Contents
Additional Information
James A. Skelton, Associate Professor of Psychology Gregory J. Smith, Associate Professor of Psychology Walter Chromiak, Associate Professor of Psychology, Associate Provost of the CollegeTeresa A. Barber, Associate Professor of PsychologyMarie Helweg-Larsen, Associate Professor of Psychology, Chair Anthony S. Rauhut, Assistant Professor of Psychology Richard L. Abrams, Assistant Professor of Psychology Margaret I. Davis, Assistant Professor of PsychologyMegan Yost, Assistant Professor of PsychologySuman Ambwani, Instructor in PsychologyBarry X. Kuhle, Visiting Assistant Professor of PsychologyDavis C. Tracy, Director of Counseling Services, Part-time Assistant Professor of PsychologyLinda M. Chalk, Assistant Director of Counseling, Part-time Assistant Professor of PsychologyEleven courses:
1.
Four 100-level coursesOne course from each group and one elective from any group (180 courses are designated by the chair as an elective or as belonging in Group 1, 2 or 3. Group 1: 110, 125, 130. Group 2: 155, 165, 175. Group 3: 135, 140, 145, 150.
2. 201 and 2023. Two 300-level coursesOne 300-level course must be taken from 310 to 375; the other may be a 380.
4. Two 400-level courses5. One Additional Advanced Psychology CourseAn additional 300-level course (from 310 to 375), OR
An additional 400-level course (from 410 to 475; must have the matching 100-level course), OR
500 independent study in psychology, OR
550 independent research in psychology
Students are eligible to declare the psychology major after successful completion of 201.
All courses above the 100-level must be taken in the department. Exceptions to this rule may be granted to students who study at approved overseas programs and/or who petition the department chair.
Six courses, including 201 and 202 and a course from the 300-level group of research methods classes. Normally, four of the six courses (including the 201, 202 sequence and the 300-level course) must be completed in the department.
First Year: at least one 100-level courses; 201(if possible)
Second Year: at least two 100-level courses; 201 and 202
Third Year: at least one 100-level and 300-level course; 400-level seminar (if appropriate); semester abroad
Fourth Year: complete all remaining requirements
For information, see the Director of Teacher Education, or visit the
Education Department web site.
Exceptional students may participate in traditional internships, independent study, and independent research projects (see Bulletin section entitled
Special Approaches to Study).
Honors are granted to graduating seniors who demonstrate excellence in developing and conducting empirical research. Candidates for honors must earn a GPA of at least 3.5 in courses taken in Psychology and 3.25 in all other courses taken at the college by the beginning of the Senior year. They must earn at least one credit for independent study and/or independent research during each semester of the Senior year, under the supervision of an Honors Committee, and their work must be endorsed for honors on behalf of the department and presented publicly no later than the week of final exams. Students interested in honors should consult the document "Honors in the Psychology Major," which is available from the department and at the
department's web site.
Students who are interested in study abroad are urged to plan their programs carefully and begin the major early. An advising session is offered each semester that addresses this topic.
110 Principles of Behavior In this introductory course, we examine how fundamental principles, derived from the field of animal learning, govern simple and complex human behavior. Topics such as classical and operant conditioning, stimulus control, extinction and avoidance are discussed.
125 Brain and Behavior This course will introduce the structure and function of the brain as it influences human behavior. The level of study will be from a molar viewpoint, and findings from such fields as neuroanatomy, neurophysiology, and endocrinology will be considered in their relation to a number of behavioral processes. In the laboratory, students will engage in hand-on activities to explore brain anatomy, behavioral analysis and brain-behavior relationships.
Three hours classroom and three hours laboratory a week.130 Perception, Memory, and Thought This introduction to cognitive psychology will cover such topics as: How do you recognize your grandmother? Can you do more than one thing at a time? Why can't you remember the names of people you just met? More formally, we will examine the processes of perception, attention, representation, and retrieval in children, adults, and machines.
135 Psychology of Women and Gender Using a feminist social psychological framework, we will examine theory and research related to the psychology of women and the psychology of gender. We will analyze gender as a system that influences men's and women's lives, and consider the ongoing significance of gender role socialization across the lifespan. Throughout the semester, we will consider the social and political implications of putting women at the center of psychological analysis. In addition, we will develop tools to critically analyze traditional psychological theory and research to expose sexist bias, and we will examine alternative research methodologies that provide ways to study the richness of women's lives in context.
This course is cross-listed as WOST 135.140 Social Psychology In this introduction to psychological aspects of human social behavior, we discuss such topics as the relationship between attitudes and behavior, how people judge one another, interpersonal and group influence processes, and relations between individuals and groups, with strong emphasis on real-world applications. We also introduce scientific methods and formal theories for studying social behavior.
