Courses

50:830:100. INTRODUCTORY TOPICS IN PSYCHOLOGY (3)

Mainly for those taking courses in the Division of Continuing Education. Students may take this course for departmental credit a maximum of two times, provided that the department agrees in advance that the second topic is different from the first.

Examination of basic areas in psychology (e.g., adjustment, development, and motivation) at an introductory level.
Does not substitute for 50:830:101. May be taken a maximum of two times for departmental credit, as long as the department agrees that the topics are different.

50:830:101. INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY (R) (3)

Introduction to the methods, theories, facts, and basic principles in the major fields of psychology, including biological basis of behavior, sensation and perception, learning, cognitive processes, life span development, personality, social psychology, psychological testing, and clinical diagnosis and treatment. Participation in research or completion of an approved, appropriate alternative activity required.

50:830:135. INTRODUCTORY SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY (R) (3)
Formerly 50:830:235. Credit not given for both this course and 50:830:335. Not recommended for psychology majors.

A survey of research and theory concerning humans as they influence and are influenced by their social environment; includes small group studies, social influences in communication, attitude formation and change, and social perception, as well as aspects of larger interpersonal settings, such as the family and the organization.

50:830:201. FRONTIERS IN PSYCHOLOGY (3)
Formerly 50:830:488. Prerequisite: 50:830:101 or 135.

Faculty members and distinguished visiting lecturers lead seminars in their fields of specialization. Students prepare and present papers on assigned topics that change from year to year.

50:830:203. THE PSYCHOLOGY OF MINORITY GROUPS (3)
Prerequisite: 50:830:101 or 135.

An examination of the personality patterns, psychological dynamics, and social-cultural styles that emerge from the encounter of minority groups with American culture. Attempts made to define the major psychological events within minority groups as they relate to developmental processes, attitudes, perceptions, and identity patterns.

50:830:206. PSYCHOLOGY OF MARRIAGE AND THE FAMILY (3)
Prerequisite: 50:830:101 or 135.

The psychological study of interpersonal behavior within family units, both nuclear and extended; addresses conjoint personal development, communication networks, and intrafamily conflict.

50:830:212.  PSYCHOLOGY OF ADJUSTMENT (3)
Formerly 50:830:408. Prerequisite:  50:830:101 or 135.

The interaction of psychological and environmental factors determining the mental well-being of the individual, with special emphasis on individual problems of personality development and adjustment.

50:830:226. PSYCHOLOGY OF CHILDHOOD (3)
Formerly 50:830:325. Prerequisite: 50:830:101 or 135.

Examination of psychological development from birth through late childhood. Topics include motor abilities, language, intelligence, social and emotional behavior and attitudes, with emphasis on the prevention of maladjustment.

50:830:231. PSYCHOLOGY OF PERSONALITY (3)
Formerly 50:830:371. Prerequisite: 50:830:101 or 135.

Examination of theoretical and research approaches to the understanding of individual behavior, considering both individual traits and situational sources of influence.

50:830:240. HYPNOSIS (3)
Formerly 50:830:360. Prerequisite: 50:830:101 or 135.

An examination of phenomena of hypnosis from both experimental and clinical perspectives, including measurement, personality characteristics of the suggestible person, applied work such as pain control, and selected research issues.

50:830:245. INTERVIEWING TECHNIQUES (R) (3)
Formerly 50:830:440.

Development of interviewing/counseling skills through readings, in-class role plays, videotaping, and a required 30-hour human services/resources field placement. Basic communication skills introduced using the microskills approach.

50:830:250. STATISTICS FOR SOCIAL SCIENCE (3)
Formerly 50:830:215. Prerequisite: 50:830:101 or 135. Recommended: 50:730:201 or equivalent. Credit not given for this course and 50:960:183 or equivalent.

Provides an introduction to the basic concepts of psychological statistics, both descriptive (organization and presentation of data) and inferential (drawing conclusions from data); major emphasis on practical applications in psychological research.

50:830:255. METHOD AND THEORY IN PSYCHOLOGY (W) (3)
Formerly 50:830:225. Prerequisite: 50:830:101.

A survey of research methods in psychology, emphasizing the guiding role of theory in scientific research.  Consideration of the nature and history of scientific theories in psychology, hypothesis generation, review of extant literature, measurement, experimental design, control of extraneous variables, analysis, interpretation, replication, and testing the ecological validity of results.  Emphasis on the self-correcting nature of the research process through replication and extension, peer review, increased methodological sophistication, and quantitative analysis.

