Psychology Department

Henderson Learning Center
Room 211
(785) 231-1010 ext. 1564

Course Offerings

 

 

 

Courses marked with </ are part of the University's General Education program.

</ PY 100 Basic Concepts in Psychology (3)
An introduction to fundamental areas of Psychology including an overview of the concepts and methods of such areas as perception, learning, motivation, memory, development, personality, abnormal and social.

PY 101 Psychology of Adjustment (3)
Applications of psychological concepts and principles relating to adjustment in interpersonal and stressful situations.

PY 105 Introductory Psychology Laboratory (1)
Introduction to the psychological research laboratory via a series of guided laboratory exercises with emphasis on 1) using numerical data from the exercises to write in a scientific style about behavior, and 2) using computer-based tools. Prerequisite: PY 100 or concurrent enrollment.

PY 150 Psychological Statistics (4)
Descriptive and inferential statistics in design, analysis and interpretation of psychological research. Lectures and two hours of laboratory. Prerequisites: PY 100 with grade of "C" or better, PY 105 or concurrent enrollment, and MA 104.

PY 209 Psychological Dev. Through the Life-Span (3)
Psychological research and theories which describe and explain life-cycle stability and change in perception, cognition, language, psychomotor behavior, personality, interpersonal relationships, etc. Prerequisite: Psychology 100 or 101.

</PY 210 Psychology of Infancy and Childhood (3)
Overview of theory and research on the psychological development of infants and children. Included are the development of sex roles, aggression, friendship, attachment to parents, perception, cognition, language, and moral reasoning and behavior. Prerequisite: PY 100 or 101.

</PY 211 Adolescent Psychology (3)
Theory and research on adolescent personality, social and cognitive development, including problems of adjustment during the teenage years. Prerequisite: PY 100 or 101.

PY 212 Psychology of Adulthood and Aging (3)
Psychological theory and research on the changes and continuities of the adult years: personality, intelligence, memory, sex roles, interpersonal relationships, death and dying, and the psychological consequences of physical and health changes. Prerequisite: PY 100 or 101.

PY 215 Consumer Psychology (3)
Survey of the psychological principles, theories, and methodology in learning, perception, motivation, attitude formation, personality, etc. as they affect consumer behavior. Prerequisite: PY 100 or 101.

PY 220 Psych. of Human/Computer Interactions (3)
A study of methods of scientific inquiry in the fields of cognitive psychology and human factors, and the application of the knowledge base of these fields toward achieving effective and productive human/computer interactions. Prerequisite: PY 100 or CM 110.

</ PY 231 Abnormal Psychology (3)
A survey of the origins, processes and diagnostic characteristics of representative syndromes of maladaptive behavior. Prerequisite: PY 100 or 101.

PY 234 Behavior Management Techniques (3)
Elementary principles of learning and their application for managing the behavior of normal and abnormal populations in a variety of settings including schools, mental institutions, hospitals and businesses. Prerequisite: PY 100 or 101.

PY 250 Experimental Psychology (4)
An introduction to objectives and methods of experimental Psychology, including how to design and implement experiments, and how to analyze, interpret, and report experimental results. Prerequisite: PY 102 and PY 105 with grades of "C" or better.

PY 282 Zoo Research (3)
Exploration of methods of observational research used to study behavior. Students will conduct supervised observations of animals or people at the Topeka Zoo. Prerequisite: PY 100.

PY 295 Special Topics (1-3)
Selected topics in Psychology, announced in advance. Prerequisite: Specified for each topic.

PY 299 Psychological Forum (1)
Survey of applied issues in the profession of Psychology including an overview of employment and graduate school opportunities as well as vocational techniques for achieving those goals. Prerequisite: PY100 and Sophomore Psychology Major - Pass/Fail Only.

PY 301 Principles of Learning (3)
Empirical and theoretical approaches to the study of classical and instrumental conditioning. Prerequisite: PY 100 or 101.

PY 302 Motivation (3)
A review of biological, behavioral, and cognitive approaches to motivation. Prerequisite: PY 100 or 101.

PY 305 Sensation and Perception (3)
Focus on the anatomy and functions of sensory systems (vision, audition, olfaction, gustation, haptics). Emphasis on differences in theoretical backgrounds. Prerequisite: PY 100 or 101

PY 306 Cognition (3)
A study of the intellectual structures and processes involved in the acquisition, storage, transformation and use of knowledge. Prerequisite:
PY 100 or 101.

PY 307 Physiological Psychology (3)
Examines the physiological basis of psychological phenomena (e.g., behavior). Concentrates on the function of biological systems on both general and specific behaviors. Prerequisite: PY 100 or 101.

PY 309 Theories of Personality (3)
Psychological theories of personality, including psychoanalytic, learning and humanistic approaches. Prerequisite: PY 100 or 101.

