BA in Psychology

Prerequisites: PSYU 101, MATU 203, PSYU 301 (or equivalent).

May be taken concurrently with MATU 203. This course is an introduction to the principles and procedures involved in behavioral sciences research, including the scientific method and its application to psychological inquiry, methods used in research, APA standards, and ethics. Students will learn how to create a research proposal.

This course covers physical, cognitive and psychosocial development from conception through old age. Death and dying are also addressed. Research and theories related to the entire life span are reviewed.

A systematic study of emotional disturbance and the major classifications of mental illness from the perspective of symptoms/behaviors, etiology, diagnosis and treatment.

In this course, students will reflect on their own critical thinking skills and apply them to challenges in the field of psychology and everyday life. They will analyze ways of thinking, perceiving, and feeling that can influence behavior and impede or support sound judgment and decision making. Students will demonstrate their ability to use well-reasoned evidence to argue multiple perspectives and propose solutions to complex and controversial issues in psychology.

Prerequisite: MATU 099 or higher.

This course presents an introduction to statistics and its practical applications. Topics include methods of sampling, graphical representation of data, descriptive statistics, elementary probability principles, discrete and continuous random variables, probability distributions, Central Limit Theorem, confidence intervals, hypothesis testing, correlation and regression, goodness-of-fit, and contingency tables. Students will explore the use of data analysis and statistical methods in the disciplines of business, health sciences, education, and social sciences. Computer software for statistical analysis of application problems is required.

This course is designed to examine individual psychological functioning across and within various cultures to include the impact of culture on: temperament or personality, concept of self, gender, health, emotions, language, enculturation, the developmental processes of culture, cultural influence on abnormal psychology, organizational cultures, and cross cultural comparisons in research. Students will gain a wider appreciation of culture and begin to identify how culture is a part of our everyday experience.

This course covers physical, cognitive and psychosocial development from conception to adolescence. This course provides theoretical and applied aspects of development, integrating real world challenges faced by children, parents, and individuals working with children.

This course provides an introduction to the field of pediatric neuropsychology and the study of childhood developmental, neurological, and congenital diseases. Biological, environmental, psychological, and developmental variables that affect neurobehavioral outcomes will be addressed. This course offers an overview of common central nervous system disorders of childhood including neurocognitive disease and developmental disorders. Additional topics of discussion include assessment and treatment of genetic and metabolic disorders, structural brain disorders, and traumatic injury to the brain. Professional, cultural, and ethical considerations in pediatric neuropsychology will be explored.

This course focuses on applied behavioral analysis, which is based on the belief that human behavior, no matter how questionable, can be explained. Students will learn about behavioral principles and their application to a wide range of societal situations. They will explore how behavior is developed and how to identify, evaluate, and measure behavioral transformation. Students will also learn how the use of reinforcement and punishment influence an individual’s motivation to alter an identified behavior and examine the ethical practices imbedded in the application of behavioral analysis.

The purpose of this course is to learn how to evaluate behavioral patterns and apply standardized strategies to help shape, change, or eliminate undesired identified behaviors. Students will consider the history of behavior modification and explore principles that govern the act of modifying behavior. Topics include practical methodologies, such as observation and record keeping, which assist in identification of changeable behavior and development of a modification plan.

This course provides a survey of major perspectives and theories of human learning and their importance historically as well as in current practice. Students will explore and evaluate learning paradigms and research methods and apply them to real world situations, such as child rearing, education, and psychotherapy.

This course will introduce students to cognitive psychology as a sub-discipline within the field of psychology that focuses on how individuals sense and perceive the world around them. Students will examine the mental structures and cognitive processes involved in sensation, perception, attention, memory, learning, language, problem-solving, information-processing, and decision-making involved in everyday life.

This course provides an evaluative review of the major theories of personality, emphasizing the structure, dynamics, behavior and development of the normal and abnormal personality. Theories include Freudian, neo-Freudian, cognitive, somatic, social learning, and humanistic explanations for individual differences.

Prerequisite: MATU 203.

This course serves as an introduction to the principles and procedures involved in psychological measurement. Emphasis will be placed on concepts of test construction, standardization, validity, and reliability as applied to a wide range of psychological instruments of intelligence, interests, values, and personality. In addition to discussion of theoretical concepts, students will learn about the history of psychological testing and how theories, principles and concepts are both used in psychometric assessment and applied in educational, clinical and employment settings.

Prerequisite: MATU 203.

This course serves as an introduction to the principles and procedures involved in psychological measurement. Emphasis will be placed on concepts of test construction, standardization, validity, and reliability as applied to a wide range of psychological instruments of intelligence, interests, values, and personality. In addition to discussion of theoretical concepts, students will learn about the history of psychological testing and how theories, principles and concepts are both used in psychometric assessment and applied in educational, clinical and employment settings.

This course provides a comprehensive overview of the foundations, theories, and applications for career planning and management. Students will build effective techniques in career counseling; engage in self-assessment of interests, values, and skills; examine steps in career decision making; and take contextual perspectives when working with others from diverse backgrounds and situations. Students will also consider perspectives about work-life integration when formulating career plans.

In this course, students will study the application of psychological theory, research, and practice to personnel selection, performance management, and employee training. Students will consider the influence of environmental, organizational, legal, ethical and individual factors influencing and impacting workplace and employee effectiveness.

This course discusses the application of psychological methods and techniques to understand, evaluate, and maximize human behavior in the workplace. Topics will include, but are not limited to individual characteristics, job analysis, selection procedures, counterproductive work behaviors, performance measurement, teams, motivation, and leadership.

An introduction and overview of professional counseling. Selected theories will be evaluated briefly and methods of their application to specialties such as group, family, marriage, child chemical dependence and crisis intervention will be emphasized. Attention will be given to specific communicative skills in counseling, to ethical and legal issues and to strategies for counselor self-care.

An exploration of a variety of theoretical orientations in the study of family systems. The theoretical foundations of such approaches to family counseling as structural, strategic, transgenerational, experiential and behavioral are studied.

Community mental health agencies play an essential role in providing mental health services to the un-served and underserved populations. This course provides an overview of emerging issues in mental health counseling, environmental challenges, and current approaches to comprehensive treatment and support services. Students will examine the foundations of community mental health counseling, the people served, and the history and current state of public and private systems of care. Students will also apply theories to community mental health and the Recovery Oriented Care model.

This course examines interaction of physical, psychological, emotional, socio-economic, and environmental factors affecting older adults. Gerontological issues related to mental health of the elderly will be examined. Topics include ageism, quality of life, health and wellness, retirement planning, community support programs, end of life issues, and predictors of successful aging.