PSY 230. General Psychology (3)

This is an introductory survey of psychology with emphasis on a natural science perspective. Areas of study include the biology of human behavior, approaches to research, learning, sensation and perception, memory, and consciousness with additional in-depth study of selected topics, such as language, intelligence and cognition, development, motivation and emotion, health psychology, social psychology, personality and the causes and treatment of mental disorders.

PSY 252. Cross/Multicultural Psychology (3)

Cross-cultural/multicultural psychology examines the impact of culture on human behavior. Theory and research from developmental, social, cognitive, personality, and clinical psychology form the basis of the course. The course is also a comparative analysis of psychological research conducted among non-Western and European peoples. Influence of cultural variables on emotional and cognitive development, perception, socialization, and group behavior across cultures, with the aim of raising awareness and understanding of human commonality and diversity. Prerequisite: PSY 230, PSY 350 or consent of Instructor.

PSY 331. Human Growth and Development (3)

Human growth and development examines human development, theories, heredity and environmental effects, prenatal development and birth. It evaluates physical, cognitive, and psychosocial development through the life span, aging, death and dying. The course also focuses on the implications of the principles for psychological growth, social policy formation, educational practice and self-understanding. Prerequisite: PSY 230 or PSY 332.

PSY 332. Educational Psychology (3)

Educational psychology examines the constructivist approaches of Jean Piaget and Lev Vygotsky in the development of knowledge including empirical and logicomathematical forms of knowledge, thought and action, thought and language. The learning theories of major theorists like William James, Benjamin Bloom, David Hunt, Charles Galloway, Ned Flanders, Nathaniel Gage and many others are reviewed with specific classroom applications. Students will demonstrate knowledge, understanding, and application of theories and principles of development, models of teaching, learning, memory, motivation, individual differences, instruction, classroom management, and measurement and evaluation. Prerequisite: PSY 230.

PSY 350. Theories of Personality (3)

This is an overview of the major theoretical approaches to the study of personality and includes theorists of historical note as well as contemporary theorists. It is also a survey of major names, avenues or analysis, and concepts in the field of personality. This course further examines socialization factors and their influence on personality development in childhood and adolescence with regard to moral, sex-role, self-control, emotional, and social cognitive development. Major theories to be reviewed in the course include psychoanalytic, cognitive, learning, psychosocial, sociocultural, dispositional, humanistic, and behavioral models. Prerequisite: PSY 230 or consent of the Instructor

PSY 352. Psychology of Religion and Religious Experience (3)

This course is an in-depth study of classical theories and current research in the psychology of religion. The course deals with the approaches of traditional psychological theories toward phenomena of religious experience, mysticism, and prayer. The psychological process of creating and naming "gods" is considered as well as comparisons among altered states of consciousness including some forms of prayer. Prerequisite: PSY 230 or permission of the Instructor.

PSY 360. Social Psychology (3)

Social psychology is a survey of theory and research in social psychology, emphasizing experimental investigations of attitudes and social cognition, and interpersonal relations and group processes. It is a general introduction to social psychology for majors and non-majors in psychology. Emphasis is given to the psychological components of common social behaviors including the psychological aspects of contemporary social problems. The course further reviews social influence, conformity, social perception, attitude changes, small groups, social behavior, and social influences on behavior, theories and research on attitude change and persuasion, stereotypes and prejudice, conformity and obedience to authority, altruism, conflict, attraction, love, and collective behavior. Prerequisite: PSY 230 and 252.

PSY 420. Abnormal Psychology/Psychopathology (3)

Abnormal psychology is an introductory course in the field of abnormal psychology with emphasis upon the application of psychological theories to the treatment of socially inappropriate behaviors such as substance abuse and on psychological research in abnormal behaviors. The course surveys various categories of abnormal or deviant behavior such as personality, mood, and psychophysiological disorders, schizophrenia, anxiety, somatoform and dissociative disorders. Clinical methods including assessment, diagnosis, interventions and treatment outcomes are also considered. Prerequisite: PSY 230, 252 or permission of the Instructor.

PSY 430. Special Topics in Psychology (3)

This Course is devoted to special topics in psychology. It is a discussion course in which major concepts and issues in psychology are considered involving directed reading, guest lecturers, field trips, and/or oral reports by students. The course enables students to apply the basic skills they might have acquired in other psychology courses in analyzing, synthesizing, evaluating, and producing their own original views on selected psychological issues. This course is open to students from other departments enrolled in Senior Seminar Courses. Prerequisites: PSY 230, 350 or consent of the Instructor.

PSY 434. Substance Abuse/ Alcoholism and other Drugs (3)

This is an intensive study of theories and research regarding alcoholism, and other drugs of abuse, with emphasis on application of psychological theories to the treatment of alcoholism and on psychological research regarding alcoholism and other drugs. The course examines basic pharmacological and neurobiological, history, mechanismsof action, short-term and long-term effects, use and abuse of various psychoactive drugs. Prerequisite: PSY 230, 350, 352, or consent of the Instructor.

PSY 435. Psychology of Aging/Gerontology (3)

This course reviews the psychology of aging and adult life not usually covered in Child and Adolescent psychology courses. It involves research and theory in adult physical, emotional, social, and cognitive development. Nature and causes of age-associated changes and differences in the physical, social, emotional, and cognitive areas of adult development. Prerequisite: PSY 350 and 352 or Instructor’s consent.

PSY 450. Ethical, Legal, and Professional Issues in Psychology (3)

This course covers ethical principles, laws and professional practices of psychologists. Topics include relevant court decisions, involuntary hospitalization, assessment, American Psychological Association (APA) standards, suicide etc. The course also involves an examination of the major legal and ethical issues involved in mental health practice including insanity, involuntary commitment, confidentiality and the duty to warn and the Ethical Principles of the Psychologist as they apply to the conduct of clinical practice as well as scientific research. Prerequisite: PSY 350 or consent of the Instructor.

PSY 451. Marriage and Family Systems (3)

The marriage and family systems course provides an overview of couple, marital, and family relationships from a broad, interdisciplinary perspective. It reviews theories of marriage, myths of marriage and myths of divorce, characteristics of healthy and dysfunctional families, cross-cultural dimensions of marriage and the family, and enrichment programs in marriage and the family processes. The course examines courtship, the role of friendship, love, and commitment in marriage, voluntary childlessness, the transition to parenthood, single parenting, step parenting, gay and lesbian parenting, and care of aging parents. The course further examines the dark side of close marital relationships, with a focus on topics such as marital conflict and conflict resolution, family violence, poverty, separation and divorce, illness, and death and bereavement. Prerequisite: PSY 352 and 450 or consent of the Instructor.