25 courses with the subject PSY, each shown exactly as we captured it from the college's catalog, with every element we hold. Where the wording looks broken, that is our reading of the catalog, not the college's text.
Behavior & the Mind Psychology Electives 16 credit hours Any sixteen (16) credit hours of PSY electives
Who are you and how are you unique from others? Would you describe yourself as cautious or thrill-seeking? Introverted or extroverted? Flexible or rigid? Understanding your own personality can help you function more productively in work and relationships. Understanding variations in personality allows you to predict other people’s behavior so you know what to expect from them. This course examines the different theories about how personality is thought to develop (e.g., psychodynamic, motivational, biological, or cognitive). Through class discussions, readings, activities, and class projects, we will explore the elements of personality, how these elements are organized, and the influence of personality on human behavior.
Criminal Justice Electives (choose one (1) course)
This course examines the psychology of the African American experience and provides an overview of Black/African-American psychology as an evolving field of study. Throughout the course, students will develop skills in finding and using high-quality, credible sources through the PsycINFO database. They will learn the basics of scientific writing using APA style, and will practice skills needed for summarizing, synthesizing, and citing research findings. Students will explore a wide range of topics such as the impact of systemic racism on identity development, achievement and schooling, kinship and family, neighborhoods and community, close relationships, language, religion and spirituality, and mental and physical health. Throughout the course, a primary objective will be to consider how the knowledge of African American psychological experiences and a strengths-based approach can be used to promote African American health and wellness today.
Sport and Exercise Psychology applies the principles of psychology to sport and exercise settings. This course focuses on the emotional and psychological factors that affect sport and exercise performance, as well as the effect of sport and exercise involvement on one’s psychological and emotional experiences. Applications will be made to athletes and nonathletes populations. 180 | 2026-27 William Peace University Academic Catalog
meets the Peace Core Global Citizenship requirement What is culture? Do we shape culture or does culture shape us? Does culture affect how we think and emote? Cultural psychology is the study of how cultural practices reflect and influence humanity. Throughout this course we will discuss the many facets of culture including several case studies. This course will also serve as a way to introduce APA style and scientific writing. Understanding culture can be of special interest to those pursuing fields of education, business, and health professions.
A course whose content may vary from term to term according to the needs of the academic department, student demand or the interests of the faculty member.
Three lecture hours each week; two laboratory hours each week. Students will receive 4 hours of credit for the class and 0 hours of credit for the lab. This course will help you understand the methods psychologists use in studying human behavior and the mind. You will learn basic scientific methods and how to conduct research in an ethical manner. Emphasis will be placed on learning basic methods and having the opportunity to apply that knowledge. The course will also help you learn how to understand the statistical findings reported in professional journal articles and how to evaluate common claims reported in the news. Students will conduct an in- depth review of existing research in a specific area of psychology and design a research project. Emphasis will be placed on writing a formal research proposal that incorporates standards of scientific writing in the context of the behavioral sciences as well as the use of American Psychological Association (APA) writing style.
Have you ever wondered how certain foods and drugs influence children’s development during the prenatal period? Or how infant personality and parenting style interact to create a certain kind of parent-child relationship? Or what makes certain teens popular, while others are rejected? This course will introduce you to biological, cognitive, and social-emotional development of childhood and adolescence. Through this course, you will focus on a range of topics that will help you parent your own future children or work with children and adolescents in a professional setting.
In Cognition and Neuroscience, we are exploring how we think and the different processes we use, while also considering the interactions between brain and behavior. In part 1 of this course, we will explore topics such as neurons, the brain, cognitive development and learning, memory (including memory errors), intelligence, sleep and consciousness, and dreams. Information from this course can be applied to the areas of education, sport, business, law, and medicine. 181 | 2026-27 William Peace University Academic Catalog
In Cognition and Neuroscience, we are exploring how we think and the different processes we use, while also considering the interactions between brain and behavior. In part 2 of this course, we will explore topics such as attention, perception, language, emotions, drugs, psychological disorders, and problem solving. Information in this course can be applied to the areas of education, sport, business, law, and medicine.
