[ Degree Programs ]

Course Descriptions

200 Level Courses       300 Level Courses       400 Level Courses      

200 Level Courses

PSY 201G or consent of instructor is a prerequisite for all 300-level courses and above.

PSY 201G. Introduction to Psychology 3 cr.
Methods and principles of behavior. Topics include human evolution and development, biopsychology, perception, learning,thinking, motivation, social interaction, and the diagnosis and treatment of abnormal behavior.

PSY 205. Introduction to Developmental Psychology 3 cr.
Development of social, emotional, and intellectual aspects of human behavior, with emphasis on the childhood years.

PSY 250. Consumer Psychology 3 cr.
Effects of attention, attitudes, values, motives, and expectations on the behavior of consumers. Topics include advertising, subliminal advertising, brand loyalty, and acceptance of innovations.

PSY 265. Self-Evaluation 3 cr.
Provides insights into one's psychological makeup. Each student takes a variety of psychological tests on general and specific mental abilities, occupational interests, personality, and study habits. Privacy of results is insured.

PSY 266. Applied Psychology 3 cr.
Explanation of the psychological principles of everyday living. Emphasizes motivation, learning of intelligent behavior, and applications of psychology to social issues. Branch campuses only.

PSY 270. Special Topics 1-3 cr.
Specific subjects to be announced in the Schedule of Classes.

PSY 290. Psychology of Adjustment 3 cr.
Analyzes the responses people have to conflict, emotional stress, and frustration. It focuses on adapting to these problems and examines both normal and neurotic responses.

300 Level Courses

PSY 302. Abnormal Psychology 3 cr.
Introduces the types, causes, and treatment of mental disorders. Descriptions and explanations of the neuroses, affective disorders and the psychoses. Case histories are also analyzed. Prerequisite: PSY 201G.

PSY 303. Community Psychology 3 cr.
Emphasizes prevention (not treatment) of mental health problems through early intervention programs. The role of paraprofessionals, and nontraditional interventions in such fields as education and criminal justice are reviewed. Prerequisite: PSY 201G.

PSY 309. Observational Methods 3 cr. (2+2P)
Guided experience in observational techniques such as casual and systematic observation, interview, questionnaire, archival research, standardized test, behavioral mapping, trace and erosion techniques, case studies, rating and attitude scales, and content analysis. Prerequisites: PSY 201G and either STAT 251 or E ST 311G.

PSY 310. Experimental Methods 4 cr. (2+2P)
The basic skills of literature search, experimental design, research methodology, and research reporting are emphasized; includes laboratory. Prerequisite: STAT 251 or E ST 311G.

PSY 315. Motivation 3 cr.
Theory and application of motivational concepts. Topics include instinct, need, drive, incentive, expectancy, achievement, work and social motivation. Prerequisite: PSY 201G.

PSY 316. Environmental Psychology 3 cr.
Elements of architecture, sociology, anthropology, and urban planning. Topics include human territoriality, personal space, crowding, environmental stressors, environmental symbolism, and cognitive processes in environmental perception. Prerequisite: PSY 201G.

PSY 317. Social Psychology 3 cr.
Ways in which people are influenced by the behavior of others are analyzed. Topics include aggression, altruism, conformity, attraction, sexual behavior, prejudice, and nonverbal behavior. Prerequisite: PSY 201G.

PSY 320. Learning 3 cr.
Habituation, Pavlovian conditioning, Thorndikian learning, stimulus generalization, transfer of training, and the learning and forgetting of related and unrelated material are considered. Prerequisite: PSY 201G for nonmajors; PSY 310 for majors.

PSY 320L. Learning Laboratory 1 cr. (2P)
Demonstration of basic learning phenomena and experiments investigating current theoretical issues. Corequisite: PSY 320.

PSY 321. Psychology of Personality 3 cr.
Introduces personality theories and supporting research. Psychoanalytic, physiological, and behavioral theories as they apply to personality are examined. Focuses on normal personality functioning. Prerequisites: PSY 201G and one 300-level 3 credit PSY course.

