UNCA Catalog: Courses of Instruction
UNCA Catalog: Table of Contents

Psychology (PSYC)

Professors Brown (Chair), Bruce, Combs, Friedenberg, Weber; Associate Professors Cochran, Himelein, Laughon, Nallan; Assistant Professors Berryhill, Harvey

The student who majors in Psychology studies a variety of areas within the broader discipline in preparation for graduate school or post-baccalaureate employment. The Psychology major also is a popular choice for teacher licensure students, especially those in the K-6 program. Students begin with basic content courses that introduce the areas within the discipline and basic skills courses that introduce research methodology and data analysis. A series of non-lab, lab and elective courses permit students to tailor their major programs to their personal and professional goals. Students may earn up to 6 hours of credit for research or fieldwork. Students are encouraged to plan their curricula in consultation with Psychology faculty who can advise them regarding options, prerequisites and realistic career objectives.

Major in Psychology

1. Required courses in the major34 hours, including: PSYC 101, 102, 201, 202, 390; two courses from 200, 215, 225; either 317 or 332; plus 9 additional hours at the 300-400 level.
2. Required courses outside the major: None. Recommended courses: Computer Science courses.
3. Other departmental requirements
   1. Competency in Psychology. The capstone course, PSYC 390, History and Systems of Psychology, includes the demonstration of competency in Psychology.
   2. Oral competency. Psychology majors must successfully complete an oral presentation prior to graduation. The presentation must be evaluated in writing by at least one department member and can occur either:
      1. at a research symposium or conference (e.g., UNCA Symposium, regional psychology conference, National Undergraduate Research Conference) or
      2. within a 300-400 level Psychology course offering the option of an oral presentation.
   3. Computer competency. PSYC 201 and 202 fulfill the computer competency requirements for Psychology majors. Students must:
      1. complete a literature review using an Internet search.
      2. prepare an APA-style paper using a word processing program.
      3. use computer software for data manipulation and analysis.

Psychology with Teacher Licensure

Psychology majors who are also completing teacher licensure (e.g., K-6, Reading K-12) should enroll in PSYC 318 instead of either PSYC 317 or PSYC 332. For teacher licensure students only, PSYC 318 fulfills the department's laboratory course requirement. See the Education Department section for additional licensure requirements.

Declaration of Major in Psychology

Students seeking a major in Psychology are encouraged to meet with a Psychology faculty member at any time and learn more about the department and its programs. A major in Psychology may be formally declared after a student has:

1. Completed Integrative Liberal Studies requirements in Mathematic and LANG 120 with a GPA of at least 2.0 in these courses.
2. Completed PSYC 101, 102 and 201 and earned a GPA of at least 2.0 in these courses.
3. Obtained a signed Declaration of Major form from the chair of the Psychology Department.

A student who does not meet the GPA criteria in I or II above may become eligible to declare a major in Psychology by completing at least two of the 200-level elective Psychology courses with grades that raise his or her Psychology GPA to at least 2.0. These courses are PSYC 200, 215 and 225.

Minor in Psychology

Students seeking in a Minor in Psychology must obtain a signed Declaration of Minor form from the chair of the Psychology Department. A minor in Psychology consists of 22 hours in Psychology including:

1. A 9-credit sequence including PSYC 101, 102, 201,
2. A 4-credit laboratory course, either PSYC 317 or 332,
3. A 3-credit non-laboratory course, either PSYC 200, 215, or 225
4. Six additional hours at the 300-400 level.

101 General Psychology: Brain and Behavioral Processes (3)

An overview of foundations and core concepts in psychology, emphasizing the basic behavioral and mental processes. Topics include biological influences on behavior, sensation, perception, consciousness, learning, memory, cognition, development, the history of psychology and research methodology. Fall and Spring.

102 General Psychology: Personality and Social Processes (3)

An overview of foundations and core concepts in psychology, emphasizing behavioral and mental processes, and the application of psychological principles. Topics include motivation, emotion, psychological testing, personality, psychopathology, psychotherapy, social psychology, the history of psychology and research methodology. Fall and Spring.

200 Social Psychology (3)

Survey of research and theory of the individual in social context: social cognition, social influence and social relations. Topics include social perception, attitudes, cultural influence, conformity, persuasion, group process, aggression, altruism and attraction. Prerequisite: PSYC 102. Fall or Spring.