Total Credit Hours for Criminal Justice Major In Person Peace Core Requirements Online Peace Core Requirements In Person General Electives
Intrigued by TV shows about profiling criminal behavior? Curious about whether mental illness is associated with criminal behavior? TV sensationalizes criminal behavior. This course will help separate fiction from fact. Students will become familiar with the principal theories, concepts, and methods of understanding the field of Forensic Psychology. The material covers major topics related to how Psychology and the Legal system intersect: police selection and investigations, eyewitness testimony, jury composition, sentencing, assessment, criminal behavior and intimate partner violence. In addition, students should develop an understanding of careers in forensic psychology. 182 | 2026-27 William Peace University Academic Catalog
Who recovers most successfully following an injury? What are the factors that influence whether a person follows “doctor’s orders?” Health psychologists are concerned with understanding the link between psychological well-being and how people stay healthy, why they become ill, and how they respond when they do become ill. In this course, you will study specific behaviors that affect your health and why you may continue to engage in behaviors that are unhealthy (e.g., smoking), while avoiding behaviors that are healthy (e.g., exercise). Specific illnesses such as heart disease and cancer are discussed while in the context of psychological factors such as stress and social support.
Total Credit Hours for Human Resource Management
How do we learn? What other factors affect how we learn? The first part of this course will give an unbiased overview of the different theories of learning such as behaviorism, cognitivism, contextual learning, etc. The latter part of the course will discuss important factors that affect how we learn such as motivation, metacognition, self-regulation, and transfer, among others. People in education, health professions, and business need to understand how others learn new information and how to motivate them to work harder.
A course of study addressing a specific topic or problem of interest to a student, designed collaboratively by the student and faculty member(s), and resulting in a paper, report, critiqued performance or production, or other assessable evidence of value added to the student’s educational experience. A contract of expectations by the student and by the supervising faculty member(s) must be approved by the advisor and the Vice President for Academic Affairs prior to registration. No more than eight (8) semester hours toward the baccalaureate degree can consist of directed study credit. 185 | 2026-27 William Peace University Academic Catalog
Prerequisite or Corequisite: PSY 300 This course allows you to pursue answers to various questions about human behavior by helping psychology faculty members conduct research in our psychology lab. In collaboration with a faculty member, you will form a hypothesis, collect data to test your hypothesis, and then analyze the data. You will work closely with a small group (usually 4-6 students) to conduct your study. Offered fall and spring.
In Psychology Research II, you have the opportunity to continue working on the study you started in PSY 394: Psychology Research I. In addition, you may serve as a 183 | 2026-27 William Peace University Academic Catalog
If you are interested in relationships, communication, helping techniques, and interpersonal self-evaluation, this course is for you! Counseling Theories is designed to help you improve problem-solving skills, “people skills,” and your ability to use feedback for self-reflection and growth. Through readings, in-class discussions, and written reflections, you will develop a working knowledge of the counseling process. Through the use of role-plays and simulated interviews, you will develop the necessary skills to conduct an initial clinical interview, build a therapeutic relationship, and inspire change. Skills such as listening, assessing, empathizing, reflecting, questioning, reframing, challenging, summarizing, and goal-setting will be emphasized. Offered fall.
Senior Seminar is an opportunity for you to take what you have learned in your other psychology courses and integrate those concepts before graduating. The content in this course focuses on current topics in the field of psychology such as Positive Psychology, Peace Psychology, and Cultural Psychology. Within our discussion of such topics there is an emphasis on ethical behavior and how you can use your Psychology degree to have a positive impact on the world. Offered spring.
Have you ever thought about going to graduate school? If so, this is the course for you! This is the first semester of a two-course sequence in which you will work one-on-one with a psychology faculty member to design a research study and carry it out, much the same as you will do in graduate school. You will be expected to submit your research to a professional conference and make a presentation at the conference if your work is accepted (which it will be – we’ve never had a Peace student paper rejected!). Seniors who can work independently and who want to be challenged should take this course. The research skills you will gain in this class can make you a very attractive applicant to a graduate program and make you competitive for entry-level research positions in the professional world. Offered fall and spring.
One additional course from the Experimental area
Source: William Peace University's catalog, linked per course · table learning_unit · CourseShelf publish 61
