Colleges and Schools
Course Descriptions
- Core Courses
- Psychology Applied to Everyday Life Concentration Courses
- Psychology Applied to the Helping Professions Concentration Courses
- Psychology Applied to the Workplace Concentration Courses
- Preparation for Graduate Studies Concentration Courses
- Psychology Elective Courses
Core Courses
These courses may be taken while you are taking general education courses as long as prerequisites are complete.
PSYC 1001 Introduction to Psychology (5 cr.)
This course is designed to introduce basic concepts, problems, and research methods in the science of psychology. Topics include perception, cognitive processes, learning, motivation, measurement, development, personality, abnormal behavior, and biological and social bases of behavior, including cross-cultural issues. Upon completion, students will have developed a general aptitude for the field of psychology and be able to explain basic psychological phenomena.
PSYC 1002 Psychology as a Natural Science (5 cr.)
Psychology as it is known today has its roots in philosophy and in the natural sciences such as biology and chemistry. In this first of a two-course sequence, students explore major theories and topics related to the natural science aspect of the science of psychology. Topics include methods of analysis, learning, memory, cognitive principles, brain functioning as it relates to psychology, sensation, perception, evolution, motivation, and emotions. The focus of this course is on an understanding of how biological and physiological processes influence behavior.
PSYC 1003 Psychology as a Social Science (5 cr.)
Contemporary psychology is, in many ways, the study of how people interact, relate, and develop as members of society. In this second part of a two-course sequence, students are introduced to the principle theories, topics, and applications related to the social science aspects of psychology including social, developmental, cultural, personality, and abnormal psychology. Students apply what they learn to case studies and real-life examples, focusing on how individuals are influenced by their environments.
PSYC 2001 Cross-Cultural Psychology (5 cr.)
Contemporary life requires the ability to relate to people who are different. Students in this course will examine key concepts related to understanding life in a multicultural world. Topics include theories of culture; the role of psychology in understanding oppression; acculturation; cultural aspects of cognition; mental health; physical health; aggression; and emotion. Students will be able to explain how behavior is affected by an increasingly diverse and multicultural world. (Prerequisite: ENGL 1001; MATH 1002; PSYC 1001 or PSYC 1002 or PSYC 1003)
PSYC 3002 Data Analysis and Presentation (5 cr.)
One of the hallmarks of science, and of advertisers, is the use of numbers to convince people that a particular point of view is correct. In this course, students are introduced to basic statistical principles. Topics include creating and presenting descriptive statistics, introduction to hypothesis testing, two-group inferential tests, correlation, and the chi-squared test. The goal of the course is for students to be comfortable using statistics and to better understand the importance of statistics to research. (Prerequisite: ENGL 1001; MATH 1002; PSYC 1001 or PSYC 1002 or PSYC 1003)
PSYC 3003 Methods in Psychological Inquiry (5 cr.)
The interpretation of what is experienced can be influenced by a variety of factors cloud judgment. In this course, students learn about research methods used to test hypotheses in an objective and systematic way to minimize biases which results in drawing better conclusions. Topics include correlation versus experimental methods, validity and reliability dependent and independent variables; qualitative versus quantitative research, and statistical versus clinical prediction. Students conduct a simple experiment and write up the results using American Psychological Association format. (Prerequisite: ENGL 1001; MATH 1002; PSYC 1001 or PSYC 1002 or PSYC 1003)
PSYC 4010 Capstone: Professional Issues and Ethics in Psychology (5 cr.) What do psychologists do? How does one use the knowledge taught in a psychology program to uphold ethical standards that foster a healthy science and society? In this course, students integrate the knowledge and skills attained through the diverse views and perspectives represented in their psychology major coursework. Through analysis of case studies, students demonstrate their understanding of psychology and its relationship to being a socially responsible social scientist and citizen of the world. (Prerequisite: ENGL 1001; MATH 1002; PSYC 1002, 1003, 2001, 3002, 3003)
Psychology Applied To Everyday Life Concentration Courses
For the Psychology Applied in Everyday Life concentration, choose any five courses from B.S. Psychology concentrations in Psychology Applied to the Helping Profession, Psychology Applied to the Workplace, and Preparation for Graduate Studies psychology courses. Courses can be taken intermittently with courses from other areas as long as pre-requisites are met.
