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PCOM 245  Introduction to Community Psychology
Integration of social psychology with mental health in the resolution of problems in the community.  Social psychological theories and empirical strategies are used to study the dynamics of power, membership, change, and deviance.  Accent is also on comprehensive mental health center and roles of community psychologist.  Meets the General Education Requirement - Contemporary Issues.
Prerequisite:  PSYC 101
 

PCOM 385  Advance Community Psychology:  Externship
Supervision is provide in a variety of community action programs which have preventive as well as treatment goals.  Day and hour assignments can usually be arranged, but effective study participation will require a 3 hour block of time in order to serve directly in a community setting.
Prerequisites:  PSYC 101, PCOM 245 or instructor's permission
 

PCOM 387  Methods in Evaluation Research
This course focuses on the application of psychological research methods and knowledge to the evaluation of the effectiveness or ineffectiveness of community programs.   Emphasis will be on techniques for program planning and for constructive innovations in community settings.
Prerequisites:  PCOM 245, PSYC 301, PCOM 385, majors only, instructor's permission, field work required
 

PCOM 391  Cooperative Education in Psychology
The cooperative education option integrates academic study with a supervised employment experience outside the formal classroom environment.  The co-op term is a semester off campus, during which a student is supervised by a faculty coordinator and the Office of Cooperative Education, and is responsible for completing the terms of a learning contract.  Contact Office of Cooperative Education.
Prerequisite:  Junior status
 

PSYC 100  Re-entry Seminar
Provides academic, career, and personal counseling during first semester adjustment period, group identification and support while developing renewed skills and ego strength.  Offered only on a pass/fail basis.
 

PSYC 101  General Psychology I:  Growth and Development
Psychology as an applied behavioral science; human development, conflict and adjustment, social behavior, group processes, individual differences, personality theory and assessment, behavior disorders, and principles of conditioning, learning and forgetting.  Meets the General Education Requirement - Social Science, Survey Course
 

PSYC 102  Women's Worlds
This course introduces the general student to the broad and interdisciplinary field known as women's studies.  It is designed to make students aware of the new discoveries in feminist research and to focus on many aspects of the female experiences.   The course is designed to help students understand different methodologies in diverse disciplines and to treat areas such as literature, history, psychology, and the arts through a thematic approach.  Meets the General Education Requirement - Contemporary Issues.  Meets the Multicultural Awareness Requirement.  Cross listed with Women's Studies, WMST 102.
 

PSYC 103  Freshman Seminar
Major objective is to better acclimate the beginning college student (freshman and transfer) to campus life through an emphasis on affective education and group interaction.  Values clarification and self identity are important course components.   Meets the General Education Requirement Electives - Personal/Professional Issues.
 

PSYC 104  Freshman Experience
This comprehensive course is designed to better acclimate the beginning college student to campus life and assist in the development of academic strategies.  The course will also promote an understanding of human diversity, values, and perspectives as they relate to overall student success at MSU.  Meets General Education 2002 - New Student Seminar.

PSYC 109  The Human Environment
Interdisciplinary with geography; people's modification and understanding of the environment; future human and environmental projections.  Cross listed with Earth and Environmental Studies, ENVR 109.  Meets the General Education Requirement - Contemporary Issues.
 

PSYC 200  Educational Psychology
Required for teaching.  covers child and adolescent development; fundamentals of learning theory as applied to classroom situations, learning inhibition and academic non-achievement, personal-social adjustment, measuring and evaluation teaching-learning, creativity.  Course may not be taken by Psychology Majors for major credit effective Fall 1995.  Meets the General Education Requirement - Social Science, Topic Course.
Prerequisite:  PSYC 101
 

PSYC 201  Child Psychology
Covers Growth, development and behavior of children.  Physical, intellectual, social and emotional development and their interaction.  Scientific method exemplified through the literature and intensive study of individual children.   Course may not be taken by Psychology majors for major credit effective Fall 1995.   Meets the General Education Requirement - Social Science, Topic Course.
Prerequisite:  PSYC 101
 

PSYC 202  Adolescent Psychology
Covers biological, psychological and social factors that shape the transition from childhood to adult hood.  Normal and deviant patterns of development in morals, intellect, emotions and judgment; problems of adolescents with practical application to oneself and others.  Meets the General Education Requirement - Social Science, Topic Course.
Prerequisite:  PSYC 101
 

