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Psychology
Department's Objectives
(1) To teach students the basic principles,
theories, and methods of the field.
(2) To develop students' abilities to speak,
write, and think critically about the discipline's subject matter and to
enable them to become self-learners.
(3) To enable students to apply psychology to
their own lives.
(4) To prepare students for graduate study in
psychology.
(5) To prepare students for immediate
employment in a number of human service careers for which a psychology
background is valuable.
(6) To introduce psychology to non-majors and
to serve other programs on campus (e.g., nursing, education, etc.).
(7) To foster an awareness of how psychology
can be seen as one component of an integrated liberal arts education.
(8) To foster a set of attitudes relating to
a tolerance of ambiguity, an appreciation of individual differences, an
appreciation of complexity in explaining behavior, an appreciation of the
importance of research, and a sensitivity to the nature of and need for
ethical judgment.
Requirements
for a BS degree in Psychology
Culver-Stockton
College offers a B.S. Major in Psychology. Besides "normal
coursework," this requires 36 credit hours in psychology and 3
credit hours hours of Statistics (Mat 205).
Specifically...
Credit
Hours
Course
(3)
Psy 102 - General Psychology
(4)
Psy 312 - Research Methods in
Psychology
(4)
Psy 420 - Advanced Research
Methods in Psychology
(3)
Psy 422 - History and Systems
of Psychology
(1)
Psy 390 - Career Seminar in
Psychology
(9)
Required Electives in Psychology *
(12)
Additional Psychology Electives
(3)
Mat 205
39 Credit Hours
*Regarding the 12 hours of required
electives, this includes:
At least one
course selected from:
(3) Psy
200 - Life-Span Human Development
(3) Psy
215 - Psychology of Personality
At
least one course selected from:
(3) Psy
305 - Introduction to Learning Theories
(3) Psy
320 - Sensation and Perception
(3) Psy
359 - Biological Psychology
(3) Psy
421 - Memory and Cognition
At
least one course selected from:
(3) Psy
314 - Abnormal Psychology
(3) Psy
409 - Principles and Practices of Guidance and Counseling
(3) Psy
412 - Social Psychology
In
addition, you must take the following course:
(3) Mat 205 - Elementary Statistics
Notes: In addition to coursework, students seeking a major in
psychology are required to demonstrate participation in community
service.
Finally, students seeking a major
in psychology are required to perform and present their findings from an
original research project.
The Community Service
Requirement
THE COMMUNITY SERVICE REQUIREMENT
EFFECTIVE WITH THE FALL INCOMING CLASS OF 2007
Former College Requirement, 2006 catalog:
“Students will be asked to demonstrate their connection to the larger
world by undertaking acts of community service or participating in a
college sponsored mission trip or activity,” (p. 13, Academic Catalog
2006 – 2007.)
College requirement starting with the incoming class of fall 2007/08 as
passed by the faculty Assembly in April 2007 (paraphrased): All
Culver-Stockton College Students are required to perform a minimum of
eight hours of volunteer work per academic year. This does not include
internships.
Requirement for a BS in Psychology from C-SC (Augmented Requirement):
All psychology majors are required to perform 8-hours of community
service per academic year and are encouraged to have been involved in six
or more different community service activities before graduation. The
number of community service activities before graduation for all majors
shall be assessed individually by the student's advisor.
The primary mechanism to perform voluntary acts of community service is
to participate in the community service activities of the Psychology Club
and Psi Chi, which is C-SC's chapter of the National Honor Society in
Psychology.
The
Undergraduate Research Requirement
THE UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH REQUIREMENT EFFECTIVE
WITH THE FALL INCOMING CLASS OF 2000
All
psychology majors, including those enrolled as pre-occupational
majors, seeking an undergraduate degree in psychology are required
to conduct original research at Culver-Stockton College. The
research must include an APA style paper.
The primary mechanism to
fulfill this requirement is by taking the required Advanced
Research Methods course. Alternately, an approved
independent research project conducted with C-SC faculty
supervision may be used to fulfill the requirement.
Students are highly encouraged to
present their findings at a psychological research conference;
particularly ILLOWA,
and/or publish their research in an appropriate Journal.
Students who are members of Psi Chi may also present their findings
at the annual Midwestern
Psychological Association (MPA) conference in Chicago.,
IL.
