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Psychology

The Psychology Department at Sweet Briar offers a plan of study which addresses mind and behavior from a scientific perspective. The subject matter of psychology spans both the biological and the social sciences. The department offers courses in major subdisciplines of this broad field, and encourages the student to develop her scientific skills in the context of a liberal arts education. A student who elects psychology as her major subject may earn either the Bachelor of Arts or the Bachelor of Science degree. The Bachelor of Science degree is recommended for students planning graduate study in psychology.

The Psychology Major (B.A.)
The Psychology Major (B.S.)
The Psychology Minor
Course Descriptions


The Psychology Major (B.A.)
(38 semester hours)

Required:
PSYC 101    (3)    Introductory Psychology
PSYC 219    (4)    Statistics for Behavioral Sciences
PSYC 310    (4)    Experimental Psychology

Senior Exercise:
PSYC 452    (2)    Senior Seminar

Choose at least 4 credits of science other than psychology; at least 1 semester hour must be a laboratory in a science other than psychology.

Choose 21 additional credits of psychology courses at the 200-level or above excluding special studies (PSYC 361), internships (PSYC 377), and independent studies (PSYC 461). BIOL 222, Animal Behavior may also be counted toward the major.

Note: In addition to PSYC 452, students must take at least two courses at the 400-level, one of which must be taken during her final year at Sweet Briar.

The Psychology Major (B.S.)
(51-53 semester hours)

Required:
PSYC 101    (3)    Introductory Psychology
PSYC 219    (4)    Statistics for Behavioral Sciences
PSYC 310    (4)    Experimental Psychology
PSYC 315    (3)    Research in Psychology

Senior Exercise:
PSYC 452    (2)    Senior Seminar

Choose 3 courses from the following:
PSYC 231    (4)    Animal Learning
PSYC 238    (3)    Evolutionary Psychology
PSYC 251    (3)    Introduction to Behavioral Neuroscience
PSYC 328    (3)    Human Neuropsychology
PSYC 408    (3)    Sensation and Perception
PSYC 425    (3)    Cognition

Choose 2 courses from the following:
CSCI 188    (4)    Java Programming I
MATH 113    (3)     Precalculus
MATH 123    (4)    Calculus I
MATH 124    (4)    Calculus II

Choose 7 credits of science other than psychology. These 7 hours must include at least a 1 semester hour laboratory.
And choose 12 additional credits of psychology courses at the 200-level or above excluding special studies (PSYC 361), internships (PSYC 377), and independent studies (PSYC 461). BIOL 222, Animal Behavior may also be counted toward the major.

Note: In addition to PSYC 452, students must take at least two courses at the 400-level, one of which must be taken during her final year at Sweet Briar.

The Psychology Minor
(18 semester hours)

Required:
PSYC 101    (3)    Introductory Psychology

Choose 15 additional credits of psychology courses at the 200-level or above of which 2 courses must be at the 300-level or above excluding PSYC 315, PSYC 341, PSYC 361, PSYC 377. BIOL 222, Animal Behavior may also be counted toward the minor.

 

Course Descriptions

PSYC 101

Introductory Psychology
CR: 
3.0
An introduction to the principles and methods of psychology. this course provides a general background and is a prerequisite to all other psychology courses. V.8a.

PSYC 201

Developmental Psychology
Infancy and Childhood Prerequisite: PSYC 101. the study of human cognitive, psychosocial, and physical development from conception through childhood.

PSYC 203

Field Experience in Child Development I
CR: 
0.0
Prerequisites: PSYC 201 and permission of the instructor. students will undertake supervised field experience through a partnership with the area Big Brothers/Big sisters Program that will take place on site at Amherst County elementary schools. the experience is designed to provide a sample of the type of activities in which child develop-mentalists and other human service professionals are engaged. it is not intended to develop competence to the level of a beginning practitioner. this course is graded on a P/CR/ NC grading option only.

PSYC 204

Field Experience in Child Development II
CR: 
0.5
Prerequisites: PSYC 201, PSYC 203 and per- mission of the instructor. students will under- take supervised field experience through a partnership with the area Big Brothers/Big sisters Program that will take place on site at Amherst County elementary schools. the experience is designed to provide a sample of the type of activities in which child develop-mentalists and other human service professionals are engaged. it is not intended to develop competence to the level of a beginning practitioner. this course is graded on a P/CR/NC grading option only.