50:830:301. EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY (3)
Formerly 50:830:383.

Examines how individuals develop and learn, with particular emphasis upon the classroom.  Includes motivation, student interests, creating a healthy learning climate, language development, testing, and individual differences.

50:830:303. PSYCHOLOGY OF WOMEN (3)
Formerly 50:830:373. Prerequisite: 50:830:101 or 135.

The psychological impact of being female; a review of research and theory on the development of sex differences in identity and other aspects of personality.

50:830:305. PSYCHOLOGY OF HUMAN SEXUALITY (3)
Formerly 50:830:347. Prerequisite: 50:830:101 or 135.

Covers the major methodological and theoretical approaches to the psychological study of human sexuality. Topics include sexual arousal, the psychological effects of exposure to pornography, and sexual variations and dysfunctions.

50:830:306. HUMAN EMOTIONS (3)
Formerly 50:830:393. Prerequisite: 50:830:101 or 135.

Inquiry into the nature of human emotions, their causes and functions. Topics discussed include: physiological, behavioral, and cognitive approaches to emotions; expressive aspects; motivational aspects; emotional development; individual, gender, and cultural differences; emotional pathology; emotional self-regulation and control.

50:830:312. PSYCHOLOGY OF CONSCIOUSNESS (3)
Prerequisite: 50:830:101 or 135.

Examination of various aspects of consciousness from psychological perspectives, including those of cognition, neuroscience, phenomenology, and evolution. Topics include sleep and dreams, perception and thought, effects of psychoactive drugs, introspective reports, and brain function in healthy and injured people.

50:830:316. PSYCHOLOGY AND THE LAW (3)
Formerly 50:830:341. Prerequisite: 50:830:101 or 135.

Explores the relation between the field of psychology and the legal system, the decision-making process of judges and juries, eyewitness reliability, criminal insanity, the use of psychological knowledge to raise legal issues, and assumptions that the legal system makes about human nature.

50:830:317. LEGAL AND SOCIAL ASPECTS OF MENTAL HEALTH (3)
Formerly 50:830:352. Prerequisite: 50:830:101 or 135.

A critical discussion of the mental health system and the assumptions on which it is based. Special attention is paid to related social and political issues such as involuntary commitment and imposed treatment.

50:830:319. INDUSTRIAL PSYCHOLOGY (3)
Formerly 50:830:350. Prerequisite: 50:830:255.

Personnel selection and placement; psychology of industrial and human relations; worker morale, motivation, and efficiency; human factors in equipment design, marketing, and advertising research.

50:830:326. PSYCHOLOGY OF ADOLESCENCE (3)
Prerequisite: 50:830:101 or 235.

Examination of psychological development during adolescence, treating each stage with reference to the particular problems and deviations characteristic of it. Emphasis on the continuity between stages of adolescence.

50:830:328. PSYCHOLOGY OF AGING (3)
Formerly 50:830:354. Prerequisite: 50:830:101 or 135.

Offers an overview of the psychology of aged people in our society. The effects of physical change, social habitat, and impending death upon the personality and behavior of the aged person is examined.

50:830:335. SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY (3)
Prerequisite: 50:830:101. Credit not given for both this course and 50:830:135.

Psychological study of the individual interacting with others. Specific topics include attribution theory, attraction, attitudes, aggression, altruism, and group decision making.

50:830:338. GROUP DYNAMICS (3)
Formerly 50:830:361. Prerequisite: 50:830:255.

Examines basic aspects of group interaction, including experiential exercises. Lectures and readings focus on a variety of theories relevant to the analysis of group processes.

50:830:340. ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY (3)
Formerly 50:830:363. Prerequisite: 50:830:101 or 135.

A survey of the field of mental disorder and abnormal behavior and consideration of diagnostic systems. Constitutional, psychodynamic, and environmental factors conditioning abnormal behavior will be presented.

50:830:345. INTRODUCTION TO CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY (3)
Formerly 50:830:358. Prerequisites: 50:830:255 and 340.

A survey of activities and practices of contemporary clinical psychology. Three broad areas of practice-tertiary, secondary, and primary prevention-and the activities specific to these practices are covered. The interdependence of clinical and other areas of psychology, as well as research procedures and contributions.

50:830:348. HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY (3)
Prerequisites: 50:830:255.

Focuses on understanding psychological processes that influence health. Topics to be discussed include stress and illness, personality and disease, chronic illness and death, health promotion and disease prevention through behavior change, and relationships between patients and practitioners. The changing health care environment and the need to understand the role of individuals' lifestyles in determining their health are emphasized.

