HELP 2019-20 Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG] Psychology Contract All Courses | Print this Page

Education-Psychology 221
541-552-6208
John Taylor, Chair

The Psychology program prepares students to:

1. achieve a broad understanding and appreciation of human behavior, which serves as the foundation for a liberal arts education;
2. enter paraprofessional work in applied behavioral sciences and social service fields; and
3. pursue graduate and professional study in psychology or related fields.

Five goals from the American Psychological Association are identified as desired outcomes of completing the psychology major. Students will acquire:

Goal 1: Knowledge Base in Psychology. Students should demonstrate fundamental knowledge and comprehension of the major concepts, theoretical perspectives, historical trends, and empirical findings to discuss how psychological principles apply to behavioral problems.
Goal 2: Scientific Inquiry and Critical Thinking. The skills in this domain involve the development of scientific reasoning and problem solving, including effective research methods.
Goal 3: Ethical and Social Responsibility in a Diverse World. The skills in this domain involve the development of ethically and socially responsible behaviors for professional and personal settings in a landscape that involves increasing diversity.
Goal 4: Communication. Students should demonstrate competence in writing and in oral and interpersonal communication skills.
Goal 5: Professional Development. The emphasis in this goal is on application of psychology-specific content and skills, effective self-reflection, project-management skills, teamwork skills, and career preparation.

Admission

• Students who intend to be majors must first contact the Office Coordinator of the Psychology program.  At that point students will be designated as Psychology (PSY) major status.
• Certain psychology courses (PSY 351 & 425) are for majors only. Only declared psychology majors are allowed to register for these courses.
• Immediately after deciding to transfer to Southern Oregon University, transfer students should contact the Psychology program Office Coordinator to be designated as a Psychology (PSY) major status.
• We recommend that all new Psychology majors take PSY 211 during their Sophomore year or in their first term as a transfer student. Students will receive a Psychology advisor and initial advising about their progress through the major during this course.

Certificate in Management of Human Resources (CMHR)

The Certificate in Management of Human Resources is collaboratively offered by Business, Psychology, and Communication. The program is open to current upper division undergraduate, graduate, and postbaccalaureate students, as well as professional development individuals with significant managerial experience. To be awarded the Certificate in Management of Human Resources, students must meet the 36-credit course requirements, which are listed in the Certificates section.

Interdisciplinary Studies

The objective of the interdisciplinary studies major with an emphasis in psychology or a related behavioral science is to prepare students for occupations requiring behavioral science backgrounds (e.g., welfare caseworker, probation/parole worker, psychometric aide, and research aide). The degree granted is a BA or BS in social science.

This program permits a broad major in the social sciences with a concentration in psychology for those whose educational goals are not met by any of the other psychology programs. The general requirements for this degree are found under Interdisciplinary Options. The specific requirements for social science majors with a concentration in psychology should reflect the needs of the individual student and must be planned with advisors in the Psychology program. Required courses include BI 101  or 211 ; PSY 201 , 202 , PSY 225   and PSY 225L ; and MTH 243   Students must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5.

The required psychology capstone course (PSY 425 ) may not be taken until the student has: (1) been formally approved for an interdisciplinary studies major with a psychology emphasis and (2) registered with the Psychology program and been assigned an advisor.

Additional Educational Offerings

Within the major and minor degree curricula, the Psychology Department presents or conducts a variety of additional practica, field studies, seminars, and research activities.

Field Practicum and Human Service Learning Opportunities

The human service, field practicum, and internship programs provide a sequence of progressively intensive experiences in human service agencies in the classroom or in the community. Students in these programs are exposed to a wide range of human service activities and acquire experience as human service providers. Students have been placed in the following organizations: Community Works; Mental Health Services; Welfare Department, Child Welfare; Vocational Rehabilitation Services; Veterans Domiciliary; animal shelters; preschools; Headstart; elementary and secondary school counseling programs; special education programs for the mentally disabled, emotionally disturbed, and physically disabled; private residential treatment centers; SOU’s Counseling Services; the Women’s Resource Center; juvenile justice programs; and public health programs.

