Course Descriptions
Psychology is the science of behavior and mental processes. Taking courses in psychology can help you understand interesting topics like
- how the brain works
- how first impressions influence us
- what causes disorders, like depression and schizophrenia
- why some things are harder to remember than others
- how employers make hiring decisions
Psychology courses will help you develop your critical thinking and communication skills. You'll learn how to apply empirical evidence from psychological science to important real world issues. To learn more read our undergraduate mission and instructional goals, and our major requirements.
| PSY 100 | Introduction to Psychology (3,0,3) Systematic and scientific study of behavior from biological, behavioral, and cognitive perspectives; methods, history, biopsychology, perception, learning, development, cognition, personality, mental disorders, therapy, and social psychology. A general education course (behavioral sciences). |
| PSY 100H | Honors Introduction to Psychology (3,0,3) Scientific study of behavior and mental processes in a seminar setting; perspectives and topics covered in PSY 100; critical thinking and research methodology; independent work and active participation required. A general education course (behavioral sciences). PREREQ: minimum ACT composite of 24 or consent of instructor. |
| PSY 200 |
Psychology of Personal Adjustment (3,0,3) Personal growth and development including personal health; stress management; values clarification; moral dilemmas; interpersonal relations; social problems; career development. A general education course (behavioral sciences). PREREQ: PSY 100. |
| PSY 201 | Psychology of Race and Gender (3,0,3) Psychological effects of racism and sexism; gender, ethnicity, culture, politics, and economic and social issues in the United States. A general education course (behavioral sciences or race/gender). |
| PSY 205 | Psychology of Human Sexuality (3,0,3) A survey in human sexuality focusing on biological, psychological, behavioral, and developmental issues. Sexual attitudes, values, and gender issues also addressed. Explicit content. A general education course (behavioral sciences). PREREQ: PSY 100. |
| PSY 206 | Human Sexuality Forum (3,0,3) Focuses on personal attitudes and values through structured exercises and discussion. Explicit content. Offered only during intersession; graded pass/fail. Credit is not given for both PSY 205 and PSY 206. Same as PSY 205. A general education course (behavioral sciences). PREREQ: PSY 100. |
| PSY 210 | Research Methods in Psychology (3,0,3) Experimental and other research methods in psychological research. A laboratory experience is included. PREREQ: PSY 100 and STA 205. COREQ: PSY 210L and PSY 210R. |
| PSY 210L | Research Tools in Psychology (1,2,2) Skills needed to support PSY 210: use of computers and other tools in all phases of psychological research: information gathering, analysis, and communication; techniques of library searching, elements of writing in APA style, collecting and analyzing data. COREQ: PSY 210 and PSY 210R. |
| PSY 210R | Career Planning for Psychology Majors (1,0,1) Assessment of individual values, interests, and abilities; investigation of psychology-related vocations; planning and decision-making skills regarding future careers. COREQ: PSY 210 and PSY 210L |
| PSY 220 | Lifespan Development (3,0,3) Psychological theory and research on physical, cognitive, personality, and social development across the life span. Students receiving credit for PSY 220 cannot also receive credit for either PSY 319 or PSY 320. A general education course (behavioral sciences). PREREQ: PSY 100. |
| PSY 291W | Writing in Psychology (3,0,3) Practice in types of writing most commonly encountered in psychology (case study, literature review, and report of an empirical study). A general education course (English composition). PREREQ: major in psychology, PSY 100, one additional course in psychology, ENG 101, and sophomore standing. |
| PSY 300 | Personality Psychology (3,0,3) Overview of research findings in personality psychology; emphasis on empirically supported conclusions regarding personality. PREREQ: PSY 100. |
| PSY 302 | The Human Side of Work (3,0,3) Psychology of work behavior; interpersonal relations and organizational effectiveness; communication, morale, stress, leadership styles, values, ethics, problem solving techniques, and cross cultural aspects of the work experience. The approach to learning is experiential and may include some field assignments. PREREQ: PSY 100. |
| PSY 304 |
Consumer Psychology (3,0,3) Psychological methods and concepts used to understand, explain, and predict the dynamics underlying, influencing, and determining consumer behavior; research methodology, individual and group influences, product attributes, promotional techniques, and consumer decision making. PREREQ: PSY100. |
