Psychology (PSY)

PSY-096:  Autism-Characteristics and Overview  (1 Credits)  

This workshop is designed to provide a broad overview of Autism Spectrum Disorder from many different facets, including diagnosis and characteristics, history, causes, treatments, societal attitudes, and neurodiversity.

PSY-100:  Introduction to Psychology  (3 Credits)  

This course is designed to provide the student with a general overview of this diverse field. It surveys such areas as basic research design and quantification in the behavioral sciences, growth and development throughout the life cycle, cognition and learning, motivation and emotion, personality and conflict, maladaptive behavior, adjustment, and mental health. The course integrates the cultural, ethnic and gender factors influencing human actions and thus provides an important global framework for enhancing the students' understanding of behavior, behavior change, and cognitive processes. This course is the prerequisite for several psychology courses listed below.

Fulfills Core Requirement in Social Sciences.  
Theme: What is Western Heritage?- Ancient and Modern.  
PSY-100S:  Introduction to Psychology and Community Engagement  (1 Credits)  
Co-requisite(s): PSY-100 is required.  

This course is designed to provide the student with a general overview of this diverse field while participating in 28 hours of service in the Newport are identifying the psychological issues and needs of the population served. Enrollment is contingent on co-enrollment in a designated PSY-100 3 credit course. PSY-100 surveys such areas as basic research design and quantification in the behavioral sciences, growth and development throughout the life cycle, cognition and learning, motivation and emotion, personality and conflict, maladaptive behavior, adjustment, and mental health. The course integrates the cultural, ethnic and gender factors influencing human actions and thus provides an important global framework for enhancing the students understanding of behavior, behavior change, and cognitive processes. In PSY-100S students will have assignments where they connect their service component to specific psychological theories, principles, and /or research findings encountered in the readings in PSY-100. This 1-credit course experience is open to all majors.

PSY-210:  Applied Behavior Analysis I  (3 Credits)  

This course is designed to provide students with an understanding of behavioral principles, with a focus on the application of the principles to areas of social significance. Topics include measurement of behavior, acquisition of new skills, assessment and reduction of behavioral problems, and areas of research and practice.

PSY-220:  Child Development  (3 Credits)  
Pre-requisite(s): PSY-100 is recommended.  

Child growth from conception to adolescence is explored to gain an understanding of individual differences, healthy personality development, and maladjustment. Typical behavior patterns and common transient divergences from these patterns will be discussed with reference to their hereditary and environmental antecedents.

Fulfills Core Requirement in Social Sciences.  
Theme: Building Global Awareness.  
PSY-230:  Adolescent and Adult Psychology  (3 Credits)  
Pre-requisite(s): PSY-100 is recommended.  

This course studies the experience of adulthood, beginning at the onset of adolescence, by examining the tasks which are unique to different periods of adult life. The physical, emotional, social, cognitive, and intellectual developmental processes during the adult years are examined in depth.

PSY-250:  Social Psychology  (3 Credits)  

Social Psychology can be defined as the scientific study of how our thoughts, feelings, and behavior are influenced by other people. Through Social Psychology you will come to see the power of the situation in influencing behavior, the potential power of the person in overcoming this influence, the importance of cognition in determining how we react to the situation, and the wide-ranging applicability of social psychological principles.

Fulfills Core Requirement in Social Sciences.  
Theme: What is Western Heritage?- Ancient and Modern.  
PSY-253:  Psychology and the Law  (3 Credits)  

This course focuses on the production and application of psychological research findings and methods to law-related issues. The course looks at what psychology has discovered about how people think and behave and how these discoveries can be useful when making decisions about how law should be shaped, administered, evaluated and improved.

Fulfills Core Requirement in Social Sciences.  
Theme: What is Western Heritage?-Ancient and Modern.  
PSY-255:  Psychology of Prejudice  (3 Credits)  

This course provides students with an opportunity to see how prejudice, stereotyping, and discrimination can occur across a wide variety of settings and target many different populations. Students will learn how such beliefs and behaviors produce their debilitating effects and what might be done to prevent or remedy such effects.

