Psychology
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Course Offerings

Psychology is a scientific discipline that seeks to understand human and nonhuman behavior. Psychology is also a profession that seeks to change behavior for the betterment of humankind. Through its curriculum, research activities, and use of community resources, the Department of Psychology provides students with a balanced exposure to psychology as a scientific discipline and profession.

Psychology is a scientific discipline that seeks to understand human and nonhuman behavior. Psychology is also a profession that seeks to change behavior for the betterment of humankind. Through its curriculum, research activities, and use of community resources, the Department of Psychology provides students with a balanced exposure to psychology as a scientific discipline and profession.

The major in psychology (a) introduces students to scientific methods of psychology, to theories and research findings from the core areas of psychology, and to the history of psychology; (b) provides students with opportunities to explore advanced topics in scientific and professional psychology, conduct psychological research, and gain exposure to the practice of psychology in community settings; and (c) helps prepare students for postgraduate work in psychology or in related professions, such as social work, education, medicine, law, and business. The major is an excellent general preparation for employment in a variety of settings.

The psychology program is designed to meet the needs of a variety of students. To this end, two majors are offered: the Bachelor of Arts and the Bachelor of Science. Either degree provides a solid foundation in psychology, and either can serve as preparation for postgraduate study or employment. However, for those students who intend to pursue the doctorate in psychology following graduation from PLU, the Bachelor of Science degree is likely to provide an especially strong preparation. The Bachelor of Science degree is also an excellent pre-professional degree for those students who plan to enter the fields of dentistry, medicine (all branches, including psychiatry), public health, or veterinary medicine. Many in business, education, nursing, and social work find a double major with psychology to be a valuable addition to their training.

Faculty: Shore, Chair; Anderson, R.M. Brown, Goedert, Hansvick, Moon, Moritsugu, Rosell, Toyokawa.

Bachelor of Arts Major: 36 semester hours in psychology including 101; 242; 493; one of 340, 342, 346, 348; one of 350, 352, 354; plus 16 hours of elective psychology courses. In addition to the 36 hours in psychology, Statistics 231 (psychology section) and accompanying lab are required.

Bachelor of Science Major: 40 semester hours in psychology including 101; 242; 340 or 342; 346 or 348; 493; one lab section selected from 341, 343, 347, 349; one of 350, 352, 354; 481; plus 12 hours of elective psychology courses. In addition to the 40 hours in psychology, Statistics 231 (psychology section) and accompanying lab and at least 20 semester hours in mathematics and natural science are required. Of the 20 hours, at least 4 hours must be in mathematics and at least 8 hours in biology. Those students who, after graduating from PLU, plan to enter schools of dentistry, medicine, public health, or veterinary medicine should note the specific pre-professional mathematics and science requirements in the appropriate sections of this catalog.

Minor: 20 semester hours, of which at least 8 hours must be taken in residence. Statistics 231 (or equivalent) may be used as part of the 20-hour requirement.

The minor in psychology is designed to supplement another major in the liberal arts or a degree program in a professional school, such as business, education, or nursing.

Psychology 110, 111, and 113 do not count toward the major or minor.

Course prerequisites: A grade of C- or higher must have been earned in a course in order for it to qualify as a prerequisite.

Psychology 493, already required of all majors, also meets the senior seminar/project requirement when a project/paper is added. Students may petition the department to do the project/paper in another suitable course.

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101 Introduction to Psychology - S2
An introduction to the scientific study of behavior; scientific methods for studying the behavior of living organisms; topics such as motivation, learning, emotion, intelligence, personality, adjustment, and social behavior. I II (4)

110 Study Skills
Effective techniques for college study. Note-making, study methods, examination skills, time management, educational planning. Class work supplemented by individual counseling. (May not be applied to core, language, or psychology major or minor requirements.) I II (1)

111 College Reading
Improvement of college-level reading skills. Previewing, skimming, scanning, rapid reading, critical reading, and study reading. (May not be applied to core, language, or psychology major or minor requirements.) I II (1)

