PD212 Career Planning and Professional Development (3) This course focuses on the career development process.
Students will identify the physical tools and broaden the communication skills needed to seek and acquire an in-ternship and/or longer-term employment. Through group and individual exercises, written work and a culminating professional portfolio they will develop strategies and techniques essential to the effective navigation of the workplace. PR: Sophomore status.
PD235 Multiculturalism in Professional Life (3)
This course assumes that all professional fields require and expect college graduates to be prepared for employment in multicultural workplaces. Through an analysis of culture as a social construction, students will explore the origins of beliefs, biases, and values and consider their effects on current behavior. The course will examine how experiences of oppression and privilege play a role in the construction of truth and influence one’s personal and professional development. PR: Sophomore status.
PD240 Cornerstones of Professionalism (3)
This course will examine some of the personal, social, and behavioral attributes that inform successful, meaningful, and ethical professional lives. Students will reflect on values, standards of performance, interpersonal skills, and appropriate use of new social media and technology and develop codes of professional behavior appropriate to their disciplines. PR: (SS 107 or PS 101) & EN 105.
Psychology
PS101 Introduction to Psychology (3)
This course introduces students to the field of psychology and the scientific study of human behavior, thoughts and feelings. Topics covered include human development, personality, psychopathology, stress management, con-sciousness, motivation, emotion and social behavior.
PS221 Human Development I: Childhood and Adolescence (3)
This course focuses on the psychological aspects of human development from conception through adolescence.
Major theories explaining human development from the physiological, cognitive, personality, and social perspectives will be studied. Fundamental issues in development such as nature vs. nurture, psychological stages, attachment, intelligence, gender roles, and moral development will be given special attention. In addition, students will begin to explore the various methodologies used in developemental research. PR: PS101.
PS222 Human Development II: Adulthood and Aging (3) This course provides a life-span developmental perspective on the adult years. Primary elements of adult experience such as social roles, relationships, career choices, life satisfaction, gender issues, spirituality, retirement, physical decline, and death and dying will be analyzed from a developmental point of view. Students will be encouraged to distinguish among social stereotypes, theories, and research-based information. PR: PS221.
PS230 Social Psychology (3)
This course focuses on the psychological dimensions of an individual’s thoughts, feelings and behavior within the broader social context. Theories dealing with human phenomena such as social attitudes, stereotype formation, inter-personal relationships, conformity, obedience, impression formation, aggression, and altruism will be critically examined. Students will also be exposed to the findings of classic and contemporary social psychology experimental research. PR: PS 101.
PS233 Community Psychology (3)
Community psychology is concerned with person-environment interactions and the ways society affects individual and community functioning. This course focuses on social issues, social institutions, and other set-tings that influence individuals, groups and organizations.
Relationships between environmental conditions and the development of health and well-being of all members of a community will be examined and ways to facilitate psychological competence and empowerment, prevent disorder, and promote social change will be evaluated.
PR: PS101.
PS235 Abnormal Psychology (3)
This course focuses on the study of abnormal psychology and current psychiatric diagnostic systems. Students will explore different theoretical models of mental illness and the most recent research findings in the field. Special at-tention will be given to the ethical and societal concerns surrounding the diagnostic process. PR: PS101.
PS240 Psychology of Adjustment (3)
This course will explore the themes that govern psycho-logical adjustment and the human potential for coping in the face of both extreme adversity and the constant stress-ors of everyday life. Adjustment will be looked at from a variety of theoretical viewpoints within the context of culture, personality, values, and pragmatic concerns.
Concepts of happiness and self-fulfillment will be examined with special attention being given to the contemporary media explosion of self-help resources and advice. PR: PS101.
PR=prerequisite(s)
90
Course Descriptions
PS247 Human Sexuality (3)
This course provides an in-depth study of sexual attitudes and behavior across history and culture. Special emphasis will be placed on contemporary norms as expressed through the popular media. PR: PS101.
PS248 Positive Psychology (3)
This course will provide an overview of the field of positive psychology focusing on the study of happiness, optimism and self-efficacy. In addition, students will learn how to apply positive psychology techniques to a variety of counseling situations. Specific attention will be paid to identifying personal strengths that can be used to thrive in the face of negative emotions such as depression and anxiety. PR: PS101.
