PY101 General Psychology (4 hours)
A course 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 hour)
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.
PY/EC201 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: Minimum Sophomore status and one of the following: Math ACT score of 18, minimum 'C' grade in High School Algebra I, or AS099, passing grade in college-level math course. Permission of 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)
A course 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. Prerequisite: 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. Prerequisite: PY101.
PY226 The Professional Psychologist (2 hours)
This course explores professions in psychology in applied, academic and nonacademic research setting. In addition, emphasis is placed on communication within the field, particularly writing in the American Psychological Association style. Additional topics include preparation for graduate school or employment after graduation. Prerequisites: PY101, PY125, minimum Sophomore status, major declared in Psychology, and passing grade in EN101 or equivalent college composition course, or permission of the instructor.
PY300 Experimental Psychology (4 hours)
This course offers the experience of conducting research in psychology. In text and journal article readings, topics of study include research designs, statistical techniques, and ethical issues. Students perform a literature review, develop and conduct an experiment, analyze the findings, and produce a professional research report. Prerequisites: PY101, PY201, PY226 and Junior/Senior status, or permission of the instructor.
PY315 Human Sexuality (3 hours)
This course offering 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. Prerequisite: PY101.
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. Prerequisite: PY220.
PY325* Behavior Modification (3 hours)
This course which 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 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 and PY201.
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 and PY220.
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 matter, methods, and goals. Prerequisite: PY101, PY226, and Junior/Senior status, or permission of the instructor.
PY/ED355 Educational Psychology (3 hours)
A course designed to help the student apply psychology to teaching. Major units of the course include learning, assessment, evaluation, and classroom management. The course attempts to provide the student with as many options as possible for dealing with typical classroom concerns. Prerequisites: PY101 and PY205, 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, PY226, 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 behavior, for example, prejudice, phobias, smoking relapse, violence, and gambling. Lab experiences illustrate major principles of learning. Prerequisite: PY101, PY300, 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: PY300 and Junior/Senior status, or permission of the instructor.