50:830:350. PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTS AND MEASUREMENTS (3)
Formerly 50:830:385. Prerequisites: 50:830:250 and 255.

Introduction to the history, development, and principles of psychological testing, including techniques of administration, scoring, and interpretation. Intelligence, aptitude, achievement, interest, and personality tests studied theoretically and empirically. The impact of testing on the individual and on society.

50:830:351. COMPUTER APPLICATIONS IN PSYCHOLOGY (3)
Formerly 50:830:315. Prerequisites: 50:830:250,255, or equivalent.

Introduces students to the use of computers in collecting data and controlling experiments in a laboratory environment, data reduction and analysis, graphics for psychological research, and theory construction. Students complete research projects requiring computer-related skills.

50:830:362. COGNITIVE PROCESSES (3)
Formerly 50:830:404. Prerequisite: 50:830:255.

Examines research on human information processing, including attention, pattern recognition, memory, thought, and problem solving. Discusses laboratory techniques, theoretical models, and research applications to practical concerns such as reading, training strategies, and human engineering.

50:830:370. PSYCHOLOGY OF LEARNING (3)
Formerly 50:830:330. Prerequisite: 50:830:255.

A survey of the major historical theories of learning with special emphasis on critical comparison of special issues and problems. Comparison of the major theoretical positions in terms of the ways in which each of them approaches special problems in learning.

50:830:380. LABORATORY IN EXPERIMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY (1)
Prerequisites:  50:830:101, 250, and 255.  Corequisites: 50:830:381 or other lecture course offering a laboratory.

Examines scientific methods of approaching the study of behavior. Students gain practical experience in research techniques used in selected areas of psychology.

50:830:381. EXPERIMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY (3)
Prerequisites: 50:830:101, 250, and 255.  Corequisites: 50:830:380.

Designed to introduce the student to experimental techniques and methodological problems involved in the investigation of psychological phenomena. Prepares the student to conduct research, analyze data, and interpret and report results of experiments.

50:830:382. EXPERIMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY LABORATORY II (1)
Prerequisites: 50:830:380,381 and permission of instructor. Corequisite: Lecture course designated by department (changes each term).

An advanced laboratory in psychology.

50:830:401. HISTORY AND THEORY IN PSYCHOLOGY (3)
Formerly 50:830:423. Prerequisites: 50:830:255.

Examination of the prominent systematic views and problems in psychology in terms of their historical antecedents and current impact.

50:830:406. THE PSYCHOLOGY OF HUMAN JUDGMENT (3)
Prerequisite: 50:830:255.

Issues in behavior decision theory, such as the nature of human inference, rational and irrational choice, and the processes of decision making. Discusses development and psychobiological aspects of judgment and choice. Emphasizes psychological theories of judgment and choice that can be tested empirically.

50:830:415.  THEORY AND PRACTICE OF NEGOTIATION (3)
Prerequisites: 50:830:255.

Involves both study of theory and extensive practice of evolving techniques in negotiation.  Students will gain insight into and skills in conflict resolution.  The study of conflict reveals central psychological phenomena of theoretical interest, and the resolution of conflict is becoming a standard topic of study in today's universities.

50:830:430. RESEARCH METHODS OF SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY (3)
Formerly 50:830:429. Prerequisites: 50:830:335 and permission of instructor.

Students engage in research projects in the laboratory, naturalistic field study settings, and/or organizational contexts conducted under the supervision of the instructor; in-depth studies of basic social psychological processes, such as group dynamics, leadership, attitude change, crowding, and conflict resolution.

50:830:435. ADVANCED SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY (3)
Formerly 50:830:430. Prerequisites: 50:830:335.

In-depth treatment of selected issues in social psychology, including theories and research techniques, social influence, social cognition, and interpersonal relations. Class research project.

50:830:438. THE PSYCHOLOGY OF STRONGLY HELD BELIEFS (3)
Formerly 50:830:443. Prerequisite: 50:830:255, and 335.

Inquiry into the origins, structure, and psychological functions of strongly held systems of belief, such as political liberalism and conservatism, attitudes toward war and peace, and attitudes toward social issues (e.g., abortion, racial attitudes, etc.). Topics include relationships of personality, personal experiences, and socialization to political beliefs.

50:830:440. DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOPATHOLOGY (3)
Prerequisite: 50:830:255.

This class applies a developmental approach to the understanding of childhood disorders such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Conduct Disorder, Depression, and Anxiety disorders.

