Psychology

PS101 Introduction to Psychology I (3 credits)

This course introduces students to the field of psychology and the scientific study of human behavior, thoughts and feelings. Topics covered include human development, personality, psychopathology, stress management, consciousness, motivation, emotion and social behavior.

PS150 Human Relations (3 credits)

This course will introduce students to a variety of theories in the field of human relations. Students will have an opportunity to develop their interpersonal skills by using the group as a microcosm of society. Theory will be integrated with classroom exercises as part of an experiential approach to learning. Topics will include communication skills, conflict resolution and interpersonal effectiveness.

PS221 Human Development I: Childhood and Adolescence (3 credits)

This course addresses the study of childhood and adolescence from the prenatal stage to the development of moral reasoning in the beginning of adulthood. Emphasis is placed on the physical-motor, cognitive, and social-emotional dimensions of behavior. The major theorists and theoretical perspectives will be explored, as well as research methods and ethical issues in conducting research in human development. PR: PS101.

PS222 Human Development II: Adulthood and Aging (3 credits)

This course is an overview of the current theoretical perspectives on adulthood and aging, with attention to research into adult lifespan development. Topics such as career status through the adult years, family development, gender issues, personal evolution, and death and dying will be addressed. PR: PS221.

PS230 Social Psychology (3 credits)

This course studies human interaction in society and its psychological basis. Emphasis is placed on theories and research findings in the field of social psychology and the psychological principles that allow us to describe, predict, and explain human behavior in a variety of contexts. PR: PS101.

PS231 Theories of Personality (3 credits)

The course will examine the basic concepts, theories, and perspectives of personality as they relate to understanding human nature. The study of personality will be approached both by traditional psychotherapeutic theories and current scientific research. Students will have the opportunity to apply those theories to known personalities of the 20th century. Class discussions will challenge the student’s ability to apply the theories and concepts by means of critical analysis. PR: PS101.

PS233 Community Psychology (3 credits)

Community psychology is concerned with person-environment interactions and the ways society affects individual and community functioning. This course focuses on social issues, social institutions, and other settings that influence individuals, groups and organizations. Relationships between environmental conditions and the development of health and well-being of all members of a community will be examined and ways to facilitate psychological competence and empowerment, prevent disorder, and promote social change will be evaluated. PR: PS101.

PS235 Abnormal Psychology (3 credits)

This course introduces the student to models of abnormal behavior and explores affective, personality, and psychotic disorders. Students will also explore past and contemporary research, diagnoses, etiology, and treatment of mental health disorders. PR: PS101.

PS240 Psychology of Adjustment (3 credits)

This course will explore the themes that govern psychological adjustment and the human potential for coping in the face of both extreme adversity and the constant stressors of everyday life. Adjustment will be looked at from a variety of theoretical viewpoints within the context of culture, personality, values, and pragmatic concerns. Concepts of happiness and self-fulfillment will be examined with special attention being given to the contemporary media explosion of self-help resources and advice. PR: PS101.

PS299 Psychology Internship I (3 credits)

This internship is an opportunity for sophomore students to gain early practical experience in the mental health field. Sites may include residential group homes, mental health clinics, and therapeutic school settings. There will be on-site and developmental supervision of students. Weekly class meetings will allow students to process the experience with the faculty coordinator and fellow interns. PR: sophomore status & approved Internship Petition.

PS325 Learning and Behavior (3 credits)

This course is an in-depth study of the principles and findings of current and past experimental research on learning and behavior. There will be exploration of the contemporary methods utilized for behavior modification. Consideration will be given to how such methods can be used in educational, mental health, and correctional settings. PR: PS101.

PS330 Psychology of Women (3 credits)

This course examines the psychology of women and the construct of gender from a feminist-psychological and social constructivist theoretical framework. The course also explores the ways that race, ethnicity, class, sexual orientation, age, and physical ability interact and operate at individual, interpersonal and cultural levels to modify women’s experiences. Finally, the course examines the social and political implications of our cultural understandings of women and gender and raises questions about the possibilities of psychological and social change. PR: (PS101 or SS107) & junior status.

PS335 Psycho-Cinema (3 credits)

The popular media increasingly present mental illness in entertainment. Psychological disorders are often misrepresented for the purpose of drama and result in misconceptions that affect how people with mental illness are viewed and treated by society. This course is designed to compare the scientific understanding of abnormal behavior by reviewing clinical diagnostic and assessment procedures and treatments with the entertainment media's depictions of mental disorders. The course will address issues related to mental illness in contemporary society (e.g., social stigma, race and cultural factors, forensic psychology, etc.). PR: PS235.

PS336 Family Psychology (3 credits)

This course provides the student with an introduction to the field of family psychology. Students will be exposed to a variety of approaches to studying families including systemic, intergenerational, psychoanalytic, experiential, structural, behavioral and post-modern theories. Case studies, real and fictional, and the exploration of students’ own families of origin will be used to demonstrate the various viewpoints. PR: PS221 or PS235 or PS240.

PS337 Theories and Applications of Counseling and Psychotherapy (3 credits)

This course provides the student with an overview of the major approaches to counseling and psychotherapy, with a focus on both theory and technique. Classical and modern psychoanalysis, self-psychology, object-relations theory, interpersonal psychology, behaviorism, existential psychotherapy, gestalt and cognitive psychotherapies will be studied. Trancripts and video segments of live sessions will be used to demonstrate the various methods. PR: PS235.