Psychology Applied To The Helping Professions Concentration Courses
PSYC 2002 Human Development: Childhood and Adolescence (5 cr.)
Humans undergo rather amazing developmental changes across the lifespan. Significant changes occur during the period spanning from the in utero stage to young adulthood. In this course, students are introduced to key theories related to the development of infants, children, and adolescents. Topics include social, biological, and cognitive maturation processes. Cross-cultural issues in development are discussed. (Prerequisite: ENGL 1001; MATH 1002; PSYC 1001 or PSYC 1002 or PSYC 1003)
PSYC 2003 Human Development: Adulthood (5 cr.)
Adulthood represents a rich developmental experience that includes a number of important life transitions. In this course, students are introduced to the key theories and applications of adult development. Topics include the social, biological, and cognitive maturation processes that define development through adulthood into older age, and specific transitions including career, love and relationships, and retirement. Cross-cultural issues in development are explored. (Prerequisite: ENGL 1001; MATH 1002; PSYC 1001 or PSYC 1002 or PSYC 1003)
PSYC 2007 Adjustment in the 21st Century (5 cr.)
In a world that seems to change rapidly, the ability to adjust to changing situations is an important consideration for physical and psychological health. In this course, students learn ways to approach the overall issue of psychological adjustment. Topics include stress management, physical and psychological health, relationships, communication, sexual behavior, workplace changes, and issues in development. Students apply psychological theories to bettering their psychological well-being. (Prerequisite: ENGL 1001; MATH 1002; PSYC 1001 or PSYC 1002 or PSYC 1003)
PSYC 2008 Learning (5 cr.)
How do people learn, and what are the strategies that maximize learning. This course provides students with an introduction to the cognitive and behavioral bases of learning and memory. Topics include classical and operant conditioning, introduction to theories of short and long-term memory, and cognitive science approaches to learning. Students apply principles learned to optimizing their own performance. (Prerequisite: ENGL 1001; MATH 1002; PSYC 1001 or PSYC 1002 or PSYC 1003)
PSYC 3004 Psychological Disorders (5 cr.)
“Diagnosing” friends and family members is a common occurrence as are discussions of what is considered normal and abnormal behavior. Students in this course are introduced to psychological disorders that form the basis of diagnosis in psychology. Topics include the concepts of “normal” and “abnormal” as related to psychology; introduction to methods used in the process of diagnosis; measurement of psychological functioning; diagnosis; and an introduction to common disorders and their causes, including mood, thought, anxiety, substance abuse, sexual, personality, and dissociative disorders. Students differentiate between disorders and understand limits to effective diagnosis as well as apply what they have learned to case studies. (Prerequisite: ENGL 1001; MATH 1002; PSYC 1001 or PSYC 1002 or PSYC 1003)
PSYC 4001 Cultural Perspectives in Health Psychology (5 cr.)
How does one’s culture influence health related behavior? How does culture impact an individual’s response to stress, pain, and illness? In this course, students learn how biological, psychological, sociological, and cognitive factors affect individual health behaviors. Topics include cultural responses to health, stress management and coping mechanisms; pain theory and management techniques; health psychology theories and models; and strategies for helping people achieve health psychology goals when faced with illness. Students apply principles of health psychology case studies and real-life examples related to promoting, achieving, and maintaining optimal health and psychological adjustment to illness for numerous cultures. Prerequisite: ENGL 1001; MATH 1002; PSYC 1002, 1003, 3002, 3003)
PSYC 4002 Brain and Behavior (5 cr.)
Understanding the brain and how it functions has contributed significantly to the understanding of how people react and adapt to their environments. In this course, students examine basic brain physiology and learn how the brain functions to control behavior. Topics include specific applications of brain structure to memory and attention, sensation and perception, development, socialization, motivation and emotion, and socialization. Students apply what they have learned about the brain to psychological health and well-being (Prerequisite: ENGL 1001; MATH 1002; PSYC 1002, 1003, 3002, 3003)
Psychology Applied To The Workplace Concentration Courses
PSYC 2004 Motivation and Emotion (5 cr.)
