Psychology (PS)

PS111  Introduction to Psychology  (3.0 Credits)  

A survey course on the mind and behavior, including development, learning, memory, intelligence, personality, interpersonal attraction, biological psychology, and psychopathology.

PS113  Foundations of Psychology  (3.0 Credits)  

This honors foundational course for psychology focuses on methodology, development, learning, memory, intelligence, personality, emotions, violence, and psychopathology. May be taken for credit by students who already have credit for PS111.

PS214  Intermediate Issues in Psychology  (3.0 Credits)  

Exploration of selected areas of psychology with emphasis on classic and current controversial issues. This course teaches information literacy skills for psychology students. Pre/

Corequisite(s): PS111 or PS113.

PS221  Child & Adolescent Development  (3.0 Credits)  

Focuses on physical, social, and cognitive development, including the prenatal and perinatal period through childhood and adolescence. The major theoretical approaches to physical, social, and cognitive growth are compared, and topics of recent interest to researchers in developmental psychology are discussed.

PS223  Psychopathology  (3.0 Credits)  

This course studies psychological disorders and normalcy across the lifespan. Concepts and constructs, assessment processes, etiology, cultural factors, differential diagnosis, decision-making, and evidence-based therapeutic approaches are emphasized. Clinical and scientific research are integrated through the course so that students will have a robust bio-psycho-socio-cultural lens to understand mental disorders.

Prerequisite(s): PS111 or PS113.

PS224  Adult Development  (3.0 Credits)  

This course focuses on physical, social, and cognitive development in adulthood. The major theoretical approaches to physical, social, and cognitive growth are compared, and topics of recent interest to researchers in developmental psychology are discussed.

PS225  Educational Psychology  (3.0 Credits)  

This course applies the principles of psychology to an educational setting, focusing especially on human learning and development and on principles by which learning can be enhanced. Students will explore individual differences and learning modalities.

Prerequisite(s): PS111, PS113, or PS221.

PS227  Lifespan Development  (3.0 Credits)  

This course focuses on physical, social-emotional, and cognitive development from birth through late adulthood. The major theoretical approaches to physical, social, and cognitive growth are compared, and topics of recent interest to researchers in developmental psychology are discussed.

PS232  Intro to Stats for the Beh Sciences  (3.0 Credits)  

An introductory course covering research ethics, probability, descriptive and basic inferential statistics, and hypothesis testing.

PS235  Dynamics of the Group I  (3.0 Credits)  

Students “learn by doing” the dynamics of group interaction and the roles assumed by different members.

PS245  Psychology of the Exceptional Child  (3.0 Credits)  

Focuses on the etiology and characteristics of behavioral, physical, and psychological exceptionalities in childhood and adolescence. Prevention, treatment, and therapeutic interventions are examined. Note: Students admitted to the School of Education should take this course concurrently with ED2999 when possible. Pre/

Corequisite(s): PS221 or PS227

PS270  Theories of Personality  (3.0 Credits)  

Exploration of the theories, structure, and principles involved in the development of personality and the application of theory to behavior.

Prerequisite(s): PS111 or PS113.

PS281  Introduction to Addictions & Recovery  (3.0 Credits)  

This course provides an overview of the nature of addiction and recovery, addiction treatment and prevention, and the pharmacological and physiological effects of drugs and alcohol.

Prerequisite(s): PS111 or PS113.

PS282  Foundations of Addictions Treatment  (3.0 Credits)  

This course provides an overview of addiction treatment with emphasis on empirically supported interventions and treatments. Students will review and practice various approaches and will become familiar with the legal and ethical issues relevant to treatment.

Prerequisite(s): PS111 or PS113.

PS300  Multicultural Psychology  (3.0 Credits)  

This course explores social behavior across different cultures. Topics include acculturation, comparison of personality, perceptual and cognitive development in different societies, gender roles, and special issues in multicultural research.

Prerequisite(s): PS214.

PS315  Intro to Career Psychology  (3.0 Credits)  

This course explores theories and practices of career psychology and career decision-making processes. Students explore careers in psychology and related fields.

PS320  Forensic Psychology  (3.0 Credits)  

A critical examination of the relationships between the legal system and psychological theory, research and practice. Topics include civil commitment, patients’ rights, standards of legal competence, psychological testimony, predictions of dangerousness, insanity defense, child custody disputes, criminal profiling, hypnosis and lie detection, police investigative techniques, role of the forensic psychologist, witness identification, jury selection, child sexual abuse, ethical issues and death penalty cases.

Prerequisite(s): PS111, PS113, CJ210, or CJ212.

PS321  Criminal Profiling  (3.0 Credits)  

An introduction to the manner and methods of criminal profiling. Topics include the history of criminal profiling, victim selection, crime scene characteristics, victim/offender risk, disorganized/organized offenders, offender signature and modus operandi.

