An introduction to the scientific study of human thinking, feeling, and behaving. Research from a variety of major areas is surveyed, including topics in biological, cognitive, and social psychology. The course emphasizes the strengths of scientific psychology, as well as the difficulties inherent in humans studying humans.
Every Fall, Interim, Spring, and Summer
Previously: PSYC 115
An examination of human development throughout the life span, investigating the physical, cognitive and social changes that occur as we both age and reach cultural milestones (marriage, retirement, etc.). Genetic, cultural and other influences on development will be discussed, along with the research methods psychologists use to separate and understand these influences. Students will learn how to optimize healthy development, and acquire new understanding of the developmental stage of others.
Every Fall and Spring in person, online every Summer
Previously: PSYC 210
Special Topics in Psychology.
Previously: PSYC 197
The basic course in statistical inference oriented toward the elements of description, estimation, and the testing of hypotheses. Topics include probability distributions, confidence intervals, tests of means, proportions, and differences, correlation and regression, analysis of variance, and chi-square tests of qualitative data. Principles are applicable to both social and physical sciences.
Every Fall and Spring in person, online every Summer
Previously: PSYC 270
Covers basic methodology commonly used in psychology research, with an emphasis on experimental design. Students will learn characteristics essential for a well-designed research study, and learn to critically evaluate research they encounter. Students will also actively engage in the research process by designing, carrying out, and reporting research in both an APA-style written report and a conference-style spoken presentation.
Every Spring
Previously: PSYC 271
This course will provide students with a broad survey of psychological disorders. Students will examine typical clinical presentations of several major disorders, the theoretical foundations that underlie these disorders, and relevant research that informs our understanding of them. Topics covered include assessment, classification, etiology, and common treatments as they relate to the disorders covered.
Every Fall and Spring
Previously: PSYC 232
Focuses on basic human cognitive functions such as attention, perception, memory, problem solving, reasoning, decision-making, and language comprehension and production. Students will study foundational theories and historical experimental findings in the field of cognitive psychology, explore recent research trends (including findings from neuroscience and neuropsychology) and relate their understanding of cognitive psychology to their own personal experiences.
Every other Fall, even years
Previously: PSYC 240
This course builds on the basic foundation of neurological anatomy and processes by examining their importance for daily life. We approach human brain development using a lifespan developmental perspective, highlighting milestones in neurological structure and function across life. Key social and emotional functions are covered including face processing, emotion recognition, theory of mind, coping, and social support. To address clinical implications, we will engage in critical discussion about certain neurological disorders including Alzheimer’s disease, autism, depression, and substance use.
Every Other Spring
Previously: PSYC 261
The functioning of the neuron and nervous system will be explored, particularly as related to human behavior. Anatomical and physiological considerations regarding selected functions, including vision, audition, sleep, emotion, stress, memory, learning, and various disorders will be examined.
Every Spring
Previously: PSYC 260
This course surveys social psychology, which is the area of psychology that scientifically studies the manner in which individuals' thoughts, behaviors, and feelings are influenced by and influence others. Students will examine psychological research and theories about the social dimensions of human cognition, action, and emotion. Topics include the nature of the social self, how persuasion occurs, how love relationships form and last, why prejudice is so persistent, and why sometimes people fail to help those in need while others become inspiring exemplars of caring and courage.
Every Spring
Previously: PSYC 250
This course examines how psychological states (e.g., anxiety, stress) influence physical health as well as how physical states (e.g., illness, pain, injury) influence psychological health. Topics include the impact of stress on health and proneness to illness; coping with illness, injury and trauma; and the role of health-enhancing and health-compromising behaviors in health.
Every other Spring, even years
Previously: PSYC 320
This course provides an introduction to the psychological construct of “mindfulness” and an experiential training in becoming more mindful in everyday life, such as through the practice of meditation. Students will be exposed to diverse teachings on the subject in order to facilitate their own personal discovery of what it means to be “present” and will cultivate an understanding of why being present has been shown to improve well-being. It is the instructor’s hope that this course will help students increase their resilience to stress, understand themselves and others more effectively, focus more deeply, and enjoy life more fully.
Previously: PSYC 337
This course will focus on the psychosocial factors influencing athletic performance. Topics will include individual psychological characteristics such as personality, motivation, stress and arousal. This will be followed by an exploration of group dynamics in sport such as competition, cooperation, and team dynamics. We will also examine the field of applied sport psychology and the interventions used by sport psychologists to improve both athletic performance and the overall health and well-being of the athlete.
Every Summer
Previously: PSYC 307
Students on an F-1 visa are eligible to work off campus to provide additional experience so long as the employment relates directly to the student's major area of study. The practical experience gained outside the traditional classroom supplements the theoretical and/or applied knowledge as a part of the student's coursework. The registration process for this course must be completed every term (including summers), as students must have their work authorization reissued each term to ensure continued enrollment. Jobs must be approved and verified by the International Programs Office before work may begin.
Previously: PSYC 296
Special Topics in Psychology.
Previously: PSYC 297
This course is an introduction to the field of counseling and psychotherapy beginning with an overview of basic skills and principles associated with being a counselor. The bulk of the course will focus on prominent theoretical orientations in psychotherapy, counseling and behavior change including such theories as cognitive, existential, humanistic, psychodynamic, interpersonal, systemic and multicultural psychotherapies. Students will be encouraged to think critically about their own perspective on mental health and behavior change as well as critically evaluate the various approaches to psychotherapy.
