Psychology (Psy)

 

This discipline is in the Division of the Social Sciences. The psychology curriculum focuses on understanding the scientific method and applying it to the problems of the behavioral

sciences and individual and social human behavior. It provides students with basic methodological skills, practice in applying these skills, and an introduction to core areas of psychology.

The courses meet the needs of liberal arts students as well as students planning to specialize in one of the fields of psychology at the graduate level.

 

 

Objectives—(1) Awareness of the range of knowledge (data, methods) in psychology;  (2) competency in translating behavioral questions into the terms of scientific inquiry; (3)

competency in reading and critically synthesizing the technical literature in psychology; (4) competency in quantifying and     statistically analyzing behavior; (5) awareness of ethical issues

in psychology.

 

 

Major Requirements

Psy 1101-1102——Foundations of Psychology I-Il

Math 1601—Introduction to Statistics

or Math 2601—Statistical Methods

IS 4101—Introduction to Professional Conduct Codes, Legal Constraints, and Ethics in the Human Services

 

4 credits from:

   Psy 3101—Learning Theory and Behavior

   Modification

   Psy 3111—Cognition I

   Psy 3112—Cognition II

   Psy 3201—Comparative Psychology

   Psy 3211—Biological Psychology

 

20 additional credits in Psy 3xxx or 4xxx courses

   or Mgmt 3151—Human Resources Management I

   or Pol 3263—Political Psychology at least 14 credits of which must be earned in courses

   other than:

 

   Psy 4101—Helping Relationships

   Psy 4896—Field Experiences In Psychology

   Mgmt 3151—Human Resources Management I

   Pol 3263—Political Psychology

 

   and which must include an approved empirical research project of at least 4 credits or its equivalent. The approved research project is normally completed in one of the empirical investigations courses:

   Psy 4610—Empirical Investigations in Cognitive Psychology

   Psy 4620—Empirical Investigations in Biological Psychology

   Psy 4630—Empirical Investigations in Personality, Psychopathology, and Psychological Intervention

   Psy 4640—Empirical Investigations in Developmental Psychology

   Psy 4650—Empirical Investigations in Social Psychology

  or with an approved senior honors project (Psy 4994—Senior Honors Project)

 

Courses with grades of D may not be used to meet the major requirements.

 

Writing and Computing Components

 

The writing component of the general education requirements may be met in the following courses that require writing assignments and/or term papers and are required for the major:

 

Psy 1101-1102. Foundations of Psychology I-II

 

Any one of the “Empirical Investigations” courses:

Psy 4610—Empirical Investigations in Cognitive Psychology

Psy 4620-Empirical Investigations in Biological Psychology

Psy 4630—Empirical Investigations in Personality, Psychopathology, and Psychological Intervention

Psy 4640—Empirical Investigations in Developmental Psychology

Psy 4650—Empirical Investigations in Social Psychology

Psy 4994—Senior Honors Project

The computing component of the general education requirements may be met in the following courses that require computer activities and are required for the major:

Math 1601—Introduction to Statistics or Math 2601—Statistical Methods

 

Any one of the “Empirical Investigations” courses:

Psy 4610-Empirical Investigations in Cognitive Psychology

Psy 4620—Empirical Investigations in Biological Psychology

Psy 4630—Empirical Investigations in Personality, Psychopathology, and Psychological Intervention

Psy  4640—Empirical Investigations in Developmental Psychology

Psy 4650—Empirical Investigations in Social Psychology

Psy 4994—Senior Honors Project

Psy  3601—Quantitative Methods in Psychology also entails extensive computer use, though it is not required for the major.

 

Required courses may not be taken S-N unless offered S-N only.

 

Minor Requirements

 

Psy 1101-1102—Foundations of Psychology I-II

Math 1601—Introduction to Statistics

or Math 2601—Statistical Methods

IS 4101—Introduction to Professional Conduct Codes, Legal Constraints, and Ethics in the Human Services

 

4 credits from:

 

   Psy 3101—Learning Theory and Behavior

   Modification

   Psy 3111—Cognition I

   Psy 3112—Cognition II

   Psy 3201—Comparative Psychology

   Psy 3211—Biological Psychology

   

10 additional credits in y 3xxx or 4xxx courses at least 6 credits of which must be earned in courses

   other than;

 

   Psy 4101—Helping Relationships

   Psy 4896—Field Experiences In Psychology

 

Courses with grades of D may not be used to meet the minor requirements.

