2011-12 Undergraduate Catalog
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COURSE DESCRIPTIONS:

PSY 1180 | PSY 1200 | PSY 1250 | PSY 2250 | PSY 2360 | PSY 2361 | PSY 2422 | PSY 2470 | PSY 3438 | PSY 3439 | PSY 3442 | PSY 3448 | PSY 3460 | PSY 3588 | PSY 3600 | PSY 3700 | PSY 3800 | PSY 4100 | PSY 4101 | PSY 4402 | PSY 4410 | PSY 4420 | PSY 4428 | PSY 4460 | PSY 4470 | PSY 4485 | PSY 4488 | PSY 4688 | PSY 4899 | PSY 4900 | PSY 4910 | PSY 4930 | PSY 4940 | PSY 4970 | VIEW ALL
PSY 1180: General Psychology: Individual in Growth (5) Offerings
Introduces psychological principles of intrapersonal dynamics, interpersonal relationships, human development, abnormal behavior and the psychological processes of learning, perception, motivation and cognition.
Attributes:Social Science A
PSY 1200: Psychology as Vocation (1) Offerings
Prerequisite: PSY 1180. Provides an overview of the various career paths in psychology within the context of the concept of vocation, for the purpose of helping students discern their calling in psychology and psychology-related fields. Major topics are specialization within the sub-disciplines of psychology and preparation for those sub-disciplines, including volunteer or research experience, testing requirements, the application process, and necessary education or coursework. In addition to describing the practical aspects of the different sub-disciplines of psychology, the course will address the meaning of calling and vocation and the implications of being called to serve one's community as a psychologist. This course is required of all psychology majors, but is open to any student interested in psychology.
PSY 1250: Relationship Development I (2) Offerings
A foundation course introducing healthy relational principles through self-exploration of interpersonal needs and dynamics. Includes the application of psychological research to gender differences, family of origin issues, relational needs and the dating process.
PSY 2250: Relationship Development II (2) Offerings
Presents the conceptual and practical basis for making healthy relational commitments. Includes the application of psychological research to friendship, love, intimacy, marital myths and mate selection.
PSY 2360: Introduction to Statistics in Social and Behavioral Sciences (5) Offerings
Prerequisites: PSY 1180, and Math Placement Level B or MAT 0145. Presents the conceptual basis and application of statistical analysis in social and behavioral research. Includes descriptive statistics, correlation and regression, hypothesis testing and inferential statistics. An introduction to analysis of variance and nonparametric statistics will also be provided.
Equivalent Courses:SOC 2360 Attributes:Mathematics (MAT) Restrictions:Psychology, Sociology Majors only.
PSY 2361: Research Experience in Psychology (1-3) Offerings
Prerequisite: PSY 1180. Provides introductory experiences in the conduct of actual empirical research in social and behavioral science. Credits may not be applied toward the minimum 30 needed to complete the minor. May be repeated for credit up to 6 credits.
PSY 2422: Psychology of Personal Growth (5) Offerings
Prerequisite: PSY 1180. Provides an introduction to principles of growth and adjustment, building upon psychological research pertaining to happiness and well-being. Emphasis is on practical application toward personal development.
PSY 2470: Life Span Developmental Psychology (5) Offerings
Prerequisite: PSY 1180. Surveys human development from conception to death, focusing on the interacting processes of physical, cognitive, social, emotional and moral development within social and cultural contexts, including developmental tasks and transitions associated with developmental stages.
PSY 3438: Social Psychology (5) Offerings
Prerequisite: PSY 1180. Examines human thought, emotion, and behavior in social contexts. Major topics include impression formation, social cognition, attribution, self, attitudes, persuasion, prejudice, conformity, group behavior, aggression, helping, attraction, and interpersonal relationships. SOC 4440 may be substituted for PSY 3438 in the psychology major, although PSY 3438 is the recommended course. Students may not receive credit for both PSY 3438 and SOC 4440.
Equivalent Courses:SOC 4440 Attributes:Upper-Division
PSY 3439: Motivation and Leadership: Introduction to Industrial/Organizational Psychology (5) Offerings
Prerequisite: PSY 1180. Presents the theories and principles of motivation and leadership as an introduction to the field of industrial/organizational psychology with practical applications in business, church, community and educational settings.
Equivalent Courses:BUS 3439 Attributes:Upper-Division
PSY 3442: Psychology of Personality (5) Offerings
Prerequisite: PSY 1180. Surveys current research and historical theories about personality, with application toward understanding of one's own traits. Biological, cognitive, emotional, interpersonal, and cultural aspects of personality are explored.
Attributes:Upper-Division
PSY 3448: Tests and Measurements in Psychology (5) Offerings
Prerequisites: PSY 1180 and PSY 2360 or equivalent. Explores the nature and use of measurement and evaluation, psychometric theory and standardized testing. Develops concepts and skills in the development, selection, administration and interpretation of psychological and educational tests and nontesting means of evaluation.
