John Carroll Department of Psychology
Course Description

101. INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY 3 cr. Fundamental principles of behavior, including research methods, learning and cognition, biological basis of behavior, perception, motivation, human development, social psychology, personality, psychopathology, and psychological testing. This course is a prerequisite to all PS courses at the 200 level and beyond.

150. VIOLENCE AND AGGRESSION 3 cr. Biological, psychological, and sociological aspects of violence and aggression. Basic theories and principles relevant to the topic in general and the components of specific acts and forms of violence. Does not apply to the psychology major.

190. PLANNING FOR GRADUATE SCHOOL IN PSYCHOLOGY 1 cr.
Information on preparation for, selection of, and applying to psychology graduate programs.

226. DRUGS AND BEHAVIOR 3 cr. Prerequisite: PS 101 or BL 155. Introduction to the field of psychopharmacology with special emphasis on the relationship between drugs and human behavior. Considerations include history, routes of administration, absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and adverse effects of psychoactive drugs.

241. SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY 3 cr. Introduction to the scientific field that explores the nature and causes of individual behavior and thought in social situations. Social psychology is the science of everyday, normal behavior. Topics include nonverbal behavior, the detection of lying, attributions we make about the causes of behavior, social cognition, prejudice, self-concept, interpersonal attraction, persuasion, and aggression.

261. CHILD DEVELOPMENT 3 cr. Prerequisite: PS 101 (or ED 201 for Education majors only). Survey of the basic theories and research relative to human growth and development from conception through late childhood with emphasis on the physiological, intellectual, socio emotional, and cultural changes associated with human life.

262. ADOLESCENT DEVELOPMENT 3 cr. Prerequisite: PS 101 (or ED 201 for Education majors only). Survey of the basic theories and research relative to human growth and development from preadolescence to young adulthood with emphasis on the physiological, intellectual, socio emotional, and cultural changes associated with human life.

280. HUMAN MEMORY AND COGNITION 3 cr. Corequisite: PS 280L. What psychology has found about how people acquire and use knowledge. Topics include attention, how meaning is represented, memory, language, reasoning, and problem solving.

280L. HUMAN MEMORY AND COGNITION LABORATORY 0 cr. Corequisite: PS 280. Two hours of laboratory per week. Students will participate in experiments investigating human cognition related to topics in PS 280.

299. RESEARCH EXPERIENCE IN PSYCHOLOGY 1-3 cr. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor. A beginning/intermediate-level research practicum to gain familiarity with the process of research, in areas such as (a) learning to conduct a literature review, (b) gaining familiarity with SPSS software, (c) managing and organizing databases, (d) collecting data, and (e) scoring/coding psychological measures. Supervising faculty will guide the research. This course may be repeated for a cumulative maximum of 3 credit hours.

301. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN AND ANALYSIS IN PSYCHOLOGY 3 cr. Prerequisites: MT 122, 123 (with at least a C - in MT123); corequisite: PS 301L. Introduction to the scientific method as it is used to design, conduct and analyze experiments in psychology. A manuscript in APA style describing research in PS 301L is required.

301L. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN AND ANALYSIS LABORATORY 0 cr. Corequisite: PS 301. Two hours of laboratory per week. Students will work in groups to design an experiment investigating some aspect of human behavior, conduct the experiment, and analyze the data.

310. SPORT PSYCHOLOGY 3 cr. Topics: personality and sport; anxiety, arousal, and sport performance; motivation in sport; violence in sport; group dynamics in sport; psychological benefits of sport and exercise; and psychology of sport injuries.

318. SENSATION AND PERCEPTION 3 cr. Corequisite: PS 318L. Structure and function of the sensory systems, how they encode environmental stimuli, and how we process these stimuli to perceive the world. Perceptual illusions are demonstrated and explained.

318L. SENSATION AND PERCEPTION LABORATORY 0 cr. Corequisite: PS 318. Two hours of laboratory per week. Students will participate in experiments investigating human perception related to topics in PS 318.

326. PSYCHOBIOLOGY 3 cr. Prerequisite: PS 101 or BL 155. Study of the anatomical, physiological, and biochemical mechanisms underlying behavior.