PSYC 219

Statistics for Behavioral Sciences
CR: 
4.0
Prerequisite: PSYC 101. An introduction to those descriptive and inferential statistics most often used in psychological research. topics include probability, standard normal distribution, measures of central tendency and variability, sampling, correlation, and both parametric and non-parametric tests of significance. this course includes a weekly three-hour laboratory session. iii.Q.

PSYC 222

Social Psychology
CR: 
3.0

Prerequisite: PSYC 101. A study of the individual in a social context. topics will include conformity, persuasion, altruism, prejudice, and social cognition. May be counted as an auxiliary course toward the minor in gender studies. III.W

PSYC 231

Animal Learning
CR: 
4.0
Prerequisites: PSYC 101 and permission of the instructor. An overview and critical analysis of current learning theory. Particular emphasis given to animal investigations of Pavlovian and instrumental conditioning. three hours lecture or discussion and three hours laboratory work with animals.

PSYC 237

Organizational Psychology
CR: 
3.0
Prerequisite: PSYC 101. organizational psychology uses scientifically-based psychological principles and research methods to study topics important to understanding human behavior in industry, business, and organizations. in this course students will become familiar with the interface between psychologyand business;have practice at creating solutions for problems found in organizations; and be able to identify and interpret resources related to this subdiscipline. Offered alternate years.

PSYC 238

Evolutionary Psychology
CR: 
3.0
Prerequisite: PSYC 101. Principles from evolutionary biology are applied to the study of human behavior and the structure of the human mind. the survival, social and reproductive challenges our ancestors faced are reviewed, as are the psycho- logical adaptations that evolved as a consequence. topics include sex differences in mating strategies, parenting and kinship, and the adaptive value and/or consequences of selfishness and altruism. offered alternate years.

PSYC 243

Behavioral Approaches to Human Problems
CR: 
3.0
Prerequisite: PSYC 101. use of principles and procedures derived from psychological research to change behavior in a variety of settings. this course will focus on “normal” human behavior rather than “abnormal” behavior, with a practical emphasis on socially important rather than theoretically significant behavioral analysis. Concepts and principles derived from psycho- logical research especially operant learning.

PSYC 246

Drugs, The Brain, and Behavior
CR: 
3.0
Prerequisite: PSYC 101. this course will survey the mechanisms of action, behavioral effects, and side effects of psychoactive drugs. As various types of drugs are discussed (e.g. stimulants, depressants, hallucinogenics, anti-depressants, anti-schizophrenics, anti-Parkinson drugs), relevant details of synaptic functions and transmit- ter pathways will be highlighted to provide an integrated view of drug mechanisms and the neurochemical basis of psychiatric disorders and substance abuse. offered alternate years.

PSYC 251

Introduction to Behavioral Neuroscience
CR: 
3.0
Prerequisite: PSYC 101. A study of the physio- logical mechanisms underlying behavior including neural and chemical substrates of behavior and the organization of the nervous system.

PSYC 257

Special Topics in Psychology

Prerequisite: PSYC 101.Current issues in experimental and applied psychology. Emphasis is placed on reading an evaluation of psychological research. Topics will vary each semester. This course may be repeated once for credit toward the major. Topic for Fall 2011: "Drugs, Addiction, and Treatment." This course will explore the variables that influence substance use, abuse, and dependence. Problems in perception that have misdirected efforts toward effective drug/alcohol treatment will be addressed. Topics will include the major perspectives on drug use, the models and theories of why people abuse alcohol and drugs, drug specific information, definitions of abuse, dependence and addiction, and the impact of family systems on prevention and intervention.

PSYC 261

Directed Study
CR: 
1.0
Prerequisites: one PSYC course and permission of the instructor. the study of introductory level material by an individual student or by a small group of students under the immediate supervision of a faculty member.

PSYC 261

Directed Study
CR: 
2.0
Prerequisites: one PSYC course and permission of the instructor. the study of introductory level material by an individual student or by a small group of students under the immediate supervision of a faculty member.

PSYC 261

Directed Study
CR: 
3.0
Prerequisites: one PSYC course and permission of the instructor. the study of introductory level material by an individual student or by a small group of students under the immediate supervision of a faculty member.

PSYC 302

Developmental Psychology II
CR: 
3.0
Adolescence and Adulthood Prerequisites: PSYC 101 and a 200-level psychology course. survey of contemporary theories and research in the psychology of adolescence, adulthood, and aging. topics will include physical, social, and personality development as well as concepts of identity formation, deviant behavior, and the adjustments to major life transitions and changing social roles. iii.o, V.5.

