74 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.
This course introduces the student to the research problems, methods, findings, and basic theory that constitute the scientific investigation of human and animal behavior.
This course introduces the student to the research problems, methods, findings, and basic theory that constitute the scientific investigation of human and animal behavior.
This course provides an introduction to health education, health promotion, and peer education. Students will develop communication, leadership, facilitation, and presentation skills while exploring topics relevant to the health and well-being of college students. Upon completion of the course, students will be prepared to serve as peer educators in one or more health domains/topics. Students will also be eligible to take the BACCHUS/NASPA Certified Peer Educator (CPE) certifying exam. Upon successful completion of the exam, students will receive the CPE designation. Note: this course does not count toward the Psychology major or minor.
This course examines the changes that take place in our lives: in our bodies, personalities, ways of thinking, feelings, behavior, relationships, and the roles we play. We will describe these changes and seek to explain why they occur and the influences of heredity and environment. NOTE: Students who take this class cannot have taken, be currently enrolled in, or in the future enroll in PSY 231.
How do we decide what behaviors constitute a psychological disorder? This course will provide an overview to the study of psychopathology. As an introductory course, it will focus primarily on the description of various psychological disorders, their clinical course, and the current understanding of their causes. NOTE: Students who take this class cannot have taken, be currently enrolled in, or in the future enroll in PSY 232.
The human sexual experience will be examined openly and objectively from physical, social, and psychological perspectives. Issues of current concern such as pornography, homosexuality, and sexuality and the handicapped will be explored in depth. Lectures and discussions may be supplemented by audio-visual materials and guest speakers.
This course will provide a broad overview of the field of forensic psychology and the numerous ways that the discipline of psychology may be applied to the practice of the law. Forensic psychology focuses on the application of psychological research, methods, and expertise to issues that come before the legal system. The mental disorders that are encountered in forensic evaluations will be considered, along with the manner in which forensic psychologists assist judges and juries in determining criminal responsibility and punishment. Students will learn about the psychological underpinnings of crime; issues around competency to stand trial; issues around the insanity defense, capital murder and the death penalty; issues around child custody matters; jury selection; and interrogation procedures.
How does culture affect human behavior? The aim of this course is to use psychological theory and research to examine culture's effects on people cross-culturally. This course will examine how people are influenced by their culture and how people consider culture in the way they think about and treat others. This course will also focus on facets of cultures, including gender, race, ethnicity, and poverty. In addition, the course will examine how interactions among these facets influence people across-cultures.
This course will explore recent discoveries in human psychology that have transformed our understanding of economics and created the influential new field of behavioral economics. Classical economics assumes that people make rational decisions based on all available information to optimize their well-being. However psychologists have shown that people take mental shortcuts that lead to predictable errors. This class will provide examples of how social scientists apply human decision making theory in a broad array of fields, such as personal finance, governmental programs, and business.
This course explores the relationships between psychology, architecture, and urban planning. A primary focus will be how the intersection of these disciplines can influence the future of communities and the communities of the future. Students will gain an understanding of how psychological theory can inform the development of successful spaces, buildings, and cities, and thriving and sustainable communities. Current research topics and theories to be covered include environmental psychology, psychology of architecture, and urban anthropology.
Industrial/Organizational Psychology is the scientific study of human behavior in organizations and workplaces. The focus of I/O Psychology is both individual and group performance, satisfaction, safety, health and well-being through a variety of quantitative and qualitative methods. By studying worker attitudes and behaviors, I/O psychologists are able to recommend or create improved hiring practices, training programs, feedback systems and management techniques to boost company performance.
Art therapy uses different forms of creative expression to help people explore and transform feelings, thoughts, and ideas. It can help to process and cope with emotional issues, as well as facilitate self-awareness, understanding, healing, and well-being. Art therapy can be especially useful for people who find it difficult to talk about their thoughts and emotions. In this course, students will examine theories and models of art therapy. Through discussion of readings, sharing of experiences, group work, and art therapy activities, students will increase their understanding of the history, theory, practice, and applications of art therapy in various settings. Note: this course does not count toward the Psychology minor.
