Undergraduate Catalog 2022-2023

PSYC - Psychology

PSYC 0001 Psychology Freshmen Seminar

This seminar provides an overview of the academic requirements for graduation, helps the student establish meaningful career goals and objectives, discusses policies, standards, procedures, expectations, and resources that will contribute to the student's success not only during the first semester but throughout their academic career at Georgia College.

1

PSYC 1101 Intro to General Psychology

A broad survey of the major topics in psychology including, but not limited to, research methodology, biological and social factors influencing behavior, development, learning, memory, personality, abnormal behavior, and therapy.

3

PSYC 2055 Stress Management

An introduction to the psychological and physiological aspects of stress, positive adaptation to stress, and the consequences of prolonged exposure to stress. Course coverage will include an examination of techniques for coping with stress.

3

PSYC 2060 Drugs and Behavior

Prerequisites: PSYC 1101 with grade of C or better and status as Psychology major. A survey of how drugs affect the brain and behavior with emphasis on pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, and mechanisms of drug action.

3

PSYC 2101 Intro to the Psy of Adjustment

An introductory examination of applied psychological theory and research concerning mental health and well-being.

3

PSYC 2103 Intro to Human Development

An overview of principles and theories of human growth and development with an emphasis on application and analysis. Note: Psychology majors are expected to take PSYC 3600, Developmental Psychology, instead of PSYC 2103.

3

PSYC 2200 Psychology of Gender

An introduction to the psychological theory and research regarding gender issues and diversity. The course is designed to introduce the student to the psychological, health, and social issues affecting contemporary women and men in a diverse society.

3

PSYC 2225 Madness: A Study of Psychology

Prerequisite: PSYC 1101 with grade of C or better. This course is an introduction to portrayals of abnormal behavior as depected in the popular press.

3

PSYC 2300 Science of the Mind

Prerequisite: A grade of C or better in PSYC 1101. This course will explore the concept of the mind through readings and class discussions. The course will examine the scientific undertakings of historical figures related to this topic. This will necessitate learning about the brain as well taking a historical perspective to the relevant material. This is a behavioral neuroscience course that will be examining an abstract topic, the mind.

3

PSYC 2400 Career Paths in Psychology

Prerequisites: C or higher in PSYC 1101, and freshman, sophomore or junior standing. This course focuses on career planning for psychology majors. Historical developments of the discipline, careers, and skills necessary for careers and graduate school are covered. It will also address topics that will include but not be limited to conducting job searches, resume and curriculum vita construction, interview skills, ethical and professional behavior.

3

PSYC 2450 Sensation and Perception

Prerequisite: PSYC 1101 with a grade of C or higher and Psychology major. Students cannot take this course if they have already taken PSYC 4440 Advanced Cognitive: Sensation and Perception. The course will examine how humans (and in some cases, other animals) sense and perceive the world around us from several perspectives; students will learn about the sensory pathways, fundamental perceptual processing, and higher-level meaning-making of the perceptual experience.

3

PSYC 2560 Interpersonal Behavior

An experiential survey of the social behavior of adults from a psychological perspective, including trust, communication, cooperation, conflict, and diversity.

3

PSYC 2700 Stats Applied to Behavior Sci

Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in PSYC 1101, and grade of C or better in MATH 2600. An introduction to the application of descriptive and inferential statistical methods to the behavioral and biomedical sciences terminating with analysis of variance for factorial designs.

3

PSYC 2800 Research Methods in Psychology

Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in PSYC 1101, a grade of C or higher in MATH 1400 and PSYC 2700. An overview of the concepts, design, and analysis of psychological research, emphasizing the logical foundation of experimental research designs and scientific ethics.

3

PSYC 2950 Special Topics

Prerequisite: Permission of department. Consideration of topics in which courses are not otherwise offered, but for which there is a current need at the freshman/sophomore level. A course with this number but covering a unique topic is repeatable for credit.

1-4

PSYC 2999 Sophomore Research Methodology

Prerequisites: Status as a sophomore psychology major, PSYC 2700 or PSYC 2800 (may be taken concurrently with this course), and permission of the instructor. Grading: S/U. A sophomore level study of the research methodologies used in the behavioral sciences that may serve as a stepping stone to the PSYC 3999 Junior Research Methodology course. This course is repeatable for credit.

0 - 3

PSYC 3100 Psychology of Learning

Prerequisites: A C or better in PSYC 1101, PSYC 2700, and PSYC 2800. An introduction to the concepts of learning as reflected in major learning theories and to the results of research in the field of learning and motivation.

3

PSYC 3200 Abnormal Psychology

Prerequisites: A C or better in PSYC 1101 and a C of better in PSYC 2700 and PSYC 2800, KINS 4813, or MUST 3520. A study of causative factors in the development of all types of psychological maladjustment, and of diagnostic and treatment techniques.

3

PSYC 3300 Behavioral Neuroscience

Prerequisites: A C or better in PSYC 1101, PSYC 2700, and PSYC 2800. An examination of the neural and endocrine mechanisms that underlie behavior. The impact of environmental factors on neural and endocrine function is also emphasized.

3

PSYC 3400 Cognitive Psychology

Prerequisites: A C or better in PSYC 1101, PSYC 2700, and PSYC 2800. A survey of cognitive theories and processes such as attention, memory, perception, thinking, and language.

3

PSYC 3500 Social Psychology

Prerequisites: A C or better in PSYC 1101, PSYC 2700, and PSYC 2800. An introduction to theories and research in human interpersonal relations, social cognition, attributions, prosocial behaviors, aggression, attitudes, and social processes.

3

PSYC 3600 Developmental Psychology

Prerequisites: A C or better in PSYC 1101, PSYC 2700, and PSYC 2800. An examination of the nature of physical, perceptual, cognitive, social, and emotional developments from conception throughout the lifespan. Social context and other sources of influences are discussed.

