Psychology
Psychology Professor Brian Smith receives Alumni Award for Excellence in Teaching at 2008 Commencement.
B.A. Degree — Psychology Major
In addition to the general education requirements, majors in Psychology must complete a concentration of 37 semester hours in Psychology and 6-7 semester hours of supporting courses.
PSYC1300 Introductory Psychology 3 s.h.
PSYC2250 Developmental Psychology 3 s.h.
PSYC3250 Professional Seminar 1 s.h.
SOCI/PSYC3310 Social Psychology or
PSYC3320 Research Design and Experimental Methods 3 s.h.
PSYC3330 Biopsychology 3 s.h.
PSYC3350 History and Systems 3 s.h.
PSYC3380 Abnormal Psychology 3 s.h.
PSYC3500 Principles of Learning or
PSYC4340 Senior Research 3 s.h.
Electives in Psychology 9 s.h.
Support courses:
MATH1380 Introduction to Statistics 3 s.h.
BIOL1300 Principles of Biology or
A minor in Psychology consists of 18 semester hours in psychology including PSYC1300, 9 s.h. from psychology core listed above, and 6 additional semester hours of psychology electives. (Sociology majors may substitute SOCI4450 for PSYC3320.)
Teacher Certification in Psychology
- ONLY FOR NON-PSYCHOLOGY MAJORS WHO WANT A SECONDARY PSYCHOLOGY ENDORSEMENT (5-12): Non-Psychology Majors desiring a secondary Psychology endorsement (5-12) in Iowa must complete the Secondary Education Program (with SOSC3390 Methods of Teaching Social Studies as the appropriate methods course), a major in a secondary teaching field, and 24 s.h. in Psychology including the following courses:
- PSYC1300 Introductory Psychology 3 s.h.
- SOCI/PSYC3310 Social Psychology 3 s.h.
- PSYC3320 Research Design and Experimental Methods 3 s.h.
- PSYC3340 Personality 3 s.h.
- PSYC3350 History and Systems 3 s.h.
- PSYC3500 Principles or Learning 3 s.h.
- Or a student may take 30 s.h. in the broad area of Social Sciences to include 15 s.h. in Psychology including the following courses:
- PSYC1300 Introductory Psychology 3 s.h.
- PSYC3320 Research Design and Experimental Methods 3 s.h.
- SOCI/PSYC3310 Social Psychology or
- PSYC3340 Personality or
- PSYC3350 History and Systems or
- PSYC3500 Principles or Learning 3 s.h.
- Psychology Electives 6 s.h.
Courses in Psychology
PSYC1300 Introductory Psychology 3 s.h.
An introductory survey of psychological methods and thoughts as they relate to human experience and behavior. Topics include the role of the central nervous system in mediating behavior, learning and memory, states of awareness, motivation and emotion, personality, psychological disorders, and therapy. Goal 2d (Goal 2C Catalog 0809+)
PSYC2000 Individual Study Goal 2d (Goal 2C Catalog 0809+) 1-3 s.h.
PSYC2100 Life Skills Mentoring 0-1 s.h.
Graceland student volunteers attend one hour of orientation and three hours of mentoring training, covering such topics as the mentoring life cycle, relationship trouble-shooting, and responsible reporting. Each student then provides one-to-one mentoring and on-line mentoring services to an assigned area at-risk high school student over a period of 12 weeks, with the dual goal of assisting the at-risk student to graduate high school and to encourage him/her to pursue post-secondary education. May be repeated for credit up to four semester hours, only three of which may be used for Psychology elective credit. Prerequisite: 2.5 or above GPA, completion of and clearance by background checks. (Graded on a Pass/Fail basis.) Goal 2d (Goal 2C Catalog 0809+)
PSYC2250 Developmental Psychology 3 s.h.
The study of human development over the entire lifespan. Focus is on the interaction of physical, intellectual, social, and emotional aspects of development. Prerequisite: PSYC1300. Goal 2d (Goal 2C Catalog 0809+)
+ PSYC2350 Applied Behavioral Analysis 3 s.h.
Focus on the behavioral orientation in psychology. A thorough study of the principles of learning as they relate to making systematic changes in behavior in a variety of applied settings. Opportunity provided for the development of a self-management program. Prerequisite: PSYC1300. Goal 2d (Goal 2C Catalog 0809+)
PSYC3000 Individual Study Goal 2d (Goal 2C Catalog 0809+) 1-3 s.h.
PSYC3250 Professional Seminar 1 s.h.
Examination of professional issues and careers in psychology, including discussion of graduate school and presentations by professional psychologists. Prerequisite: Psychology major. Goal 2d, 5 (Goal 2C Catalog 0809+)
+ PSYC3280 Psychology and Law 3 s.h.
An examination of the legal system - both criminal and civil - through the use of psychological concepts, methods, and research findings. Prerequisite: PSYC1300 or instructor consent. (Goal 10 Catalog 0809+)
+ PSYC3300 Sensation and Perception 3 s.h.
Consideration of how humans receive and interpret information from their environment through receptor systems and brain mechanisms. Including theories of perception, biology of sensory and perceptual systems, and practical applications of findings from research. Prerequisite: PSYC1300. Goal 2d (Goal 2C Catalog 0809+)
PSYC3310 Social Psychology (Also SOCI3310) 3 s.h.
