CATALOG 2010-2011 Undergraduate Information College of Arts and Sciences Psychology Course Descriptions CBH3004: Comparative Psychology 3 Prerequisite: PSY 2012. This course surveys the major concepts and approaches of the comparative study of behavior across a wide variety of species. Course content emphasizes an integrative approach to psychology by promoting an understanding of behavior in the context of the biological, ecological, and social milieu of the organism. CLP2001: Personal Growth 3 This course is an introduction to the concepts and techniques of psychology which apply to personal growth and development. Emphasis will be placed on the interpersonal aspects of effective behavior. CLP4134: Childhood Psychopathology 3 Prerequisite: CLP 4143 or instructor permission This course provides an in-depth survey of common psychological disorders in childhood and adolescence. The characteristics, risk and protective factors, developmental course, and epidemiology of these disorders will be discussed. The course will also provide an overview of diagnostic and classification schemes, and research-based overview treatment and prevention strategies. Disorders discussed will include ADHD, learning disabilities, pervasive developmental disorders, anxiety, and depression. CLP4143: Psychology of Abnormal Behavior 3 To increase the student's comprehension of the biological, psychological and sociocultural variables that influence the development of problem behaviors and the theories and research in the field of abnormal psychology. CLP4183: Stress Management 3 Stress has been shown to be a significant factor in many mental and physical disorders. This course surveys the major techniques currently available to aid the individual in coping with the effect of stress. Drugs, hypnosis, medication, biofeedback and life-style modification are discussed and demonstrated.
CLP4313: Health Psychology 3 This course introduces students to the mind-body relationship and the contribution of psychology in understanding health promotion, health care, and the etiology and treatment of physical illness. Representative topics covered in this course include changing health habits, stress and coping, health care utilization, patient-provider relations, and managing chronic illness such as heart disease, AIDS, diabetes, and cancer. CLP4314: Behavioral Medicine 3 Prerequisite: PSY 2012 and CLP 4183. An introduction to the contribution of psychology in understanding the etiology of pathological conditions such as headaches, hypertension and digestive disorders. In addition, the course will focus on ways in which medical and psychological treatments may be combined for the alleviation of such disorders. DEP2002: Foundations of Child and Adolescent Psychology This course is an overview of psychological principles, theories, and research pertaining to the developing child from conception through adolescence. The course will cover biological and environmental influences on affective, cognitive, moral, social, and personality development. This course will be oriented toward an applied understanding of child and adolescent development and therefore application to teaching and/or parenting needs. 3 DEP3054: Lifespan Developmental Psychology 3 Prerequisite: PSY 2012 or permission of instructor. This course provides a scientific account of human development from conception through adolescence, and into old age, with an emphasis on empirical findings and theoretical interpretations. Within this context, issues of nature-nurture and developmental continuity-discontinuity will be explored. DEP4060: Applied Developmental Psychology 3 Prerequisite: DEP 3054. This course is designed to create a greater understanding of the interconnectedness of science and practice by dealing with the application of research in applied developmental psychology to a variety of areas including educational, clinical, medical and policy settings. An optional associated practicum experience (PSY 4945) is offered with this course. DEP4104: Advanced Child Psychology 3 Prerequisite: DEP 3054. The goal of this course is to create a greater understanding of, and sensitivity to, contemporary child behavior by relating research to current problems in the home, the school and the general society. DEP4304: Advanced Adolescent Psychology 3 Prerequisite: DEP 3054. This course is designed to create a greater understanding of, and sensitivity to, contemporary adolescent behavior by relating research to current problems in the home, the school and the general society.
DEP4464: Psychology of Aging 3 Prerequisite: PSY 2012 or consent of instructor. This course is an introduction to current information and psychological research on aspects of old age and aging. Topics include the intellectual, motivational, psychobiological, performance and personality changes that occur in late adulthood and old age. DEP4482: Death and Dying 3 Prerequisite: DEP 3054. This course will examine end-of-life issues within the more general context of lifespan developmental psychology. Topics to be discussed include historical perspectives, euthanasia, medical and legal issues, hospice, grief and bereavement, children and death, violent death/disasters/megadeath, and beyond death. EAB3013C: Foundations of Experimental Analysis of Behavior Lab Prerequisites: PSY 3214 and PSY 3213L. An introduction to reinforcement theory and the application of these principles to animals under controlled laboratory conditions. Topics include shaping, schedules of reinforcement, generalization, discrimination, secondary reinforcement, punishment, avoidance and changing of behavior. (A material fee of $15 will be assessed.) 4 EAB4703: Behavior Modification 3 Students will learn to apply the principles of operant and respondent conditioning to the control of human behavior. Behavioral problems in business, education, and clinical settings are frequently amenable to the behavioral approach. EXP3104: Human Sensory Perception 3 Prerequisite: PSY 2012. This course surveys sensory systems and perceptual processes, primarily in humans. Content includes anatomical structures, behavioral observations, and theoretical models. The interaction of biological systems and cognitive processes is emphasized. One system (e.g., vision) may be studied in considerable detail as a model of perception and perception research, with selected examples from other sensory systems to examine modality-specific mechanisms and underlying principles of all perceptual systems. EXP3412: Learning Theory 3 This course introduces students to variables affecting behavioral change in both man and animals. Emphasis is placed on an integration of these variables through the presentation of several theoretical perspectives on learning. EXP3461C: Human Learning and Performance 4 Prerequisites: PSY 3214 and PSY 3213L. This course provides hands-on experience in conducting experiments in human learning and performance. The theoretical focus is on basic mechanisms of human learning from infancy to adulthood, with special emphasis on motor performance. The practical focus is on design of experiments, analysis of data, presentation of graphs, and on public as well as written presentation of research results. Topics for research projects may include computerized experiments on motor skills in aiming at targets, interception of moving targets, and visual guidance of motor skills.
