Undergraduate Psychology Courses
PS 101 General Psychology
LASC—Human Behavior and Social Processes
Introduction to history of psychology, scientific method; brain/nervous system, development, learning, motivation, sensation/perception, personality, psychopathology, psychotherapy, cognitive processes, social behavior.
Offered every year. 3 credits.
PS 191 Topics in Psychology
This course is an exploration of current and specialized topics in Psychology. It will not be counted toward the major.
Offered every year. 3 credits.
PS 193 Special Topics in Psychology for First-year Students
All "193" classes are approved for LASC but may vary by section. See current course listing for specific LASC area approval.
Introductory level course covering topics of special interest to first-year students. Offered only as a First-year Seminar.
Offered every year. 3 credits.
PS 205 Research Methods
Prerequisite: PS 101
Exploration of psychological research methodologies including: scientific method; design, conduction, analysis, and reporting of research; ethical principles and APA format.
Offered every year. 3 credits.
PS 210 Child Growth and Development
Prerequisite: PS 101
Physical, social, emotional, intellectual, and moral development from conception to adolescence is examined within a framework of various theories.
Offered every year. 3 credits.
PS 215 Psychology of Adolescence
Prerequisite: PS 101
The mental, emotional, social and physical changes of contemporary adolescence are examined with emphasis on family, peer and school influences.
Offered every year. 3 credits.
PS 220 Psychology of Aging
Prerequisite: PS 101
Adulthood and old age are studied with special emphasis on current developmental theories.
Offered every year. 3 credits.
PS 222 Introduction to Health Psychology
Prerequisites: PS 101
Introduction to the areas and methods of Health Psychology. Topics include: epidemiology, behavior change, compliance, alternative medicine, healing, chronic illness.
Offered every 2 years. 3 credits.
PS 224 Positive Psychology
Prerequisite: PS 101
Exploration of the psychological research on a fulfilling and flourishing life including happiness, self-esteem, love, goalsetting, mindfulness and spirituality.
Offered every other year. 3 credits
PS 250 Social Psychology
Prerequisite: PS 101
The psychological dynamics of social interaction including verbal and nonverbal communication, group dynamics and attitude formation and change.
Offered every year. 3 credits.
PS 252 Applied Social Psychology
Prerequisite: PS 101
Survey of applied social psychology including: psychology in educational, organizational, and legal settings; diversity, environmental, health, media, and consumer issues.
Offered every year. 3 credits.
PS 255 Psychological Foundations of Diversity
Prerequisite: PS 101
Explores the gender, racial/ethnic, multiple-group membership, cultural, social class, religious, disability and sexual orientation facets of diversity.
Offered every 3 years. 3 credits.
PS 260 Psychology of Human Sexuality
Prerequisite: PS 101
Sexuality as a foundation of personality. The wide range of human sexuality is explored; sexual development, roles, attitudes and behaviors.
Offered every 2 years. 3 credits.
PS 263 Psychology of Women
Prerequisite: PS 101
Women’s psychological development throughout the lifespan will be examined, including female development, achievement, stereotyping, stress, violence and psychological disorders.
Offered every 2 years. 3 credits.
PS 275 Psychological Statistics
Prerequisites: PS 101, Score of 3 on math Accuplacer or passing grade in college level math class
Data tabulation; graphing; measurement of central tendency, variability and correlation; hypothesis testing applied to psychological and sociological data. Hand and computer analysis..
Offered every year. 4 credits.
PS 280 Sensation and Perception
Prerequisite: PS 101
Selected sensory and perceptual processes are studied in the context of current theory and research.
Offered every 2 years. 3 credits.
PS 295 Special Topics in Psychology
Prerequisites: PS 101
Selected areas of mutual interest to instructor and students. Topics and prerequisites are announced in advance.
Offered every year. 3 credits.
PS 297 Independent Study: Research in Psychology
Prerequisites: PS 101, PS 205 or PS 275, Consent of instructor
Students pursue an area of research interest under faculty supervision. May include assisting faculty with ongoing research. Written report(s) required.
Offered every semester. 1-3 credits
PS 307 Applied Research Methods
Prerequisites: PS 101, PS 205, PS 275
Extension of research design and methods introduced in PS 205: Research Methods, including applied research design, statistical analysis, and scientific writing.
Offered every year. 3 credits.
PS 310 Development of Exceptional Children/Youth
Prerequisites: PS 101
Characteristics and needs of children with exceptionalities including behavior retardation, giftedness, physical or sensory disabilities, emotional or social maladjustments.
Offered every 2 years. 3 credits.
PS 315 Physical and Sexual Abuse
Prerequisites: PS 101
Etiology, characteristics, consequences, treatment, and prevention of various forms of physical, sexual, and emotional abuse in children, adolescents, and adults.
Offered every 2 years. 3 credits.
PS 318 Behavior Management Techniques
Prerequisites: PS 101
Considers the basic concepts of behavior management, including behavior modification for exceptional and normal populations.
