Psychology Curriculum

 

Course ID		Course Name		Credits		Course ID		Course Name		Credits
INFO1001		Technology & Society		3		EDUC2500		Practicum in Early Childhood Education OR
PSYC1002		Developmental Child Psychology OR				SOCI9999		Two (2) Sociology Electives		6
PSYC1107		Human Growth and Development		3		PSYC3100		Cognitive Psychology		3
PSYC2203		Understanding Diversity		3		PSYC3305		Group Counseling		3
PSYC2001		Psychology of Adjustment		3		PSYC4001		Research Methods		3
PSYC1001		Introduction to Psychology		3		PSYC2300		Adolescents At-Risk		3
ENGL1001		English Composition I		3		PSYC3200		Psychology of Family		3
ENGL1003		Writing About Literature		3		PSYC4301		Counseling Children		3
PSYC2105		Social Psychology		3		HUMN9999		Humanities Elective		3
EDUC1001		Behavior and the Young Child OR				NONW9999		Non-Western Culture		3
EDUC2203		Special Needs in the Classroom		3		PSYC9999		Three (3) Psychology Electives		9
BIOL1001		Biology I w/Laboratory		4		PSYC3400		Abnormal Psychology		3
BIOL1002		Biology II w/Laboratory		4		ENGL1006		Children’s Literature		3
MATH1200		College Algebra		3		MATH2200		Statistics		3
ENGL2003		Public Speaking		3		SOCI1001		Introduction to Sociology		3
PSYC4600		Senior Seminar in Psychology		3		HIST9999		History Elective		3
PSYC9999		Psychology Elective		3		OPEN9999		Six (6) Open Electives		18

ENGL1001 English Composition I 3 cr.

A traditional freshman-level expository writing course concentrating on the principles of rhetoric. Included in the course will be numerous writing assignments, discussion and analysis of selected readings, studied for form and content, and a review of grammar and mechanics. Prerequisite: C or better in ENGF1001 or demonstrated competency in placement testing.

MATH1200 College Algebra 3 cr.

The topics covered include properties of number systems, polynomials, linear and quadratic equations and inequalities, radical equations, absolute value equations, systems of equations and inequalities, graphing and verbal problems. Prerequisite: C or better in MATF1001 or MATF1002, or appropriate placement score. A grade of C or better is required for graduation from the Veterinary Technology program.

 

ENGL2003 Public Speaking 3 cr.

This course gives students training in the preparation of well-organized speeches, techniques for gaining and holding an audience, and methods to increase student confidence and poise. Students develop the skills to communicate effectively with others through practical experience in formal and semiformal speaking situations. Prerequisite: ENGL1001.

MATH2200 Statistics 3 cr.

An introductory course for students having backgrounds limited to precalculus mathematics. Areas treated are statistical methods, sampling, probability, frequency distributions, estimations, correlation and tests of significance. Prerequisite:  C or better in MATH1200 or appropriate placement score.

PSYC1001 Introduction to Psychology 3 cr.

An introduction to the basic concepts and fundamental principles of human behavior using the historical background of psychology as a foundation, and present theory and research as a tool to explore principles of learning, human development motivation, stress, personality, interpersonal skills and mental health.

PSYC1107 Human Growth and Development 3 cr.

This course will emphasize the biological, psychosocial, cognitive, sexual, cultural, and moral development of the individual from conception through old age. The theories of Freud, Erikson, Piaget, Kohlberg, Kubler-Ross and other prominent psychologists will be applied to specific problems in the developmental process.

PSYC2001 Psychology of Adjustment 3 cr.

Discusses circumstances everyone faces, from birth to death. Topics include loneliness and love, turning points, friendship, human sexuality, marriage lifestyles, and the process of aging and death.

PSYC2203 Understanding Diversity 3 cr.

In the United States, the rapidly changing demographics of the population have increased cultural diversity at all levels in all segments of society. The course will incorporate discussion of gender, socioeconomic status, religion, race, and ethnicity, as they affect various aspects of interpersonal interactions. Students will work “from the inside-out”, learning to recognize the impact of their own cultures on their existing world views, and then comparing their cultural assumptions to those of people from other groups with the goal of developing more positive relations across cultures. Prerequisite: PSYC1001 or SOCI1001

PSYC2300 Adolescents At-Risk 3 cr.

“Course is offered during the Fall of even numbered years”

Theories of adolescent psychosexual, psychosocial, cognitive and biological development will be presented.  The application of these theories and issues to understanding delinquency and drug abuse during adolescence will be discussed along with the reading of the pertinent psychological literature in these areas.  Prerequisite:  PSYC1002 or PSYC1107.

PSYC3400 Abnormal Psychology 3 cr.

This course studies important issues in mental/health illness. Problems in defining abnormality are discussed. Biological, psychodynamic, behavioral and family systems are examined. The wide spectrum of abnormal behavior from mild to severe as well as current trends in the treatment of these disorders, are discussed. This course may include field trips. Prerequisite: PSYC1001.

PSYC4001 Research Methods

This course provides an introduction to the basic methods used in behavioral and social sciences research. Topics include hypothesis formation, design of experiments, statistics and interpretation of research. Ethical issues are also examined.

