Social Science Division
Psychology

Psychology Courses

PSY 131 – Introductory Psychology (3 credits)

Introduces elementary concepts and principles related to the scientific study of behavior and of the mental processes of cognition and affective states.  Variables examined include the history of psychology, the scientific method, theory, biological foundations, psychological processes related to cognition and affective states, developmental changes over time, and applications related to healthy and unhealthy personalities. 

PSY 152 – Child Psychology (3 credits)

PREREQUISITE:  PSY 131 

The class provides information on the physical, emotional, intellectual, and social development of the child and adolescent. This includes a variety of theories, recent research, and practical application. This course consists of a 20-hour field experience at a child-care facility to be determined by the student’s academic goals.

PSY 161 – Human Sexuality (3 credits)

PREREQUISITE:  PSY 131 

Designed to help students evaluate their own attitudes, feelings and beliefs about sexuality and compare them to those held by others.  Frank, open discussions and explicit visual materials cover historical and contemporary issues related to the physiological, emotional, cultural and legal implications of sexuality with emphasis on the expanding research that is contributing to serious intellectual inquiry. 

PSY 251 – Abnormal Psychology (3 credits)

PREREQUISITE:  PSY 131 

Students will explore the nature and causes of various forms of abnormal behavior, including schizophrenia, depression, anxiety disorders, etc. Disorders will be viewed from psychological, biological, cultural, developmental and historical perspectives. This class will explore the etiology, symptoms, and treatment of each disorder.      

PSY 253 – Lifespan Development (3 credits)

PREREQUISITE:  PSY 131 

The course is a study of change in behavior and mental processes as a function of aging throughout the life span. The course begins with prenatal concerns and progresses through the years of infancy, childhood, adolescence, adulthood and aging. Course content includes theory and research associated with biological, cognitive, affective and social developments.  

PSY 260 – Adolescent Psychology (3 credits)

PREREQUISITE:  PSY 131 

This course is intended for students seeking a degree in secondary education and/or psychology.  Adolescent Psychology will expose the student to the major areas of adolescent behavior and development.  Some of the areas will include but not be limited to:  the theoretical construct of adolescent, the physical and cognitive development of the adolescent, the social structure surrounding the adolescent, the transitions from upper elementary to middle school and then to high school, the personality development of the adolescent, the psycho-sexual development of the adolescent, as well as the psychological issues facing the adolescent.

PSY 296 - The Exceptional Child (3 credits)

PREREQUISITE:  PSY 131 

This course will increase the understanding of the characteristics, identification, assessment and instruction of students with exceptionalities. Psychology students, current teachers, future teachers and para-professionals will increase their knowledge of special education children and their environments, and learn how to service children with exceptionalities.  Includes theories, laws and procedures surrounding special education. The main labels of special education that will be discussed and researched are: learning disabilities, autism, mild and severe behavior disorders, emotional impairment, mental retardation, visual and hearing impairments, speech impairment, giftedness, physical impairments and chronic medical conditions. Also discussed will be the different special education learning environments such as inclusion, mainstreaming, pullout programs, resource rooms, co-teaching environments and the self-contained classroom.

PSY 254 – Social Psychology (3 credits)

This course is also offered as SOC 131 – Social Psychology

PREREQUISITE: PSY 131 and SOC 131 or permission of Instructor

Introduces the social forces affecting people’s lives and how people affect their group. This course examines three areas of behavior resulting from intentional influence, membership in a group, and social interaction. Self-perception, behavior and attitude, attraction, aggression, altruism and group processes are also explored. This course may be taken for credit in either psychology or sociology but not both. 

PSY 256 – Educational Psychology (3 credits)

COREQUISITE:  PSY 296

PREREQUISITE:  PSY 131 

This experiential approach to learning (combining theory with practice) increases educational psychology students’ understanding and application of educational psychology theory.  The Educational Psychology course explores the novice’s ability to observe children’s behavior in a natural setting as well as apply the observation to theory.  Students will learn about different instructional techniques and their appropriateness in the school setting.

Course discussions and topics will include but not be limited to theories of learning and cognition, how academic, social, emotional and physical development proceeds, and the implications for instruction of a diverse population as well as how to deal with those implications effectively. Managing classroom discipline, motivating students to learn, leading classroom instruction, and assessing K-12 students’ learning are also discussed.

PSY 294 – Educational Psychology Practicum (1 credit)

COREQUISITE:  PSY 256

PREREQUISITE:  PSY 131 

The practicum experience increases the novice’s ability to volunteer in a classroom. Students will be able to apply the course material in PSY 256 to PSY 294 through a variety of assignments. Course discussions and topics will include but not be limited to theories of learning and cognition, how development proceeds, and the implications for instruction of a diverse population as well as how to deal with those implications effectively. Managing classroom discipline, motivating students to learn, leading classroom instruction, and assessing k-12 students’ learning are applied to the classroom setting through a variety of projects.

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