Degrees and Requirements
Psychology
The psychology program integrates an applied emphasis with a foundation grounded in the sciences. The program presents a balanced treatment of the major approaches to contemporary psychology and fosters in the student an appreciation of the problems and promise of the discipline of psychology.
To complete the psychology major successfully, a minimum of 120 credits is required for graduation, the last 30 of which must be earned at La Roche University.
The following course work is required:
- 12 credits of required psychology courses;
- An additional 21 credits of psychology electives selected from the courses listed below;
- 37 credits of core requirements;
- 44 credits of general electives selected by the student with the approval of the academic advisor. 6 general elective credits (2 courses) must include MATH1040 or CRIM2012, and ENGL2030 as prerequisites for PSYC3011, Research Methods in Psychology.
Summary of Requirements
Major Requirements: 12 credits
PSYC1021INTRO TO PSYCHOLOGY
Credits (Min/Max): 3/3
This survey course introduces students to several critical areas of psychology. Throughout the course, there is an emphasis on the scientific method, its application to psychology, and the insights gained from scientific research. The interactions among biological processes, cognitive and emotional responses, sociocultural forces, and behavior are examined. Included are such diverse topics as: health, stress, and coping; consciousness, sleep and dreams; effects of psychoactive drugs on behavior and health; psychological disorders; social psychology; types of learning and behavior management, information processing approaches including memory, encoding and retrieval; and the relationship of the nervous system to thought, feelings, and behaviors.
PSYC2010CAREER AND PROFESSIONAL
Credits (Min/Max): 3/3
The purpose of this course is to facilitate success within the psychology major and to prepare students for upper level courses as well as transition from college to a career and/or graduate school. Prereq: PSYC1021
PSYC3011RESEARCH METHODS IN PSYCHOLOGY
Credits (Min/Max): 3/3
PREREQUISITE: ENGL2030 and MATH1040 --or--CRIM2012 This course examines the major experimental designs and methods of scientific psychology. The nature of psychology as a science, types of and evaluation of research design and conclusions, conducting of research, preparation of research papers and ethics in research in psychology are covered.
PREREQUISITES:
PSYC1021 & PSYC3070 or CRIM2011 & MATH1040 or CRIM2012
PSYC4055SENIOR SEMINAR IN PSYCHOLOGY
Credits (Min/Max): 3/3
PREREQUISITE: PSYC3011 This is the capstone course that is required of all psychology majors. It is designed to assist students to complete their undergraduate study of psychology through independent reading and library and database research, writing of an integrated literature review, and class discussion of these seminar papers which are presented orally by the students.
Psychology Electives: 21 credits
PSYC2015HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY
Credits (Min/Max): 3/3
PREREQUISITE: PSYC1021 OR PSYC1021H This course explores psychological contributions to physical health and illness enhancement of physical health and the understanding and control of psychological processes that undermine health are addressed from theoretical and applied perspectives. Topics include the psychology of stress, pain, illness and treatment, and addictive lifestyle behaviors such as drinking and smoking.
PREREQUISITES:
PSYC1021 or PSYC1021H
PSYC2018HUMAN SEXUALITY
Credits (Min/Max): 3/3
PREREQUISITE: PSYC1021 OR PSYC1021H This course explores adult human sexuality from multiple perspectives: biological bases, roles of gender, cultural influences, and historical foundations. Topics include the exploration of healthy sexual activity, conception and pregnancy. Sexual problems will be addressed as well, covering such topics as sexual dysfunction, sexually transmitted diseases, sexual exploitation.
PREREQUISITES:
PSYC1021 or PSYC1021H
PSYC2022CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Credits (Min/Max): 3/3
PREREQUISITE: PSYC1021 OR PSYC1021H This course provides students with a comprehensive introduction to the field of developmental science with emphasis on the period from conception through middle childhood. The course approaches development by making use of both historical and contemporary scientific theory and investigates the major domains of development--biological, cognitive, social and emotional-from a chronological perspective.
PREREQUISITES:
PSYC1021 or PSYC1021H
PSYC2036PSYCHOLOGY AND HUMOR
Credits (Min/Max): 3/3
Psychology and Humor introduces students to the content area and measurement and research issues on the topic of humor. Thematic use of material from the study of humor is used to illustrate many of the basic discipline areas of psychology, including understanding of theory, research methods, testing, personality, cognition, and development.
