BS Psych Science Degree Requirements:

Current BS-PSYC Upper-Level Requirements

PSYC 312 Human Motivation & Emotion or PSYC 423 Learning Theory (3) or PSYC 426 Cognitive Science (3)PSYC 409 Psychological Testing (3) or PSYC 320 Applied Correlation & Regression (3)

PSYC 414 Neural & Biological Bases of Behavior (3)

PSYC 435 Child Development (3) or PSYC 436 Adult Development (3)

PSYC 485 Psychology Capstone Project (3)

Total: 15 credits

Proposed BS-PSYC Upper-Level Requirements

~~PSYC 312 Human Motivation & Emotion or PSYC 423 Learning Theory (3) or PSYC 426~~

~~PSYC 414 Neural & Biological Bases of Behavior (3)~~

~~PSYC 435 Child Development (3) or PSYC 436 Adult Development (3)~~

PSYC 409 Psychological Testing (3) or PSYC 320 Applied Correlation & Regression (3)

~~PSYC 485 Psychology Capstone Project (3)~~

Choose four of the following upper-level basis psychological science courses (12 credits):

PSYC 312 Human Motivation & Emotion; PSYC 414 Neural & Biological Bases of Behavior (3); PSYC 423 Learning Theory (3); PSYC 426 Cognitive Science (3); PSYC 435 Child Development (3); PSYC 436 Adult Development (3); PSYC 485 Psychology Capstone Project (3)

Total 15 credits

Rationale for bundling multiple upper level course requirements. Over the last 7 years, we’ve consistently struggled to regularly offer many of these required 400-level courses (PSY312, 414, 423, 426, 435, and 436). Many of them are being regularly taught exclusively by adjunct faculty or regularly cancelled, and UG students are regularly petitioning to use substitutes in order to graduate on-time. Consolidating three required categories into one larger category will give students more flexibility, and give our program more flexibility to use adjuncts more strategically (i.e., only having adjuncts teach topics within their core expertise).

Rationale for making PSY485 Capstone optional. Students will still have the option to take an individually-mentored Capstone. However, past experience suggests students with low motivation to complete a Capstone project (a) get little out of it, and (b) are disproportionately more work to individually mentor. In order to maintain the same number of required courses for the degree program, we would increase the # of courses in the newly formed “Upper level basic psychology” category from three to four.

BS-PSYC Learning Objectives for Annual Program Assessment

1. Students will appropriately apply basic research methods in psychology, including research design, data analysis, and interpretation.

2. Students will be able to describe key concepts, principles and applications of psychology.

3. Students will demonstrate effective written communication to scientific and professional audiences.

Link to list of courses we regularly offer:

http://bulletin.iit.edu/undergraduate/courses/psyc/

400-level Psych Courses

PSYC 409

Psychological Testing

This course is designed to introduce you to psychological testing and assessment. After completing this course, you will be familiar with the test development process, testing techniques, and different types of tests. Further, you will learn about the use of tests in educational, organizational, and clinical/counseling settings. In this course, you will learn the underlying principles of psychological testing and measurement including test construction and scale development.

Prerequisite(s): PSYC 203 or PSYC 221 or PSYC 301

Lecture: 3 Lab: 0 Credits: 3

PSYC 410

Introduction to Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling

Historical, philosophical, ethical, and legal bases of rehabilitation and mental health counseling. Includes a study of professional roles, functions, and responsibilities as well as service delivery systems and practices such as vocational, independent living, and public and private rehabilitation and mental health counseling.

Prerequisite(s): PSYC 221

Lecture: 3 Lab: 0 Credits: 3

Satisfies: Communications (C), Social Sciences (S)

PSYC 411

Medical Aspects of Disabling Conditions

Survey of human organ systems, medical terminology, unique characteristics of disabling conditions, including severe disabilities. Vocational consequences, environmental impact and implications for the rehabilitation process. One of a two course sequence.