PSYC 304

Field Experience in Adolescent Psychology
CR: 
1.0
Prerequisites: PSYC majors with junior or senior standing and permission of the instructor. Co-requisite: PSYC 302. supervised field experience in a public or private agency setting that provides psychological or educational ser- vices to adolescents. the experience is designed to provide a sample of the type of activities in which psychologists and other human service professionals are engaged; it is not intended to develop competence to the level of a beginning practitioner. this course is graded on a P/CR/NC grading option only.

PSYC 306

Field Experience in Gerontology
CR: 
1.0
Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor. Co-requisite: PSYC 302. supervised field experience in a public or private agency setting that provides psychological or educational services to a gerontological population. the experience is designed to provide a sample of the type of activities in which psychologists and other human service professionals are engaged; it is not intended to develop competence to the level of a beginning practitioner. this course is graded on a P/CR/NC grading option only.

PSYC 309

Counseling skills
CR: 
3.0
Prerequisites: PSYC 101, junior standing, and permission of the instructor. survey of clinical/counseling psychology as a science and profession. Current psychological treatment approaches, assessment techniques, research strategies, and their empirical/theoretical foundations. in addition to classroom discussions and workshops, students will volunteer 3-5 hours per week at local mental health organizations. experiences will be integrated into the course and provide unique practical experiences working in the discipline.

PSYC 310

Experimental Psychology
CR: 
4.0

Prerequisites: PSYC 101 and PSYC 219. A study of experimental methodology, design, and data analysis in selected areas. three hours lecture and discussion and three hours laboratory. III.O, III.W

PSYC 315

Research in Psychology
CR: 
3.0
Prerequisites: PSYC 219, PSYC 310, and permission of the instructor. An overview of statistics and psychological research methods, focused literature review, with emphasis on the design and execution of an independent research project. students will disseminate their work through a research paper conforming to APA standards and through a public presentation of their research. this course is a prerequisite to PSYC 461, independent study. two hours class meeting plus weekly individual tutorials.

PSYC 317

Personality
CR: 
3.0
Prerequisites: PSYC 101 and a 200-level psychology course. A survey and comparative analysis of theories and contemporary research on personality.

PSYC 321

Research
CR: 
2.0
Practicum Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor. Directed experience in empirical psychological research. laboratory and field work on different research projects conducted by faculty members. Graded satisfactory/unsatisfactory.

PSYC 324

Behavioral Medicine Seminar
CR: 
3.0
Prerequisites: PSYC 101 and a 200-level psychology course. An exploration of how behavior — thoughts, feelings, and actions—affect physical health and illness. in this seminar we will read and discuss research and clinical applications. for example, we will look beyond the arguably trite admonition “think positive” to the neuropsychological mechanism whereby positive affect influences cognition and health. offered alternate years. iii.o.

PSYC 328

Human Neuropsychology
CR: 
3.0
Prerequisites: PSYC 101 and PSYC 251. selected topics in neuropsychology and treatment. using a case study approach we will examine general principles of brain organization; neuropsychological assessment; sensory, perceptual, and motor disor- ders; and the effects of brain abnormalities on the highercortical processes of memory,language,emotion, and problem solving. offered alternate years.

PSYC 334

Animal Minds
CR: 
3.0
Prerequisites: PSYC 101, and either a 200-level psychology course or Biol 222. seminar exploring current research in the field of cognitive ethology, looking at perceptual, memory, thought, and emotional processes of animals in their ecological context and entertaining questions about animal consciousnessandintentionality.selectedreadings from animal cognition, behavioral ecology, and cognitive neuroscience will be discussed. Offered alternate years. iii.o.

PSYC 341

Special Topics In Psychology
CR: 
3.0

Prerequisites: PSYC 101 and a 200-level psychology course. Current issues in experimental and applied psychology. emphasis is placed on reading and evaluation of psychological research. topics vary each semester. This course may be repeated once for credit towards the major. Topic for Fall 2011: "Buddhist and Western Conceptions of Self." A comparative analysis of how the self concept has been conceived by Western and by Buddhist cultures. Readings will include psychological research and theory, Buddhist theory, and writings of psychologists who are Buddhist practitioners. Course meetings will include discussion of readings and the experiential practice of meditation as a foundation for talking about alternative conceptions of the self. Topic 2 for Fall 2011: "Adolescence and the Law." This seminar examines adolescent psychology, and how it relates to the legal status of adolescents. Topics include the juvenile justice system, as well as laws governing such behaviors in adolescence as delinquency, sexuality, military service, drinking, smoking, marriage, education, and rights within the family, with consideration given to historical and cross-cultural aspects of adolescence.