Prerequisite(s): PS111, PS113, or major in criminal justice.

PS330  Industrial Organizational Psychology  (3.0 Credits)  

Exploration of the application of psychological principles, techniques and research to business and industry.

Prerequisite(s): PS111 or PS113.

PS331  Basic Counseling  (3.0 Credits)  

Review the fundamentals of interviewing and contemporary methods and techniques of counseling.

Prerequisite(s): PS214. PS270 strongly recommended.

PS332  Psychology of Learning  (3.0 Credits)  

Exploration of the major processes and theories of learning, including classical and operant conditioning and social learning theory. Pre/

Corequisite(s): PS214.

PS333  Intro to Applied Behavior Analysis  (3.0 Credits)  

This is an introductory course in applied behavior analysis focusing on history, ethics, and major therapeutic techniques, including an examination of their theoretical and research underpinnings. Pre/

Corequisite(s): PS214.

PS334  Social Psychology  (3.0 Credits)  

The study of the ways group membership influences human social behavior. Investigates social influence, social cognition, and social relations. Pre/

Corequisite(s): PS214

PS341  Biological Psychology  (3.0 Credits)  

Exploration of the relationship between the brain and behavior in sleep and dreaming, emotional control, memory, and psychopathology.

Prerequisite(s): PS214.

PS345  Topics in Psychology  (1.0 Credits)  

Selected topics in various areas of psychology. Topics vary from year to year. Open to juniors and seniors or by permission of instructor. The course may be repeated when different topics are offered. May be offered for 1-3 credits,

Prerequisite(s): Junior or senior status, or permission of instructor.

PS360  Cognitive Psychology  (3.0 Credits)  

Exploration of the structure and processes in human attention and memory including imagery, language, reasoning, concept formation, problem solving, decision making, metacognition.

Pre/corequisite(s): PS214.

PS375  School Psychology: Scope & Practice  (3.0 Credits)  

This course introduces students to school psychology, including the many roles and functions school psychologists perform: assessment, counseling, consultation, and crisis intervention.

Prerequisite(s): PS111 or PS113.

PS380  Prof Issues of Addiction Counseling  (3.0 Credits)  

This seminar course reviews issues of relevance to the treatment of addictions and provides an opportunity for students to critically examine those issues from the perspective of behavioral science.

Prerequisite(s): PS281, PS282, or permission of the instructor.

PS425  Clinical Methods  (3.0 Credits)  

This course introduces students to clinical evaluation and diagnostic testing in the fields of personality, psychopathology, intelligence and aptitude. The course is designed to provide exposure to the available clinical tools.

Prerequisite(s): PS214.

PS430  Rsrch Mthds & Stats for the Beh Sciences  (3.0 Credits)  

An overview of research methods for behavioral sciences, as well as of advanced statistical methods of data analysis, with emphasis on the informed consumption of primary research in psychology.

Prerequisite(s): PS232.

PS431  Experimental Psychology  (4.0 Credits)  

Applied use of the scientific method in laboratory research. Laboratory provides hands-on research experience with SPSS to analyze data. 3 hours lecture, 3 hours laboratory.

Prerequisite(s): PS214 and PS430.

PS440  Supervised Research in Psychology  (3.0 Credits)  

Students work under the supervision of a faculty member to work on the faculty member’s research project. May be offered for 1-3 credits. Repeatable up to 6 credits. Offered on application.

Prerequisite(s): permission of the instructor.

PS450  Internship in Psychology  (3.0 Credits)  

Practical in-the-field experience in an ongoing project, school or human services institution. Repeatable up to 6 credits.

Prerequisite(s): Psychology major, PS214, and junior or senior status.

PS455  Senior Seminar  (3.0 Credits)  

This seminar focuses on the composition of critical literature reviews. Students write a critical review of a body of published empirical research on a topic of their selection and present it in the last weeks of the seminar class.

Prerequisite(s): PS214 or PS430.

PS456  Internship in Psych:Addictions Treatment  (3.0 Credits)  

This experiential course is an opportunity for reflective practice and applies the theory and skills of addiction counseling and/or prevention with the supervision of a practitioner and a faculty member. Students are required to secure placement at an internship site prior to the first class.

Prerequisite(s): Psychology major and PS214. Restricted to students with junior or senior status.

PS460  Research in Psychology I  (3.0 Credits)  

Students work under the supervision of a faculty member to develop and conduct an original, independent research project. Offered on application.

Prerequisite(s): PS431 and permission of instructor.

PS461  Research in Psychology II  (1.0 Credits)  

Students work under the supervision of a faculty member to continue work on an ongoing original, independent research project. May be offered for 1-3 credits. Offered on application.

Prerequisite(s): PS460 and permission of instructor.