Attributes:Upper-Division Restrictions:Freshman, Sophomore students are excluded.
PSY 3460: Child Developmental Psychology (5) Offerings
Prerequisite: PSY 1180. Surveys child development from conception through late childhood, focusing on the interacting processes of physical, cognitive, social, emotional and moral development within social and cultural contexts, including parent-child relationships. Includes an introduction to the observation, measurement and evaluation of children.
Attributes:Upper-Division
PSY 3588: Psychological Research Methods (5) Offerings
Prerequisites: PSY 1180, and PSY 2360 or MAT 1360 or equivalent. Explores the nature of scientific inquiry, the variety of psychological research methods, the design of internally and externally valid studies, and the application to designs of statistical techniques. Develops skills in locating, interpreting and evaluating published research.
Equivalent Courses:SOC 3751 Attributes:Upper-Division, Writing "W" Course Restrictions:Freshman, Sophomore students are excluded.
PSY 3600: Small-Group Leadership (3) Offerings
Prerequisite: PSY 1180. Focuses on theory and applications of research regarding small-group interaction and leadership. Will provide students with practical supervised experience in group leadership.
Attributes:Upper-Division Restrictions:Freshman, Sophomore students are excluded.
PSY 3700: Learning and Behavior (5) Offerings
Prerequisite: PSY 1180. This course explores the contribution of biological influences on the development of behaviors and the effects of learning on adaptations in behaviors. Topics includes habituation and sensitization, classical conditioning, instrumental or operant conditioning, social learning, stimulus control, foraging and choice, motivation and verbal learning. Course content will be presented using both human and animal research models. Discussion includes biological and neurological explanations of learning and behavior. In addition, special attention will be paid to the relevance of learning principles to applied settings such as education and therapy.
Attributes:Upper-Division Restrictions:Psychology Majors only. Majors, Minors, Concentrations only.
PSY 3800: Cognitive Psychology (5) Offerings
Prerequisite: PSY 1180. This course examines mental processes and their relationship to behavior from a cognitive psychology perspective. Topics include sensation and perception, memory, encoding and retrieval, concept formation, choice, decision making, problem solving, language, and metacognition. Course content will be presented using both human and animal research models. Discussion includes biological and neurological explanations of cognitive processes. In addition, special attention will be paid to the application of cognitive processes to therapy.
Attributes:Upper-Division Restrictions:Psychology Majors only.
PSY 4100: Lab in Human Social Behavior (5) Offerings
Prerequisites: PSY 1180 and 3588. The objective of this course is to introduce students to the process of conducting ethically sound research with human participants. Students will draw from material learned in previous psychology classes, especially Psychological Research Methods and Introduction to Statistics to design, implement, and present unique empirical research under the supervision of a psychology faculty member. Students will obtain Institutional Review Board approval for the original research conducted in this course.
Attributes:Upper-Division, Writing "W" Course Restrictions:Psychology Majors only. Freshman, Sophomore students are excluded.
PSY 4101: Lab in Animal Behavior (5) Offerings
Prerequisites: PSY 1180, 3588, and PSY 3700 or 3800. The objective of this course is to introduce students to the process of conducting ethically sound research with nonhuman subjects. Students will draw from material learned in previous psychology classes, especially Psychological Research Methods, Introduction to Statistics, and Learning and Cognition to design, implement, and present unique empirical research under the supervision of a psychology faculty member. Students will obtain Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee approval for the original research conducted in this course.
Attributes:Upper-Division, Writing "W" Course Restrictions:Psychology Majors only. Freshman, Sophomore students are excluded.
PSY 4402: Psychology of Religion (3) Offerings
Prerequisite: PSY 1180. Focuses on psychological processes of religious motivation, rituals, recruitment, conversion, and the development and maintenance of religious beliefs. Stages of faith development and the effects of religion on psychological functioning will be explored.
Attributes:Upper-Division Restrictions:Freshman, Sophomore students are excluded.
PSY 4410: Cross-Cultural Psychology (5) Offerings
Surveys research and theories on culture and psychology. Focuses on gaining a deeper understanding of Western and non-Western worldviews and their relation to various psychological topics, such as mental health, personality, spirituality, and emotion. Highlights both empirical and experiential approaches to studying cultural issues in psychology.
Attributes:Upper-Division Restrictions:Freshman, Sophomore students are excluded.
PSY 4420: Adolescent Developmental Psychology (5) Offerings
Prerequisite: PSY 1180. Provides an overview of adolescent development focusing on the interaction of the physical, cognitive, emotional, moral, social, familial, educational and vocational dimensions within social and cultural contexts. Includes an introduction to the observation, measurement and evaluation of adolescents.