PS250 Human Relations (3)
This course will introduce students to a variety of theories in the field of human relations. Students will have an opportunity to develop their interpersonal skills by using the group as a microcosm of society. Theory will be inte-grated with classroom exercises as part of an experiential approach to learning. Topics will include communication skills, conflict resolution and interpersonal effectiveness.
PR; PS101.
PS327 Psychology of Health and Illness (3)
This course applies concepts in psychology to the under-standing of health and illness. Biological bases, stress and coping, motivation, wellness, and developing empathic relationships with patients are some of the main themes examined within the context of psychological theory and practice. PR: PS2xx.
PS330 Women’s Issues: Psychological Perspectives (3) This course examines the psychology of women and the construct of gender from a feminist-psychological and social constructivist theoretical framework. The course also explores the ways that race, ethnicity, class, sexual orientation, age, and physical ability interact and operate at individual, interpersonal and cultural levels to modify women’s experiences. Finally, the course examines the social and political implications of our cultural under-standings of women and gender and raises questions about the possibilities of psychological and social change.
PR: PS221 or PS240 or PS230.
PS331 Theories of Personality (3)
This course will examine some of the prominent classical and modern theories of personality. Theories will be evalu-ated within their historical contexts and as reflections of broader worldviews as evidenced in contemporaneous philosophy, literature and politics. Students will also be exposed to both the methodology and findings of current personality research. PR: PS221 or PS222 or PS235 or PS240.
PS332 Men’s Issues: Psychological Perspectives (3) This course examines the psychology of men and the construct of gender from a psychological and social constructivist theoretical framework. The course also explores the ways that race, ethnicity, class, sexual orientation, age, and physical ability interact and operate at individual, interpersonal and cultural levels to modify men’s experiences. Finally, the course examines the social and political implications of our cultural understandings of men and gender and raises questions about the possibilities of psychological and social change. PR: PS2XX.
PS335 Psycho-Cinema (3)
The popular media increasingly present mental illness in entertainment. Psychological disorders are often misrepre-sented for the purpose of drama and result in misconcep-tions that affect how people with mental illness are viewed and treated by society. This course is designed to compare the scientific understanding of abnormal behavior by reviewing clinical diagnostic and assessment procedures and treatments with the entertainment media’s depictions of mental disorders. The course will address issues related to mental illness in contemporary society (e.g., social stigma, race and cultural factors, forensic psychology, etc.).
PR: PS235.
PS336 Family Psychology (3)
This course provides the student with an introduction to the field of Family Psychology. Students will be exposed to a variety of approaches to studying families, including systemic, intergenerational, psychoanalytic, experiential, structural, behavioral and post-modern theories. Case studies, real and fictional, and the exploration of students’
own families of origin will be used to demonstrate the various viewpoints. PR: PS221 or PS235 or PS240.
PS337 Theories and Applications of Counseling and Psychotherapy (3)
This course provides students with a comprehensive examination of the major approaches to counseling and psychotherapy, with a focus on both theory and technique.
Students will be challenged to critically evaluate various schools of thought, including the psychoanalytic, behav-ioral, humanistic, cognitive, and post-modern. Transcripts and video segments of live sessions will be used to demon-strate the various methods. PR: PS235 or PS240.
PS340 Psychology and Prejudice (3)
This course explores the psychosocial origins of bias and discrimination. It will examine psychology’s contribution to the understanding of prejudice, with a focus on studying the multiple psychological factors involved in its development.
The second half of the course will analyze the interaction between psychology as a profession and the social mecha-nisms that create prejudice and discrimination.
PR: PS2xx.
Course Descriptions
PS343 Problems of Childhood and Adolescence (3) This course will provide an overview of the psychological disorders that can affect children and adolescents.
The etiology of these disorders will be studied from a bio-psycho-social model. In addition, special attention will be paid to the values inherent in defining appropriate behavior for children and adolescents within historical and multicultural perspectives. PR: PS221.
