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• An introduction to and survey of the major content areas of psychology. The topics include biological, cognitive, social, and environmental influences on behavior, as well as the variety of philosophical, theoretical, and empirical approaches adopted by the discipline.

Prerequisite: PSY 101

• An investigation of the ways the nervous system interfaces with behavior to determine what we perceive, feel, think, say, and do. The course will provide an overview of the major divisions of biopsychology - neuropsychology, psychopharmacology, psychophysiology, and physiological psychology - with an emphasis on their relationship to behavior.

• An introduction to the major theoretical approaches and empirical research related to human thought processes. Topics include perception, attention, memory, thinking, problem solving, and decision making.

• This course will provide the student with an understanding of how humans sense and perceive the surrounding environment.  Topics will include the visual, auditory, vestibular, olfactory, and somatosensory systems.

• An examination of behavior influenced by other people. The topics include interpersonal relationships, attitude development and change, group interaction, and the impact of culture and physical environments.

• An overview of the applications of psychological theory and research to the workplace. The topics covered include personnel selection and management, interpersonal aspects of employment, and factors that influence performance.

• A critical review of the major theoretical explanations of the development , structure and organization of personal attributes. The course also considers the empirical evidence which supports these theories.

• An introduction to the study of the psychological development of an individual.  The focus of this course is both theoretical and empirical, including coverage of growth in physical, social, cognitive, emotional, behavioral, and personality traits across the life span

• An overview of the concepts, methods and issues involved in clinical psychology, including assessment procedures and intervention strategies.

• (Same class as Women and Gender Studies WGS 270) Examination of the theory and context in which the social construct of "gender" develops, and the impact this has on our perceptions of ourselves, how others perceive us, and how we relate to others.  Emphasis will be placed on the diversity of such experiences

• A survey of a content area in psychology that is not available through other departmental course offerings. May be taken more than once, for a maximum of six credit hours.

• This course will provide the student with an understanding of basic behavioral statistics and the ability to report them in written and oral formats.  Topics will include descriptive statistics, basic research design, and inferential statistics. (4 credit hours)

• An introduction to the methodological skills necessary for conducting psychological research.  Topics include strategies and problems of basic and advance research design, drawing conclusions, writing research reports, and ethical issues.  Assignments include laboratory investigations and written reports. (4 credit hours). Student Research Page

• An examination of the acquisition, maintenance and stimulus control of behavior from both empirical and theoretical perspectives. Laboratory investigations and written reports of these investigations are required. (4 credit hours)

• An investigation of the relationship between biological and psychological processes. The biological bases of human and animal behavior will be explored and analyzed from the perspectives of psychophysiology, ethology, and behavior genetics. Laboratory investigations and written reports of experimental findings are required. (4 credit hours)

• Examination of the construction, evaluation, and use of psychological assessment devices. The topics include reliability, validity, measurement theory, and factors which influence the assessment process. Laboratory investigations and written reports of empirical findings are required. (4 credit hours)

• An examination of the applications of learning principles in solving human problems. Consideration will be given to legal, social, and ethical issues related to these applications. Experiential or practical exercises applying principles learned will also be required. (4 credit hours)

• An empirical study of some significant topic that is not available through other departmental laboratory course offerings. Laboratory investigations and written reports of empirical findings are required. May be taken more than once for a maximum of eight credit hours. (4 credit hours)

• An opportunity to obtain experience with the activities typically performed by a practicing psychologist. Students are expected to work for the agency involved no fewer than 3 hours per week for each credit hour awarded. Specific academic assignments will also be negotiated with the faculty member involved and the agency supervisor. Variable credit, 3-15 hours. Graded S/U.

• An attempt to place in a historical perspective the major concepts, philosophical assumptions, and includes a critical examination of the field.

• A study of the impact of psychological research and practice on the individual and society. The ethical, moral, and legal implications of psychology will be examined.

• The course seeks to describe and explain the causative and developmental factors that influence animal behavior at the level of the individual and social group. Investigations into the mechanisms underlying behavior will be stressed, primarily in non-human mammals.

• A critical examination of humanistic, phenomenological, existential, and value-based perspectives in psychology.

• A subspecialization of social psychology, this seminar focuses on human thought and behavior specifically in group situations. Topics may include group formation, structure, and development; cohesiveness; influence; power; group task performance; group decision-making; leadership; crowd behavior; and intra- and intergroup conflict.

• A survey of the major categories of behavior pathology, including a consideration of etiology, diagnosis, and treatment. (Does not satisfy the seminar requirement for a PSY major.)

• An advanced study of psychological theories that is not available through other departmental course offerings. May be taken more than once, for a maximum of six credit hours toward the psychology major.

• The development and completion of an acceptable proposal for an empirical project on a psychological topic. (2 credit hours)

• The implementation and completion of the project proposed in PSY 490a. (1 credit hour)

• Requirements include selection of a problem area, survey of relevant literature, research and report of these findings. Graded S/U.

• The student must make a formal application to the departmental chair.  The student must then submit an honors project prospectus that meets the approval of a committee's approval of the written and oral reports, 2 hours credit will be granted.
• The goals of Psy 496a are to stimulate critical thinking in the evaluation of theories and research within a well-defined research area of psychology; to critically analyze a representative sample of the scientific literature within a well-defined research area in Psychology; to formulate a specific psychological research question and design a scientific study to answer it; and to refine communication skills, both written and oral.  By the end of the semester, you will write a proposal for your research in APA style and give a brief oral presentation of your proposal

• The student must make a formal application to the departmental chair, and then if approved, register for the course during the senior year. The student must then submit an honors project prospectus that meets the approval of a committee's approval of the written and oral reports, 2 hours credit will be granted.
• The goals of Psy 496b are to carry out the research proposed in 496a; collect and appropriately analyze data that will answer the research question; to describe and interpret the resultsof the analyses; to discuss the findings as they relate to the research question and a relevant scientific literature; and to refine communication skills, both written and oral.  By the end of the semester students will write an APA style research manuscript and give a brief oral presentation of the project.