Southwestern University
 
 2003-2004 Catalog

Academic Calendar

Southwestern University: A Statement
The Academic Program
Degree Requirements
Academic Regulations

Course Descriptions

Brown College of Arts & Sciences
 Biology
 Chemistry
 Classics
 Communication
 Economics & Business
 Education
 English
 History
 Kinesiology
 Math & Computer Science
 Modern Languages & Literatures
 Physics
 Political Science
 Psychology
 Religion & Philosophy
 Sociology & Anthropology

Sarofim School of Fine Arts
 Art
 Music
 Theatre

Interdisciplinary Programs
Special Academic Programs

Admission & Financial Aid
Student Life
Cultural Activities
History & Governance
Endowments & Scholarships

University Directory
Board & Officers
Faculty
Administration
 

  PSYCHOLOGY DEPARTMENT

PSYCHOLOGY DEPARTMENT

Division of Social Sciences

Professor Jacqueline E. Muir-Broaddus, PhD, Chair

Professor Douglas Hooker, PhD

Professor Jesse E. Purdy, PhD

Associate Professor Traci Giuliano, PhD

Assistant Professor Fay Guarraci, PhD

Assistant Professor Bryan D. Neighbors, PhD

Associate Professor Steven Schapiro, PhD (part-time)

Assistant Professor Kelly Olmstead, PhD (part-time)

Psychology is the scientific study of behavior and the mind. In this view behavior refers to the observable actions of an individual person or animal and mind refers to an individual’s sensations, perceptions, memories, thoughts, motivations, and emotions. The Psychology program emphasizes the view that psychology is first a science and then a profession and provides students with a broad background in Psychology. The Psychology program prepares the student for graduate school in all areas of psychology, including biopsychology, child psychology, clinical psychology, cognitive psychology, comparative psychology, counseling psychology, developmental psychology, industrial/organizational psychology, neuroscience, personality and social psychology, and social work. In addition, for those students who do not wish to go on to graduate school immediately after the bachelor’s degree, the student is prepared for careers in human services. The Psychology program is housed in the F.W. Olin Building, which has excellent facilities for conducting research with humans and animals, including a state-of-the-art aquatic animal research laboratory and an excellent classroom laboratory.

To major in Psychology, students must complete Principles of Psychology (33-103), Introduction to Statistics (52-113), and Research Methods (33-203, 213). Students select three courses from each of the following two areas. Area I: Cognitive Psychology (33-423), Psychology of Learning (33-403), Physiological Psychology (33-463), and Social Psychology (33-443). Area II: Abnormal Psychology (33-683), Developmental Psychology (33-623), Humanistic Psychology (33-603), and Personality Theory and Research (33-263). Students may take additional courses but do not receive course credit toward graduation requirements for completing more than 42 semester hours in Psychology. Psychology minors need to take 33-103 and additional hours to complete 18 semester hours in Psychology. At least 12 of these hours must be above the intro level.

Students interested in attending graduate school in any area of Psychology are strongly encouraged to take at least one course from among the following: Research in Biopsychology (33-813), Research in Developmental/Cognitive Psychology (33-823), Research in Clinical Psychology (33-843), Research in Social Psychology (33-863), and Research in Neuroscience (33-883).

Students wanting to work after graduation in the area of human services or who desire to attend graduate school in clinical or counseling psychology or related fields (e.g., social work, psychiatry) are strongly encouraged to take Psychology Internship (33-943 or 33-946).

To complete the capstone requirement, students may take either six hours of a research course (33-813, 33-823, 33-843, 33-863 or 33-883), or six hours of internship (33-943 or 33-946) (hence, 3 hours of research combined with 3 hours of internship is not sufficient).

