School of Humanities and Social Sciences

Department of Psychology

Psychology Courses Undergraduate
  • PSY-K 300 Statistical Techniques (3 cr.) Fall and Spring. P: MATH-M 118 or MATH-M 119 or equivalent. Introduction to statistics, nature of statistical data, ordering and manipulation of data, measures of central tendency and dispersion, elementary probability. Concepts of statistical inference decision- making, estimation, and hypothesis testing. Special topics include regression and correlation, analysis of variance, nonparametric methods.
  • PSY-P 103 General Psychology (3 cr.) Fall, Spring, and Summer. Introduction to psychology: its methods, data, and theoretical interpretations in areas of learning, sensory psychology, psychophysiology, individual differences, personality development, and abnormal and social psychology.
  • PSY-P 216 Life Span Developmental Psychology (3 cr.) Fall, Spring, and Summer. P: PSY-P 103. A survey course that integrates the basic concepts of physical, cognitive, and psychosocial development from the prenatal period to death. Throughout the life span, theories, research, and critical issues in developmental psychology are explored, with consideration of practical implications. Credit not to be given for both PSY-P 216 and PSY-P 316.
  • PSY-P 259 Introduction to Psychological Inquiry (3 cr.)

    Fall and Spring.  P: PSY-P 103 and ENG-W 132.  Students entering the psychology major in Fall 2012 or after are required to take this course. Credit not to be given for both PSY-P 211 Methods of Experimental Psychology, and Introduction to Psychological Inquiry.  This course was taught under the course number P390 Special Topics, VT: Introduction to Psychological Inquiry, until Fall 2014.  This course will provide psychology majors with an introduction to the basic processes of psychological inquiry.  Students will be assisted in becoming more effective learners and critical thinkers, reading primary literature in psychology, and conducting basic survey research as well as learning about the most common methods in psychological research. This course will also include an overview of the psychology major and opportunities for graduate study and careers.