Fulfills Core Requirement in Social Sciences.  
Theme: Building Global Awareness.  
PSY-260:  Theories of Personality  (3 Credits)  
Pre-requisite(s): PSY-100 is required.  

In this course, students will survey the most important theories of personality in contemporary psychology. The way each theorist views the structure, dynamics, and development of personality is emphasized to facilitate comparisons. Additionally, each theory will be evaluated as to its validity and the reasonableness of its underlying assumptions. Some discussion of applications is included.

PSY-282:  Psychology: Science Vs. Pseudoscience  (3 Credits)  
Pre-requisite(s): PSY-100 is required.  

The purpose of this course is to persuade students of the importance of critical thinking in matters both academic and personal. Its two primary objectives are to help students distinguish science from pseudoscience, by examining how scientific principles can be used to evaluate claims about a variety of phenomena, from auras and astrology, to ESP and UFOs, and to help students recognize how thinking can be easily biased and distorted.

Fulfills Core Requirement in Social Sciences.  
Theme: Defining the American Experience.  
PSY-290:  Cross-Cultural Psychology  (3 Credits)  

This course will examine the nature of culture and its psychological correlates. Topics will include perceptions of reality, world view, cognition, motivation, personality development, values, beliefs and psychopathology based on current research on psychology across cultures. This course will also examine the effects of technology on personality development as observed by non-western traditional societies.

Fulfills Core Requirement in Social Sciences.  
Theme: Defining the American Experience.  
PSY-305:  Contemporary Families  (3 Credits)  
Pre-requisite(s): PSY-100 is required.  

In this course, students engage with the major theories, empirical research, and current controversies on contemporary families. Contemporary families are notably diverse, varying in terms of their racial/ethnic makeup, number of parents, gender of parents, biological relatedness among family members, and many other factors. In turn, modern families are the subject of considerable debate and discussion, with questions centering on whether "the family" is in transition or in decline, whether certain families are more valid than others, and so on. This course examines the varied contextual forces and social locations that are fundamentally intertwined with, and serve to shape, family life (e.g., race, social class, immigration status), as well as the many forms that contemporary families take (e.g., single-parent families, lesbian/gay-parent families, adoptive families). Special attention is paid to timely but understudied topics related to family life, such as the influence of reproductive technologies (e.g., donor insemination) and information technologies (e.g., social media, text messaging, the Internet) on family life. Emphasis is placed on the major theoretical perspectives that have been used to understand and theorize about families. Finally, media representations of diverse families, as well as resources aimed at addressing the needs of contemporary families, are examined and critiqued based on the empirical literature.

PSY-310:  Cognitive Psychology  (3 Credits)  
Pre-requisite(s): PSY-100 is required. Junior or senior Psychology Majors or Neuroscience Minors or permission of the instructor is required.  

This course is designed to examine the theoretical frameworks, research findings, neuropsychological links and applications in cognition in regard to the higher mental processes. Topics include, but will not be limited to, cognitive neuroscience, attention and consciousness, perception, memory, knowledge representation, language, problem solving and creativity, decision-making, and intelligence. Students will learn about the questions posed and research methods employed by Cognitive Psychology to facilitate their study of these aforementioned subtopics.

PSY-320:  Psychology of Learning and Behavior  (3 Credits)  
Pre-requisite(s): PSY-100 or PSY-210 is required.  

This course is designed to provide students with an understanding of behavioral principles, with a focus on basic research and theories of learning and behavior. Topics include theories of respondent and operant conditioning, observational learning, and the relationship between biological and environmental influences on behavior.

PSY-320S:  Psychology of Learning and Research/ Community Engagement  (1 Credits)  
Co-requisite(s): PSY-320 is required.  

This course must be taken with a designated section of PSY-320. This course is intended to familiarize students with learning principles and theories, specifically respondent and operant conditioning. The course will introduce basic and applied research in these areas with a focus on applying the learning principles in real-world situations. Students in this course will complete 28 hours of service applying behavioral principles to address socially significant problems in the area.

PSY-325:  Statistics and Research Methods I  (4 Credits)  
Pre-requisite(s): PSY-100 is required.  

