Course Descriptions
PY 101 General Psychology
General Psychology provides an introduction to the science of mental processes and behavior. The course will address a range of questions including: how is brain activity related to thought and behavior; what does it mean to learn and remember something; how do we see, hear, taste and smell; how do we influence one another's attitudes and actions; what are the primary factors that shape a child's mental and emotional development; how and why do we differ from one another; and what are the origins and most effective treatments of mental illness?
3 credits
PY 132 Introduction to Industrial/Organizational Psychology
This course introduces the field, contributions, and methods of Industrial/Organizational Psychology. The course covers the history of this branch of applied psychology and the psychologist's role, along with other scientist-practitioners concerned with the world of work, in developing and maintaining human work performances and work environments. Current concepts and methods in several specialties within I/O Psychology are explored: personnel, organizational behavior and development, counseling, labor relations, consumer, and engineering/ergonomic psychology. Course topics include: recruitment, selection, training and development, and appraisal of individuals and groups; development and change of organizational cultures; and relations between organizations and their stakeholders. Emphasis is given to the unique contributions of psychological science to understanding human work skills, interests, attitudes, motivations, satisfactions and stresses; work careers, management, leadership, communication, group processes, and organization.
3 credits
PY 138 Psychology and Law
The legal system, particularly our criminal justice system, from its code to its enforcement, is based on implicit psychological assumptions about human behavior and how it should be controlled. This course examines those assumptions in light of current pyscholegal theory and research. It covers the treatment of traditional psychiatric populations (e.g., the mentally ill, mentally retarded, homeless) by the justice system in contrast to the handling of normal people; clinical issues such as the insanity defense, predicting dangerousness, the validity of psychiatric examinations and lie detectors; jury selection, eye-witness testimony, decision-making, sentencing and parole.
3 credits
PY 148 Social Psychology of Non-Majors
This course surveys the major areas of concern in social psychology. The emphasis is on current issues and research in the fields of social influence and conformity, human aggression, prejudice, interpersonal attraction, propaganda, and persuasion.
3 credits
PY 151 Abnormal Psychology for Non-Majors
This course introduces the student to the field of abnormal behavior. The classic behavior patterns in the classification system are presented and the possible causes and remediation of such are discussed. (Students who have taken PY 251 may not take this course.)
3 credits
PY 162 Psychology of Death and Dying
Recent biomedical research, psychological theory, and clinical experience provide the foundation for this life-cycle study of death, dying, and bereavement. Some selected topics include still-birth and perinatal death, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, child, adolescent, and adult cancer, suicide, and other catastrophic life-threatening events (myocardial infarction, thermal injuries, multiple trauma accidents). In addition, considerable attention is devoted to a survey of grief and bereavement in childhood and adulthood, with particular focus on widowhood. Strategies for providing care for the dying are discussed, including a treatment of Hospice. Attitudes of health care professionals toward death and dying persons are examined. Extensive use is made of case studies, dramatic and documentary films, role play, and small group discussion. The course is particularly beneficial to students preparing for careers in clinical psychology, medicine, nursing, psychiatric social work, and other allied health professions, but it may be helpful to anyone interested in developing informed attitudes about these important human crises.
3 credits
PY 163 Developmental Psychology for Non-Majors
A development psychology approach to the growth of the individual from birth to old age, tracing motor, perceptual, language, cognitive, and emotional growth. The emphasis will be on normal development. (Students who have taken PY 263 may not take this course.)
3 credits
PY 186 Group Dynamics
This course is designed to give the student a basic knowledge of the most important theories and research on groups. There is an attempt to combine sociological and psychological perspectives in order to give a more integrated picture of the way groups function. It will also be possible for students to make use of experiential as well as classroom methods of learning.
3 credits
PY 187 Applications of Industrial/Organizational Psychology
This course has two objectives: 1) reviewing selected issues in the characteristics and dynamics of contemporary organizations, and 2) examining, in the context of such issues, contemporary applications and emerging needs for approaches, constructs, research, and methods in Industrial/Organizational Psychology. The course is open to majors and minors in Psychology and in other disciplines related to the study of organizations in the world of work. The roles and contributions of I/O Psychology have been examined in the context of issues and changes in: workforce demographics, diversity, and motivations; regulatory and litigating environments; organizational ethics; organizational values and cultures; management and leadership; globalization; international alliances and competition; environmentalism and consumerism; and technological change.
3 credits
PY/BI 203 Statistics for the Life Sciences
This is an introductory course in statistical methodology and analysis. It includes descriptive statistics, such as frequency, distributions, central tendency, variability, and correlation, as well as an introduction to probability, sampling theory, and tests of significance, including the t-test, chi squared, ANOVA and non-parametric statistics. This course is open to majors in the behavioral, biological, and physical sciences. The laboratory is designed to complement the course by giving students supervised computation and problem-solving exercises with calculator and computer.