PSY 324. Sexual Behavior 3 cr.
Examines several viewpoints of the evolution, control and function of human sexual behavior. Topics include human sexuality, reproduction, male-female conflicts and the social implications of sex. Prerequisite: PSY 201G.

PSY 325. Health Psychology 3 cr.
Life stress, surgical stress, coronary-prone behavior, biofeedback, pain control, psychosocial approaches to geriatrics and cancer, behavioral treatments for addictions, obesity, and interpersonal issues in health care. Prerequisite: PSY 201G.

PSY 330. Psychology and the Law 3 cr.
Discretionary practices in the judicial system including pretrial procedures, jury selection, jury decision making, eyewitness testimony, insanity, expert witnesses, and probation judgments. Prerequisite: PSY 201G.

PSY 340. Cognitive Psychology 3 cr.
Review of research and theory in the study of human cognitive processes. Topics include information processing, pattern recognition, memory, attention, language, problem solving, decision making, and reasoning. Prerequisite: PSY 201G.

PSY 350. Developmental Psychology: Conception through Childhood 3 cr.
Covers a wide range of topics concerning human psychological development from conception through childhood with special emphasis on current research and theory. Prerequisite: PSY 201G.

PSY 351. Developmental Psychology: Adolescence through Old Age 3 cr.
Covers a wide range of topics concerning human psychological development from adolescence through old age with special emphasis on current research and theory. Prerequisite: PSY 201G.

PSY 355. Developmental Research Methods 3 cr. (2+2P)
Basic skills of observation and experimentation applied to human development issues, emphasizing design, methodology, statistical analysis of data and research reporting; includes laboratory. Prerequisites: PSY 201G, PSY 350 or PSY 205, and STAT 251 or EST 311G.

PSY 358. Individual and Group Differences 3 cr.
The influence of biological and social factors (heredity, race, sex, age, environment, social class) upon psychological variables (intelligence, aptitude, ability, achievement, personality, interests, values). Prerequisite: PSY 201G.

(PSY 359). Psychology of Women.
Topics include women's development across the lifespan, women and work, women's physical and mental health and sexuality, the victimization of women, gender stereotypes, biological, social, and cultural influences on women's behavior. Students work in permanent teams of 4-6. Writing assignments and in-class discussions require students to integrate and critically examine the arguments made in a series of supplement readings. Students also participate in several student-led poster sessions on relevant topics.

PSY 361. Language Processing 3 cr.
An information processing analysis of speech perception, reading, and psycholinguistics. Prerequisite: PSY 201G or LING 200G.

PSY 362. Behavior Modification 3 cr.
Techniques for the modification and control of behavior and an examination of the areas in which these procedures have proven applicable. Prerequisite: PSY 201G or consent of instructor.

PSY 370. Special Topics 1-3 cr.
May be taken under different subtitles announced in the Schedule of Classes for unlimited credit. Prerequisite: PSY 201G.

PSY 372. Aviation Psychology 3 cr.
Human performance in aviation systems: cockpit (displays, controls), National Airspace System, Air Traffic Control, crew coordination, selection, training, simulation, reliability, and analytic strategies. Prerequisite: PSY 201G.

PSY 374. Psychopharmacology and Toxicology 3 cr.
How and why drugs and environmental chemicals affect behavior. Prerequisite: PSY 201G.

PSY 375. Introduction to Biopsychology 3 cr.
Neuroanatomy of brain and spinal cord. Neurophysiological processes concerned with learning, memory, and emotional behavior. Prerequisites: PSY 201G, BIOL 254.

PSY 376. Evolutionary Psychology 3 cr.
Behavior from a phylogenetic viewpoint. Compares theories and methods of European ethologists to American psychologists. The genetic determination of behavior and its importance for survival. Prerequisite: PSY 201G.

