designed to provide in-depth considerations of both classic and current issues regarding the self. As a concept, the self is consistently referred to in many fields of psychology. But what is the self and how is it represented? This course will consider the self from a social psychological perspective. Special focus will be on defining the self and identifying the influences that various aspects of the self-have on our perceptions, emotions, and behavior.

Prerequisites: PSY 100 or PSY 101 or PS 101 or PS 111

Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to students with a major, minor, or concentration in Psychology.

Attributes: Undergraduate

PSY 235 Psychology of Gender (3 credits)

This course will examine a wide variety of psychological issues concerning gender. Topics will include gender bias in research, theories of gender, gender typing, cultural emphases on gender differences, gender and the self-concept, and psychological phenomena unique to women's and men's experiences.

Prerequisites: PSY 100 or PSY 101

Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to students with a major, minor, or concentration in Psychology.

Attributes: Undergraduate

PSY 236 Ethics in Psychology (3 credits)

Ethics and professional issues in clinical psychology will be addressed in this course. The focus will be on ethical principles as applied to psychological assessment and diagnosis, psychotherapy and clinical judgment, clinical research, and client-patient and student-teacher relationships. Case studies will be used to illustrate ethical and professional issues, as well as examples from clinical practice and modern media.

Prerequisites: (PSY 100 or PSY 101 or PS 101) or PS 111 and PHL 154

Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to students with a major in Psychology.

Attributes: Ethics Intensive, Justice Ethics and the Law , Undergraduate

PSY 237 Child Psychological Disorders (3 credits)

This course will provide a comprehensive introduction to abnormal child psychology. Assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of children and adolescents will be discussed. Specific disorders covered will include attention- deficit/hyperactivity disorder, anxiety disorders of childhood, affective (mood) disorders, conduct disorder and other disruptive behavior disorders, learning disabilities, autism spectrum disorders, and sleep disorders.

Prerequisites: PSY 100 or PSY 101

Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to students with a major, minor, or concentration in Psychology.

Attributes: Undergraduate

PSY 238 Social Development (3 credits)

Social development involves the ways that children grow and interact with others, including parents, peers, siblings and authority figures. This course will cover social development from infancy through adolescence. The course will cover the major theories of social development, as well as issues such as parenting styles, gender development, moral development, aggression and motivation.

Prerequisites: PSY 100 or PSY 101

Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to students with a major, minor, or concentration in Psychology.

PSY 239 Psychology of Media (3 credits)

Every one of us is exposed to, and thus influenced by, some aspect of the media. This course will examine some of the major aspects of the media, including 1) media content, with emphasis upon depictions of gender, age, race, sexuality, violence, advertising, and news, 2) effects of exposure to that content, and 3) who owns and thus controls the content of what we see, hear, and play. As a laboratory course, students will also engage in the full research process, from reviewing the scholarly work of others, formulating an original research hypothesis, testing that hypothesis, and drawing logical conclusions from the data.

Prerequisites: PSY 100 or PSY 101

Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to students with a major, minor, or concentration in Psychology.

Attributes: Undergraduate

PSY 240 Sports Psychology (3 credits)

This course examines the application of psychological theories and research to sports and exercise behaviors. It will provide students with knowledge about psychological factors that affect performance in sports such as motivation, concentration, focus, confidence, anxiety, and relaxation. Students will also be introduced to mental skills that will enhance performance, make athletic participation more enjoyable, and learn skills that can be transferred to other aspects of their lives. Skills to be covered in this class will include: how to set measurable goals and strategies to achieve them, visualization and imagery techniques, leadership, team-building, and how to best cope and recover from injuries.

Prerequisites: PSY 100 or PSY 101

Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to students with a major, minor, or concentration in Psychology.

Attributes: Undergraduate

PSY 244 Psychology in Film (3 credits)

This course will develop students' understanding of foundational knowledge in Psychology through a consideration of classic and contemporary films. It will examine current issues and theories in Psychology through the process of film analysis. It will also explore the effects popular cinema has on the attitudes and perceptions of foundational concepts and theories in Psychology.

Prerequisites: PSY 100 or PSY 101 or PS 101 or PS 111

Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to students with a major, minor, or concentration in Psychology.

Attributes: Undergraduate

PSY 250 Adolescent Development (3 credits)

This course emphasizes the physical, social, emotional, and cognitive developmental changes that occur during adolescence. Topics relevant to adolescent development in various contexts, including families and the parent-adolescent relationship, self and identity development, the increasingly important role of peers, school adjustment, and the nature and implications of psychosocial problems will be covered.