Students interested in field experience programs must carefully plan with their advisor well in advance of any placement in such programs. Instructor consent and formal admission are required in all field service programs. Interested students should consult an advisor at their earliest convenience.

A maximum of 15 credits for field experience courses in psychology (e.g., practicum and teaching of psychology) may be applied toward the bachelor’s degree. These credits may be selected from any combination of PSY 209, 309, 409, and 406. Only 6 credits from these courses may be counted toward the minimum 57 psychology credits necessary for a psychology degree.

Research and Community Service

Students are encouraged to become involved in research and community activities. In addition to formal research courses, there are opportunities for involvement in the private research activities of various faculty members. Past projects have focused on such topics as competency examination development for professional groups, surveys of transportation facilities for the elderly and disabled, design and development of residential treatment facilities for the emotionally disturbed, creation of preschool education and Headstart projects, needs assessment surveys, and program evaluation research in a variety of areas.

Students should consult their advisors and faculty members to determine which research projects are currently ongoing or in the planning stages. Students are encouraged to initiate contact with faculty members for assistance with research activities, development of research proposals, and presentations of research findings at local and regional professional meetings.

Evening and Online Course Opportunities

Each term several psychology courses are scheduled at night (in Ashland or Medford) and online to accommodate the schedules of working and non-traditional returning students.

Psi Chi

Qualified students may become members of the local chapter of Psi Chi, a national honorary society in psychology. The purposes of Psi Chi are to encourage, stimulate, and maintain the scholarship excellence of individual members in all fields, particularly in psychology, and to advance the science of psychology. To achieve these goals, Psi Chi offers a wide range of local, regional, and national programs.

Program Requirements

Programs

Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science

• •  Psychology, BA or BS

Master of Arts/Master of Science

• •  Master in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC), MS/MA

Minor

• •  Psychology Minor

Other Programs

• •  Human Service Degree Completion Program

Courses

Psychology

• PSY 532 - Personality

  ---

  4 credits
  Offers analysis and survey of personality concepts and evaluation of selected personality theories.
  Graded (A-F) only.
• PSY 533 - Personality Testing and Organizational Assessment

  ---

  4 credits
  Focuses on assessment in organizations, particularly individual differences in personality, ability, preferences, and temperament. Explores the relationship between individual difference variables, as well as roles and issues such as leadership selection, placement, and development. Prerequisite(s): PSY 229 .
  Graded (A-F) only.
• PSY 535 - Environmental Psychology

  ---

  4 credits
  Explores the theories, empirical research, and methodology of environmental psychology. Discusses environmental perception; the effects of noise, temperature, air pollution, and wind on behavior; personal space; territoriality; crowding; urban problems; leisure; recreation; and environmental activism.
  Graded (A-F) only.
• PSY 537 - Creative Thinking

  ---

  4 credits
  Involves experiential exercises designed to give students an opportunity to learn and gain thinking skills. Topics and exercises cover the development and assessment of creativity; the roles of learning styles, communication, assumptions, inferences, and hypotheses in creativity; the impact of groups on creativity; and various strategies for enhancing creativity.
  Graded (A-F) only.
• PSY 538 - Group Dynamics

  ---

  4 credits
  Examines group and interpersonal functioning via practical laboratory experience. Addresses leadership, group cohesion, decision making, conflict resolution, trust, interpersonal attraction, communication, and self-disclosure. Prerequisite(s): PSY 202 .
  Graded (A-F) only.
• PSY 539 - Group Facilitation and Assessment

  ---

  4 credits
  Surveys models of group facilitation and methods of assessing group functioning. Emphasizes functional or training groups in organizations. Topics include ongoing process consultation, facilitation of team effectiveness training, group-process educational groups, short-term problem-solving designs, models of group decision making, and structured inventories to assess group structure and process. Prerequisite(s): PSY 201 , PSY 202 , PSY 438 /PSY 538  
  Grade mode designated on a CRN basis each term. Students should consult current term schedule.
• PSY 540 - Organization Development

