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2006-07 PLU Catalog

Psychology

Faculty BS Major BA Major Minor Course Offerings



253.535.7294


www.plu.edu/~psyc/

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: Ceynar, Chair; Anderson, R.M. Brown, Graham, Grahe, Hansvick, Moon, Moritsugu, Shore, Taylor, Toyokawa.

Bachelor of Arts Major - 36 credit hours in psychology including:

Bachelor of Science Major - 40 semester hours in psychology including:

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 12 semester hours must be taken in residence. If a statistics course is used as part of the 20-hour requirement, then it must be STAT 232 (psychology class) 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.

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

Course Prerequisites and Grades

A grade of C- or higher must have been earned in a course in order for it to qualify as a prerequisite and to apply towards the major.

Experiential Learning

All Psychology majors are required to take a minimum of two semester hours of PSYC 495, 496 or 497.

Capstone


Psychology majors are required to complete a capstone project and present this project as part of PSYC 499 (for BA majors) or PSYC 481 (for BS majors) at the Psychology Research Conference held every term.

COURSE OFFERINGS:  Psychology- PSYC

PSYC 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. (4)

PSYC 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.) (1)

PSYC 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.) (1)

PSYC 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)

PSYC 221: The Psychology of Adjustment – S2

 Problems in personal adjustment to everyday issues. Exploration of possible coping solutions. Prerequisite: PSYC 101. (2)

PSYC 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 232 and accompanying lab taught by members of the psychology department. (4)

PSYC 310: Personality Theories – S2

 Strategies for the study of personality. Review of theories and research. Discussion of implications for counseling. Prerequisite: PSYC 101. (4)

PSYC 320: Development Across the Lifespan – S2

 Biological, cognitive, social, and emotional development from conception through adulthood to death. Prerequisite: PSYC 101. (4)

PSYC 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: PSYC 101. (4)

PSYC 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: PSYC 101. (4)

PSYC 345: Community Psychology – S2

 Intervention strategies that 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: PSYC 101. (4)

PSYC 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: PSYC 101. (4)

PSYC 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: PSYC 101. (4)

PSYC 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: PSYC 101. (4)

PSYC 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 context - including measuring and facilitating job performance, worker motivation, human factors, and group processes. Prerequisite: PSYC 101. (4)

PSYC 385: 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: PSYC 101. (4)

PSYC 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)

PSYC 401: Workshop

 Selected topics in psychology as announced. (1–4)

PSYC 405: Workshop on Alternative Perspectives – A, S2

 Selected topics in psychology as announced which help fulfill the university requirement in alternative perspectives. (1 to 4)

PSYC 410: Psychological Testing – S2

 Survey of standardized tests; methods of development, standardization; limitations and interpretations of tests. Prerequisites: PSYC 101, STAT 232 or consent of instructor. (4)

PSYC 415: Abnormal Psychology – S2

 Models of psychopathology. Diagnosis and treatment of abnormal behaviors. Prerequisite: PSYC 101; STAT 232 or consent of instructor. (4)

PSYC 420: Adolescent Psychology – S2

 Physical development, mental traits, social characteristics, and interests of adolescents; adjustments in home, school, and community. Prerequisite: PSYC 320. (4)

PSYC 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: PSYC 330 or consent of instructor. (4)

PSYC 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: PSYC 310, 345, 410, or 415 or consent of instructor. (4)

PSYC 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: PSYC 101, 242. (4)

PSYC 441: Experimental Research Laboratory in Neuropsychology

 Experiments and demonstrations related to neuropsychological phenomena. Emphasis on methodology in research on the brain and behavior. Prerequisite: PSYC 440 (or concurrent enrollment in PSYC 440). (2)

PSYC 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: PSYC 101, 242. (4)

PSYC 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: PSYC 442 (or concurrent enrollment in PSYC 442).  (2)

PSYC 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: PSYC 101, 242. (4)

PSYC 447: Experimental Research Laboratory in Perception

 Experiments and demonstrations of perceptual events. Emphasis on methodology in perception research. Prerequisite: PSYC 446 (or concurrent enrollment in PSYC 446). (2)

PSYC 448: Cognitive Psychology – S2

 The study of human thought. Topics include attention, perception, memory, knowledge and concept formation, language, problem-solving, and reasoning. Prerequisites: PSYC 101, 242. (4)

PSYC 449: Experimental Research Laboratory in Cognition
Experiments and demonstrations related to human cognition. Emphasis on methodology in research on cognition. Prerequisite: PSYC 448 (or concurrent enrollment in PSYC 448).  (2)

PSYC 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. To maximize the effectiveness of the course, students are encouraged to give advance consideration to areas and designs for possible research. Prerequisites: PSYC 101, 242, and consent of instructor. (2)

PSYC 483: Seminar – S2

 Selected topics in psychology as announced. Prerequisite: consent of instructor. May be repeated for credit. (2–4)

PSYC 491: Independent Study

 A supervised reading, field, or research project of special interest for advanced undergraduate students. Prerequisite: Consent of supervising faculty. (1-4)

PSYC 493: History and Systems of Psychology

 Historical development, contemporary forms, and basic assumptions of the major psychological theories and traditions. Prerequisites: One of PSYC 440, 442, 446, or 448; and one of PSYC 310, 320, 330. (4)

PSYC 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. (1–6)

PSYC 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. May be repeated for up to 8 credits.  Prerequisite: PSYC 101, or consent of instructor. (1-4)

PSYC 497: Teaching Apprenticeship

Teaching experience under the direct supervision of a faculty member. Course provides the opportunity to learn how to effectively communicate information, understand classroom management, and develop teaching skills. Students will serve as a teaching assistant for a psychology course. Prerequisite: Grade of B or better in class you will be a TA for, a minimum 3.0 overall G.P.A., junior standing at time the course is offered, consent of instructor. May be repeated for up to 4 credits. (1-4)

   PSYC 499: Capstone 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). Prerequisite: Senior standing or permission of instructor. (2)