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Associate Professors: C. DeVita (Chair), D. Larson, M. Nedelsky
Assistant Professor: M. Dennis, C. VanDeWetering, A. Zell
The curriculum in the Department of Psychology is designed to introduce the student to the theories and methods modern psychologists have developed in their attempt to understand human nature. Both the scientific approach to psychology and the approach based on personal experiences, intuition and reflection are presented. The Department faculty is concerned with the difficult problem of relating the modern psychological approach to the traditional Christian one, attempting to determine where they are complementary.
A psychology major can lead to many different careers. Psychology advisors will assist students in choosing the specific courses that meet individual student’s needs. As a major with some flexibility, Psychology works well to support another program of study. It is also a strong stand-alone major. Students who intend to pursue careers in psychology should take up to 43 credit hours in psychology. The department advises individuals who wish to attend graduate school and receive letters of recommendation from department faculty to become involved in research projects with department faculty.
PSYCHOLOGY MAJOR: 32 credit hours
PSYC 110 - Self and Others: Psychological Perspectives (3 cr)
PSYC 115 - General Psychology (3 cr)
PSYC 125 - Life-Span Human Development (3 cr)
PSYC 270 - Statistics (4 cr)
PSYC 271 - Research Methods (4 cr)
*PSYC - Elective courses (5 courses) (15 cr (or more))
*May not include PSYC 192, 292, 392 and 398.
PSYC 110, 115 & 125 should be completed early in the student’s program.
Transfer students must take a minimum of 12 credits at Augustana approved in consultation with the department.
PSYCHOLOGY MINOR: 15 credit hours
PSYC 110 - Self and Others: Psychological Perspectives (3 cr)
PSYC 115 - General Psychology (3 cr)
PSYC 125 - Life-Span Human Development (3 cr)
*PSYC - Elective courses (6 cr (or more))
*May not include PSYC 192, 270, 271, 292, 350, 392 or 398
PSYC 110 - SELF AND OTHERS: PSYCHOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES (Area 3.3) (3 credits)
An introductory course dealing with the attempts of modern psychologists and psychiatrists to understand
human nature and the problems involved in helping people lead better lives. The course is concerned with
those issues that are of direct relevance to the way we lead our lives and understand ourselves and is taught
with a concern for the Christian perspective. Several perspectives are considered, such as psychoanalysis,
behaviorism and humanistic psychology.
NOTE: OFFERED MOST SEMESTERS
PSYC 115 - GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY (Area 3.3) (3 credits)
An introduction to the scientific study of human thinking, feeling, and behaving. Research from a variety of
major areas is surveyed, including topics in biological, cognitive, and social psychology. The course emphasizes
the strengths of scientific psychology, as well as the difficulties inherent in humans studying humans.
NOTE: OFFERED MOST SEMESTERS
PSYC 125 - LIFE-SPAN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT (Area 1.2) (3 credits)
An examination of human development throughout the life span (conception through death), physical,
cognitive and psychosocial; developmental processes and the factors that shape individual development
including social and cultural forces.
NOTE: OFFERED EVERY SEMESTER
PSYC 200 - DRUGS AND MENTAL HEALTH (3 credits)
A detailed, critical, scientific analysis of the effects of the major categories of psychiatric drugs, for the
treatment of depression, mania, anxiety, schizophrenia, borderline personality disorder and attention
deficit/hyperactivity disorders. The course first focuses on understanding the research strategies that are
used in the evaluation of the effectiveness of psychiatric drugs. Then it uses this understanding to critically
evaluate the research that has actually been carried out. Research comparing drug treatment to
psychological treatment is also reviewed.
NOTES: PREREQUISITE: ONE PSYC OR BIOL COURSE
OFFERED MOST INTERIMS
PSYC 220 - CHILD PSYCHOLOGY (3 credits)
Study of various aspects of child development (biological, social, emotional, language, cognitive), their
interrelationships and the factors influencing development.