| PSY 305 | Psychological Testing (3,0,3) Basic principles, applications, and issues as related to psychological testing and assessment; review and evaluation of widely used tests in major areas of application: intelligence, personality, achievement, aptitude, and vocational. PREREQ: PSY 100. |
| PSY 309 | Psychology of Perception (3,0,3) Current theories and research in understanding visual perception of color, movement, and illusions; perception in other sensory modalities. PREREQ: PSY 100. |
| PSY 309L | Perception Laboratory (1,2,2) Laboratory to accompany PSY 309. PREREQ: PSY 210 or equivalent; PREREQ or COREQ: PSY 309 or equivalent. |
| PSY 311 | Biopsychology (3,0,3) Basic assumptions, theories, and empirical data relating neurobiological mechanisms and psychological processes of behavior; structural functional relationship of parts of the nervous system and their role in behavior. PREREQ: PSY 100. |
| PSY 311L | Biopsychology Laboratory (1,2,2) Laboratory to accompany PSY 311. PREREQ: PSY 210 or equivalent and consent of instructor; PREREQ or COREQ: PSY 311 or equivalent. |
| PSY 319 | Child Development (3,0,3) Psychological theory and research on developmental and individual differences among children in the physical, cognitive, personality, and social domains; biological, psychosocial, and cultural contextual causes for these differences. Students receiving credit for PSY 319 cannot receive credit for PSY 220. PREREQ: PSY 100. |
| PSY 320 |
Adult Development (3,0,3) Psychological development from adolescence through adulthood; physical, intellectual, social, and personality development; developmental tasks involving identity formation, marriage, child rearing, work, retirement, and death. Students receiving credit for PSY 320 cannot also receive credit for PSY 220. PREREQ: PSY 100. |
| PSY 330 | Behavior Modification (3,0,3) Introduction to applied behavior analysis; the use of operant and classical conditioning to analyze and change behavior. PREREQ: PSY 100. |
| PSY 333 | Abnormal Psychology (3,0,3) Symptoms, causes, and treatment of major mental disorders; research methods in psychopathology. PREREQ: PSY 100. |
| PSY 337 | Animal Learning (3,0,3) Behavioral methodology, theory, and empirical basis of the scientific study of learning; classical and instrumental conditioning, discrimination and generalization, and the role of reward, punishment, and other motivational variables. PREREQ: PSY 100. |
| PSY 338 | Cognitive Processes (3,0,3) Cognitive methodology, theory, and empirical basis of the scientific study of human memory and information processing; thinking; problem solving; concept formation. PREREQ: PSY 100. |
| PSY 338L | Cognitive Processes Laboratory (1,2,2) Laboratory to accompany PSY 338. PREREQ: PSY 210 or equivalent; PREREQ or COREQ: PSY 338 or equivalent. |
| PSY 340 | Social Psychology (3,0,3) Social perception and social influences on behavior; attribution, attitudes, attraction, aggression, pro-social behavior, compliance, and small groups. PREREQ: PSY 100. |
| PSY 340L | Social Psychology Laboratory (1,2,2) Laboratory to accompany PSY 340. PREREQ: PSY 210 or equivalent. PREREQ or COREQ: PSY 340 or equivalent. |
| PSY 344 | Industrial/Organizational Psychology (3,0,3) Psychological principles in business and industry; motivation, job satisfaction, leadership and communication theory, organizational structure, performance appraisal, personnel testing and selection, training, workplace design, and work environment. PREREQ: PSY 100. |
| PSY 345 | Human Factors Psychology (3,0,3) Humans in the design of manmade objects, facilities, and environments: the human as a system component, human capabilities and limitations, controls and displays, design of aerospace and surface vehicles, and designing for the handicapped. PREREQ: PSY 100. |
| PSY 348 | Environmental Psychology (3,0,3) Review of scientific literature on psychological aspects of interdependence of humans and their environment; environmental perception, effects of physical environment on behavior, physical space and behavior, environmental design, and strategies for preserving the environment. PREREQ: PSY 100. |
| PSY 350 | Training Group Theory and Laboratory Method (3,0,3) Small groups and development of interpersonal effectiveness; individual and group roles; resolution of conflicts; interpersonal trust; helping relationships. Graded pass/fail. PREREQ: PSY 100. |
| PSY 360 | Psychopharmacology (3,0,3) Detailed analysis of how psychotherapeutic and recreational drugs affect the brain and behavior. Introduction to central nervous system structure and function, the biological basis of drug action in the brain, and the behavioral, clinical, and side-effect profiles of psychoactive drugs. PREREQ: PSY 100. |
| PSY 370 | Humanistic Psychology (3,0,3) Humanistic psychology in historical context; Greek, Renaissance, and modern developments; comparison with psychoanalysis and behaviorism; major theories of Allport, Fromm, Maslow, Jung, Rogers, Frankl, and Perls; central themes; experience, identity, meaning, freedom, responsibility, and growth in psychology. PREREQ: PSY 100. |