This course will examine major controversial issues throughout the history of psychology. From ancient Greeks arguing about where the mind is to 20th century disputes about how the brain works and beyond, we will address the many philosophical, historical, and biological inputs leading to modern psychology. Colorful characters include: Frankenstein, Mesmer, Darwin, Pavlov, Freud, James, Watson, Binet, Piaget, Skinner, Maslow, and many more. Controversies about eugenics and the treatment of women and minorities in psychology will be addressed as well.
This course explores how our thoughts, emotions, habits, and social environments shape our financial decisions. Integrating research from psychology, behavioral economics, and personal finance, this course examines common cognitive biases, spending behaviors, emotional reactions to money, and cultural influences on financial attitudes. Students will learn evidence-based strategies for changing maladaptive money habits, increase their financial literacy, and develop healthy long-term financial behaviors. Designed for students preparing for financial independence, the course blends scientific theory with real-world application, helping learners understand why they make the financial choices they do—and how to make better ones.
Topics will vary according to the semester in which the class is offered.
This introductory course in research methods prepares students to understand and apply the techniques and methods of descriptive and inferential research as they are applied to the social sciences. Topics include the scientific method, ethical issues in research, survey design, research design, and basic analysis of data. This foundational course of study will take the student through the various steps of a traditional research design.
This course is an introduction to the basic principles of statistical analyses. Topics will include basic probability theory, types of data, and statistical reasoning. Students will learn common statistical analyses involving differences between means, correlation, and regression.
This is an introductory-level course exploring the relationship between human behavior and the functioning of the brain. Topics to be covered include research techniques in neuroscience, the structure and function of the peripheral and central nervous systems, the structure and function of nerve cells, the chemistry of the nervous system, and drug effects in the nervous system.
This course equips students with essential digital, academic, and professional competencies—including software literacy, effective study strategies, foundational scientific reasoning, and career readiness—to support success in the psychology major. Hands-on practice with tools such as research databases, data management platforms, and AI will aid students in learning effective communication, collaboration, and time management strategies as well as how to critically evaluate information in an online world.
This course will introduce students to the diverse disciplines of the neurosciences, with an emphasis on methodologies and historical research and perspectives. Students will obtain an understanding of the anatomy of the central and peripheral nervous systems, with a specific focus on electrical and chemical cellular transmission, and the pharmacology of synaptic transmission.
In this advanced course, students will explore the neural and hormonal regulation of social behavior. Topics to be covered will include: sleep and other biological rhythms, neurological and psychiatric disorders, emotion, learning and memory, behavioral endocrinology, ingestive behavior, and reproductive behavior.
This course will introduce students to the emerging interdisciplinary field of cognitive neuroscience. Students will learn methodological and investigative techniques and strategies used in research in cognitive neuroscience. Students will be also exposed to current research in psychophysiology and neuroradiology that further understanding of behaviors such as attention, perception, learning and memory, language, reasoning, and consciousness.
Non-human animals play an integral part in lives of humans. This course will explore the important relationship between human and non-human animals. Topics to be covered include: the history of animal domestication, and the influence of animals on human culture and religion. Moreover, the ethical implications of human interactions with animals in the laboratory, in captivity, as livestock, and in the wild will be considered.
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a developmental and psychiatric disorder characterized by significant difficulties with social interaction, communication, and repetitive behaviors, which is estimated to affect approximately 1 in 68 individuals. This course is designed to examine and review a range of medical, psychiatric, and other conditions which commonly co-occur with ASD. These include genetic disorders, seizure disorders, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety disorders, depression, obsessive compulsive disorder, sleep disturbances, gastrointestinal problems, eating disorders, overweight and obesity, and lowered quality of life. We will review and discuss the nature, time-course, impact, assessment, and treatment for each co-occurring condition, as time permits. The ultimate goal of this course is to broaden understanding of the critical role that co-occurring conditions play in the lives of individuals with ASD and their families, as well as in helping us to better understand the causes and characteristics of ASD.
This course is an introduction to the techniques and methods of descriptive and inferential research as they are applied to psychological science. Topics include archival research, naturalistic observation, participant-observer research, clinical-case studies, correlational research, quasi-experimental designs, between- and within-subject experimental designs, and factorial-design research. Particular emphasis on ethical issues in psychological research is given.