113 Career and Educational Planning: Finding Your Way
Personal decision-making process applied to career and educational choices, self-assessment, exploration of the world of work, educational planning, reality testing, and building career-related experience. Does not meet general university requirements or psychology major or minor requirements. (1)

221 The Psychology of Adjustment - S2
Problems in personal adjustment to everyday issues. Exploration of possible coping solutions. Prerequisite: 101. (2)

242 Advanced Statistics and Research Design
A continuation of Statistics 231 and accompanying lab taught by members of the psychology department. Topics include single- and multi-factor experimental designs and analyses of variance, multiple regression, quasi-experiments, surveys, case studies, archival research, small-N research, and non-parametric statistical techniques. Students will learn to use computer programs to carry out statistical analyses and will have the opportunity to design and conduct their own research study. Lecture and laboratory. Prerequisite: STAT 231 and accompanying lab taught by members of the psychology department or consent of instructor at least two months before the beginning of the semester. (4)

325 Human Sexuality - S2
Study of the psychological, biological, and cultural components of human sexual and emotional behavior. Topics include sexual identity, typical and atypical sexual behavior, reproduction, courtship, and affection. Prerequisite: 101. (4)

340 Human Neuropsychology - S2
The study of brain-behavior relationships. Topics include neuro-anatomical and neuro-physiological mechanisms underlying human behavior; psychological effects of brain damage; physiological correlates of language, sensory and motor functions, and emotion; electrical stimulation of the brain. Prerequisite: 101, 242; or consent of instructor. (4)

341 Experimental Research Laboratory in Neuropsychology
Experiments and demonstrations related to neuropsychological phenomena. Emphasis on methodology in research on the brain and behavior. Prerequisite: 340 (or concurrent enrollment in 340). a/y (2)

342 Learning: Research and Theory - S2
A critical overview of the research data on human and animal learning, and of the theoretical attempts to understand those data. Prerequisite: 101, 242; or consent of instructor. (4)

343 Experimental Research Laboratory in Learning
Experiments and demonstrations related to conditioning and learning in humans and animals. Emphasis on methodology in learning research. Prerequisite: 342 (or concurrent enrollment in 342). a/y (2)

346 Perception - S2
The study of our interactions with the physical world and the nature of our understanding of it. Includes such topics as color vision, dark adaptation, hearing music and speech, taste, smell, pain, and sensory physiology. Prerequisites: 101, 242; or consent of instructor. (4)

347 Experimental Research Laboratory in Perception
Experiments and demonstrations of perceptual events. Emphasis on methodology in perception research. Prerequisite: 346 (or concurrent enrollment in 346). a/y (2)

348 Cognitive Processes - S2
The study of human mental activity. Topics include attention, perception, consciousness, memory, language, conceptual behavior, developmental aspects of cognition, individual differ-ences, and applications. Prerequisites: 101, 242; or consent of instructor. (4)

349 Experimental Research Laboratory in Cognition
Experiments and demonstrations related to human cognition. Emphasis on methodology in research on cognition. Prerequisite: 348 (or concurrent enrollment in 348). a/y (2)

350 Personality Theories - S2
Strategies for the study of personality. Review of theories and research. Discussion of implications for counseling. Prerequisite: 101. (4)

352 Development: Infancy to Maturity - S2
Physical, intellectual, social, and emotional growth from infancy through adolescence to maturity. Prerequisite: 101. (4)

354 Social Psychology - S2
Research and theory concerning the interaction between groups and the individual. Language, attitudes, aggression, leadership, person perception, and related topics are examined and their relationship to various types of social change and influences are discussed. Prerequisite: 101. (4)

395 Research Laboratory
Experience in evaluating and conducting research in a designated area of psychology; may be offered from time to time as an elective to accompany various 300-level courses. Prerequisite: consent of instructor. (2)

402, 403 Independent Study
A supervised reading, field, or research project of special interest for advanced undergraduate or graduate students. Prerequisite: departmental consent. (1-4)

405 Workshop on Alternative Perspectives - A, S2
Selected topics in psychology as announced which help fulfill the university requirement in alternative perspectives. (2 or 4)

