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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 degrees 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 credit hours in psychology including: 101; 242; one of 310, 320, or 330; one of 440, 442, 446 or 448; 499; plus 18 hours of elective psychology courses. In addition to the 36 hours in psychology, Statistics 231 (psychology section) with accompanying lab and the capstone experience are required.
Bachelor of Science Major: 40 credit hours in psychology including: 101; 242; 481; one of 310, 320, or 330; 440 or 442; 446 or 448; one lab section selected from 441, 443, 447, 449; plus 16 hours of elective psychology courses. In addition to the 40 hours in psychology, Statistics 231 (psychology section) with accompanying lab, the capstone experience, and 20 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.
Minor: 20 semester hours, of which at least 12 hours must be taken in residence. If a statistics course is used as part of the 20-hour requirement, then it must be Statistics 231 taught by a member of the psychology department.
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.
Capstone: Psychology majors are required to complete a
capstone project and present this project as part of 499 (for BA majors) or 481 (for BS majors) at the Psychology Research
Conference held every term.
101 Introduction to Psychology S2
An introduction to the scientific study of behavior and mental
processes. Topics include learning, memory, perception, thinking,
development, emotion, personality, mental illness, and social behavior. S F (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.) S F (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.) S F (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, 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. (4)
310 Personality Theories S2
Strategies for the study of personality. Review of theories and
research. Discussion of implications for counseling. Prerequisite: 101.
(4)
320 Development Across the Lifespan S2
Biological, cognitive, social, and emotional development from conception through adulthood to death. Prerequisite: 101. (4)
330 Social Psychology S2
The study of how an individual's thoughts and behaviors are
influenced by the presence of others. Research and theory concerning
topics such as person perception, attitudes, group processes,
prejudice, aggression and helping behaviors are discussed. Prerequisite:
101. (4)
335 Cultural Psychology S2
The study of the relation between culture and human behavior. Topics
include cognition, language, intelligence, emotion, development, social
behavior, and mental health. Prerequisite: 101. (4)
345 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)
360 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)
370 Gender and Sexuality S2
Study of the social, biological and cultural factors that contribute
to human sexuality and gender-related behavior. Topics include sexual
identity, typical and atypical sexual behavior, reproduction,
communication, intimate relationships, masculinity and femininity.
Prerequisite: 101. (4)
375 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)
380 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 contextincluding measuring
and facilitating job performance, worker motivation, human factors, and
group processes. Prerequisite: 101. (4)
385 Consumer Psychology S2
Social psychological principles applied to consumer
attitude-formation and decision-makinge.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)
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)
401 Workshop
Selected topics in psychology as announced. (14)
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)
410 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)
415 Abnormal Psychology S2
Models of psychopathology. Diagnosis and treatment of abnormal
behaviors. Prerequisite: 101; STAT 231 or consent of instructor. (4)
420 Adolescent Psychology S2
Physical development, mental traits, social characteristics, and
interests of adolescents; adjustments in home, school, and community.
Prerequisite: 320. (4)
430 Peace Psychology S2
Theories and practices for development of sustainable societies
through the prevention of destructive conflict and violence. Focus upon
nonviolent management of conflict and pursuit of social justice by
empowering individuals and building cultures of peace. Prerequisite:
330, or consent of instructor. (4)
435 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: 310, 345, 410, or 415; or consent of instructor. (4)
440 Human Neuropsychology S2
Study of the neuroanatomical and neurophysiological mechanisms of
behavior and mental function. Topics include perception, voluntary
action, spatial processing, language, memory, emotion, social behavior,
and consciousness Prerequisite: 101, 242. (4)
441 Experimental Research Laboratory in Neuropsychology
Experiments and demonstrations related to neuropsychological
phenomena. Emphasis on methodology in research on the brain and
behavior. Prerequisite: 440 (or concurrent enrollment in 440). a/y (2)
442 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. (4)
443 Experimental Research Laboratory in Learning
Experiments and demonstrations related to conditioning and learning
in humans and animals. Emphasis on methodology in learning research.
Prerequisite: 442 (or concurrent enrollment in 442). a/y (2)
446 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. (4)
447 Experimental Research Laboratory in Perception
Experiments and demonstrations of perceptual events. Emphasis on
methodology in perception research. Prerequisite: 446 (or concurrent
enrollment in 446). a/y (2)
448 Cognitive Psychology S2
The study of human thought. Topics include attention, perception,
memory, knowledge and concept formation, language, problem-solving, and
reasoning. Prerequisites: 101, 242. (4)
449 Experimental Research Laboratory in Cognition
Experiments and demonstrations related to human cognition. Emphasis
on methodology in research on cognition. Prerequisite: 448 (or
concurrent enrollment in 448). a/y (2)
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. May be repeated for credit. (24)
491 Independent Study
A supervised reading, field, or research project of special interest
for advanced undergraduate students. Prerequisite: consent of
supervising faculty. (1-4)
493 History and Systems of Psychology
Historical development, contemporary forms, and basic assumptions of
the major psychological theories and traditions. Prerequisites: one of
440, 442, 446, 448; one of 310, 320, 330. (4)
495 Internship
A practicum experience in the community in the clinical, social,
and/or experimental areas. Classroom focus on case conceptualization
and presentation. Prerequisite: sophomore standing plus one course in
psychology and consent of the department. (16)
496 Research Practicum
Research experience under the direct supervision of a faculty
member, students may design and/or conduct research in a designated
area of psychology. Prerequisite: consent of instructor. May be
repeated for up to 8 credits. (1-4) Course Offerings Prerequisite: 101. (4)
499 Capston Seminar SR
Required for Psychology majors earning the B.A. degree. Students
will complete and present a project at an on-campus Psychology Research
Conference held fall and spring terms. The project may be adapted from
an upper-division psychology course, or as advanced research or
internship project, completed by the student (see the Department's
handout on the capstone for more details and project options).
Prerequisites: Senior standing or permission of the instructor. (2)