Member of the Division of Science

Janet Gibson, Chair, Jason Drwal, Ann Ellis, David Lopatto, Nancy Rempel-Clower, Laura Sinnett

Psychology is invigorated by the intellectual imperative to understand behavior, the ethical imperative to alleviate human suffering, and the aesthetic imperative to find form and pattern in our lives. The psychology curriculum illuminates the behavior of biological organisms living in social habitats. Students of psychology learn to use empirical methods to investigate behavior and to use critical thinking to interrogate empirical methods. Situated in a liberal arts environment, the psychology curriculum empowers the student with tools for mindful inquiry. Students of psychology construct their learning into a variety of professional careers, including teaching, scientific research, clinical work, medicine, and law.

Students interested in psychology should take Introduction to Psychology and either Introduction to Statistics or Applied Statistics early in their college careers. Students interested in the psychology major should follow these courses to the required Research Methods and the 200-level core program. Research Methods equips the student with tools for inquiry; core courses explore the essential content areas of psychological science. Engagement with the core program aims the student toward advanced courses that permit the study of topics in depth and may provide the impetus for individual research projects. In addition, the department encourages students to pursue experiential learning through internships.

All majors are encouraged to explore the varied elective courses offered by the department and to take advantage of opportunities to do independent work. Liberally educated psychology majors value the breadth of their education. The requirements for the major leave time in the student's career for courses in mathematics, science, social studies, and humanities. The student is encouraged to discover the natural affinity of psychology with many disciplines and the creative thinking that follows from multidisciplinary competence.

The facilities that support learning in the psychology curriculum afford genuine laboratory experience and creative research. Interactions in these facilities give the student experience with the protocols that inspire awareness of the opportunities for research and teach the ethical responsibilities of researchers. The facilities include a group process laboratory, a behavioral neuroscience suite with a contiguous animal colony, and a freestanding preschool that offers an ongoing curriculum in parallel with its laboratory function.

A minimum of 32 credits in psychology including:

• Psychology 113 Introduction to Psychology
• Psychology 225 Research Methods
• Psychology 495 Senior Seminar
• Twelve additional credits from core courses at the 200 level with at least one course from Group A and one course from Group B
• Group A
• Psychology 243 Behavior Analysis
• Psychology 246 Physiological Psychology
• Psychology 260 Cognitive Psychology
• Group B
• Psychology 214 Social Psychology
• Psychology 233 Developmental Psychology
• Psychology 248 Abnormal Psychology

• Eight additional credits at the 300 level

Also required:

• Mathematics/Social Studies 115 Introduction to Statistics or Mathematics 209 Applied Statistics

Recommended

• At least two courses above the 100 level should be laboratory courses
• Independent research and departmental service

To be considered for honors in psychology, graduating seniors, in addition to meeting the College's general requirements for honors, must demonstrate voluntary engagement with and commitment to the values of the discipline, which include, but are not limited to, departmental service and independent research.

113 Introduction to Psychology (Fall or Spring) 4 credits
An introduction to principles of psychological science and inquiry. Major topics of psychology are covered with consideration of different approaches psychologists take to describe, predict, and explain behavior. Emphasis is placed on theory, research, and application. Laboratory work is required. Prerequisites: none. STAFF.

214 Social Psychology (Fall) 4 credits+

Survey of contemporary experimental social psychology. Topics include: attribution theory, social cognition, stereotypes, attitudes, prosocial behavior, aggression, group processes, and applied social psychology. Attention given to interaction between theoretical development and empirical measurement. Laboratory work is required. Prerequisites Psychology 113, and completion of or concurrent enrollment in Mathematics/Social Studies 115 or Mathematics 209, or permission of instructor. SINNETT.

220 Decision-Making* (Spring) 4 credits+

An examination of human decision-making under uncertainty. Topics include biases resulting from cognitive strategies, probability, utility theory, reasoning, prediction, and issues specific to group decisions. Prerequisites: Psychology 113 and Mathematics/Social Studies 115, or Mathematics 209; or permission of instructor. GIBSON.

222 Industrial Psychology* (Fall) 4 credits+

An investigation of individual differences, learning, and motivation in the context of the work setting. Topics include testing theory, training techniques, and motivational theories. Prerequisites: Psychology 113 and Mathematics/Social Studies 115 or Mathematics 209; or permission of instructor. LOPATTO.

225 Research Methods (Spring) 4 credits

This course describes experimental designs and attendant statistical techniques. Students learn to use quantitative methods to pose meaningful questions to data. Topics include between-group and within-group designs, analysis of variance for main effects and interactions, the adaptation of statistical inquiry to less than optimal situations, and critical thinking about research methods. Prerequisites: Psychology 113, and Mathematics/Social Studies 115 or Mathematics 209; or permission of instructor. STAFF.

233 Developmental Psychology (Spring) 4 credits+

A survey of psychological development from the prenatal period through adolescence. Major theoretical perspectives on the nature of developmental change are considered with a focus on empirical validation and application of each perspective. Topics include physical, cognitive, and social development. Laboratory work is required. Prerequisites: Psychology 113, and Mathematics/Social Studies 115 or Mathematics 209; or permission of instructor. ELLIS.

