Psychology

2005 - 2006 College of the Ozarks Catalog

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Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science

The primary mission of the psychology department is to provide a curriculum to enhance the student's knowledge and understanding of human behavior, thus equipping the student for a career in the science or profession of psychology. The curriculum strives to balance the theoretical and practical dimensions of psychology by providing experiential courses and opportunities for community-based internships. The psychology capstone provides an opportunity to integrate and apply experiences from the entire curriculum, thus enabling the student to link various areas of psychology and observe the relationship of psychology to other academic disciplines.

Objectives of the psychology program include:

A comprehensive exam is required during the first semester of the senior year. Additional Psychology courses may be assessed as a result of the exam.

Credit is given in a psychology major or minor for ONE of the following:
   CJS 233 Juvenile Delinquency
   SOC 393 Social Psychology

The psychology curriculum offers an opportunity to select courses directed for specific emphasis in the field of psychology. Applied psychology, General Psychology, and Educational Psychology. While the following courses are not required, they are strongly recommended for each emphasis.

Applied Psychology: Applied psychology courses help to equip students who are desiring to enter community and mental health services, criminal justice fields, or who plan to work in church-related ministry. The applied psychology emphasis is also the preferred emphasis for double majors.

General Psychology: General psychology provides students with all the courses usually required for admission to graduate psychology programs and advanced training programs.

Educational Psychology: Educational psychology provides students with the courses that better prepare them to enter into graduate training programs for school and guidance counseling. The educational psychology emphasis provides a strong minor for those majoring in education.

Any student interested in psychology is encouraged to join the Christian Psychology Club.

Qualified psychology majors are encouraged to join Psi Chi - "The National Honor Society in Psychology" after completing their first successful nine hours of psychology. More information on Psi Chi can be found in the catalog under Students Honor Societies.

COURSES IN PSYCHOLOGY (PSY)

101 Career Planning The course is designed to enhance career planning and job search skills to ensure viable career choices. (F)

103 Introduction to Psychology A course stressing the importance of psyhological mechanisms underlying all mental processes such as sensation, perception, emotion, thinking and learning. (F/S)

203 Health Psychology—Prerequisite: PSY 103. A course investigating mental health issues in daily living. Of particular interest are counseling, group dynamics, work, sex, marriage and dying. (F)

233 Behavioral Management Techniques—Prerequisite: PSY 103. The purpose is to acquaint the student with techniques of systematic behavioral intervention, including positive and negative reinforcement, shaping, chaining and extinction. Emphasis will be placed on practical ways of managing individual and group behavior in counseling situations. (S-even).

243 Alcohol and Drug Abuse—Prerequisite: Any one: PSY 103, SOC 103, SOC 203, SOC 213. Consideration will be given to the maladaptive behavior and physiological characteristics of addiction. Stages in the development of and types of addiction and habituation will be discussed. The effects of chemical abuse on the human body will be presented. Treatment approaches that are currently in use will be reviewed. (F/S)

252 Psychology Seminar—Prerequisite: PSY 103. This course is designed to expose students to educational and professional options as a psychology major, current issues in psychology, the APA writing style and the integration of Christian faith and psychology. (S)

263 Industrial/Organizational The course will review the field of Industrial /Organizational (I/O) psychology. I/O is a branch of psychology that applies the principles of psychology to the workplace. The student will learn how I/O psychology examines factors that affect the people in an organization. (S-odd)

283 History and Systems of Psychology—Prerequisite: PSY 103. A study of the various systems of psychology based on their theory. The effect of these various systems on contemporary psychological thought is considered. (S)

Prerequisite for all 300-400 level courses: 45 hours or permission.

301 Career Placement—Prerequisite: 61 hours. The student will develop effective strategies for establishing a successful career. Resumés and cover letters will be developed and job interviews will be conducted. (S)

302 Reading in Counseling—Prerequisite: PSY 103 and permission. Readings will serve as an introduction to counseling theory as it applies to psychology. Major counseling theories will be covered. Writing Intensive. (F)

304 Research Methods—Prerequisites: PSY 103 and MAT 143. A study of research methods in contemporary psychology to include a weekly experimental psychology lab. Specific examples from different areas of psychology are used to teach students basic concepts of experimental design, data collection, data analysis, interpretation and generalization. Writing Intensive. (F-odd)

313 Personality Development—Prerequisite: PSY 103. Examination of the major theories of personality with emphasis on normal/abnormal development and suggested therapeutic interventions. Writing Intensive. (F/S)

323 The Helping Relationship: Principles and Skills—Prerequisite: PSY 103 and permission. A seminar-workshop discussing principles and practicing skills involved in helping others. Persons intending to be psychologists or social workers or to help others as ministers, physicians, teachers, etc., will find a theoretical framework in which to view their helping functions and skills in a systematic manner. A psychological perspective for functioning paraprofessionals is emphasized. (F/S)

343 Developmental Psychology—Prerequisite: PSY 103. This course is designed to provide an introduction to major developmental theories along with an examination of contemporary research topics in developmental psychology. The foundational theories and associated readings will assist the student in gaining an appreciation of the complexities of human development over the life span, as well as a basic understanding of biological and sociocultural influences on development (F).

353 Psychology of Marriage and Family Counseling—Prerequisite: PSY 103. An introduction of marital and family dynamics, as well as the process, strategies, techniques of intervention and prevention of problems. (S)

363 Psychology of the Exceptional Child—Prerequisite: PSY 103 or permission. Required of all Education majors. This course will help the student develop an understanding and appreciation of the disabled and/or the gifted child in the classroom. Child growth and behavior as related to exceptional children. (F/S)

373 Abnormal Psychology—Prerequisite: PSY 103. A study of psychological abnormality, including casework, diagnosis and treatment. (F/S)

383 Adolescent/Middle Level Psychology—Prerequisite: PSY 103 or permission. Required of all Mid-level and Secondary Education majors. Psychological facts and principles necessary for the understanding of the adolescent or middle level child in his peer group and school environment. Growth and behavior patterns are also considered. (F/S)

393 Group Dynamics—Prerequisite: PSY 103, PSY 323 and permission. Examination of human interactions in a group setting with emphasis on the purpose and process of the resulting dynamics. (F)

414 Practicum: Assessment and Therapy—Prerequisite: PSY 103; Psychology major; PSY 302 and permission. This course will provide students the opportunity to develop and to apply peer-counseling skills. The most influential psychotherapies will be studied which will include their theoretical backgrounds and applications. The conceptual, statistical, legal and ethical issues involving assessment and therapy will be examined. Individual students will be supervised by a psychology instructor. (F-even)

424 Topics in Psychology—Prerequisite: PSY 103; Psychology major or permission. This is a capstone course designed for the psychology major involving an organized study in selected topics of psychology, including current issues, theories, and research. The focus of the course is on the application of critical thinking skills and applied psychology (S).

48V (1-9) Internship—Prerequisite: Psychology majors and permission. This is a supervised practical experience in a professional setting for upper-class psychology majors. The experience can include observing, assisting, assuming regular duties, or pursuing a special project. The general guideline for credit is 40 contact hours for each hour of credit. This course may be repeated for credit but no more than six hours may be applied to the Psychology major. (F/S)

49V (1-6) Special Problems—Prerequisite: Psychology majors and permission. The student will investigate problems in psychology with emphasis on psychological theory and principles of human behavior. (F/S)