PSYC 203  General Psychology II:  An Experimental Approach
Emphasis on psychology as an experimental and research oriented science.   Topics under investigation include:  experimental design, psychological measurement, physiology, perception, sensory processes, motivation, emotional behavior, and advanced topics in psychological learning theory.
Prerequisite:  PSYC 101
 

PSYC 220  Quantitative Methods in Psychology
This course introduces Psychology majors to the basic principles of descriptive statistics, statistical inference, hypothesis testing, and their applications to research and psychological data.  Measures of central tendency , variability, correlation, the normal curve, and parametric and nonparametric tests of significance will be covered.   Students become familiar with the use of packaged programs for statistical analysis on small computers for the purpose of dealing with the typical data analysis problems that arise in Experimental Psychology, PSYC 301.
Prerequisite:  PSYC 101
 

PSYC 224  Children's Rights & Child Advocacy
Explores the review and evaluation of the rights, privileges, and responsibilities of young citizens (preschool through adolescence); the process and goals of advocacy; the community services available to and lacking for the optimum development to maturity of young citizens.  Psychology, education, sociology, mental health, law enforcement, medicine are domains of study and investigation.

PSYC 225  Psychology of Adjustment
Discusses:  individual and social adjustment; typical varieties of adjustive behavior illustrated by practical examples; factors which facilitate or impede people's adaptation to life situations such as work, marriage, disability, etc.  Meets the General education Requirement - Social Science, Topic Course.
Prerequisite:  PSYC 101
 

PSYC 227  Psychological Aspects of Human Sexuality
Topics include:  behavior and attitudes influenced by basic sexuality; widening perspectives to aid in decision-making; developmental periods and sexual relationships; connections between psychological theory and sexual mores; genetic understandings.
Prerequisite:  PSYC 101
 

PSYC 231  Psychology of Aggression
The roots causes of violence in America will be examined through case studies, (the protest movement of the 1960s, sexual and physical abuse, violent-criminal activity, etc) and familiarization with biochemical, psychological and socio-cultural research into causes and effects of aggression and violence.  Meets the General Education Requirement - Contemporary Issues.  Meets the Multicultural Awareness Requirement.
Prerequisite:  PSYC 101
 

PSYC 235  Psychology of Exceptional Children and Youth
Surveys, current practices and problems of exceptional children and youth.   Explores the unique needs of individuals with handicaps that involve intellectual, sensory, motor, neurological, social and emotional origins.  Utilizes analysis of case materials for theoretical and practical applications to the psychology of exceptionality.
Prerequisite:  PSYC 101
 

PSYC 245  Mental Health Issues of Hispanic Americans
A lecture-type course focusing on the personal, social, institutional and cultural forces that affect the mental health of Americans of Spanish descent.  The course will cover issues such as the measurement of psychological functions, bilingualism, personal values and belief systems, the dynamics of the family and acculturation.  A midterm and a final exam as well as a research paper will be required from students.   Meets the Multicultural Awareness Requirement.
Prerequisite:  PSYC 101
 

PSYC 246  Psychology of the Black Experience
Covers historical impact of scientific and institutional racism on the psychological study of blacks.  Survey and critical analysis of traditional European approaches with non-traditional methods for comparison.  Future development and advancement of a black psychology considered.  Meets the General Education Requirement - Social Science, Survey Course.  Meets the Multicultural Awareness Requirement.  Meets the Human and Intercultural Relations Requirements.
Prerequisite:  PSYC 101
 

PSYC 248  Psychology and Law
Law and psychology share a common focus:  the understanding, prediction, and regulation of human behavior.  Despite this commonality of interest, different emphasis on these elements and a different mandate have frequently hindered active communication and collaboration between the two disciplines.  The purpose of this course is to present the common ground of law and psychology, and show how they contribute to each other.
Prerequisite:  PSYC 101
 

PSYC 265  Psychology of Women
The course will investigate contemporary issues in the psychology of women (an opportunity for original research will be provided).  Theoretical positions and recent research in the area will be examined.  Meets the General Education Requirement - Social Science, Topic Course.  Meets the Multicultural Awareness Requirement.
Prerequisite:  6 s.h. in Psychology
 

