Psychology
Jane Roberts, Interim Chair
The Department of Psychology teaches students to use the scientific method in understanding the brain and human behavior. Students learn sound analytical skills and gain a strong foundation in life sciences, social sciences and the humanities. A psychology degree builds the groundwork for successful employment after graduation in fields such as human services, management, counseling, student affairs, criminology and law. Pre-health students* often find psychology to be an ideal primary area of study while pursuing medicine, pharmacy, physical therapy and nursing, among other fields.
The department offers two undergraduate degrees. Students may elect a program leading to the Bachelor of Arts or the Bachelor of Science degree in psychology. We also offer a minor. Our programs provide room for specialization and development so students can explore specific interests relevant to their goals. With support from our dedicated faculty and advisors, students will be prepared to enter graduate training in practitioner-oriented fields as well as research-oriented fields including school psychology, clinical-community psychology, cognitive or behavioral neuroscience and quantitative psychology.
*Pre-health students in particular may benefit from the interdisciplinary neuroscience degrees offered at the university.
Entrance Requirements
Lower Division
In order to be admitted into the Department of Psychology, freshmen and transfer students must meet all University and college admission requirements. Transfer students must meet all such requirements and have a GPA of 2.25 or better. Acceptance into the department with a lower-division classification does not guarantee progression into the upper-division psychology major.
Upper Division
Progression into the upper division is based on the successful completion of all lower-division criteria.
Progression Requirements
Lower Division
All students enter the lower division when the psychology major is declared.
Requirements
- Complete PSYC 101 and PSYC 221 with a grade of C or better.
- Attain a 2.25 cumulative GPA.
- The preceding lower-division requirements must be met by the completion of the first 30 credit hours as a declared psychology major. If at that time the student has not met the requirements, the student must select another major.
Regulations
- Ineligible to enroll in 500-level and higher courses.
- May repeat psychology major courses only once to earn the required grade of C or better.
Upper Division
Students enter the upper division in one of two ways:
- Successfully complete lower-division requirements within the first 30 credit hours as a declared psychology major.
- May be placed in with a cumulative GPA of 2.25 or higher and have earned grades of C or better in both PSYC 101 and PSYC 221 or equivalents.
Regulations
- Maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.00 or be subject to academic probation. If a 2.00 cumulative GPA has not been attained by the completion of the probationary term, the student must select another major.
- May repeat psychology major courses only once to earn the required grade of C or better.
- Students may attempt PSYC 220 and PSYC 228 two times each. If after the second attempt a student has not earned a grade of C or higher, the student will be removed from the major.
- May enroll in 500-level and higher courses if the prerequisites have been completed.
Courses
PSYC 101 - Introduction to Psychology (3 Credits)
An introduction to and survey of the basic concepts and findings within the field of psychology.
Carolina Core: GSS
PSYC 103 - Psychology of Adjustment (3 Credits)
Introduction to theories and processes underlying and facilitating human adjustment in the community, family, and workplace.
PSYC 120 - Professional Development in Psychology (1 Credit)
Overview of disciplines and careers in psychology. Students will discover career-related interests and options at the bachelor’s and post-baccelaureate levels and will be introduced to academic advising, curricular and extracurricular opportunities and academic resources available to support them toward their career goals.
PSYC 220 - Psychological Statistics (3 Credits)
PSYC 221 - Research Methods in Psychology (4 Credits)
Basic principles and methodology.
Prerequisites: C or better in PSYC 220.
Graduation with Leadership Distinction: GLD: Research
PSYC 228 - Laboratory in Psychology (2 Credits)
Laboratory in psychology in which research methods and statistical methods are integrated. One lecture and one two-hour laboratory per week.
Prerequisites: PSYC 226 and PSYC 227.
PSYC 300 - Human Sexual Behavior (3 Credits)
Psychological, physiological, and sociological factors of human sexual behavior and attitudes.
PSYC 301 - Psychology of Marriage (3 Credits)
The psychological, physiological, and social characteristics of marriage.
Cross-listed course: WGST 301
Graduation with Leadership Distinction: GLD: Professional and Civic Engagement Leadership Experiences
PSYC 310 - Psychology of Women (3 Credits)
Women’s experiences: childhood and adolescence, work, family, cultural images, adjustment, and social change.
Cross-listed course: WGST 310
Graduation with Leadership Distinction: GLD: Professional and Civic Engagement Leadership Experiences
PSYC 320 - Psychology of Religion (3 Credits)
The development of the religious consciousness and its various expressions, the psychological dynamics of growth and conversion, response to crisis, and the relation of spiritual practice to health and wholeness.
Cross-listed course: RELG 361
PSYC 330 - Psychology and the African-American Experience (3 Credits)
Psychological theory and research as it applies to African Americans. Explores Africentric and other perspectives and roles of culture, racism, and historical phenomena.