This course is an introduction to the basic principles of statistical analyses, descriptive and inferential, that are used in the social sciences. Topics include measures of central tendency, variability, correlational analyses, regression, estimation, hypothesis testing, and selected parametric and non-parametric tests. Laboratory work will include the use of computer-based statistical packages to aid in analysis and interpretation of discipline- appropriate research data.
We live in a multicultural society that requires an appropriate understanding of cultural diversity. This course will provide students with a theoretical and practical understanding of the effects of culture on human thinking and behavior. The course considers current theories and research on culture, gender, race and ethnicity with the goal of better understanding the ways in which the multicultural context influences psychological processes. The aim of the course is to achieve a better appreciation of cultural groups and consideration of cultural issues in interpreting social experiences.
The world around us abounds with all manner of sensory stimuli-visual, olfactory, auditory, tactile, and gustatory. This course will explore the manner in which we internalize this information and use it as knowledge about what is going on around us. Each of the senses will be considered from biological and phenomenological perspectives, and the process by which we derive meaning from sensory activity will be examined. Topics to be covered include object perception, visual attention, music and speech perception, somatosensory processing, taste preferences, and smell recognition.
Other than that which is genetically coded, everything we know is derived from and reflects memory for information that we have learned in the past. This course introduces the student to the scientific investigation of the basic processes of learning and memory. Topics of discussion will include the traditional theories, methodologies, and empirical findings of habituation and sensitization, classical conditioning, and instrumental conditioning. In addition, mechanisms of retention, sources of forgetting, and the biological basis of learning and memory processes will be considered.
Neuropsychology will introduce students to understanding human brain/behavior relationships. Emphasis will be placed on commonly used approaches in assessing and measuring human behavior and how the human brain is responsible for cognition, language, memory, spatial processing, emotion, and personality. Students will gain an understanding of principles of brain organization, individual differences, and professional and clinical issues in neuropsychology.
Health psychology is a field that incorporates many sub-disciplines of psychology with modern medicine. This course seeks to provide the student with an understanding of how social, psychological, and biological variables combine to cause illness, and how behavior and environments can be changed to promote health. One important focus of the course concerns understanding the nature of stress and the impact stress has on health.
How do drugs affect consciousness and behavior? This course will examine the action of many different drugs, both medicinal and illicit, from biological, behavioral, and social perspectives. The relationship between alterations in behavior produced by drug administration and the changes that the drug produces in the functioning of the nervous system will be emphasized. Topics to be covered include routes of drug administration, drug absorption, transport and elimination, mechanisms of drug action, the histories of miscellaneous drugs, and the behavioral and biological activity of alcohol, nicotine, caffeine, the opiates, the hallucinogens, the antipsychotics, amphetamines, and cocaine.
This course examines the evolution and development of animal behavior. Students will gain an understanding of the behavioral diversity and commonalities among animal species. An emphasis will be placed on comparing the characteristics of human behavior with those of other species, with special attention given to the cognitive capabilities of non-human animals.
This course will introduce students to major theories and topics of the psychology and biology of emotion. Areas explored include the role of the brain and peripheral physiology in emotion, how emotion is expressed, the role of cognition, cultural differences, social aspects of emotion, development of emotions, and the role of emotion in health and psychopathology.
Cognitive psychology is the study of how the human mind processes information. Learning and organizing new information, remembering facts and events, recognizing objects, reading, using language, and problem solving are examples of cognitive tasks people perform every day. In this course you will learn about the mental processes underlying these tasks. Particular emphasis will be given to mental representations of information, computational models of mental processes, and applications of cognitive psychology.
This course introduces undergraduate students to the scientific exploration of what it means to “be creative.” Students will evaluate the evidence that supports the definitions, approaches, assessments, models, and recommendations offered in support of cultivating creativity. The course will emphasize cognitive neuroscience approaches and include critical analysis of major domains of creativity, including musical, visual-artistic, and scientific.
