Psychology

PSY 101 - Psychology (3 credits)

This course will focus on an introduction to psychology across a variety of sub-disciplines, including clinical, neuropsychological, developmental, cognitive, biological, and experimental. The course will focus on how psychology began with a philosophical perspective and how it has developed into a multidisciplinary science.

PSY 216 - Psychology Statistics (3 credits)

This course will focus on an overview of the general concepts associated with descriptive and inferential statistics in psychology. There will be an examination of the purpose behind the use of statistics in psychology and an investigation of the process undertaken to derive these statistics. Students will apply these principles by conducting a variety of statistical analyses. Prerequisite(s): ENG 101 and (PSY 101 or SOC 101).

PSY 236 - Lifespan Development (3 credits)

This course will focus on human growth and change from birth to death. Students will explore patterns of age-related change in the physical, cognitive, and socio-emotional domains. The course will cover theories, research findings, and methods. Other topics include historical and contemporary perspectives on various themes relevant to developmental psychology, such as stability versus change, continuous versus stage-like growth, and nature versus nurture. Prerequisite(s): PSY 101, ENG 101.

PSY 248 - Adolescent Psychology (3 credits)

This course will focus on exploring the historical and contemporary theories of development as they impact upon maturation and socialization of adolescents. The biological, cognitive, and social/cultural changes that take place during adolescence are examined for their impact on self-awareness, character development, and gender development. The role that parents, friends, school, work, and the media play in influencing these changes is also detailed. Prerequisite(s): PSY 101.

PSY 301 - Psychology of Play (3 credits)

This course will focus on examining play as a medium for cognitive and social-emotional growth from infancy to adulthood. Particular emphasis will be placed on the creative aspects of play and its relation to fantasy and emotions, as well as to the contrast with more structured experiences for children. Prerequisite(s): ENG 101, ENG 102, & PSY 101.

PSY 306 - Industrial/Organizational Psychol (3 credits)

This course will focus on research and major theories within the field of Industrial and Organizational Psychology, as well as their practical applications. Students will explore the history and current research methods being used within the field of industrial and organizational psychology, including: employee recruitment and selection, job analysis, performance appraisal and management, employee training and development, work motivation, perceptions of fairness, reactions to stress, diversity, teamwork, and leadership. Prerequisite(s): ENG 101, ENG 102, & PSY 101.

PSY 319 - Psychology of Gender (3 credits)

This course will focus on an overview of the theoretical, empirical, and applied literature related to gender. Students will critically analyze research on gender and psychology, describe constructivist and essentialist perspectives to psychological issues related to gender, and relate course content to their own gendered experiences. Topics include sex and gender differences and similarities in physical development, mental abilities, mental health issues and coping, spirituality, personality, social behavior, gender socialization in the context of ethnicity and class, sexual orientation, health, workplace, and media portrayal. Prerequisite(s): ENG 101, ENG 102. Recommended Prerequisite(s): PSY 101.

PSY 320 - Cognitive Psychology (3 credits)

This course will focus on an overview of classic and current theory concerning the processing of information by the human mind. Emphasis is placed on the study of higher mental processes such as perception, learning, problem solving, categorization, decision-making, and language. Prerequisite(s): ENG 101, ENG 102. Recommended Prerequisite(s): PSY 101.

PSY 321 - Social Psychology (3 credits)

This course will focus on presenting the fundamental principles underlying social influences upon human behavior, such as: attitudes and attitude change, socialization, communication, group dynamics, inter-group relations as influenced by social structure and individual personality, cognition, and emotional factors. Prerequisite(s): ENG 101, ENG 102. Recommended Prerequisite(s): PSY 101.

PSY 322 - Learning & Memory (3 credits)

This course will focus on exploring historical, traditional, and contemporary literature on learning and memory, as well as the biological basis of learning and memory. Areas of theory covered will include: classical/respondent conditioning, instrumental/operant conditioning, and social learning theory, with attention to clinical, counseling, and educational applications. Prerequisite(s): ENG 101, ENG 102. Recommended Prerequisite(s): PSY 101.

PSY 333 - Social Psychology & Deviance (3 credits)

This course will examine a range of social psychological concepts and theories—conformity, identity, prejudice, stereotypes,stigma—as they relate to the study of deviance, deviant behavior, and deviants. In addition to reading, writing, and discussion,students will engage in a signiêcant êeld activity, during which time they will have the opportunity to make their own scientiêcobservations of deviant behavior. Upon completion of the course, students should be able to deêne deviance, describe howdeviance is socially constructed, and discuss the social psychological impacts of the experience of stigma. (3 credits) Prerequisites: ENG101, ENG102 Recommended Prerequisite(s): PSY 101

PSY 334 - Psychology of Personality (3 credits)

This course will focus on the development of personality theory, major models of personality, the major theorists, and their contributions to the field. Topics include personality development, personality structure, and the potential for change. Prerequisite(s): ENG 101, ENG 102. Recommended Prerequisite(s): PSY 101.