Psychology (PSY)

†33-103PRINCIPLES OF PSYCHOLOGY. An introduction to the many and diverse topics that fall within the broad domain of psychology. Students will be exposed to the methods and findings of both classic and current psychological research, as well as to the practical applications of this work. Emphasis is placed on acquiring a foundation of knowledge and critical skills that are necessary to evaluate psychological research. (POK-Social Analysis) (Each semester)
†33-123PARENTING: THEORIES AND REALITIES. An analysis of issues, general trends, and individual variations in parenting skills and in the care and nurturing of children. (POK-Values Analysis) (Fall)
33-203RESEARCH METHODS I. This course is the first part of a two-semester sequence designed to teach the basic concepts of research methods used in the study of psychology. Its goals are to help students think critically in approaching problems, to provide hands-on experience with a variety of methodological techniques, to train students to analyze and interpret the results of a research study, and to enable students to communicate research findings to an audience of psychologists. Emphasis is placed on non-experimental research designs and the statistical analyses of those designs. Discussed are the methods of science used in observational and field research, archival research, and survey/correlational research. In addition, students are introduced to writing and presenting results according to the guidelines of the American Psychological Association. Prerequisites: Psychology 33-103 and Mathematics 52-113. (Fall)
33-213RESEARCH METHODS II. This course is the second part of a two-semester sequence designed to teach the basic concepts of research methods used in the study of psychology. Its goals are to help students think critically in approaching problems, to provide hands-on experience with a variety of methodological techniques, to train students to analyze and interpret the results of a research study, and to enable students to communicate research findings to an audience of psychologists. Emphasis is placed on experimental research designs and statistical analyses of those designs. Discussed are the procedures used in between, within, and mixed designs with single and multiple factors. Prerequisites: Psychology 33-103 and Mathematics 52-113. Unless there are exceptional circumstances, students will take the same instructor for both Research Methods I and II. (Spring)
33-224 ANIMAL BEHAVIOR. Study of the methods of science in animal behavior and selected areas in ethology including behavioral genetics, communication, foraging strategies, learning, navigation and migration, ontogeny of behavior, reproductive and mating strategies, physiological bases of behavior, and territoriality. Laboratory experiences provide hands-on experiences in field and laboratory research related to these content areas. Prerequisite: Psychology 33-103 or Biology 50-204. Also Biology 50-214. (Fall)
33-263PERSONALITY THEORY AND RESEARCH. A survey course that provides an overview of the major personality theories and the methods used in personality research. Included are type theories, trait theories, and dynamic theories. The emphasis is on examination and evaluation of the experimental evidence pertinent to each theory. Prerequisite: Psychology 33-103. (Spring)
33-403 PSYCHOLOGY OF LEARNING. Study of the traditional areas of learning psychology, including current theoretical and research considerations of classical conditioning, instrumental conditioning, aversive control of behavior, and discrimination learning. Prerequisite: Psychology 33-203, 213. (Fall)
33-413COMPARATIVE PSYCHOLOGY. A survey course that introduces the student to various areas in the study of animal behavior including the ontogeny of behavior, learning and cognition, communication, navigation and migration, habitat selection, foraging, predator/prey interactions, reproductive and mating systems, and social behavior. The course is a core course within the interdisciplinary major in animal behavior and serves as an introduction to that major. Prerequisites: Psychology 33-103 or any introductory biology course. (Fall)
33-423 COGNITIVE PSYCHOLOGY. Cognitive Psychology is the scientific study of the mechanisms and processes involved in the acquisition and use of knowledge. The structure and function of working memory and long term memory are central to cognition, and hence are the primary focuses of the course. Other topics include a brief history of cognitive psychology, major theories of cognition and cognitive development, and the effects of culture on cognition. Prerequisite: Psychology 33- 203, 213 (prior or simultaneous). (Spring)
33-443 SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY. An introduction to the field of social psychology, which is the scientific study of how the thoughts, feelings, and actions of a person are influenced by other people and by social situations. Topics include the self, attitudes and attitude change, group behavior, prejudice and discrimination, prosocial behavior, conformity, relationships, and emotion, among others. The focus is on historical development of these topics as well as on current research and theory in these areas. Prerequisite: Psychology 33-203, 213. (Spring)
33-463 PHYSIOLOGICAL PSYCHOLOGY. A detailed study of neuroanatomy and neurophysiology. Study of current research concerning pain and pain relief systems, motivation, emotion, learning and memory, and the physiological bases for certain mental disorders. Prerequisite: Psychology 33-203, 213. (Spring)
33-563SPORT PSYCHOLOGY. See Kinesiology 48-563.