3

PSYC 3940 GC Nudge Unit

Prerequisite: PSYC 2700 with a grade of C or higher, PSYC 2800 with a grade of C or higher, junior or senior Psychology major or minor, and permission of instructor. An individually designed and planned learning experience involving on- or off-campus field experience applying behavioral economic theory to solving problems in the private or public sector. This course is repeatable for credit.

0 - 3

PSYC 3960 Practicum

Prerequisites: Status as a junior or senior psychology major, PSYC 2700 and PSYC 2800, an institutional GPA of 2.5 or higher, and permission of the Department Internship Coordinator. Grading: S/U. An individually designed and planned learning experience involving on-campus field experience and scheduled semester meetings with the coordinator. (3 credits).

0 - 3

PSYC 3999 Junior Research Methodology

Prerequisites: Status as a junior psychology major, PSYC 2700 and PSYC 2800, and permission of the instructor. Grading: S/U. A junior level study of the research methodologies used in the behavioral sciences that may serve as a stepping stone to the PSYC 4999 Advanced Research Methodology course. This course is repeatable for credit.

0 - 3

PSYC 4000 Theories of Personality

Prerequisite: PSYC 1101 and classification as a junior or senior. An exposure to the personality theories of psychoanalysis, behaviorism, and humanism. Students will examine their own intrinsic personality theories and how such theories impact the way they view themselves, others like them, and others different from them.

3

PSYC 4055 Psyc of Stress & Adaptive Func

Prerequisite: PSYC 1101 and classification as a junior or senior. A coverage of the psychological and physiological aspects of stress, positive adaptation to stress, and the consequences of prolonged exposure to stress. Course coverage will include an examination of techniques for coping with stress.

3

PSYC 4100 Adv Learning: Special Topics

Prerequisite: C or better in PSYC 3100. An in depth examination into a special topic in the psychology of learning including, but not limited to major learning theories or results of research in learning.

3

PSYC 4200 Adv Abnormal: Special Topic

Prerequisite: C or better in PSYC 3200. An in depth examination of special topics in abnormal psychology including, but not limited to causative factors in the development of psychological maladjustment, and diagnostic and treatment techniques.

3

PSYC 4300 Adv Beh Neurosci:Spec Topics

Prerequisite: C or better in PSYC 3300. An in-depth examination of the biological bases of behavior. Precise topics will be identified at the beginning of each term by the faculty member teaching that particular section of the course, but may include topics such as sleep and dreaming, emotions and aggression, biological bases of psychopathology, language and cognition, and biological aspects of learning and memory. Emphasis on chosen topics will vary with the background of each professor.

3

PSYC 4400 Adv Cognitive: Special Topic

Prerequisite: C or better in PSYC 3400. An in depth examination of a special topics in cognitive psychology including, but not limited cognitive theories and processes such as attention, memory, perception, thinking, and language.

3

PSYC 4500 Adv Social: Special Topic

Prerequisite: C or better in PSYC 3500. An in-depth examination of an advanced topic in social psychology including but not limited to theories and research in human interpersonal relations, group dynamics, social cognition, attributions, prosocial behaviors, aggression, attitudes, and social processes.

3

PSYC 4600 Adv Developmental: Spec Topic

Prerequisite: C or better in PSYC 3600. An in-depth examination of advanced topics in developmental psychology including, but not limited to the nature of physical, perceptual, cognitive, social, and emotional developments from conception throughout the lifespan.

3

PSYC 4920 Senior Seminar in Psychology

Prerequisites: Status as a senior psychology major and grade of C or better in at least three of the 3000-level PSYC courses required for the major. This will satisfy the capstone requirement for psychology majors. This course will include discussions and demonstration of knowledge and application in major areas of psychology.

3

PSYC 4940 Independent Study

Prerequisites: Classification as a psychology major and permission of the Department Chair. Grading: S/U. Individually arranged advanced study in a special area of psychology, including laboratory apprenticeships, which are not addressed in regular classes. Arrangements must be completed with the supervising faculty member and approved by the department Chairperson. This course is repeatable for credit.

0 - 4

PSYC 4950 Advanced Topics Seminar

Prerequisite: PSYC 1101 and classification as a junior or senior. The intensive study of selected topics in psychology. Student reports and discussion will be required, and an emphasis will be placed upon the inter-relationships of theory and empirical research. A course with this number but covering a unique topic is repeatable for credit.

3

PSYC 4960 Internship

Prerequisites: PSYC 1101 and PSYC 2700 and PSYC 2800. Status as a senior psychology major, an institutional GPA of 2.5 or higher, and permission of the Department Internship Coordinator. An individually designed and planned learning experience involving off-campus field experience in the private or public sector. This course is repeatable for credit.

3-6

PSYC 4970 Senior Thesis

Prerequisites: Status as a senior psychology major and permission of the Department Chair. Independent research, writing, and presentation of an original project in psychology developed in conjunction with a faculty supervisor and thesis committee. Arrangements must be completed with the supervising faculty member and approved by the Department Chair.

3

PSYC 4990 Senior Research Capstone

Prerequisites: Senior status, Permission of Instructor, and Permission of Department Chair. Two (2) hours lecture, two (2) hours laboratory. An advanced study of the research methodologies used in the behavioral sciences. Individual student research projects and reports are required. This course is non-repeatable for credit.

3

PSYC 4999 Adv Research Methodology

Prerequisites: Status as a senior psychology major and permission of the instructor. Grading: S/U. Two (2) hours lecture, two (2) hours laboratory. An advanced study of the research methodologies used in the behavioral sciences. Individual student research projects and reports are required. This course is repeatable for credit.

0 - 3