NOTES: PREREQUISITE: PSYC 125
OFFERED MOST FALL SEMESTERS
PSYC 270 - STATISTICS (4 credits)
The basic course in statistical inference oriented toward the elements of description, estimation, and the
testing of hypotheses. Topics include probability distributions, confidence intervals, tests of means,
proportions, and differences, correlation and regression, analysis of variance, and chi-square tests of
qualitative data. Principles are applicable to both social and physical sciences.
NOTES: CROSS-LISTED WITH BSAD 270 AND ECON 270
RECOMMENDED PREREQUISITE: INTRODUCTORY COURSE IN MATHEMATICS
OFFERED EVERY SEMESTER
PSYC 271 - RESEARCH METHODS (4 credits)
An introduction to the research methods used in psychology and related fields. Students will learn to read
critically original research reports in a variety of areas dealing with important questions about human behavior.
NOTES: PREREQUISITE: PSYC 115; PREREQUISITE OR COREQUISITE: PSYC 270
OFFERED EVERY YEAR
PSYC 272 - EXPERIMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY (W - Area 2.1B) (4 credits)
Alaboratory course designed to give students experience in designing, carrying out, and analyzing the data from
their own experiments. Most experiments will involve the study of human sensing, perceiving, and thinking.
NOTES: PREREQUISITES: PSYC 115, PSYC 270, AND PSYC 271
OFFERED OCCASIONALLY
PSYC 280 - PSYCHOLOGICAL MEASUREMENT AND DIAGNOSIS (4 credits)
A consideration of fundamental conceptual and technical issues in psychological measurement. These
issues include scaling, classification, reliability, validity, and utility. The DSM diagnostic system will be
evaluated critically, along with a general discussion of issues of diagnosis and assessment in applied
settings. A number of measures commonly used in applied and research settings will be surveyed.
NOTES: PREREQUISITE: PSYC 110 OR PSYC 115; RECOMMENDED: PSYC 270
OFFERED OCCASIONALLY
PSYC 290 - PHYSIOLOGICAL PSYCHOLOGY (4 credits)
The functioning of the neuron and nervous system tissue will be explored, particularly as related to human
behavior. Anatomical and physiological considerations regarding selected functions, including vision,
audition, sleep, emotion, stress, memory, learning, and various disorders will be examined.
NOTES: PREREQUISITES: PSYC 115; BIOL 110 OR BIOL 120
OFFERED OCCASIONALLY
PSYC 192, 292 - DIRECTED RESEARCH (1-3 credits)
Supervised empirical research experience on a project currently being conducted by a faculty member.
NOTES: PREREQUISITE: CONSENT OF SUPERVISING FACULTY MEMBER
OFFERED AS NEEDED
PSYC 300 - SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY (3 credits)
A study of the dialectical relationship between the human individual and society. The course will focus on
the ways in which humans are inescapably social creatures. It will examine the social influences on human
perception, self-conception, cognition, and behavior and also the way in which human individuals
construct, maintain and transform the social structures within which they live.
NOTES: CROSS-LISTED WITH SOCI 300
OFFERED EVERY FALL SEMESTER
PSYC 305 - PSYCHOLOGY AND CHRISTIANITY (3 credits)
An examination of the relationship between psychology and Christianity including areas of agreement and
conflict and attempts to integrate the two. Topics include basic assumptions, methods of inquiry, human
nature, values, morality, guilt, responsibility, change, Christian counseling and the question: Is there a
Christian psychology?
NOTES: PREREQUISITES: PSYC 110 AND RELI 110
OFFERED MOST FALL SEMESTERS
PSYC 311 - ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY (4 credits)
A study of the various ways in which persons’ lives can be warped or crippled by psychological problems.
The origin, nature and diagnosis of mental disorders will be studied.
