B.A.
Psychology
The Psychology program exists as an integral part of the liberal arts offerings to permit the student to study psychology as a biosocial science. The program is designed to provide the student with insights about the individual and his or her world. It is primarily concerned with analysis of the relationships between scientific theory and basic re-search in discovering, understanding, and integrating the fundamental laws of behavior and the theories of personality dynamism. Major theories, methodological approaches, and applications of psychological knowledge are stressed in the areas of sensation and perception, learning and cognitive processes, development, motivation and emotion, personality, social psychology, intelligence, and abnormal psychology. The program offers:
- a solid preparation to those students who intend to pursue graduate studies in the fields of psychology, social work, education, guidance and counseling;
- basic skills and knowledge to those students who may find themselves at the completion of their bachelor's degree working in any of the various human services and human relations areas, such as mental health, education, personnel, government, and law.
In order to do this, the program provides a basic grounding in the general psychological principles; a solid core of methodological courses and research experience; basic courses in the areas of psychology related to interpersonal skills and relationships; courses which bridge the gap between theory and the applied settings in which the student may be required to apply such knowledge in the future; supervised internship and practicum experiences which provide a review of the field of psychology under supervision, an advanced learning experience, and an opportunity to learn to articulate one's knowledge.
Psi Chi International Honor Society in Psychology
Psi Chi was founded in 1929 to encourage excellence in scholarship and advance the science of psychology. Membership is open to undergraduate men and women who are making the study of psychology one of their major interests and who meet the qualifications.
Psychology Minor
Psychology may also be selected as an area of emphasis by students pursuing a major in the social sciences.
Degrees and Certificates
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Psychology, -
Psychology, Minor
Courses
PS 101: General Psychology I: Biological Bases of Human Behavior
Credits 3The first course of a two-semester sequence. An introduction to psychology as a natural science. The course stresses the basic methods of problem-solving and accumulating knowledge in psychology, as well as the application of those methods to the following diverse content areas: sensation, perception, physiological psychology, human development, learning, cognitive psychology. Particular stress on the contemporary issues in each of the content areas. Focus on the attainment of scientific knowledge, both theoretical and research, with an emphasis on the awareness of available varying approaches.
PS 102: General Psychology II: Social Bases of Human Behavior
Credits 3The second course of a two-semester sequence. An introduction to psychology as a social science. The course stresses the basic methods of problem-solving and accumulating knowledge in psychology, as well as the application of those methods to the following diverse content areas: motivation, emotion, personality, intelligence, psychopathology, psychotherapy, human sexual behavior, psychological testing, and social psychology. Particular stress on the contemporary issues in each of the content areas. Focus on the attainment of scientific knowledge, both theoretical and research, with an emphasis on the awareness of varying approaches.
PS 210: Lifespan Human Development
Credits 3This course provides students with a solid foundation in human development across the full lifespan, from prenatal development through the end-of-life. The course will focus on the major physical, cognitive, social, and emotional developments of each stage of life; articulate the major changes that mark transitions from one stage to another; and allow students to comprehend and critically discuss the impact of ethnic, gender, and cultural factors on human development and implications within the health and social sciences.
This course cannot be used by Psychology majors to fulfill program requirements.
PS 213: Developmental Psychology I: Infancy to Adolescence
Credits 3An introduction to the physical, cognitive, intellectual, emotional, social, moral, and personality development of the child from the pre-natal period through early adolescence and adolescence. Study of current theoretical approaches: psychoanalysis, learning theory, cognitive-adaptive theory, Piaget and Erikson. Emphasis on historically significant topics: the concept of attachment, language and cognitive development, the concept of critical period, stability and change in intelligence, fear and anxiety, and socialization.
PS 214: Developmental Psychology II: Adulthood and Aging
Credits 3Examination of human development through adulthood until death, with the human being seen as a constantly developing, changing being. Relevant theoretical and research information provides the student with an understanding of the diversity of human functioning, of the individual's attempts to adapt to different life stages and crises, and of the individual's attempts to satisfy his/her changing needs, experience joy and satisfaction, and achieve actualization.