  • PSY-P 303 Health Psychology (3 cr.) Every Spring. P: PSY-P 103 and Sophomore standing. Focuses on role of psychological factors in health and illness. Through readings, lecture, and discussion, students will become better consumers of research on behavior-health interactions and develop a broad base of knowledge concerning how behavior and other psychological factors can impart health both positively and negatively.
  • PSY-P 316 Psychology of Childhood and Adolescence (3 cr.) Every Fall. P: PSY-P 103 and Sophomore standing. Development of behavior in infancy, childhood, and youth; factors that influence behavior.  Credit not to be given for both PSY-P 216 and PSY-P 316.
  • PSY-P 319 Psychology of Personality (3 cr.) Every fall. P: PSY-P 103 and Sophomore standing. Methods and results of scientific study of personality. Basic concepts of personality traits and their measurements; developmental influences; problems of integration.
  • PSY-P 320 Social Psychology (3 cr.) Every Spring. P: PSY-P 103 and Sophomore standing. The study of psychological theories and research dealing with social influence and social behavior, including topics such as conformity, personal perception, aggression, attitudes, and group dynamics.
  • PSY-P 322 Psychology in the Courtroom (3 cr.) Spring, 2016. Alternate years. P: PSY-P 103 and Sophomore standing. This course considers the psychological aspects of roles and interactions in the courtroom. Topics include: definitions of “sanity” and “competency”, eyewitness testimony, jury selection, instructions, and the role of psychologists as “expert witnesses” and jury selection consultants. Emphasis will be placed on empirical law-psychology research.
  • PSY-P 324 Abnormal Psychology (3 cr.) Fall and Spring. P: PSY-P 103 and Sophomore standing. A first course in abnormal psychology, with emphasis on forms of abnormal behavior, etiology, development, interpretation, and final manifestations.
  • PSY-P 325 Psychology of Learning (3 cr.) Every Fall. P: PSY-P 103 and Sophomore standing. Facts and principles of human and animal learning, especially as treated in theories attempting to provide a framework for understanding what learning is and how it takes place.
  • PSY-P 326 Behavioral Neuroscience (3 cr.) Every Spring.  P: PSY-P 103 and Sophomore standing. R: BIOL-L 100 or BIOL-L 105. Central nervous system functions in relation to sensory processes, motivation, and learning.
  • PSY-P 327 Psychology of Motivation (3 cr.) Fall 2015, then every Fall.  P: PSY-P 103 and Sophomore standing. How needs, desires, and incentives influence behavior; research on motivational processes in human and animal behavior, including ways in which motives change and develop.
  • PSY-P 335 Cognitive Psychology (3 cr.) Every Spring. P: PSY-P 103 and Sophomore standing. Introduction to human cognitive processes, including attention and perception, memory, psycholinguistics, problem solving, and thinking.
  • PSY-P 355 Experimental Psychology (3 cr.) Fall and Spring. P: P259 or P390 Introduction to Psychological Inquiry, PSY-K 300. Scientific methods applied to the problems of psychology. Design and execution of simple psychological experiments, treatment of results, and preparation of written reports. This course is required for students entering the psychology major in Fall, 2012 or later. Students entering the major prior to Fall, 2012 are NOT required to take this course.
  • PSY-P 381 Helping Skills and Ethics (3 cr.) Every Fall and Spring. P: 6 credit hours in psychology. Introduction to the helping relationship, including theories and strategies of effective helping, ethical issues, and limitations of the helper role.
  • PSY-B 388 Human Sexuality (3 cr.) Variable scheduling. P: P103 and Sophomore standing. A survey of human sexuality to increase knowledge and comfort regarding sexuality in a variety of aspects, i.e. sexual behavior and response, influences of culture and environmental factors, psychological issues, disability effects on sexuality, sexual research, anatomy and physiology
  • PSY-P 391 Psychology of Gender and Ethnicity (3 cr.) Variable scheduling. P: PSY-P 103 and Sophomore standing. Basic psychological concepts and research from the perspectives of gender and ethnicity, focusing on both the similarities and differences across gender and ethnic groups. Explores the impact of social and political forces on psychological development and adjustment. Contemporary theory on ethnicity, gender, and class will also be examined.
  • PSY-P 407 Drugs and the Nervous System (3 cr.) Every fall. P: PSY-P 103 and Sophomore standing. Introduction to the major psychoactive drugs and how they act upon the brain to influence behavior. Discussion of the role of drugs as therapeutic agents for various clinical disorders and as probes to provide insight into brain function.
  • PSY-P 430 Behavior Modification (3 cr.) Variable scheduling. P: P324 and P325 or consent of instructor. Principles, techniques, and applications of behavior modification, including reinforcement, aversive conditioning, observational learning, desensitization, self-control, and modification of cognitions.
  • PSY-P 459 History and Systems of Psychology (3 cr.) Fall and Spring. P: PSY-P 103 and completion of 12 credit hours of psychology. This is the capstone course for psychology majors, and requires instructor permission for enrollment.  Historical background and critical evaluation of major theoretical systems of modern psychology: structuralism, functionalism, associationism, behaviorism, Gestalt psychology, and psychoanalysis. Methodological problems of theory construction and system-making. Emphasizes integration of recent trends.
  • PSY-P 493 Supervised Research I (3 cr.) Scheduled with agreement of instructor, Fall, Spring, or Summer. P: consent of instructor. Active participation in research. An independent experiment of modest magnitude; course will include a research proposal submitted to the appropriate research ethics review board. Students who enroll in PSY-P 493 will be expected to enroll in PSY-P 494.
  • PSY-P 494 Supervised Research II (3 cr.) Scheduled with agreement of instructor, Fall, Spring, or Summer.  P: PSY-P 493. A continuation of PSY-P 493. Course will include a journal-type report of the two semesters of work.
  • PSY-P 495 Readings and Research in Psychology (1-3 cr.) P: Consent of instructor. Participation in ongoing research in a single laboratory or independent reading and writing on a psychological topic. Variable topic currently in use: Practicum in Psychology (3 cr.) Fall, Spring, and Summer. P: PSY-P 381 and consent of instructor. This course involves participation in a supervised field experience of at least 120 on-site hours, in an applied area.  Common placements involve problems of the mentally retarded, children, the elderly, family relations, industrial relations, and mental health.  Reflective writing is also required.

Academic Bulletins

PDF Version

Click here for the PDF version.