Prerequisite(s): PSYC 221

Lecture: 3 Lab: 0 Credits: 3

Satisfies: Natural Science (N)

PSYC 412

Multicultural and Psychosocial Issues in Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling

Review of diversity issues in rehabilitation and mental health counseling including culture, disability, gender, aging, socio-economic status, and spirituality and religion. Includes theories of multicultural counseling and the counselor's role in the promotion of self-awareness and social justice; a study of individual and family adaptation and coping processes following disability; psychological and sociological consequences of disability; attitudes toward persons with disabilities; and the impact of social and environmental barriers.

Prerequisite(s): PSYC 221

Lecture: 3 Lab: 0 Credits: 3

Satisfies: Communications (C), Social Sciences (S)

PSYC 414

Neural and Biological Bases of Behavior

An introduction to the biological bases of behavior with an emphasis on neuroanatomy and neurophysiology of sensory and central nervous systems.

Prerequisite(s): PSYC 221

Lecture: 3 Lab: 0 Credits: 3

Satisfies: Natural Science (N)

PSYC 423

Learning Theory

Learning plays an important role in psychology and the general processes and mechanisms that underscore learning are utilized in a number of fields including neuroscience, clinical science, education, and cognitive science. We will examine several theoretical perspectives on learning including, but not limited to, functionalistic, associationistic, cognitive, social, and neurophysiological. We will also examine how factors such as motivation, artificial intelligence, technology, disability, and intelligence play a role in learning.

Prerequisite(s): PSYC 221

Lecture: 3 Lab: 0 Credits: 3

Satisfies: Communications (C), Social Sciences (S)

PSYC 426

Cognitive Science

The goal of this course is to understand how the mind works. Cognitive science is an interdisciplinary field that draws on experimental psychology, computer science, linguistics, animal behavior, neuroscience, and behavioral economics, among others.

Prerequisite(s): PSYC 221

Lecture: 3 Lab: 0 Credits: 3

Satisfies: Social Sciences (S)

PSYC 435

Child Development

Developmental psychologists examine behavioral and biological changes as they occur over the entire lifespan. Their investigations into mechanisms of developmental change span biological, behavioral, and cultural levels of organization. Students will be able (1) to identify the major milestones of development in various domains (e.g. perceptual, motor, cognitive, social) and (2) use research and theory to understand the mechanisms by which developmental change occurs.

Prerequisite(s): PSYC 221

Lecture: 3 Lab: 0 Credits: 3

Satisfies: Social Sciences (S)

PSYC 436

Adult Development

Explores processes and changes in cognitive, social, physical and emotional functioning across adult life. Requires 9 hours of psychology.

Prerequisite(s): (PSYC 221 and PSYC 303) or PSYC 301 or PSYC 310

Lecture: 3 Lab: 0 Credits: 3

Satisfies: Social Sciences (S)

PSYC 449

Practicum in Rehabilitation Services

Seminar and supervised fieldwork experience in a rehabilitation setting with disabled individuals. Emphasizes service delivery, interviewing techniques, and caseload management.

Prerequisite(s): SOC 480 and PSYC 412* and PSYC 411 and PSYC 410, An asterisk (*) designates a course which may be taken concurrently.

Lecture: 3 Lab: 0 Credits: 3

PSYC 455

Development and Evaluation of Training in Organizations

The goal of this course is to provide the learner with a systems perspective to training in organizations. Through readings, discussions, in class exercises and project work students will learn to identify organizational issues that can be solved using a training intervention and develop appropriate training. The focus of the course will primarily be on knowledge application. Students will learn about the various steps involved in designing a training program including needs assessment, influence of learner characteristics, transfer of training and training evaluation. Through project work students will gain skills in implementing these steps.

Prerequisite(s): PSYC 221 or PSYC 301

Lecture: 3 Lab: 0 Credits: 3

Satisfies: Social Sciences (S)

PSYC 456

Engineering Psychology

Theory of human physical and psychological abilities as they relate to design of transportation, housing, workplace, defense and recreational systems. Topics include theories relating to psychophysiology, anthropometry, communications, man-machine interactions, training, maintainability, safety, and engineering evaluation.