Prerequisites: PSY 100 or PSY 101 or PS 101 or PS 111

Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to students with a major, minor, or concentration in Psychology.

Attributes: Undergraduate

PSY 260 Neurocognitive Development (3 credits)

This course will explore the relations between neural and cognitive development from birth through adolescence. We will examine how the brain changes and develops to support the basic building blocks of cognition (e.g., attention, object knowledge, social cognition, memory, language, executive function). We will review the major methods of developmental cognitive neuroscience, including techniques to assess brain structure and function (MRI/fMRI), electrophysiological recordings (EEG/ERPs), and behavioral marker tasks. The relation of developmental cognitive neuroscience to broader scientific issues (e.g., neuroplasticity, gene-environment interaction, critical/sensitive periods) and application to the study of atypical development and education will also be discussed.

Prerequisites: PSY 100 or PSY 101

Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to students with a major, minor, or concentration in Psychology.

Attributes: Undergraduate

PSY 270 Special Topics in Psychology (3 credits)

Topics will vary according to the semester in which the class is offered.

Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to students with a major, minor, or concentration in Psychology.

Attributes: Undergraduate

PSY 290 Professional Prep Seminar (1 credit)

What can you do with a degree in Psychology Major? Do you know how to search for an internship or a job? Are you ready to apply for a position should the opportunity arise? This professional development seminar will enhance your knowledge about internships and careers within your major and help you build practical skills through class instruction, assignments, and alumni exposure throughout the semester. This one-credit course meets once a week through the semester to provide practical instruction and skills in areas that include internship search and application, resume/cover letter prep, professional communication, and networking/interviewing.

Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to students with a major in Psychology.

Attributes: Undergraduate

PSY 300 Clinical Psychology (3 credits)

This is an advanced course that provides an overview of the field of clinical psychology. Students are expected to have taken Abnormal Psychology and are familiar with the various psychological disorders covered in that course. The primary goals of the Clinical Psychology course are to familiarize students with the history of clinical psychology as a field, including the roles in which clinical psychologists serve and settings in which they work, as well as current issues and debates in the field; provide a foundation in student's understanding of the various theoretical orientations that guide how clinical psychologists approach their work; orient the student to the various types of assessments that are employed to aid in the treatment conceptualization; and help students clarify their own interests and approaches in the mental health field and mapping them to the client populations and presenting problems of interests and the appropriate graduate programs to suit their goals.

Prerequisites: PSY 100 or PSY 101 and PSY 232

Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to students with a major, minor, or concentration in Psychology Clinical, Psychology Five Year or Psychology.

Attributes: Undergraduate

PSY 301 Psychological Assessment (3 credits)

This course covers the theory, construction, use, and interpretation of the wide range of available psychological, neuropsychological, and educational tests. Tests of intellectual ability, academic achievement, industrial aptitude, and personality and clinical variables will be reviewed. Specific emphasis will be placed on reliability, validity, ethics, the utility of test measures, test administration, and interpretation and communication of test results.

Prerequisites: PSY 232 and PSY 211

Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to students with a major in Psychology Five Year or Psychology.

PSY 370 Advanced Topics: Nat Sci I (1-4 credits)

This course will focus on a different topic in psychology from the perspective of the natural sciences each semester that it is scheduled.

Prerequisites: PSY 100 or PSY 101

Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to students with a major in Psychology Five Year or Psychology.

Attributes: Undergraduate

PSY 371 Advanced Topics: Nat Sci II (3 credits)

This course will focus on a different topic in psychology from the perspective of the natural sciences each semester that it is scheduled.

Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to students with a major, minor, or concentration in Psychology Five Year or Psychology.

Attributes: Undergraduate

PSY 372 Advanced Topics: Soc Sci I (3 credits)

This course will focus on a different topic in psychology from the perspective of the social sciences each semester that it is scheduled.

Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to students with a major, minor, or concentration in Psychology.

Attributes: Undergraduate

PSY 373 Advanced Topics: Soc Sci II (3 credits)

This course will focus on a different topic in psychology from the perspective of the social sciences each semester that it is scheduled.

Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to students with a major, minor, or concentration in Psychology.

Attributes: Undergraduate

PSY 374 Independent Study I (3 credits)

The content of the Independent Study is negotiated between student and faculty mentor. The content cannot be that of an existing course in the curriculum unless that course will not be offered during the time that the student completes his or her program of study. Permission of instructor required.

