PSY - Psychology

Introduces basic elements in understanding human behavior. Emphasis on basic concepts and terminology of psychology including the biological basis of behavior, sensation, perception, history of psychology, growth and development, motivation, learning, measurement and scientific methodology, emotion, personality, abnormal behavior, and psychotherapy.

Examines psychosocial and phenomenological antecedents of religious experience. Looks at the nature of religious experience and behavioral consequences of religion from a position of critical sympathy rather than deconstruction. Emphasizes modern social science perspective and method in psychological theory. Readings taken from works of Weber, Durkeheim, Jung, Douglas, Eliade, and James, among others.

Study of child's developmental process from the prenatal stage to adulthood: physical, psychological and social changes a child goes through in order to adjust to his/her environment. Emphasis on areas of abuse and neglect and how they foster mental illness. Look at methods of changing behavior of children with problems.

Emphasizes modern psychoanalytic, behaviorist and humanistic theories of personality development. Prerequisite: PSY 12053 Principles of Psychology.

Introduces concepts and theoretical positions underlying adolescent personality traits, stages of growth development, learning development, and cultural, family and peer relationships. Develops psychological perspectives in adolescent behaviors, motives and values.

Study of biological, psychological and sociocultural influences contributing to abnormal behavior patterns. Includes history, identification, diagnosis, and treatment of various psychopathological disorders.

Assists in developing understanding of stages of the development of the child and principle of research techniques to help develop socially, culturally, physically, emotionally, educationally, and mentally.

Introduces foundations of substance abuse and addiction studies including patterns of use, abuse and dependence, behavioral and biological indications of withdrawal syndromes, special populations, and techniques for prevention.

Study of the function of marriage and family in contemporary American society, including the why of intimate relationships, couple/parent/child adjustment, three generational relationships, and the process of break-up and remarriage. CROSS LISTED WITH HUS 30654

Study of contemporary issues of adulthood using psychological and sociological perspectives. Topics include identity crisis, male/female relationships, processes of creativity, and the implications of adult development for behavior at work and home.

Confronts the subject of death from new and alternative perspectives. Explores attitudes of death and the dying process, rituals, theories, and the social organization of death in many societies to gain knowledge in understanding feelings and attitudes toward death. CROSS LISTED WITH HUS 30953. Prerequisite: PSY 12053 Principles of Psychology or SOC 10453 Introduction to Sociology.

Focuses on psychological issues important for developing a healthy self-identity related to being sexual and to interaction with others. Topics include meaning of intimacy, making choices about sexual behavior and enhancement of sexual relationships.

Provides information about the sub-field of psychology that focuses on environmental context of human behavior. Explores community psychology's concern with neighborhoods, communities and organizations as they influence quality of life for individuals who live and work within them.

This course explores the field of environmental psychology as well as the historical, cultural, social, political, economical, and ethical aspects of ecological studies. Topics include aggression, crime, crowding, stress reduction, a sense of place, perception, learning, and well being.

Examines physical basis of human behavior and experience, how the brain and nervous system work, information flow, and processing at higher levels of organization. Addresses issues of intelligence, consciousness, addictions, and deviant behavior from a neurophysiological standpoint.

Provides critical overview of issues relevant to the psychology of women. Topics include gender differences, socialization processes, relationships, stereotypes, sexuality, androgyny, women and the world of work, women and therapy, violence, and empowerment. Diversity issues (ethnicity/race, SES, sexual orientation, etc.) are integrated throughout the course material. Prerequisites: PSY 12053 Principles of Psychology, SOC 10453 Introduction to Sociology.

Introduces essential features of major learning theories. Emphasis on learning process, historical perspective of learning theory and examining relationships that exist between learning theory and educational practices.

Explores the physiological and psychological components of stress and stress reduction techniques such as meditation and psych-visualization.

Develops both knowledge and skills in facilitating group experiences used in the human services and helping professions.  Particular emphasis on group processes for the psycho-emotional-social development of group participants.  Crosslisted with HUS 32000.

Covers child's physical, psychological and social development from the prenatal stage through adolescence. Topics include abuse, neglect and dysfunction.

Examines social influences on human behavior including attitude formation and change, influence and persuasion, social attraction, theories of aggression, conformity, cultural impact, leadership styles, power and status, social roles, and environmental influences. Prerequisites: PSY 12053 Principles of Psychology.

Reviews basic research methods focusing on conceptual basis for experimentation. Includes basic design components such as control, sampling, data collection, and analysis. CROSS LISTED WITH HUS 32253 Prerequisites: PSY 12053 Principles of Psychology or SOC 10453 Introduction to Sociology and MAT 32044 Statistics.

Examines theory and research on issues of human growth and development.

Offers understanding of groups and group process. Emphasis on topics such as group discussion, group decision-making, participation in groups, power and authority, varieties of communication, preparing for meetings, and evaluating effectiveness of meetings.

Helps students acquire knowledge and develop analytic skills to evaluate and do research. Covers purpose and process of science and research, different kinds of research, fundamental techniques of data analysis, measures instruments and tasks, problems in research design, and use of reference materials.

An experiential course that uses the art of mask making to aid in the development of personal growth.

Examines theory and practice of art in therapy and art as therapy.

Explores three different suicide types, their underlying pathologies and intervention strategies.

Introduces systems theory to individuals who work with families and systems in a variety of contexts including schools, social agencies, hospitals, churches, and businesses. Explores rules and patterns of families that enable people working with systems to more effectively perceive the nature of problems and intervene with meaningful solutions.

