Psychology (PSYC)

Designed to give resident advisor trainees understanding of interpersonal relations. Cannot be used as a psychology major elective.

A study of the nervous system, sensation, perception, consciousness, learning, memory, language, intelligence, motivation, emotion, life span development, personality, psychopathology, psychotherapy, social psychology and the scientific method. May be used for general education credit.

This course will provide psychology majors with knowledge and tools to get the most out of the major. Topics include an introduction to the psychology major at JMU, strategies for discerning between credible and non-credible information, professional (e.g., student/professor) communication and campus learning support resources. This course is only available for students who have not yet completed the two-semester methodology sequence.

This course will guide students through graduate school selection and application processes. Coverage includes graduate training opportunities across sub-disciplines in psychology and appropriate preparation to pursue such opportunities. Topics include participating in research and fieldwork experiences, preparing for and taking the GREs, selecting appropriate programs, and applying to graduate schools (including letters of recommendation, interviews, and writing curriculum vitae and personal statements).

Students will focus on the skills psychology majors can develop to prepare for a variety of careers. Students will discuss what types of jobs will be available to them upon graduation with an undergraduate degree in psychology. Topics will include resume-building, cover letter writing, interviewing and leveraging undergraduate experiences when applying for a job.

A study of human interaction with light and sound waves. Topics include physiological and perceptual mechanisms for processing light and sound, along with connections to real-world applications (e.g., human factors and careers within vision science and audition). Includes activities designed to provide students with in-depth, hands-on experience with course topics. May be used for general education credit.

An introduction to human development. Emphasis is on life span processes within physical, emotional, cognitive, psychosexual, social, personality and moral development. May be used for general education credit.

Students will learn the fundamental principles, procedures, and concepts of behavior analysis, how they can be used to explain behavior, and how interventions based on these principles can be used to improve their own lives and the lives of others.

Exploration of an important psychological topic. The topics for each semester will be announced on MyMadison and the departmental website.

Designed to give capable students an opportunity to complete directed study in an area of psychology under faculty guidance. Experiences may include practica, serving as a teaching assistant, directed readings or similar experience.

An introductory opportunity to assist a faculty member with a research project. Students may participate in any or all phases of research, including completion of background research, study design, collection of data, data analysis, and interpretation. Specific requirements of project are determined by the instructor.

This course provides an introduction to statistical techniques used by psychologists in measuring behavior. Fundamental measures and theory of descriptive and inferential statistics will be discussed. The use of computers for data analysis will be introduced.

This course provides an introduction to the application of scientific methodology to investigate psychological phenomenon. Through lecture and laboratory, attention is given to choosing research questions, developing hypotheses, designing and conducting research, describing, analyzing and evaluating data, and effectively communicating research findings.

The PSYC 212-PSYC 213 course sequence introduces the logic of pursing a scientific approach in psychology and covers descriptive, correlational, experimental, and quasi-experimental approaches. It also covers the statistical tools associated with these methods (namely, descriptive statistics, correlation, regression, t-tests, and ANOVA), and it introduces the basics of inferential statistics and hypothesis testing.

The PSYC 212-PSYC 213 course sequence introduces the logic of pursing a scientific approach in psychology and covers descriptive, correlational, experimental, and quasi-experimental approaches. It also covers the statistical tools associated with these methods (namely, descriptive statistics, correlation, regression, t-tests, and ANOVA), and it introduces the basics of inferential statistics and hypothesis testing.

The study of human psychology is incomplete without taking into account the cultural, historical and social factors involved in human functioning. This course considers the ethnic and cultural variations that exist in human behavior, thought and action. This course meets the sociocultural competency requirement for the psychology major.

A study of the process and dynamics of the well-integrated personality and the practical application of adjustment theories and behavior change techniques to enhance personal awareness and self-development.

An introduction to the field of Abnormal Psychology, for the non-psychology major. This course will examine methods of defining psychological normality and abnormality and the classification, causes and treatment of abnormal behavior. This course cannot be used for psychology major credit.

This course involves a study abroad experience including content and application of psychology skills and knowledge in a particular cultural context. Specific content varies based on study abroad location and content focus of the course. Some sections of the course fulfill the sociocultural awareness requirement for the psychology major.

This course introduces fundamental principles of cognition and learning as applied to educational practice. It provides a foundation for understanding multiple perspectives and levels of analysis applied to individual learning in educational settings.

An introduction to the pharmacological effects of psychoactive drugs. This course will examine the neural mechanisms and behavioral effects of common substances such as caffeine and nicotine, drugs of abuse and pharmaceuticals that are used to treat mental disorders.

Introductory training in academic advising, career development, and basic counseling techniques. Not to be used for psychology major credit. Application guidelines available on the psychology website and in the Psychology Peer Advising office.

This course deals with personality and its relation to health and illness behaviors. Topics include psychological factors involved in control and helplessness, conflict management, cardiovascular disorders, cancer, pain, substance abuse and other psychophysiologically related factors. Course meets sociocultural requirement for the psychology major.

