Courses

PS 101S: Introduction to Psychology
The scientific study of human behavior and cognitive processes, including biopsychology, learning, memory, motivation, development, personality, abnormality, and social processes.

PS 200: Methods I: Research in Psychology
First part of a two-semester sequence that integrates basic statistics with principles of research design. Emphasis on descriptive statistics, correlation and regression, and ethics of psychological research. Introduction to SPSS and writing in APA format.

PS 201M: Methods II: Statistics for Psychology
Second part of two-semester sequence that integrates basic statistics with the principles of research design. Emphasis on inferential statistics, observational research, survey methodology, and experimentation. Continued instruction in SPSS and writing in APA format. Prerequisite: PS200.

PS 202: Psychology of Childhood and Adolescence
Integrative study of human development from conception through adolescence. Examines physical, cognitive, social, and emotional facets of development, including peer and family relationships, personality development, and contemporary issues. Prerequisite: PS 101S.

PS 209: Perspectives in Mental Health
Examination of thoughts and behaviors that deviate from the social norms, are maladaptive, and/or cause distress. Emphasis on etiology and treatment of psychological disorders from a biopsychosocial perspective. Prerequisite: PS 101S or HD 101S.

PS 212: Animal Cognition
Examine the behavior and mental lives of many species. Topics include the theoretical foundation of comparative psychology, research methods and observation techniques, and current research topics in the field. Prerequisites: PS 101S.

PS 214: Sensation & Perception
Integrative study of sensory perception, with an emphasis on individual differences and cognitive factors that affect perception. Topics include vision, hearing, taste, smell, touch, pain, and vestibular perception. Prerequisite: PS 101S

PS 220S: Positive Psychology
Study and application of the science of psychological wellbeing. Neurological foundations, research on specific strategies to promote subjective wellbeing and resilience to stress, and specific, effective techniques to build a healthy lifestyle.

PS 234: Health Psychology
Study of the psychological, physiological, and behavioral factors in the etiology and prevention of illness. Topics studied include stress and coping, mind-body relationships, pain management, and health promotion. Prerequisite: PS 101S.

PS 275: Social Psychology
Study of the individual in a social environment, with an emphasis on the experimental approach to understanding the impact of social forces. Topics covered include group influence, attraction, aggression, attitude formation and change, and altruism. Prerequisites: PS 101S.

PS 306: Personality Theory and Research
Study of individual differences and personality processes using classical and contemporary perspectives, including psychodynamic, behavioral and cognitive, humanistic, trait, narrative, and neurobiological approaches. Prerequisites: JR or SR status.

PS 308G: Cross-Cultural Psychology
Examine the ways in which culture leads to variations in basic psychological processes across cultures and learn how these differences manifest, are studied, and their implications for psychology as a field.

PS 309: Biopsychology
Application of neurological and neurophysical principles to understanding human behavior and thought, emotion and motivation, learning and memory. Prerequisite: PS 101S and junior standing.

PS 310: Psychology of Decision Making
Ever wonder why humans make choices that seem counterintuitive? In this course, we explore the foundations of human thought processing to investigate how and why humans make the choices that they do. Prerequisite: PS 101S and junior standing

PS 314: Sensation and Perception
Integrative study of sensory perception, with an emphasis on individual differences and cognitive factors that affect perception. Topics include vision, hearing, tatse, smell, touch, pain, and vestibular perception. Prerequisite: PS 205.

PS 320: Psychology of Well Being
Study and application of the science of psychological wellbeing. Neurological foundations, research on specific strategies to promote subjective wellbeing and resilience to stress, and specific, effective techniques to build a healthy lifestyle. Pre-requisite: junior standing.

PS 321: Advanced Statistics and Research Design
Primarily for students pursuing the BS degree in psychology. Development of research skills in psychology including advanced statistical analyses, complex research design, and writing in APA format. Prerequisite: PS 201M.

PS 337: Psychological Tests and Measurements
Primarily for students pursuing the BS degree in psychology. Focus in statistical concepts underlying test construction and examination of psychological tests measuring achievement, aptitude, intelligence, and personality. Prerequisite: PS 201M.

PS 344: Internship in Psychology
Field work in the community which allows for the practical application of psychological principles. Requires 130 hours of supervised work in a clinical setting. Prerequisite: Junior or senior standing and permission of instructor. May be repeated for credit (PS 444).

PS 345S: Psychology of Male/Female Relations

PS 360: Supervised Research in Psych I
Participation in faculty-led research. Students will spend 9 hours per week engaged in research activities with a faculty member and lab team. Requires permission of instructor to enroll. Prerequisites: PS 200 with a grade of B or higher.

PS 428: Advanced Research
Primarily for students pursuing the BS degree in psychology. Experience in designing and conducting research. Prerequisite: PS 321.

PS 435: Contemporary Issues in Psychology
Contemporary Issues in Psychology: This course will explore topics relevant to modern psychology. We will consider how psychology has changed, issues facing psychological research, such as diversity and scientific practices, and the ways the field is addressing these issues. Prerequisites: PS101S, PS200, PS201M

PS 444: Internship in Psychology II
Second semester of field work in the community which allows for the practical application of psychological principles. Requires 130 hours of supervised work in a clinical setting. Prerequisite: Junior or senior standing and permission of instructor.

PS 460: Supervised Research in Psy II
Advanced participation in faculty-led research. Students will spend 9 hours per week working on an original research project with a faculty member and lab team. Requires permission of instructor to enroll. Prerequisites: PS 201M with a grade of B or higher and PS 360.

PS 498: Comprehensive Examination
Offered each Winter Term and required for psychology majors intending to graduate in the upcoming semester. Written examination covering all areas required for the BA in psychology and an oral presentation of major research project in the field. Only open to students who have passed the writing competency requirement.

PS 499: Senior Thesis
Directed research project by invitation of the faculty only.