Course Descriptions
Psychology (PSY) Courses
PSY 100 Introduction to Psychology (3-0) 3 credits
This course is a comprehensive overview of the scientific study of behavior and mental processes. It will familiarize students with the scientific methods used in the field of psychology. It will also introduce various topics within the field, such as consciousness, motivation, learning, memory, cognition, development, personality, psychological disorders and their treatments, social psychology, and the biological bases of behavior. This course will help students understand diversity and how our diverse experiences impact the psychological development and experiences of individuals. There are no pre- or co-requisites for this course. This course carries SUNY General Education Social Science and Diversity: Equity, Inclusion and Social Justice credit.
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PSY 104 Exploring Psychology (1-0) 1 credit
This course for psychology majors is an overview of support services for students on campus, the development of successful student practices and, careers in psychology and psychotherapy including the subfields in psychology as well as related degree requirements. This course will also provide instruction in APA style and format which students will need in order to be successful in all 200 level psychology courses.
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PSY 200 Life Span Development (3-0) 3 credits
This course is an overview of the study of the development of human behavior and mental processes over the life span from conception through late adulthood including death and dying. The emphasis in the course is on the complex interaction of the principles of physical, social, cognitive and personality development. Prerequisite: PSY 100.
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PSY 205 Adolescent Psychology (3-0) 3 credits
This course provides an overview of human development during adolescence which occurs from age 11 through 19 years of age. Biological, cognitive, and socio-emotional development during adolescence are studied. Families, schools and cultures are emphasized as contexts for development. This course will primarily focus on normal development of the adolescent however, some attention will be directed to some of the more common or particularly problematic disorders of adolescence. Prerequisite: PSY 100. This course carries SUNY General Education Social Sciences credit.
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PSY 210 Social Psychology (3-0) 3 credits
This course provides students with an overview of the study of social influence including the influence of others on the individual as well as the influence of the individual on the group. The course builds on the knowledge of research in social science including observation, hypothesis development, data collection and measurement, experimentation, evaluation of evidence, and employment of mathematical and interpretative analysis. This examination of social influence focuses on interpersonal attraction, prejudice, conflict, aggression and helping behavior. Prerequisite: PSY 100.
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PSY 220 Abnormal Psychology (3-0) 3 credits
This course is an introduction to abnormal psychology. The student is introduced to the concept of psychological abnormality, the DSM classification system for diagnosing disorders and paradigms for interpreting data regarding psychological disorders. Students can expect to increase their awareness of the therapeutic approaches to psychological disorders and the different assumptions behind specific therapies. Prerequisite: PSY 100.
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PSY 225 Child Psychology (3-0) 3 credits
Students will be introduced to the study of child development from conception through age 11. In addition to a biopsychosocial approach, child development will be considered from an ecological perspective that includes the influences of families and institutions on the developing child. Special attention will be given to domains of development such as language and play that are important for understanding how children function in childcare settings. This course will focus primarily on the normal development of the child; however, attention will be directed to some of the more common or particularly problematic disorders of childhood. This course will be especially useful to students who plan to work with children or in settings designed for children. Prerequisite: PSY 100. This course carries SUNY General Education Social Sciences credit.
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PSY 235 Personality Psychology (3-0) 3 credits
This course considers the concept of personality from three vantage points: (1) the aspects of being human that we all share; (2) the characteristics that we share with some – but not all – other people; and (3) the unique personal attributes that set us apart from everyone else. Major theories of personality will be reviewed, including the trait, biological, psychoanalytic, humanistic, and cross-cultural approaches. In addition, various strategies for assessing personality will be discussed. Finally, the relevance of personality psychology within larger social, organizational, and global contexts will be considered. Prerequisite: PSY 100.
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PSY 245 Mindfulness in Psychology: The Science and Practice of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (3-0) 3 credits
This innovative course begins with an 8-week immersion in the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Program, teaching students practical mindfulness skills to enhance wellbeing and manage stress. Following this hands-on introduction, the course transitions into an academic study of the clinical research and theories underpinning mindfulness-based programs. Students engage in lectures, presentations, and critical reviews, cultivating a comprehensive understanding of mindfulness from both experiential and empirical standpoints. Prerequisite: PSY 100.
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PSY 255 Research Methods in Psychology (3-0) 3 credits
This course is the culmination of the AS degree in psychology. It will facilitate the hands-on exploration of scientific methods employed in the field of psychology and guide the conceptualization, design, creation, and execution of a semester-long project. The course will require students to examine, evaluate, and synthesize the knowledge and skills learned to this point, and to construct a meaningful reflective narrative of themselves as learners. It will also provide the opportunity to apply various topics within the field, (e.g. consciousness, motivation, learning, memory, cognition, etc.) in order to explain an aspect of behavior, or to propose a solution to a problem or challenge in the community. In addition, students are required to present a minimum of two semester-long projects (e.g., literature reviews, research design projects) from previous psychology coursework. Prerequisite: Matriculation in the AS Psychology degree, completion of three semesters in the degree program, and completion of two 200-level PSY courses.
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PSY 270 Psychology of Addiction (3-0) 3 credits
This course will use the Biopsychosocial model to introduce foundational knowledge of drugs of abuse, behavioral addictions, the reasons people begin to use substances and the impact on the brain, physically and psychologically. Topics will include, but not be limited to, epidemiology, the public health impact of substance abuse, diagnosis, other models of addiction, and intervention and treatment approaches. Pre-requisite: PSY 100
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