Major / Courses Offered
Psychology Courses Offered
Psychology Courses | Upper Level Courses | Laboratory Courses
Seminars and Individually Mentored Courses
PSYC 101. Introduction to Psychology (4E) A survey of the theoretical and empirical foundations of contemporary psychology. This course satisfies the General Education Requirement in behavioral science.
PSYC 120. Diversity Requirement (0E) Satisfaction of diversity requirement by means of experiential hours or a proposal submitted to the Department Diversity Committee that demonstrates how this requirement has otherwise been met. This requirement may also be satisfied by taking one of an approved list of courses. The official document that describes the details of this requirement is made available to all psychology majors each semester.
PSYC 201. Psychological Statistics (4E) The analysis of experimental data, including data from both laboratory and natural settings. Parametric analysis through two-way analysis of variance and nonparametric statistics. This course is cross-listed as MATH 201. Prerequisite: PSYC 101.
PSYC 203. Writing and Research Methods in Psychology (4E) Examination of methodological, philosophical, and ethical issues in psychological research. Methodological instruction in library research techniques, professional writing in psychology, research design, and data collection and analysis. Writing instruction includes choosing a topic, doing library research, editing, revising, and writing a research proposal. Types of research designs include hypothesis testing, quasi-experimental, correlational, and single subject. Prerequisite: PSYC 201.
PSYC 210. Comparative Animal Behavior (4AF) The study of the behavior of humans and other animals in natural and experimental settings. Exploration of how behaviors evolve and how the behaviors of each species adapt for survival. Topics may include territoriality and aggression, sexual behaviors, social structure, foraging, communication, and animal cognition. Prerequisite: PSYC 101 or consent of instructor.
PSYC 220. Critical Thinking: An Introduction to Cognition and Perception (4AF) Examination of the mental processes that underlie perceiving, storing, and using information and their application to the improvement of critical thinking. Special attention will be given to sensory limitations, illusions, heuristics, fallacies, and biases and how they affect critical thinking. Prerequisite: PSYC 101 or consent of instructor.
PSYC 230. Lifespan Development (4E) A comprehensive study of developmental processes (physical, social, and psychological) from conception to death, with discussion of theoretical, empirical, and methodological issues. Formerly HMDV 270. Not open to students who have received credit for HMDV 270, 273 or 274. Prerequisite: PSYC 101.
PSYC 250. Social Psychology (4F) A study of social behaviors such as person perception, group behavior, attitude formation, and gender differences in social behavior. Review of methods of research in social psychology and their influence on research findings. Prerequisite: PSYC 101.
PSYC 270. Personality Psychology (4S) An examination of theory and research in the field of personality. The course covers major theoretical perspectives (e.g., psychoanalytic, behavioral, humanistic) and selected research topics. Formerly HMDV 202. Not open to students who have received credit for HMDV 202. Prerequisite: PSYC 101.
UPPER-LEVEL PSYCHOLOGY COURSES
PSYC 305. History and Systems of Psychology (4F) The philosophical and scientific background of modern psychology. An examination of some of the historical approaches to the fundamental and persisting problems of psychology and their relationship to contemporary approaches. Prerequisite: PSYC 101.
PSYC 312. Sensation and Perception (4E) This course examines the basic methodology used in the study of sensation, perception, and psychophysics. Includes discussion of neurological and psychological theories, processes of sensory systems, and perceptual processes of humans and other animals. Prerequisite: PSYC 101.
PSYC 314. Drugs, Brains, and Behavior (4E) Examination of psychoactive drugs that act on the brain. Some of these drugs have medical uses, some are used recreationally, and others are used in both contexts. Topics include the biology of the drug’s effects on the brain; drug effects on behavior; and the use of psychoactive drugs in the treatment of psychopathology.
Prerequisite: PSYC 101 or consent of the instructor.
PSYC 331. Infant and Child Development (4) This course provides an in-depth examination of the forces and interactions that shape the physical, social, cognitive, and emotional development of humans from conception to the beginning of adolescence. Prerequisite: PSYC 101.
PSYC 333. Adolescence (4F) Review of psychological, physical, and social forces that influence the experience of adolescence. Major topics include the physical changes of adolescence, cognitive and moral development, sex-role consolidation, political socialization, adolescent sexuality, and delinquency. Prerequisite: PSYC 101.
PSYC 335. Adulthood and Aging (4S) Examines the psychological, physical, and social forces that influence adult development. Major topics include continuity and change in physical functioning, cognition, personality, marriage and family relationships, and death and dying. Prerequisite: PSYC 101.
PSYC 336. Exceptionality: An Introduction to Special Education (4E) An examination of individuals with special needs such as mental retardation, giftedness, physical disabilities, and behavior disorders. The emphasis is on causation, psychological and biological aspects of the exceptionality, and current educational and therapeutic approaches. Cross-listed as EDSP 336. Students may receive credit for either course but not both. Prerequisite: PSYC 101.
