Psychology General Education Courses

The psychology classes listed below may be taken for General Education (GE) credit by non-psychology majors.

For a complete listing of GE requirements and classes visit the university Academic Advisement Center.

PSYC 101: Introductory Psychology   (GE area D.1)

Basic concepts, problems, and methods in psychology. Perception, learning, measurement, cognitive processes, development, motivation, personality, abnormal behavior, physiological and social psychology. Research participation or required. It is recommended that students satisfy the ELM requirement before enrolling.

PSYC 110: Critical Thinking in Psychology   (GE area A.3)
Models and strategies of critical thinking. Training in inductive and deductive reasoning techniques; strategies for self-regulation of thinking. Formal and informal fallacies; social and cognitive factors that interfere with critical thinking and reasoning. 

PSYC 133/GERO 133 (GE area D.5- Spring 2018 and prior, GE area D.1- Fall 2018 and later)

Multidisciplinary overview of: characteristics, strengths and problems of older persons; diversity in aging process involving gender, race, ethnicity, subculture; services to older adults; gerontology as an academic discipline and a field of practice. (GERO  133 , SOCI  133 , HESC  133 , HUSR  133  and  PSYC   133 are the same course.)

PSYC 312: Psychology of Human Sexual Behavior   (GE area E)

Prerequisite: PSYC 101. Topics in human sexual behavior integrating sexuality as biological, social, clinical, and developmental aspects of sexuality. Surveys and statistics of sexual behavior, sexual orientation, gender identity, sexual variations, causes and treatment of sexual dysfunctions. Legal, moral, and social issues.

PSYC 311: Educational Psychology (GE area D.5- Spring 2018 and prior, GE area D.4- Fall 2018 and later)

Prerequisite: PSYC 101. Applying  psyc hological research and theory to educational processes, including learning, motivation, individual differences, teaching methods and evaluation. Recommended for those interested in teaching careers.

PSYC 321: Psychology of Religion (GE area D.5- Spring 2018 and prior, GE area D.4- Fall 2018 and later)

Prerequisite: completion of the G.E. Category D.1. A survey of classical and contemporary empirical  psyc hological research investigating religious beliefs, experiences and practices. Topics include religious behavior across the lifespan; the social  psyc hology of religious organizations; and religious connections to morality, coping, and  psyc hopathology.

PSYC 322: Psychology of African Americans   (GE area D.5, Z- Spring 2018 and prior, GE area D.4, Z- Fall 2018 and later) 
Prerequisite: completion of the G.E. Category D.1. Uses psychological principles and practices to guide students’ comprehension of life as an African American. Introduction to a holistic perspective that expands ways of conceptualizing psychology from an African American world view. (Same as AFAM 322.)

PSYC 331: Psychology of Personality   (GE area D.5- Spring 2018 and prior, GE area D.4- Fall 2018 and later)
Prerequisite: PSYC 101. Research, theory and assessment techniques in the area of personality. (This course presents a general survey of research and theory in the area of personality, including personality dynamics, methods of assessing personality, social and biological influences on personality, personality development, etc. Although some discussion of clinical theories of personality [e.g., Freud, Rogers, Sullivan] will be included, in general the course will focus on the normal personality rather than on psychopathology.)

PSYC 341: Abnormal Psychology    (GE area D.5- Spring 2018 and prior, GE area D.4- Fall 2018 and later)  
Prerequisite: PSYC 101. Symptoms, causes, treatment and prevention of mental problems; anxiety disorders, personality disorders, psycho-physiological disorders, psychoses, substance use disorders, sexual disorders and organic disorders.

PSYC 346: Asian American Psychology    (GE area D.5, Z- Spring 2018 and prior, GE area D.4, Z- Fall 2018 and later) 
Prerequisite: completion of G.E. Category D.1. In-depth analysis of major issues in the Asian American community from a psychosocial perspective, including ethnic identity development, generational conflicts, the “model minority” myth, interracial relationships, attitudes toward mental health services and alternative healing/therapeutic approaches. (Same as ASAM 346)

PSYC 351: Social Psychology   (GE area D.5- Spring 2018 and prior, GE area D.4- Fall 2018 and later)  
Prerequisite: PSYC 101. How the social world affects our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Thinking about, influencing, and relating to others. Social perception/cognition, attitudes and attitude change, attraction, prejudice, aggression, helping behavior, conformity, and group processes. (The course stresses social interaction and how the individual responds to his or her environment. Much attention is given to research findings).

PSYC 361: Developmental Psychology   (GE area E)
Prerequisite: PSYC 101. Theories, methods and research findings regarding physical, cognitive and psychosocial human development, including such topics as perception, learning, intelligence and personality.

PSYC 362: Psychology of Aging   (GE area E)
Prerequisite: PSYC 101. Characteristics of humans during the adult years. Topics include physical, intellectual, cognitive, personal, social and psychological development, vocational and family changes, retirement and death.