440 Psychology of Language - S2
The study of language as a means of communication and structured human behavior. Topics include: biological foundations of language, psycholinguistics, speech perception and production, sentence and discourse comprehension, nonverbal communication, language acquisition, bilingualism, language disorders. Prerequisite: 101. (4)

444 Adolescent Psychology - S2
Physical development, mental traits, social characteristics, and interests of adolescents; adjustments in home, school, and community. Prerequisite: 352. (2)

450 Psychological Testing - S2
Survey of standardized tests; methods of development, standardization; limitations and interpretations of tests. Prerequisites: 101, STAT 231; or consent of instructor. (4)

453 Abnormal Psychology - S2
Models of psychopathology. Diagnosis and treatment of abnormal behaviors. Prerequisite: 101. (4)

454 Community Psychology - S2
Intervention strategies which focus primarily on communities and social systems. Particular stress on alternatives to traditional clinical styles for promoting the well-being of communities and groups. Prerequisite: 101. (4)

456 Theories and Methods of Counseling and Psychotherapy - S2
Introduction to basic methods of counseling and psychotherapy, and examination of the theories from which these methods derive. Prerequisites: 350, 450, 453, or 454; or consent of instructor. (4)

461 Psychology of Work - S2
Integrating career planning into the study of human behavior in work settings. Application and extension of psychological principles to the individual operating within an organization context-including measuring and facilitating job performance, worker motivation, human factors, and group processes. Prerequisite: 101. (4)

462 Consumer Psychology - S2
Social psychological principles applied to consumer attitude-formation and decision-making-e.g., perception of advertisements, influence of reference groups and opinion leaders, and learning effects upon repeat purchasing. Emphasis on audience, message, and media factors. Prerequisite: 101. (4)

464 Environmental Psychology - S2
Human behavior related to the physical environment. Behavioral basis for designing environments-including territorial behavior; environmental attitudes and perceptions; and stressors. Applications to built and natural settings ranging from rooms to the wilderness. Prerequisite: 101. (4)

471 Psychology and the Law - S2
An introduction to the issues, research, professional and judicial practices generated by the growing mutual influence between the law and psychology. Prerequisite: 101. (4)

472 Psychology and Medicine - S2
An introduction to the field of health care psychology. Psycho-social factors influencing health (e.g., stressors, personality, behavior patterns). Psychosocial impact of illness and its treatment. The role of psychologists in the health care system. Prerequisite: 101. (4)

474 Psychology of Women - A, S2
Exploration of psychological issues pertinent to women. Includes such topics as sex differences; psychological ramifications of menarche, child bearing, menopause, sexual harassment, and rape; women's experiences with work and achievement, love and sexuality, and psychological disorders. Prerequisite: 101. (4)

481 Psychology Research Seminar - SR
An advanced course providing students the opportunity to design and conduct ongoing research and review current re-search in psychology. Directed toward helping students perform research studies that may be suitable for submission to journals or presentations at conferences. Strongly recommended in the junior year for students with an interest in graduate studies. To maximize the effectiveness of the course, students are encouraged to give advance consideration to areas and designs for possible research. Prerequisites: 101, 242, and consent of instructor. (2)

483 Seminar - S2
Selected topics in psychology as announced. Prerequisite: consent of instructor. (2-4)

493 History and Systems of Psychology - SR
Historical development, contemporary forms, and basic assumptions of the major psychological theories and traditions. Meets the senior seminar/project requirement when a project/paper is added. Prerequisites: 101; 242; one of 340, 342, 346, 348; one of 350, 352, 354. (4)

495 Internship
A practicum experience in the community in the clinical, social, and/or experimental areas. Classroom focus on case conceptuali-zation and presentation. Prerequisite: sophomore standing plus one course in psychology and consent of the department. (1-6)

496 Research Laboratory
Experience in evaluating and conducting research in a designated area of psychology; may be offered from time to time as an elective to accompany various 400-level courses. Prerequisite: consent of instructor. (2)