Albertson College of Idaho
2006 - 2007 Catalog
Upper Division Courses
PSY-300 Psychology of Attribution, Achievement & Motivation 3.0 cr.
Winter. A course dealing with the basic research of attribution theory, achievement, and motivation. Gender differences and the psychology of obsession and compulsion will also be studied. Works of literature that explore view points other than those from the field of psychology will be examined. (SOCIAL SCIENCES)
PSY-301 Development of Personality 3.0 cr.
Fall. Alt. years. Prereq: PSY-312 or 313 or permission. A study of the classical and contemporary theories of personality development. (SOCIAL SCIENCES)
PSY-312 Research Design & Analysis I 3.0 lecture, 1.0 cr. laboratory
Fall. Prereq: PSY-206. MAT-112 strongly recommended. An introduction to the research methods used in psychology. The course includes use of the professional literature of psychology, extensive laboratory experience, and report writing. (SOCIAL SCIENCES)
PSY-313 Research Design & Analysis II 3.0 cr. lecture, 1.0 cr. laboratory
Spring. Prereq: PSY-312. This course focuses on more advanced research analysis. Extensive laboratory experience and report writing are required. Students will design, execute, and analyze an independent research project. (SOCIAL SCIENCES)
PSY-330 Introduction to Neuropsychology 3.0 cr.
Fall. Prereq: Permission. A systematic investigation of the structure and functions of the human brain. The course will focus equally on structural and functional explanations. Equal time will be spent on "normal" and "abnormal" brains. (SOCIAL SCIENCES)
PSY-331 Introduction to Psychopharmacology 3.0 cr.
Prereq: permission. PSY-330 recommended. An introduction to the effects of drugs on the central nervous system and resulting effects on behavior. (SOCIAL SCIENCES)
PSY-350 Introduction to Psychological Counseling 3.0 cr.
Fall. Alt. years. Prereq: Junior or senior standing or permission. An introduction to current theories, methods, and research in the practice of psychological counseling. (SOCIAL SCIENCES)
PSY-360 Environmental Psychology 3.0 cr.
Spring. Alt. years. Prereq: PSY-312 or 313 or permission. A study of the branch of psychology that deals with the interaction between the physical world and human behavior. Each student will conduct empirical research on some aspect of the relationship between environment and behavior. (SOCIAL SCIENCES)
PSY-370 Health Psychology & Behavioral Medicine 3.0 cr.
Prereq: PSY-312 or 313 or permission. This course examines the relationships between individual behavior and health. Attention is given to theory as well as clinical and laboratory research. Topics of investigation include sleep, diet, stress patterns, exercise, smoking and other lifestyle variables. Therapeutic strategies will be critically reviewed. (SOCIAL SCIENCES)
PSY-397-497 Internship 1.0 to 3.0 cr.
Fall, winter, spring. Prereq: Permission. Supervised work and study or research in an institution or with an organization providing for the application of psychological theories and principles to current problems. Students majoring in other fields are eligible for consideration. Students are required to observe the guidelines of the American Psychological Association. NOTE: PSY-397 does not fulfill the Liberal Arts Core requirement for independent work. Internships taken as PSY-397 are marked Pass/Fail only. See internship guidelines. (497 meets INDEPENDENT WORK requirement)
PSY-398 Practicum in Research Methods 1.0 to 2.0 cr.
Fall, spring. Prereq: PSY-312, 313, and permission. Students receive 2 credits in the fall and 1 credit in the spring. Training in teaching and research techniques. Includes meetings with professor on a weekly basis and work with small groups of students in psychology courses. May be repeated for a maximum of three credits. Pass/Fail only.
PSY-399T.1 Hitchcock's Cinema: Gaze Toward Psychodynamics 3.0 cr.
Winter. The psychodynamic perspectives of Freud and Lacan will be studied using Hitchcock's films as a lens, so to speak. The purpose of the course will be to investigate what Lacan and Freud said and then examine representations of their work through popular culture. As Hitchcock's work is so broad, the course will concentrate on films produced from his late work (1970s) back through the late period of British films (late 1930s). (SOCIAL SCIENCES)
PSY-399T.2 Motivation & Belief 3.0 cr.
Winter. Students will investigate the research literature related to motivation, cognition and behavioral choice. They will also examine literature regarding true believers, cults, serial killers, and persuasion literature. (SOCIAL SCIENCES)
PSY-399T.3 Visual violence: It's all in what you see 3.0 cr.
Winter. Prereq: Junior standing or permission. The course will examine the fascination of modern cinema producers and watchers with the serial killer genre. The question to be asked is why are we so visually interested in telling this tale in so many forms and across so many cultures. We'll consider Hoffman's theory of visual intelligence and how it can be used to understand the fascination with visual aspects of these deviant and highly uncommon individuals. Are we seeking some sort of ultimate self destruction (Freud's thanatos)? Is it an expression or our need for greater and greater fascination with something dangerous outside ourselves or are we reflecting some natural story element that we all understand? Films will include, among others, Lang's 'M', to the trilogy of the ever ambiguous Dr. Lecter. (SOCIAL SCIENCES)
PSY-399T.4 Film Noir: The Shadow and Psychology 3.0 cr.
The difficult concepts of Jungian Shadow and Lacanian Mirror will be investigated through the medium of the detective film noir. Effects of these two concepts will be examined with the goal of understanding how they have affected the narrative history (theory) of cinema and psychology. Reading and discussion will be combined with viewing the film. (SOCIAL SCIENCES)
PSY-404 Abnormal Psychology 3.0 cr.
Spring. Prereq: Junior or senior standing or permission. A critical study of the origin and development of atypical and maladaptive modes of behavior with emphasis on theory, treatment and research. (SOCIAL SCIENCES)
PSY-405 Seminar: Contemporary Issues 3.0 cr.
Fall. Prereq: PSY-312 or 313 or permission. A senior-level investigation of contemporary issues in psychology with a strong emphasis on individual use of the literature. (SOCIAL SCIENCES)
PSY-406 History & Systems of Psychology 3.0 cr.
Fall. Prereq: PSY-312 and senior standing. A study of the origins and development of psychological theory tracing the fundamental issues which have guided psychological thought. Emphasis is on world views with a secondary emphasis on great persons. (SOCIAL SCIENCES)
PSY-424 Motivation & Emotion 3.0 cr.
Spring. Alt. years. Prereq: PSY-312 or 313 or permission. The study of theories of motivation and emotion with emphasis on their use in understanding human behavior. The course is conducted as a seminar with reading in original source materials and an active research component. (SOCIAL SCIENCES)
PSY-430 Learning & Behavior 3.0 cr.
Spring. Alt. years. Prereq: PSY-312 and 313. The study and application of principles of learning that have emerged from an experimental analysis of human and animal behavior. Some of these principles are operant conditioning, reinforcement, discrimination, generalization, and extinction. Each student will demonstrate the application of one or more principles in the modification of behavior. (SOCIAL SCIENCES)
PSY-494 Independent Study 1.0 to 3.0 cr.
Fall, winter, spring. Prereq: Permission. Intensive independent study of, or research in, special topics in psychology. It is highly unlikely that permission will be given to students without advanced standing and the preparation necessary for doing original thinking at the undergraduate level. It is strongly suggested that the psychology majors expecting to attend graduate school use this option to conduct original research. Students engaged in research are required to observe the guidelines of the American Psychological Association. See independent study guidelines. (INDEPENDENT WORK)