PS343 Problems of Childhood and Adolescence (3 credits)

This course will provide an overview of the psychological disorders that can affect children and adolescents. Students will explore how childhood mental illness is defined, diagnosed, and treated. A developmental framework will be used that emphasizes the influence of multiple and interacting events that shape adaptive and maladaptive childhood development. Special attention will be paid to conditions including mental retardation, autism, anxiety, learning and developmental disabilities, and behavior disorders. Topics such as family dynamics, substance abuse, and child abuse and neglect will be explored. PR: PS221.

PS344 Mental Health and the Law: Forensic Psychology (3 credits)

This course is an in-depth study of the psychological and legal communities as they interact in the judicial system. Issues such as criminal responsibility, civil commitments, and competency will be addressed. Other topics that will be addressed include the juvenile offender in the legal system, child abuse and neglect from a legal and mental health perspective, child custody disputes and the forensic evaluator, and client confidentiality and the legal system. Landmark legal cases will be reviewed and issues that arise from those cases will be central points of discussion. PR: PS101.

PS347 Human Sexuality (3 credits)

Human sexuality is a complex biopsychosocial phenomenon. This course encompasses past and present trends, sexual well-being, sexual disorders, the human life cycle, current issues and problems, research and treatment, and physical and emotional communication. PR: PS101.

PS349 Research Level I: Introduction to Research (3 credits)

This course introduces students to basic research methods in psychology. There will be a focus on scientific methodology, production of hypotheses, data collection methods, and operationalization of variables. Surveys, observation methods, case studies, and test methods as bases for gathering verifiable data will be addressed. Students will assess validity, reliability, and statistical significance of research. Special consideration will be given to ethical and legal guidelines for research and proper use of APA style. PR: PS101 or SS107.

PS350 Research Level II: Methods and Statistics (4 credits)

The level II research course is a more advanced study of the computational and statistical methods used in psychological research. There will be testing of hypotheses through statistical analysis such as t-tests, ANOVA, and correlation methods. The interpretation of statistical analysis will also be investigated. PR: PS349.

PS360 Brain and Behavior (3 credits)

This course is a study of the physiology of behavior and the brain with a particular focus on the neurosciences. Issues such as biological systems and processes and the functioning of the brain in relation to behavior will be addressed. PR: PS101.

PS410 Seminar in Developmental Psychology (3 credits)

This course will focus on major developmental issues facing children and families, using a lifespan approach. Biological, cognitive, social, family, and cultural factors will be reviewed. Students will explore areas of development, developmental theories, developmental research, and important developmental issues. Emphasis will be on application of developmental concepts in general and in relation to clinical practice. PR: PS222.

PS420 Seminar in Clinical Psychology (3 credits)

This seminar course is an intensive study of the nature of psychopathology and clinical psychology. Issues such as the past and current clinical theories of psychopathology, the nature and causes of specific illnesses such as schizophrenia, the current status of mental health treatment, clinical methods of assessment, and the community and mental health systems will be addressed. This course is designed to prepare students for graduate study in psychology. PR: PS349 & (PS231 or PS235).

PS422 Ethical Conflicts in Psychology (3 credits)

This course will provide an in-depth review of the ethical dilemmas facing psychologists in their various professional roles and in the multitude of settings in which they work. The class will also examine the relationships between personal, professional and legal standards, especially when they seem to conflict. Appropriate decision-making processes that psychologists engage in to arrive at satisfactory resolutions to these problems will be demonstrated and examined. PR: (PS235 or PS240) & PS349.

PS430 Seminar in Adolescent Psychology (3 credits)

This course will examine the transition period of adolescence in terms of biology and cognitive and social development. Special attention will be paid to the family, peers, school, and work. Current research in the development of self, sexuality, health, and moral development will be discussed and specific adolescent problems and psychological disorders will be studied. PR: PS221.

PS440 Seminar in Advanced Research Design (3 credits)

This is an advanced research design course for senior level psychology majors. Students will conduct an experiment and analyze psychological data for a research project. Students will become proficient at creating a hypothesis, designing a research study, recognizing ethical and legal guidelines in psychology research, conducting a research experiment, statistically analyzing data, and generating a professionally written, APA style psychology research paper. Additionally, the course will explore various applications of the different research designs used in the field of psychology. Students will present their final projects to fellow students and invited psychology faculty. PR: PS349 & PS350.

PS498 Psychology Bachelor Thesis (3 credits)

As an alternative to completing the internship, during the senior year students may elect to write a research paper on an approved topic. The paper will focus on a current issue in the field of psychology and will require significant research and investigation, including a first-hand experience of the psychology professional at work. Students will be required to submit a written report to be evaluated by a panel of department faculty. PR: senior status & Dean's approval.

PS499 Psychology Internship II (3 credits)

The internship is an opportunity for students to gain practical hands-on experience in the mental health field, in settings that correspond to their individual and educational career objectives. Internship sites may include residential group homes and mental health clinics and hospitals. Learning is achieved through observation and/or direct participation. Students will receive on-site supervision from practicing professionals and participate in weekly class meetings to process the experience with a faculty coordinator and fellow interns. PR: senior status & approved Internship Petition.

NOTE: Advanced seminars at the 400-level require students to complete all listed prerequisites and be junior or senior level psychology majors. Enrollment is limited and students are expected to secure instructor permission if seeking placement in a particular seminar.

PR = prerequisite(s)