PSY 380. Perception 4 cr. (3+2P)
Primary emphasis on vision. Topics include measurement of sensations, development of visual-motor coordination, reading, speech perception, picture perception, illusions, 3-dimensional space, and causes and consequences of visual abnormalities. Prerequisite: PSY 201G.

PSY 383. Memory 3 cr.
Examines several facets of human memory from the information processing viewpoint, including encoding, storage, and retrieval and memory-aiding techniques. Prerequisite: PSY 201G.

400 Level Courses

PSY 401. Directed Readings 1-3 cr.
Prerequisites: PSY 201G and consent of instructor. May be repeated for a maximum of 6 credits.

PSY 402. Field Experience 1-3 cr.
Working with preschool, juvenile delinquent, handicapped, aged, convict, or mentally ill. Approximately five hours scheduled work per week per credit. May be repeated to 6 credits. Prerequisites: 6 psychology credits and consent of instructor.

PSY 417G. Intercultural Relations 3 cr.
Exploration of cultural and subcultural differences from a psychological perspective. Emphasis on modern cultural settings. Issues may include: ethnocentrism, stereotyping, intercultural communication, culture shock, cultural differences, nonverbal behavior, conflict management, and developing intercultural interaction skills. Prerequisite: PSY 201G.

PSY 430. Human-Computer Psychology 3 cr.
Theories, methodologies, and data from psychology applicable to interface design, with an emphasis on construction and application of conceptual psychological models. Prerequisite: PSY 201G.

PSY 440. History and Systems of Psychology 3 cr.
History of scientific method emphasizing outstanding methodological problems of contemporary science, especially psychology. Also covers recent history of psychology and development of schools of psychology. Prerequisites: PSY 201G and consent of instructor.

PSY 442. Thinking 3 cr.
A review of research and theory pertaining to human thinking and problem solving. Effective problem-solving methods and common obstacles to problem solving are analyzed. Prerequisite: PSY 201G and PSY 340.

PSY 445. Clinical Psychology 3 cr.
Basic theories in clinical psychology and techniques of psychotherapy. Prerequisite: PSY 302.

PSY 447. Human Factors Psychology 3 cr.
Concepts, methods and findings in the study and prediction of human performance. Emphasizes the human operator as a unified system which receives, stores, and processes information, enumerates and selects alternatives, and acts. Prerequisite: PSY 201G.

PSY 450. Senior Thesis 3 cr.
A laboratory or field research project conducted under faculty super vision. Requires written research proposal, conduct of research, data analysis, and final written report. Prerequisites: PSY 310, 6 additional psychology credits, consent of supervising faculty member, and junior or above standing.

PSY 455. Perceptual and Cognitive Development 3 cr.
Development across the lifespan in perception, memory, attention, reasoning, language and academic skills. Prerequisite: PSY 201G.

PSY 460. Testing and Measurement 3 cr.
Investigates theories and methods of measurement, scaling, and test construction. Topics may include reliability and validity of tests, and the use of tests for various purposes, including measurement of ability, personality assessment, and personnel selection. Prerequisite: PSY 201G.

PSY 470. Special Topics 1-3 cr.
Specific subjects to be announced in the Schedule of Classes.

PSY 471. Industrial and Organizational Psychology 3 cr.
Psychological issues and research in industrial job design and satisfaction, testing and performanceassessment, training, workplace and equipment and environmental design, organizationalbehavior, industrial safety, and performance monitoring. Prerequisite: PSY 201G.

PSY 472. Aviation Psychology 3 cr.
Human performance in aviation systems: cockpit (displays, controls), National Airspace System, Air Traffic Control, crew coordination, selection, training, simulation, reliability, and analytic strategies.

PSY 474. History and Systems of Psychology 3 cr.
History of scientific method emphasizing outstanding methodological problems of contemporary science, especially psychology. Also covers recent history of psychology and development of psychology. Prerequisite: consent of instructor.

PSY 480. Human-Computer Psychology 3 cr.
Theories, methodologies, and data from psychology applicable to interface design, with an emphasis on construction and application of conceptual psychological models.