  ---

  4 credits
  Analyzes the coherent, systematically planned, sustained effort at system self-study and improvement. Focuses explicitly on change in formal and informal procedures, norms, structures, and using behavioral science concepts. Explores various OD designs, including training, survey-data-feedback, constructive confrontation, and process observation and feedback. Prerequisite(s): PSY 538 , PSY 539  
  Graded (A-F) only.
• PSY 542 - Applied Research Design

  ---

  4 credits
  Explores applied research and outcome evaluation models. Reviews relevant experimental quasi-experimental and correlational designs, with additional training in qualitative methods. Prerequisite(s): Undergraduate research methods and statistics course and enrollment in the MHC program.
  Graded (A-F) only.
• PSY 543 - Process of Behavior Change

  ---

  4 credits
  Familiarizes students with the fundamentals and uses of behavior modification. Provides exposure to real-world applications and an opportunity to analyze applications of behavior modification in applied settings.
  Graded (A-F) only
• PSY 544 - Topics in Cognitive Processes

  ---

  4 credits
  Explores in greater depth (than PSY 344) the research, theory and applications regarding selected advanced topics in cognition, especially those involving active mental processing, such as language and reasoning, problem solving, decision-making, judgments, and creative thinking.
  Graded (A-F) only.
• PSY 545 - Organizational Psychology

  ---

  4 credits
  Applies the principles of psychology to job applicants, employees, managers, and consumers in business and industry. Examines the use of psychological principles in solving problems in the work world, including conflict resolution, power and influence within the organization, communication and leadership, integration of individual needs with management goals, and maintenance of institutional vitality. SOC 204  recommended. Approved for University Studies (Integration).
  Graded (A-F) only.
• PSY 546 - Industrial/Organizational Psychology

  ---

  4 credits
  Introduces the industrial/organizational (I/O) field of psychology. After surveying I/O theories and methods such as job design, personnel selection, job satisfaction, training, and team-building, students get an opportunity to model some of these methods in small group exercises and case study analyses. Prerequisite(s): PSY 201  and PSY 229  

   
  Graded (A-F) only.

• PSY 548 - Mediation and Conflict Management

  ---

  4 credits
  Introduces students to the fundamental concepts and theories of dispute resolution and assists them in developing the basic skills and knowledge for productively managing their own and intervening in others’ disputes. Class time consists primarily of practice and roleplay, as well as lecture, lecture-discussion, and coaching by professional mediators. Certificate of completion provided with successful completion of the course. Additional fees/tuition may apply. (Cross-listed in other departments.)
  
• PSY 552 - Health Psychology

  ---

  4 credits
  Explores the role of psychological factors in physical health. Covers such topics as the roles of cognition, social factors, and personality in the mind-body connection. Analyzes the brain, nervous system, and endocrine system. Examines applications to stress in the workplace, the development of physical and mental illness, and other implications. Prerequisite(s): PSY 201  and PSY 202 ; PSY 228  and PSY 229  recommended
  Graded (A-F) only.
• PSY 553 - Stress Management

  ---

  4 credits
  Focuses on determining the nature of stress, its effects on people, and how to minimize its negative effects. Describes physiological and psychological stress reactions, stress-related disease processes, individualization of stress reactivity, and maximization of one’s own stress management potential.
  Graded (A-F) only.
• PSY 557 - Drug Use and Abuse

  ---

  4 credits
  Surveys the physiological, psychological, and societal effects of chemical substances on humans. Emphasizes drugs of major usage, such as prescription drugs, alcohol, nicotine, marijuana, and cocaine. Prerequisite(s): PSY 201 .
  Graded (A-F) only.
• PSY 560 - Child and Adolescent Development

  ---

  4 credits
  Provides an in-depth examination of the major developmental issues from infancy through adolescence, with emphasis on empirical models of cognition, psychosocial development, and personality. Culminating project involves application and theoretical integration. Prerequisite(s): PSY 370 .
  Graded (A-F) only.
• PSY 563 - Psychopathology of Childhood