Explores traditional Christian counseling approaches to mental health disorders.

Explores connections between the field of psychology and dimensions of spirituality and psychological healing.

Introduces theoretical concepts of Gestalt Psychotherapy through readings and questioning exercises.

Surveys types of tests and other measurement tools. Includes construction, application and interpretation with various populations.

Examines the internalization process of shame, its effects and how to begin the journey of uncovering and healing it primarily through development of Affect Theory.

Emphasizes developmental changes in adulthood and aging. Topics include biological, social, and psychological influences related to adult roles, lifestyles and problems in aging.

Provides the student an understanding of the reasons for aggression and destruction from domestic abuse to world-wide terrorism. Explores personal, domestic, workplace, and community violence and treatment strategies. The student will become familiar with the major theories of violent behavior and explore treatment strategies aimed at diminishing violent behavior.

Study and assessment of the treatment of interpersonal violence and aggression; the impact of violence in contemporary culture; coping with violence in families, schools and in the community.

An introduction to an abusive personality configuration. Current research integrated with the literature on the psychiatric and sociobiological factors that lead to the development of the abusive personality.

Introduction to descriptive and inferential statistical techniques used in the social sciences. Topics include data collection procedures, measures of dispersion, correlation designs, probability, statistical inference, and analysis of variance. Crosslisted with HUS 36000 and SOC 36000.

Introduces family systems theory with emphasis on traits of dysfunctional relationships.

Provides overview of feminist psychology with attention to theoretical position and methodological concerns. Analyzes the historical development and trends in feminist psychology and impacts on the general field. Crosslisted with WMS 40354.

Describes aging process including sociological, psychological and biological aspects of aging. Examines basic principles of aging and implications of current demographic trends. CROSS LISTED WITH SOC 40454.

Major topics include marriage, divorce, cohabitation, and being single. Discuss research methods for collecting and analyzing data, issues of interpersonal attraction, love and romance, and sexuality, and elements of relationships including selfishness, communication, power, jealousy, conflict, loneliness, and friendship. Therapeutic interventions presented.

Introduces major systems and theories of counseling and psychotherapy including dynamics that contribute to an effective therapeutic approach. Use of didactic and experiential teaching methods. CROSS LISTED WITH HUS 40552

Provides understanding and perspectives of natural family systems theory through field research as an approved issue of particular interest.

Demonstration of learning outcomes from previous field research in a final written project or oral or written exam. Prerequisite: PSY 40554 Advanced Family Systems Seminar I.

Reviews historical antecedents of contemporary psychology, critical analysis of selected psychological theories and discussion of application of these theories in contemporary psychology. Prerequisites: PSY 12053 Principles of Psychology.

Practical experience in major area of study. Arranged individually and taken after completion of major coursework.

Explores different theoretical perspectives in psychology. Integrates historical-theoretical perspectives with selected current issues and approaches in psychology including self-help psychology.

Introductory course on research methodology focusing on planning, implementation, analysis and reporting of research findings. Course includes conceptual topics dealing with quantitative and qualitative research design, statistical methods and data interpretation.

Practical experience in major area of study. Arranged individually and taken after completion of major coursework.

Using the advanced Step II version of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, this course examines thehistory, theory, criticims, and applications of this popular psychological inventory. Students choose an area to research for presentation related to their own work or areas of interest, such as psychological theory, education, parenting, management, communication, career choice, religion, or personal development. Crosslisted with UNV 42314.

Investigates a variety of models of behavioral counseling and interventions with emphasis on usage and techniques. Includes applications for parenting, educational counseling and rehabilitation.

Comprehensive study of contributions of psychology to health promotion and maintenance, illness prevention and treatment and related health issues.

Dynamics of humanistic and phenomenological psychology approaches. Emphasis placed on subjective experience and personal choice.

Course objective is to identify the specific elements of positive mental health and how they can be increased. Concepts include self-esteem, self-confidence, optimism, hope, self-efficacy, resilience and sense of life's meanings. The work of Martin Seligman, as well as other psychologists, will be explored.

Examination of psychological experience of music and its impact. Explore music and emotions, music through the lifespan, psychology of music performance, clinical and therapeutic uses of music, and relationship between music and society.

The use of film to provide awareness of psychological issues and how these issues are portrayed within a cinematic context. Films chosen will be relevant to a wide range of issues in psychology including psychological disorders, substance abuse and family relationships and dysfunction.

Helps students explore compassion and caring from a social psychological perspective. Discover prosocial and altruistic behavior and identify situations and personality factors that influence development of compassion and caring.

Discusses treatment of commonly occurring emotional difficulties such as depression, anxiety, anger and addictions through Rational-Emotive Techniques. Addresses applications for group therapy.

Learn what psychopathology is, how to diagnosis and forms of interventions. Scope includes diagnosis, assessment, differential diagnosis, medication management, psychotherapy, treatment planning, collaboration with professionals, dual diagnosis, chemical dependency, hospitalization, day hospital, outpatient treatment, insurance, chronically mentally ill, and self-help groups. Students must be currently employed in a helping profession where experiential learning may be gained.

Examines the psychological aspects of leadership including the relationship between leaders and followers, the psychological dimensions of leadership style, and the contexts in which different leadership styles emerge.

Examination or project designed to assess student's achievement of goals of his/her major program. Prerequisites: Senior standing.

Capstone course that guides students in development of integrative written project that demonstrates personal achievement of learning outcomes in the psychology major. Culminates in a major theoretical paper, written in APA format, investigating and discussing a major issue or issues within the field and presented in seminar form in class.