| PSY 400 | Approaches to Psychotherapy (3,0,3) Theories and techniques of psychoanalytic, humanistic, behavioral, and cognitive therapies; evaluation of treatment outcome research. PREREQ: PSY 210, PSY 210L, PSY 333. |
| PSY 405 | Counseling Psychology (2,2,3) Techniques of counseling; skills necessary in therapeutic interviewing; selection, application, and evaluation of appropriate goals, strategies, and tactics of counseling. PREREQ: PSY 100 and junior standing. |
| PSY 465 | Health Psychology (3,0,3) Guided readings, discussions, and evaluations of scientific literature on health and health related behaviors; understanding psychological, social, and biological determinants of health; multi-disciplinary focus. PREREQ: PSY 100 and junior standing. |
| PSY 475 | History and Systems of Psychology (3,0,3) Historical and philosophical basis of contemporary psychology; logic of science; introspectionist, functionalist, purposive, psychoanalytic, behaviorist, gestalt, and cognitive systems. PREREQ: 12 semester hours in psychology. |
| PSY 492 | Research: Psychology (1-3 sem. hrs.) Individually supervised research in an area of faculty expertise; readings, design, data collection, analyses, report writing or presentation of findings. Specific activities assigned by instructor. Up to 3 semester hours may be earned per semester; no more than 6 semester hours of PSY 492 and/or PSY 499 may be applied toward certification of the major. PREREQ: consent of instructor and psychology chair prior to registration. |
| PSY 494 | Special Topics in Psychology (1-3 semester hrs.) Seminar course; topic listed in Schedule of Classes each semester. PREREQ: PSY 100 and consent of instructor. |
| PSY 499 | Independent Study: Psychology (1-3 sem. hrs.) Individually supervised areas of study; archival research, experiments, surveys, and/or applied projects. Specific activity is student initiated and in consultation with instructor. Up to 3 semester hours may be earned per semester; no more than 6 semester hours of PSY 492 and/or PSY 499 may be applied toward certification of the major. PREREQ: consent of instructor and psychology chair prior to registration. |
| PSY 550 | Organizational Psychology (3,0,3) Introductory graduate level study in organizational psychology; commitment, involvement, satisfaction, motivation, leadership, power, quality of work-life, and groups/teams. PREREQ: Consent of MSIO director. |
| PSY 570 | Work Environments (3,0,3) Introduction to human factors psychology; ergonomics; occupational health and safety; physical and psychological factors influencing the workplace. PREREQ: Consent of MSIO director. |
| PSY 580 | Cognition in the Workplace (3,0,3) Judgment and decision-making, heuristics, biases, persuasion, prejudice, diversity, values, and attitude measurement. PREREQ: Consent of MSIO director. |
| PSY 594 | Special Topics: Psychology (3,0,3) Advanced seminar course; topic listed in Schedule of Classes each semester. Intended for graduate students and advanced undergraduates. PREREQ: consent of instructor. |
| PSY 601 | I-O Discussion Forum (2,0,2) Introduction to I-O program, development of community and support; survey of I-O psychology; discussion of historical, ethical, legal and current newsworthy issues; clarification and elaboration of program requirements, intentions and philosophy. PREREQ: Admission to I-O program. |
| PSY 603 | Behavior Modification in Education (3,0,3) Application of behavioral principles to classroom situations; study of techniques used to improve academic performance and to eliminate inappropriate and disruptive behaviors. |
| PSY 605 | Psychological and Educational Testing (3,0,3) Principles and issues related to construction, interpretation, and evaluation of achievement, intelligence, and personality tests with applications for the classroom; special problems related to the use of tests. |
| PSY 610 | Applied Psychology for Classroom Teachers (3,0,3) Adlerian psychology applied to understanding and changing children's behavior and misbehavior; molding a class into a cooperative working group; encouraging reluctant and problem learners. |
| PSY 615 | Research Design Methods and Statistics I (3,0,3) Basic principles and techniques of scientific research design; control, and analysis; descriptive statistics, hypothesis testing, simple correlations and linear regression, emphasis on univariate and bivariate designs and analyses in applied settings. PREREQ: Admission to I-O program. |
| PSY 616 | Research Design, Methods and Statistics II (3,0,3) Advanced coverage of scientific research design, control and analysis, repeated measures, factorial designs, multiple correlation, multiple regression, interactions and covariances, emphasis on multivariate designs and analyses in applied settings. PREREQ: PSY 615. |
| PSY 620 | Job Analysis and Staffing (3,0,3) Methods and techniques of job analysis/competency modeling on both individual and team levels; job analysis/competency modeling outcomes; compensation, selection, training, development and performance appraisal. PREREQ: Consent of I-O director. |
