In this course, students refine and extend the knowledge and skills relating to reading and evaluating empirical psychology articles; research methods, design, and ethics; professional writing; and APA Style. The major assignment is a comprehensive research project that requires students to identify an area for research, conduct a literature review, design and implement a research study, analyze data, and prepare a final research paper and presentation.

Students learn how contemporary psychologists use the scientific method to study mental processes (that is, the "mind"), with an emphasis on major constructs: perception, attention, memory, language, and reasoning. Regular activities include hands-on experiments to collect data, followed by basic data analysis, visualization, and interpretation. Students will also critically evaluate several cognitive psychology journal articles. Prerequisite: 171. Restricted to students with junior standing or higher.

Three hours of lecture per week. This course surveys the biological foundations of behavior (actions, thoughts, and emotions) with an emphasis on central nervous system structure and function. Lecture topics include learning and memory, emotion, cognition, psychological disorders, and more. Prerequisite: three credits of PSYC. (Equivalent to NEUR 261.)

The essence of this course is communication micro-skills, such as: attending, questioning, reflecting content and feelings, confronting, self-disclosing, interpreting, information giving, and enlisting cooperation and action. It is taught through a counseling psychology lens and provides opportunity to develop and practice skills. In addition, the techniques transcend disciplines and are valuable for a variety of interpersonal relationships. OC

Courses on topics of interest to psychology students offered on the basis of need, interest, or timeliness. Prerequisites as determined by the instructor. Restricted to students with freshman or sophomore standing. May be repeated for credit. For specific section description, click to the Section Details in VitNet.

Non-classroom experiences in the field of psychology. Placements are off-campus, and may be full- or part-time, and with or without pay. Credit for experiences must be sought prior to occurance, and learning contracts must be submitted before the end of the first week of the semester. See the experiential learning: internship section of this catalog for more details. Restricted to students with freshman or sophomore standing. Graded CR/NC.

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.

This course introduces students to the study of behavior and mental processes including cognition, learning, memory, motivation, emotion, interpersonal interactions, psychological disorders, and much more. Students receive exposure to the breadth of the scientific field of psychology with an emphasis on evaluating behavior from a biopsychosocial perspective. SS

This course provides an overview of chemical abuse and dependence, examining the impact on society, families, and individuals. Students will be introduced to the scope and nature of the field of chemical dependency, including a historical perspective. Special emphasis will target the Biopsychosocial model of addiction, prevention, family dynamics, special populations, and treatment modalities.

Human Sexuality explores the biological, psychological, and social/cultural aspects of human sexual behavior. Students evaluate the emotional, behavioral, and cognitive interactions between personal values and societal expectations. Prerequisite: 171.