 

Teacher Preparation Requirements

 

Students seeking licensure in any of the social sciences must complete a social science major. Psychology majors seeking licensure must also complete a social science major and the required

professional education courses, including methods (SScE 4103—Methods of Teaching Social Science in the Secondary School) and student teaching in social studies.

   The following courses are recommended for teacher candidates who are not majoring in psychology but expect to teach an occasional psychology course;

Psy 1101-1102—Foundations of Psychology I-II

Psy 3301—Personality 1; Dimensions and Assessment Psy 3311—Personality II and Psychopathology I

Psy 3312—Psychopathology II

Psy 3611—History and Philosophy of Psychology

one course from:

   Psy 3111—Cognition I

   Psy 3112—Cognition II

   Psy 3211—Biological Psychology

   Psy 3401—Developmental Psychology I: Child

   Psychology

   Psy 3402—Developmental Psychology II:

   Adolescence

   Psy 3403—Developmental Psychology III:

   Adulthood, Aging, and Death

   Math 1601—Introduction to Statistics or Math 2601—Statistical Methods

 

Course Descriptions

 

Psy 1051f. Introduction to Psychology. (SS;4 Cr)

An introduction to the science of mind and behavior intended for those not planning to major in psychology; does not count toward the requirements of the psychology major and is insufficient as a prerequisite for psychology labcourses. Topics include history of the field, biological bases for behavior, life span development, memory, cognition, learning, social processes, personality, and psychopathology. Includes laboratory/discussion sessions.

 

Psy 1061 f,s. Introduction to the Development of the Child and Adolescent. (SS;4 cr)

Theory, data, and research approaches in development from birth through adolescence. Prenatal and physical development as well as perceptual, cognitive, language, personality, and social development. Multicultural/global perspective. Does not count for elective credit for the 16-credit psychology component of the LAHS major or for the psychology major or minor.

 

Psy 1071f. Human Sexuality. (SS;4 Cr)

Survey of aspects of human sexuality, including intimacy and communication; male and female anatomy, physiology, and response; development of identity, sex role, and gender orientation; varieties of sexual expression;

pregnancy and childbirth; contraception and disease prevention; sexual coercion and abuse; sexual dysfunctions and their treatment.

 

Psy 1081s. Drugs and Human Behavior. (SS; 2cr)

Survey of psychoactive drugs, their effects on mind and behavior, and prevention and treatment of drug abuse.

 

Psy 11O1s. Foundations of Psychology I. (SS;4 Cr)

Biological and cognitive bases of behavior. Topics include brain structure and function, sensory processes, cognition, learning theory, and evolutionary perspectives on behavior. Includes lab.

 

Psy 1102f. Foundations of Psychology II. (SS; 4cr; QP—Math 1150 or Math 3605; SP—Math 1601 or Math 2601; not offered 1999-2000)

Complex human behavior and development; development across the life span. social psychology, emotion and motivation, personality, psychopathology, psychology of health, and psychological interventions. Includes lab.

 

Psy 3051s.The Psychology of Women. (HDiv; 4 Cr; not offered 1999-2000)

Feminist approach to the psychological study of women’s personality, behavior, development, language issues, motivation, work and family lives, sexuality, health and psychobiology, adjustment and therapy, and victimization experiences. Focuses on women of color, feminist research methodology, and feminist analysis of psychological theories of women.

 

Psy 31O1f. Learning Theory and Behavior Modification.

(SS; 4cr; QP—1203; SP—1101,1102)

Major theories of learning and their importance for understanding human and nonhuman behavior. Classical and operant conditioning, generalization, discrimination, stimulus control, animal cognition. Behavior modification theories and techniques and their application to clinical populations. Lab projects demonstrate learning and behavior modification theories, concepts, and techniques and illustrate research methods and theory testing. Includes lab.

 

Psy 3111f. Cognition I. (SS; 4 cr; QP—1203, Math 1150 or Math 3605; SP—1101, Math 1601 or Math 2601 or #)

Empirical study of sensory processes and perceptual organization with emphasis on vision and audition. Anatomy and physiology of sense organs, psychophysics, signal detection theory, attention, speech perception, and perceptual-motor coordination. Includes lab.