243 Behavior Analysis (Spring) 4 credits+

The course studies behavior as it occurs in its environmental context. Topics in learning and motivation are analyzed through the experimental approach of behavior analytic psychology. Topics include classical and operant learning, choice, self-control, and extrinsic and intrinsic motivation. Laboratory work is required. Prerequisites: Psychology 113, and Mathematics/Social Studies 115 or Mathematics 209; or permission of instructor. LOPATTO.

246 Physiological Psychology (Fall) 4 credits

An introduction to the physiological control of behavior. Course content: (a) general introduction to neuroanatomy and neurophysiology; (b) neuroregulatory systems, motivation, and emotion; (c) perceptual and motor systems; (d) processes of learning, memory, and cognition. Laboratory work may be required. Prerequisite: Psychology 113 or permission of instructor. One semester of biology is recommended. REMPEL-CLOWER.

248 Abnormal Psychology (Fall) 4 credits+

The study of psychopathology. Emphasis is given to experimental models and the underlying psychological processes of abnormal behavior. Some attention is given to treatments. The course is structured around the categories of the DSM IV. Prerequisite: Psychology 113 or permission of instructor. DRWAL.

260 Cognitive Psychology (Spring) 4 credits+

A survey of the experimental research on human thinking, knowing, and remembering. Topics include attention, memory, reasoning, problem-solving, and language. Laboratory work is required. Prerequisites: Psychology 113, and Mathematics/Social Studies 115 or Mathematics 209; or permission of instructor. GIBSON.

311 History of Psychological Theories* (Fall) 4 credits+

Historical and philosophical origins of contemporary schools of psychology are considered. The student analyzes the nature of psychological theory and the methods used to disconfirm theories, as well as the reasons for the emergence and decline of schools of psychological thought. Prerequisites: two psychology courses numbered 200 or above, and Mathematics/Social Studies 115 or Mathematics 209; or permission of instructor. LOPATTO.

315 Advanced Social Psychology* (Spring) 4 credits

An advanced study of a particular social psychological topic. Emphasis will be placed on a critical analysis of theoretical approaches, experimental findings, and future directions. Topics will vary and may include: stereotypes, interpersonal relationships, cross-cultural psychology, or the social psychology of emotion. Laboratory work may be required. Prerequisite: Psychology 214 or permission of instructor. SINNETT.

317 Personality Psychology* (Spring) 4 credits

A survey of classical and contemporary approaches to understanding healthy adult personalities. Emphasis will be placed on the trait approach, the coherence of personality across time and situations, beliefs about the self, social aspects of personality, and empirical research methods used to study personality. Prerequisites: Two psychology courses numbered 200 or above or permission of instructor. SINNETT.

332 Advanced Developmental Psychology* (Fall) 4 credits

An advanced investigation of substantive topics in developmental psychology. Emphasis is placed on theory and research. Laboratory work may be required. Prerequisites: Psychology 233 and one additional 200-level psychology course, or permission of instructor. ELLIS.

334 Adult Development* (Fall) 4 credits

A consideration of human development during adulthood with emphasis on models and empirical work that illustrate factors that constrain and optimize development. Topics are treated in depth and include changes in social roles, wisdom, autobiographical memory, dementia, and death. Laboratory work may be required. Prerequisites: Two psychology courses numbered 200 or above, or permission of the instructor. ELLIS.

336 Advanced Behavioral Neuroscience* (Spring) 4 credits

A laboratory-centered introduction to advanced topics in behavioral neuroscience and basic research techniques used to investigate brain-behavior relationships. Participants will gain experience in stereotaxic neurosurgery, psychopharmacology, and various behavioral measures. A research-team approach is used for the literature discussion and the laboratory activities each week. Prerequisite: Psychology 246 or permission of instructor. REMPEL-CLOWER.

337 Psychological Measurement* (Spring) 4 credits

Students will learn about methods of test development, the statistical analysis of test data, and social implications of testing. In lab, students will develop testing instruments and learn multivariate data analysis. Topics covered include intelligence and personality testing, systems of behavioral observation, regression, factor analysis, and theories of test construction. Prerequisites: two psychology courses numbered 200 or above, and Mathematics/Social Studies 115 or Mathematics 209; or permission of instructor. DRWAL.

348 Behavioral Medicine* (Fall) 4 credits+

This course describes psychophysiological and behavioral principles and methods in the context of the biopsychosocial model of health and illness. Topics include behavioral pathogens, stress, pain, psychoneuroimmunology and behavior management. Laboratory work may be required. Prerequisite: Psychology 243 or permission of instructor. LOPATTO.

355 Psychology of Language* (Fall) 4 credits+

An examination of experimental psycholinguistics. Topics include how humans perceive, comprehend, and produce language, research with brain-damaged individuals, language acquisition, and the role of memory and cognition on processing language. Laboratory work may be required. Prerequisite: Psychology 260 or permission of instructor. GIBSON.

360 Advanced Cognitive Psychology* (Fall) 4 credits+

An in-depth examination of research on a specific area within cognitive psychology. Possible topics focus on implicit memory, memory in older adults, language in primates, conditional reasoning, and insight in problem-solving. Laboratory work may be required. Prerequisite: Psychology 260 or permission of instructor. GIBSON.

495 Senior Seminar (Spring) 4 credits

A critical exploration of controversial topics of both historical and contemporary significance in psychology with intense interrogation of the field's diverse perspectives and methods. Prerequisite: Senior psychology majors. STAFF.

*Not offered every year.