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Psychology > Courses

Courses

Department of Psychology

From the 2012-2013 Millsaps College Catalog

1000 Introduction to Psychology (4 sem. hours). This course emphasizes psychology as a scientific discipline and in particular as a behavioral science with subfields ranging from biological psychology to therapies to human development to intelligence and more. Psychology, like all disciplines, is both the study of certain phenomena and a particular way of thinking about the world. This class provides a broad overview of the discipline including vocabulary and theories, basic methods, and critical examination of the research that has been done, the research that should be done, and the uses of research results. Thinking critically and creatively about problems is a hallmark of good psychological study and experimentation. Emphasis will be placed on analyzing and critiquing the research on which current knowledge is based and on critically examining the presentation of psychological and other scientific findings in non-academic contexts.

1100/IDST 1640 Love and Sexuality (4 sem. hours). An examination of the biological, psychological, and social components of human sexuality. The course will explore the issues of love, intimacy, normal and abnormal sexual function, marriage, and alternative sexual lifestyles. Offered in alternate years.

1200/IDST 1620 Fear and Terrorism: (4 sem. hours). The violent events of the 20th century are presented not as insane aberrations in the record of human behavior but as the result of understandable psychological and social processes. Through the study of these events, we explore the analytical methods and theoretical orientations of three social science disciplines: anthropology, psychology, and sociology. Offered summers as part of the European course offerings.

2100 Statistics of the Behavioral Science (4 sem. hours). This course will introduce students to the most commonly used statistical test in the social sciences. Hypothesis testing, correlations, regression equations, and nonparametric test will be covered in this course. The course will emphasize data analysis and interpretation results. Basic understanding of math and algebra are essential.

2110 Research Methods in Psychology (4 sem. hours). This course will introduce students to the processes involved in conducting sound experimental research. Students will learn methods of research, subject selection, hypothesis testing, and data analysis. Errors that can affect research and proper control of variables will be covered as well. Student will conduct their own research project and present it to the class at the conclusion of the semester required laboratory. Successful completion of PSYC 2100 is a prerequisite for PSYC 2110. Offered alternate terms.

3020 Psychology of Women (4 sem. hours). A survey of the empirical evidence on gender differences and issues specific to women. Gender differences are examined from biological, developmental, social, and cognitive perspectives. Issues specific to women, such as discrimination and stereotyping, are also examined. Prerequisite: PYSC 1000. Offered in alternate years.

3030 Forensic Psychology (4 sem. hours). Examines the application of psychological theory, method, and research to issues in the legal system. Topics covered include eyewitness testimony, jury selection, determination of dangerousness, assessment of competence, and treatment of offender populations. Prerequisite: PYSC 1000. Recommended: PYSC 3170. Offered in alternate years.

3050 Decision Making (4 sem. hours). This course emphasizes the psychological processes utilized in making decisions. Topics covered include judgment, estimation, prediction and diagnosis, choice under certainty, heuristics and biases, risky decision making, and problem solving, as well as methods that have been developed to improve these processes. Prerequisite: PYSC 1000. Offered in alternate years.

3060 Psychology of Language (4 sem. hours). Examines the perception, comprehension, and production of language. Topics covered include psychological and linguistic aspects of phonology, syntax, and semantics; the biological bases of language; reading; bilingualism; language acquisition; and disorders. Prerequisite: PYSC 1000. Recommended: PYSC 3100. Offered in alternate years.

3070 Adulthood and Aging (4 sem. hours). This course describes the physical, sensory, cognitive, personality, and social changes that occur in normal aging. Examines the dominant theories of developmental psychology from young adulthood through old age. Prerequisite: PYSC 1000. Offered in alternate years.

3090 Drugs and Behavior (4 sem. hours). Study of the behavioral effects of the most common legal and illegal drugs. The various actions of each drug on the central nervous system are emphasized with a concentration on how these actions lead to behavioral changes. Prerequisite: PYSC 1000. Recommended: PYSC 3180. Offered in alternate years.

3100 Cognitive Psychology (4 sem. hours). Cognitive processes underlying memory, problem solving, and consciousness. Systematic exploration of processes, mechanisms, and putative structures involved in encoding, storage, retrieval, and use of information. Prerequisite: PYSC 1000.

3110 Perception (4 sem. hours). Mechanisms underlying immediate experience produced by stimuli and the organization of these sensations into meaningful, interpretable experience. Prerequisite: PYSC 1000. Offered in alternate years.

3120 Learning (4 sem. hours). Adaptive behavior with an emphasis on processes, principles, and theories related to behavioral change. Areas of reflexive adjustment, respondent conditioning, and operant conditioning, as well as their interactions, are examined. Laboratory component. Prerequisite: PYSC 1000. Offered in alternate years.

3130 Abnormal Psychology (4 sem. hours). Presents a psychological understanding and view of abnormal behavior. The presently prevailing system for the clinical classification of abnormal behavior is highlighted. Prerequisite: PYSC 1000.