The discipline of social psychology can be described as the study of the "power of the situation." Although we like to think that our behavior and our attitudes are freely chosen by us, this course illuminates how powerful outside situational forces can be in shaping both. It involves the understanding of how people influence, and are influenced by, others around them; how we form impressions of others and of ourselves; what determines our attraction to others (or lack thereof); why we help one another, and why we hurt one another. In addition to a basic understanding of these phenomena, an equally important goal is to develop critical and integrative ways of thinking about theories and research in social psychology.
This course examines the mechanisms that contribute to psychological growth and change throughout life. The goal of this course is to provide students with an understanding of the influence of biological, cognitive, emotional, social and cultural factors on development from infancy into adulthood. Theories of development and applications to real-world problems will provide a context for understanding how humans change during the life cycle. Lectures and discussions will interweave theory, methodology and research findings about how we develop and demonstrate our abilities to perceive, think, feel, remember, plan, and ultimately realize our potential as human beings. Note: Enrollment is limited to students with a major in Psychology. Students who take this class cannot have taken, be currently enrolled in, or in the future enroll in PSY 120.
This course will provide an overview to the study of psychological disorders or abnormal behavior. Our current understanding of psychological disorders from biological, behavioral, cognitive, and psychodynamic perspectives will be presented. Attention will be given to the nature, causes, and course of various psychological disorders as well as treatment for specific disorders. Note: Enrollment is limited to students with a major in Psychology. Students who take this class cannot have taken, be currently enrolled in, or in the future enroll in PSY 122.
Continuing demographic changes occurring globally as well as nationally have accelerated research in and theorizing about heretofore-neglected periods of human development. The 'graying' of the human population has accelerated interest in the topic of adulthood and aging at both the theoretical and empirical levels. This course will explore the adult experience using a life-span perspective and a contextual analysis including contributions from the fields of anthropology, biology, psychology, and sociology.
This course has been designed to provide in-depth considerations of both classic and current issues regarding the self. As a concept, the self is consistently referred to in many fields of psychology. But what is the self and how is it represented? This course will consider the self from a social psychological perspective. Special focus will be on defining the self and identifying the influences that various aspects of the self-have on our perceptions, emotions, and behavior.
This course will examine a wide variety of psychological issues concerning gender. Topics will include gender bias in research, theories of gender, gender typing, cultural emphases on gender differences, gender and the self-concept, and psychological phenomena unique to women's and men's experiences.
Ethics and professional issues in clinical psychology will be addressed in this course. The focus will be on ethical principles as applied to psychological assessment and diagnosis, psychotherapy and clinical judgment, clinical research, and client-patient and student-teacher relationships. Case studies will be used to illustrate ethical and professional issues, as well as examples from clinical practice and modern media.
This course will provide a comprehensive introduction to abnormal child psychology. Assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of children and adolescents will be discussed. Specific disorders covered will include attention- deficit/hyperactivity disorder, anxiety disorders of childhood, affective (mood) disorders, conduct disorder and other disruptive behavior disorders, learning disabilities, autism spectrum disorders, and sleep disorders.
Social development involves the ways that children grow and interact with others, including parents, peers, siblings and authority figures. This course will cover social development from infancy through adolescence. The course will cover the major theories of social development, as well as issues such as parenting styles, gender development, moral development, aggression and motivation.
Every one of us is exposed to, and thus influenced by, some aspect of the media. This course will examine some of the major aspects of the media, including 1) media content, with emphasis upon depictions of gender, age, race, sexuality, violence, advertising, and news, 2) effects of exposure to that content, and 3) who owns and thus controls the content of what we see, hear, and play. As a laboratory course, students will also engage in the full research process, from reviewing the scholarly work of others, formulating an original research hypothesis, testing that hypothesis, and drawing logical conclusions from the data.
This course examines the application of psychological theories and research to sports and exercise behaviors. It will provide students with knowledge about psychological factors that affect performance in sports such as motivation, concentration, focus, confidence, anxiety, and relaxation. Students will also be introduced to mental skills that will enhance performance, make athletic participation more enjoyable, and learn skills that can be transferred to other aspects of their lives. Skills to be covered in this class will include: how to set measurable goals and strategies to achieve them, visualization and imagery techniques, leadership, team-building, and how to best cope and recover from injuries.
