Independent reading and/or research under the supervision of a psychology faculty member. Refer to the academic policy section for independent study policy. An independent study contract is required. May be repeated for credit.
Students will engage in mentored research with a faculty member in the department. Students may either serve as a research assistant for a project conducted by the faculty mentor or carry out a project of their own design. Responsibilities may include conducting a literature review, developing a research proposal, designing study materials, data collection and analysis, or preparing research for presentation or publication. Students will also be required to meet regularly with the faculty mentor. Prerequisite: 330. Restricted to students with junior standing or higher.
In the capstone course, students reflect on their learning in their major and identify their future goals. Students prepare a formal report in APA style of their internship, practicum, or advanced research experience, and present it to a scholarly audience. Students also explore career and graduate study options, and develop materials (e.g., C.V., cover letter) to assist them in their search for employment or graduate school opportunities. Restricted to students with junior standing or higher. Prerequisite: 487 or 489.
Although psychology historically focused on negative aspects of life (psychopathology, retardation and aggression), Positive Psychology focuses on the more positive (mental health, creativity and pro-social behavior). Topics in this course will also include happiness, humor, human strengths, flow, peace, resilience, optimism, empathy and altruism, love and companionship, and relaxation and mindfulness. Emphasis will be on both scientific findings and the application of those findings in ones personal life. The course will include a significant self-change project.
An overview of various family forms, the family life cycle, and healthy family functioning will be provided, followed by a review of the major theories of systemic family therapy. Basic family therapy process and outcome research will be reviewed. The code of ethics will be applied to clinical ethical dilemmas. A role play format will be used to practice basic therapy counseling skills. Restricted to students with junior standing or higher.
This course provides an overview of the major theories in the field of counseling and the historical perspectives and philosophies upon which they are based. This includes supervised laboratory experience with role-playing practice to understand the client and counselor roles in treatment strategies and techniques used in psychotherapy. Prerequisites: 270 or concurrent.
Students in this course will develop a theoretical foundation and effective counseling skills for work in the specialized field of substance abuse disorders. Topics to be covered will include philosophies, practices, policies, and outcomes of the most generally accepted and scientifically supported models of treatment, recovery, relapse prevention, and continuing care for addiction and other substance-related problems. Prerequisites: 205, 270.
This course focuses on the application of assessment and treatment planning to the field of substance abuse. Topics include assessment instruments and procedures, psychosocial interviews, development of behavior treatment goals, record keeping, case management and ethical considerations. Prerequisites: 205.
Students in Behavioral Neuroscience explore a variety of advanced issues in biopsychology related to both normal and abnormal expressions of behavior through current primary scientific literature. In this seminar-style course, each student works with the instructor to select an appropriate topic of interest and leads the class discussion on this topic and corresponding journal article(s). Example general topic areas include neuroenhancement, neurotoxiclogy, and CNS disorders. Prerequisite: 261 or BIOP 261 or BIOL 353. Restricted to students with junior standing or higher.
In this course students will learn the various ways in which psychologists study and measure personality factors, traits, and individual differences. Students will compare and contrast different models of personality and evaluate the empirical evidence for each. Contemporary theories related to personality stability, development, and change will be also discussed. Students will also explore research on the psychology of individual differences beyond stable personality factors. Topics may include styles of motivation, emotion, trust, authoritarianism, and others.