 

Psy 3112s. Cognition II. 155; 4cr; QP-1 203, Math 1150 or Math 3605; SP—1 101, Math 1601 or Math 2601 or #) Empirical study of memory, language behaviors, representation of knowledge, judgment, decision making, problem solving, and creative thinking. Includes lab.

 

Pay 3201 s. Comparative Psychology. (Sci-L;4 Cr; QP—1 201, 1202or Biol 11 l4cr#;SP—1 101 or Biol 21 11)

Phylogenetic comparison of animal behavior emphasizing mechanisms of adaptation. Mechanisms of speciation, behavior genetics, evolution and ontogeny of the central nervous system, ethological determinants of behavior and learning. Includes lab.

 

Psy 3211s. Biological Psychology. (Sci-L;5 cr;QP—1203 or Biol 1114 or #;SP—1101,1102)

Brain organization and function; an emphasis on an understanding of the neural processes that underlie human and nonhuman behavior. Incorporates information from psychology, neuroscience, endocrinology, physiology, chemistry, neurology, and zoology to investigate the physiological basis of behavior. Topics include sensory processes, drugs and addiction, biological rhythms. sexual differentiation, reproduction, methods in neuroscience. Neuropsychological disorders. and clinical assessment. Lab projects focus on neuroanatomical organization and function of the brain. (4 hrs lect. 1 hr lab)

 

Psy 3221f. Behavioral Biology of Women. (Sci; 2cr; not offered 1999-2000)

Exploration of proximate and ultimate influences on female behavior in human and nonhuman species. Sexual differentiation. gender differences in cognition, biological basis of sexual orientation, female sexual selection, and dominance.

 

Psy 3301f. Personality I: Dimensions and Assessment.

(SS; 2cr; QP—t 201,1202, Math 1150 or Math 3605; SP—1051 or 11O1-1102, Math 1601 or Math 2601)

Nature of personality constructs and theories. Nature and measurement of personal traits; their dimensional structure, stability. development, and heritability.


Psy 3302. Personality.

(SS; 4cr; SP-1051 or 1101-1102, Stat 1601 or 2601; SS)

Nature of personality constructs and theories. Conscious vs. nonconscious processes; emotion and motivation; nature and measurement of personal traits; their dimensional structure, stability, development, and heritability.

 

Psy 3311 f. Personality II and Psychopathology I. (SS; 2cr; QP—1201, 1202, Math 1150 or Math 3605; SP—3301)

Nature and interaction of conscious and nonconscious cognitive processing, emotion, and motivation; relation to anxiety-based, affective, substance-use, and personality disorders.

 

Psy 3312s. Psychopathology II. ISS; 2cr; QP—3400; SP—3311)

Major psychotic and organic psychological disorders and their treatment, including major affective disorders, schizophrenia, and major childhood disorders.

 

Psy 3313. Psychopathology. (4.0 cr; SP-3301 0r 3311 0r 3302, Stat 1601 0r 2601; SS)

Psychological disorders and their treatment, including anxiety, personality, affective, schizophrenic, and other recognized disorders of children and adults.

Psy 3401f. Developmental Psychology I: Child Psychology, (SS;4cr;QP—1201;SP—1051 or 1101-1102)

Theory, data, and research in development from conception to adolescence. Prenatal and physical development as well as perceptual, cognitive, personality, and social development. Language acquisition and Piaget’s theory of cognitive development.

 

Psy 3402s. Developmental Psychology II: Adolescence.

(SS;2cr;QP—1201, 3500 or 1350;SP—1051 or 11O1-1102, 3401 or 1061)

Theory, data, and research in adolescent development with emphasis on physical, cognitive, and social development.

 

Psy 3403s. Developmental Psychology Ill: Adulthood, Aging,and Death. (SS;2 cr;QP—1201;SP—1051 or 1101-1102)

Theory, data, and research concerning the age group from young adulthood to old age. Emphasis on physical, cognitive, and social changes.

 

Pay 3501f. Social Psychology. (SS; 4cr; QP—1 201,1202 or Soc 1100 or #; SP—1051 or 1102 or Soc 1101 or Theories and research in the study of interpersonal behavior. Role, self, social learning, exchange, person perception, cognitive consistency, and interpersonal transactions.