145 Psychology of Human Sexuality This course is a study of human sexuality emphasizing psychological aspects. We will cover sexual development from childhood to adulthood, sexual orientations, biological influences, sexual attitudes and behavior, gender, sex therapy, sexual coercion and abuse, sexually transmitted diseases and sexual health, and the development of sexual relationships. The study of human sexuality is inherently interdisciplinary in nature (drawing from such varied disciplines as sociology, women's studies, biology, anthropology, history, and others). Although we will cover some material from these disciplines, we will take an explicitly social psychological perspective, focusing on individual, personal, and social aspects of sexual behaviors, attitudes, and beliefs.
150 Introduction to Cross-Cultural Psychology This course takes the position that human behavior can best be understood only in the cultural context in which it occurs. Discussions focus on the impact of culture on human behavior including the nature of culture; political and religious elements of culture; perceptions, stereotypes and the realities of cultural differences; how nationalism and animosity between cultures grow; and sources of prejudice and cultural conflict, and how they may be reduced. Suitable for all students, regardless of prior background in psychology.
155 Child Development This introduction to developmental psychology will cover such topics as: What are the processes of prenatal development and birth? How does an infant learn about the world around him or her? How do children develop as social beings? And, how do the cognitive abilities of thought, language, and memory develop?
165 Psychopathology An introduction to various psychological disorders and techniques of diagnosis and treatment. Relevant for students who anticipate careers in medicine, law, and the social or psychological services.
180 Topics in Psychology Students gain an appreciation of psychological principles by reading about and discussing a topic of interest. Course topics range from contemporary issues and historic controversies to broad themes. Recent topics courses have included Health Psychology, Unconscious Processes, and Molecules and Mental Illness.
185 Survey of Psychology A survey of areas of contemporary psychological study to acquaint students with viewpoints, findings, and techniques of investigation of the discipline.
201 Design of Psychological Research Readings and laboratory exercises introduce students to bibliographic resources in psychology, rules of valid scientific inference, and techniques for conducting psychology experiments.
Three hours classroom plus two hours laboratory a week. Prerequisite: any 100-level course. NOTE: Completion of both 201 and 202 fulfills the WR requirement.202 Analysis of Psychological Data In this course, one of the core requirements for the major, our focus is how to make sense of numerical information. Students learn to describe and analyze data.
Three hours classroom plus two hours laboratory a week. Prerequisite: 201. NOTE: Completion of both 201 and 202 fulfills the WR requirement.310 Research Methods in Animal Learning Researchers in the field of animal learning have uncovered fundamental principles that govern the behavior of all organisms, including humans. This course examines the research methods that have assisted researchers in discovering such principles. Students conduct original experiments with animals and prepare written reports of their findings.
Three hours classroom plus three hours laboratory a week. Prerequisites: 110, 201, 202 OR 125 and BIOL 124.325 Research Methods in Biological Psychology A comprehensive coverage of the research methods employed in the field of biopsychology. Students conduct research on the relationship between the nervous system and/or the endocrine system and human behavior.
Three hours classroom plus three hours laboratory a week. Prerequisites: either 125, 201, 202 OR 125 and BIOL 124.330 Research Methods in Cognitive Psychology Students devise, conduct, analyze and prepare written reports of experiments on topics such as autobiographical memory, time management, techniques for improving learning, and decision-making.
Three hours classroom plus three hours laboratory a week. Prerequisites: either 130, 201, 202 OR 125 and BIOL 124.335 Research Metholds in Gender and Sexuality This course addresses the methodological principles underlying empirical psychological research on gender and sexuality. We will specifically consider qualitative methods as they are used within psychology. Because the study of gender in particular has been strongly guided by feminist theory, this course will focus on feminist epistemologies as related to social psychological research. Class and lab time will be spent developing the following skills: critical reading and analysis of published research, design of empirical research, data collection, and qualitative data analysis. This course will culminate in the design and implementation of an original research project in the area of psychology of gender or human sexuality.
Prerequisites: 201 and 202, and either 135 or 145, or permission of the instructor.340 Research Methods in Social Psychology We conduct empirical studies in order to become familiar with techniques for measuring attitudes and social behavior in the field and the lab, for analyzing and evaluating data, and for reporting findings and conclusions. Students gain direct experience in the process of conducting research studies by working as experimenters and data analysts.
Three hours classroom plus three hours laboratory a week. Prerequisites: 140, 201 and 202.350 Research Methods in Cross-Cultural Psychology Each culture is unique in its understanding and beliefs regarding human nature. These differences can lead to varied perceptions of self, in-group and out-group members, time, politics, social distance and social expectations. This course is designed to support student investigation into these cultural and subcultural differences as students generate, conduct, analyze and prepare written reports of observational, survey, correlational or experimental study designs on various topics in cross-cultural psychology, stereotypes and intercultural conflict.