Cross-listed course: AFAM 330
Graduation with Leadership Distinction: GLD: Diversity and Social Advocacy, GLD: Professional and Civic Engagement Leadership Experiences
PSYC 350 - Industrial Psychology (3 Credits)
Psychological techniques applied to various industrial problem areas, such as management and supervision, morale, efficiency, training, personnel selection and placement, and relations among personnel.
PSYC 360 - Applied Psychology (3 Credits)
Uses of psychological knowledge and techniques in practical contexts; clinical, school, industrial, consumer, and environmental psychology.
PSYC 370 - Psychology of Consciousness (3 Credits)
Theories, controversies, and research findings on the nature of various states of consciousness; topics such as sleep/dreams, hypnosis, drug-induced states, and psychic phenomena.
PSYC 380 - Sport Psychology (3 Credits)
The role of sports in socialization, personality development and competence, including: spectator-performer interactions, motivation, competition effects; and the application of psychological techniques to performance enhancement.
PSYC 399 - Independent Study (1-6 Credits)
Closely supervised project or research experience in psychology. Approved contract required. May be repeated for up to six credits. Not for psychology major credit.
Prerequisites: PSYC 101.
Graduation with Leadership Distinction: GLD: Research
PSYC 400 - Survey of Learning and Memory (3 Credits)
Research and applications concerning the acquisition of new behavior and knowledge, including accounts based on classical and instrumental conditioning and on information-processing models.
Prerequisites: PSYC 101 or SCHC 130.
PSYC 401 - Psychology of Physical Activity (3 Credits)
PSYC 405 - Cognitive Psychology (3 Credits)
Research and theories on sensory memory, attention, short-term and working memory, human learning and forgetting, imagery, long-term memory, speech perception, reading, language, thinking and problem solving, and decision making.
PSYC 410 - Behavioral and Mental Disorders (3 Credits)
Covers the classification, diagnosis, etiological theories, and treatments of the major mental and emotional disorders.
Prerequisites: PSYC 101 or SCHC 130.
PSYC 420 - Survey of Developmental Psychology (3 Credits)
PSYC 430 - Survey of Social Psychology (3 Credits)
Introduction to theory and research in social psychology from a psychological viewpoint. Topics include social perception, social cognition, attitudes, interpersonal relationships, aggression, prosocial behavior, and group processes.
Prerequisites: PSYC 101 or SCHC 130.
Graduation with Leadership Distinction: GLD: Professional and Civic Engagement Leadership Experiences
PSYC 432 - Men and Masculinities (3 Credits)
This course provides an overview of psychological, social, physical, and emotional issues related to men's lives. Major topics include: gender construction, men and work, men and health, men in relationships, male sexualities, men in families, and masculinities in the media and popular culture.
Cross-listed course: WGST 432
PSYC 440 - Survey of Personality (3 Credits)
Covers the major theories and research on personality and the dynamics of human motivation.
Prerequisites: PSYC 101 or SCHC 130.
Graduation with Leadership Distinction: GLD: Research
PSYC 450 - Sensation and Perception (3 Credits)
Processing of information from the environment. Physiological, physical, psychological, and contextual determinants of perception.
Prerequisites: PSYC 101 or SCHC 130.
PSYC 455 - Introduction to Neuroscience (3 Credits)
Function of the brain including basic neuroanatomy, neurophysiology and neurochemistry, neural systems, and psychopharmacology as it relates to behavior.
Cross-listed course: NSCI 300
PSYC 460 - Brain and Behavior (3 Credits)
How the brain mediates simple and complex behavior and how we can apply basic research about the brain to real world problems.
Prerequisites: PSYC 101 or SCHC 130.
PSYC 465 - Health Psychology (3 Credits)
Application of psychological theories and assessment and treatment methodologies for health maintenance and the diagnosis and treatment of illness.
Prerequisites: PSYC 101.
PSYC 470 - Introduction to Language Sciences (3 Credits)
PSYC 474 - Cognitive and Social Aspects of Bilingualism (3 Credits)
PSYC 475 - Survey of Clinical Psychology (3 Credits)
PSYC 480 - Multi-Cultural Psychology (3 Credits)
This course provides an introduction to theories and research in the study of psychosocial issues of racial, ethnic and cultural groups.
Prerequisites: PSYC 101.
PSYC 487 - Community Psychology (3 Credits)
Application of knowledge from other areas of psychology to the study of the role of the individual in the community.
Prerequisites: PSYC 101 or SCHC 130 and at least 3 hours in psychology at 400 level or above.
Graduation with Leadership Distinction: GLD: Community Service, GLD: Diversity and Social Advocacy, GLD: Research
PSYC 489 - Community Psychology Practicum (3 Credits)
Supervised, structured field experience in a community agency, applying psychological principles, theory, and research. May be repeated once for credit.