PS344 Mental Health and the Law: Forensic Psychology (3) This course explores the many faces of forensic psychology.
Students will examine the roles of the forensic psychologist as expert witness, criminal profiler, jury profiler, child custody evaluator, and forensic researcher. In addition, psychological theories about human behavior which attempt to explain criminal, victim, witness, or jury behavior will be studied and critically evaluated.
PR: PS2xx or CJ2xx.
PS349 Research Level I: Introduction to Research (3) This course introduces students to a view of psychology as a science and to both scholarly and experimental research requirements. Students will learn about the scientific method, research design, and professional journal review.
Special consideration will be given to professional, ethi-cal, and legal guidelines for research. PR: PS221 or PS235.
PS350 Research Level II: Methods and Statistics (3) The level II research course is a more advanced study of the computational and statistical methods used in psychological research. There will be testing of hypotheses through statistical analyses such as t-tests, ANOVA, and correlation methods. The interpretation of statistical analysis will also be investigated. PR: PS349.
PS355 Art of Helping (3)
This course focuses on developing the interpersonal micro-skills needed for work in the counseling, clinical and human services professions. Students’ training in the art of helping will be facilitated through the use of direct practice, self-reflection, peer feedback, instructional reading, video demonstrations, and critical analysis. In addition, special attention will be given to the develop-ment of multicultural sensitivity as a basic and necessary foundation for all professional helpers. PR: PS2xx.
PS360 Brain and Behavior (4)
This course focuses on the complexities of the human brain and the interactive loop of brain, environment and human behavior. Students will study the reciprocal effects of internal structures and external events on both brain and behavior. The analyses of lifelong brain development from conception through old age and of current research trends will be topics revisited throughout the semester.
The lecture component will be enhanced by laboratory sessions. PR: (PS221 or PS235) & junior status.
PS363 Special Topics in Social Psychology (3) This course will focus its lens on an alternating set of topics in the area of social psychology that requires specialized knowledge, yet provides a fertile ground for exploring some of the fundamental issues and themes that govern understanding the impact of social situations on human behavior. Within the contexts of social thinking, influence, and relations, topics to be studied include heroism, presentation of self, the psychology of persuasion, aggression and peacekeeping. PR: PS230 or PS233.
PS365 Special Topics in Clinical Psychology (3) This course will focus its lens on an alternating set of topics in the clinical area that require specialized knowledge on the one hand, yet provide a fertile ground for exploring the fundamental issues and themes that confront all mental health clinicians, on the other.
Topics to be studied in alternating semesters include multicultural counseling; spirituality; grief counseling and bereavement; psychopharmacology; specific movements such as psychoanalysis, humanism, or post-modernism;
personality disorders and their treatment; and expressive therapies. PR: PS235.
PS367 Special Topics in Developmental Psychology (3) This course will focus its lens on an alternating set of topics in the area of human development that require spe-cialized knowledge on the one hand, yet provide a fertile ground for exploring some of the fundamental issues and themes that govern understanding human development across the lifespan. Topics to be studied include gerontol-ogy, adolescence, moral development, parenting, gender roles, child abuse, bullying, and resilience. PR: PS221 or PS222.
PS410 Seminar in Developmental Psychology (3) This course will focus on major developmental issues facing children and families, using a lifespan approach.
Biological, cognitive, social, family, and cultural factors will be reviewed. Students will explore areas of develop-ment, developmental theories, developmental research, and important developmental issues. Emphasis will be on application of developmental concepts in general and in relation to clinical practice. PR: PS222.
PS420 Seminar in Clinical Psychology (3)
This seminar course is an intensive study of the nature of psychopathology and clinical psychology. Issues such as the past and current clinical theories of psychopathology, the nature and causes of specific illnesses such as schizo-phrenia, the current status of mental health treatment, clinical methods of assessment, and the community and mental health systems will be addressed. This course is designed to prepare students for graduate study in psychol-ogy. PR: PS235 & PS349.
PR=prerequisite(s)
92
Course Descriptions
PS422 Seminar in Ethical Conflicts in Psychology (3) This course will provide an in-depth review of the ethical dilemmas facing psychologists in their various professional roles and in the multitude of settings in which they work.