Three hours lecture and three hours lab per week. Prerequisite: 150, 201 and 202. 355 Research Methods in Child Development An advanced presentation of the research methods and statistical techniques used by developmental psychologists including cross-sectional, longitudinal, and sequential designs. Students conduct laboratory and field-based research and develop original research proposals in the area of child development.
Three hours classroom plus three hours laboratory a week. Prerequisites: 155, 201 and 202. 365 Research Methods in Clinical Psychology This course will introduce various strategies used in empirical research of clinical phenomena. Practice in behavioral observation systems, structured clinical interviews, and assessment techniques will be gained as students conduct research and write research reports in the area of clinical psychology.
Three hours classroom plus three hours laboratory a week. Prerequisites: 165, 201 and 202.380 Research Methods in Psychology: Special Topics Students conduct empirical research in an area of psychological science, analyze data, and report findings and conclusions.
Three hours classroom plus three hours lab per week. Prerequisite: 202. NOTE: The prerequisites for Neuroscience majors for PSYC 380 (Research Methods in Drugs & Behavior) are PSYCH 125 and BIOL 124.410 Seminar in Learning Theory Elementary principles govern simple and complex human behavior. This seminar examines how such principles help us understand both typical, everyday behaviors (e.g., eating) and atypical or maladaptive behaviors (e.g., drug abuse). Formal theories of learning also are discussed.
Prerequisites: 201 and 202. 425 Seminar in Biological Psychology An advanced seminar into the relationship between physiological systems and behavior. This course will include coverage of mammalian brain organization and function in terms of transmitter systems which are correlated with the interactions between anatomy, physiology, and behavior.
Prerequisites: 201 and 202. 430 Seminar in Cognitive Psychology Students will present and discuss one or more topics in human cognition using primary sources. Possible topics include, but are not limited to, intelligence and creativity, the development of physical and mental skills, changes in learning and memory as we age, and thought in humans and machines. Students will write several essays that explain and evaluate the concepts that are discussed.
Prerequisites: 201 and 202. 435 Gender and Sexual Identities In this advanced discussion seminar, we will focus in depth on special topics in the field of psychology of gender and sexuality, particularly highlighting personal and social identities. We will discuss such topics as the development of heterosexual, gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and queer identities; gender conformity and socialization in childhood; the coming out process; the relationship between gender and sexual orientation; social pressures and compulsory heterosexuality; heterosexism, homophobia, and the stigma and prejudice surrounding sexual minority identity; gender nonconformity and transgender identity; and special issues facing GLBTQ individuals in intimate relationships. We will also discuss social and political activism, with an emphasis on collective action stemming from group identification.
The course material will include some sexually explicit material; please carefully consider your degree of comfort in discussing this type of material before enrolling in the course. Class participation will significantly contribute to your final grade. Prerequisites: 202 or WOST 250, or permission of the instructor. This course is cross-listed as WOST 305. 440 Seminar in Social Psychology In this seminar, we read and discuss primary sources in theoretical or applied social psychology. Previous seminars have looked at applications of social psychology principles in law, medicine, mental health, consumer behavior, conservation, and education, and theories of social construal, social influence, and social systems. Students are responsible for leading class sessions and contributing to a group document, such as an annotated bibliography or literature review.
Prerequisites: 201 and 202. 450 Intergroup Relations and Cultural Psychology Investigates psychological perspectives related to the impact of culture in determining individual and social behavior, cross-cultural differences and similarities in human behavior, and the psychological sources of group conflict. Topics may include the impact of stereotypes on perceivers and targets, the psychological rationale for prejudice and discrimination, the benefits and difficulties of gender, racial, and cultural diversity, methods for prejudice and discrimination reduction, and an examination of human behavior beyond the traditional Euro-American psychological perspective.
Prerequisites: 201 and 202. 455 Seminar in Developmental Psychopathology Applying a developmental perspective in which clinical disorders are viewed as either quantitative deviations from normal development or qualitatively distinct disorders this course will study the history, methods, procedures, empirical facts, and theories that influence the conceptualization of and treatment of clinical disorders in children.
Prerequisites: 201 and 202. 465 Seminar in Clinical Psychology Students read and discuss primary sources in theoretical and applied clinical psychology to gain a deeper understanding of the processes of assessment and treatment used with various psychopathological conditions.
Prerequisites: 201 and 202. 480 Advanced Topics in Psychology Advanced seminar in which students become actively engaged in reading about, reviewing, and discussing selected topics of importance in the discipline. Recent advanced topics courses have included The Psychology of Law and Medicine, Psychopharmacology, The Psychology of Groups, and Psychology of Identification.
Prerequisites: 202 or permission of the instructor.
