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 UNDERGRADUATE
PROGRAMS
GRADUATE
PROGRAMS
DEPARTMENT
FACULTY
DEPARTMENT'S
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Department of Psychology, Gillet Hall
Chair: Vincent Prohaska, Room 113
Phone:
UNDERGRADUATE
PROGRAMS
Graduate Programs | Department
Faculty | Department's Home Page
Psychology
The undergraduate program in psychology is intended to serve three principal
objectives: (1) to contribute to the liberal education of all students by
providing an understanding of psychology as a science and a profession;
(2) to provide an understanding of psychological principles and techniques
for those students interested in work in other behavioral and social sciences
and in professional fields such as education, social work, and medicine;
and (3) to establish a sound foundation for those planning to pursue graduate
studies in psychology leading to careers in college teaching, scientific
research, clinical psychology, and school psychology or professional work
in industry, government, and social agencies.
35-Credit Major in Psychology, B.A.
Students are required to consult with department advisers for guidance and
approval of course selection. The required courses and credits are distributed
as follows:
Credits
| 14 |
In required courses: PSY 166 (3), 226 (4), 305 (4), and 348 (3) |
| 6 |
One 3-credit course from each of two of the following three options:
Option 1: PSY 217, 218, or 219
Option 2: PSY 234 or 320
Option 3: PSY 240 or 330 |
| 6 |
One 3-credit course from each of two of the following three options:
Option 1: PSY 310 or 345
Option 2: PSY 314 or 317
Option 3: PSY 316 or 366 |
| 9 |
In additional PSY courses |
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35
Students planning to pursue graduate study in psychology and related fields
should consult department faculty.
Departmental Honors
Students who wish to qualify for departmental honors are required to take
PSY 495: Honors Research in Psychology.
Minor in Psychology
The minor consists of two courses at the 200 level and two at the 300 level
for a total of 12 credits. Note that PSY 166, a prerequisite to all courses
in the minor, cannot be counted toward the minor.
Careers in Mental Health
Those students who are interested in preparing for careers in mental health
professions, such as clinical and community psychology, psy-
chiatry, social work, guidance, and rehabilitation counseling, should consult
the department faculty.
Women's Studies Option
See the alphabetical listing of the program.
COURSES IN PSYCHOLOGY
PSY 135: Psychology of Personal Adjustment. 3 hours, 3 credits. The
basic ideas of psychology and their application in the description and explanation
of individual behavior. Analysis of such concepts as personality, normal
behavior, and adjustment to stress.
PSY 166: General Psychology. 3 hours, 3 credits. Introduction to
the fundamental concepts and methods of modern psychology. Consideration
of the scientific basis of psychology and of the significant problems in
the areas of learning, motivation, emotion, individual differences, physiological
bases of behavior, perception, developmental processes, personality, and
social behavior. NOTE: There is a research requirement for this course
that can be fulfilled either by writing about your participation as a subject
in approved studies or by writing reactions to approved articles or colloquia.
NOTE: All of the following PSY courses carry PSY 166 as prerequisite.
Additional prerequisites are indicated where appropriate.
PSY 217: Child Psychology. 3 hours, 3 credits. Consideration of theories,
research findings, and methodology with respect to physical growth, sensorimotor,
emotional, cognitive, perceptual-conceptual, language, and intellectual
development of the individual prior to adolescence.
PSY 218: Psychology of Adolescence. 3 hours, 3 credits. Adolescence
as a transition between childhood and adulthood. Theory and research on
age-related changes, developmental tasks and role in society. Topics include
physical and cognitive development, self-concept and autonomy, family, school
and peer relations, the adolescent at risk.
PSY 219: Psychology of Adulthood and Aging. 3 hours, 3 credits. Development
from adulthood to the final stages of life. Theory and research findings
on age-related biological, cognitive, personality, and sensory changes.
Topics include sex roles, parenting, family relationship, work, leisure,
retirement, death, and bereavement.
PSY 226: Statistical Methods in Psychology. 4 hours, 4 credits. Descriptive
and inferential statistics and their applications to the analysis and interpretation
of psychological data. Among the topics discussed are central tendency,
variability, correlation and regression, hypothesis testing, analysis of
variance, power analysis, and the relationship of research design to statistics.