Brain Injury and Concussion will immerse students in specific areas within the field neuropsychology, the study of human brain-behavior relationships. Emphasis will be placed on traumatic brain injury (TBI), including moderate-to-severe injuries, as well as mild TBI or concussion. The course will focus on research related to how individuals sustain and recover from moderate-to-severe TBI as well as mild TBI/concussion in youth, collegiate, and professional athletes, with an emphasis on how athletes sustain concussions, how concussions are assessed, treated, and managed, and how return-to-play decision are made. This course will introduce students to research in the field of neuropsychology through primary source material in the field in the form of book chapters and journal articles.
This course will develop students' understanding of foundational knowledge in Psychology through a consideration of classic and contemporary films. It will examine current issues and theories in Psychology through the process of film analysis. It will also explore the effects popular cinema has on the attitudes and perceptions of foundational concepts and theories in Psychology.
This course emphasizes the physical, social, emotional, and cognitive developmental changes that occur during adolescence. Topics relevant to adolescent development in various contexts, including families and the parent-adolescent relationship, self and identity development, the increasingly important role of peers, school adjustment, and the nature and implications of psychosocial problems will be covered.
Given that relations between social groups are an integral part of society, it is important to investigate how and why prejudice can affect interactions between these groups. This course will introduce students to various social psychological frameworks for understanding the origins and consequences of prejudice, and ways to improve relationships between people who come from different social groups. Topics discussed will be applied to a variety of groups (e.g., race, gender, weight, sexual orientation, etc.) and have implications for various settings (e.g., educational, organization, clinical, etc.).
Behavioral medicine is the application of behavioral health techniques to the prevention and treatment of health conditions and illness. Topics covered will include assessment and intervention strategies in healthcare settings, psychologist’s role in affecting lifestyle changes (e.g., smoking, obesity), and psychological interventions for medical and psychophysiological disorders (e.g., cardiovascular, cancer, chronic illnesses).
This course covers the science of positive psychology, focusing on strategies, habits, and characteristics that promote happiness and well-being. Students will examine topics such as positive emotions, resilience, motivation, mindfulness, gratitude, self-control, optimism, and healthy relationships. The course also addresses common misconceptions and misapplications of positive psychology, along with their potential side effects. By the end, students will understand how to use positive psychology to cultivate a more fulfilling, meaningful life, both personally and in their communities.
Humans are primates and this course is designed to introduce students to the field of primatology. The three main themes of the course are 1) Humans as primates and the current understanding of human evolution, 2) life history and social behavior of the major groups of primates (prosimians, New World & Old World monkeys, and apes), and, 3) a special emphasis on primate cognition. How does understanding nonhuman primates help us understand humans? Behaviors covered include, social organization, affiliation, dominance and aggression, and communication. Cognition discussed will include problem-solving, tool-use, counting, social cognition (and theory of mind), intention, and other related mental processes.
This course is an introduction to the study of how language is represented in the human mind and what processes are involved in language use, including producing, comprehending, and storing both spoken and written language. Together, we will explore questions such as the following: How do humans store and recognize words? How do we analyze speech? What processes are involved when we speak and read? We will study spontaneously-occurring speech errors and misperceptions and carry out experimental investigations on language production and comprehension. This course is open to students from all academic majors.
Starting before they are even born, most children acquire language with tremendous ease in a very short period of time. It is a remarkable achievement, usually taken for granted unless something goes awry. This course focuses on the acquisition of a first language in infancy and childhood by highlighting issues in various areas of linguistic analysis: sounds, word and sentence meaning, word order and language use in various communicative contexts. We will also focus on different theories that try to account for the cognitive and linguistic processes that together result in first language acquisition as well as atypical language development from which much is learned about the process of first language acquisition. Of benefit and interest to all academic majors, this course is particularly relevant to students in the areas of linguistics, education, autism studies, psychology and health-related areas including speech therapy/speech language pathology.
Topics will vary according to the semester in which the class is offered.