What drives people to do what they do is the focus of the study of motivation and emotion. In this course, students explore basic theories of motivation and emotion; bodily needs, such as hunger, thirst, and sex, that drive people to action; motivation concepts in motivation such as achievement, altruism, and conflict; and concepts related to emotion including happiness, hormonal influences, and mood. (Prerequisite: ENGL 1001; MATH 1002; PSYC 1001 or PSYC 1002 or PSYC 1003)
PSYC 2005 Social Influences on Behavior (5 cr.)
It has been said that no person is an island meaning, in part, that people are influenced by others and by the social situations in which they find themselves. This course focuses on the basic concepts and applications of social psychology and includes such topics as attitudes, beliefs and behavior; stereotyping, prejudice and discrimination; interpersonal relationships; group behavior; and the effect of environmental stressors on behavior. Students apply principles learned to case studies and to situations in daily life. (Prerequisite: ENGL 1001; MATH 1002; PSYC 1001 or PSYC 1002 or PSYC 1003)
PSYC 2008 Learning (5 cr.)
How do people learn, and what are the strategies that maximize learning. This course provides students with an introduction to the cognitive and behavioral bases of learning and memory. Topics include classical and operant conditioning, introduction to theories of short and long-term memory, and cognitive science approaches to learning. Students apply principles learned to optimizing their own performance. (Prerequisite: ENGL 1001; MATH 1002; PSYC 1001 or PSYC 1002 or PSYC 1003)
PSYC 3009 Psychology of Leadership (5 cr.)
Are leaders made or born? This question has been debated for decades. This course considers the question and examines theories and principles of leadership and leader development. Topics include models and styles of leadership, characteristics of effective leaders, cultural issues related to leadership, leader development, leadership measures, and leadership maintenance. Students apply leadership concepts and principles to themselves and to others. (Prerequisite: ENGL 1001; MATH 1002; PSYC 1001 or PSYC 1002 or PSYC 1003)
PSYC 4001 Cultural Perspectives in Health Psychology (5 cr.)
How does one’s culture influence health related behavior? How does culture impact an individual’s response to stress, pain, and illness? In this course, students learn how biological, psychological, sociological, and cognitive factors affect individual health behaviors. Topics include cultural responses to health, stress management and coping mechanisms; pain theory and management techniques; health psychology theories and models; and strategies for helping people achieve health psychology goals when faced with illness. Students apply principles of health psychology case studies and real-life examples related to promoting, achieving, and maintaining optimal health and psychological adjustment to illness for numerous cultures. Prerequisite: ENGL 1001; MATH 1002; PSYC 1002, 1003, 3002, 3003)
PSYC 4007 Judgment, Choice and Decision Making (5 cr.)
What influences how decisions are made? And why do people make the choices the make? In this course, students learn the basic principles of decision-making. Topics include heuristics (mental shortcuts to decision making), biases in thinking that influence decisions such as confirmatory and hindsight biases, and the role of expectations on decision-making. Students apply concepts in decision-making to better understand their own choices. (Prerequisite: ENGL 1001; MATH 1002; PSYC 1002, 1003, 3002, 3003)
PSYC 4008 Intergroup Conflict and Peace Building (5 cr.)
In a world that is encumbered with conflict, tension, and injustice, strategies for building peace are essential. In this course, students learn theories and principles of conflict management and resolution. Topics include theories and applications of intergroup dynamics, conflict, and aggression; principles and underlying philosophies of non-violence; and the use of social science principles to understand conflict and promote peace. Students apply principles of peace-building to proposing solutions for contemporary, individual and social issues. (Prerequisite: ENGL 1001; MATH 1002; PSYC 1002, 1003, 3002, 3003)
Preparation For Graduate Studies Concentration Courses
PSYC 2002 Human Development: Childhood and Adolescence (5 cr.)
Humans undergo rather amazing developmental changes across the lifespan. Significant changes occur during the period spanning from the in utero stage to young adulthood. In this course, students are introduced to key theories related to the development of infants, children, and adolescents. Topics include social, biological, and cognitive maturation processes. Cross-cultural issues in development are discussed. (Prerequisite: ENGL 1001; MATH 1002; PSYC 1001 or PSYC 1002 or PSYC 1003)
PSYC 2003 Human Development: Adulthood (5 cr.)
Adulthood represents a rich developmental experience that includes a number of important life transitions. In this course, students are introduced to the key theories and applications of adult development. Topics include the social, biological, and cognitive maturation processes that define development through adulthood into older age, and specific transitions including career, love and relationships, and retirement. Cross-cultural issues in development are explored. (Prerequisite: ENGL 1001; MATH 1002; PSYC 1001 or PSYC 1002 or PSYC 1003)
PSYC 2005 Social Influences on Behavior (5 cr.)
