300

This course covers the fundamental skills necessary for understanding statistics as a tool of science, with an emphasis on quantitative literacy. Students learn the basics of organizing and describing data (descriptive statistics) and making predictions about large groups from smaller samples of data (inferential statistics). In this course, students learn to enter, analyze, and interpret data via a statistical package. Students learn to critically evaluate data sets and become better consumers of data that they encounter in the real world.

In the course students are given the opportunity to study concepts, structures, theories, and/or applications of psychology. Subject matter will vary.

Course content consists of an overview of counseling theories and therapeutic techniques. Counseling theories will be placed in a historical context, but the majority of the course will cover evidence-based treatments for common mental disorders. Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to demonstrate their knowledge of major counseling theories by understanding which theoretical approach is most appropriate for clients presenting a variety of different disorders. In addition, students will understand their own values and goals as they pertain to a future career in counseling and psychotherapy, and begin to develop their own theory.

This course examines the development, maintenance, and dissolution of romantic relationships. Topics include attraction, attachment, social cognition, communication, interdependence theory, styles and types of love, interpersonal stresses and strains, conflict, and the loss of relationships. 

This course provides a theoretical and experiential exploration of the psychology of language. Topics will include language acquisition, cognitive effects of multilingualism, text and discourse processing, and other related areas of language as seen through a cognitive perspective.

Selected Topics in Behavioral Neuroscience is a three-hour survey course that examines a variety of human function and pathologies through the lens of behavioral neuroscience. From the neuroanatomical perspective, human behaviors are explored. The disorders and pathologies (such as dementias, mental illnesses, Parkinson’s and Hunington’s disease, etc.), that are a result of neuroanatomical difficulties are also addressed in this course along with treatment for these disorders and pathologies. Finally, the dynamics that make us uniquely human, the function purpose of the brain, and the formation of the mind are also studied.

This course provides an introduction to basic neuroanatomy and neurophysiology. Particular emphasis will be placed on the central nervous system mechanisms that mediate emotion, cognition, and behavior. Major topics include the structure and organization of the human nervous system, neural conduction and transmission, methods of researching the brain, sensory systems, wakefulness and sleep, emotional behaviors, and the biological bases of psychological disorders.

Students are introduced to the field of psychometrics, which includes descriptive statistics, reliability, validity and interpretation. Special attention is given to the rationale for testing. Assessment techniques considered include intelligence, personality, performance, aptitude and interest testing.

Students learn the foundational skills required to conduct psychological research, including the formulation of testable hypotheses, various research designs, data collection methods, APA style report writing, and the ethics of research. This course is a requirement for majors and minors in the department.

This course investigates human behavior along the normal-abnormal continuum. It covers possible causes and treatments of the major types of behavior disorders, as well as issues in diagnosis and classification.

This course investigates behavioral, cognitive and emotional problems of children and adolescents. Diagnosis, etiology and treatment issues are discussed.

This course will introduce students to the specialty area of child counseling. Students will learn theory and its application in clinical counseling techniques. They will participate in the development of the therapeutic relationship and of interventions connected to child and adolescent mental health problems.

This course provides historical, theoretical, and practical perspectives of parenting across various settings, cultures, and developmental domains. Factors of parenting that influence children and adolescent outcomes are examined.

In this course students use behavioral science to explore the factors that affect health and illness. This class emphasizes the biopsychosocial model of health in contrast to the traditional medical model. Some of the topics that are discussed include pain management, the effects of stress on health, coping with chronic/terminal illnesses, and the doctor-patient relationship.

This course will explore the relationship between psychology and the law. The various specialties of forensic psychology and the role of the psychologist within those specialties will also be addressed. Special emphasis will be given to the exploration and the understanding of the pathology of the criminal mind and behavior.

Social psychology is the scientific study of interpersonal relationships. In this course, students explore the research methods used by social psychologists to examine issues such as prejudice, aggression, love, persuasion, attitudes and decision-making. These topics and others are applied to social situations such as dating, jury deliberations, business negotiations, and international conflict and peace-keeping efforts.

This course focuses on the application of psychological principles to the workplace. In studying these principles, students learn how to enhance human resource processes, and improve employee and organizational outcomes.

This course covers the systems, strategies and practices of effective training in organizations. Emphasis is on understanding the psychological principles that guide the design of successful training methods for entry-level positions to executive management development. The class focuses on the sequence of identifying needs, designing programs and evaluating program outcomes. A case-oriented approach is taken.

This course examines the theories of work motivation and employee engagement. Emphasis is on practical application of theories in the workplace to increase satisfaction of workers while increasing productivity.

Students examine the systems, strategies and practices of effective securing of organizational staff. Emphasis is on the psychological principles that shape the design of successful recruitment and selection of members of organizations. This includes external searches, as well as internal transfer or promotion. A case-oriented, practical approach is used to aid in skill development.

This course prepares students to take a national certification exam by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). Students will review and apply HRM content using materials designed by SHRM.

This course covers different models and theories of effective leadership in organizations. Emphasis is placed on how human resource professionals and organizational psychologists can apply these theories in working with leaders and their teams.