PSYC 338. Mental Retardation (4AF) An examination of the physical and psychological causes of retardation. Discusses diagnosis, treatment, education, research, and theory with an end toward understanding retardation as both a biological and social phenomenon. Cross-listed as EDSP 338. Students may receive credit for either course, but not both. Formerly HMDV 386. Not open to students who have received credit for HMDV 386. Prerequisite: PSYC 101.
PSYC 339. Learning Disabilities (4S) Cross-listed as EDSP 339 under education courses and described there. Students may receive credit for either course, but not both. Prerequisites: PSYC 101 and 4 other semester hours in psychology.
PSYC 350. Psychological Perspectives of African Americans (4AF) A survey of social psychological concepts that bear on the unique historical, cultural, political, and social experiences of African Americans in this country. Social psychological topics such as social perception, self-concept and identity, attitude formation, group dynamics, aggression, gender roles, social influence, and interpersonal attraction are reviewed and reevaluated in light of the African-American experience of race prejudice, group stereotyping, and interpersonal discrimination. Prerequisite: PSYC 101.
PSYC 353. Human Sexuality (4AS) An examination of the many facets of human sexuality. The course considers developmental, legal, and social aspects of sexuality, sexual health and illness, sex in the context of human relationships, as well as biological, cultural, religious, and anthropological dimensions of sexuality. Prerequisite: PSYC 101 or consent of the instructor.
PSYC 354. Psychology and the Law (4AS) Exploration of ways in which the fields of psychology and law interact in contemporary society. Topics include the insanity defense, civil commitment, eyewitness testimony, the psychology of the jury, use of the polygraph (lie detector), psychological testing and the law, and legal issues related to confidentiality. Prerequisites: PSYC 101 and one other 4-semester hour course in psychology.
PSYC 356. Psychology of Women (4AF) This course provides a general introduction to the psychology of women, in hopes of reaching some understanding of the ways in which men and women differ, the female experience, and why both men and women need to better understand women’s psychology. Topics covered may include psychological development of women through the lifespan; gender differences and gender-associated personality, abilities, and behaviors; women and language; images of women; women and work; violence against women; women in relationships; women of color; lesbians and bisexuals; women’s mental health; and feminist therapy. Prerequisite: PSYC 101.
PSYC 362. Focus on Social Psychology (4S) An in-depth examination of a specific area of social psychology. The course will explore research, theory, and application relevant to the selected area. Course content varies from semester to semester. May not be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: PSYC 101.
PSYC 363. Cross-cultural Psychology (4AF) Provides a multicultural and global perspective on human development, thought, emotion, and behavior. Topics include cross-cultural theory and research in the domains of development of the self, moral development, aggression, gender, cooperation/conflict resolution, motivation and emotion, psychopathology, and acculturation. Prerequisite: PSYC 101. Note: Approved as a course in the African and African Diaspora Studies minor.
PSYC 368. Educational Psychology (4E) Cross-listed as EDUC 368 under education courses and described there. Students may receive credit for either course but not both. Prerequisite: PSYC 101.
PSYC 372. Child Clinical Psychology (4S) This multi-disciplinary course explores the developmental and contextual components of childhood experience that may lead to problem behavior. Clinical psychology uses varied methods appropriate to children and families for assessment and intervention. The interaction of these methods and the developmental context where the behavior occurs are the primary focus of the course. Prerequisite: PSYC 101.
PSYC 373. Psychology of the Family (4AF) This course discusses family structure and development from psycho-social and cultural perspectives. Systems theory will be used to understand clinical intervention with families. Family development over the lifespan is examined. Prerequisite: PSYC 101.
PSYC 374. Psychological Assessment (4AS) History of psychological assessment; reliability and validity; tests of intelligence, personality, and vocational interests; other methods of assessment; legal and ethical issues in psychological assessment. Prerequisite: PSYC 201.
PSYC 375. Abnormal Psychology (4E) A description of the major forms of mental disorder and their causes and treatments. Prerequisite: PSYC 101.
PSYC 378. Counseling (4E) The major theoretical perspectives and associated techniques in the fields of counseling and psychotherapy. Prerequisite: PSYC 101
PSYC 402. Advanced Research Design and Statistics (1-4) Exploration of advanced topics in statistics and research design, including higher-order analysis of variance (mixed, hierarchical, and blocked designs) and appropriate post-hoc analyses; multiple regression, complex designs with categorical data; nonparametric statistics, partial correlation, multivariate analyses, factor analysis, ad more. Content may vary with each offering. Prerequisite: PSYC 201 or consent of the instructor.
PSYC 420. Psychology of Learning with Laboratory (4S) The experimental analysis of learning in humans and other animals. Includes principles of learning theory, analysis of learning in a variety of settings including the home, the laboratory, and the school. Lecture and laboratory. Pre- or co-requisite: PSYC 203; or consent of the instructor.