NOTES: PREREQUISITE: PSYC 110; RECOMMENDED: PSYC 125
OFFERED EVERY FALL SEMESTER
PSYC 321 - COUNSELING AND PSYCHOTHERAPY (4 credits)
An introduction to the concepts and assumptions of several approaches to psychotherapy, counseling and
behavior change including such theories as psychodynamic, behavioral, humanistic, cognitive-behavioral,
multicultural and Christian counseling perspectives. The course objectives are to provide students with
knowledge of basic counseling skills and an understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the various
therapeutic approaches.
NOTES: PREREQUISITE: PSYC 110
OFFERED EVERY FALL SEMESTER
PSYC 325 - BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION AND ASSESSMENT (4 credits)
An in-depth study of behavior modification and assessment, its major assumption and issues, basic
principles and methods, and applications. In addition, the student is required to design and carry out
behavior modification projects under direct supervision of the instructor.
NOTES: PREREQUISITE: PSYC 110
OFFERED EVERY SPRING SEMESTER
PSYC 330 - COGNITIVE PSYCHOLOGY (W - Area 2.1B) (3 credits)
An overview of theories and laboratory phenomena in human cognitive functions such as attention,
memory, concepts, language, reasoning, problem solving, and judgment and decision-making. Topics are
explored within information-processing and representational frameworks. Findings from cognitive
neuroscience, neuropsychology, comparative psychology, and machine learning are incorporated in the
class where appropriate.
NOTES: PREREQUISITE: PSYC 115
OFFERED MOST SPRING SEMESTERS
PSYC 335 - HUMAN RELATIONS (Area 1.2) (3 credits)
This course will focus on the theory and techniques of developing and maintaining authentic interpersonal
relationships from the viewpoints of humanistic psychology, communication skills training, and family
systems theory. Topics include communication barriers, effective listening, self-disclosure, assertiveness
skills, conflict resolution, family systems, and interpersonal patterns. Functional and dysfunctional aspects
of intimate relationships will be studied. Students will participate in experiential lab sessions and self-analytic
work.
NOTE: OFFERED EVERY SPRING SEMESTER
PSYC 350 - SOCIAL SCIENCE RESEARCH METHODS (W - Area 2.1B) (4 credits)
An interdisciplinary approach to basic social science research methods. The course introduces students to
the several esearch methodologies used within the social sciences. Students participate in all stages of a
research project.
NOTES: CROSS-LISTED WITH ECON 350, GOVT 350, AND SOCI 350
OFFERED EVERY SEMESTER
PSYC 391 - PRACTICUM (2-4 credits)
Supervised field experience in settings where psychology is practiced or applied.
NOTES: PREREQUISITES: JUNIOR OR SENIOR STANDING; CONSENT OF THE SUPERVISING
FACULTY MEMBER
PSYC 392 - SENIOR DIRECTED RESEARCH (3-4 credits)
Psychology majors may complete an independent research project under the supervision of a Psychology
faculty member. Preliminary aspects of the scholarly project are normally done through directed research
within the department. See PSYC 192, 292.
NOTE: PREREQUISITE: CONSENT OF THE SUPERVISING FACULTY MEMBER
PSYC 197, 297, 397 - TOPICS IN PSYCHOLOGY (2-4 credits)
PSYC 398 - HONORS IN PSYCHOLOGY (3-4 credits)
Psychology majors may independently develop and complete a research project under the supervision of a
Psychology faculty member.
NOTES: PREREQUISITES: PSYC 270, PSYC 271; COLLEGE GPA 3.0 OR ABOVE; PSYC GPA 3.5
OR ABOVE; CONSENT OF THE SUPERVISING FACULTY MEMBER AND THE DEPARTMENT
CHAIR
PSYC 199, 299, 399 - INDEPENDENT STUDY (2-4 credits)
Individual study and research under direction of department faculty.
NOTE: PREREQUISITE: CONSENT OF THE SUPERVISING FACULTY MEMBER AND THE
DEPARMENT CHAIR