PSYC2040ADOLESCENT DEVELOPMENT
Credits (Min/Max): 3/3
PREREQUISITE: PSYC1021 OR PSYC1021H This course is designed to provide an overview of the physical, cognitive, social, and emotional developmental changes occurring during adolescence. Attention will be given to the contexts in which development occurs: the family, school, and peer group-as well as psychological changes in identity, autonomy, and intimacy. Psychological disorders that manifest during adolescence will be examined.
PREREQUISITES:
PSYC1021 or PSYC1021H
PSYC2061EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY
Credits (Min/Max): 3/3
PREREQUISITE: PSYC1021 OR PSYC1021H This course provides an introduction to educational psychology, the science of learning and teaching. Students will be exposed to the research methods used in psychological science, theoretical approaches to cognitive development and learning, and applications of those theories to understanding student behavior in the context of the school environment.
PREREQUISITES:
PSYC1021 or PSYC1021H
PSYC2065FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGY
Credits (Min/Max): 3/3
PREREQUISITE: PSYC1021 The course provides the student with a general introduction to the practice of forensic psychology. The field addresses ways in which experts in psychological science contribute to the legal system. Potential topics include eyewitness memory, the insanity defense, child custody, lie detection, criminal profiling, violent crime, and more.
PSYC3023PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDERS
Credits (Min/Max): 3/3
PREREQUISITE: PSYC1021 OR PSYC1021H This course begins with definitions of abnormal behavior. Most of the course focuses upon various classifications of abnormality based on the most recent DSM, such as mood disorders, anxiety disorders, dissociative disorders, somatoform disorders, stress and physical health, personality disorders, eating disorders, substance use disorders, sexual and gender-identity disorders, and schizophrenia. Etiology, symptomatology, and treatment are explored throughout the semester.
PREREQUISITES:
PSYC1021 or PSYC1021H
PSYC3025INDUSTRIAL AND ORGANIZATIONAL
Credits (Min/Max): 3/3
PREREQUISITE: PSYC1021 OR PSYC1021H This course studies the organizational structure and processes in a variety of areas, including personnel, recruitment, selection, placement and counseling; supervision and leadership; motivation and moral; the conditions of work; training, organizational climate; consumer psychology; multinational corporations and diversity in organizations.
PREREQUISITES:
PSYC1021 or PSYC1021H
PSYC3028THEORIES OF PERSONALITY
Credits (Min/Max): 3/3
PREREQUISITE: PSYC1021 OR PSYC1021H This course will explore theory and research on personality and other factors contributing to consistency in individuals' behavior, cognition, and emotion. Concepts from major perspectives like the psychodynamic, behavioral, cognitive, biological, humanistic, and more will be examined. Finally the application of theory to many topics will be covered, potentially including psychological disorders, gender differences, interpersonal relationships, morality, and pro- and anti-social behavior.
PREREQUISITES:
PSYC1021 or PSYC1021H
PSYC3029SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY (SOCL3029)
Credits (Min/Max): 3/3
PREREQUISITE: PSYC1021 OR PSYC1021H This course addresses the scientific study of human behavior, cognition and emotion as it is shaped by the psychosocial environment. Topics include social cognition, group dynamics, interpersonal attraction, conformity, aggression, prejudice, persuasion, and helping behavior. Cross-listed with SOCL3029
PREREQUISITES:
PSYC1021 or PSYC1021H
PSYC3030INTERPERSONAL AND GROUP
Credits (Min/Max): 3/3
PREREQUISITE: PSYC1021 OR PSYC1021H This course reviews current psychological theory and research on small groups and interpersonal relations with an examination of interaction between individual behavior and group phenomena. The course provides a significant experience in the dynamics of a small group.
PREREQUISITES:
PSYC1021 or PSYC1021H
PSYC3032PSYCH OF ADULTHOOD AND AGING
Credits (Min/Max): 3/3
PREREQUISITE: PSYC1021 OR PSYC1021H This course examines the years from emerging adulthood through the end of life from a development are explored, with attention given to qualitative and quantitative approaches. Theories of change throughout the life course are investigated, as well as normative changes in physical health, cognition, work life, personality, and intimacy.
PREREQUISITES:
PSYC1021 or PSYC1021H
PSYC3035BIOLOGICAL PSYCHOLOGY
Credits (Min/Max): 3/3
PREREQUISITE: PSYC1021 OR PSYC1021H This course explores physiological bases of human psychological experiences. The nervous and endocrine systems are examined in relationship to emotions, stress, psychological disorders, and other processes.
