Social Science Program

The College offers a program for students seeking certification to teach Social Science in the secondary schools. The program includes three required components: the Social Science core, the secondary education core, and a major in psychology.

Graduation requirements for this major is noted in this catalog under the department. There is no major in Social Science. Dr. Lou Manza is the coordinator of the Social Science Certification Program.

Program Requirements:

Social Science core courses (33 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.
A survey of major ideas in child development and educational psychology, with an emphasis on classroom applications. Topics include human development, intelligence, language, learning, memory, motivation, social and cultural contexts of development, and assessments. 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 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.
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 is designed for students seeking certification to teach social science courses (psychology, sociology and anthropology) at the secondary school level. Under the supervision of College faculty, students will be responsible for preparing lecture and lab materials, teaching selected topics, and preparing, administering, and evaluating course assignments and exams. 1 credit.
An introduction to the sociological perspective with a focus on how individual behavior is shaped by the social context. The nature and characteristics of human societies and social life are examined from a perspective known as the "sociological imagination". Topics range from the influence of culture on human behavior, the development of the self, group dynamics, deviance, population, and social inequality. 3 credits.
Introduction to both physical and cultural anthropology including human evolution, human variation, and cross-cultural analysis and comparison. 3 credits.
Contemporary social problems are examined from a constructionist perspective. Topics selected for study vary according to societal trends but typically include an examination of social change, poverty, globalization, environmental degradation, deviance, and health. Prerequisite: SOC 110. 3 credits.
An overview of family focusing on family structure and interaction. Diverse topics range from sexuality and love, mate selection and dating, parenting, dysfunctional families, and divorce. A historical and cross-cultural approach is employed in addition to a sociological approach. Prerequisite: SOC 110. 3 credits.
The major objective of this course is to help students become aware of the degree to which behavior (including one's own) is culturally determined. As we continue to move toward a global society with increasingly frequent intercultural contacts, we need more than simple factual knowledge about cultural differences; we need a framework for understanding inter-cultural communication and cross-cultural human relations. Through lecture, discussion, simulations, case- studies, role-plays and games, students will learn the inter-cultural communication framework and the skills necessary to make them feel comforatble and communicate effectively with people of any culture and in any situation involving a group of diverse backgrounds. Prerequisite: SOC 110. 3 credits.
† indicates a required course

Secondary Education core courses (22-24 credits):

A study of the legal, social, historical and philosophical foundations of American education correlated with a survey of the principles and theories of influential educators. Includes required weekly field practicum (two hours per week minimum). Limited to education majors or permission of instructor. 3 credits
A study of the basic principles and procedures for middle school and secondary classroom management and instruction. Prerequisite: EDU 110; secondary teacher certification candidate; junior status; approval of instructor; must be take prior to SED 431 or 440. 3 credits.
Students spend an entire semester in an area school under the supervision of a cooperating teacher. Prerequisites: A cumulative grade point average of 3.0 for admission to teacher candidacy is required; EDU 110; SED 430, 431; open to seniors or students seeking certification only; fulfillment of all Act 354 requirements as outlined by the Pennsylvania Department of Education; passing scores on the PPST Reading, Writing, and Mathematics PRAXIS exams; approval of the major subject area adviser and the Education Department faculty. 12 credits.
† indicates a required course

Psychology (PSY) major courses (25 credits):

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.
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.}
This course is designed to help clarify students' interest and long-term plans for the field of psychology. Topics include identifying the academic and interpersonal abilities necessary to become a successful student at the undergraduate level and beyond, reviewing the broad skills and values related to different careers in psychology, preparing students for the different elements of job searching and applying to graduate school, exploring employment options in psychology available to individuals with bachelor's and graduate degrees, and reflecting on one's own skills/interests to develop a general career plan for their post-collegiate life. This will be a pass/fail course for all students. 1 credit.
A study of the history of psychology, including philosophical precursors to psychology, early and modern schools of thought within psychology, important trends, and famous psychologists. Prerequisites: PSY 111, PSY 112, PSY 120, PSY 130, and at least 6 completed credits at the 200 level or higher. Writing process. 3 credits.
† indicates a required course

One of the following lab courses:

The course will provide students with experience planning (including IRB approval), observing, measuring, and analyzing child behavior using the methods employed by developmental researchers. This is intended to supplement the theory and research background they receive in PSY 324. Prerequisites: PSY 111, 112, 120 and 130; students must also have completed or be currently enrolled in PSY 324. 1 credit.
Students will be given the opportunity to experience how psychological tests are designed and evaluated. Each student will conduct a literature review on their selected topics, and then design, construct, distribute, and evaluate the validity/reliability of a psychological test instrument consistent with a research theme that will change every year. Prerequisites: PSY 111, 112, 120, and 130; students must also have completed or be currently enrolled in PSY 332. 1 credit.
This course is intended to provide students with hands-on experience in the types of survey design, observational research, and lab-based experimentation consistent with group behavior, interpersonal relationships, and the interaction between social issues and popular culture. The course culminates in the presentation of data from students' original research within social psychology. Prerequisites: PSY 111, 112, 120, and 130; students must also have completed or be currently enrolled in PSY 346. 1 credit.
This is an advanced, hands-on seminar in cognitive science, which will allow students to explore a preferred interest in human thinking via laboratory research. Students will review the literature on their chosen topic, design an experiment addressing this issue, and then collect and analyze the data from their experiment. The course culminates with an oral and written presentation of their research. Prerequisites: PSY 111, 112, 120, and 130; students must also have completed or be currently enrolled in PSY 363. 1 credit.
Students will be introduced to methods used in the study of the nervous system and its influence on behavior. Lab work will include collecting, analyzing, and reporting data from physiological studies, as well as sheep brain dissection and stereotaxic neurosurgery. In addition, students must complete an APA style proposal for an individual research project. Prerequisites: PSY 111, 112, 120, and 130; students must also have completed or be currently enrolled in PSY 378. 1 credit.

One course from each of the following:

Biopsychology

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.
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}

Cognition

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 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.
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.

Psychopathology

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.
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.