Offered every year. 3 credits.
PS 320 Development of Thinking and Knowing
Prerequisites: PS 101, PS 210
This course will examine human development of thinking and knowing from the Piagetian/Neo-Piagetian, Information Processing and Sociocultural Perspectives.
Offered every year. 3 credits.
PS 325 Psychology of Learning
Prerequisite: PS 101
Learning as a fundamental concept in understanding behavior; examines principles and theories of learning, emphasizing experimental findings.
Offered every year. 3 credits.
PS 330 Theories of Personality
Prerequisites: PS 101
A survey of major theories of personality. Why people behave as they do is explored through the different theories.
Offered every year. 3 credits.
PS 335 Abnormal Psychology
Prerequisite: PS 101
Etiology, dynamics, and treatment of psychopathology and their relation to normal personality are considered from traditional and contemporary perspectives.
Offered every year. 3 credits.
PS 340 Introduction to Psychometrics
Prerequisites: PS 101, PS 275
Methods and instruments used in the evaluation of the psychological attributes of human beings.
Offered every year. 3 credits.
PS 345 Cognitive Psychology
Prerequisite: PS 101
This course introduces students to areas of cognitive psychology including memory, language processing and decision making.
Offered every year. 3 credits.
PS 350 Group Dynamics
Prerequisite: PS 101
Group process deals with the basic issues of leadership, membership, developmental stages and types of groups, theoretically and experientially.
Offered every year. 3 credits.
PS 355 Social and Personality Development
Prerequisites: PS 101
This course will examine social and personality development from Piagetian, Neo-Piagetian and Sociocultural perspectives.
Offered every year. 3 credits.
PS 360 Industrial/Organizational Psychology
Prerequisite: PS 101
A concentration on the work of the psychologist in industry/business and other organizational settings in the public and private sectors.
Offered every year. 3 credits.
PS 380 Physiological Psychology
Prerequisite: PS 101
Psychobiological problems; current physiological research in emotion, motivation and learning and the use of physiological methods in psychology.
Offered every 2 years. 3 credits.
PS 385 Motivation
Prerequisite: PS 101
A study of conditions that arouse, direct and sustain behavior. Topics include: goals, competence, control, arousal, self-esteem, achievement and stress.
Offered every year. 3 credits.
PS 390 History and Systems of Psychology
Prerequisite: PS 101
An historical perspective, tracing the development of psychology into a science.
Offered every year. 3 credits.
PS 400 Internship in Psychology
Prerequisite: Consent of Instructor
Provides opportunity to advanced students to increase experience through internship with sponsoring community organization, institution, or business under appropriate supervision.
Offered every year. 1-3 credits
PS 405 Independent Study: Topics in Psychology
Prerequisites: PS 101, PS 205, PS 275, Consent of Instructor
Students pursue an area or topic of interest under faculty supervision. Written report(s) required
Offered every semester. 3 credits.
PS 407 Independent Study: Advanced Research in Psychology
Prerequisites: PS 101, PS 205, PS 275, PS 307, Consent of instructor
Students undertake empirical research under faculty supervision. Written report(s) required.
Offered every semester. 3 credits.
PS 410 Seminar in Developmental Psychology
Prerequisites: PS 101, PS 210 or PS 215
Patterns of physical, mental and emotional development are explored with emphasis on independent work.
Offered every year. 3 credits.
PS 435 Clinical Psychology
Prerequisites: PS 101, PS 335
Practical issues, methods and techniques of current psychotherapies with emphasis on psychoanalytic, clientcentered, and behavioral approaches.
Offered every year. 3 credits.
PS 460 Advanced Industrial/Organizational Psychology
Prerequisites: PS 101, PS 360, any two of PS 250, PS 340, PS 350, PS 385
An in-depth exploration of selected topics from the field of Industrial/Organizational Psychology.
Offered every year. 3 credits.
PS 480 Advanced Research Methods
Prerequisites: PS 101, PS 205, PS 275, PS 307
Laboratory procedures and techniques on an advanced level applied to selected independent projects.
Offered every 3 years. 3 credits.
PS 485 Psychobiology of Mental Disorders
Prerequisites: PS 101, PS 380
Human brain behavior relationships; neurological correlates of attention, cognition, perception, consequences of damage upon behavior.
Offered every 2 years. 3 credits.
PS 492 Seminar in Mental Health
Prerequisites: PS 101, PS 330, PS 335 and either PS 340 or PS 435
This capstone seminar emphasizes knowledge and experiential skill-building necessary for entry into the field of Mental Health Services.
Offered every year. 3 credits.
PS 499: Honors Thesis
Prerequisites PS 101, PS 205, PS 275, PS 307, Concurrent registration in PS 407, Consent of Instructor
Students participate in a seminar, complete an ongoing Honors Project, and prepare a thesis and summary poster for presentation.
Offered in spring. 1 credit