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Department of Psychology

Kandy J. Stahl, Chair

McKibben 215
(936) 468-4402
Fax: (936) 468-4015
kstahl@sfasu.edu
www.sfasu.edu/sfapsych

Faculty

Professors
John E. Anson, Gary G. Ford, Mark R. Ludorf, Lauren F.V. Scharff

Associate Professors
Verna L. Barron, Raymond L. Eastman, Kandy J. Stahl, Michael E. Walker

Assistant Professors
Jeremy Heider, Theodore D. Joseph

Undergraduate Program Coordinator
Mark R. Ludorf

Areas of Study & Degrees
B.A./B.S. in Psychology
Second major in Psychology
Minor in Psychology

Objectives

The department provides students with a unique perspective for understanding human behavior and applying this knowledge in many different professional areas. First major and second major degree plans in psychology are offered to prepare students for the following:

  1. graduate work in experimental, clinical and industrial/organizational psychology, as well as in related fields.
  2. paraprofessional work in industrial research, in clinical mental health programs, and in interdisciplinary fields in the social/medical sciences.

Mission

The department’s purpose concerns introducing students to the various disciplines and applications of psychology as a science of behavior. The department is committed to promoting the personal development and growth of the individual. Students’ academic experiences will provide career preparation in psychology and related fields.

Advising

All students planning to pursue a first major, second major or minor in psychology must consult with a psychology adviser before registration. University policy requires all students consult an adviser in their major department each semester before registration until they have earned 61 credit hours. Psychology majors with more than 61 hours are still required to consult an adviser each semester until they have filed an official degree plan in the Office of the Dean of the College of Liberal and Applied Arts. Thereafter, students with degree plans are required to consult an adviser at least once each year.

Graduate Study in Psychology

Students planning to pursue graduate work in psychology should note the following minimum graduate admission requirements for most psychology programs: courses in General Psychology, Psychological Statistics and Experimental Psychology. In addition, the following courses are strongly recommended: Developmental or Learning, Biopsychology or Perception, Abnormal or Personality, and History and Systems of Psychology.

Undergraduate Honors Study

A student may apply for honors in psychology if he or she meets the criteria described in the College of Liberal and Applied Arts Departmental Honors section of this bulletin. Written permission to register for PSY 398H must be obtained from the College of Liberal and Applied Arts, the chair of the Department of Psychology and the supervising faculty member.

Psychology Honor Society

Students interested in joining the local chapter of Psi Chi, the National Honor Society in psychology, should consult the psychology faculty sponsor of Psi Chi.

Definition of Majors and Minors

Prospective psychology majors or minors should consult a psychology adviser to determine which major track or minor plan would be most appropriate for their academic and professional goals. First majors should also discuss with a psychology adviser which degree plan (Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts) they will pursue.

First Major in Psychology [B.S. or B.A.] For students planning to pursue a graduate degree in psychology

  1. The following major curriculum applies to both the B.A. and B.S. degrees in psychology and will provide the student with a general background in psychology preparatory for graduate work in the main areas of psychology.
  2. At least 18 of the 26 upper-level hours (300-499) must be taken at SFA.
  3. The student also should refer to the general education requirements under the Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts degree for students in the College of Liberal and Applied Arts listed elsewhere in this bulletin.

Required Courses (21 hours):

Elective Courses (12 hours):

At least 18 of the 26 upper level hours must be taken at SFASU
Total for major: 35 hours

First Major in Psychology [B.S. or B.A.] For students pursuing careers in other professions and graduate programs

  1. This major is designed for students who do not intend to pursue a graduate degree in psychology, but intend to pursue other careers or professions for which psychology would provide a meaningful background.
  2. At least 15 of the 27 upper-level hours (300-499) must be taken at SFA.
  3. The student also should refer to the general education requirements for the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree for students in the College of Liberal and Applied Arts listed elsewhere in this bulletin.

Required Courses (24 hours):

Elective Courses (12 hours):

At least 18 of the 27 upper-level hours must be taken at SFASU.