  ---

  4 credits
  Surveys the field of child psychopathology, including the theoretical concepts, etiology, assessment, and treatment of various childhood disorders. Emphasizes understanding children in the context of their development, families, and culture. Prerequisite(s): PSY 370 .
  Graded (A-F) only.
• PSY 565 - Adult Development and Aging

  ---

  4 credits
  Studies the principles and methods of developmental psychology as they are seen in individuals from early adulthood to death. These include physical functioning, changes in cognitive and behavioral processes, personality changes and development, intimacy and family development, career development, and cultural factors in the aging process. Prerequisite(s): PSY 370 .
  Graded (A-F) only.
• PSY 566 - Psychology of Aging

  ---

  4 credits
  Examines the psychological processes of aging starting from adult developmental maturity through old age and death. Focuses on continuing social and personal adaptation to physical changes and the impact of cultural attitudes on the self-concept of adults in their elderly years.
  Graded (A-F) only.
• PSY 567 - Death and Dying

  ---

  4 credits
  Offers a psychological examination of death and dying. Surveys the many dimensions of death and our death-care system. Explores the ways in which psychological and societal assumptions, expectations, and practices influence our relationship with death. PSY 201 , PSY 202  recommended.
  Graded (A-F) only.
• PSY 569 - Psychology of Human Sexuality

  ---

  4 credits
  Surveys the psychological aspects of human sexual behavior relevant to the work of mental health counselors and human service professionals. Considers typical and atypical sexual behavior, sexual health and wellness throughout the lifespan, sexual orientation, gender, sexual dysfunction, paraphilic behaviors, sex therapy, and counseling practice related to sexuality. Prerequisite(s): PSY 369  and graduate level standing.
  Graded (A-F) only
• PSY 582 - Ethics and Roles

  ---

  2 credits
  Examines the ethical standards of the American Psychological Association and the American Society of Training and Development. Challenges participants to apply critical-thinking skills to ethical decision making in their professional roles.
  Graded (A-F) only.
• PSY 587 - Multicultural Psychology

  ---

  4 credits
  Considers theory, research, and multicultural perspectives as they relate to applied psychology and special populations. Students explore their own ethnic and cultural heritages, challenging biases and confronting stereotypes. Emphasizes issues related to the role of the professional psychologist.
  Graded (A-F) only.
• PSY 589 - Native American Psychology

  ---

  4 credits
  Surveys selected health issues, such as psychosocial problems-in-living, depression, suicide, and substance abuse. Also addresses the traumatizing impact of the American Dream.
  Graded (A-F) only
• PSY 590 - Women and Relationships

  ---

  4 credits
  Offers an intensive exploration of women’s involvement in interpersonal relationships, with a focus on theoretical and experiential aspects. Considers women’s roles, identities, and self schemas as influenced by interactions with others in cultural, familial, and intrapsychic frameworks.
  Graded (A-F) only.
• PSY 592 - Psychology of Women

  ---

  4 credits
  Surveys women’s issues from the perspective of feminist psychology, including lifecycles, theories, and contemporary social problems. Critiques traditional psychological assumptions, data, philosophies, and policies in light of new trends. Students actively explore empirical and experiential aspects of such issues as psychological sex differences, socialization of gender, identity development, androgyny, power, language, violence, and therapy.
  Graded (A-F) only.
• PSY 595 - Lesbian and Gay Studies

  ---

  4 credits
  Provides students with in-depth exposure to a select set of lesbian and gay issues in relation to the field of psychology. From a psychological perspective, students examine the assumptions, definitions, supporting research, personality theorists’ perspectives, and counseling concerns as they relate to lesbians and gay men.
  Graded (A-F) only.
• PSY 596 - History and Systems of Psychology

  ---

  4 credits
  Explores the historical development of psychology as a science. Offers critical analysis of the various historical and contemporary movements and issues related to scientific inquiry and the evolution of knowledge.
  Graded (A-F) only.

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