Psychology Course Descriptions

PSYC - 101. General Psychology (4)

This course introduces the methods, facts, and theories of modern psychology. Survey of learning, motivation, development, personality, abnormal and social behavior. Offered every semester.

PSYC - 195. Freshman Seminar (4)

An interesting introduction to topics in the field of psychology, with an emphasis on general psychology.

PSYC - 210. Lifespan Development (4)

Prerequisite: PSY - 101. Physical and psychological growth and development from conception to old age and death, emphasizing current theory and research and its application to nursing concerns. (Limited to students in the School of Nursing.) Offered every semester.

PSYC - 260. Psychological Statistics (4)

The rationale and methods of statistical inference through two-way analysis of variance and correlation. Offered every semester.

PSYC - 265. Research Design (4)

Prerequisites: PSY - 101, PSY - 260, RHET - 301. Lecture/laboratory course emphasizing various methods of psychological research. Includes research report writing, application of statistics, and computer usage. Requires concurrent registration in affiliated lecture and lab sections. Offered every semester.

PSYC - 270. Biological Psychology (4)

Prerequisite: PSY - 101. An introduction to the biological correlates of behavior. Offered every semester.

PSYC - 301. Diversity Issues in Psychology (4)

Prerequisite: PSY - 101. This course will address the issues of diversity as explored in the discipline of psychology. The focus will depend on the expertise and interests of the faculty member. Details are available from the Department of Psychology whenever the course is offered. Offered intermittently.

PSYC - 305. Psychology of Ethnic Groups in the United States (4)

Prerequisite: PSY - 101 or permission of instructor. Study of major mental health and related social issues facing individuals from different cultural groups. Attention will be focused on four major ethnic groups in North America: African Americans, Hispanics/Latinos, Asian Americans, and American Indians. Offered every year.

PSYC - 307. Cross-Cultural Psychology (4)

Prerequisite: PSY - 101 or permission of instructor. This course increases understanding of the similarities and differences among cultures through experimental evidence, group experience, and class discussion. Offered every year.

PSYC - 310. Social Psychology (4)

Prerequisite: PSY - 101 . The study of individual motives, cognitions, attitudes; the role of the individual in groups and society; behavior as influenced by social forces. Offered every semester. Cross Listed With: SOC - 321

PSYC - 312. Child Development (4)

Prerequisite: PSY - 101. Psychological development from birth to adolescence, emphasizing current theory and research. Topics may include perception, cognition, social understanding, language acquisition, attachment, gender role development. Offered every semester.

PSYC - 313. Abnormal Psychology (4)

Prerequisites: PSY - 101, PSY - 270 . BIOL - 115 can be substituted for PSY 270 for ESS majors.. An intensive study of abnormal behavior, emphasizing definitions, etiologies, symptoms, dynamics, and treatment. Offered every semester.

PSYC - 317. Asian American Psychology (4)

Prerequisite: PSY - 101. Comprehensive survey of current psychological issues facing the Asian American community. Topics include family issues, acculturation, ethnic identity, psychopathology, and culturally-responsive treatment strategies. Offered every year.

PSYC - 318. Theories of Personality (4)

Prerequisite: PSY - 101. A review of approaches currently supported in contemporary psychology so as to understand normal human personality in terms of theory, assessment, application, and relevant research. Offered every semester.

PSYC - 319. Learning, Memory and Cognition (4)

Prerequisite: PSY - 101. An overview of theories of learning, memory, and cognition with an emphasis on human information processing. Offered every semester.

PSYC - 321. Clinical Psychology (4)

Prerequisites: PSY - 101, PSY - 270, PSY - 313. Introduction to the profession of clinical psychology. Career paths, psychodiagnosis, psychotherapy, and community mental health. Offered intermittently.

PSYC - 322. Health Psychology (4)

Prerequisites: PSY - 101, PSY - 270. This course addresses the ways in which an individual's psychology may influence his or her adjustment to illness; and the prevention of illness through health-promoting practices. Offered every year.

PSYC - 323. Interviewing (4)

Prerequisite: PSY - 101. Interviewing in business and human service settings, including screening, selection, and evaluation. General communication skills (verbal and nonverbal) are emphasized, not psychotherapeutic techniques. Offered intermittently.

PSYC - 327. Organizational and Group Processes (4)

Prerequisite: PSY - 101. An introduction to the psychology of group behavior including work behavior, emphasizing personnel decisions, training and career development, job satisfaction, supervision and leadership, the work environment, and research methods in psychology. Offered intermittently.

PSYC - 328. Child Psychopathology (4)

Prerequisites: PSY - 101, PSY - 312 . The dynamics of maladjustment and psychiatric disorders in children and adolescents. Origins, treatment, and preventive measures. Offered intermittently.

PSYC - 331. Psychology of Sexuality (4)

Prerequisite: PSY - 101. A general survey of the sociological, psychological and physiological factors related to sexual behavior. The course examines theoretical issues and empirical findings from scientific sources. Offered intermittently.