4 credits
PY 209 Research Methods in Psychology
Building on the material learned in Statistics (PY 203), this course teaches students to read, evaluate, design, conduct and report psychological research. Critical thinking and effective oral and written communication are emphasized as students work through several different research projects. (Prerequisites: PY 101, 203.)
4 credits
PY 248 Social Psychology for Majors
This course surveys the major areas of concern in social psychology. The emphasis is on current issues and research in the fields of social influence and conformity, human aggression, prejudice, interpersonal attraction, propaganda, and persuasion. Prerequisite: PY 101. Psychology majors. (Students who have taken PY 148 may not take this course.)
3 credits
PY 250 Sensation and Perception
How do we see, hear, touch, taste, smell? What can go wrong with our eyes? Ears? What about individual differences? This course deals with basic sensory mechanisms, including both peripheral and central representations of stimuli, and with perceptual processing, including color, depth, patterns, motion and event perception. Illusions and aftereffects will be studied for the information they yield about normal perceptual processing. Prerequisite: PY 101.
3 credits
PY 251 Abnormal Psychology for Majors
The focus of this advanced course in abnormal behavior is an in-depth analysis of current research and theories of psychopathology. Building upon the student's knowledge of developmental psychology, the course examines both the biological and psychological antecedents of abnormal behavior. Oral and written analysis is emphasized. Prerequisites: PY 101, PY 263. Psychology majors.
3 credits
PY 261 Biological Basis of Behavior
Understanding the brain is one of the last and most challenging frontiers of science. Whatever we see, hear, know, think or feel is determined by the functioning of our brains. Starting with the molecular and cellular machinery of neurons and the anatomy of the nervous system, the course proceeds through the neural basis of sensation, perception, memory, emotion, language, sexual behavior, drug addition, depression, schizophrenia, etc. Neuroscience has made enormous strides in the last several decades. This progress shows every sign of continuing at an ever increasing rate, and this course provides the foundation upon which a thorough understanding of brain-behavior relationships can be built.
3 credits
PY 263 Developmental Psychology for Majors
Utilizing a research-oriented approach, this course focuses on the principal themes, processes and products of human development from conception through adolescence. Field experience in local Head Start programs is available. (Prerequisite: PY 101).
3 credits
PY 265 Conditioning and Learning
Psychology is defined as the scientific study of behavior and mental activity. The study of Conditioning and Learning is about how behavior and mental activity are formed and changed. This course begins with historical and philosophical roots of the study of learning, surveys the major scientific learning theories from Pavlov to Skinner, and concludes with consideration of the contemporary scene in theory and research. Throughout the course, there is a special emphasis on the application of learning principles to education, child rearing, psychotherapy and everyday life. Demonstrations, simulations and brief experiments form part of the learning experience. (Prerequisite: PY 101.)
3 credits
PY 271 Psychobiology Laboratory
A technique-oriented course designed to provide training in the basic rudiments of small animal brain surgery. These include aspirated lesions, stereotaxic procedures, behavioral testing, perfusion, and histological techniques. A written mini-neurobehavioral report is the main requirement.
1 or 4 credits
PY 284 Theories of Personality
The content of the course will be an advanced presentation, analysis, and evaluation of theories of personality from Freud through Skinner. The purpose of such a course is not only one of theoretical enrichment and history, but is intended to broaden the student's understanding of the normal human personality in terms of theoretical structure, function, and dynamics. (Pre-requisites: PY 251, PY 263.)
3 credits
PY 285 Cognitive Psychology
How can we study the mind? This course deals with attention, memory, thought, imagery, language, problem-solving, and decision-making. Individual and cultural differences are considered. Students complete a service-learning component and an integrative Final Project. (Prerequisite: PY 101.)
3 credits
PY 290 Drugs and Behavior
A survey course discussing the psychopharmacological properties of the more significant drugs used for research and by society in general. These include by class, alcohol and nicotine, the depressants and stimulants, the tranquilizers, the opium derivatives, and the hallucinogenic compounds. Particular emphasis will be placed on the drugs' site of action in CNS as well as behavioral alteration in the controlled and noncontrolled environment.
3 credits
PY 294-295 Internship in Applied Psychology
The intern program provides the senior psychology student with an opportunity to gain practical, career-related experience in a variety of supervised field settings. Student interns are offered a wide selection of placements from which to choose, including traditional psychology-related programs: mental health, social service, school psychology, early child and special education, probation, and hospital administration. Interns are also placed in related disciplines: human factors engineering, human resource development, advertising, and public relations. In each internship emphasis is placed on the integration of learning, both cognitive and experiential. Interns may register for one or two semesters, depending on the availability of appropriate placement sites and qualified supervisors. An intern is expected to spend a minimum of 10 hours per week in on-site work and to complete the required academic component specified by the faculty coordinator. Prerequisite: Completed application form, acceptance by the field placement supervisor, and approval by the Psychology Department's internship program director.