201 Research Methods I (3)

An introduction to fundamental concepts of research in psychology emphasizing the design of experimental and correlational studies, basic statistics, and critical evaluation of research. Prerequisite: 3 hours in psychology. Fall and Spring.

202 Research Methods II (3)

Continued study of research techniques and methods of data analysis. Special attention to relationship of research design to analysis. Requires an individual research project. Prerequisite: 6 hours in psychology including PSYC 201. Fall and Spring.

215 Mind and Brain (3)

Coverage of current concepts, theory and research on the nature of mind and brain with emphasis on recent developments in cognitive and brain sciences as they relate to perception, consciousness, memory and decision making. Prerequisites: PSYC 101. Fall or Spring.

225 Personality (3)

Surveys representative theories of personality, including psychodynamic, humanistic and learning perspectives. Includes emphasis on application of theories to understanding the lives of self and others. Prerequisite: PSYC 102. Fall or Spring.

235 Environmental Psychology (ENVR 235) (3)

Survey of interrelationships of environment and behavior. Theory and field observations of environmental perception, ecological issues, personal space, territoriality, crowding, urban life, design and architecture. (Students may not earn credit for both PSYC 235 and 335.) Prerequisite: PSYC 101 or 102. See department chair.

307 Health Psychology (3)

Cases, concepts and problems in behavioral medicine and health psychology. Historic views of disease. Psychosocial dynamics in individual illness. Psychosocial factors in risk, onset, course of illness. Psychology of health professionals. Prerequisites: PSYC 101, 102, 225. Fall or Spring.

308 Psychopathology (3)

The causes, symptomatic behavior and types of major psychological disturbances. Theory, explanatory concepts, and clinical examples of maladaptive and preventive mental health issues considered. Prerequisites: PSYC 101, 102, 225. Fall and Spring.

310 Psychology of Adolescence (3)

Survey of theory and research on physical, sexual, intellectual and personality development from puberty to adulthood with a focus on cultural/subcultural comparisons. Research project or case study required. Prerequisites: PSYC 101, 201, 317; teacher licensure students who complete 318 meet course requirements and should see the instructor to enroll. See department chair.

312 Psychology of Exceptional Children (3)

Study of exceptional children, including speech-handicapped; intellectually gifted; mentally retarded; learning disabled; physically, hearing and visually impaired. Discussion of issues in classification, diagnosis and educational remediation. Recommended for teacher licensure students. Prerequisites: 6 hours in psychology including PSYC 101; recommended: PSYC 317 or 318. See department chair.

313 Psychology and Law (3)

An examination of the behavior of participants in the legal system through the use of psychological concepts, methods and research findings. Specific topics include forensic psychology, policing, insanity and competence, the psychology of the jury, evidence and eyewitness testimony, criminal behavior, the psychology of punishment and treatment, and the rights of special populations within the legal system. Prerequisites: PSYC 101, 102, 201. Fall or Spring.

317 Developmental Psychology (4)

A survey of human development from conception through adolescence, focusing on current theory and research in physical, cognitive, linguistic and social-emotional development. Students are required to conduct a developmental evaluation of a child during a series of home visits scheduled at their convenience. Prerequisites: PSYC 101, 201. Fall and Spring.

318 Psychology Applied to Teaching (4)

Applications of psychological theory and research to learning processes and the teaching of children. Emphasis on developmental, behavioral and cognitive psychology, exceptional students, research methods and testing/measurement in educational settings. Includes a required laboratory component. Prerequisite: PSYC 101; EDUC 310. (Students who have credit for both PSYC 220 and PSYC 317 may not receive credit for PSYC 318.) Fall and Spring.

320 Biopsychology (3)

The relationship between brain and behavior: current theories of brain function in the context of perception, memory, emotion and drive. Prerequisite: PSYC 101. (Previous introductory biology is helpful, but not required.) Fall or Spring.

325 Perception (3)

The study of human perception, with special emphasis on vision and audition. Prerequisite: PSYC 101. Fall or Spring.

327 Cognitive Psychology (3)

Historical background and current developments in research and theory in cognitive science, with particular emphasis on attention, memory, problem solving and educational applications. Includes some coverage of artificial intelligence, skill acquisition, and the nature of intelligence. Prerequisites: PSYC 101 and 201. Fall or Spring.

328 The Psychology of Language (3)

Linguistic, psycholinguistic and neuropsychological perspectives on language and reading. Emphasis on speech perception and production, syntax, linguistic impairment and comparisons across cultures and species. Prerequisites: PSYC 101, 201. Fall or Spring.

