Psychology Courses
Psychology | Advanced

Psychology Courses

100 General Psychology. An overview of the facts, principles and methods of the science of behavior and psychological processes. Topics typically include learning, research methodology, memory, perception, cognition, psychobiology, social psychology, abnormal behavior and psychotherapy. Students may be required to participate as subjects in a limited number of experiments conducted by faculty members or advanced students (or to complete an alternative assignment). Fall, spring.

205 Developmental Psychology. Theory and research on psychological development from birth through adulthood.

206 Health Psychology. Behavioral factors in health and illness. Topics typically include stress, prevention of illness, pain and patient-practitioner interaction. Applications are made to specific illnesses.

211 Statistics for Psychology. The application of elementary research design and descriptive and inferential statistics to psychological data. Students can expect to gain first-hand familiarity with basic statistical analyses.

212 Research Methods for Non-Majors. An introduction to the principles of psychological research and elementary statistics. Please note, this course cannot be used toward a major in psychology.

214 Social Psychology. Individual behavior as it is influenced by the behavior of others within a variety of social contexts. Topics typically include affiliation, attitude and behavior change, interpersonal attraction, social influence, prosocial behavior and aggression.

216 Human Sexuality. The physiological, psychological and social dimensions of sexual development and behavior. Spring. Please note, this course cannot be used toward a major or minor in Psychology.

265 Research Methods for Majors. An introduction to, and application of, the scientific method in psychology. Laboratory periods are directed toward understanding scientific methodology and developing research skills.

300 Topics in Psychology. An in-depth study of a special topic, which varies from semester to semester. Recent courses have focused on current psychotherapies, theory and research in humor, and psychology in the cinema. May be repeated with a different topic.

303 Abnormal Psychology. The study of behavioral and emotional disturbance. Current research and theory are applied to the description, assessment, causes and treatment of psychopathology. Students will complete a service learning project at an agency.

304 Theories and Principles of Psychotherapy. The nature of counseling and psychotherapy, with an emphasis on dominant theories, research, current practice and ethics. The basic counseling skills of empathy and listening are covered. Instruction will include therapists speaking to the class or students visiting their offices. Students will also work on a project in their area of interest.

306 Psychology of Race and Gender. The experiences, effects and social realities of race and gender will be explored. A psychological focus will be used to clarify the causes and outcomes of racism and sexism.

307 Science, Pseudoscience and the Paranormal. Analysis of claims of the paranormal, with emphasis on critical thinking, scientific methodology and alternative explanations advanced by skeptics.

311 Personality Theory and Research. An examination of various approaches toward understanding personality including Freudian, humanistic, trait, behavioral/social learning and cognitive. The research generated by each of the theories will also be examined.

313 Cognitive Psychology. The study of cognitive processes. Topics include perception, attention, memory, problem solving, reasoning, and language.

322 Learning Theory. An examination of research findings in the area of learning; attention is directed to theoretical research results from experiments using animal or human subjects, rather than applications to non-laboratory situations.

329 History of Psychology. An examination of the philosophical and scientific concepts important to the development of psychology through the work and biographies of historically significant contributors to the field.

341 Physiological Psychology. Biological bases of behavior, including topics such as basic neuroanatomy, neural transmission, sensory transduction, genetics, sexual behavior, emotion, hunger, sleep, learning and memory.

348 Industrial/Organizational Psychology. The application of psychological theories and research to problems associated with the world of work. Topics typically include research methodology, motivation, job satisfaction, personnel selection and placement, and leadership. Also offered as Business 348.


Advanced and Special Classes

199 Exploratory Internship. Open to junior or senior psychology majors.

299 Experimental Course.

399 Professional Internship. Open to junior or senior psychology majors.

440 Current Research in Psychology: MPA. Exposure to current experimental research in psychology. Students attend presentations at the Midwestern Psychological Association annual meeting which usually takes place in Chicago in early May. Reading from current journals is also required. Students enrolling for 2 semester hours are required to do an additional integrative project.

445 Senior Research. The culminating experience for students majoring in psychology. Under the supervision of a faculty member, each student selects a research topic of interest. Published literature on the topic is reviewed and a formal research proposal is prepared. The student conducts the research and presents the findings at a public poster session.

451 Independent Study. Supervised reading or research in an area of special interest to the student; the project may be theoretical or experimental.

499 Advanced Experimental Course.