EXP3604: Cognitive Psychology 3 Prerequisite: PSY2012 Introduction to Psychology. This course surveys topics in cognitive psychology, including attention, perception, memory, reasoning, problem solving, language, and cognitive development. Through lectures, readings, and classroom demonstrations, students will learn about empirical findings and theoretical issues pertaining to the scientific study of human information processing and cognition. EXP3680C: Experimental Cognitive Psychology 4 Prerequisites: PSY 3214 and PSY 3213L. This is a laboratory course in which students design, run, and report scientific research examining various cognitive processes involved in how people think. Topics for research projects may include memory, language, attention, reasoning, problem solving, and other mental processes used in human information processing and cognition. EXP3703C: Computer Applications in Psychological Research Prerequisites: PSY 3214 and PSY 3213L. This course provides hands-on experience with using computers in psychological research. The focus is on computer applications in literature searches, in conducting actual and simulated experiments, and in statistical data analysis. 4 INP4004: Industrial Organizational Psychology 3 Prerequisite: SOP 3004. The application of psychological theory and practice to problems in the world of work, including exploration of selection strategies, training procedures, performance appraisal techniques and the problems of leadership, communication, decision-making and motivation. Emphasis will be placed on the potential compatibility of the individual and the organization in a rapidly changing world. PCO4004: Introduction to Counseling 3 Prerequisites: DEP 3054 plus PPE 4003 or CLP 4143. This course covers the major counseling theories which include philosophical assumptions about human functioning, hypotheses about behavior change and the goals and methodologies of these counseling approaches. Emphasis also is placed on research and ethical considerations. PPE4003: Theories of Personality 3 This course attempts to develop an understanding of theories of personality structure and dynamics, from Freud to the present, in order to assist in the analysis of behavior. PSB3002: Psychobiology 3 Prerequisites: Human Anatomy and Physiology, Zoology or General Biology with laboratory. An examination of the biological bases of behavior. An initial coverage of the neural and endocrine systems is followed by an investigation of the role of these systems in sensory, motivational, emotional and learning processes. PSB4113: Principles of Biofeedback 3 An in-depth discussion of the major modes of biofeedback, including electromyographic and thermal feedback. This course will introduce students to the advantages, disadvantages, safety precautions, ethics and major applications of biofeedback.
PSY2012: Introduction to Psychology 3 An introduction to the scientific study of human and animal behavior. The principles, theories and methods of psychology will be surveyed in the context of topics central to the development and present status of the discipline. PSY2930: Special Topics 3 Exploration of topics of current importance in psychology. Topics will vary from semester to semester. May be taken by majors and non-majors. May be repeated up to 12 credits. PSY3021: Professional Opportunities in Psychology Seminar Prerequisite: PSY 2012. This course provides a broad overview of educational and professional issues that are of relevance to students majoring, or considering a major, in psychology, including an overview of career options in the field of psychology. The course utilizes a mixture of seminar and lecture format. 1 PSY3213L: Research Methods Lab 1 Prerequisite or corerequisite: PSY 3214. This course provides psychology majors with basic experience in using computers to conduct statistical data analysis and literature searches. Previous experience with computers is helpful but not required. PSY3214: Research Methods in Psychology 3 Prerequisite: STA 2014. This course provides an understanding of the philosophy of science and psychology as a branch of science, enhances critical thinking and logical inference and elaborates basic research methodologies in psychology. Ethical principles in research also are covered. PSY3810: Evolutionary Psychology 3 Evolutionary Psychology is intended to provide a basic review of the physical, behavioral, and cognitive processes that may have evolved from naturally occurring biological forces, including social selection pressures, throughout human evolutionary history. The course focuses on research-based knowledge and application of evolutionary principles. Course topics include the form and function of human consciousness, interpersonal behaviors, and major bodily systems, including stress reactivity, emotionality, masculinity/femininity, culture, mate preferences, and social development. PSY3911: Supervised Research v. 1-3 Prerequisite: PSY 3214. Credit is earned by working with a faculty member in a supervised setting on one or more psychological research projects. This may include laboratory research, data analysis, field experience, and library research. No more than three hours may be counted as part of the degree program. Grading is on a pass/fail basis. PSY4302C: Psychological Testing 4 Prerequisites: STA 2014, PSY 3214 and PSY 3213L. This course is an introduction to the development, interpretation, and uses of psychological tests and to the value and potential dangers inherent in their applications. Statistical and psychological concepts necessary for the interpretation of test scores are emphasized. (A material fee of $20 will be assessed.)