The class will also examine the relationships among personal, professional and legal standards, especially when they seem to conflict. Appropriate decision-making processes that psycholo-gists engage in to arrive at satisfactory resolutions to these problems will be demonstrated and examined. PR: PS349.
PS460 Seminar in History of Psychology (3)
This course will provide an in-depth critical review of some of the major movements and developments in the field of psychology over the past 150 years. Trends and theories will be analyzed in terms of their historical and socio-cultural roots and for the effects they have had on shaping the values and attitudes of contemporary societies. PR: PS 349 & PS3xx.
PS497 Honors Project in Psychology (3)
In this individually designed course, students will have the opportunity to create an independent project or work col-laboratively in the area of psychology, selecting from a variety of activities including library and/or experimental research, creative production, theoretical development, or fieldwork, under the supervision of a psychology professor. At the comple-tion of the project, each student will, in addicomple-tion, prepare a presentation and paper describing the project, its scope, process and findings. Students may join their projects to a faculty area of ongoing academic or professional interest. PR: PS 349, senior status, 3.0 GPA, and Approval of the Program Director.
PS498 Psychology Bachelor Thesis (3)
As an alternative to completing the internship, during the senior year students may elect to write a research paper on an approved topic. The paper will focus on a current issue in the field of psychology and will require significant research and investigation, including a first-hand experience of the psychol-ogy professional at work. Students will be required to submit a written report to be evaluated by a panel of department faculty.
PR: Senior status & departmental approval.
PS499 Psychology Internship (3)
Students have the opportunity to integrate classroom learning with hands-on experience in their chosen field, in settings that correspond to their individual and educational career objectives. Students are required to complete a minimum of 150 hours of work at their placement site while completing assignments and consulting with the course instructor on a regular basis. PR: Senior status and approved Internship Application.
NOTE: Advanced seminars at the 400-level require students to complete all listed prerequisites and be junior or senior level psychology majors. Enrollment is limited and students are expected to secure instructor permission if seeking placement in a particular seminar.
Science
SC103 Principles of Biology (4)
This course involves the study of basic biological principles common to all living things. It will begin with a study of the chemistry, structure, and functions of the living units of all organisms – cells. Topics to follow will include the molecular basis of cellular metabolism, photosynthesis, Mendelian genet-ics, molecular genetgenet-ics, an introduction to Darwin’s theory, population genetics, and microevolution. The lecture portion of this class will be enhanced by weekly lab exercises.
SC105 Anatomy and Physiology I (4)
SC105 is the first semester of a two-semester study of the struc-ture and function of the human body. It combines both lecstruc-ture and laboratory experience in a study of all vital body systems and many of their physiological processes. The course provides the background upon which the student can build a working understanding of the human body in health and disease. This first semester of study begins with the most fundamental level of life, the cell, and continues with a study of the skeletal, muscular, respiratory, and cardiovascular systems.
SC106 Anatomy and Physiology II (4)
SC106 is the second semester of a two-semester study of the structure and function of the human body. The course material is presented in both lecture and laboratory format. All of the anatomical systems and physiological processes discussed in class will be further explored in the laboratory. Demonstra-tions, experiments, and dissections of animal specimens are all included in the lab aspect of the course. During this semester, we will study most of the major body systems not previously covered. These include the nervous, endocrine, urinary, digestive, and reproductive systems. PR: SC105.
SC107 Biology and Society (4)
This course is an introduction to basic biological principles and some of the ethical issues surrounding biological decisions in society today. The student will utilize an understanding of biological principles to investigate and discuss many of the compelling social issues that have arisen in the last few decades as the ever expanding range of scientific knowledge and technological power continues to impact the natural world.
Lectures and discussions will be enhanced by weekly lab sessions.
SC110 Understanding the Human Body (4)
This course is designed to provide the student with an opportunity to learn about the overall structure and principle functions of the human body. The subject is explored in a system-by-system approach in which the knowledge gained in
This course is designed to provide the student with an opportunity to learn about the overall structure and principle functions of the human body. The subject is explored in a system-by-system approach in which the knowledge gained in