Psychology

This course provides an introduction to the field of psychology, including its history and controversies, its sub-fields and divisions, its major theorists and theoretical perspectives, and its current state and promise. The focus will be on how we develop across the life span, the biological basis of our behavior, the nature of intelligence and learning, personality, psychological disorders, and how we behave in social situations. The aim is for students to gain an appreciation for the science of psychology and how it can be applied to our own lives. Prerequisite: Passing scores on the College's writing and reading placement tests, or a C or better or concurrent enrollment in ENG 091 or ENG 092. Three lecture hours per week. Gen. Ed. Competencies Met: Multicultural and Social Perspectives.

This course examines the scholarly literature concerning nonintellectual factors related to student success in college and career. The facets covered include the literature on psychological factors, skills, and behaviors that have been found to be positively associated with Grade Point Average (GPA); graduation from college with a baccalaureate degree in a timely manner; and attaining fulfilling work in a professional job upon graduation from college. The relevance of these factors, skills, and behaviors to each student’s own success in college and selection of a college major and career is explored through critical analysis and evaluation of them. The primary focus is on factors affecting each student’s own learning, motivation, achievement, selection of a college major, and definition of a tentative career path. Another focus is on learning strategies for helping oneself and others become more successful students. Prerequisite: A passing score on the reading and writing and placement tests or C or better or concurrent enrollment in ENG 091 or ENG 092. Three lecture hours per week. Gen. Ed. Competencies Met: Critical Thinking.

This course provides an introduction to statistical methods used in psychological research. The emphasis is on conceptual understanding of statistics within the context of research. It includes an introduction to the analysis of quantitative data in psychology, including descriptive statistics, analysis of variance, correlation, regression, probability, hypothesis testing, nonparametric procedures, and data analysis with SPSS. This course is also appropriate for students wanting to major in other Social Sciences. Pre-requisite(s): PSY 101 and MTH 119. Three lecture hours and one laboratory hour per week. Instructional Support Fee applies. Gen. Ed. Competencies Met: Quantitative and Symbolic Reasoning.

The main purpose of this course is to help students develop the skills and knowledge necessary to become informed critics of psychological research reported in scholarly journals and in the media. Emphasis will be placed on using scientific reasoning to interpret, design, and critique research from diverse areas of psychology. Topics covered include: identifying and creating appropriate research hypotheses; examining ethical issues in psychological research; acquiring skills in the design of descriptive, correlational, and experimental research; developing familiarity with the psychological literature; and creating an original research proposal in American Psychological Association publication style. Pre-requisite: PSY 230 with a minimum grade of "C". Three lecture hours per week. Gen. Ed. Competencies Met: Critical Thinking, Information Literacy and Scientific Reasoning and Discovery.

A study of the development of human behavior from conception to adolescence with special emphasis on childhood. Special attention is given to the physical, social and cultural factors as well as the child's interpersonal relationships. Prerequisite: PSY 101. Three lecture hours per week.

This course focuses on the development of the adolescent. The major theories regarding adolescents, with emphasis on their attitudes, values, motives, and problems of adjustment are studied. Prerequisite: PSY 101. Three lecture hours per week.

This course is an introduction to the study of personality. The course examines various theoretical explanations for understanding personality development and explores the strengths and weaknesses of each theory. This course also investigates how personality is assessed and explores the validity and reliability of several tools. Prerequisite: PSY 101. Three lecture hours per week.

This course focuses on a wide range of ways in which personality may become disordered. Emphasis is placed on normal human development as highlighted by psychopathology and on problems of treatment. Prerequisite: PSY 101. Three lecture hours per week. Gen. Ed. Competencies Met: Critical Thinking.

This course examines the historical background of Social Psychology and the significance of various historical and current theoretical perspectives. Scientific research methods used in this field will be analyzed, including ethical concerns and legal issues. Topics to be studied in-depth include: social cognition and perception; attribution errors and biases; group processes and group relations; social attitudes and beliefs; stereotyping, prejudice and discrimination; prosocial and helping behaviors; and aggression and conflict. Prerequisite(s): PSY 101. Three lecture hours per week. Gen. Ed. Competencies Met: Ethical Dimensions and Multicultural and Social Perspectives.

This course is designed to help the student develop an understanding and appreciation of behaviorism in psychology. Emphasis is placed on the various techniques used in a clinical or hospital setting to modify patient behavior. Prerequisite: PSY 101. Three lecture hours per week.

This course will provide an opportunity for students to gain insight into their own behavior as well as that of others. Goals for this course include: understanding personal adjustment and growth across the life span, dealing with life changes and developing adequate coping mechanisms for making self-affirming life choices, maintaining health, managing stress, relating to others in social environments, and developing effective interpersonal relationships. Strategies for exploring life options and making effective decisions are emphasized. Importance is placed on the role of beliefs and values in the decision-making process and the problems that arise out of value conflicts. Prerequisite: PSY 101. Three class hours a week.