This course examines research and theory regarding the abilities and behaviors of women and the changing roles of women. Consideration is given to biological, developmental and societal determinants of sex and gender. This course meets the sociocultural requirement for the psychology major.

This is a basic counseling theories and skills course designed for students interested in human service and mental health fields. This course meets the sociocultural requirement for the psychology major.

Essential elements of leading theories of personality with an emphasis on implications of these theories for human behavior.

This course for the psychology major critically examines psychological normality and abnormality and the classification, causes and treatment of abnormal behavior. Students learn classification and diagnosis, explore social and multicultural issues relating to diagnosis and discuss research in the field.

The study of how an individual's behavior, feelings and thoughts are influenced by other people. Topics include attitude formation and change, social perception, attraction, altruistic and antisocial behavior, conformity, leadership and group dynamics, and applications of social psychology to other fields.

Psychological aspects of growth, development and behavior from birth through adolescence.

This course explores the nature and development of human sensory capabilities and processing, and how these affect perception of the environment. A potential list of the variety of systems reviewed includes hearing, vision, smell, taste and touch/pain, as well as phenomena such as the perception of balance.

This course explores the nature and development of human attention, memory, language and thinking processes. An information processing approach to the study of human cognition is emphasized.

This course is a survey of the neurological and chemical mechanisms which control behavior. Students will examine the brain and how it processes sensation, perception, cognition, movement, motivation, learning, memory and other behavioral processes of interest to psychologists.

Basic principles of learning and conditioning with a consideration of extinction, reinforcement, generalization, discrimination, transfer, concept formation and verbal learning.

This course covers aspects of the development, function and evolution of the behavior of nonhuman animals. Topics covered include intraspecies communication, feeding, aggression, territoriality, reproductive behavior and social behavior.

Exploration of a significant psychological topic in depth. The topics for each semester will be announced in the Schedule of Classes.

Supervised practicum in academic and career development and peer advising. May be taken twice for up to four credit hours toward the psychology major (400-level elective).

An opportunity to apply classroom learning to practical problems and to expand the scope of knowledge in psychology to areas not emphasized in the coursework we offer. May include service learning, internship, directed readings, serving as a teaching assistant, or a combination of these activities.

An advanced opportunity to conduct research with a faculty member where students apply their knowledge of Psychology to a specific research project or area. Students may work individually with the instructor or as part of a team that includes several students. Student projects include the development of an evaluated product (e.g., poster presentation, presentation). Specific requirements of project are determined by the instructor.

This course is a survey of the applications of psychological principles in the workplace. Emphasis is on topics such as research and methods, personnel decisions, training, attitudes, motivation, leadership, teams, and sociocultural issues in the workplace. Other topics of current interest will also be covered. Course will fulfill sociocultural awareness requirement.

The application of psychological principles and techniques to the law, the criminal justice system, law enforcement and criminal behavior.

Applications of psychological principles in school settings, including roles and activities of school psychologists, standards, trends, and issues of treatment and evaluation.

Standardized psychological tests of mental ability, achievement, aptitude and personality with a review of statistical procedures necessary for interpretation of test results.

The application of the basic psychological principles of development, learning, cognition, measurement, and social interactions to educational settings. This course examines how psychological theory and research impacts the teaching of reading, writing, science, and mathematics. Students may not count both PSYC 270 and PSYC 428 for psychology major credit.

An introduction to the field of clinical psychology including a review of the major theoretical models, psychometrics, psychiatric diagnosis and treatment strategies.

Review of current psychological literature on child abuse and neglect including identification, etiology, treatment, prevention and legal aspects. Family violence issues are also discussed.

The causes, symptoms and classification of childhood psychological disorders.

This course involves a study abroad experience including advanced content and application of psychology skills and knowledge in a particular cultural context. Specific content varies based on study abroad location and content focus of the course. Some sections of the course fulfill the Sociocultural Awareness requirement for the psychology major.

The physical, social and psychological factors faced by adults and their progression through the life span.

This course focuses on how environmental events influence behavior, and behavior analytic strategies by which behavior may be changed. The emphasis of the course is on the knowledge and skills necessary to plan, develop, and implement interventions for behavior problems in a variety of setting including, but not limited to, business and industry, education, and health and human services.

The history of psychology as reflected through the individuals, theories and experimental investigation of the discipline. Special emphasis is placed upon relating the current state of psychology to its historical development.

Supervised practicum in a counseling, industrial or human service agency. Orientation to agency's service, policies, personnel and professional ethics is provided. The course meets the requirement as a capstone course or as a psychology elective.

A seminar course that will require students to integrate theories, research and/or methods from several areas of psychology and/or related disciplines. Topics will vary from semester to semester. May be taken as a capstone course or psychology elective. Up to six credit hours can be used in the psychology major.