Psychology - PSY
PSY 101 Introduction to Psychology I 3 Credits
The study of behavior from a psychological perspective. Topics include methods of psychological inquiry, motivation and emotion, thinking and language, learning, memory and physiological basis of behavior. Students taking PSY 101 are expected to be available for participation in research studies or equivalent activity.
Offered: every fall.
PSY 102 Introduction to Psychology II 3 Credits
The study of behavior from a psychological perspective. Topics include methods of psychological inquiry, human development, social behavior, psychological testing, personality, psychopathology and psychotherapy. May be taken before PSY 101. Students taking PSY 102 are expected to be available for participation in research studies or equivalent activity.
Fulfills College Core: Field 5 (Social Sciences)
Offered: every spring.
PSY 201 Basic Statistics for Behavioral Sciences 3 Credits
Descriptive statistics, probability, sampling distributions, hypothesis testing and inferential statistics. SPSS for Windows.
Offered: fall & spring.
PSY 202 Research Methods in Psychology 3 Credits
Philosophical measurement and statistical concepts of common methods of experimental and non-experimental research. Design and execution of project required.
Prerequisite: PSY 201 or equivalent.
Offered: fall & spring.
PSY 203 Lifespan Developmental Psychology 3 Credits
This course is designed to give an introductory overview of lifespan developmental psychology. We begin with neonatal development and end with aging and death. At each period in the lifespan we discuss physical, cognitive, emotional, and social development. By the end of the course, you will be able to identify how human psychological development progresses across the lifespan, explain fundamental historical theories of human development, and describe important scientific research in the field. We also discuss the impact discrimination, economic disadvantage, and other social justice issues can have on development.
Offered: every fall & spring.
PSY 229 Industrial/Organizational Psychology 3 Credits
Selection, evaluation and training of personnel, facilitation of group dynamics on the job, leadership, worker motivation and effects of workplace environment on performance and morale. Emphasis on student career development.
Offered: occasionally.
PSY 270 Psychobiography 3 Credits
This course will provide a forum to understand the life of an individual, a literary figure, or a historical period through the use of psychological science. At the same time, it facilitates the critical evaluation of psychological theory by examining where theory and research work in real-world contexts.
Offered: occasionally.
PSY 302 Personality Psychology 3 Credits
Covers modern theories on what personality is, different ways of approaching and assessing personality, how personality develops across the lifespan, causes of individual differences in personality, and the many important things personality influences such as physical and psychological health.
Offered: once a year.
PSY 303 Psychopathology 3 Credits
Overview of the clinical symptoms associated with adult psychiatric disorders identified in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, 5th Edition (DSM-V). Factors associated with the development of the various types of psychopathology are examined and empirically validated treatments for these conditions are reviewed. The impact of mental illness on those afflicted, their family members and society is examined.
Offered: every fall & spring.
PSY 310 Applied Behavioral Analysis 3 Credits
This course focuses on the principles of applied behavior analysis and their application in classroom and home environments. Students receive in-depth instruction in functional behavioral assessments as well as the application of ABA principles to intervention, skill acquisition, and data management.
Offered: once a year.
PSY 312 Autism Spectrum Disorders and Developmental Disabilities 3 Credits
This course provides an in-depth review of the characteristics and features of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and their impact on the adaptive, social, emotional, and behavioral functioning of individuals with ASD. Additionally this course will cover treatments and interventions for individuals with ASD. Attention will be given to etiology, myths, assessment, research-based interventions, program models, and legal issues.
Offered: once a year.
PSY 318 Social Psychology 3 Credits
This course will examine scientific research on how individuals' thoughts and emotions influence social behavior. Topics will include persuasion, stereotyping and prejudice, social identity, aggression, and relationships.
Offered: once a year.
PSY 320 Cultural Psychology 3 Credits
Humans learn from our cultures in all aspects of our lives. Choosing a mate, political attitudes, prejudices, and even basic perceptions all depend on cultural learning. In all our actions we rely on ideas, values, strategies, feelings, and goals that have been shaped by our cultures. We cover both the psychological universals and the variations across cultures.