This course integrates curricula from introductory Statistics and Research Methods courses into a two-sequence, year-long course. Both descriptive and inferential statistics principles and procedures will be taught in the context of applied research practices including the development and implementation of student group research projects. Computer lab session will introduce students to statistics software to aid in the computation of statistics.

PSY-326:  Statistics and Research Methods II  (4 Credits)  
Pre-requisite(s): PSY-325 is required.  

This course is the second of two courses which continues to integrate curricula from introductory Statistics and Research Methods. Both descriptive and inferential statistics principles and procedures will be taught in the context of applied research practices including the development and implementation of student group research projects. Computer lab session will introduce students to statistics software to aid in the computation of statistics.

PSY-330:  Psychological Testing  (3 Credits)  
Pre-requisite(s): PSY-100 is required.  

This course is designed to familiarize the student with the various types of psychological tests, including, but not limited to, those of aptitude, achievement, personality, vocational interest, and intelligence, and their uses and limitations. Problems in measurement and the concepts of reliability and validity will be discussed.

PSY-336:  Psychology of Mindfulness  (3 Credits)  
Pre-requisite(s): PSY-100 and sophomore academic standing are required.  

This course will explore current research and theory on the psychology of mindfulness. Students will learn about the history and basic principles of mindfulness and common mindfulness-based interventions. The course will also provide students with exposure to current research on the relation between mindfulness and psychological wellbeing and the psychological mechanisms underlying the benefits of mindfulness practice.

PSY-340:  Motivation  (3 Credits)  
Pre-requisite(s): PSY-100 is required.  

This course will investigate the major theoretical perspectives in: biological, behavioral, and cognitive and current applications. Topics will include, but not be limited to, expectancy value, social motivation, attribution, drives, learning, incentive motivation, physiological mechanisms of arousal, and physiological mechanisms of regulation, and emotions. Emphasis will be placed on theory, basic research, and current applications of each topic studied.

PSY-342:  Organizational Behavior  (3 Credits)  

Organizational behavior explores the theories and techniques for understanding human behavior in the workplace, including effective communication, organizational and personal goals, diversity, change management and more. Leadership, teamwork, job enrichment, productivity and motivation are also discussed as key elements for creating the most effective organizational culture and environment.

PSY-350:  Biological Psychology  (3 Credits)  
Pre-requisite(s): PSY-100 is required.  

Biological Psychology is defined as the study of the biological bases of behavior and cognition. It is concerned with the biological factors underlying behavior and cognition with special emphasis on the nervous and hormonal systems. In this course, the research methods and strategies of Biological Psychology will be examined, while exploring the major mechanisms of synaptic transmission and holistic nervous system functioning. Additional topics will include, but not be limited to, the neurological substrates of particular behaviors, e.g., the sensory systems (vision, hearing, taste, et. al.), sleep, emotion and stress, ingestive behavior and mental disorders. Analysis will explore behavioral, cognitive, affective, anatomical, neurochemical, cellular, electrophysiological and communication mechanisms of the human nervous system.

PSY-380:  Abnormal Psychology  (3 Credits)  
Pre-requisite(s): PSY-100 is required.  

This course examines the characteristics of abnormal behavior and mental disorders. Topics include historical foundations, present-day theoretical perspectives, diagnostic and research techniques, signs and symptoms of mental disorders, and an in-depth exploration of several currently widespread conditions, including, but not limited to, the anxiety disorders, somatoform and dissociative disorders, mood disorders, and schizophrenia. The current edition of the multi-axial Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders will serve as the explanatory basis for the description and analysis of these dysfunctional conditions.

PSY-384:  Psychological Diagnoses & Sociocultural Contexts  (3 Credits)  
Pre-requisite(s): PSY-100 is required and junior or senior standing.  

This course examines current classification systems for psychological conditions, focusing specificalty on the current edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical ManuaJ of Mental Disorders (DSM). Topics include dominant historicaJ discourses about psychological dysfunction and theoretical perspectives from which to conceptuaJize diagnostic criteria Students are encouraged to account for sociocultural factors in exploring currently widespread conditions (i.e., anxiety disorders, trauma. and stress-related disorders, mood disorders) and consider their own likely roles as future helping professionaJs.