Recommendations
and Tips for Planning Your Academic Future
·
If you are planning on graduate
study in psychology, we recommend that you take: Bio 109
(Introduction to Biology) and additional math courses such as Mat 110
(College Algebra).
·
Know when courses are offered. Psychology
course cycling is noted in the college catalog and also appears in
Appendix A. Some courses are offered only once a year or every
other year. It is absolutely necessary, therefore, that you engage in
effective long-range planning in order that you can get the necessary
courses when they are offered. Pay special attention to
upper-level classes such as History and Systems, and classes from the
Experimental Block of the psychology curriculum.
·
Know your catalog and the course
cycling so well that you know them better than your Advisor does.
Ultimately, effective, wise, and accurate course planning is your
responsibility.
·
Read the sample course sequences
that follow the course cycling sheet (see Appendix A). Use them as a
guide for your own planning.
Suggested Course Timing
·
Psy 102 Fall
semester of Freshman year
·
Mat
205 Spring semester of Freshman year or
Fall semester of Sophomore year
·
Psy 312 Fall
semester of Junior year
·
Psy 390 Spring
semester of Junior year
·
Psy 420 Spring
semester of Junior year
·
Psy 422 Fall
semester of Junior or Senior year
·
Core
courses: Freshman year – Sophomore year
Know and adhere to course prerequisites!
We recommend the following optimal sequence when
considering any of the courses listed above (See also appendix B):
1. Psy
215 (Psychology of Personality)
2. Psy 314
(Abnormal Psychology)
3. Psy 409 (Principles and
Practices of Guidance and Counseling)
Psychology
Minor
We offer a minor in psychology and require 18
credit hours of psychology courses, as follows:
Credit
Hours
Course
(3)
Psy 102
(3)
Psy 200 or 215 (select one)
(3)
Psy 305, 320, 359, or 421 (select
one)
(3)
Psy 314,409, or 412 (select one)
(6)
Six hours of electives in psychology, but not Psy
276, 390, 476, and 480.
18 Hours
Notes:
In addition to coursework, students seeking a minor in psychology
are required to demonstrate
participation in community service.
Course Descriptions
Psy 102 -
General Psychology
The course
introduces the history, methods, theories, principles, and applications
of the field of psychology - the science of behavior. Offered
every semester. (3)
Psy 200 -
Life-Span Human Development
The course surveys the study of human
development and individual differences, from conception to death. Physical,
cognitive, social, and personality development at each stage of life are
examined. Prerequisite: Psy 102. Offered
every semester. (3)
Psy 212 -
Educational Psychology
The course describes psychological principles,
methods, and theories as they apply to the classroom and the processes of
teaching and learning. Prerequisite: Psy
102. Offered every semester. (3)
Psy 215 -
Psychology of Personality
The course examines the major theories,
methods of assessment, and relevant research in the area of personality.
Psychoanalytic, cognitive, humanistic, behavioral, and social-learning
approaches are emphasized. Prerequisite: Psy
102. Offered every fall. (3)
Psy 276 -
Exploratory Internship in Psychology
The internship offers experience in an
appropriate agency, hospital, industry, research setting, or other
approved setting. The purpose of the internship is to provide hands-on
experience in a clinical, experimental, or industrial setting.
Prerequisites: Sophomore standing, acceptance by psychology professor and
host agency, and approval of internship office. (1-3) May be repeated up
to a maximum of 3 credit hours. Maximum number of internship hours (Psy
276 and 476) that can be counted toward psychology electives is 6.
Psy 289/489
- Selected Topics in Psychology
A study of selected issues not covered in
other courses. May involve field trips and/or travel.
Course may be repeated. Prerequisites: Psy
102 and consent of instructor. (1-3)
Psy 305 -
Introduction to Learning Theories
The course examines learning theories,
principles, and applications. Prerequisite: Psy
102. Offered fall of odd-numbered years.
(3)
Psy 312 -
Research Methods in Psychology
Objectives
of the scientific method and its application for psychology.
Topics include ethics, computerized descriptive and inferential
statistics, hypothesis testing, experimentation, interpretive principles,
critical thinking, and empirical research reports in psychology. Laboratory
period included in the course. Prerequisites: Psy
102 and Mat 205. Offered every fall. (4)
Psy 314 -
Abnormal Psychology
The study of
abnormal behavior, its etiology, and treatment.
Among the disorders addressed are anxiety, schizophrenic, affective, sexual,
developmental, and personality disorders. Prerequisites.
