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.
Students in this course will develop a theoretical foundation and effective counseling skills for work in the specialized field of substance abuse disorders. Topics to be covered will include philosophies, practices, policies, and outcomes of the most generally accepted and scientifically supported models of treatment, recovery, relapse prevention, and continuing care for addiction and other substance-related problems. Prerequisites: 205, 270.
This course focuses on the application of assessment and treatment planning to the field of substance abuse. Topics include assessment instruments and procedures, psychosocial interviews, development of behavior treatment goals, record keeping, case management and ethical considerations. Prerequisites: 205.
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.
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. Prerequisite: 171. 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.
Students learn how contemporary psychologists use the scientific method to study mental processes (that is, the "mind"), with an emphasis on major constructs: perception, attention, memory, language, and reasoning. Regular activities include hands-on experiments to collect data, followed by basic data analysis, visualization, and interpretation. Students will also critically evaluate several cognitive psychology journal articles. Prerequisite: 171. Restricted to students with junior standing or higher.