PSY4604: History of Psychology 3 Prerequisites: PSY 2012 or Equivalent and Junior or Senior Status; Permission of Instructor This course offers an overview of the historical roots of psychology. Major conceptual developments since psychology became a distinct science are covered, as are the key figures in the history of the discipline. PSY4904: G(W) Honors Research v. 1-6 Prerequisites: Admission to Honors in Psychology Program, PSY 3214, and one experimental course. The course provides a vehicle for students to work closely with a sponsoring faculty member on an individually supervised research project. Students must enroll for six hours total, which will usually be spread over two semesters. Gordon Rule Additional Writing credit. PSY4906: Directed Individual Study v. 1-3 Prerequisite: Fifteen hours core in psychology. May be repeated up to 12 credits under different topics but only 3 credits may be counted as a part of the degree program. PSY4931: Seminar v. 1-3 Prerequisite: Fifteen hours core in psychology. May be repeated up to 12 credits but only 3 credits may be counted as a part of the degree program. PSY4935: Special Topics in Psychology v. 1-4 This course provides a way to explore topics of current importance in psychology. Topics may be initiated by faculty and/or students in consultation with the department chairperson. May be repeated up to 12 credits but only 4 credits may be counted as part of the degree program. May be taken by non-majors. PSY4945: Practicum in Applied Psychology v. 1-3 Placement in a community setting reflecting the student's main area of job orientation; supervision by faculty. May be repeated up to 12 credits but only 3 credits may be counted as a part of the degree program. For each hour of credit, at least four hours per week during the semester must be spent in practicum. SOP2772: Human Sexual Behavior 3 This course will explore the psychological and physiological aspects of human sexual behavior. Emphasis will be placed on the cultural and biological diversity of sexual expression. SOP3004: Social Psychology 3 An introduction to the study of social influences on human behavior. Topics include social perception, affiliation, attraction, prosocial behavior, aggression, attitudes and attitude change, group behavior and leadership. SOP3214C: Experimental Social Psychology 4 Prerequisites: PSY 3214 and PSY 3213L. An introduction to the study of social influences on the behavior of individuals. The principles studied will be applied under controlled laboratory conditions.
SOP3515: Fundamentals of Conflict Transformation 3 This course explores the nature of conflict that is borne by individual, relational, cultural, and structural differences and inequalities. This course will teach undergraduate students the skills to engage in change efforts. Transforming conflict intrapersonally and pursuing peace building interpersonally, students are empowered to recognize and transform conflict in relationships, institutions, and organizations. The course is designed to facilitate a perspective that is insightful and competent in creating change for people whose culture, philosophy, racial identity, gender, sexual orientation, abilities, age, religious orientation, and socio-economic status are a damaging source of conflict. SOP3723: Culture and Psychology 3 Prerequisites: PSY 2012 INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY This course introduces the student to the essential concepts and research in the fields of cultural psychology and cross-cultural psychology. Human behavior and mental processes in various cultures and ethnic groups will be studied. Topics covered in class include definitions of key terms, methodological approaches to the study of culture, acculturation, ethnocentrism, multicultural competence, culture and health, culture and emotion, culture and language, culture and decision making, cultural values, and culture and organizations. The course will follow different didactic methods, e.g. lectures, group work, movies, presentations, discussions, activities, field trips, and assignments. SOP3742: CD-Psychology of Women 3 An investigation of major personality theories and clinical practices as they relate to female psychology. Findings from the field of psychology regarding differences between males and females will be explored. SOP3751: Psychology and the Law 3 This course is an introduction to the study of the legal system from a psychological perspective. The course will use psychological concepts and methods to aid in the understanding of the legal system. Topics include theories of criminal behavior, victimization, law enforcement, the jury trial, witnesses, verdict and sentencing, mental illness, corrections, and family law. Copyright 2010 University of North Florida 1 UNF Drive Jacksonville, FL 32224 Phone: (904) 620-1000 Contact Emergency Privacy Regulations Disability Accommodations