PREREQUISITES:
PSYC1021 or PSYC1021H
PSYC3040COUNSELING THEORIES AND
Credits (Min/Max): 3/3
PREREQUISITE: PSYC1021 OR PSYC1021H This is the first course in a two-course counseling sequence. Taken together, these two courses are designed to: a) familiarize students with the basic concepts in the field of counseling; b) introduce students to the major theoretical approaches to counseling and psychotherapy; and c) enable students to develop a level of counseling skill that will enable them to function effectively in a supervised setting. This first semester is more than 50% abstract (lecture/discussion) learning.
PREREQUISITES:
PSYC1021 or PSYC1021H
PSYC3041COUNSELING THEORIES AND
Credits (Min/Max): 3/3
This is the second course in a two-course counseling sequence. Taken together, these two courses are designed to: a) familiarize students with the basic concepts in the field of counseling; b) introduce students to the major theoretical approaches to counseling and psychotherapy; and c) enable students to develop a level of counseling skill that will enable them to function effectively in a supervised setting. This second semester is more than 50% experiential (role-playing; classroom exercise in the use of specific counseling techniques) learning.
PSYC3045EVOLUTIONARY PSYCHOLOGY
Credits (Min/Max): 3/3
PREREQUISITE: PSYC1021 OR PSYC1021H A comprehensive exploration of the application of Darwinian principles to behavior and mental processes. This scientific prospective provides a provacative and compelling explanation for the human animal's cross-cultural similarities. This course emphasizes cognition and social behavior vis-a-vis natural selection and evolutionary fitness. Topics include mating, parenting, survival, morality, and others.
PREREQUISITES:
PSYC1021 or PSYC1021H
PSYC3063CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR: LAW AND
Credits (Min/Max): 3/3
PREREQUISITE: CRIM1001 AND PSYC1021 This course, through an integration of psychology, criminology, and law, examines criminal behavior from both a psychological and legalistic perspective. Elements of the course include psychological explanations of individual personality development and examination of the concept of evil; rational choice and thrill-motivated theories of criminality, and the FBI's methodology for analyzing the crimes committed by selected types of criminals. The course employs famous trials to illustrate the legal means that society uses to deter and punish criminal behavior and the rules of evidence that determine the role of psychology in our legalistic system of criminal justice.
PREREQUISITES:
PSYC1021 or PSYC1021H or CRIM1001
PSYC3150COGNITIVE PSYCHOLOGY
Credits (Min/Max): 3/3
PREREQUISITE: PSYC1021 OR PSYC1021H Cognitive Psychology explores the interdependent processes that occurin everyday mental activity. Topics addressed include perception, attention, memory,, problem-solving, and others. Students will discover the world of events that occur as they ask, "What was I thinking?!"
PREREQUISITES:
PSYC1021 or PSYC1021H
PSYC3152APPLIED BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS
Credits (Min/Max): 3/3
PREREQUISITE: PSYC1021 OR PSYC1021H This course will address basic principles of learning and conditioning as well as their usefulness in behavior modification. Applications to normal and abnormal behavior in the home, school, work and other environments will be emphasized.
PREREQUISITES:
PSYC1021 or PSYC1021H
PSYC4050SPECIAL TOPICS IN ADVANCED
Credits (Min/Max): 3/3
PREREQUISITE: PSYC1021 OR PSYC1021H A collection of courses covering a broad range of topics in advanced psychology, offered according to student need and interest. The precise title is announced during registration period for any given term. SPRING 2022: The Science of Well-being: Introduction to Positive Psychology: This course will provide an introduction to the science related to happiness, well-being, flourishing and the positive aspects of human experience. Students will learn what contributes to well-being and how to build the enabling conditions of a life worth living. Students will explore the concepts (biological, psychological, social, emotional) and evidence based experiential strategies that are proven to enhance well-being. Students will engage in a detailed analysis and evidence-based positivity change process utilizing validated questionnaires and positive psychology well-being enhancing interventions.
PREREQUISITES:
PSYC1021 or PSYC1021H
PSYC4051INTERNSHIP I @
Credits (Min/Max): 1/6
An application of behavioral, developmental, group dynamics, and counseling principles through actual work experience. Internship may be repeated. Further information is available from instructor.
PSYC4052INTERNSHIP II @
Credits (Min/Max): 1/6
An application of behavioral, developmental, group dynamics, and counseling principles through actual work experience. Internship may be repeated. Further information is available from instructor.
PSYC4056DIRECTED RESEARCH - PSYCHOLOGY
Credits (Min/Max): 1/4
Individual research supervised by a full-time faculty member.
PSYC4057INDEPENDENT STUDY - PSYCHOLOGY
Credits (Min/Max): 1/6
This course is limited to those few students who have demonstrated an unusual level of ability and an intense commitment to a particular area.