Students will engage in mentored research with a faculty member in the department. Students may either serve as a research assistant for a project conducted by the faculty mentor or carry out a project of their own design. Responsibilities may include conducting a literature review, developing a research proposal, designing study materials, data collection and analysis, or preparing research for presentation or publication. Students will also be required to meet regularly with the faculty mentor. Prerequisite: 330. Restricted to students with junior standing or higher.

In the capstone course, students reflect on their learning in their major and identify their future goals. Students prepare a formal report in APA style of their internship, practicum, or advanced research experience, and present it to a scholarly audience. Students also explore career and graduate study options, and develop materials (e.g., C.V., cover letter) to assist them in their search for employment or graduate school opportunities. Restricted to students with junior standing or higher. Prerequisite: 487 or 489.

Positive psychology focuses on aspects of life that include well-being and pro-social behavior. Topics in this course will include subjective well-being, mindfulness, character strengths, achievement, flow, resilience, optimism, and supportive relationships. Emphasis will be on both scientific findings and the application of those findings in ones personal life. Throughout the course, students will have the opportunity to engage in activities that are supported by research to improve subjective well-being. Prerequisite: PSYC 171

This course prepares students to examine the systemic framework of couples and families. Emphasis will be placed on development of basic clinical skills, case conceptualization strategies, and intervention techniques relevant to couples and family therapy. The course fosters collaborative learning and critical discussion while integrating theory with practice through experiential activities such as role-plays, case simulations, and guided exercises. Prerequisite: PSYC 270 or SOWK 280. Restricted to students with junior standing or higher.

This course provides an overview of the major theories in the field of counseling and the historical perspectives and philosophies upon which they are based. This includes supervised laboratory experience with role-playing practice to understand the client and counselor roles in treatment strategies and techniques used in psychotherapy. Prerequisites: 270 or concurrent. Restricted to junior standing or higher.

Students in Behavioral Neuroscience explore a variety of advanced issues in biopsychology related to both normal and abnormal expressions of behavior through current primary scientific literature. In this seminar-style course, each student works with the instructor to select an appropriate topic of interest and leads the class discussion on this topic and corresponding journal article(s). Example general topic areas include neuroenhancement, neurotoxiclogy, and CNS disorders. Prerequisite: 261 or BIOP 261 or BIOL 353. Restricted to students with junior standing or higher.

In this course students will learn the various ways in which psychologists study and measure personality factors, traits, and individual differences. Students will compare and contrast different models of personality and evaluate the empirical evidence for each. Contemporary theories related to personality stability, development, and change will be also discussed. Students will also explore research on the psychology of individual differences beyond stable personality factors. Topics may include styles of motivation, emotion, trust, authoritarianism, and others.

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 junior standing or higher. May be repeated for credit. For specific section description, click to the Section Details in VitNet.

Applied experiences in the field of psychology. In order to complete an internship, students can request a list of psychology specific sites or work with Career Services to identify possibilites. Prior to the semester start, students send a resume and cover letter to sites on and off campus, interview, and if accepted, complete a learning contract. The number of credits determines the required hours. For the classroom portion of this advanced experience, students meet weekly with the other interns and an instructor to discuss the experience along with other professional topics.

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.