A one-semester course on a specific topic in psychology. Topic to be announced each semester. Prerequisite: PSY 101. Three lecture hours per week.

This course is a survey of the numerous loss experiences in the human condition with special attention to dying issues, the demography of death, grief, funeralization and memorialization. Attention will be given to special types of grief, children's education and afterlife theories. Three lecture hours per week.

The course is an in-depth experience into the myriad facets of the grieving process. It is designed to enlighten the student cognitively and affectively about the components, determinants, manifestations and specific reactions of various losses and the consequent grieving process. The differences between normal and unresolved grief, the tasks of grieving and the holistic impact will be addressed. Special attention will be given to traumatic death grief. Three lecture hours per week.

The course focuses on the qualities and skills as well as the functions and goals of the grief facilitator. Pre-need, at need, aftercare intervention and healing techniques will be addressed for a variety of loss experiences. An in-depth analysis of counseling theories will be presented, as well as resources for referral counseling. Three class hours a week.

Society as a whole is rapidly aging at an unprecedented rate. Using a multi-disciplinary approach, the aging process is examined from a variety of perspectives, including contemporary biological, psychological, and social theories. Various problems facing today's elders -- and those in caretaking roles for older adults -- are examined, including health, social, economic, political, and other age-related issues. Three lecture hours per week.

This course offers an in-depth, holistic examination of the biological, emotional, and mental components of the human person in the aging process and how they impact the health, lifestyle, and social life of elders. Special attending is given to Alzheimer's disease as well as emotional and personality disorders encountered by elders. Three lecture hours per week.

This course provides students the opportunity to identify and develop some of the interpersonal competencies and skills that are important for success as a leader in a global workforce. Students assess their global leadership potential and identify strengths and areas in need of improvement. They learn needs assessment and project design skills, problem-solving strategies, and team-building skills and practice them while either serving at a non-profit organization in the community or leading peers on a community service project. Students reflect on their service experience and identify some possible projects for which they could apply their education to address social problems in their communities in the future. Three hours of lecture per week. Gen. Ed. Competencies Met: Ethical Dimensions, Global and Historic Awareness and Multicultural and Social Perspectives.

Maladaptive patterns of behavior, cognition and emotion may occur during childhood and adolescence, and the normal unfolding of maturational milestones may be disrupted and disordered. This course examines the various atypical responses that children experience when "normal development goes awry". The course content makes three assertions. First, that children develop within the contexts of home, school, and community and may be at risk for psychopathology when these environments do not support healthy growth. Second, that development is driven by the interplay of biology and the environment and psychopathology are not inevitable. Protective factors function in both the individual child and the child's environment. Third, children are vulnerable to the emergence of diverse disorders during particular times in development, and that one set of factors may or may not lead to maladaptive behavior, emotion or cognition. Prerequisite(s): PSY 101 and PSY 252. Three lecture hours per week.

This course is designed to help students gain knowledge of alcohol and other drugs in the context of individual use. The primary goal is to understand how drugs alter the brain and have an impact on thoughts, feelings and behaviors. There will be an emphasis on drug induced changes in neurological functioning. Etiology of addiction from a biological perspective will be explored. This course serves as a prerequisite for many of the courses in the Substance Abuse Counseling Certificate Program. Three lecture hours per week.

This course is designed to help students gain an understanding of addiction from a psychological, sociological, biological and spiritual perspective with a strong focus on diversity in addicted populations. The concept if addiction as a disease will be examined. Consequences of addiction as they related to the individual regarding intervention, treatment, education, and relapse prevention are introduced. This course requires that the student attend at least 3 AA/NA meetings outside of the classroom hours. Prerequisite(s): PSY 101 and PSY 281. Three lecture hours per week.

This course is designed to provide the student with an understanding of experimental approaches to the study of animal behavior. The key concepts and principles related to different theories of learning will be covered, including biological, behaviorist, cognitive, and socio-cultural perspectives. Within the context of both cognitive and behavioral models of learning, attention will be given to the concepts of reinforcement and shaping of behavior, approach and avoidance learning, student motivation and learning, and metacognitive and self-regulation skills. Prerequisite(s): PSY 101. Three lecture hours per week.

In this interdisciplinary course, students review the scholarly literature on leadership to gain a concise grounding in major leadership concepts and theories, including a contemporary approach for leadership in groups, communities, and organizations. Working in groups, students practice problem-solving strategies and leadership skills by developing a project plan to help a nonprofit organization provide a service needed in the community, leading service-learning students to implement it, and assessing the project and their personal growth using guided-reflection techniques. Prerequisite: Enrollment in the Commonwealth Honors Program or permission of the instructor. Three hours of lecture per week.