39 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.
PSY 100Research Experiences in Psychology2
This course aims to introduce students to basic processes in Neuroscience/Psychology research and help them become active and engaged members in the Neuroscience/Psychology community. You will participate in a broad Neuroscience/Psychology research project and become familiar with research ethics, laboratory techniques, basic scientific inquiry, the research process, and scientific communication.
Principles of human and animal behavior. The study of individual, group and institutional behavior in context. Meets Social Thought and Tradition Intellectual Perspective requirement (ST).
An introduction to experimental research design, methods and statistics for the behavioral sciences. This course includes research ethics training, APA style writing instruction, and data analysis. Students propose research, do peer review, collect and analyze date, and present the results through laboratory modules and term research projects.
The psychological study of human thought and behavior in social context. Core themes of this course include intergroup relations, cultural diversity, and interpersonal relationships.
This course introduces the psychology of motivation, with a focus on psychology theories and current understanding of why and how people initiate, maintain, and discontinue behavior. Students will explore concepts that include intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, goal-setting, self-regulation, hedonic adaptation, emotion, and more. A discussion of historical ideas around motivation will provide a basis for understanding how current factors - the prevalence of screen use and social media, the wellness movement, mental health crises - all influence learning, performance, and well-being in various contexts
A critical survey of the major theories of personality structure, dynamics, and development. Meets Social Thought and Tradition Intellectual Perspective requirement (ST).
This class will apply social psychological theory and research to understand the psychological underpinnings of prejudice. Students will explore the impact of prejudice on members of targeted groups with a particular emphasis on understanding the experience of racism. Grounded in psychological theory and research, students will explore current social issues related to prejudice as well as specific ways to reduce stereotyping and prejudice on both a personal and societal level. Meets Social Thought and Tradition Intellectual Perspective requirement (ST).
This course introduces Health Psychology as an interdisciplinary subject through which we work to understand how our thoughts, behaviors, and external factors support or detract from wellness. Students will explore the biopsychosocial approach to health psychology and will use critical thinking to evaluate the degree to which health and wellness claims are based on scientific evidence. Students will reflect on their own health and wellness and apply their understanding of health psychology to behavioral management, public health and health care, public policy, marketing, and other fields to gain an appreciation of the broad scope of this field.
This course explores the psychological processes that underlie human sexual behavior. With an eye toward historical and cultural variations, students will explore such topics as sexual attraction, motivation, attitudes, decision making, behavior, and disorders. This course is based on a scientifi c exploration of sexuality; thus students will learn how psychologists study sexuality empirically, and how the results of sexuality research are perceived by the public. Meets Social Thought and Tradition Intellectual Perspective requirement (ST).
A chronological approach to the principles and theories of child development from conception to late childhood and adolescence, including physical, cognitive, emotional, and social development. This course fulfills the developmental psychology requirement for early childhood education majors.
A chronological approach to the study of lifespan development from infancy to old age. This course meets the developmental psychology requirement for nursing majors.
This course challenges students to question their existing beliefs about what it means to be male and female in today’s society. We will explore traditional and changing gender roles and their impact. Course topics include an in-depth look at issues related to gender stereotypes, violence against women, interpersonal relationships, childcare and employment. Students will also explore global issues related to gender roles and culture by examining women’s lives in other countries.
A study of the interaction of individual and structural characteristics which influence productivity and human dignity in all organizational settings. Primarily utilizing case-study methods.
PSY 261Neural Networks: The Biopsychological Perspective4
An introduction to how biologically-oriented psychology analyzes such topics as memory, intelligence and consciousness as emerging from principles of neurocomputation. A cluster course. Must also register for CS 271 .
This course surveys the contributions of psychology and neuroscience to understanding human thought and human nature. Particular attention is paid to scientific approaches in studying consciousness and the field of clinical neuropsychology.
PSY 300Critical Thinking and Writing in Psychology2
This course serves as a means for you to understand and contribute to scholarly work processes in the field of neuroscience/psychology. You will contribute to completion of a neuroscience/psychology project under the leadership of a peer mentor. You will also critically investigate the neuroscience literature surrounding an identified topic and complete a comprehensive written review using appropriate style and format, with a final presentation of that review to your peers.
This course explores issues related to the assessment of human functioning within a variety of areas, including intelligence, academic achievement, personality and other dimensions of psychological adjustment. The course will focus on major assessment strategies and instruments within each of these areas, as well as principles underlying the construction and effective use of assessment instruments. A laboratory is included.
Analysis of how nervous system activity underlies sensory, perceptual and higher cognitive activities including motivation, memory, language, thought, and mental illness. A laboratory is included. Meets Scientific Discovery Intellectual Perspective requirement (SD).
An examination of the theoretical and empirical approaches to understanding abnormal human behavior with an introduction to the nature, causes and treatment of various psychological disorders.
This upper-level psychology course is designed to develop students’ interpersonal skills and knowledge related to cultural diversity based on empirical research and its application. Course content will integrate primary and secondary sources in psychology and other related disciplines. All PSY 413 students will participate in an in-depth cultural immersion experience to develop their ability to interact effectively and respectfully in complex socio-cultural contexts.
This is an upper-level psychology course focusing on Positive Psychology. Concepts addressed include emotions and happiness, character strengths, well-being in the past, present, and future, processes of change, relationships, workplace applications, successful aging and the meaning of life. This course will explore both the historical and contemporary theories and approaches and include research and relevant primary sources. Students will apply course material with experiential assignments to understand how positive psychology can be used to enhance their daily lives.
An overview of problems and processes that lead to abnormal development in childhood and adolescence. Included is an in-depth examination of early psychological disorders.
Neuropharmacology is an advanced lecture and discussion-based course in which we will focus on mechanisms of drugs in the nervous system. We will apply basic principles of pharmacology to an understanding of brain actions on neurons and neural circuits, and discuss how drugs are used as tools to better understand the nervous system and behavior. Special attention will be given to the biochemical basis of drugs used in treatment of disorders and neuropharmacology of symptoms and altered states. By the end of the course students should also be adept at critically reading and evaluating papers from the primary literature regarding neuropharmacology research.
Working in a psychology related field under the supervision of a person with at least a master’s degree in psychology or a related discipline. Regular contact with the Westminster College internship instructor is required. A reading list developed prior to actual internship activities, a journal and a paper integrating the readings, internship experience and other college course work are required.
Students will conduct a research project and complete a formal research product (most likely a journal-style article). Students are expected to present this work at internal and external conferences. This experience is focused on collaborative research among students and faculty.
Supervised, individual investigation of a topic of special interest, generally in the form of an experimental project. However, any activity which affords an opportunity for learning not usually provided by the classroom situation is seriously considered.
written approval of the department after submission of an application, including a prospectus, to the department at least two weeks before preregistration
PSY 650Research Scholars2
The research scholars program is for those exceptional students who choose to do a more extensive, two to three semester capstone research project in psychology. Students eligible for this program must have a 3.5 GPA overall, a 3.5 GPA in psychology, have taken at least three psychology courses, obtained a letter of reference from a faculty member, and must submit a writing sample to the chair of the program. Students accepted into the program begin their projects in the spring of their junior year and defend a thesis in the spring of their senior year.