332. LEARNING AND BEHAVIOR 3 cr. Corequisite: 332L. Fundamentals of classical and operant conditioning and how they may be used to change behavior in applied settings.

332L. LEARNING AND BEHAVIOR LABORATORY 0 cr. Corequisite: PS 332. Two hours of laboratory per week. Applying principles of operant and classical conditioning; specifying behavioral objectives; applying principles of reinforcement to change behavior.

342. PSYCHOLOGY OF PREJUDICE 3 cr.
Discussion of classic and contemporary theories and research on stereotypes, prejudice, discrimination, and intolerance.

351. THEORIES OF PERSONALITY (ED 451) 3 cr. Survey of m ajor personality theories with critical consideration of research support and clinical/ counseling applications .

359. INDUSTRIAL AND ORGANIZATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY 3 cr. Topics for under standing the selection and evaluation of workers within organizations. Current theories of work motivation, job design, and leadership, with an emphasis on applications within organizations.

365. ADULTHOOD AND AGING 3 cr. Study of growth and development from young adulthood to old age with emphasis on life stages, transitions, and the breadth of human experience.

370. PSYCHOLOGY AND LAW 3 cr. Overview of the implications of psychological theory and methods on various legal issues and the legal perspective on some psychological issues. Social science research on legal topics such as confessions, eyewitness testimony, the jury, insanity, and competency. Focuses on the criminal justice system with some civil issues. No knowledge of the legal system is assumed.

386. MIND, BRAIN, AND BEHAVIOR 3 cr. Examination of the nature of mind in relationship to cellular structure, chemical signals, and operations in the brain. Association of functions of the brain with human consciousness, language, thinking, memory, and emotion. Application of modern imaging and recording techniques to explain differences between high functioning and impaired functioning individuals.


395. SPECIAL TOPICS. 1-3 cr. A selection of courses on a variety of special topics in psychology designed for both psychology and non-psychology majors.

401. ADVANCED RESEARCH METHODS IN PSYCHOLOGY 3 cr. Prerequisites: PS 301 and PS 301L (with at least a B ) and permission of chair. Plan, conduct, and analyze data from individual research projects, and prepare a manuscript suitable for submission to a psychological journal.

421. HISTORY AND SYSTEMS OF PSYCHOLOGY 3 cr. Development of psychology from its philosophical antecedents to its present status as a behavioral science and profession. Recommended as preparation for the departmental comprehensive examination.

426. PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY 3 cr. Prerequisite: PS 326 or BL 155. Not open to those with credit in PS 226. Effects of psychotropic drugs on behavior, cognitive functioning, and emotion, with an emphasis on both psychotherapeutic agents utilized in the treatment of biochemical abnormalities associated with various psychopathologies and drugs of abuse.

435. TESTS AND MEASUREMENTS 3 cr. Prerequisite: MT 122 or equivalent. Survey and evaluation of current psychological test theory. Test construction, reliability, validity and a survey of frequently used psychological tests are covered. This is not a course in test administration.

455. CHILD AND ADOLESCENT PSYCHOPATHOLOGY 3 cr. This course focuses on the conceptualization and definition of developmental psychopathology; the study of developmental processes that contribute to the formation of, or resistance to, psychopathology. The course content will focus specifically on the causes, assessment, and treatment of developmental and behavioral disturbances in infants, children, and adolescents. Above all, this course aims to illuminate the mutual influences of psychopathology and normal developmental processes.

457. PSYCHOPATHOLOGY 3 cr. Examines theories and controversies about psychopathology and the etiology and symptoms of selected categories of emotional disturbance, with special reference to the current Diagnostic and Statistical Manual.

459. PERFORMANCE EVALUATION AND GOAL SETTING 3 cr. Prerequisite: PS 359 or MN 325. Integration of applied and theoretical principles of performance evaluation and goal setting into today’s workplace.

462. COUNSELING THEORY AND PRACTICE 3 cr.
Major counseling theories, including psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioral, and phenomenological theories are presented. The techniques employed in these approaches are reviewed. Specialized treatment interventions are also discussed. Topics include marital/family therapy, music therapy, art therapy, and group treatment interventions. Empirical support for therapeutic interventions is discussed.