PSY-390:  Optimal Human Functioning/Positive Psychology  (3 Credits)  
Pre-requisite(s): This course is offered to juniors or seniors who have completed PSY-100 and several upper-level psychology courses.  

This course is designed to investigate the current research, theories and modern perspectives in the area of optimal human functioning. Topics will include, but not be limited to, flow, the psychology of happiness, optimism, well-being theory, and creativity. Emphasis will be given to applications of the material under study for making a meaningful life experience. We will be reading current articles and several books in the area of optimal human functioning. Students will be expected to contribute in a seminar style format, researching, reflecting and making informal and formal presentations.

Fulfills Core Requirement in Social Sciences.  
Theme: Engaging Creative, Aesthetic and Spiritual Experience.  
PSY-399:  Special Topics  (3 Credits)  
Pre-requisite(s): PSY-100 is required.  

This course investigates a topic of current interest in the field of psychology. The topics to be covered and the focus of the course will be specified at the time of registration. This course may be repeated for different topics.

PSY-400:  Counseling Theories and Strategies  (3 Credits)  
Pre-requisite(s): PSY-100 is required.  

The purpose of this course is to introduce the student to the roles and functions of a counselor, to understand the main counseling strategies, and to provide a framework for understanding the counseling process while developing basic counseling skills.

PSY-410:  Applied Behavioral Analysis II  (3 Credits)  
Pre-requisite(s): PSY-210 or PSY-320 is required.  
Co-requisite(s): PSY-410S is recommended.  

Students in this course will practice hands-on skills that are required in research and practice in Applied Behavior Analysis, will develop a deeper understanding of concepts introduced in ABA I or Psychology of Learning and will become familiar with foundational and current research in behavior analysis.

PSY-410S:  Applied Behavior Analysis II and Community Engagement  (1 Credits)  
Co-requisite(s): PSY-410 is required.  

This course must be taken with a designated section of PSY-410: Applied Behavior Analysis II. Students enrolled in this course will complete 28 hours of community-based fieldwork in which they will apply the concepts learned in class to real-world situations.

PSY-420:  Applied Behavior Analysis Practicum  (3 Credits)  
Pre-requisite(s): PSY-210 or PSY-320 and permission of instructor is required.  

This applied practicum is designed to provide students supervised experience working with populations of need and practicing the material learned in their coursework. To accommodate a wide range of student interests, multiple sites are available that specialize in different areas of applied behavior analysis and work with different populations.

PSY-430:  History and Systems of Psychology Capstone  (3 Credits)  
Pre-requisite(s): Junior or senior academic standing, and near completion of requirements for the Psychology major or minor (one or two courses at most remaining), or permission of the instructor are required.  

This capstone course surveys some of the historical events which have shaped modern psychology. The major perspectives of psychology explored include Structuralism, Functionalism, Behaviorism, Gestalt, Psychoanalysis, Humanistic, Biological, Cognitive and Positive Psychology. We will explore the philosophical roots of modern psychology. The political and historical events contributing to the zeitgeist that supported the development of each perspective will be analyzed. When looking at the impact of central figures in the field a more inclusive approach will be utilized. This capstone course will culminate with integrative and comprehensive written and oral presentations of the current status, political orientation and possible future directions of the modern perspectives of psychology.

PSY-499:  Independent Study/Community Experience  (1-3 Credits)  
Pre-requisite(s): Junior or senior major in Psychology with all other requirements nearly completed (one or two courses at most remaining), a 3.0 GPA in Psychology and permission of a supervising faculty member required.  

Independent Study/Community Experience allows the exceptional junior or senior Psychology major in good academic standing an opportunity to conduct independent research or participate in a community experience under the supervision of a member of the department faculty. Topics to be investigated for a research focused independent study, objectives to be met, and the criteria for grading must be prearranged during the semester prior to the one in which the study will be conducted. Students must make their own arrangements for a community experience, including plans for an on-site supervisor who agrees to evaluate them at the end of the semester. A minimum of eight hours per week is required for 3 credit hours. Community experiences, although taken for credit, are evaluated on a Pass/Fail basis.