3 credits
PY 296-297 Internship in the Teaching of Psychology
This practicum experience, open to advanced psychology majors, affords the student an opportunity to explore the profession of the teaching of psychology. Under the direct supervision of the professional staff of the Department, students are introduced to the issues of curriculum development, methods of classroom instruction, selection and use of media resources, test construction, and strategies for the academic and practical motivation of students. Interns have the opportunity to observe participating faculty engaged in the profession of teaching, to share in some of the instructional activities, and to meet with other interns in a seminar format to process the learning experiences. Prerequisites: Permission of instructor.
3 credits
PY 300 Modern Psychology: History and Current Issues
This seminar is required for senior psychology majors. Its goals are: to introduce students to the major historical perspectives in psychology; to encourage critical thinking and the generation of creative ideas; and to help students engage in a thoughtful questioning of the theory and knowledge base that constitutes the science of psychology.
3 credits
PY 363 Psychosocial Problems of Childhood and Adolescence
This course examines the problems and deviations in development in childhood and adolescence that are commonly a cause of concern in the child's social environment of family, peers, school and community. Theories, research, remediation and prevention of children's psychosocial problems will be examined. The emphasis is on evaluating problems in psychosocial functioning within an ecological context and on utilizing knowledge from developmental theory and research to minimize or prevent their occurrence. Open to juniors and seniors. (Prerequisites: PY 163 or PY 263 and permission of instructor.)
3 credits
PY 365 Human Factors Engineering
Human Factors Engineering (Ergonomics) is an interdisciplinary field that attempts to optimize the relationship between technology and humans. Technology includes virtually any aspect of today's highly mechanized and computerized environments. Thus, while human factors specialists (Ergonomists) may frequently be found devising methods to maximize efficiency in human-machine systems, they have an equally important task in designing safe and efficient workplaces, homes, offices, or any other areas where humans must live and work. This requires integration of the many aspects of psychological science, especially perception, learning, motivation, cognition, human performance, and the like.
3 credits
PY 395 Seminar on Aging
Students explore multiple aspects of aging and aging people in a seminar that blends reading with community experience and reflection. The psychological and physiological causes and consequences of aging are discussed from a variety of perspectives. Students explore an aspect of aging and present it to the seminar as an independent final project. (Prerequisite: PY 101.)
3 credits
PY 396 Special Topics in Psychology
The seminar is limited to 10 students. An in-depth analysis of one or more selected topics designed to integrate diversity of theories, perspectives, and courses. Students will present a number of situational papers reflecting critical evaluation of pros and cons on designated topics. Discussion material will originate from the current and available literature. Psychology majors; open to juniors and seniors.
3 credits
PY 397 Human Neuropsychology
Brain damage provides us with a unique "window on the mind." Accordingly, the emphasis throughout this course will be on clinical and experimental findings in human subjects with selective and differentiable types of brain damage. Human neuropsychology combines and incorporates important areas of cognition, perception, memory, linguistics, and clinical psychology into a comprehensive and psychologically based approach to brain functioning. In addition, it is a profoundly practical and applied discipline, based upon real people with real psychological problems. Prerequisites: PY 101 or General Biology.
3 credits
PY 398 Independent Research
This course provides a limited number of upper division students (usually seniors) the opportunity to participate in all aspects of an advanced research project. Students wishing to register for this course must first obtain the consent of the professor with whom they will work. Frequently a research proposal will be required prior to acceptance into this course, and early planning is essential.
4 credits
PY 399 Theories in Psychotherapy
This course will explore similarities and differences across a wide range of psychotherapeutic endeavors by means of lectures, films, and tapes. Traditional psychoanalytic techniques and more recent innovations in behavior therapy, existential therapy, transactional analysis, and Gestalt therapy will be covered. Prerequisites: PY 251, 263.
3 credits
ID 391 Neuroscience: Lecture and Laboratory
This course will introduce students to important principles of nervous system structure and function. The basics of neuroanatomy will include a description of the human brain and spinal cord with a focus on the different neural structures evolving from the developing nervous system; viz., the medulla, pons, cerebellum, the mesencephalon, the diencephalon, the basal ganglia, the limbic system and the cerebral cortex. The basics of neurophysiology will include the cell membrane with its voltage-gated ion channels, graded potentials, action potentials, the mechanisms of transmitter release and postsynaptic activation. The overall aim is to provide students with a quantitative understanding of communication between nerve cells. A one-credit lab will be offered and will focus on the gross anatomy of the human brain and its internal structure.
4 credits |
