Requirements for a Psychology Minor

I. Foundation Courses:

This survey course examines the realtionship between research and theory in the field of psychology. A brief review of the history of psychology allows students to understand the evolution of the descipline. The remainder of the course provides an overview of the basic research areas of psychology, including physiological psychology, sensation and perception, learning and memory, language and cognition, and human development. 3 credits.
This survey course examines the realtionship between research and theory in the field of psychology, with emphasis on the field of applied psychology. Individual and societal influences on physical and psychological health will be examined. Topics will include psychological testing, personality theory, intelligence, motivation and emotion, social behavior, and psychological disorders and treatment. 3 credits.
An introduction to psychology as a science, emphasizing laboratory research. Students complete literature reviews, design and conduct a psychological experiment, perform data analysis and interpretation, and review scientific ethics. In addition, subdisciplines of psychology, and methodology specific to each, are explored. Writing process. 4 credits.
This laboratory course explores the basic quantitative and qualitative statistics and data-based analytical methods used by scientists to interpret and understand behavior. Topics include the logic of the scientific method applied to data analysis, descriptive statistics, the foundations and utility of inferential statistics, and the statistical methodologies of simple and advanced hypothesis testing. Students will also design, analyze, and present the results of their own original data-collection project. 4 credits. {Cross-listed as PSC 142.}
† indicates a required course

II.Electives:
Students must complete 6 PSY credits at the 200-level or higher, and 3 PSY credits at the 300-level, with courses selected from the following options.

200-level courses:

A study of the psychological characteristics and changes occurring during adolescence. Topics include psychological development, social influences, cognitive and intellectual development, identity and self-concept, sexual development, values and transition to adulthood. Prerequisite: PSY 111, PSY 112, PSY 120 or PSY 130. 3 credits.
A study of research, literature, and theories concerned with psychological change in the adult, from early adulthood to death. Current research methods and findings are covered in the areas of physical, cognitive, personality, and social changes in the adult years. Prerequisite: PSY 111, 112, 120 or 130. 3 credits.
Psychological principles applied to organizational behavior. Topics include individual factors (personality, attitudes, perceptions), group dynamics, personnel selection and training, communication, leadership, ergonomics and organizational change. Prerequisite: PSY 111, 112, 120 or 130. 3 credits.
A study of the major theories of personality, with emphasis on psychoanalysis, humanistic psychology, behaviorism, social learning, and trait theory. Prerequisites: PSY 111, PSY 112, PSY 120 or PSY 130. 3 credits. Writing process. 3 credits.
This course is designed to address a broad spectrum of issues related to the psychology of gender. Of central importance is the examination of empirical findings related to gender differences and similarities in biological, behavioral, cognitive, social, and emotional domains. The course will also involve a critical examination of the meaning of gender in the field of psychology and in the broader society. Prerequisites: PSY 111, 112, 120 or 130. 3 credits
Surveys structures and functions of, and research strategies to examine, the various sensory systems with particular emphasis on the visual system. Physiological and philosophical aspects of perception are discussed. Prerequisites: PSY 111, PSY 112, PSY 120 or PSY 130. 3 credits.
This course is an approach to psychology in which knowledge and principles from evolutionary biology are used to research the structure of the human mind. Topics will include the adaptive problems of survival, mating, parenting, kinship, cooperation, warfare, and conflict between the sexes. Prerequisite: PSY 111, 112, 120 or 130. 3 credits.
This course explores various processes involved in knowledge acquisition, storage, and retrieval. Specific topics include associative learning mechanisms, the impact of reinforcement and punishment on behavior, generalization and discrimination, memory encoding, long-term memory storage and retrieval, memory distortions, and the sources of individual differences in learning and memory. Prerequisites: PSY 111, PSY 112, PSY 120 or PSY 130. 3 credits.
A study of mental, emotional and behavioral problems, including alcohol and drug abuse, brain disorders, criminal and psycopathic behavior, neuroses, psychophysiological reactions, psychoses, sexual deviations, subnormal intelligence and suicide. Prerequisites: PSY 111, PSY 112, PSY 120 or PSY 130. 3 credits.
A study of the ways psychologists assist persons and groups. Particular attention is given to assessment, individual and group therapy, marriage and family counseling, and community psychology. Prerequisites: PSY 111, PSY 112, PSY 120 or PSY 130. 3 credits.
This course will focus on three critical areas that fall under the umbrella of forensic psychology. First, students will be introduced to the area of legal psychology, including applied empirical research on issues important to the legal system such as eyewitness accuracy, police selection, jury decision making, and legal assumptions about human behavior relevant to the rights of defendents, victims, children, and consumers of mental health services. Second, the area of psychological jurisprudence will be explored by studying efforts to develop a philosophy of law and justice based on psychological values. Third, students will be introduced to the concepts generally thought of as forensic psychology, such as criminal profiling, insanity defense, competence to stand trial and child custody decisions. 3 credits.
This course serves as an introduction to the content areas and methodology of neuropsychology, the study of the relationships between brain function and behavior. Topics include basic communication in the nervous system, organization and function of sensory and motor systems, hemispheric specialization, localization of function, brain injury and plasticity, and issues associated with neuropsychological assessment. Prerequisites: PSY 111, PSY 112, PSY 120 or PSY 130. 3 credits.
This course surveys the most commonly used substances to treat mental disorders, such as antianxiety, antidepressant, antipsychotic, mood- stabilizer, psychostimulant, and cognitive enhancer medications. The course also discusses the brain and its most common neurotransmitters, how transmitting neurons send and receive electrochemical information, the pharmokinetics (metabolism and elimination) and pharmacodynamics (absorption, distribution, and effects) of each drug as well as the action sites, side effects, and mechanisms of each drug. Prerequisites: PSY 111, PSY 112, PSY 120 or PSY 130. 3 credits.

300-level courses:

This course provides a broad foundation for understanding child development through an integration of practical, theoretical, and research orientations. Attention is given to both cultural and biological determinants of social, cognitive, physical, and emotional development, focusing on individual differences as well as group similarities. Prerequisites: PSY 111, 112, 120 and 130; or permission of instructor. 3 credits.
An introduction to the principles of psychological measurement, methods of test design and construction, and applications and interpretations of existing psychological tests. Prerequisites: PSY 111, 112, 120 and 130; or permission of instructor. 3 credits.
A study of the inter- and intra-personal relationships between individuals and groups, with emphasis on theories and research studies. The topics covered may include attitude development and change, conformity, persuasion, person perception, attribution, attraction and group processes. Prerequisites: PSY 111, 112, 120 and 130; or permission of instructor. 3 credits.
This course explores the human mind by integrating philosophical, psychological, and biological perspectives on the nature of thought processses. Specific topics discussed in this framework include attention, perception, consciousness, memory, language, reasoning, intelligence, and thought-related dysfunctions. Prerequisites: PSY 111, 112, 120 and 130; or permission of instructor. 3 credits.
A study of the biological basis (substrates) of behavioral processes. The course focuses on the physiology of reflexes, sensation and perception, learning and memory, sleep, ingestive behaviors, emotion and psychopathology. Prerequisites: PSY 111, 112, 120 and 130; or permission of instructor. 3 credits. {Cross-listed as Psychobiology 378}