332 Learning and Memory (4)

A survey of knowledge of learning and memory. Emphasis on research, theory and applications. Students complete a series of laboratory exercises. Prerequisites: PSYC 101, 201. Fall.

333 Psychology of Women (3)

Survey of psychological theory and research on women. Topics include female development, gender comparisons, work experiences, relationships and adjustment. Prerequisites: PSYC 102; recommended: 3 additional hours in PSYC. Fall or Spring.

335 Environmental Analysis and Design (ENVR 335) (3)

Study of interrelationship of environment and behavior, with special emphasis on application of theories in the analysis and design or redesign of specific environmental settings. Includes fieldwork. Prerequisites: PSYC 101, 102, 201. See department chair.

344 Community Psychology (3)

An advanced introduction to community psychology, which seeks to enhance the quality of life of communities and people, particularly those considered disenfranchised or disadvantaged. Course topics include human diversity, empowerment, social change and preventive approaches to mental disorders. Prerequisites: PSYC 102, 200. See department chair.

345 Behavior Disorders in Children (3)

Etiology and clinical characteristics of atypical behavior in children and adolescents. Discussion of theories of contemporary child psychology and intervention strategies. Prerequisites: PSYC 101, 201, 317; teacher licensure students who complete PSYC 318 meet course prerequisites and should see the instructor to enroll. See department chair.

368 Psychology of Close Relationships (3)

Phenomenology, theory and research on close personal relationships including love, friend ship, attraction, intimacy, communication, conflict, loss and grief. Prerequisites: PSYC 102, 200, 201. Fall or Spring.

390 History and Systems of Psychology (3)

Examination of the historical antecedents of modern psychology. Comparison of major historical systems and schools of psychology, including structuralism, Gestalt psychology, psychoanalysis, behaviorism and cognitive psychology. Includes the demonstration of competency in Psychology. Prerequisites: 24 hours in Psychology including PSYC 101, 102, 201, 202. Fall and Spring.

409 Advanced Social Psychology (3)

In-depth study of selected topics of current theoretical and research interest in social psychology. Emphasis on field studies, projects and class discussion. See instructor for topics to be covered. Prerequisites: PSYC 101, 102, 200, 201, 202. See department chair.

410 Clinical and Counseling Psychology (3)

Surveys theory, research and practice of the major systems of psychotherapy. Includes general introduction to the profession and discussion of ethical issues. Prerequisites: PSYC 101, 102, 201, 202, 225; recommended: PSYC 308. See department chair.

416 Psychological Testing (3)

An in-depth study of the construction and use of psychological tests for the assessment of personality, attitudes, and behavior in a variety of applied settings. Prerequisites: PSYC 101, 102, 201, 202. See department chair.

423 Psychology of Consciousness (3)

Examines individual consciousness from historical, lifespan and transpersonal perspectives. Covers major theories of consciousness from William James to the present, as well as traditional views. Prerequisites: at least 60 hours (junior status). See department chair.

435 Advanced Personality (3)

In-depth study of selected topics of current theoretical or research interest in personality (e.g., culture, positive psychology). Seminar format that includes student projects and presentations. Prerequisites: PSYC 101, 102, 201, 202, 225. See department chair.

463 Field Work (3)

Advanced psychology students work in local human service agencies to gain applied clinical experience. Weekly seminar meetings focus on the acquisition of basic helping skills and discussion of ethical and professional issues. Prerequisites: permission of instructor required; coursework to include PSYC 101, 102, 201, 202; and 308 or 312 or 345. (Grading is S/U.) Fall and Spring.

469 Human Sexuality (3)

Survey of psychological literature on human sexuality, including the biological bases, sexual behavior, sexuality throughout the life cycle, sexual differences and dysfunctions, interpersonal attraction and communication, and social issues related to human sexuality. Prerequisites: PSYC 101, 102, 201, 202, 225. See department chair.

499 Undergraduate Research in Psychology (1-6)

Independent research under the supervision of a faculty mentor. An IP grade may be awarded at the discretion of the instructor. May be repeated for a total of 6 hours credit. Prerequisite: permission of instructor required; coursework to include PSYC 101, 102, 201, 202. See department chair.

171-6, 271-6, 371-6, 471-6 Special Topics in Psychology (1-6)

Courses not otherwise included in the catalog listing but for which there may be special needs. May be repeated for credit as often as permitted and as subject matter changes. See department chair.

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