Teaching

Teaching

PSYC 101: Introductory Psychology

Humans are complex organisms, and psychology provides a rich, interdisciplinary understanding of the study of mental life, experience, and behavior. Through this course, students develop an appreciation for these complexities by focusing on individual and social behavior, as well as the physiological and neurological processes underlying them. Central to this course is an understanding of the diverse methods, experimental designs, foundational theories, and research used to inform the various subdisciplines in psychology. Topics frequently covered in this survey course include: research methods, sensation and perception, learning and memory, developmental, personality, abnormal, and social psychology.
Prerequisites: Students who have PSYC 101 transfer credit may not take this course.

PSYC 200: Writing and Thinking in Psychology

Although many people believe that psychology is based on common sense, personal experience, or intuition about human behavior and mental processes, the discipline is actually founded on the results of scientifically conducted experiments and studies. Thus, learning the methods for how data are collected, analyzed, interpreted, and communicated form the foundation for an undergraduate degree in Psychology. In this course, students practice using critical thinking and integration of primary research articles to produce logically organized writing in the manner that psychologists use in the discipline, explore the basic principles of empirical research in order to understand the ethical considerations and the characteristics of different types of research designs, and gain facility in beginning-level statistics. Overall, this course aims to strengthen students' identity as scientists and welcome students to the Psychology major.
Prerequisites: PSYC 101 or equivalent with grade of "C"; or higher; MATH 160 recommended, but not required. Students who already received credit for PSYC 201 may not receive credit for PSYC 200.

PSYC 201: Methods and Statistics in Psychology

This course covers experimental design and research methodology, elementary and advanced techniques of data analysis, and basic issues in the philosophy of science. Laboratory and individual research is required.
Prerequisites: Must be a declared Psychology major (or permission of instructor). Must also have completed PSYC 101 or equivalent and PSYC 200 with grade of "C"; or higher.his course covers experimental design and research methodology, elementary and advanced techniques of data analysis, and basic issues in the philosophy of science. Laboratory and individual research is required.

PSYC 220: Developmental Psychology: Prenatal through Childhood

This course focuses on the milestones of human development from conception through late childhood. It considers physical, cognitive, language, social, and emotional changes that occur during the first decade of life with special attention to various contexts of development. It addresses major theories as well as current research and methodology that explain how and why developmental change occurs. Implications for child-rearing, education, and social policymaking are also examined.
Prerequisites: PSYC 101. Students who have PSYC 220 transfer credit may not take this course.

PSYC 222: Lifespan Development

This course considers human development from the beginning to the end of life. Students focus on the major biological, cognitive, and social changes that occur at each stage of development. Students examine the central questions, theoretical perspectives, research methods, and scientific findings that guide current understanding of human development. The course also emphasizes the ways in which individual development cannot be clearly understood without examining the social and cultural context in which individuals are embedded. The course satisfies a foundational category elective in Psychology.
Prerequisites: Students who receive credit for PSYC 222 may not receive credit for PSYC 220 or 221. Students who receive credit for PSYC 220 or 221 may not receive credit for PSYC 222.

PSYC 265: Cross-Cultural Psychology

This course considers the ways in which human culture and human behavior varies across cultural contexts. Students review psychological research on culture, examine the theoretical and methodological foundations of cross-cultural research in psychology, and discuss the mounting evidence suggesting that many psychological processes are culture-specific and context dependent.
Prerequisites: PSYC 101.

PSYC 351: Language Development

This course explores how children learn language with seeming ease by examining classic and contemporary theories of language acquisition. The focus is on all areas of language (phonology, semantics, syntax, morphology, and pragmatics) and their typical developmental sequence. Special topics, such as language development disorders, critical/sensitive period hypothesis, bilingualism, bidialectalism, pidgins and creoles, and animal communication systems are covered. When possible, language data from languages other than English are presented.
Prerequisites: PSYC 201 and 1 200-400-level Psychology course (or PHIL 224), or permission of instructor

PSYC 401: Psychology Senior Capstone Seminar

The Psychology Senior Capstone Seminar provides an opportunity for psychology majors to read and critically analyze primary source materials and review articles drawn from varied subfields in psychology. Through weekly presentations, writing exercises, and ongoing discussion, students address key issues in the discipline concerning, for example, the ethical application of findings, the major paradigmatic shifts in the field, and the pros/cons of various methodological approaches. Students also write their Senior Capstone Paper as part of the course requirements, with seminar members sharing their progress regularly through writing workshops and informal presentations of their topic and proposal. The senior paper includes a comprehensive literature review of a specific research question, as well as a proposal for future research and/or application of findings.
Prerequisites: PSYC 201 and Senior Psychology major. Students cannot take more than one from PSYC 310, 311, 312,313, and 314 concurrently with 401. NOTE: Exceptions by petition to the department.