2007-2008
Last updated: 4/10/2008
NOTE: The
number of credits is listed in parentheses after the course name.
PSY
401 Advanced Research Methods (3).
Students carry out an independent research project on the topic of
their choice with the advice and supervision of a faculty member. The
course is designed to give the student an opportunity to use the skills
acquired in Introduction to Research Methods (PSY-201) and to examine
an area of interest through designing and conducting an experiment.
Prerequisites: PSY 101, 201.
PSY 402 Positive Psychology (3).
Traditionally, the modern Western model of clinical psychology has
focused on researching, diagnosing, and treating psychological
disorders. Theoretically, clinical psychology is based on a deficit or
disease model, describing how individuals are lacking psychological
resources or evidencing abnormal thinking or behavior. Positive
psychology provides a paradigm shift from this disease model, moving
beyond just helping people survive their negative life experiences to
offering them an enlarged vision of how they can thrive and actualize
their potential. This course focuses on the research, techniques, and
practical applications of positive psychology including the topics of
well-being, character strengths, optimism, resiliency, values,
happiness, wellness, accomplishments, and positive relationships.
PSY 404 The Psychology of Decision Making
(3).
Following a seminar format, this course explores theoretical approaches
to the process of decision making and relates theory and data to
applied situations. The course addresses issues relevant to decisions
made on both an individual and a group level. Discussions cover a range
of settings including business, medicine and matters of personal
relevance. A variety of factors is considered, including cognitive,
perceptual and subjective value judgments. Prerequisite: PSY 101.
PSY 440-449 Advanced Topics in Psychology (3).
Courses in this series offer an in-depth exploration of specific issues
and topics within the various subspecialties of psychology. These
courses are intended for students who wish to pursue their studies in a
particular field beyond the basic course offered in areas such as
clinical, cognitive, developmental and social psychology. Problems of
academic and social significance are chosen for study. Topics will be
changed each semester Prerequisites: PSY 101 and either a basic course
in psychology subspecialty in which an advanced topics course is being
offered or permission of the instructor.
PSY 441
(CCM 402) Stages of Life & Health Care (3).
See course description for CCM 402.
PSY 442 Infancy (3).
A comprehensive overview of growth and
development during the first three years of life. Topics covered will
include how infants gather information from the world around them, what
we know about infants’ relationships with other people, and about the
uniqueness of their personalities. A concerted effort will be made to
achieve a balance between theory, research and practical information.
PSY 443 (PGS 443).
Integrating Eastern and Western Approaches to Psychology (3).
The purpose of this course is to
familiarize students with orientations from both Eastern and Western
psychology. This includes focus on theory and research, along with
experiential classroom exercises in various healing approaches, such as
Buddhism, Sufism, Morita therapy, psychoanalysis, behavior therapy and
cognitive therapy, among others. Emphasis will be upon expanding one’s
thinking by integrating Eastern and Western approaches, toward
enlarging the view of possibilities in understanding ourselves and
others, and in promoting healing and growth. Prerequisite: PSY 101.
PSY 444 Story in
Psychology: Narrative Perspectives on Human Behavior (3).
Employing a pro-seminar format, we
explore how stories and story construction serve as an increasingly
influential and integrating paradigm by which to understand human
behavior. We will look at the historical and conceptual foundations of
the narrative perspective and compare this approach with more
traditional models of human psychological functioning. We will pay
particular attention to autobiographical memory, self-narrative and
identity development in the contemporary world as well as narrative
approaches to psychotherapy and health care as examples of the
perspective’s scope. We will consider recent advances in narrative
research methodologies, particularly those qualitative approaches which
focus upon interview and other autobiographical sources of data.
Students will be expected to prepare an individual presentation on a
topic of their choosing and personal interest. Prerequisites: PSY 101,
PSY 201 or equivalent and at least one major psychology subspecialty
course at the 200- 300-level. Limited to juniors and seniors.
PSY 445 The
Psychology of Grief: Current Understandings and Interventions (3).
Psychology 445 will examine grief
processes that take place within individuals and families as they
experience loss. The course will focus on the nature and causes of
grief as well as strategies for effective counseling interventions.