Hand calculators and computers will be introduced and utilized throughout
the course as adjuncts to data analysis. PREREQ.: MAT 035 or MAT 171 or
permission of the department.
PSY 232: Psychology of Exceptional Children. 3 hours, 3 credits.
Special problems in training and adjustment of children who differ markedly
from the normal: mentally retarded, neurologically impaired, emotionally
disturbed, physically handicapped, socially and culturally deprived, and
gifted children.
PSY 234: Abnormal Psychology. 3 hours, 3 credits. Examination of
the concept of abnormality and of the major categories of psychopathology,
including the neuroses and psychoses. Consideration of etiology, symptoms,
diagnosis, and treatment of psychological abnormalities.
PSY 238: Environmental Psychology. 3 hours, 3 credits. Study of the
relationship of the individual and the natural and "built environment."
Analysis of the psychological dimension of problems such as pollution, crowding,
and energy conservation.
PSY 240: Industrial/Organizational Psychology. 3 hours, 3 credits.
Survey of current research problems; practices in personnel selection and
training; management; consumer, marketing and advertising psychology.
PSY 305: Experimental Psychology I. 6 hours (2, lecture; 4, lab),
4 credits. Theory and method of psychological experimentation and measurement
as applied to the study of behavioral phenomena. Design and execution of
selected experiments in such areas as learning, thinking, motivation, personality,
and social behavior. PREREQ.: PSY 226.
PSY 306: Experimental Psychology II. 6 hours (2, lecture; 4 lab),
4 credits. Continuation of PSY 305, including such areas as sensation and
perception, with emphasis on independent research on selected topics. PREREQ.:
PSY 305.
PSY 307: Research in Social Psychology. 6 hours (2, lecture; 4 lab),
4 credits. Use of laboratory and field techniques in the investigation of
social psychological topics such as attitudes, conformity, social interaction,
altruism, and ethics of research. Individual and group research projects
in the laboratory in the community where possible. PREREQ.: PSY 226 and
330.
PSY 308: Motivation and Emotion. 3 hours, 3 credits. Study of motives
(hunger, sex, aggression, etc.) and emotions (anger, love, fear, etc.) as
underlying causes of behavior.
PSY (WST) 309: Psychology of Women. 3 hours, 3 credits. Consideration
of empirical and theoretical formulations regarding the psychology of the
human female, dynamics of personality, and inherent and learned factors
influencing her behavior.
PSY 310: Psychology of Learning. 3 hours, 3 credits. Survey of fundamental
concepts, empirical findings, and theoretical issues in animal and human
learning. Topics include conditioning, extinction, reinforcement, generalization,
discrimination, problem solving, retention, and forgetting.
PSY 314: Cognitive Psychology. 3 hours, 3 credits. A consideration
of the manner in which humans process, code, and store information. Current
ideas and research pertaining to selective attention, short- and long-term
memory, consciousness, and the constructive nature of perception and thinking.
PSY 316: Physiological Psychology. 3 hours, 3 credits. An introduction
to the nervous system and its relation to the understanding of such psychological
processes as sensation, perception, attention, learning, motivation, memory,
arousal, sleep, and dreaming.
PSY 317: Psychology of Sensation and Perception. 3 hours, 3 credits.
Review of the classic concepts of sensation and perception. Examination
of each of the major senses, with emphasis on vision and hearing. Survey
of modern perceptual formulations and appraisal of current theories.
PSY 318: Comparative Psychology and Ethology. 3 hours, 3 credits.
Comparative analysis of animal behavior with special emphasis on instinct,
imprinting, and territoriality. Comparative and ethological methods in the
study of learning, aggression, sexual behavior, motivation, and social organization.
PSY 320: Theories of Personality. 3 hours, 3 credits. Review of the
major theories of personality development, including the psychoanalytic,
constitutional, behavioral, and biosocial.
PSY 326: Advanced Statistical Methods in Psychology. 3 hours, 3 credits.
Comprehensive treatment of selected topics, including experimental design
and nonparametric and multivariate techniques. PREREQ.: PSY 226.