PSYC 290  Introduction to Cognitive Science
An introduction to the multidisciplinary field of cognitive science.  Topics include:  the mind-body problem, thought as computation and the computer model of the mind, the role of representation in mental activity.  Emphasis will be upon the methodological approaches found in artificial intelligence, cognitive psychology, cognitive anthropology, cognitive neuroscience, linguistics, and philosophy.  Cross listed with Mathematics and Computer Science, CMPT 290.
Prerequisite:  ANTH 100 or PSYC 101 or CMPT 183 or LNGN 210 or PHIL 100
 

PSYC 300  The Teaching of Psychology
Students in this course work with a teacher of a large section of a Psychology course.  The work includes record keeping, working on exams and term papers, working with students and teaching.  Class discussions include techniques of teaching, motivating students, developing curriculum and ethical issues.
Prerequisites:  PSYC 301, majors only, and instructor's permission
 

PSYC 301  Experimental Psychology
Introduction to laboratory methods of research in areas such as motivation, perception and learning.  Emphasis is on design and execution of exploratory investigations.  (3 hours lecture, 3 hours laboratory).
Prerequisites:  PSYC 203 and 220
 

PSYC 302  Health Psychology
The theoretical, empirical and clinical aspects of health psychology will be presented.  The relation of health psychology with other areas of psychology and other scientific disciplines will be discussed.  The historical developments of the field, its research methodologies, theoretical models and exemplary interventions will be described.
Prerequisite:  PSYC 301
 

PSYC 303  Industrial and Organizational Psychology
Application of psychological principles and practices in business and industry.   Problems of communication, group dynamics, man-machine relations, employee attitudes, accident prevention, industrial job selection techniques, motivation, executive leadership.  Commonly used selection tests will be evaluated.
Prerequisite:  PSYC 301
 

PSYC 304  Social Psychology
Focuses on social behavior of the individual and the group, social perception, motivation, and learning; attitudes and values; development and dynamics of social groups; inter-group tension and prejudice; mass phenomena; psychological approaches to social issues.
Prerequisite:  PSYC 301
 

PSYC 305  Physiological Psychology
Anatomical, neural and biochemical bases of behavior are studies.  Topics include localization of function, neurohormonal interaction, sensory and motor functioning, emotions, the relationship of neurophysiological processes and personality.
Prerequisite:  PSYC 301 or instructor's permission
 

PSYC 308  Perception
Discusses the theory and procedure of perceptual research.  Theoretical approaches; modern psychophysical and perceptual research, traditional problems of perception constancies of size and color brightness.
Prerequisite:  PSYC 301 or instructor's permission
 

PSYC 310  Introduction to Psychological Testing
Tests of intelligence, aptitude, achievement and personality; principles of psychological testing; approaches to test construction.
Prerequisite:  PSYC 301
 

PSYC 313  Cognition
The study of the acquisition, storage, retrieval, and use of knowledge, utilizing behavioral, observational, and computer modeling methods.
Prerequisite:  PSYC 301
 

PSYC 314  Psychology of Judgment & Decision Making
This course examines how human beings make decisions and judgments.  It reviews how personal values, uncertainty and cognitive, social, and neurological processes affect decision making.  This course draws upon a wide range of examples from many fields including psychology, economics, criminology, and medicine.  Students will also learn strategies and techniques to enhance judgment.
Prerequisite:  PSYC 301

PSYC 320  Developmental Psychology I
This course surveys human psychological development from the prenatal period to adolescence.  The interacting forces of heredity, environment, and physical, cognitive, emotional and socio-cultural factors are reviewed in the light of current research and theory in these area.
Prerequisite:  PSYC 301
 

PSYC 330  Forensic Psychology
An examination of the interaction between psychology and the legal system.  Emphasis placed on the assessment and diagnosis of psychopathic behavior, court-mandated evaluations and the role of the psychologist as expert witness.  The application of psychological knowledge within the criminal justice context.  Ethical guidelines in forensic psychology.