Total for major: 36 hours

Second Major in Psychology

Recommended for students majoring in the natural sciences, pre-professional programs, or applied mental health fields.

  1. This curriculum with the selection of courses in Psychological Statistics and Experimental Psychology and other appropriate electives will meet the minimum requirements for graduate work in psychology. Consult a graduate psychology adviser.
  2. At least 12 of the 15-17 upper-level psychology hours (300-499) must be taken at SFA.

Required Courses (12 hours):

Elective Courses (12-14 hours):

Total for second major: 24-26 hour

Minor in Psychology

  1. A minor in psychology consists of a minimum of 18 to a maximum of 23 hours in psychology with at least nine hours of lower-level courses (including at least one 200-level course) and nine hours of upper-level courses, arrived at through consultation with a psychology adviser. At least six of the minimum nine hours of upper-level psychology courses must be taken at SFA.
  2. With the selection of courses in General Psychology, Psychological Statistics, Experimental Psychology and other appropriate electives, this minor will meet minimum admission requirements for graduate work in psychology.
  3. Advisers will provide information on suggested specialized minor plans for most academic majors.
  4. Exception for social work majors: PSY 133 (General Psychology) and PSY 375 (Abnormal Psychology) are required courses for social work majors. PSY 133 may be used to meet the requirements of both the social work major and the psychology minor with the credit hours being counted in the minor. No other courses in psychology may be credited in this manner. PSY 375 will be counted in the major, but not in the minor.

Courses in Psychology (PSY)

Unless otherwise indicated, courses are three semester hours credit, three hours lecture per week.

133.

General Psychology (PSYC 2301) – Survey of fundamental principles of behavior including physiological, perceptual, developmental, learning, motivational, cognitive, social, historical, and methodological perspectives. Course fee $5.

143.

Psychology of Adjustment (PSYC 2315) – Applications of basic psychological principles to human adjustment and growth including development, self-concept, coping with stress, abnormal behavior, social influence, and interpersonal relationships including love and intimacy.

153.

Human Sexuality (PSYC 2306) – Psychology of sexual behavior as related to social conduct.

210.

Developmental Psychology (PSYC 2308) – Survey of theories of and current research into the psychological development of children. Focus on perceptual, cognitive, language, and social/emotional development. Prerequisite: PSY 133 or consent of instructor.

240.

Human Consciousness – Examination of a variety of models of the mind (e.g., neurophysiological, cognitive, phenomenological) that purport to explain the nature of conscious experience. Comparison of scientific and intuitive perspectives. Prerequisite: Three hours of psychology.

250.

Computer Applications in Psychology – Application of computing to psychology including appropriate programming languages, accessing the Internet, and applying statistical as well as other software packages designed for the behavioral sciences. Prerequisites: PSY 133 and three hours of computer science or equivalent computing skills.

290.

Experimental Social Psychology – Psychology of why some social relationships succeed where others fail. A look at the problems of communicating with one another in terms of obedience, assertiveness, conceit, prejudice, physical attraction, intimacy, anger, and the camaraderie enjoyed by groups of males and females. Prerequisite: Three hours of psychology.

300.

Experimental Methods in Psychology – Survey of experimental methods in behavioral sciences. Emphasis on helping students become informed consumers of psychological research. Prerequisite: PSY 133.

310.

Industrial Psychology – Comprehensive study of the use of applied psychology in the areas of business and industry. Prerequisite: Advanced standing.

320.

Survey of Psychology – Exploration of theoretical and applied issues in a specialty area of psychology. Area may include but not be limited to perception, learning, cognition, or personality. Area announced prior to registration. May be repeated under a different topic area for a maximum of nine hours credit. Prerequisite: PSY 133.

330.

Psychological Statistics – Four semester hours, three hours lecture and three hours laboratory per week. Application of descriptive and inferential statistical techniques in processing behavioral data. Includes normative techniques, parametric and nonparametric applications. PSY 330L is a corequisite for this course. Lecture and lab grades are combined into a single grade for the course. Prerequisites: PSY 133 and three hours of math; MTH 220, PSY 250, or their equivalents recommended. Course fee: $40.