PSYC - 335. Psychology of Gender (4)

Prerequisite: PSY - 101. This course reviews the social-psychological research literature, including the impact of biological and environmental factors on sex differences. Offered intermittently.

PSYC - 336. History and Systems (4)

Prerequisite: PSY - 101. This course surveys the development of modern psychological thought from an historical perspective. Offered intermittently.

PSYC - 339. Adulthood and Aging (4)

Prerequisite: PSY - 101. This course examines psychological change in adulthood and old age. Offered intermittently.

PSYC - 344. Motivation and Emotion (4)

Prerequisites: PSY - 101, PSY - 270. Theoretical and empirical review of the psychological and physiological bases of human motivation, as well as a systematic review of the field of emotion with an emphasis on major theories and current research approaches. Offered intermittently.

PSYC - 350. Perspectives in Psychology (4)

Prerequisite: PSY - 101. This course covers a variety of areas, the focus depending on the expertise of the instructor. Historical perspective and empirical research are stressed. Offered intermittently.

PSYC - 351. Human Neuropsychology (4)

Prerequisites: PSY - 101, PSY - 270. This course introduces the student to the neural bases of mental functioning. It emphasizes both lower-order functions such as motor control and attention, and higher-order functions such as memory and emotion. Offered intermittently.

PSYC - 380. Sensation and Perception (Lab) (4)

Prerequisites: PSY - 101, PSY - 260, PSY - 265, PSY - 270. An in-depth study of the psychophysical and physiological bases of perception. Offered intermittently.

PSYC - 381. Experimental Developmental Psychology (Lab) (4)

Prerequisites: PSY - 101, PSY - 260, PSY - 265, PSY - 312. Experimental methods used in studying child development. Offered intermittently.

PSYC - 382. Experimental Social Psychology (Lab) (4)

Prerequisites: PSY - 101, PSY - 260, PSY - 265, PSY - 310. Advanced study of research methods in social psychology including surveys, experiments, simulations, content analysis, and archival research. Offered intermittently.

PSYC - 383. Cognition (Lab) (4)

Prerequisites: PSY - 101, PSY - 260, PSY - 265, PSY - 319. Discussion of basic principles and research paradigms in learning, memory, perception, and cognition. Offered intermittently.

PSYC - 386. Tests and Measurement (Lab) (4)

Prerequisites: PSY - 101, PSY - 260, PSY - 265. The theory, construction, and application of psychological tests, including intelligence, aptitude, personality, interest, and clinical measures. Offered intermittently.

PSYC - 388. Advanced Research Methods (Lab) (4)

Prerequisites: PSY - 101, PSY - 260, PSY - 265, RHET - 301. Advanced study of research methods in psychology, including a review of the scientific approach, research design and measurement, and research ethics. The research focus will depend on the expertise of the instructor. Offered every semester.

PSYC - 392. Advanced Topics Seminar in Psychology (4)

Prerequisite: Junior standing and permission of instructor. A seminar designed to explore in-depth issues in an area of psychology. Emphasis will be on the latest trends and theories in psychology and reflect the interests of the instructor. Junior or Senior standing required. Offered intermittently.

PSYC - 396. Psychology Practicum (1-4)

Prerequisite: PSY - 101 and Junior standing.. Service Learning in a variety of community settings relevant to psychology (e.g., hospitals, mental health and youth guidance centers, old age homes, pre-school and day care centers, and other public service organizations). All Practicum units must be done in one semester, unless by permission of the instructor. Offered every semester.

PSYC - 399. Directed Reading and Research; Independent Study (1-8)

Prerequisites: PSY - 101, PSY - 260, PSY - 265, RHET - 301. Psychology majors initiate and complete a significant reading and research project under the direct supervision of faculty. Permission to take this course must be obtained in writing from the instructor, department chair, and dean. Offered every semester with instructor approval.

PSYC - 470. Honors Thesis (2)

Prerequisites: PSY - 101, PSY - 260, PSY - 265. Limited to students pursuing honors in Psychology. Over the course of the semester students will complete an honors thesis which is guided by the faculty. Students will be encouraged to present their research at an undergraduate research seminar. Requires permission of Department Chair. Offered every semester.

PSYC - 498. Thesis Development Seminar (4)

Prerequisites: PSY - 101, PSY - 260, PSY - 265, PSY - 388, RHET - 301. Limited to students pursuing an Honors in Psychology; admission is by application letter or approval of instructor. In this seminar students prepare a research proposal, including an IRB application, a literature review, and a detailed description of how the independent and dependent variables will be measured. Students will also critique the proposals of class members. Offered Spring semester.

PSYC - 499. Honors Thesis Seminar (4)

Prerequisites: PSY - 101, PSY - 260, PSY - 265, PSY - 388, PSY - 498, RHET - 301. Limited to students pursuing an Honors in Psychology. In this seminar students execute the research proposal developed in PSYC 498, including data gathering and analysis, as well as preparation of a written thesis and poster suitable for oral presentation. This course is completed in addition to the 48 units required for the psychology major. Offered Fall semester.