PSY 335 - Psychology of Exceptional Children (3 credits)

This course will focus on increasing the student's understanding of the psychology and education of the exceptional child. This course is not a methodology course, but will provide an overview of the range of exceptional characteristics that exist and the effects of these on learning, including: physical, mental, emotional, behavioral, and social traits of children and adolescents. Other topics include: legal issues, giftedness (identification/classification/labeling), federal and state legislation, as well as diversity of culture and language. This course has been approved as a Special Education course for teacher certification in Connecticut. Prerequisite(s): ENG 101, ENG 102. Recommended Prerequisite(s): PSY 101.

PSY 336 - Abnormal Psychology (3 credits)

This course will focus on the psychological and biological processes of abnormal behavior. Students will explore the symptoms, theory, and treatment of a wide variety of psychological disorders. Prerequisite(s): ENG 101, ENG 102. Recommended Prerequisite(s): PSY 101.

PSY 340 - Positive Psychology (3 credits)

Historically, the field of psychology has placed a lot of attention on what’s wrong with people and what we can do to treat disorders of the mind. More recently, however, the field has broadened its scope to give more attention to the positive side of human nature and the most effective ways to pursue the good life. This course focuses on this latter development by examining scientific research centered on the nature of happiness and psychological well-being. Topics include the nature and measurement of happiness, the biological basis of positive emotions, an overview of positive trait theories, self-efficacy, the mind-body connection, gratitude, emotional intelligence, altruism, decision-making, and the characteristics of successful relationships. Prerequisite(s): ENG 101, ENG 102. Recommended Prerequisite: PSY 101.

PSY 410 - Research Methods for Behav Sciences (3 credits)

This course will focus on the fundamental principles of behavioral science research. There will be an overview of the conceptual need for research and an analysis of the methods or designs commonly employed, as well as the procedures utilized to collect and analyze data. Students will review and design research in their areas of interest. Prerequisite(s): ENG 101, ENG 102, and Statistics (Psych majors must take PSY 216: Psychology Statistics. All other majors require MAT 105: Statistics).

PSY 450 - Introduction to Neuropsychology (3 credits)

This coursewill focus on neuropsychological disorders and treatment, including: the history of the science, disorders associated with hemispheric specialization, motor control problems, deficits in attention, language, memory, generalized cognitive disorders, and our current understanding of the relationship between brain plasticity and recovery of function. This course cannot be used toward Science concentrations. Prerequisite(s): ENG 101, ENG 102, and PSY 320. Recommended Prerequisite(s): PSY 101.

PSY 454 - Psychology of Addiction (3 credits)

This course will focus on a broad range of addictive disorder including drugs, alcohol, and gambling as well as other problematic repetitive behaviors (e.g., internet use, binge eating, hoarding). Students will investigate the complex biopsychosocial disease process of addiction. Emphasis will be placed on the physiological brain responses and health consequences. Prerequisite(s): ENG 101, ENG 102, & PSY 101.

PSY 490 - History and Systems of Psychology (3 credits)

This course will focus on the major ideas and sociohistorical factors that relate to the study of the mind and behavior, and have shaped the field of psychology as a scientific discipline. Topics include: the evolution of this field of study from its roots in the philosophy of Ancient Greece and Rome, the beginning of the scientific method, Darwinian theory, the establishment of the major psychological schools of thought, and the rise of applied psychology. The student can have no more than 6 credits remaining in their major to complete in their degree program prior to enrolling in this course. Prerequisite(s): ENG 101, ENG 102, PSY 101, & 3 additional credits in Psychology.

PSY 495 - Psychology Major Capstone (3 credits)

This is the capstone course for the Psychology major and should be taken in the student's last semester. The student can have no more than 6 credits remaining in their major to complete in their degree program prior to enrolling in this course. This course will be a culmination of previous required courses taken within the Psychology major. Students will conduct a literature review of both primary and secondary sources and then synthesize this information into the writing of an in-depth paper answering a critically thought out hypothesis, research methodology, and finally drawing conclusions on the information discussed. This course must be taken at Charter Oak State College. Prerequisite(s): ENG 101, ENG 102, PSY 101, PSY 216, & PSY 410.