There will be an emphasis on loss due to death, however, other types of
psychosocial and physical losses will also be considered. Accordingly,
we will explore a variety of factors that facilitate and/or impede the
ability to function after loss. The course will initially trace the
development of dominant models of grief and their historical and
theoretical underpinnings. Considerable emphasis will be on examining
the grief process as it is played out in the context of family. The
family is seen as an interactive system, with a complex mix of actions,
perceptions and expectations that influences relationships and the
experience of grief among family members. This course will also
consider a postmodern view of bereavement as a complex phenomenon
embedded in a unique context involving social, cultural, philosophical
and psychological factors.
PSY 446 Cognition
and Aging (3).
This course will examine the normal
cognitive changes that our growing senior population faces. We will
discuss and distinguish between the types of cognition that remain
stable with age and those that tend to decline with age. Specifically,
this course will focus on how attention, memory, language processing
and problem solving change are affected by the aging process. The
course will also question whether intelligence changes with age and
will examine how creativity and wisdom contribute to definitions of
intelligence. Students will be required to write a term paper I APA
style on a topic related to cognition and aging. Prerequisite or
corequisite: Senior psychology major or permission of instructor.
PSY 447 (GWS 447)
Psychology of Stereotype, Prejudice and Discrimination (3).
This course is designed to enhance the
understanding of the development and persistence of stereotypes. The
psychology of social cognition with regard to the accuracy and
inaccuracy of those stereotypes will be addressed as well as how the
inaccuracies may lead to prejudice and discrimination. We will explore
how this affects our social interactions; specifically addressing the
areas of race, class and gender. Students will read book chapters and
journal articles and are expected to contribute to classroom
discussions of these materials. Students will also complete a writing
project. Prerequisites or corequisites: PSY 101 and PSY 201 or
permission from instructor. SENIORS ONLY.
PSY 448 Clinical
Neuropsychology (3).
Clinical neuropsychology studies human
behavior following damage to or dysfunction of the nervous system. Such
study seeks to establish both (a) the accurate assessment and
remediation of damage or dysfunction and (b) a more complete
understanding of the intact nervous system. Utilizing a proseminar
format, this course is designed to introduce the advanced undergraduate
student of psychology to the research findings and clinical
applications of this developing subfield within psychology. Both case
studies and laboratory-based research will be reviewed. Topics will
include general principles of the brain-behavior relationship, basic
and higher cognitive functions of the cerebral cortex,
neuropsychological testing and assessment and processes of
rehabilitation. Prerequisites: PSY 101 and BIO 103 or equivalent, or
permission of the instructor.
PSY 449 The
Psychology of Disability (3).
This course explores in-depth some of the
major psychological issues relevant to the field of disabilities.
Following a seminar format, topics to be discussed include: autism,
cerebral palsy, mental retardation, deafness, blindness, dual
diagnosis, housing alternatives, self advocacy, sibling relationships,
the social meaning of disabled, deinstitutionalization and human
relationships. The perspective of the person with a disability and/or
their family and support systems will be considered. Prerequisites: PSY
101; PSY 315 recommended.
PSY 471 Projects in
Psychology (1-3).
Under faculty supervision, students who are especially interested and
qualified may assist faculty members in research. Requirements to be
determined by the student and faculty member. Prerequisite: permission
of the instructor. Hours and credit to be determined by the instructor
and student. Experiential course.
PSY 490-491 Field Experience in Psychology
(3) and (3).
This course offers students an opportunity to synthesize and integrate
their academic knowledge within a field setting in psychology. Students
are placed in a mental health or other human service agency in which
psychologists work or psychological concepts and principles
significantly inform the goals and practices of the organization. Each
student receives close supervision within the agency setting. Students
also meet weekly in a group with the course instructor to discuss
issues and problems related to their experience. Offered on a high
pass/pass/fail basis only.
Eight hours field experience and one hour classwork per week for two
semesters. Only open to senior psychology majors with permission of the
instructor or department chair. Must be taken for two semesters.
Experiential course.
PSY 499 Research in Psychology
An upper-class student who wishes to undertake a research project for
academic credit during a given semester must submit a research proposal
prior to registration and a research report at the end of the semester.
The proposal, indicating the number of credits sought, must be approved
by the research director, the department chair and the dean of arts and
sciences. It will be kept on file, along with the research report, in
the dean of arts and sciences’ office. Three hours work per week for
each credit. Hours and credit to be determined by the instructor and
student. Experiential course.