What can you do with a degree in Psychology Major? Do you know how to search for an internship or a job? Are you ready to apply for a position should the opportunity arise? This professional development seminar will enhance your knowledge about internships and careers within your major and help you build practical skills through class instruction, assignments, and alumni exposure throughout the semester. This one-credit course meets once a week through the semester to provide practical instruction and skills in areas that include internship search and application, resume/cover letter prep, professional communication, and networking/interviewing.
This is an advanced course that provides an overview of the field of clinical psychology. Students are expected to have taken Abnormal Psychology and are familiar with the various psychological disorders covered in that course. The primary goals of the Clinical Psychology course are to familiarize students with the history of clinical psychology as a field, including the roles in which clinical psychologists serve and settings in which they work, as well as current issues and debates in the field; provide a foundation in student's understanding of the various theoretical orientations that guide how clinical psychologists approach their work; orient the student to the various types of assessments that are employed to aid in the treatment conceptualization; and help students clarify their own interests and approaches in the mental health field and mapping them to the client populations and presenting problems of interests and the appropriate graduate programs to suit their goals.
This course covers the theory, construction, use, and interpretation of the wide range of available psychological, neuropsychological, and educational tests. Tests of intellectual ability, academic achievement, industrial aptitude, and personality and clinical variables will be reviewed. Specific emphasis will be placed on reliability, validity, ethics, the utility of test measures, test administration, and interpretation and communication of test results.
This course provides an in-depth exploration into the theories, techniques, and ethical considerations underpinning effective helping relationships, with a particular emphasis on their applications in counseling and psychotherapy contexts. Students will delve into the fundamental principles and empirical research surrounding helping skills, equipping them with the necessary tools to assist individuals in exploring issues, gaining insight, and taking meaningful action towards personal growth and change. Students will engage in experiential learning activities and role-play exercises aimed at honing their practical skills in helping others. Emphasis will be placed on cultivating self-awareness, empathy, and active listening techniques essential for building rapport and fostering trust in helping relationships. An integral aspect of the course involves critically examining personal biases, beliefs, and societal stigmas surrounding mental health counseling.
This course will focus on a different topic in psychology from the perspective of the natural sciences each semester that it is scheduled.
This course will focus on a different topic in psychology from the perspective of the natural sciences each semester that it is scheduled.
This course will focus on a different topic in psychology from the perspective of the social sciences each semester that it is scheduled.
This course will focus on a different topic in psychology from the perspective of the social sciences each semester that it is scheduled.
The content of the Independent Study is negotiated between student and faculty mentor. The content cannot be that of an existing course in the curriculum unless that course will not be offered during the time that the student completes their program of study. Permission of instructor required.
The content of the Independent Study is negotiated between student and faculty mentor. The content cannot be that of an existing course in the curriculum unless that course will not be offered during the time that the student completes their program of study. Permission of instructor required.
Students are responsible for designing and conducting an original research project under the direction of a faculty mentor. Permission of instructor required.
Students are responsible for designing and conducting an original research project under the direction of a faculty mentor. Permission of instructor required.
Topics will vary according to the semester in which the class is offered.
This course will focus on a different topic in psychology from the perspective of the natural sciences each semester that it is scheduled. The semester's topic will be treated in depth in a seminar format. Students will become familiar with research and theory in the area under study using primary source material. Students may also become involved in research projects in the area under study.
This course will focus on a different topic in psychology from the perspective of the natural sciences each semester that it is scheduled. The semester’s topic will be treated in depth in a seminar format. Students will become familiar with research and theory in the area under study using primary source material. Students may also become involved in research projects in the area under study.
This course will focus on a different topic in psychology from the perspective of the social sciences each semester that it is scheduled. The semester's topic will be treated in depth in a seminar format. Students will become familiar with research and theory in the area under study using primary source material. Students may also become involved in research projects in the area under study.
This course will focus on a different topic in psychology from the perspective of the social sciences each semester that it is scheduled. The semester's topic will be treated in depth in a seminar format. Students will become familiar with research and theory in the area under study using primary source material. Students may also become involved in research projects in the area under study.
Source: Saint Joseph's University's catalog, linked per course · table learning_unit · CourseShelf publish 59