Prerequisites: PSY 210

Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to students with a major in Psychology.

Attributes: Undergraduate

PSY 375 Independent Study II (3 credits)

The content of the Independent Study is negotiated between student and faculty mentor. The content cannot be that of an existing course in the curriculum unless that course will not be offered during the time that the student completes his or her program of study. Permission of instructor required.

Prerequisites: PSY 210

Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to students with a major in Psychology.

Attributes: Undergraduate

PSY 390 Internship I (3 credits)

Internship entails spending eight hours each week (for a total of 112 hours) at a site in which students' work will be supervised and evaluated. Settings include clinical, clinical research, counseling, hospital, educational research, special education, correctional, and industrial facilities. Permission of instructor required.

Prerequisites: PSY 100 or PSY 101 or PS 101 or PS 111

Restrictions: Enrollment limited to students with a class of Junior or Senior. Enrollment is limited to students with a major in Psychology.

Attributes: Undergraduate

PSY 391 Internship II (3 credits)

Internship entails spending eight hours each week (for a total of 112 hours) at a site in which students' work will be supervised and evaluated. Settings include clinical, clinical research, counseling, hospital, educational research, special education, correctional, and industrial facilities. Permission of instructor required.

Restrictions: Enrollment limited to students with a class of Junior or Senior. Enrollment is limited to students with a major in Psychology.

Attributes: Undergraduate

PSY 392 Independent Research I (3 credits)

Students are responsible for designing and conducting an original research project under the direction of a faculty mentor. Permission of instructor required.

Prerequisites: PSY 210

Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to students with a major in Psychology.

Attributes: Undergraduate

PSY 393 Independent Research II (3 credits)

Students are responsible for designing and conducting an original research project under the direction of a faculty mentor. Permission of instructor required.

Prerequisites: PSY 210

Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to students with a major in Psychology.

Attributes: Undergraduate

PSY 410 Neuroscience Practicum (3 credits)

Students will use a range of techniques including pharmacology, immunohistochemistry, enzyme-linked immunoassay, and behavioral tests to do applied work in the areas of neuroendocrinology, neuropharmacology and social neuroscience. Students spend 10 hours per week in the laboratory and attend class. The academic component of the experience includes readings related to the substance of the practice, discussions with the faculty supervisor, a professional presentation, and a written report appropriate to the discipline. Course grades are based on laboratory performance and academic work. Note: This course is restricted to sophomores, juniors, and seniors.

Prerequisites: PSY 201 or BIO 101 or CHM 120

PSY 470 Special Topics in Psychology (3 credits)

Topics will vary according to the semester in which the class is offered.

Attributes: Undergraduate

PSY 491 Research Seminar: Nat Sci I (3 credits)

This course will focus on a different topic in psychology from the perspective of the natural sciences each semester that it is scheduled. The semester's topic will be treated in depth in a seminar format. Students will become familiar with research and theory in the area under study using primary source material. Students may also become involved in research projects in the area under study.

Prerequisites: PSY 210 and PSY 211

Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to students with a major in Psychology.

Attributes: Undergraduate

PSY 492 Research Seminar: Nat Sci II (3 credits)

This course will focus on a different topic in psychology from the perspective of the natural sciences each semester that it is scheduled. The semester’s topic will be treated in depth in a seminar format. Students will become familiar with research and theory in the area under study using primary source material. Students may also become involved in research projects in the area under study.

Prerequisites: PSY 210 and PSY 211

Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to students with a major in Psychology.

Attributes: Undergraduate

PSY 493 Research Seminar: Soc Sci I (3 credits)

This course will focus on a different topic in psychology from the perspective of the social sciences each semester that it is scheduled. The semester's topic will be treated in depth in a seminar format. Students will become familiar with research and theory in the area under study using primary source material. Students may also become involved in research projects in the area under study.

Prerequisites: PSY 210 and PSY 211

Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to students with a major, minor, or concentration in Psychology.

Attributes: Undergraduate

PSY 494 Research Seminar: Soc Sci II (3 credits)

This course will focus on a different topic in psychology from the perspective of the social sciences each semester that it is scheduled. The semester's topic will be treated in depth in a seminar format. Students will become familiar with research and theory in the area under study using primary source material. Students may also become involved in research projects in the area under study.

Prerequisites: PSY 210 and PSY 211

Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to students with a major in Psychology.

Attributes: Undergraduate