Psy 102 and consent of instructor or Psy
215.Offered every fall. (3)
Psy 320 -
Sensation and Perception
The course examines the sensory and
perceptual systems, and relevant theories, principles, and applications.
The visual and auditory modalities are emphasized. Prerequisite: Psy
102. Offered spring of odd-numbered years.
(3)
Psy 325 /
Edu 325 - Psychology
and Education of Exceptional Children
An introduction to the psychology,
identification, and required special educational services of atypical
children—mentally retarded, physically handicapped, behaviorally
disordered, emotionally disturbed, sensory impaired, communication disordered,
their needs in either special or mainstreamed classrooms are included.
Prerequisite: Psy 200,
may also count as psychology or special education. Offered
every semester. (3)
Psy 359 -
Biological Psychology
The course examines the interaction of
behavior and biological structure and function. Prerequisites: Psy
102 and Bio 109. Offered fall of even-numbered years.
(3)
Psy
390 - Career Seminar in Psychology
Special attention is given to applied and professional
issues needed to help prepare
students for their career paths following graduation. Students will learn
about job opportunities, application to graduate school and the GRE, and
develop a graduate study and/or career plan. Prerequisite: junior
standing as a psychology major. (1)
Psy 409 -
Principles and Practices of Guidance and
Counseling
This course introduces students to the
theories, methods, and techniques of counseling and guidance.
Prerequisites: Psy 102 and consent of
instructor or Psy 215. Offered
every spring. (3)
Psy 412 -
Social Psychology
The study of
behavior in a social or group context including aggression, attitudes, prejudice,
attraction, and prosocial behavior. Prerequisites:
Psy 102 and consent of
instructor or one other psychology course. May
count as sociology. Offered
every spring. (3)
Psy 418 -
Psychological Assessment
Issues of
test development, application, administration, and interpretation in
areas such as intellectual and cognitive functioning and personality
assessment. Prerequisites: Psy
102, Mat 205, and consent of instructor or Psy
312. Offered spring of even-numbered years.
(4)
Psy 420 -
Advanced Research Methods in Psychology
Detailed
coverage of research designs having the greatest utility for research
problems in psychology. Topics
include surveys, experimentation, and non-reactive measurement
techniques. An original research project is required. Laboratory
period included in the course.
Prerequisites: Psy
312. Offered every spring. (4)
Psy 421 -
Memory and Cognition
Survey of methods,
empirical findings, and theoretical interpretations of human memory and
cognitive processes, including information and levels of processing,
concept formation, and problem solving.
Prerequisites: Psy 102 and 312 and Mat 205. Offered
spring of odd-numbered years. (3)
Psy 422 -
History and Systems of Psychology
An examination of psychological thought from
the time of the early Greek philosophers to the present. Consideration is
given to important historical figures as well as schools of thought and relevant
historical contexts. Prerequisites: At least 12 hours of psychology,
including Psy 102. Offered fall
of odd-numbered years. (3)
Psy 476 -
Advanced Internship in Psychology
Internship in an appropriate agency,
hospital, industry, research setting or other approved setting.
Prerequisites: Junior or senior standing as a psychology major,
acceptance by psychology professor and host agency, and approval of
internship office. (1-6) May be repeated up to a maximum of 6 credit
hours. Maximum number of internship hours (Psy
276 and 476) that can be counted toward psychology electives is 6.
Psy 480 -
Problems in Psychology
Independent
readings or research under the supervision of the instructor.
Prerequisites: Consent of instructor and six hours in the field or
consent of both the student’s Advisor and the instructor. May
be repeated up to a maximum of 3 credit hours. (1-3)
Major Field Test
Each fall and spring semester, all senior
psychology students are required complete the ETS Major Field Test in
Psychology. Students will be notified by email one-week before the
exam and the exam is given in the evening sometime during the first two
weeks of class in January. This test, like the GRE subject test in
psychology, assesses the extent of your knowledge about the field.
Administering this test allows us to determine the effectiveness of our
program in comparison to other programs around the country. Deficiencies
detected in such assessments would allow us to make corrections in our
program.
Exit Interview
Each spring during the last two weeks of the
semester all graduating senior psychology students are required
to complete a written exit interview. The hardcopy of the exit
interview can be obtained from the psychology faculty or the department
secretary. In addition, a link to a downloadable
copy is made available at the end of the spring
semester.
-- Updated August 01, 2007.
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