Every Fall
Previously: PSYC 235
This course will explore the cognitive, emotional, and social lives of children, as they interact with their multiple environments (family, peer groups, school, and community networks). Students will learn research and theory that informs our understanding of children, and will also investigate practical ways of applying this knowledge to improve children's lives, through in-class activities, visits from local professionals, and a weekly service-learning commitment.
PSYC 1121
Every Spring
Previously: PSYC 310
Adolescence is a crucial transition period from childhood to adulthood. This course examines adolescent development and issues within the context of the physical, cognitive, affective, social and moral reasoning domains. Focus is on the adolescents’ self-development with particular reference to relationships in the family, school, peer group, and community. Also, the role of the adolescent in contemporary society is surveyed in reference to historical and cross-cultural perspectives.
EDUC 2124
Occasionally
Previously: EDUC 345
This course examines psychological processes associated with death and separation. Bereavement, grief, and mourning are the central elements of this course, and we will explore how these have been studied in response to death along with other losses people face in life. Emphasis will be placed on discussing how we can help others and ourselves better face loss in its myriad forms. While taking a lifespan approach and addressing normative loss (i.e., death in old age), this course will emphasize how loss impacts children, adolescents, and emerging adults.
Previously: PSYC 317
An in-depth study of behavior modification and assessment, its major assumption and issues, basic principles and methods, and applications. In addition, the student is required to design and carry out behavior modification projects under direct supervision of the instructor.
Every other Spring, even years
Previously: PSYC 325
This course will focus on conceptual and technical issues involved in psychological assessment. Methods used by psychological professionals to understand and quantify human behavior, abilities, and traits will be explored. Topics covered will include the development of good psychological measures, how assessment information should be used, and how to critically evaluate existing psychological measures. A number of measures commonly used in clinical and research settings will be examined.
Occasional Interims
Previously: PSYC 332
This course examines the operation of human sensory systems and major principles of perception by focusing on how the human brain receives and processes information from our environment. It explores how physical stimuli are transformed into signals that can be understood by the nervous system. Topics include vision, audition, taste, smell, touch, and basic psychophysics, the methods by which sensations and perceptions can be measured and some of the philosophical issues underlying the study of perception.
Every other Fall, odd years
Previously: PSYC 345
This course is an introduction to the psychological study of religion and religious experience. Topics will include dimensions of religiousness, theories of the role of religion in human experience, religion and well-being, and the psychosocial investigations of religious experience across diverse faith traditions. This course will also compare psychological and Christian perspectives on many topics and discuss how perspectives intersect with other faiths. It will evaluate how psychology can influence religion, how religion can influence psychology, and how people have attempted to integrate psychology and religion.
Occaasional Interims
Previously: PSYC 305
Students will be involved in carrying out one or more empirical research projects currently being conducted by the supervising faculty member. Students will meet regularly with the faculty member, read relevant research articles and collect, enter, code, or analyze data. Required application and recommendation forms for this course are available here. Preference will be given to students who plan to apply to graduate school.
PSYC 2062; Approval of Supervising Faculty Member
Every Fall and Spring
Previously: PSYC 393
Students will be involved in carrying out one or more empirical research projects currently being conducted by the supervising faculty member. Students will meet regularly with the faculty member, read relevant research articles and collect, enter, code, or analyze data. Required application and recommendation forms for this course are available here.
PSYC 2062; Approval of Supervising Faculty Member
Every Fall and Spring
Previously: PSYC 394
Supervised field experience in settings where psychology is practiced or applied.
Junior Standing; Instructor permission
Every Fall, Interim, Spring, and Summer
Previously: PSYC 391
Special Topics in Psychology.
Previously: PSYC 397
This discussion-based seminar prepares psychology students to be life-long learners who can use psychology to make a positive difference. Students will read a selection of best-selling books popularizing research in various areas of psychology (e.g., cognitive, developmental, social, clinical). Students will lead group discussions critically evaluating that research and applying it to their personal lives and intended careers. Finally, as a capstone, students will compile psychological research that speaks to a chosen topic of concern, formulate evidence-informed recommendations, and communicate them in way that is accessible and compelling for a lay audience.
JR or SR standing; At least 3 PSYC courses.
Every Fall and Spring
Previously: PSYC 4900
This course will focus on basic helping skills employed in psychotherapy from a theoretical integrative perspective. These skills are useful across the spectrum of professional fields. Using a three-stage approach, students will develop skills in the problem exploration, insight building, and action phases of personal change. Students will participate in experiential lab sessions, discussions and self-reflective work.
Every Spring
Previously: PSYC 335
A study of the human strengths and virtues that enable people to thrive, this course surveys the emerging field of Positive Psychology, focusing on major theories and latest research findings. This course will examine research on topics such as happiness, purpose and meaning in life, growth through adversity, forgiveness, humility, and humor. Students will read and discuss research, try out and analyze practical ways of promoting psychological wellbeing, and design and carry out a research project.
Previously: PSYC 355
Psychology majors with a Psychology GPA of 3.5 or higher may complete an independent research project under the supervision of a Psychology faculty member. To enroll in this course, students will need to complete an Independent Study proposal form (available through the registrar:
http://www.augie.edu/online-forms) describing the proposed project. Interested students should begin discussing their project with an advisor a year before they plan to complete their project, and project proposals must be submitted to the Psychology Department faculty for review by October 1 (if graduating in May or summer) or March 1 (if graduating in December or January). Students should enroll in PSYC 4923 during the semester they plan to finish their project. (See
PSYC 4960 Handout for further details.)
Every Spring
Previously: PSYC 498