The study of how people think, feel, and behave in social situations. Attention given to research and application to social perception, interaction, and influence. Prerequisite: SOCI1300 or PSYC1300 (grade of C or better). Goal 2d (Goal 2C Catalog 0809+)
PSYC3320 Research Design and Experimental Methods 3 s.h.
Scientific rationale applied to behavioral research with emphasis on experimental design. Students design research, analyze and interpret data, and learn to write in scientific journal style. Prerequisites: MATH1380 and PSYC1300. Goal 2d (Goal 2C Catalog 0809+)
+ PSYC3330 Biopsychology 3 s.h.
Examination of the biological substrates of behavior. Topics include synaptic transmission and patterns of neural activity, sleep and arousal, learning and memory, and motivation and emotion. Prerequisites: PSYC1300 and one of the following: BIOL1300, BIOL1400, BIOL2300. Goal 2d (Goal 2C Catalog 0809+)
PSYC3340 Personality 3 s.h.
A study of personality from dispositional, psychodynamic, humanistic, and behavioral perspectives and of the application of personality perspectives to current issues. Prerequisite: PSYC1300. Goal 2d (Goal 2C Catalog 0809+)
PSYC3350 History and Systems 3 s.h.
A historical analysis of systematic foundations in psychology. Includes Structuralism, Functionalism, Behaviorism, Gestalt psychology, and Psychoanalysis. Prerequisite: PSYC1300. Goal 2d (Goal 2C Catalog 0809+)
PSYC3370 Cross Cultural Psychology 3 s.h.
Study of psychological theories and empirical findings relating to variations in cultures. Goal 2d, 7 (Goal 7 Catalog 0809+)
PSYC3380 Abnormal Psychology 3 s.h.
A study of the disorders outlined in the current diagnostic statistical manual. Emphasis will be on etiology, symptoms, and methods of treatment. Prerequisite: Five semester hours in Psychology. Goal 2d (Goal 2C Catalog 0809+)
+ PSYC3390 Cognitive Psychology 3 s.h.
Research and theory in areas of cognitive psychology, including attention; memory acquisition, storage, and retrieval; language comprehension; and problem solving. Prerequisite: PSYC1300. Goal 2d (Goal 2C Catalog 0809+)
+ PSYC3410 Introduction to Mental Disabilities (Also EDUC3410) 3 s.h.
A study of mental disabilities including definitions, classification systems, causes, and characteristics. Attention will also focus on the retarded in school and community. Prerequisite: EDUC/PSYC3580. Goal 2d (Goal 2C Catalog 0809+)
PSYC3440 Industrial/Organizational Psychology 3 s.h.
Psychological theory applied to problems of work: workplace design; group behavior; labor-management relations; leadership; employee selection and retention; psychological evaluation of workers. Goal 2d (Goal 2C Catalog 0809+)
PSYC3470 Psychological Tests and Measurements 3 s.h.
Assessment information applied to decision making in education and psychology. Tests of processes and skills will be reviewed as well as the technical aspects of measurement. Credit not allowed for this course and EDUC3630. Goal 2d (Goal 2C Catalog 0809+)
+ PSYC3500 Principles of Learning 3 s.h.
A study of theories, basic processes, and major conditions of learning. Topics include the role of contiguity, practice, and reinforcement in learning in addition to a variety of transfer and retention phenomena. Behavior modification techniques are discussed. Prerequisite: PSYC1300. Goal 2d (Goal 2C Catalog 0809+)
PSYC3580 Psychology of Exceptional Child and Adult (Also EDUC3580) 3 s.h.
Examine the philosophical, historical and legal bases for special education, including the definitions and etiologies of individuals with disabilities and exceptional learning needs. Study gifted individuals and those with exceptional needs from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. Prerequisite: PSYC1300. Goal 2d, 4ab, 5, 6 (Goal 2C Catalog 0809+)
PSYC3590 Educational Psychology and Measurement (Also EDUC3590) 3 s.h.
The relationship between psychology and education with emphasis on the individual as a learner and the psychology of the learning process. A review of teaching models and classroom test construction will be covered. Prerequisite: PSYC1300. Goal 2d (Goal 2C Catalog 0809+)
PSYC3900 Topics in Psychology 1 – 3 s.h.
In-depth study of topics in the field of psychology. May be repeated for credit as topics vary. Prerequisite: PSYC1300. Goal 2d (Goal 2C Catalog 0809+)
PSYC4000 Individual Study Goal 2d (Goal 2C Catalog 0809+) 1-3 s.h.
PSYC4340 Senior Research 3 s.h.
Development and implementation of an original research project. Prerequisite: PSYC3320, senior standing, psychology major. Goal 2d, 4ab (Goal 2C Catalog 0809+)
PSYC4360 Senior Internship 3 s.h.
Practical application of knowledge, theory and skills in a professional setting. Prerequisite: Senior standing, psychology major, instructor’s consent. Goal 2d (Goal 2C Catalog 0809+)
PSYC4430 Theory and Practice of Counseling 3 s.h.
A course designed to explore characteristics of counselors, characteristics of clients, basic counseling techniques, and current theories of counseling. Prerequisite: PSYC1300. Goal 2d (Goal 2C Catalog 0809+)
+Denotes an alternate year course.