| PSY 622 | Development Across the Lifespan (3,0,3) Theories and research findings related to human development; developmental crises, tasks & transitions across one's lifespan; nature vs. nurture; theories of learning and personality development; strategies for facilitating optimal human development. PREREQ: Consent of director of Masters in Community Counseling. |
| PSY 625 | Psychological Tests and Measures (3,0,3) Psychological test development, evaluation, and utilization in applied settings; professional guidelines for ethical use and practice; principles of validity, reliability, item development and analysis, test construction, and biases. PREREQ: Consent of I-O director. |
| PSY 630 | Occupational Health Psychology (3,0,3) Introduction to the interdisciplinary field of health psychology. The course focuses on the basic theories and research findings that have emerged in the field, application of those theories and research, and developing a problem solving orientation to diagnosing occupational safety and health problems. |
| PSY 635 | Selection and Performance Appraisal (3,0,3) Advanced treatment of selection and performance appraisal in organizations; legal and ethical issues, recruitment, selection systems and methods, criterion theory and development; and appraisal systems and methods. PREREQ: PSY 615; 620. |
| PSY 640 | Training and Development (3,0,3) Models of instructional design, psychological theory and principles relevant to learning; transfer of training; program evaluation; common types of training in organizations, computer and web-based training. PREREQ: PSY 620. |
| PSY 645 | Organizational Consulting (3,0,3) Presents a comprehensive overview of organizational consulting, including its history, specializations, and contexts. Fundamental principles, effective practices, and emerging issues are studied. |
| PSY 650 | Children's Behavior Disorders (3,0,3) Serious personality maladjustment in childhood; understanding diagnosis and treatment of infantile and childhood autism, psycho physiological reactions, speech disorders, tics and motor habits, and neurological and neurotic dysfunctions. |
| PSY 652 | Epidemiology (3,0,3) Survey basic concepts and principles of epidemiology, including epidemiologic midels, the epidemiology process, epidemiologic investigation, and application of these concepts and principles. PREREQ: STA 614 or PSY 615 or other graduate level statisticcourse. |
| PSY 660 | Organizational Change and Development (3,0,3) Change processes, situational assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation, intervention; organizational structure, values, culture, leadership, roles of consultants, and external environments. PREREQ: PSY 550. |
| PSY 670 | Organizational Leadership (3,0,3) This course offers an overview of leadership in organizational settings. The first half of the course is devoted to building a foundational understanding of leadership by working through some of the major theoretical approaches using textbook and selected readings. In the second half, that foundation is used in further exploring lines of related inquiry. Working in teams, students will also design and conduct a study on leadership using various published measures. Permission of I-O director. |
| PSY 675 | Motivation (3,0,3) This course introduces the graduate student to fundamental concepts, theories, contemporary research findings and emerging issues in workplace motivation and behavior. Complementary and sometimes contradictory perspectives on motivation and its impact on organizational behavior will be discussed. |
| PSY 685 | Applied Research Study: Capstone (4,0,4) Organization and completion of applied research portfolio; updating, revising and improving research projects; conducting additional research; formatting portfolio. Open only to I-O masters' students in the final semester of the program. |
| PSY 691 | Thesis (1-6,0,1-6) Supervised development and implementation of research study. PREREQ: PSY 615; 616 and consent of instructor. |
| PSY 694 | Special Topics: Graduate Psychology (1-3,0, 1-3) Seminar course; topics listed in Schedule of Classes each semester, in the Master of Science in Industrial-Organizational Psychology Program (MSIO). PREREQ: Permission of the program director. |
| PSY 696 | Practicum (1-6,0,1-6) Supervised development and conduct of a project in an employment setting; synthesis and application of knowledge acquired in prior coursework. PREREQ: PSY 615; 616 and consent of instructor. |
| PSY 699 | Independent Study: Psychology (1-3 sem. hrs.) Supervised group study projects in selected problem areas, or individually supervised areas of study involving readings, experimental research, and/or applied problems in educational psychology. Up to 3 semester hours may be earned per semester. PREREQ: consent of instructor and psychology chair prior to registration. |