33-603 HUMANISTIC PSYCHOLOGY. The study of human behavior with emphasis on mental health and authentic personal relationships. Prerequisite: Psychology 33-103. (Each semester)
33-623 DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY. Developmental Psychology is a theory and research-based overview of the many ways in which nature and nurture combine to produce developmental outcomes in the biological, cognitive, intellectual, personality and social domains, with a focus on the childhood and adolescent years. Prerequisite: Psychology 33-103. Also Education 40-623. (Each semester)
33-643 PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTING. A study of the statistical principles which underlie test construction and psychological evaluation and the most commonly utilized psychological tests (e.g., intelligence, personality). Each student has an opportunity to work with a group to develop and evaluate a psychological test, and to prepare and present a report on the process. Prerequisites: Psychology 33-103 and Mathematics 52-113. (Spring)
33-683ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY. An overview of the field of clinical psychology which involves the scientific study of mental illness (psychopathology). The focus is on an empirically grounded examination of the symptomatic presentation, classification, and cause of a broad range of psychological disorders. Methods used in the field to assess, treat, and conduct research on the disorders will also be studied. Prerequisites: Psychology 33-203, 213. Psychology 33-263 recommended. (Fall)
33-703 INTRODUCTION TO COUNSELING. An introduction to the process of counseling. Opportunities are provided for students to enrich their experiences in dealing with personal problems in the counseling setting. Must be taken Pass/D/F. Prerequisite: Psychology 33-603 and 33-123 or 33-663. (Each semester)
33-763EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY. Prerequisites: Psychology 33-623 and admission to Teacher Certification Program or permission of instructor. See Education 40-763. (Spring)
33-813 RESEARCH IN BIOPSYCHOLOGY. Laboratory or field based research course designed to provide hands-on research experience related to questions concerning animal learning and animal behavior. Students work directly with a given faculty member within the department. Students read and synthesize the literature, design a study, collect and analyze data, and report the results. A written product is required of all students. Prerequisites: Psychology 33-403 or 33-463, and consent of instructor. Must be taken Pass/D/F. May be repeated with different experience.
33-823RESEARCH IN DEVELOPMENTAL/COGNITIVE PSYCHOLOGY. Laboratory or field based research course designed to provide hands-on research experience related to questions concerning developmental and cognitive psychology. Students work directly with a given faculty member within the department. Students read and synthesize the literature, design a study, collect and analyze data, and report the results. A written product is required of all students. Prerequisites: Psychology 33-203, 33-213, and 33-423 or 33-623, and consent of instructor. May be repeated with different experience. Must be taken Pass/D/F. (Fall)
33-843RESEARCH IN CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY. Laboratory or field based research course designed to provide hands-on research experience related to questions concerning clinical psychology. Students work directly with a given faculty member within the department. Students read and synthesize the literature, design a study, collect and analyze data, and report the results. A written product is required of all students. Prerequisites: Psychology 33-683 and consent of instructor. May be repeated with different experience. Must be taken Pass/D/F. (Fall)
33-863 RESEARCH IN SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY. Laboratory or field based research course designed to provide hands-on research experience related to questions concerning social psychology. Students work directly with a given faculty member within the department. Students read and synthesize the literature, design a study, collect and analyze data, and report the results. A written product is required of all students. Prerequisites: Psychology 33-203, 33-213, 33-443, and consent of instructor. Must be taken Pass/D/F. May be repeated with different experience. (Spring)
33-883RESEARCH IN NEUROSCIENCE. Laboratory or field-based research course designed to provide hands-on research experience related to questions concerning neuroscience. Students work directly with a given faculty member within the department. Students read and synthesize the literature, design a study, collect and analyze data, and report the results. A written product is required of all students. Prerequisites: Psychology 33-203, 33-213, 33-463, and consent of instructor.

33-001, 002, 003, 004SELECTED TOPICS. May be repeated with change in topic.
33-301, 302, 303, 304SELECTED TOPICS. May be repeated with change in topic.
33-941, 942, 943, 944, 946ACADEMIC INTERNSHIP. Field placement in an approved
setting. Students are expected to complete one hundred and twenty
hours (33-943) or two hundred and forty hours (33-946) of
supervised experience. All internships require certain prerequisites
and consent of instructor. Must be taken Pass/D/F. May be repeated
with different experience. (Spring or Summer)
33-951, 952, 953, 954 INDEPENDENT STUDY. May be repeated with change in
content. If capstone experience, must be taken Pass/D/F.
33-983HONORS. By invitation only.