It has been said that no person is an island meaning, in part, that people are influenced by others and by the social situations in which they find themselves. This course focuses on the basic concepts and applications of social psychology and includes such topics as attitudes, beliefs and behavior; stereotyping, prejudice and discrimination; interpersonal relationships; group behavior; and the effect of environmental stressors on behavior. Students apply principles learned to case studies and to situations in daily life. (Prerequisite: ENGL 1001; MATH 1002; PSYC 1001 or PSYC 1002 or PSYC 1003)
PSYC 4002 Brain and Behavior (5 cr.)
Understanding the brain and how it functions has contributed significantly to the understanding of how people react and adapt to their environments. In this course, students examine basic brain physiology and learn how the brain functions to control behavior. Topics include specific applications of brain structure to memory and attention, sensation and perception, development, socialization, motivation and emotion, and socialization. Students apply what they have learned about the brain to psychological health and well-being (Prerequisite: ENGL 1001; MATH 1002; PSYC 1002, 1003, 3002, 3003)
PSYC 4007 Judgment, Choice and Decision Making (5 cr.)
What influences how decisions are made? And why do people make the choices the make? In this course, students learn the basic principles of decision-making. Topics include heuristics (mental shortcuts to decision making), biases in thinking that influence decisions such as confirmatory and hindsight biases, and the role of expectations on decision-making. Students apply concepts in decision-making to better understand their own choices. (Prerequisite: ENGL 1001; MATH 1002; PSYC 1002, 1003, 3002, 3003)
PSYC 3005 Racial and Ethnic Identities (5 cr.)
Most people recognize and appreciate the uniqueness of human beings. Included in this uniqueness is the influence of race and ethnicity – both as they relate to self-perception and to the perception of others. In this course, students explore their own racial / ethnic identities as they relate to contemporary psychological knowledge. Topics include racial identity development; intersection of racial identity and other forms of identity development; multiracial / multiethnic identities; and the effect of identity on intergroup relations. Students apply psychological concepts to better understand their own sense of ethnic / racial identity and how that identity shapes their experiences in the world. (Prerequisite: ENGL 1001; MATH 1002; PSYC 1001 or PSYC 1002 or PSYC 1003)
PSYC 3006 Psychology of Gender (5 cr.)
Psychological research has demonstrated that there are few differences between men and women. And yet history and conventional thinking say otherwise. In this course, students are introduced to the basic theories, principles, and applications of gender and gender differences. Topics include distinctions between sex and gender; masculinity and femininity; sexuality and sexual orientation; gender differences in social behavior, perceptual, and cognitive abilities; and cross-cultural research on gender and sexuality. Through discussion and applications, students “debunk” myths surrounding sex and gender similarities and differences and apply theories learned to case examples and individual experiences. (Prerequisite: ENGL 1001; MATH 1002; PSYC 1001 or PSYC 1002 or PSYC 1003)
PSYC 3007 Influence and Persuasion (5 cr.)
What is it that influences people to take actions, sometimes in spite of their best intentions? This course examines major concepts of related to influence and persuasion, an important area of social psychology. Topics include attitudes and how to change attitudes; attitudes and behavior change; communication; media and consumer behavior; politics; and influence by leaders. Students apply principles of influence and persuasion to case studies and to real-life experiences. (Prerequisite: ENGL 1001; MATH 1002; PSYC 1001 or PSYC 1002 or PSYC 1003)
PSYC 4006 Global Perspectives in Psychology (5 cr.)
While psychology tends to be “Western” in focus, increased globalization has provided insights into a broader explanation of human behavior as well as an examination of the influence of cultural and global trends on individual and group behavior. In this course, students explore a variety of perspectives in psychology and some of the issues and controversies such differing perspectives raise. Topics include cultural relativism; cross-cultural research on sex and gender, aggression, influence, perceptions, and cognition; and cross-cultural research – how it is conducted and why it is important. Students critically evaluate psychological issues from a global rather than a domestic perspective. (Prerequisite: ENGL 1001; MATH 1002; PSYC 1002, 1003, 3002, 3003)
