PSYCHOLOGY

PS355 Political Power and Community Leadership 3 hours

Good decision-making makes for better government. Thus, how communities go about the decision-making process is a crucial point of understanding how and why democracies do and don’t work. This course will examine community decision-making and the implications for community leadership by exploring the best information on the subject.

Ring *Alternate year course

PY101 General Psychology 3 hours

This course is designed to introduce students to the scientific study of behavior. Topics studied include methods of research, biological bases of behavior, learning and memory, testing, behavior disorders and therapy, and social and applied psychology.

PY125 The Psychology Major 1 hours

The Psychology Major is a course designed to introduce the diverse discipline of psychology for students considering the area, as well as for those who have declared the major. In addition, students will be introduced to communication within the field, particularly writing in the American Psychological Association style. Additional topics include preparation for graduate school or employment after graduation.

PY201 Statistics for the Behavioral and Social Sciences 3 hours

This course provides an introduction to descriptive and inferential statistics. Students will learn how to compute and interpret a variety of statistics and will become knowledgeable about the attributes of the statistics studied. Emphasis will be on conducting statistical analyses and interpreting findings in the behavioral and social sciences. Prerequisites: One of the following: Math ACT score of 18; minimum grade of C in high school Algebra I or MA096; or a passing grade in college-level math course. (For the course description for MA096, see Academic Support course listings.) Permission of the instructor may be granted in special circumstances.

PY205 Developmental Psychology 3 hours

This course surveys human development from conception through old age. Emphasis will be placed on the interaction of genetic and environmental influences on growth and development, and adjustment to the social environment. Prerequisite: PY101.

PY220 Abnormal Psychology 3 hours

This course is designed to explore the causes, descriptions, and treatments of the major mental disorders including anxiety somatoform, dissociative, mood, personality, sexual, schizophrenic, delusional, and autistic disorders. Prerequisites: PY101.

PY222* Social Psychology 3 hours

A study of the effect of social stimuli on behavior. Minor topics considered are attraction, aggression, attitude formation, conformity, altruism, person perception, prejudice, culture and social class, and sex role differences. Prerequisites: PY101 and have successfully completed the ID writing intensive course in the core program or equivalent college composition course.

PY301 Social Research Methods 4 hours

This course is designed to introduce the basic skills required of social scientists. Topics of study in classroom and laboratory experiences include basic quantitative and qualitative research methods, ethical considerations, statistical techniques, and dissemination of results. Each student will develop and conduct an individual research project that includes a literature review; research design; data collection, analysis, and interpretation; and peer review culminating in a professional research report. Prerequisites: PY101, PY201 and have successfully completed the ID writing intensive course in the core program or equivalent college composition course, or permission of the instructor.

PY315 Human Sexuality 3 hours

This course offers a balanced and comprehensive perspective of the field of human sexuality. Topics covered include sexual anatomy and physiology, the sexual response cycle, sexually transmitted diseases, birth control, variations in sexual orientation, pornography, prostitution, and sexually coercive behavior. Prerequisites: PY101 and have successfully completed the ID writing intensive course in the core program or equivalent college composition course.

PY320* Counseling 3 hours

In this course, students will be exposed to the various counseling approaches: rational, learning, psychoanalytic, perceptional, existential, and eclectic. Many other related concerns will be handled: ethics, techniques, communication skills, information service, appraisal, use of tests, team approaches, and personal values and philosophy. Students will have the opportunity to build some communication skills and make self-assessments. Prerequisites: PY101 and have successfully completed the ID writing intensive course in the core program or equivalent college composition course.

PY325* Behavior Modification 3 hours

This course provides an in-depth coverage of behavior modification techniques in applied settings. The major focus is placed upon the application of operant principles, implementation of behavior modification techniques, and measurement and evaluation of program effectiveness. The applications include a variety of settings such as hospitals and institutions, schools, day-care centers, and the home. Prerequisites: PY101, have successfully completed the ID writing intensive course in the core program or equivalent college composition course and junior/senior status, or permission of the instructor.

PY330* Techniques of Psychological Evaluation

3 hours

In this course a wide range of assessment techniques will be studied. The purposes and uses of tests along with their administration, scoring, validity and reliability will be considered. Measures of various types will be studied including intelligence, aptitude personality, and general ability tests. Prerequisites: PY101, PY201 and have successfully completed the ID writing intensive course in the core program or equivalent college composition course.

PY335* Theories of Personality 3 hours

A course designed to study the major theoretical viewpoints concerning personality structure and dynamics. Included among others will be the theories of Freud, Erikson, Allport, Skinner, Maslow, and Rogers. The course will also include an examination of illustrative research associated with major theories. Prerequisites: PY101, PY220 and have successfully completed the ID writing intensive course in the core program or equivalent college composition course.

PY345 History and Systems 3 hours

This course explores the foundations of psychology, a unique field of study that emerged in the late 19th century. Emphasis is placed on the developing sequence of ideas put forth by scholars and researchers, as well as practitioners, to define psychology’s subject matter, methods, and goals. Prerequisite: PY101, have successfully completed the ID writing intensive course in the core program or equivalent college composition course and senior status, or permission of the instructor.

PY356 *Cognitive Psychology 3 hours

Cognitive Psychology encompasses the areas of memory, reasoning, language, problem solving, mental maps, information processing, and others areas of thinking and processing skills. Its findings are referred to in such areas as child and adult development, neuropsychology, aging, animal cognition, educational psychology, human factors, industrial/organizational psychology, and other such areas. Prerequisite: PY101, have successfully completed the ID writing intensive course in the core program or equivalent college composition course and junior/senior status, or permission of the instructor.

PY370 *Biological Psychology 3 hours

Anatomy, physiology, and chemistry of the nervous and endocrine systems are studied in this course as the bases of behavior. Topics include neural control of internal body states, sensation and perception, movement, reproductive and emotional behaviors, and learning and memory from the perspectives of genetics, evolution, and experience. Prerequisites: PY101 and junior/senior status, or permission of the instructor.

PY375* Learning 4 hours

This course looks at learning as an evolutionary mechanism through investigation of classical and operant conditioning, vicarious learning, and forgetting. Concepts are applied in examining human and animal behavior in both laboratory and applied settings. Lab experiences illustrate major principles of learning. Prerequisites: PY101, PY301, have successfully completed the ID writing intensive course in the core program or equivalent college composition course and junior/senior status, or permission of the instructor.

PY390* Seminar: Topics in Psychology 1-4 hours

A course which provides students with the opportunity for advanced, in-depth study and research of a specially selected area of psychology. The focus and format will vary with the interests of the student and faculty member. Prerequisites: PY101, have successfully completed the ID writing intensive course in the core program or equivalent college composition course and Junior/Senior status, or permission of the instructor.