PS 215: Adolescent Psychology
Credits 3An exploration of the unique developmental period of adolescence as a major transitional stage between childhood and adulthood. Early, middle and late adolescent development will be covered in depth along with the many physical, social, emotional and cognitive changes that occur during adolescence. Also, the familial, social and cultural contexts in which adolescent development takes place will be examined.
PS 221: Psychology of the Exceptional Individual
Credits 3Designed to provide an overview of the field of exceptionality. Topics include the identification, characteristics, and classification of exceptional individuals; the psychology of disabilities; legal issues; and the strategies needed to maximize personal, social, and educational intervention.
Field experience required.
PS 222: Educational Psychology
Credits 3Psychological principles applied to the teaching/learning process: growth and maturation of the learner, factors of efficient learning/teaching, individual differences, motivation, classroom management, effective study, transfer of learning, principles and purposes of measurement and evaluation.
Field experience required.
PS 223: Forensic Psychology
Credits 3Forensic Psychology is an interdisciplinary field that draws upon psychology, sociology, and criminal justice. Forensic Psychology is designed to introduce the field and examine aspects of human behavior related directly to criminal justice. Major topic areas include the roles and responsibilities of the forensic psychologist, the history of forensic psychology, criminal profiling, geographic pro-filing, police and investigative psychology, and criminal psychology. he profiles of serial killers will be highlighted. The court structure, judicial process, and related topics such as mental health laws, insanity and competency will be covered. The interaction between nature and nurture and their association with factors such as violence will be highlighted.
PS 224: Psychology of Personality
Credits 3Survey of major personality theories in relation to the development, structure, dynamics, and change of personality: traditional Freudian psychoanalysis and subsequent developments in psychodynamic theory and ego analysis; behavioral approaches including operant and social learning theories and newer cognitive behavioral approaches; and humanistic and existential approaches including Rogers, Maslow, Gestalt, and the existentialists. The relation of theoretical approaches to personality assessment, psychopathology, and psychotherapy also discussed.
PS 225: Criminal Psychology
Credits 3Criminal Psychology is designed to explore advanced topics in the field. Major topics include insanity and competency, domestic violence, rape trauma, child sexual abuse, child custody decisions, the juvenile court system, sexual harassment, death penalty trials, the psychology of terrorism, and influencing public policy.
PS 226: Abnormal Psychology
Credits 3An examination of the various syndromes currently classified as psychopathological, with emphasis on the major syndromes such as the neuroses, the psychoses, psychophysiological disorders, organic brain syndromes, disorders of childhood. Various theoretical orientation, in particular psychodynamic and behavioral, discussed with reference to etiological, nosological, and therapeutic problems.
PS 227: Industrial Psychology
Credits 3Introduction to industrial and organizational psychology, including personnel selection and training, assessment of aptitude, ability, attitude, interviewing techniques, time and motion studies, work environment, motivation and morale, job satisfaction and personal growth, vocational counseling and rehabilitation, communication, human engineering, advertisement and consumer research.
PS 228: Religion and Psychology: Psyche and Spirit
Credits 3A study of the rise of interest in the self and the unconscious through 19th century romantic, idealist, and existentialist reactions to the enlightenment, with a discussion of contemporary psychological theories and their positions regarding religion and religion’s uses of psychology.
PS 229: Psychology of Gender
Credits 3An inquiry into the psychological dimensions of gender, focusing primarily on the attitudes and values associated with men and women. Psychoanalytic, behavioral, developmental, biological, social, and ecological theories are employed to analyze topics such as: gender attitudes, gender roles, physiological and hormonal determinants of female/male behavior; sexuality; identity; and sex differences in psychological processes (personality, learning ability, cognition, memory, motivation, and emotion).
PS 230: Death, Society, and the Human Experience
Credits 3Death, dying, and bereavement are fundamental and pervasive aspects of the human experience. The aim of this course is to examine how individuals and societies understand and appreciate these realities. Students will examine and understand selected theories on grief, loss and end-of-life issues and use these to develop and describe their own personal philosophies about life and death.
PS 236: Social Psychology
Credits 3A survey of theoretical formulations and current research in the following topics relating to the individual in society, in groups, and to the reciprocal influence of group on individual and individual on group: social learning and socialization; social perception; inter-personal attraction; prejudice, discrimination, and stereotyping; aggression and antisocial behavior; conformity, compliance and obedience; leadership and group behavior; and environmental psychology.