PSY 328 (WST 348): Family Psychology. 3 hours, 3 credits. Study of
the psychological dynamics underlying family relationships with emphasis
on common areas of conflict and types of family dysfunction. Consideration
of major theoretical viewpoints and practice techniques in the assessment
and treatment of family pathology. PREREQ.: PSY 234.
PSY 330: Social Psychology. 3 hours, 3 credits. Consideration of
theoretical approaches, research methodology, and findings pertinent to
the study of the individual in his social context. Emphasis is given to
attitude formation and change, interpersonal perception, group structure
and processes, leadership, conformity, and communication.
PSY 331: Psychology and the Law. 3 hours, 3 credits. The role of
psychology in the legal process. Psychological issues in problems of confidentiality;
evidence and testimony; jury selection and decision making; the insanity
defense.
PSY 333: Methods of Psychological Intervention. 3 hours, 3 credits.
Exploration of psychological intervention techniques. Various forms and
uses of the interview; modes of counseling and psychotherapy. PREREQ.: Twelve
prior credits in psychology, including PSY 234.
PSY 335: Health Psychology. 3 hours, 3 credits. Role of psychological
factors in health and illness. Topics include stress-related physical disorders;
psychological assessment in medical settings; prevention and treatment of
illness; health attitudes; management of pain; chronic and terminal illness.
PSY 336: The Psychology of Ethnicity. 3 hours, 3 credits. The dynamics
of ethnic identification. The effect of psychological, physiological, cultural,
demographic, and socialization factors associated with ethnicity on individual
development and behavior.
PSY 338: Community Psychology. 3 hours, 3 credits. Consideration
of the contributions of psychology to problems of social intervention in
community mental health centers, schools, and the like. Review of various
social intervention projects in order to study present and possible future
contributions of psychology. Attention will be given to ethical problems
and interdisciplinary relationships.
PSY 345: Psychological Testing and Assessment. 3 hours, 3 credits.
Introduction to the theory and problems of psychological assessment. Survey
of the major methods and their application in the measurement of general
ability, aptitude, achievement, interest, and personality. Appraisal of
the contribution of psychological tests to applied psychology and their
role in contemporary society. PREREQ.: PSY 226.
PSY 346: Practicum in Psychological Testing and Assessment. 3 hours,
3 credits. Practice in administration, scoring and interpretation of tests
and measures of psychological functioning, under supervision. PREREQ.: PSY
345 and 12 additional credits in psychology.
PSY 348: History of Psychology. 3 hours, 3 credits. Study of the
evolution of theory and methods in psychology as it has developed from its
early philosophical roots to its present status as a science and profession.
The contributions of major individuals and theoretical systems and their
influence on contemporary psychology will be reviewed.
PSY 350: Special Topics in Geropsychology. 3 hours, 3 credits. Examination
of selected areas in the psychology of aging. Topics to be announced each
semester.
PSY 366: Clinical Neuropsychology. 3 hours, 3 credits. Consideration
of the effects of brain damage on psychological functioning, with emphasis
on impairments in perception, attention, emotion, memory, and language abilities.
PSY 410: Learning Theory. 3 hours, 3 credits. Critical evaluation
of the major theories of learning, stressing an examination of relevant
research methodology and experimental data. PREREQ.: PSY 310.
PSY 415: Seminar in Theories of Developmental Psychology. 3 hours,
3 credits. Research and theory concerning the development of human behavior
from conception to death. Focus upon developmental research in the areas
of cognitive, social and moral, perceptual, physiological, and linguistic
psychology. Consideration of major developmental concepts such as stage,
critical periods, and maturity, and of major developmental theorists such
as Piaget and Erikson.
PSY 416: Seminar in Physiological Psychology. 3 hours, 3 credits.
Selected topics dealing with the physiological bases of behavior are studied
in depth. Current literature in the field is emphasized. PREREQ.: PSY 316
and instructor's permission.
PSY 430: Seminar in Social Psychology. 3 hours, 3 credits. Examination
of the application of psychological concepts and research to contemporary
social and cultural issues. PREREQ.: PSY 330.
PSY 434: Seminar in Abnormal Psychology. 3 hours, 3 credits. Intensive
consideration of current issues and research relevant to selected problem
areas. PREREQ.: PSY 234.
PSY 440: Seminar in Psychological Services. 2 hours, 2 credits. Analysis
of field experiences. COREQ.: PSY 470.