Fulfills College Core: Core Capstone
Offered: fall & spring.
PSY 323 Motivation and Emotion 3 Credits
Covers behavioral, cognitive and physiological theories of motivation and emotion with special focus on humanistic motivational theories. Through course activities and assignments, students will apply the theories learned in class to their own behaviors, examine the nature and progress made on their personal goals during the semester and understand the dynamic interplay between goal- directed behavior and emotion.
Offered: spring.
PSY 324 Cognitive Psychology 3 Credits
The psychological processes that enable us to acquire, store, retrieve and use knowledge. Topics include perception, attention, memory, language, thinking, and decision making. Applications in education, psychopathology.
Offered: once a year.
PSY 329 Leadership and Motivation 3 Credits
Determinants of leadership effectiveness, factors influencing effectiveness in maintaining leadership position, influencing followers and accomplishing group objectives. Emphasis on communication competencies, group interaction, experiential learning.
Prerequisite: PSY 101 or PSY 102, & junior or senior standing.
Offered: spring.
PSY 334 Child, Family and Community Psychology 3 Credits
Focuses on the prevention of mental, emotional and behavioral disorders through the study of family and community influences on the developing child. Risk and preventive factors are examined and interventions at the family and community level are explored. Introduces students to the field of community psychology and offers meaningful ways for students to apply concepts. Also counts for CRJ credit.
Offered: every fall.
PSY 340 Stereotyping and Prejudice 3 Credits
This course will examine stereotyping, prejudice, and discrimination from a social psychological perspective. This will include a focus on both individual differences and situational influences on stereotyping and prejudice, as well as a consideration of the cognitive and emotional factors that can promote or inhibit these processes.
Fulfills College Core: Diversity
Offered: Occasionally.
PSY 352 Learning Psychology 3 Credits
This course focuses on historical and contemporary perspectives of learning, with special attention given to behavioral, cognitive, social cognitive, and constructivist approaches. Biological, motivational and affective aspects of learning are also presented. Relevant basic and applied research will be covered, along with practical applications for daily living.
Offered: occasionally.
PSY 360 Psychology and Law 3 Credits
Examines issues of considerable importance to the criminal justice system using empirical techniques from psychology. Topics include the conviction of the innocent, lie detection, the death penalty, the insanity defense, civil commitment, eyewitness memory, false and repressed memories, children in the courtroom, jury decision-making, and expert testimony.
Offered: spring of even-numbered years.
PSY 365 Psychology of Aging 3 Credits
This course examines the developmental changes experienced during late life. We begin by examining the demography and science of aging. We then turn to the normative physical, cognitive, and psychosocial changes that come with aging. We also consider variability in normative age related changes. We examine the fine threshold between function and disability as well as important issues in late life such as long-term care and death & dying. Throughout the semester we engage with these topics with a variety of hands-on learning and lecture experiences to augment our excellent text. In particular, we address the unique challenges of aging for marginalized groups in a series of immersive projects.
Fulfills College Core: Core Capstone
Offered: occasionally.
PSY 370 School Psychology 3 Credits
This course is an introduction to the field of school psychology including historical foundations, current issues, principles of assessment and service delivery models. This course focuses heavily on applying current research and evidence-based practice for children with behavioral, emotional, developmental and learning problems in schools. Issues involving schools as systems, cultural diversity, human exceptionality, professional standards, legal/ethical considerations, and the interrelationship between general and special education are emphasized.
Prerequisite: PSY 203.
Offered: every fall.
PSY 373 Behavior Modification 3 Credits
A study of the principles of conditioning and learning as applied to practical approaches of behavior management and change. Students will learn how to conduct a functional analysis of problematic behavior and how to apply evidence based behavior-change techniques. Self-regulation and cognitive-behavioral techniques will also be discussed.
Offered: every fall.