PSYC4600 Senior Seminar in Psychology 3 cr.

This is a capstone course requiring students to engage in an in-depth examination of a psychological issue. The student will carry out an original research project, provide an educational presentation, and produce a career portfolio. Prerequisites: PSYC4007

PSYC1002 Developmental Child Psychology 3 cr.

This course examines the major child development theories and research; their practical implications for parents, educators, and child care workers. Physical, cognitive, language, social personality, and moral development from conception through middle childhood are the focus of this course. Current issues such as the working parent, child abuse, divorce, etc. are explored and discussed.

BIOL1001 Biology I 4 cr.

Fundamental principles of biology are studied at the molecular and cellular levels. Topics covered include the chemistry of macromolecules, molecular biology, cell biology, genetics, and the evolutionary process. Concepts covered in lecture will be applied in a required laboratory section. A grade of C or better is required for graduation in the Pre-Veterinary concentration.

BIOL1002 Biology II 4 cr.

A course study in levels of organization from tissues to populations. Particular attention is paid to organ systems and mechanism of action. The themes of regulation, homeostasis, and diversity thread through the subject matter. The course will culminate by focusing on the interdependency of life at the most complex level of biological organization – the ecosystem. Concepts covered in lecture will be applied in a required laboratory section. A grade of C or better is required for graduation in the Pre-Veterinary concentration.

PSYC2105 Social Psychology 3 cr.

This course provides the student with a working knowledge of how social situations affect behaviors, thoughts, and emotions. Topics include attraction, attitudes, prejudice, social roles, aggression, social perception and group dynamics. Readings will explore theories, research and application. Prerequisite: PSYC1001.

PSYC3305 Group Counseling 3 cr.

This course will expose students to the theories and techniques of working with clients in groups. The course will focus on group work as a method, and its relationship to other counseling techniques. Students will gain theoretical and experiential knowledge of group process, including leadership, membership, developmental stages, and types of groups. Prerequisite: Must be taken concurrently or subsequent to PSYC2002 and PSYC3400 or PSYC3402.

SOCI1001 Introduction to Sociology 3 cr.

This course explores the scientific dimensions of the sociological enterprise. Students are introduced to orienting concepts like culture, socialization and role; the constructed nature of human meaning systems; and theory building in sociology.

PSYC3100 Cognitive Psychology 3 cr.

An introduction to how the human mind processes information. Topics include perception, attention, memory, learning and problem solving. The related topics of intelligence are covered. Practical applications in educational and clinical settings are considered. Prerequisites: PSYC1001 or PSYC1002 and 31+ earned credits.

EDUC1001 Behavior and the Young Child 3 cr.

This course will explore normal and abnormal behavior and helping to change negative behavior to positive. It covers setting tones for behavior within the classroom structure, methods and recreations and working with parents to help them modify their child’s behavior. Focus: infancy to grade two.

 PSYC4301 Counseling Children 3 cr.

“Course is offered during the Spring of even numbered years”

This course sets the stage for understanding the child and family of today and tomorrow – their personas and the social, cultural, educational, and psychological environments that help shape them. Course focus will be on combining and integrating counseling skills with the therapeutic process, emphasizing how the counselor relates to the child and parent. Emphasis is placed on the process and practice specifically applied to the counseling of children and their parents. Course topics include problems in society and their effect on children, establishing a therapeutic relationship, choosing treatment strategies, counseling the developing child, individual and group counseling approaches, behavioral approaches with children, and counseling with parents. Prerequisites: PSYC3004, and PSYC3400 or PSYC3402.

EDUC2203 Special Needs in the Classroom 3 cr.

This course will provide students with fundamental background knowledge in the field of special education as well as current research on how students with various learning needs are served within inclusive school environments. Students will study the major physical, psychological, learning, and behavioral characteristics of children with special needs and the implications of these characteristics for effective instruction at the early childhood (PK-2) and elementary (1-6) levels. Prerequisite: PSYC1002 or PSYC1107.

ENGL1006 Children’s Literature 3 cr.

This course will provide a general overview of the field of children’s literature. The goals of the course are to share and develop knowledge and enthusiasm for children’s literature, to establish guidelines for evaluating children’s literature, and to develop an awareness of the various types of children’s literature. Course content includes the history of children’s literature, the importance of literature in a child’s life, ways to determine a child’s literacy preference and ways to foster early literacy in children.

EDUC2500 Practicum in Early Childhood Education 6 cr.

Three months (EEC) supervised field experience in a PK-K setting with a licensed teacher. The practicum qualifies the student to be a preschool level teacher (ages 2.9 to 4.9). It also satisfies a portion of the DOE practicum requirements for Mass. State Education Licensure. A grade of C or better is required for graduation. May only be repeated once. Prerequisites: 2.0 C. GPA, 2.7 GPA in all education courses.  A grade of B or better is required for entry into the B.A. Psychology (ECE concentration) program.

PSYC3200 Psychology of Family 3 cr.

This course surveys psychological issues related to the family. Family is defined to include diverse forms. Current theory and research are applied to topics such as partner selection, roles and relationships, stress and coping, domestic violence, and addictions. Prerequisite: PSYC1001.