470. SEMINAR IN CHILDREN IN THE LEGAL SYSTEM 3 cr. Seminar covering an overview of relevant case and statutory law pertaining to children and families. Topics include parental rights, child protection, child custody, foster care, juvenile justice, children’s rights, children in the courtroom, decision making, and the termination of the parental relationship. A term paper and participation in a mock trial are required.

471. SEMINAR IN ETHICS IN PSYCHOLOGY 3 cr. Professional ethics in the field of psychology. Ethical dilemmas that confront mental health service providers and counselors, researchers, university-level educators, and those in psychology-related fields who work in other settings. Basis for the course is the American Psychological Association Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct and how it is useful in the analysis and resolution of ethical dilemmas.

475. CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY 3 cr.
Topics unique to the clinical psychologist are reviewed, including psychological assessment, treatment interventions, professional issues, and single case research designs. Subspecialties in the area of clinical psychology are also discussed. Specialized topics include, neuropsychology, forensic psychology and child clinical psychology.

476. SENIOR SEMINAR IN CHILD AND FAMILY STUDIES 3cr. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor required. Students following the Child and Family Studies track will discuss issues related to children and families.

477. SENIOR SEMINAR IN MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES 3 cr. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor required. Students following the Mental Health Services track will discuss issues related to the delivery of mental health services.

478. SENIOR SEMINAR IN PSYCHOLOGY 3 cr. Series of courses on a variety of special topics in psychology designed for senior psychology students.

479. SPECIAL TOPICS IN PSYCHOLOGY 3 cr. A selection of courses on a variety of special topics in psychology.

480- 489. PRACTICA IN PSYCHOLOGY 1-3 cr. Limited to junior and senior psychology majors with permission of instructor. Supervised application of psychological principles and techniques in appropriate settings. Arrangements for the practicum site need to be completed, in consultation with the instructor, in the semester prior to the placement. A scholarly paper, developed in conjunction with the supervising faculty member, is required.  Specific practica are listed below.

480- 481. PRACTICUM IN I/O PSYCHOLOGY 1-3 cr. Business and industrial settings.

482- 483. PRACTICUM IN MENTAL HEALTH 1-3 cr. Educational and clinical settings.

484-485. PRACTICUM IN GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY 1-3 cr. Educational, clinical, governmental, business, and industrial settings.

486- 487. PRACTICUM: THE HOSPITALIZED CHILD 3 cr. Prerequisites: PS 261 or PS262 and consent of instructor. Sequence of supervised experience in the application of psychological principles and techniques to physical and emotional problems with infants, children, adolescents, and their families in a university medical setting.

496. READINGS IN PSYCHOLOGY 1-3 cr. P ermission of instructor and department chair required. Supervised readings course for advanced undergraduates, mutually arranged by each student and a faculty member so that the student may become informed in depth on a specialized topic in psychology. A critical and original review of the literature is required. A course plan must be developed with the instructor and approved by the department chair prior to enrollment.

497N. INDIVIDUAL RESEARCH PROJECT IN NEUROSCIENCE 3 cr. P ermission of instructor and approval of neuroscience coordinator required. Advanced undergraduate participation in the conception, design, execution, and reporting of a research project in neuroscience. Research should be potentially publishable, with the student’s contribution such as to warrant citation as co- author. A course plan must be developed with the instructor and approved by the neuroscience coordinator prior to enrollment.

498. PRACTICUM IN RESEARCH METHODS 3 cr. Prerequisite: PS 301 and permission of instructor required. Practicum in research methods, and assisting instructor by serving as resource person for students in PS 301.

499. INDIVIDUAL RESEARCH PROJECT IN PSYCHOLOGY 1-3 cr. Prerequisite: PS 401 and permission of instructor and chair required. Advanced undergraduate participation in the conception, design, execution, and reporting of a research project in psychology. Research should be potentially publishable, with the student’s contribution such as to warrant citation as co- author. A course plan must be developed with the instructor and approved by the department chair prior to enrollment.