Course Catalog Psychology (PSYCH)


PSYCH  102 - Introduction to Psychology
Understanding of behavior from psychophysiological, cognitive, social and clinical perspectives; important issues, methods and findings in the study of psychological process.
No Prerequisites
Typically offered in Fall and Spring
General Education: Social Sciences 1
3 units min / 3 units max, Lecture


PSYCH  300 - Experimental Psychology
Experimental methods in psychological research; designing and drawing conclusions from experimental research; critiques of research reports; individual and group laboratory projects.
P: Psych 102; Comm Sci 205 or Math 260. REC: Comm Sci 205.
Typically offered in Fall and Spring
4 units min / 4 units max, Lecture


PSYCH  305 - Psychology of Stereotyping and Prejudice
This course provides an overview of the causes and effects of stereotyping and prejudice from a psychological perspective. It also explores when stereotypes are used, how they are measured, and how they can be reduced.
P: Psych 102
Typically offered in Spring
3 units min / 3 units max, Lecture


PSYCH  308 - Physiological Psychology
Introduction to the biological bases of behavior. Basic sensory, motor, and brain mechanisms are described in reference to normal and abnormal behaviors. Drugs and hormone effects on infants and adults are also discussed.
P: Psych 102 AND Hum Biol 102 or Biology 202
Typically offered in Fall and Spring
3 units min / 3 units max, Lecture


PSYCH  310 - Drugs and Behavior
Psychoactive drugs will be studied regarding their effects on the brain, behaviors and society.
P: Psych 102 AND Hum Biol 102 or Biology 202
Typically offered in Spring
3 units min / 3 units max, Lecture


PSYCH  330 - Social Psychology
An exploration of theory, method, and empirical results regarding individual behavior in groups. Major topics include social cognition, aggression, helping, and attraction.
P: Psych 102 AND Psych 300 or Comm Sci 301.
Typically offered in Fall and Spring
3 units min / 3 units max, Lecture


PSYCH  350 - Psychology and Culture
A cross-cultural examination of core psychological processes and areas of study, such as cognition, emotion, development, and personality.
P: Psych 102; Psych 300 or Comm Sci 301
Typically offered in Fall
3 units min / 3 units max, Lecture


PSYCH  390 - Environmental Psychology
Human-environment relationships; examines ways in which the physical environment influences human behavior.
P: Psych 102.
Typically offered in Spring
3 units min / 3 units max, Lecture


PSYCH  401 - Psychology of Women
The psychology of women examines traditional and feminist approaches to women in psychological theory and research as frameworks for understanding women's development and experience in family, academic, work, and relationship roles. The interacting influences of biology, socialization, and cultural context are considered.
P: Psych 102.
Typically offered in Fall and Spring
3 units min / 3 units max, Lecture


PSYCH  415 - Organizational and Personnel Psychology
Examines the human side of organizations from a scientific framework. Topics include job analysis, performance appraisal, employee selection, training, motivation, job satisfaction, work teams, leadership, and organization development.
P: jr. st.; Psych 102 AND Psych 300 or Comm Sci 301
Typically offered in Fall
3 units min / 3 units max, Lecture


PSYCH  417 - Psychology of Cognitive Processes
Contemporary theory and research on thinking processes; how people understand and interpret events around them; attention, recognition, thinking, memory, language, imagery and problem-solving.
P: jr. st.; Psych 102 AND Psych 300 or Comm Sci 301
Typically offered in Fall and Spring
3 units min / 3 units max, Lecture


PSYCH  420 - Test and Measurements
An overview of the uses and underlying psychometric concepts of psychological tests. Examines selected tests in the areas of intelligence, personality, achievement, and interest assessment. Discusses controversial social, legal, ethical, and cultural issues related to testing.
P: jr. st.; Psych 102 AND upper level Psch or Hum Dev course AND Psych 300 or Comm Sci 301
Typically offered in Fall and Spring
3 units min / 3 units max, Lecture


PSYCH  424 - Psychology of Emotion
This is an advanced undergraduate psychology course designed to expose students to the science of emotion. Students will become acquainted with the many ways in which biological, cultural, cognitive, and other factors can contribute to our emotions.
P: Psych 102, 300.
Typically offered in Fall
3 units min / 3 units max, Lecture