 

Psy 3511s. Applied Social Psychology. (SS; 2cr; QP—3525 or #;SP—3501 or #)

A specific topic among applied social psychology fields (e.g., health psychology, psychology of law, environmental psychology) will be explored. Emphasis will be placed on the use of theories and techniques learned in Psy 3501 for the purpose of understanding social issues and/or affecting change. Topics will be announced prior to registration.

 

Psy 3601 s. Quantitative Methods in Psychology. (M/SR; 4cr; OP—1203, Math 1150 or Math 3605; SP-1101-1102, Math 1601 or Math 2601)

Intermediate course in research design and data analysis. Analysis of variance. regression and correlation, non-parametric methods, use of microcomputer statistical packages.

 

Psy 3611s. History and Philosophy of Psychology. (Hist; 2Cr; not offered 2000-2001)

Historical roots and comparative features of major theoretical systems in psychology, including their viewpoints on scientific methodology, research interests, and techniques. Component variables, hypotheses, and laws of structural, functional, behavioristic, Gestalt. psychoanalytic, attd existential movements and their modern syntheses

 

Psy 41O1f,s. Helping Relationships. ISS;4 cr;QP—3400; SP—331 1)

Approaches to counseling and psychotherapy. Theones of helping relationships. Acquisition of helping skills, including attending behavior, reflection of feeling, paraphrasing, confrontation, and summarization. Major humanistic, cognitive, and behavioral approaches. Didactic instruction, observation of counseling and psychotherapeutic techniques, and practical experiences.

 

Psy 4610f. Empirical Investigations in Cognitive Psychology. (SS; 4cr; repeatable; QP—321 0 or 3211; SP—31 1 or 31121

Empirical investigations by students in any area covered by Cognitive Psychology I and II, as well as related areas. Includes lab.

 

Psy 4620f. Empirical Investigations in Biological Psychology. (Sci; 4cr; repeatable; QP—3320; SP—3211)

Empirical investigations by students in any area covered by Biological Psychology, as well as related areas.  Includes lab.

 

Psy 4630f. Empirical Investigations in Personality, Psychopathology, and Psychological Intervention. (SS; 4cr; repeatable;QP—3400;SP—3311)

Empirical investigations in human emotion, motivation, individual differences, psychopathology, and psychological intervention. Includes lab.

 

Psy 4640f. Empirical Investigations in Developmental Psychology. (SS;4 Cr; repeatable;QP-3500 or 3501 or 3502; SP—3401 or 3402 or 3403, #)

Individual reading and empirical research on any topic.  Objective is greater depth than is possible in Psy 3401,  3402, 3403 and demonstration of research competency.

Includes lab.

 

Pay 4650f. Empirical Investigations in Social Psychology.

(SS; 4cr; repeatable; QP—3525; SP—3501 or #) Seminar instruction on topics of student and staff interests. Students will complete an empirical project and paper. Includes lab.

 

Pay 4896f,s. Field Experiences in Psychology. (SS taken for 2 or more cr); 1-4 Cr; repeatable, only 4cr may be applied to the BA or the Psy major; QP—#, which normally requires 3425

for work in psychiatric settings, 3400 or 3500 or 3502 for work in schools; SP—#, which normally requires 41O1 for work in psychiatric settings, 3301, 3311,3401 or 3402 for work in

schools; S-N only)

Individually arranged, supervised observation of and assistance with activities of professional psychologists in schools, clinics, hospitals, and other field settings.

 

Psy 1993f,s, 2993f,s, 3993f,s, 4993f,s. Directed Study. (1-5 cr; repeatable; prereq #)

Individualized instruction for advanced undergraduates. Content and manner of instruction depends on interests of students and faculty. Individual research and reading projects in selected areas supervised by faculty members as well as seminars concerned with in-depth exploration of topics of current interest;  topics to be announced.

 

Pay 4994f,s. Senior Honors Project. (1-5 Cr; repeatable; prereq participation in Honors Program, #) A substantial scholarly or creative work (at the undergraduate level) within the discipline.  Successful completion of the senior honors project is one of the requirements for graduating from

UMM “with honors.”