PY 310 Social Psychology (3)
Theory and research on cognitive and behavioral responses to social stimuli. Prerequisite: PY 100 or 101.

PY 312 Psychology of Creativity (3)
Exploration of the many facets of creativity, including the nature, measurement, prediction, and cultivation of creativity, and its relationship to other cognitive abilities. Prerequisite: PY 100 or 101.

PY 314 Personality and Social Behavior (3)
Description of the characteristics that distinguish individuals and a review of the processes by which these characteristics are thought to be established and changed. Prerequisite: PY 100 or 101.

PY 315 Personnel Psychology (3)
The psychological aspects of personnel administration stressing the application of psychological principles to personnel management. Prerequisite: PY 100 or 101.

PY 320 Principles of Psychological Testing (3)
Theory and methods in psychological measurement, and their application to the construction, selection and interpretation of psychological tests. Includes a survey of representative personality and ability tests. Prerequisite: PY 100 or 101.

PY 325 Community Psychology (3)
The study of community and organizational approaches to intervention and prevention strategies for mental health care, general health care, and various social problems. Prerequisite: PY 100 or 101.

PY 326 Health Psychology (3)
Psychological research and theory in the areas of psychosomatic disorders, chronic illness, disability, terminal illness, and staff/patient relation- ships. The course emphasizes the contributions of psychological theory and treatment in traditionally medical areas of human behavior. Prerequisite: PY 100 or 101.

PY 327 Correctional Psychology (3)
An introduction to the field of correctional Psychology. Applies psychological theories, principles and research to correctional issues. Topics include inmate behavior, women in prison, psychological disorders found among offenders, and prevention of fatigue, stress, and burnout in staff members. Prerequisite: PY 100 or consent.

PY 333 Counseling Psychology (3)
Major theories and techniques of psychological counseling. Prerequisite: PY 100 or 101.

PY 336 Field/Volunteer Experience in Psychology (1-3)
Supervised experience in the application of psychological concepts and methods or volunteer work. Work in non-classroom situations required. Arrangements for enrollment must be completed prior to registration. Prerequisite: One related advanced course and consent of instructor. Pass/Fail Only

PY 338 Childhood Psychopathology (3)
An overview of psychological and behavioral disorders of children and adolescents, including their characteristics, origins, and treatment. Prerequisite: PY 231.

PY 350 Introduction to Clinical Psychology (3)
Clinical Psychology as a science and a profession. The history, scope, ethics, theories and methods of clinical psychology.
Prerequisite: PY 231.

PY 353 Psychology of Everyday Life (3)
Applications of psychological theory and research in common life arenas, including family, work, and interpersonal relationships. Prerequisite: PY 100 or 101.

PY 356 Psychology of Marital and Family Processes (3)
An overview of psychological theories and research pertaining to family processes and the influence of the family on the psychological development of the individual. Topics to be covered include various psychological theories pertaining to family functioning, family dysfunction and divorce, and relationships between family functioning and psychopathology. Prerequisite: PY 100 or 101.

PY 381 History and Psychology of Sex and Gender (3)
Surveys historic and current experience of being male and female within changing Western society. The course will examine past ideas fostering distinctions between sexes, as well as surveying current Psychological research in this area. This course will be team taught by a historian and a psychologist. Prerequisite: Three hours of Social Science or consent. Of PY 381 and HI 381 only one may be taken for credit.

PY 382 Zoo Research (3)
Exploration of methods of observational research used to study behavior. Students will conduct supervised observations of animals or people at the Topeka Zoo. Prerequisite: PY 250.

PY387 History and Systems of Psychology (3)
An examination of philosophical and empirical roots that led to the development of the discipline of Psychology and the historical progression of ideas central to modern Psychology. (May be used to meet Senior Capstone Experience requirement). Prerequisites: Psychology Senior or Consent.

PY 388 Directed Collaborative Research (3)
Supervised small group research project(s) designed to provide the opportunity to work collaboratively with peers. (May be used to meet Senior Capstone Experience requirement). Prerequisite: PY 250 and Consent of instructor.

PY 389 Independent Study (1-3)
Individual problems planned and executed by the student under supervision. (May be used to meet Senior Capstone Experience requirement). Prerequisite: Consent of instructor. May be repeated up to a total of 6 hours.

PY 390 Directed Research (1-3)
Supervised independent research involving gathering, analysis, and reporting of empirical data. (May be used to meet Senior Capstone Experience requirement.) Prerequisite: PY250 and consent of instructor. May be repeated up to a total of 6 hours.

PY 395 Special Topics (1-3)
Selected topics in Psychology, announced in advance. Prerequisite: Specified for each topic.

GRADUATE PROGRAM IN PSYCHOLOGY (MA)
The Department of Psychology offers a Master of Arts Degree in Psychology with an emphasis in Clinical Skills. See Psychology, Graduate Programs, in catalog index.

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