PSYCH  429 - Theories of Personality
Major ideas about the organization, function, change and development of human personality as discussed by a variety of personality theorists.
P: Psych 102 AND Psych 300 or Comm Sci 301.
Typically offered in Fall and Spring
Writing Emphasis: Writing Emphasis
3 units min / 3 units max, Lecture


PSYCH  435 - Abnormal Psychology
Major psychological, biological, and sociocultural models of abnormal behavior, including problems of childhood, adolescence, and aging. Contextual issues are emphasized, including the influence of culture, social class, and gender on diagnosis and treatment.
P: Psych 102
Typically offered in Fall and Spring
3 units min / 3 units max, Lecture


PSYCH  438 - Counseling Across the Lifespan
An introduction to the various contemporary approaches to the theory of counseling; a developmental approach to counseling children and adults across the lifespan; a consideration of values, ethics, and culture in the counseling process.
P: jr. st.; Psych 102 AND upper level Psych or Hum Dev course AND Psych 300 or Comm Sci 301
Typically offered in Fall and Spring
Writing Emphasis: Writing Emphasis
3 units min / 3 units max, Lecture


PSYCH  440 - Multicultural Counseling and Mental Health
This course involves an exploration of cultural groups, beliefs, and practices within the U.S. and focuses on ways that culture, race, ethnicity, and associated concepts, such as oppression and privilege, influence definitions and treatments of mental illness.
P: Jr st; Psych 102 AND Psych 435 or 438.
Typically offered in Spring
General Education: Ethnic Studies
3 units min / 3 units max, Lecture


PSYCH  450 - Health Psychology
This course examines how health, illness, and medicine can be studied from a psychological perspective. Topics include coping with stress, leading a healthy lifestyle, factors influencing smoking, alcohol use, and exercise, the patient-practitioner interaction, and chronic and terminal illness.
P: jr. st.; Psych 102 AND Psych 300 or Comm Sci 301
Typically offered in Spring
3 units min / 3 units max, Lecture


PSYCH  495 - Teaching Assistantship
Students will learn the different components related to successful instruction. This will include theoretical perspective, empirical research, and pedagogical techniques relating to teaching that they can apply to a broad array of future teaching and learning experiences.
P: Psych 102, 3.0 GPA in Psych, and consent of inst; REC: sr st.
Typically offered in Fall and Spring
Course is repeatable to 6 credits.
1 units min / 6 units max, Field Experience


PSYCH  496 - Research Assistantship
Students will assist faculty in conducting research. Responsibilities may include literature reviews, library investigations, questionnaire development, recruitment and interviewing of research participants, data collection, management of research studies, data entry, and some statistical analysis.
P: Psych 102 and consent of instr. REC: Psych 300 or Comm Sci 205.
Typically offered in Fall and Spring
Course is repeatable to 6 credits.
1 units min / 6 units max, Field Experience


PSYCH  497 - Internship
Supervised practical experience in an organization or activity appropriate to a student's career and educational interests. Internships are supervised by faculty members and require periodic student/faculty meetings.
P: jr st and gpa > or = 3.00.
Typically offered in Fall and Spring
Course is repeatable for credit.
1 units min / 12 units max, Field Experience


PSYCH  498 - Independent Study
Independent study is offered on an individual basis at the student's request and consists of a program of learning activities planned in consultation with a faculty member. A student wishing to study or conduct research in an area not represented in available scheduled courses should develop a preliminary proposal and seek the sponsorship of a faculty member. The student's advisor can direct him or her to instructors with appropriate interests. A written report or equivalent is required for evaluation, and a short title describing the program must be sent early inthe semester to the registrar for entry on the student's transcript.
P: fr or so st with cum gpa > or = 2.50; or jr or sr st with cum gpa > or = 2.00.
Typically offered in Fall and Spring
Course is repeatable for credit.
1 units min / 4 units max, Independent Study


PSYCH  615 - Organizational and Personnel Psychology
Examines the human side of organizations from a scientific framework. Topics include job analysis, performance appraisal, employee selection, training, motivation, job satisfaction, work teams, leadership, and organization development.
P: gr st.
Typically offered in Fall
3 units min / 3 units max, Lecture


PSYCH  620 - Test and Measurements
An overview of the uses and underlying psychometric concepts of psychological tests. Examines selected tests in the areas of intelligence, personality, achievement, and interest assessment. Discusses controversial social, legal, ethical, and cultural issues related to testing. P: gr st. (F,S)
P: gr st.
Typically offered in Fall and Spring
3 units min / 3 units max, Lecture