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.

Psychopharmacology examines the major categories of restricted, illicit and prescribed psychoactive drugs and their use, effects, and potential for abuse. The neural mechanisms of drug action, along with the physical and behavioral consequences of use and abuse, are explored. Prerequisite: 171. Restricted to students with junior standing or higher.

This course involves an advanced, in-depth study of influential theories, research methods, and research findings concerning child and adolescent development. Students will learn about physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development; and how factors within the child, family, society, and culture influence developmental processes. Students will also explore how developmental theories and research can be applied in everyday contexts and used to promote health development. SS

This course involves an advanced, in-depth study of influential theories, research methods, and research findings concerning adult development and aging. Students will learn about physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development in adulthood; and how factors within the individual, society, and culture influence developmental processes. Students will also explore how adult development theories and research can be applied in everyday contexts and used to promote healthy development and optimal aging. Prerequisite: 171.

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.

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.

This course will examine the major theories, research methodology, and research findings focusing on developments in physical, cognitive, language and social-emotional development, and the contexts that influence development. Prerequisite: 171.

This course prepares students to understand, interpret, and conduct analyses of data for psychological studies and experiments. The course emphasizes the following concepts: 1) descriptive statistics (e.g., means, standard deviations), 2) standardized scores, 3) sampling error and uncertainty, 4) confidence intervals, 5) statistical significance, and 6) effect size. Analysis techniques are discussed for one-sample and paired-samples designs, mean comparisons between groups, meta-analysis, factorial designs, and correlation and multiple regression.

Research Methods focuses on the application of the scientific method in psychological research to empirically and systematically evaluate behavior and mental processes. An emphasis is placed on becoming critical consumers of research. Students develop skills related to validating claims, understanding journal articles, designing simple studies, and presenting research projects in poster format. Prerequisite: 171.