Prerequisites: 15 hours in psychology.
Graduation with Leadership Distinction: GLD: Community Service, GLD: Professional and Civic Engagement Internships, GLD: Research
Experiential Learning: Experiential Learning Opportunity
PSYC 495 - Internship in Psychology (1-6 Credits)
A supervised experiential course in psychology. Contract approved by instructor, advisor, and Office of Academic Programs is required for undergraduate students.
Prerequisites: C or better in PSYC 226.
PSYC 498 - Advanced Independent Study (1-6 Credits)
Closely supervised project or research experience in psychology. Approved contract required. May be repeated for up to six credits.
Prerequisites: 9 hours of psychology.
Graduation with Leadership Distinction: GLD: Research
PSYC 501 - Human Factors Psychology (3 Credits)
Application of research in experimental psychology to ergonomics, the design of human-environment systems, with emphasis on work settings.
Prerequisites: PSYC 101 and 9 hours of upper-level courses all in psychology, business, engineering, or nursing.
PSYC 503 - Psychology of Drug Use and Effects (3 Credits)
PSYC 506 - Psychology of Language (3 Credits)
Theories of speech perception, linguistic theories of syntax and semantics, the brain mechanisms underlying language, the development of language in children, and the role of language in thought.
Cross-listed course: LING 567
PSYC 507 - Cognitive Neuroscience (3 Credits)
PSYC 510 - Child Behavioral and Mental Disorders (3 Credits)
PSYC 520 - Psychology of Child Development (3 Credits)
Examination of development from conception through older childhood. Specific cognitive and social processes will be given in-depth study.
Prerequisites: PSYC 420.
PSYC 521 - Psychology of Adolescence (3 Credits)
Theories and research examining social, emotional, and intellectual development in adolescence. Explores influence of family, peer, school, and cultural contexts.
Prerequisites: PSYC 420.
PSYC 522 - Psychology of Early and Middle Adulthood (3 Credits)
Developmental changes in abilities, personality, and behavior which occur between adolescence and old age.
Prerequisites: PSYC 420.
PSYC 523 - Psychology of Aging (3 Credits)
Psychological, social, and biological phenomena associated with maturity and aging.
Prerequisites: PSYC 420.
PSYC 526 - Prevention of Psychological Problems in Children and Youth at Risk (3 Credits)
PSYC 528 - Psychology of Children with Exceptionalities (3 Credits)
PSYC 529 - Nature of Students with Specific Learning Disabilities (3 Credits)
PSYC 530 - Advanced Social Psychology (3 Credits)
Intensive study of topics selected from the field of social psychology.
Prerequisites: PSYC 430.
PSYC 550 - Advanced Sensation and Perception (3 Credits)
Intensive study of topics selected from the field of sensation and perception.
Prerequisites: PSYC 450.
PSYC 560 - Advanced Topics in Neuroscience (3 Credits)
PSYC 570 - Neuroscience Laboratory (3 Credits)
PSYC 571 - Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory (3 Credits)
Methods of observation and experimentation in cognitive neuroscience. Two lectures and one three-hour laboratory per week.
PSYC 572 - Cognitive Psychology Laboratory (3 Credits)
Practice in the experimental techniques used in the study of cognitive psychology. Two lectures and one three-hour laboratory per week.
Prerequisite or Corequisite: PSYC 405.
PSYC 574 - Sensation and Perception Laboratory (3 Credits)
Concepts and principles in the study of sensation and perception in the laboratory. Two lectures and one three-hour laboratory per week.
Prerequisite or Corequisite: PSYC 450.
PSYC 575 - Developmental Psychology Laboratory (3 Credits)
PSYC 580 - Intermediate Statistics for Psychologists (3 Credits)
Advanced analysis of the uses and applications of statistics to research in psychology, and interpretation of statistics in the psychological literature.
Prerequisites: B or better in PSYC 227.
PSYC 583 - Psychological Tests and Measurement (3 Credits)
Introduction to the theory and practice of measuring psychological attributes. Emphasis on test construction in a laboratory setting. Hands-on experience in designing, administering, and analyzing psychological tests and measures.
Prerequisites: B or better in PSYC 227 and PSYC 228.
PSYC 584 - History and Systems of Psychology (3 Credits)
Systematic approaches to psychology.
Prerequisites: 9 hours in psychology at 400 level or above.
PSYC 589 - Selected Topics in Psychology (3 Credits)
Course content varies and will be announced in the schedule of classes by title.
PSYC 598 - Individual Research (3 Credits)
Planning and execution of supervised research in psychology. Approved contract required.
Prerequisites: 15 hours of psychology.
PSYC 599 - Individual Research (3 Credits)
Planning and execution of supervised research in psychology. Approved contract required.
Prerequisites: 15 hours of psychology.