50:830:441. THEORIES OF PSYCHOTHERAPY (3)
Prerequisite: 50:830:255.

This class covers different approaches to psychotherapy including psychoanalytic, humanistic, gestalt, existential, cognitive, behavioral, and solution-focused. The focus will be on the theory behind each approach. While techniques used by the different approaches will be briefly discussed, students will not be taught how to do therapy.

50:830:446. BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION (3)
Formerly 50:830:436. Prerequisite: 50:830:255.

Philosophical, theoretical, and experimental background of behavior modification together with clinical applications. Specific topics include principles of operant conditioning, misconceptions of behavior modification, reinforcement systems, aversive approaches, cognitive behavior therapy, and ethical and legal issues.

50:830:455. INTELLIGENCE (3)
Formerly 50:830:353. Prerequisite: 50:830:250 or 255.

An examination of the historical origins of the concept and measurement of intelligence, together with a consideration of the research on heritability and group differences. Social as well as scientific implications of the research discussed.

50:830:457, 458,459, 461, 462, 463, 464. SPECIAL TOPICS IN PSYCHOLOGY (2-3,2-3,2-3,2-3)
Prerequisites: 50:830:101 or 135, and junior or senior status or permission of instructor.

Selected theoretical, experimental, and applied problems in psychology. Specific topics covered are rotated from term to term depending on the interests of participating faculty and students.

50:830:465. LEARNING AND MEMORY (3)
Prerequisite: 50:830:255.

A critical survey of the outstanding attempts to understand the nature of learning and memory. Emphasis on classical and current theories and their implications. Demonstrates a range of phenomena from simple conditioning to complex verbal learning.

50:830:467. PERCEPTION (3)
Prerequisite: 50:830:255.

We rely on our senses to find out about objects and events in our world.   This class examines what we need to know about the objects and events that surround us, how our eyes and ears sense this information, how the patterns of neural activity in our brain represent this information, and finally, what scientists know about our visual and auditory experiences.

50:830:471. BEHAVIORAL PHARMACOLOGY (3)
Formerly 50:830:437. Prerequisites: 50:830:255, and junior or senior status or permission of instructor.

The action of drugs on the nervous system and behavior. Topics include principles of drug action, drug-environment interactions, drug abuse, drugs and therapeutic agents, and drugs as tools in psychological research.

50:830:475. PHYSIOLOGICAL PSYCHOLOGY (3)
50:830:484. Prerequisite: 50:830:255.

This course examines the relationship between biology and behavior.  By studying the workings of animal brains, the functional deficits  of brain damaged humans, and the genetics of behavior, scientists have identified some of the biological mechanisms that underlie language, addiction, anxiety, depression, learning, aggression and other aspects of human psychology.

50:830:476. PSYCHOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF ANIMAL BEHAVIOR (3)
Formerly 50:830:486. Prerequisite: 50:830:255.

Review of the behavior patterns of lower animals with emphasis on the evolution of instinctual and experiential determiners of these patterns. Topics include communication, behavior-structure relationships, adaptive ability versus specialization, and the evolution of intelligence.

50:830:488. ADVANCED SEMINAR IN PSYCHOLOGY (R) (3)

Prerequisites: 50:830:255 and permission of instructor. May be repeated for credit.

Faculty members and distinguished visiting lecturers lead seminars in their fields of specialization; students prepare and present papers on assigned topics that change from year to year.

50:830:493. INDIVIDUAL SUPERVISION OF FIELDWORK IN PSYCHOLOGY (R) (1-3)
Prerequisite: Permission of instructor. This course may be repeated for a maximum of 9 credits.

Provides advanced psychology majors with an opportunity to integrate and expand their knowledge of psychology through applied experiences in the community. Students are encouraged to develop their own placements, but prearranged placements are also available. Individual supervision in the conceptualization and carrying out of projects will be provided.

50:830:494,495. ADVANCED INDEPENDENT STUDY IN PSYCHOLOGY (R) (1-3)
Prerequisite: Permission of instructor. This course may be repeated for a maximum of 9 credits.

The student is required to undertake a term-long or year-long laboratory or library project under the supervision of a member of the department. Strongly recommended for students planning to attend graduate school.

50:830:496,497. HONORS PROGRAM IN PSYCHOLOGY (3,3)
Prerequisite: By permission only.

Design, execution, analysis, and presentation of original research, undertaken after departmental approval of an honor's research proposal and conducted under the supervision of one or more faculty members. May be taken only with departmental approval.