Attributes:Upper-Division
PSY 4428: Advanced Statistical Analysis (5) Offerings
Prerequisites: PSY 2360. An advanced course in statistical analyses, particularly relevant for students with interests in conducting social and behavioral research. Topics include multiple regression, factor analysis and advanced applications of analysis of variance.
Attributes:Upper-Division Restrictions:Psychology Majors only. Junior, Senior students only.
PSY 4460: Abnormal Psychology (5) Offerings
Prerequisite: PSY 1180. Examines the history, causes, and symptoms of abnormal behavior with reference to modern methods of assessment and treatment. Emphasizes an interdisciplinary approach to understanding maladaptive behavior.
Attributes:Upper-Division
PSY 4470: Counseling Theory and Practice (5) Offerings
Prerequisites: PSY 1180. Provides an overview of the major approaches and techniques of psychological counseling. Incorporates experiential introduction to basic counseling strategies through the use of guided role play with peers.
Attributes:Upper-Division
PSY 4485: Psychobiology of Women (5) Offerings
Prerequisite: PSY 1180. Addresses how endocrinology, anatomy and physiology influence female behavior, affect and quality of life during several time segments across the life span. Issues such as the physical and psychological development of the female, the bi-directional relationship between hormones and behavior, pregnancy, childbirth and lactation, and menopause will be addressed in both a physical and social context.
Attributes:Upper-Division Restrictions:Freshman, Sophomore students are excluded.
PSY 4488: Physiological Psychology (5) Offerings
Prerequisite: PSY 1180. The biological bases of behavior are explored through essential concepts in anatomy, physiology, biochemistry and pharmacology within the context of behavioral processes. Introduction to sensation and perception provided. The nervous and endocrine systems are presented as a foundation for behavior.
Attributes:Upper-Division Restrictions:Freshman, Sophomore students are excluded.
PSY 4688: History and Systems of Psychology (5) Offerings
Prerequisite: PSY 1180 and a minimum of 25 hours of psychology. Gives an historical review and philosophical analysis of the development of psychology as a discipline. Emphasis is given to the relationship between specific historical antecedents and contemporary trends in psychology.
Attributes:Upper-Division Restrictions:Freshman, Sophomore students are excluded.
PSY 4899: Senior Seminar in Psychology (3) Offerings
Prerequisites: PSY 3588 and at least 40 credits completed in psychology. A capstone experience in psychology integrating psychological theories and research in the context of the liberal arts and the Christian faith.
Attributes:Upper-Division Restrictions:Psychology Majors only. Senior students only.
PSY 4900: Independent Study (1-5) Offerings
Prerequisite: PSY 1180. Students will carry out an extensive exploration of a topic in psychology. Study is under supervision of a psychology faculty member, and builds on previous course preparation in psychology. Objective is to provide greater depth in analysis, synthesis and evaluation of the topic of interest. Substantial reading and writing expected. Credits may not be applied toward the minimum 30 needed to complete the minor. May be repeated for credit up to 15 credits.
Attributes:Upper-Division Restrictions:Freshman, Sophomore students are excluded.
PSY 4910: Topical Seminar in Psychology (1-5) Offerings
Seminar style course designed to consider contemporary and controversial issues in psychology. Not offered every year.
Attributes:Upper-Division Restrictions:Freshman, Sophomore students are excluded.
PSY 4930: Practicum (1-5) Offerings
Practicum May be repeated for credit up to 5 credits.
Attributes:Upper-Division
PSY 4940: Internship in Psychology (1-5) Offerings
Prerequisite: PSY 1180. Provides psychological field experience in the community. Arrangements with internship sites must occur before the quarter of participation (see www.spu.edu/depts/spfc/undergrad/index.asp for further details). The internship must be psychological in nature, and supervised on site by someone with at least a Masters in a counseling-related field. Twenty-five hours of field work will be completed for each credit, with a minimum of five hours per week on-site required. Participation in a biweekly seminar with the faculty director of internships is also required. Credits may not be applied toward the minimum 30 needed to complete the minor. For students desiring placements in social-service agencies, SOC 4380 is recommended. May be repeated for credit up to 15 credits.
Attributes:Upper-Division Restrictions:Freshman, Sophomore students are excluded.
PSY 4970: Independent Research (1-3) Offerings
Prereqisites: PSY 1180, PSY 2360 or equivalent, PSY 3588. Student will carry out empirical research under the supervision of a psychology faculty member and synthesize the findings in a written research report. Objective is to apply skills in research methods and data analysis. Credits may not be applied toward the minimum 30 needed to complete the minor. Credit variable up to a maximum of three per term. May be repeated for credit up to 9 credits.
Attributes:Upper-Division Restrictions:Freshman, Sophomore students are excluded.



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