Prerequisite(s): PSYC 221

Lecture: 3 Lab: 0 Credits: 3

Satisfies: Social Sciences (S)

PSYC 460

Child and Adolescent Disorders

This course focuses on the major disorders that are evident in infancy, childhood, and adolescence. A developmental psychopathology approach will be used in which major influences on both normal and abnormal child development will be examined. Students will be exposed to the contextual and socioemotional factors that impact children's development, followed by an in-depth discussion of the various disorders.

Prerequisite(s): PSYC 303

Lecture: 3 Lab: 0 Credits: 3

Satisfies: Social Sciences (S)

PSYC 465

Behavior Change Principles and Practice

Students will learn about theories of behavior and apply scientific principles used to promote behavior change. Major topics will include stages of change, motivational interviewing, cognitive behavioral techniques, and contingency management (reward and punishment). Emphasis will be given to altering pathological behaviors and to promoting healthy lifestyle changes in the context of one on one or small group settings.

Prerequisite(s): PSYC 303

Lecture: 3 Lab: 0 Credits: 3

Satisfies: Communications (C), Social Sciences (S)

PSYC 481

Groups and Leadership at Work

The course will review a system's model of groups and will discuss developmental stages of groups as they relate to communication behaviors. It will also review various approaches to leadership including individual, contingency, and relationship. The course engages students in various activities to help them become aware of themselves as team members and team leaders.

Prerequisite(s): PSYC 221 and PSYC 301

Lecture: 3 Lab: 0 Credits: 3

Satisfies: Social Sciences (S)

PSYC 482

Undergraduate Research Seminar I

An introduction to applied research in psychology. Includes a didactic review of basic and current issues in psychological research as well as an experiential component. Students actively participate in ongoing faculty research programs and are exposed to all areas of research.

Prerequisite(s): PSYC 221 and PSYC 204

Lecture: 1 Lab: 2 Credits: 3

PSYC 483

Undergraduate Research Seminar II

Prerequisite(s): PSYC 221 and PSYC 222 and PSYC 204

Lecture: 1 Lab: 2 Credits: 3

PSYC 485

Senior Capstone Project I

The Psychology Capstone Project is an independent study that consists of a formal project and may include a research component, a literature review component as well as a data analysis component or may include an internship or fellowship experience as discussed by you and your project advisor. The project should incorporate and expand upon the depth of knowledge gained from previous years of study and include predetermined deliverables which may include a final thesis or poster. The project should focus on an area of psychology that is of interest to you as a means to expand your knowledge on the subject and to solidify your future goals.

Lecture: 3 Lab: 0 Credits: 3

PSYC 486

Senior Capstone Project II

Continuation of the Psychology Capstone Project. This is an independent study that consists of a formal project and may include a research component, a literature review component as well as a data analysis component or may include an internship or fellowship experience as discussed by you and your project advisor. The project should incorporate and expand upon the depth of knowledge gained from previous years of study and include predetermined deliverables which may include a final thesis or poster. The project should focus on an area of psychology that is of interest to you as a means to expand your knowledge on the subject and to solidify your future goals.

Lecture: 3 Lab: 0 Credits: 3

PSYC 487

Integrative Psychology Seminar I

A synthesis of issues and areas in psychology. Requires 21 credit hours in psychology.

Prerequisite(s): PSYC 203

Lecture: 3 Lab: 0 Credits: 3

PSYC 488

Integrative Psychology Seminar II

Seminar integrating seminal and cutting edge psychological writings both empirical and conceptual to address key issues in contemporary psychology. Requires 24 credits in psychology.

Lecture: 3 Lab: 0 Credits: 3

PSYC 489

Undergraduate Psychology Seminar

Reports and discussion of current problems and issues in psychology.

Prerequisite(s): PSYC 221 and PSYC 204

Lecture: 3 Lab: 0 Credits: 3

Satisfies: Social Sciences (S)

PSYC 497

Special Problems

Independent study involving compilation and analysis of data bearing on a significant problem. **Instructor permission required.** One credit is earned for approximately 3 hours per week of effort.

Credit: Variable

PSYC 498

Advanced Research

Advanced research for BSMP students.

Lecture: 0 Lab: 6 Credits: 3