PSYC 332  Psychological Foundations of Personality
Explores current approaches and theories of personality development and organization.
Prerequisite:  PSYC 301
 

PSYC 340  Human Learning and Memory
Covers research, language and methods of learning theory.  Classical and operant conditioning, complex habits, remembering and forgetting, transfer of training, cognition and behavior modification.  Review of animal research but primary emphasis is on people.
Prerequisite:  PSYC 301
 

PSYC 348  Psycholinguistics
Explores the study of language through linguistic, behavioral, and cognitive methods.  Basic linguistic ideas are used for the explication of problems in grammar, cognitive structure, meaning, and speech production and comprehension.
Prerequisite:  PSYC 301

PSYC 353  Comparitive Animal Behavior
The student will explore experimental and field studies of behavior in a few selected animal species with particular reference to the behavior of vertebrates.   The program will involve detailed study of instinctive behavior and imprinting, respondent and operant behavior with emphasis upon the procedures and variables concerned with the acquisition of new forms of behavior.
Prerequisite:  PSYC 301
 

PSYC 358  Fundamentals of Conditioning and Learning
Major theoretical problems and theories of learning are considered.   Includes experimental analysis of basic phenomena of conditioning and learning, studied primarily through experimental studies of infro-human organisms.  Students may study selected topics more extensively.
Prerequisite:  PSYC 301
 

PSYC 360  History and Systems of Psychology
Discusses the historical development of psychology; comparative analysis of the major schools of contemporary psychology; new trends and movements in psychological theory.
Prerequisite:  PSYC 301
 

PSYC 365  Abnormal Psychology
Topics include an overview of psychopathological processes; neuroses, psychoses, and characterological disorders; feeling, thinking and behavioral aspects during the life span.  Diagnostic and treatment procedures.
Prerequisites:  PSYC 225 or 232 and 301
 

PSYC 366  Health Psychology:  Applications to the Community
The course will present psychological contributions to interventions designed to promote health, prevent illness and avert further disability.  Appropriate techniques to assess, plan and implement programs at the community level will be discussed.  The multidisciplinary multilevel nature of community programs will be emphasized.
Prerequisite:  PSYC 302 or instructor's permission
 

PSYC 402  Social Role of Psychotherapies
Covers the effects of various psychotherapies upon society, social institutions and social relationships; impact of classical Freudian therapy, behaviorism, group and encounter movements.
Prerequisite:  PSYC 301
 

PSYC 420  Packaged Computer Programs for Psychology
A detailed review on the use of a computer package for the purpose of doing statistical analyses of psychological data.  The instructor will select one such package for presentation and choose among SPSS, EcStatic, BMD, SAS, an others.   Instruction will be provided on coding, data entry, menu selection, score transformation, and exporting.
Prerequisite:  PSYC 220 or a course on psychological statistics
 

PSYC 430  Contemporary Issues in Child Advocacy
An in-depth study of current topics in the field of child advocacy.  The impact of Megan's Law, advocacy for adopted children, child right-to-life movement, and repressed memory syndrome are among the possible issues to be explored.  A multi-disciplinary focus will be used to enhance student understanding and learning.

PSYC 459  Special Topics in Psychology
An in-depth review of important theoretical and methodological issues in a specific area of psychology.  The area to be covered is chosen by the instructor.   The course permits the instructor and students to examine psychological issues which are either not covered in the curriculum or which deserve more in-depth treatment than is possible in a regular course.  The course may be taken no more than twice as part of major degree requirements in psychology.
Prerequisite:  PSYC 301
 

PSYC 490  Seminar in Cognitive Science
Seminar discussion of foundation works and contemporary research articles in Cognitive Science.  With the instructor's guidance and supervision, each student will define an area of Cognitive Science for comprehensive in-depth review of research and write a literature review.  Professional issues in Cognitive Science are discussed.
Prerequisites:  PSYC/CMPT 290, PSYC 301, and any one of the following:   PSYC 313, LNGN 300, LNGN 420, LNGN 445.

PSYC 491  Independent Study I:  Research
Individual research project under supervision of a professor in the department.
Prerequisite:  Permission of instructor
 

PSYC 492  Independent Study II:  Research
Individual research project under supervision of a professor in the department.
Prerequisite:  Permission of instructor
 

PSYC 495  Psychology Honors I
With the instructor's guidance and supervision, each student will define an area of psychology for comprehensive, in-depth review of research; generate research questions and hypotheses; delineate appropriate design, methodology and statistical analyses to answer these questions and test these hypotheses; collect and analyze preliminary data; and write an Honors Thesis Proposal.
Prerequisite:  PSYC 301 and permission of instructor; overall G.P.A. of 3.5
 

Email one of our undergraduate advisors with your questions regarding courses and prerequisites!

Dr. Irwin Badin