3140 Theories of Personality (4 sem. hours). Consideration of the whole spectrum of personality theories, including Freudian, humanistic, existential, and behaviorist models. Prerequisite: PYSC 1000. Offered in alternate years.

3150 Developmental Psychology (4 sem. hours). Examines the general sequence of psychological development in the individual through adolescence and the dominant theories of developmental psychology. Special attention is devoted to the domains of physical, cognitive, linguistic, and social development. Prerequisite: PYSC 1000.

3160 Clinical Psychology: Theory and Method (4 sem. hours). Addresses the history, theory, and methods of clinical psychology. Major psychotherapeutic theories are considered. Prerequisites: PYSC 2100 and 3130. Offered in alternate years.

3170 Social Psychology (4 sem. hrs). Integrates current social psychological theory regarding communication, group dynamics, aggression, and human relations, with its application in real-world settings. Laboratory component. This course is the same as SOAN 3710. Prerequisite: PYSC 1000.

3180 Behavioral Neuroscience (4 sem. hours). Neurophysiologic and neuroanatomic correlates and substrates of behavior, emotion, and cognition. Prerequisite: PYSC 1000. Offered in alternate years.

3190 Psychological Tests and Measurements (4 sem. hours). Examines the history, methods, problems, and social concerns associated with measuring and assessing human behavior and abilities. Common tests of ability and psychopathology are considered. The laboratory includes administration and scoring of the WAIS. Prerequisite: PYSC 2110. Offered in alternate years.

3210 Cognitive Neuroscience (4 sem hours). This course will survey cognitive neuroscience methods such as brain imaging, neural network modeling, and behavioral testing of neuropsychological patients, toward an understanding of the neurocognitive mechanisms underlying behavior. Topics include: neuroanatomy, sensation and perception, learning and memory, object recognition, and attention and consciousness, language. Prerequisite: PSYC 1000 (Introduction to Psychology) and PSYC 2210 (Introduction to Neuroscience).

4700–4703 Undergraduate Research (1–4 sem. hours). Direct involvement of student in empirical research. Prerequisite: PYSC 1000.

4750 Special Topics (4 sem. hours). Specialty courses from a wide variety of topics in psychology. Prerequisite: PYSC 1000.

4800 Directed Study (1–4 sem. hours). Independent pursuit of content area selected by student. Prerequisite: PYSC 1000.

4850–4853 Internship (1–4 sem. hours). Practical experience/training in professional settings. Prerequisite: PYSC 1000

4902 Senior Seminar I (2 sem. hours). Part 1 of the 2 part Senior Seminar Series for Psychology Majors. This course will review the historical beginnings and current importance of Psychology as a science and ever-expanding discipline. An emphasis on the recent history of Psychology, major advances, application of psychological theory and current trends in the field will be the focus of the course. Additionally, reviews of methodologies for varying areas of Psychology and proper writing style (APA) for the discipline will be evaluated.

4912 Senior Seminar II (2 sem. hours). Part 2 of the 2 part Senior Seminar Series for Psychology Majors. This course will continue to examine the importance Psychology has played in the human experience from its earliest origins (philosophy) to its most recent incarnations (neuroscience). An emphasis on the origins of Psychology, important figures and discoveries from Socrates to modern giants in the field, and how Psychology relates to other fields of scientific inquiry will be the focus of the course. Additionally, reviews of current controversies in the field, predictions for future developments in the discipline, and discussions on how Psychology is informed by a Liberal Arts approach to learning will be examined. The class will culminate with a Reflective paper that all students must complete as part of their core requirements.

Neuroscience and Cognitive Studies

Neur 2000 Introduction to Neuroscience ( 4 sem. hours). This course will be a survey of selected topics in Neuroscience that will span the breadth of the field, ranging from cell and molecular topics to behavioral and psychological aspects of the field. Topics include: biomembrane structure and function, neural signaling, including action potential and neurotransmitter systems, and gross anatomy of the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves. Prerequisite: PSYC 1000 (Introduction to Psychology)

Neur 2020 History of Neuroscience (4 sem. hours). This course will explore how the brain and mind have been studied since ancient times. This course will also explore current methodologies used to study the brain and mind. Topics include: prescientific thinking, scientific method, neuroanatomy and physiolgy, and methodologies including, but not limited to: event related potentials, MRI, PET scans, and singlecell recordings. Prerequisite: PSYC 1000 (Introduction to Psychology) and PSYC 2000 (Introduction to Neuroscience).

Neur 3400 Applied Research Neuroscience (4 sem. hours). This course will have students participate in applied research in neuroscience with faculty from Millsaps or University of Mississippi Medical School, in a seminar about current neuroscience research, and in regular class sessions related to applied research.

Neur 4900 Senior Seminar ( 4 sem. hours). This course will entail intensive reading in the history of neuroscience and cognitive studies, exploration into the dynamic fields that study the mind and brain, investigation of new and relevant methods used to study the mind and brain, and basic preparation into the comprehensive exam.