PS 237: Group Dynamics
Credits 3An experientially based course which provides the opportunity for learning about group processes and dynamics both in academic terms and in experiential ones. A focus on analysis of group behavior in vivo will be stressed with the following processes underscored as especially important: goals, norms, leadership, conformity, support, confrontation, flight behavior, problem-solving, commitment and coherence, and effective group functioning.
PS 239: Sports Psychology
Credits 3An introduction to the field of sports psychology with an emphasis on research methods and theories in the parent discipline of psychology upon which sport-specific theories are based. Students are exposed to theory as it applies to recreational and elite athletes, team dynamics, and coaching behaviors. Topics of inquiry include scientific methods, behaviorism, trait and personality theories, interactionism, arousal, anxiety, intervention strategies, attentional style, observational learning, motor skills, imagery, competence, motivation, aggression, group cohesion, group performance, leadership and coaching behavior.
PS 240: Health Psychology
Credits 3This course provides a general introduction to the application of psychology to health. Topics covered include research methods in health psychology, health behavior, stress, coping, social support, patient-practitioner relations, pain and pain behavior, and the role of psychological and social factors in the etiology of chronic and terminal illness.
PS 248: Perspectives on Chemical Dependency
Credits 3Perspectives on Chemical Dependency provides a basic introduction to the study of substance use, abuse, and dependency. This course will familiarize students with the fundamentals of drug-specific information. In addition, the course will outline the theories and models of why individuals abuse substances. Environmental factors and their impact on substance usage will be examined. These factors include economic, social, cultural, and family systems. Prevention, intervention, and treatment programs for substance usage will be analyzed.
PS 250: Cultural Psychology
Credits 3This course examines the effects of culture on human behavior. We will examine the role of culture across a range of psychological areas, including perceptual and cognitive processes, human development, language, gender, and social behavior. This course will examine multiple cultures including cultures from Latin America, Africa, India, Asia, and the Pacific Islands.
PS 258: Perspectives on Human Sexuality
Credits 3Presents a general overview of the physiological, sociological, ethical, and emotional aspects of human sexuality as a means of providing an appreciation of the role of sexual behavior in the individual's general psychology. Topics including gender identity and sexual differentiation, sexuality in the life cycle, homosexuality, cross-cultural studies, and sexual issues are explored.
PS 330: Psychology of the Intellectually & Behaviorally Challenged
Credits 3Course focuses on the etiology, nature, and needs of the learner with behavioral and intellectual challenges. The roles of legislation and advocacy as they affect the academic, behavioral, social, and emotional issues involved with transition planning for this population will be emphasized.
Field experience required.
PS 331: Introduction to Psychological Statistics
Credits 3An applied introduction to basic, descriptive and inferential statistics, including z-tests, t-tests, 1-way and 2-way ANOVAs, correlations, regression, and chi square. Special emphasis is placed on using SPSS to address psychological, sociological, and educational research questions, as well as understanding and creating APA-style statistical results write-ups.
PS 342: Counseling and Psychotherapy
Credits 3An examination of the basic premises and principles of psycho-therapy with emphasis on the relationship, interpersonal processes, and communication patterns that underlie cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy. A survey of the major types of psychotherapy: psychoanalysis, nondirective, behavioral, and experiential and existential; basic principles of these types of therapy and their application to individual adults, adolescents and children, as well as to family, marital and group settings discussed. Current research on effectiveness and utility included.
PS 343: History and Systems of Psychology
Credits 3Historical development of psychological ideas from the beginning of scientific psychology. Selected psychological systems chosen because of their historical impact or influence upon the contemporary scene; in particular, structuralism, functionalism, behaviorism, psychoanalysis, Gestalt, and their new forms.
PS 344: Biopsychology
Credits 3Underlying mechanisms of human behavior, in particular the structure and function of the central nervous system. The physiological substratum of motivation, emotions, perception, learning, conditioning, and abnormal behavior.