PSY 450: Advanced Seminar in Contemporary Issues in Psychology. 3
hours, 3 credits. Intensive analysis of experimental and theoretical material
on specific significant problems of contemporary psychology. PREREQ.: PSY
166 and 12 additional PSY credits and permission of instructor.
PSY 470: Practicum in Psychological Services. Hours to be arranged,
2-4 credits. Supervised placement in one of a variety of occupational settings
in which the student may obtain firsthand experience in the provision of
psychological services to clients. PREREQ.: PSY 333, 15 additional credits
in psychology, and permission of the instructor. NOTE: Students in
the Specialization in Psychological Services may take a second semester
of fieldwork with credit toward completion of the specialization. Other
students may be permitted to repeat the course for elective credit only.
PSY 485: Independent Study in Psychology. One semester, 3 credits
(maximum 6 credits; only 3 credits may be applied to requirements of the
major). Individual research project (e.g., lab, library, or community oriented),
under the direction of a member of the psychology faculty. Written report
required for each semester of work. PREREQ.: A 2.75 index, a 3.0 index in
psychology, instructor's and department's permission.
PSY 495: Honors Research in Psychology. One semester, 3 credits (maximum
6 credits). A preliminary outline for the student's independent research
must be approved by a faculty screening committee that will include the
student's departmental adviser. Granting of credit will be contingent upon
presentation of a report of the research at a departmental seminar and the
filing of the research paper in the departmental office before the end of
the senior year. PREREQ.: PSY 305, a 3.5 index, and departmental permission.
UNDERGRADUATE
PROGRAMS
Graduate Programs | Department
Faculty | Department's Home Page
Psychology
GRADUATE PROGRAMS
Undergraduate Programs | Department
Faculty | Department's Home Page
Psychology
The Department of Psychology offers courses for students in the programs
for elementary and secondary school teachers.
* COURSES IN PSYCHOLOGY
* PSY 531: Psychology of the Physically Handicapped. 45 hrs.,
3 crs. Personality characteristics and problems arising among various types
of the physically handicapped, such as the blind, the partially sighted,
the deaf, the hard-of-hearing, the crippled, cardiacs, speech deviates,
those of lowered vitality, and the cerebral palsied as well as those having
multiple handicaps. Attention will be given to educational and social problems,
mental tests, and the mental hygiene of the atypical-not only in the home
environment, but especially in hospitals, convalescent homes, rehabilitation
centers, and schools. PREREQ.: General psychology.
* PSY 541: The Psychology of Adolescence. 45 hrs., 3 crs. Study
of psychological development in adolescence. Needs, interests, emotions,
and attitudes; individual differences in growth and development patterns.
Current research findings reviewed and applied to the problems of secondary
school teaching. PREREQ.: General psychology and 3 additional credits in
psychology.
* PSY 605: Abnormal Psychology-Advanced Course. 45 hrs., 3 crs.
Facts and theories about the etiology of mental disorders. Consideration
of deviations commonly found in the school population such as mental retardation
and delinquency. PREREQ.: Undergraduate abnormal psychology or psychology
of personality.
* PSY 676: Psychology of Personality. 30 hrs. plus confs., 3 crs.
An overview of various approaches to the understanding of personality. Consideration
of the major theories of personality development. PREREQ.: General psychology.
* PSY 720: Developmental Psychology I. 30 hrs. plus confs., 3
crs. Theory and research on behavioral development throughout the life span.
Physical, mental, emotional, social, and sexual aspects of psychological
development from infancy to old age. PREREQ.: General psychology.
Undergraduate Programs | Department
Faculty | Department's Home Page
Psychology
DEPARTMENT FACULTY
Undergraduate Programs | Graduate
Programs | Department's Home Page
Psychology
| Professors: |
Fred D. Phelps
Karyl B. Swartz
|
| Associate Professors: |
Jean Bresnahan
Gilbert Harris
Alan Kluger
John McDonald
Suzanne Yates
Vincent Prohaska (Chair)
Kevin Sailor
|
| Assistant Professors: |
Xiangdong Jia
Ruby S.C. Phillips
|
| Lecturer (full-time): |
Carole Rothman |
|