341.

Experimental Psychology – Four semester hours, three hours lecture and three hours laboratory per week. Research methods, emphasizing use of experimental control and analysis of data for reporting experimental results in the psychological study of human and non-human behavior. Prerequisites: PSY 133; PSY 330, or the equivalent, with a grade of C or better; and three additional hours of psychology. Course fee: $40.

350.

Biopsychology – Examination of relationships between behavior and underlying physiological mechanisms. Aspects covered include neural conduction, sensory receptor mechanisms, learning and memory, and other aspects of higher cortical functioning in both humans and animals. Prerequisite: Nine hours of psychology or biology.

361.

Principles of Behavior Modification – Principles and research on and use of behavioral techniques in clinical, academic, correctional, and industrial settings. Areas covered include behavioral management of children’s disorders, self-management skills enhancement, productivity enhancement, and other interventions. Prerequisites: PSY 133 or 143 and three hours of related course work.

375.

Abnormal Psychology – Theories and research on the incidence, classification, etiology, and treatment of abnormal behaviors. Prerequisite: PSY 133 or 143.

385.

Psychology of Aggression – Perspectives on the development of human violence. Prerequisite: Six hours of psychology.

390.

Psychology of Aging – Psychology of adult development from a life-span perspective emphasizing the later periods of life. Prerequisite: Three hours of psychology.

398H.  

Honors Reading and Research – Three to six semester hours. Reading and research for individual honors students in psychology. Amount of credit determined by scope of project. Prerequisites: 12 semester hours of psychology; consent of faculty supervisor, department chair and dean of liberal and applied arts.

400.

Positive Psychology: Science and Application – Introduction to psychological paradigms for the millennium focusing on strengthening and optimizing positive dimensions of personal life, particularly in the realms of work, personal relationships, and leisure. Focus on enhancing behaviors designed to improve quality of life. Prerequisites: Advanced standing and consent of instructor.

420.

History and Systems of Psychology – Capstone course. Survey of the historical background of psychology emphasizing its philosophical origins and evolution of the psychological point of view. Contributions of major schools of psychology to modern psychology also emphasized. Prerequisite: Senior standing or consent of instructor.

475.

Special Problems – One to four semester hours. Individual research on a topic agreed upon before registration by a student and supervising faculty member. Prerequisites: Advanced standing and consent of instructor.

476.

Special Problems – Individual research on a topic agreed upon before registration by a student and supervising faculty member. Prerequisites: PSY 475, advanced standing, and consent of instructor.

490.

Human Assessment – Survey of psychometric theory, principles and applications. Focus on test development and application including methods of assessing test consistency and validity. Techniques for assessing intelligence, aptitudes, achievement, interest, attitude, personality and other constructs, as well as cultural and legal/ethical issues in testing. Prerequisites: MTH 220 or PSY 330 or equivalent statistics courses, plus nine advanced hours in psychology, management, counseling, education, social work, or equivalent.

495.

Psychopathology – Review of Axis I and II disorders from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Theory, etiology, description, and treatment issues. Prerequisites: PSY 275 and nine additional hours of psychology or related courses.

497.

Research Seminar – Students design, conduct, analyze, and write up research for publication/presentation. Prerequisite: grade of C or better in PSY 341 or the equivalent. Course fee: $40.

498.

Topics in Psychology – In-depth study of a topic, such as Sports Psychology, Social Psychology, Health Psychology, Human Factors, Ecological Psychology, or Existential Psychology. Topics announced prior to registration. Prerequisites: Advanced standing and consent of instructor. May be repeated once under a different topic.

499.

Undergraduate Practicum in Community Psychology – Pass-Fail. Individual field placements involving a minimum of 100 hours of participation and supervision in student volunteer programs sponsored by cooperating campus and community mental health agencies. Under the supervision of a member of the clinical faculty. Prerequisites: Advanced standing and consent of instructor. May be repeated for credit once.

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