PSYC 422. Biological Psychology with Laboratory (4F) The experimental analysis of brain-behavior interactions. Emphasis on physiological mechanisms of homeostasis and neurophysiological models of learning. Examples taken from a variety of animal phyla. Lecture and laboratory. Pre- or co-requisite: PSYC 203; or consent of the instructor.
PSYC 424. Cognitive Psychology with Laboratory (4F) Examination of adult cognitive functioning, including perceptual processes, imagery, attention, memory, learning, problem solving, and language. Emphasis on understanding basic research techniques, interpretation of research findings, and current theory. Lecture and laboratory. Pre- or co-requisite: PSYC 203; or consent of the instructor.
PSYC 430. Developmental Psychology with Laboratory (4F) Survey of the methodologies and techniques used in the study of human development. Content areas may include perceptual, social, language, cognitive, and moral development. Practical experience using observational, experimental, and interview methods, with participation in all phases of research (design, data collection and analysis, report writing). Pre- or co-requisite: PSYC 203; or consent of the instructor.
PSYC 450. Social Psychology with Laboratory (4S) The analysis of human behavior in a social context using the experimental method, with participation in all phases of research. Content areas may include helping behavior, prejudice and discrimination, communication, attraction, aggression, conformity, and obedience. Lecture and laboratory. Pre- or co-requisite: PSYC 203; or consent of the instructor.
PSYC 470. Counseling and Psychotherapy with Laboratory (4S) Analysis of major theoretical and applied topics in counseling and clinical psychology, as well as the statistical and research methods used in the field. Lab will include demonstrations and the execution of independent research projects. Focus is on the scientist-practitioner model and on the synthesis of the scholarly and applied aspects of psychotherapy and counseling related topics. Pre- or co-requisite: PSYC 203.
SEMINARSAND INDIVIDUALLY MENTORED COURSES
PSYC 393. Field Experience in Psychology (2-4 E) This course provides pre-professional experience in a human-services setting, primarily for psychology majors. The course does not allow the intensive training and practice provided by an internship but does offer exposure to a particular human-services agency as well as an opportunity for “hands on” experience with the various populations. The goals of the field experience are (1) training and experience in an approved human-services setting, (2) greater exploration of human-services careers, and (3) integration and application of prior educational experiences to a human-services setting. Credit/No Credit grading. Prerequisites: Junior or senior standing, consent of the instructor, and acceptance by the appropriate site personnel.
PSYC 197, 297, 397, 497. Directed Research in Psychology (1-4E) Under the direct supervision of a faculty member, a student participates in laboratory or field research. A learning contract that specifies the research goals and methodology must be filed with the Office of the Registrar. A maximum of four semester-hours of directed research in psychology (397 or 497 only) may be applied to major requirements in psychology. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: Learning contract filed in the Office of the Registrar.
PSYC 398, 498. Off-campus Internship (4-16E) A variety of off-campus experiential learning opportunities can be arranged through the director of internships. The off-campus internship is an individually designed experience that allows the student to explore the relationship between learning in the classroom and the practical application of knowledge in everyday work situations. All interns are required to maintain regular contact with the faculty supervisor. Credit/No credit grading. May not be used to fulfill requirements for the psychology and human studies majors. Consult with the director of internships. Prerequisite: Admission to the Internship Program. (See “Internships” under “Academic Policies” section.)
PSYC 199, 299, 399, 499. Independent Study (1-4E) This course consists of an independent creative or research project designed by the student and supervised by a psychology faculty member. The nature of the project, the schedule for accomplishment, and the means of evaluation must be formalized in a learning contract prior to registration. (See “Independent Study” under “Academic Policies” section).
PSYC 491. Special Topics Seminar in Psychology (1-4) Intensive study of a theme, process, or problem in psychology or human development. A maximum of four semester-hours of special topics seminar credit may be applied to major requirements in psychology. May be repeated for credit if topics are different. Prerequisite: Consent of the instructor.
PSYC 493/494. St. Mary’s Project (1-8E) The project, which may take many forms, draws on and extends knowledge, skills of analysis, and creative achievement developed through previous academic work. The student initiates the project, identifies an area to be explored, and proposes a method of inquiry appropriate to the topic. The project should include a reflection on the social context, the body of literature, or the conceptual framework to which it is a contribution. It must be shared with the College community through posters, presentations, or other means. With the approval of the department, this requirement may be satisfied by completing eight semester hours of the St. Mary’s Project in any discipline or cross-disciplinary study area. The project is supervised by a faculty mentor, appointed by the department chair. This course is repeatable for up to a total of 8 semester-hours. Pre- or co-requisite: PSYC 203; Approval of faculty mentor and department chair of the student’s major(s). Consult faculty mentor for project guidelines.