PSYC 355

Neuroscience of Learning and Memory
CR: 
3.0
Prerequisite: A 200-level course in biology or psychology. this course covers the psychological and biological bases of learning and memory. topics range from the cellular changes that underlie species general learning to the brain areas and systems relevant to conscious recollection. Memory processes in humans, rats, sea slugs, and computers are examined in order to better understand the structure of an adaptive mind. offered alternate years.

PSYC 361

Special Study
CR: 
1.0
Prerequisites: 100-level PSYC course and permission of the instructor. the study of an intermediate level topic by an individual student or by a small group of students under the immediate supervision of a faculty member.

PSYC 361

Special Study
CR: 
2.0
Prerequisites: 100-level PSYC course and permission of the instructor. the study of an intermediate level topic by an individual student or by a small group of students under the immediate supervision of a faculty member.

PSYC 361

Special Study
CR: 
3.0
Prerequisites: 100-level PSYC course and permission of the instructor. the study of an intermediate level topic by an individual student or by a small group of students under the immediate supervision of a faculty member.

PSYC 377

Internship Prerequisites
CR: 
1.0
Three credits in PSYC and permission of the instructor, department chair, and dean. This course is graded P/CR/NC only.

PSYC 377

Internship Prerequisites
CR: 
2.0
Three credits in PSYC and permission of the instructor, department chair, and dean. This course is graded P/CR/NC only.

PSYC 377

Internship Prerequisites
CR: 
3.0
Three credits in PSYC and permission of the instructor, department chair, and dean. This course is graded P/CR/NC only.

PSYC 403

Abnormal Psychology
CR: 
3.0
Prerequisites: PSYC 101 and a 300-level psychology course. An experimental-clinical approach to behavior disorders including an overview and critical appraisal of current theories regarding the etiology and treatment of behavior disorders.

PSYC 408

Sensation and Perception
CR: 
3.0
Prerequisites: PSYC 101 and a 300-level psychology course. the study of sensory processes, the function and role of the senses, particularly vision and audition, and the organization of sensory data into meaningful perception.

PSYC 411

Introduction to Family Systems Theory
CR: 
3.0
Prerequisite: PSYC 310; PSYC 309 is strongly encouraged. An overview of the fundamental assumptions of General systems theory and the basic theoretical orientations within family therapy. the influence of gender, culture, developmental status, divorce, and abuse on the working dynamics of the family will be examined. Various structural and analytical systems such as Bowenian systems techniques will be explored using a case study approach. offered alternate years.

PSYC 425

Cognition
CR: 
3.0
Prerequisites: PSYC 101 and a 300-level psychology course. An examination of theory and research concerning thinking. topics will include reasoning, problem solving, imagery, and language. Offered alternate years.

PSYC 432

Psychological tests and Measurements
CR: 
4.0
Prerequisites: PSYC 310, junior or senior standing, and permission of the instructor. A survey of the current and historical psycho- metric principles and strategies used to assess individual and group differences. the application and administration of widely-used tests are examined, and general problems of measurement are discussed. laboratory work will focus on the administration, scoring and interpretation of tests that are typically used in a standard assessment battery. offered alternate years.

PSYC 452

Senior Seminar
CR: 
2.0
Prerequisite: PSYC majors with senior standing. A review and synthesis of major questions, issues, and methods of psychology. iii.o.

PSYC 461

Independent Study
CR: 
1.0
Prerequisites or co-requisites: PSYC 219, PSYC 310, and PSYC 315, and permission of the instructor. Pursuit of an upper level research project determined in advance by the student in consultation with a faculty member who will act as the sponsor.

PSYC 461

Independent Study
CR: 
2.0
Prerequisites or co-requisites: PSYC 219, PSYC 310, and PSYC 315, and permission of the instructor. Pursuit of an upper level research project determined in advance by the student in consultation with a faculty member who will act as the sponsor.

PSYC 461

Independent Study
CR: 
3.0
Prerequisites or co-requisites: PSYC 219, PSYC 310, and PSYC 315, and permission of the instructor. Pursuit of an upper level research project determined in advance by the student in consultation with a faculty member who will act as the sponsor.