PSY 375 Psychology of Addiction 3 Credits
This course aims to deepen and broaden students’ understanding of addiction. Specific attention will be paid to investigating the similarities and differences between chemical/substance addictions and behavioral/process addictions. Addiction to tobacco, alcohol, hard drugs, food eating, gambling, internet (and other electronic media), shopping, love, sex, exercise and work will be examined. The etiology of addiction will be studied, including biological and genetic factors, family and community issues, and societal and cultural influences. The consequences of addiction, as well as prevention and treatment approaches, will be examined at the individual, family, community, and societal levels. This course will draw on current research in the area of addiction, and will emphasize critical thinking and analysis of the current controversies in the field.
Offered: every spring.
PSY 377 Psychology of Violence and Aggression 3 Credits
This course will focus on violence and aggression using a multidisciplinary approach. We will explore developmental, psychological, sociological, physiological, and cultural theories that are used to understand the roots and consequences of violence and aggression. We will examine aggression and violent behavior across the lifespan, exploring the etiology of violence and aggression. More specifically, the course will help students examine the interactions between biology, psychology and our social world that may place individuals at risk for engaging in aggressive or violent acts or may serve as protective factors for violence and aggression. Through this understanding we will examine responses to and interventions for aggression and violence. We will also explore the impact on the victims and representations of aggression and violence in media.
Offered: every fall.
PSY 384 Child & Adolescent Psychopathology 3 Credits
This course will introduce students to the signs and symptoms of various psychiatric disorders of childhood and adolescence (e.g., conduct disorder, ADHD). Factors correlated with the development of these disorders are reviewed and empirically validated treatments for these conditions are discussed.
Prerequisite: A grade of C- or higher in PSY 101, PSY 102, and PSY 303.
Offered: every fall.
PSY 388 Environmental Psychology 3 Credits
This course will engage students in learning about their relationship with our natural world. We will investigate the ways in which behavioral scientists are studying the connection between psychology and nature. We will explore the benefits to being outdoors as well as the challenges with coping with our individual, community, and species impact on the climate crisis. We will use the lens of developmental science to study how humans adopt attitudes and behaviors that support our environment, and work to understand strategies to combat structural barriers in equitable access to green spaces and wilderness. Throughout the semester, students will learn by doing as we partner with local community organizations to help assess and promote regional efforts to care for our environment.
Offered: fall of even-numbered years.
PSY 391 Biopsychology of Stress 3 Credits
This course is designed to give students an understanding of the anatomical, physiological and psychological components and effects of short-term and long-term stress. Material includes effects of stress on cardiovascular, digestive, reproductive, endocrine, and immune systems as well as factors that modulate the stress response.
Offered: once a year.
PSY 392 Prosocial Behavior 3 Credits
This course will examine the scientific evidence for what motivates people to behave in ways that benefit others. Topics include altruism, psychopathy, preferences for fairness, and the neuroscientific underpinnings of morality.
Fulfills College Core: Justice
Offered: Fall
PSY 395 Assessment in the Behavioral Sciences 3 Credits
Addresses fundamentals of classic test theory, scaling, reliability, and validity and provides an overview of measures of intelligence, achievement, and personality for clinical, educational, and research use.
Prerequisite: PSY 201.
Offered: fall & spring.
PSY 397 Neurobiology of Mental Disorders 3 Credits
Examines the role of the putative biological underpinnings of the symptoms, etiology and treatment of various mental disorders. Includes introduction to neuroanatomy, neurophsyiology, and neurotransitter systems.
Prerequisite: PSY 101 or PSY 102, or permission of instructor.
Offered: every fall.
PSY 398 Neurobiology of Childhood Mental Disorders 3 Credits
This course is a sequel to Neurobiology of Mental Disorders and focuses on the neurobiological underpinnings of several developmental and other mental disorders affecting children today. There is extensive discussion of the role of a variety of prenatal and postnatal stressors in the development of mental disorders.
Offered: every spring.
PSY 399 Social Neuroscience 3 Credits
This course will provide an introduction to the field of social neuroscience. This will include a focus on how social processes are implemented at the neural level, and also how neural mechanisms help give rise to social phenomena and cultural experiences. Specifically, we will review theories and methods guiding social neuroscience, as well as psychological research examining the brain basis of processes such as emotion, group identity, and social decision making.