PS 345: Learning Theory
Credits 3This course will include a presentation and examination of the principles of learning upon which behavior modification techniques are based. Classical conditioning, operant conditioning, and observational learning are explored in terms of their relation to cognitive, perceptual, social, and developmental learning. Research methods for behavior modification will be detailed. Emphasis will be placed on the application of learning to mental health, health, and educational problems. Students will learn the behavioral treatments for problems such as phobias, depression, overeating, temper tantrums, developmental disabilities, and self-help skills. Discussion of ethics and current issues in learning theory and behavior changes will be included.
PS 346: Cognitive Psychology
Credits 3An introduction to the study of mental abilities and how the human mind represents the world. The purpose of this course is to examine in-depth the cognitive theories and applications in the following areas: language, memory, attention, perception, and metacognition. Particular topics may include, but are not limited to: concept learning, schemas, memory, imagery, cognitive maps, problem solving, reasoning, judgment, decision-making, and creativity.
PS 350: Motivation Psychology
Credits 3This course examines the theory, research, and application of motivation as it relates to our understanding of the processes that activate our behaviors. A biological, cognitive, and behavioral approach will be applied to various areas such as: arousal, sleep, stress, health, hunger, aggression, modeling, pain, sensation-seeking, conformity and self-actualization. The relationship between motivation and emotion will also be briefly explored.
PS 360: Sensation/Perception
Credits 3This course introduces students to the processes of sensation and perception. Sensation and perception involve taking information from the world and transferring it to the mind, creating a picture of reality that helps humans explore the world. This course will cover the main sensory systems including sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch, as well as the neurological processes that allow humans to interpret information from the environment.
PS 410: Faculty Research Experience
Credits 1 6This course will present an opportunity for students to work closely with a full-time Psychology faculty member on the faculty person’s research, with the potential to present this research at a conference.
PS 440: Independent Study
Credits 3Intended for select students who wish to pursue independent study at an advanced level. Those qualifying will work under the direct supervision of a full-time faculty member. The study may extend for one or two semesters and three to six credits may be earned.
A study outline must be filed in the Office of the Academic Dean.
PS 441: Introduction to Experimental Psychology
Credits 3An introduction to the formulation of experimental problems, testing of hypotheses, selection of appropriate methods of investigation, preparation of experimental reports.
PS 450: Independent Study
Credits 3Intended for select students who wish to pursue independent study at an advanced level. Those qualifying will work under the direct supervision of a full-time faculty member. The study may extend for one or two semesters and three to six credits may be earned.
A study outline must be filed in the Office of the Academic Dean.
PS 452: Person in Environment II
Credits 3The second of a two-course sequence on human behavior in the context of the social environment. The primary focus is on assessment using evidence-informed theoretical frameworks to understand individuals as social systems. Particular emphasis is placed on the influence of diversity–including culture, sexual orientation, race, gender, spirituality, physical or cognitive ability– in the development of the person and in the clarification of values.
PS 472: Senior Seminar and Research
Credits 3This is the capstone course for the major. Students are expected to prepare a major theoretical or empirical research report, which will be presented in paper or poster format at the Hudson Valley Undergraduate Psychology Conference hosted by Dominican University New York each spring.
Open to Psychology majors in their senior year or to juniors with permission of the program coordinator.
PS 480: Advanced Topics in Psychology
Credits 3This course will undertake a semester-long study of a single, instructor-selected topic or closely related set of topics in psychology. Topics and instructor will vary from year to year. In depth reading and discussion is required in this course.
PS 491: Internship in Psychology
Credits 3The internship provides supervised part-time fieldwork experience in a public or nonprofit agency. This course is offered to upper-class Psychology majors. The placement site is geared toward the student's area of interest (e.g., clinical, substance abuse, research). The intern observes and/or applies knowledge gained from psychology courses under the guidance of the site supervisor. This fieldwork allows students to put theory into practice and to gain experience for graduate school or for a future career.
PS 492: Practicum in Psychology
Credits 3A course offered to upper-class Psychology majors to provide a review of the field of psychology under the supervision of the full-time psychology faculty and course instructor. Students will be given an advanced learning experience and an opportunity to put knowledge into practice. Students will gain experience as a Peer Assistant and discussion leader in the classroom.
Weekly seminar with the course instructor, reading assignments and preparation for class presentations are expected.