Offered: spring of odd-numbered years.
PSY 401 Advanced Statistics Seminar 3 Credits
Topics include bivariate and multiple regression, least-squares estimation, model-building techniques, assumptions and diagnostics, mediation and moderation, the logistic model and exploratory factor analytic techniques. SPSS will be used throughout. Students will conduct a final research project through secondary analysis of a large national data set.
Prerequisite: Minimum grade of B- in PSY 201.
Offered: every fall.
PSY 402 Applying Research Methods in Psychology 3 Credits
This course is designed to provide students with hands-on practice with experimental research methods in psychology. Students will learn how to plan, conduct, and analyze their own experimental research, and develop the knowledge and skills to apply and critique the scientific method across a variety of settings.
Prerequisite: PSY 202.
Offered: every spring.
PSY 410 Fundamentals of Human Neuropsychology 3 Credits
An advanced course that provides students with a perspective on the neural mechanisms underlying behavior. Material covered in the course will include (but not be limited to) structure and function of the brain from the cellular to the structural levels, brain imaging techniques, and brain development, plasticity and neurological disorders.
Prerequisite: Minimum grade of C in PSY 101 or 102 or BIO 111 or BIO 114 or BIO 345 or Permission of Instructor.
Offered: spring.
PSY 452 Techniques of Counseling 3 Credits
Examines the therapeutic relationship and traditional counseling and psychotherapy skills. Provides the opportunity to practice counseling strategies in an encouraging and supportive environment. Assists in the development of effective communication skills applicable in professional, general human services, and nonprofessional helper roles. Assessment and treatment strategies, used to address the most common disorders encountered in counseling, are studied.
Offered: every fall.
PSY 453 Theories of Counseling 3 Credits
Explores classic and contemporary theories of counseling. Cultural competency and empirical research are examined. Counseling approaches for specific diagnoses are discussed. Relates theories to students’ personal experiences and observations of others. Assists students with exploring their personal views regarding therapeutic change.
Offered: spring.
PSY 495 Guided Research in Psychology 1-6 Credits
Opportunity for students interested in designing and conducting empirical research to collaborate with faculty in research activities leading to undergraduate or professional conference presentations and possible publication.
Prerequisite: PSY 101, PSY 102, PSY 201, PSY 202, junior or senior status, & permission of instructor.
Offered: fall, spring, & summer.
PSY 497 Advanced Research Methods in Psychology 3 Credits
Intended for advanced students with the interest of understanding applied data management, analysis, and open science. Students will identify a dataset they want to work with over the semester and preregister and archive their project rationale, hypotheses, and analytic plan following best practices in open science. Students will present their project at Ignatian Scholarship Day. The course will provide an introduction to the programming language R and to the Open Science Framework.
Offered: spring of even-numbered years.
PSY 498 Psychology Practicum 3-6 Credits
Practicum allows students to engage in an extensive real-world learning experience in an organizational context relevant to Psychology. Placements include positions in such areas as schools, human resources, marketing, social services, as well as medical and forensic settings. Students increase their mastery of specific areas of Psychology by using theories and practices in these applied settings. The opportunity to work at a professional site helps students develop appropriate work standards, explore career options, and build mentor and other network relationships in the workplace. Students are required to spend 120 hours at their practicum site over the course of the semester. Supervision is provided by an on-site staff as well as a faculty advisor. For more information regarding this course and the application process, please contact the Psychology Department.
Prerequisite: permission of chair or supervising faculty member. Restriction: Second semester junior or senior status; 3.0 minimum GPA.
Offered: every fall, spring, & summer.
PSY 499 Independent Study 3 Credits
Independent studies allow in-depth study of a specific topic and are most often reserved for seniors who cannot otherwise fulfill a graduation requirement. Independent studies require an application and approval by the associate dean.
Prerequisite: permission of the instructor, department chair, & associate dean.
Offered: fall, spring, & summer.
