Psychology at Colby ~ Course Specific Information Launch ~ Fall 2009
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PS111

Introduction to Psychology   
Four credit hours.   
An examination of classical and contemporary topics in psychology: history and systems, research methods, physiological psychology, sensation and perception, consciousness, learning and memory, cognition and language, development, motivation and emotion, intelligence, personality, psychopathology, and social psychology. Participation in psychological research is required.

Melissa Glenn

Steven Harrison
Tarja Raag

Chris Soto

M-W-F

10-10:50

 

 

 

 

PS214
PS214L

Research Methods and Statistics in Psychology I  
Four credit hours.   
Discussion of techniques used in conducting behavioral research.  Includes literature survey, hypothesis formulation, control techniques, and research design as well as descriptive and inferential statistics.  Lecture and laboratory. Prerequisite: Psychology 111.

Martha Arterberry

 

T-R

11:00-12:15 

Lab: R 1:00-2:15

2:30-3:45

 

 

 

 

 

PS251

Personality Psychology
Four credit hours.
An examination of major theories and issues in the study of personality.  Theories considered include psychodynamic, trait, and social-cognitive approaches.  Issues addressed include the origins and development of personality, and how personality characteristics and situational factors jointly influence behavior. Prerequisite: Psychology 111.

Chris Soto

T-R

1:00-2:15

 

 

 

 

PS256

Adolescent and Adult Development

Four credit hours. 
Principles of psychological development from adolescence through senescence.  Focus is on the individual’s typical attempts to cope with changes in physical structure, social roles, and personal identity.  Emphasis is on the application of theoretical concepts to research findings.  Prerequisite:  Psychology 111.

Tarja Raag

M-W

11:00-12:15

 

 

 

 

PS272

Sensation and Perception 
Four credit hours.
The major human senses (vision, audition, somesthesis, taste, smell) studied as physiological systems and as intermediaries between the physical and perceived environments.  Lecture and integrated laboratory. Prerequisite: Psychology 111.

Steven Harrison

M-W

2:30-3:45

 

 

 

 

PS336

Seminar in Experimental Social Psychology

Four credit hours

Critical examination of various areas of research in social psychology, with an emphasis on current issues.  Discussion topics may include attitude structure and change, cognitive dissonance, group dynamics, health beliefs and behavior, justice, reasoning, self-presentation, social cognition, and stereotypes.  Formerly listed as Psychology 356.  Prerequisite:  Psychology 215 and 253 and concurrent enrollment in 337.

Thane Pittman

M-W

2:30-3:45

 

 

 

 

PS337

Collaborative Research in Social Psychology  
One credit hour.   
Laboratory involving collaborative empirical research projects on topics discussed in Psychology 336.  Prerequisite: Concurrent enrollment in Psychology 336.

Thane Pittman

ARR

 

 

 

 

PS347

Seminar in Cognitive Development

Four credit hours. 
Intensive study of one or more areas of cognitive development.  Current theories and empirical research will be explored with an emphasis on the unique characteristics of research with children.  Discussion topics may include memory development, children’s information processing, acquisition and organization of knowledge, and the social context of cognitive development.  Prerequisite:  Psychology 215, and either 232 of 255, and concurrent enrollment in 348

Martha Arterberry

T-R

9:30-10:45

 

 

 

 

PS348

Collaborative Research in Cognitive Development  
One credit hour. 
Collaborative empirical research projects on topics discussed in Psychology 346.  Empirical work includes working in a local preschool or day-care center. Prerequisite:  Concurrent enrollment  in Psychology 347.

Martha Arterberry

ARR

 

 

 

 

PS349

Seminar in Neural Plasticity and Behavior
Four credit hours.
An in-depth analysis of the interplay between brain and behavior, with an emphasis on how brain plasticity contributes to behavioral change, particularly learning and memory.  Discussion topics may include developmental and lifespan changes in neural plasticity, classic and current views of the neurobiological basis of learning and memory, experiential effects on brain, and modulation of brain and behavior by exogenous and endogenous factors.  Prerequisite: Psychology 215 and 233, and concurrent enrollment in Psychology 350. 

Melissa Glenn

T-R

1:00-2:15

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PS350

Collaborative Research in Neural Plasticity

One credit hour.

Course involving collaborative empirical research projects on topics discussed in Psychology 349.  Prerequisite:  Concurrent enrollment in Psychology 349.

Melissa Glenn

ARR

PS352

Sex and Gender Seminar

Four credit hours.

An examination of the human experience from the perspective of research and theory on sex and gender.  Topics include biological processes, social behavior, personality, cognition, health, stereotypes, gender roles, gender identity, and sexuality.  Emphasis on sex-based and gender-based behaviors from a developmental perspective, with a focus on how sex and gender intersect with other facets of identity such as race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, and social class.  Prerequisite:  Psychology 255.

Tarja Raag

T-R

11:00-12:15

 

 

 

 

PS420

Senior Integrative Seminar
Three credit hours.
An integrative experience for students majoring in psychology, organized around the department research colloquium series.  Students read background papers provided by each speaker before each colloquium presentation, attend the research presentations from invited guest lecturers on current topics of interest in all areas of psychology, and meet in a seminar session after each colloquium presentation.  Prerequisite: Senior standing in psychology and permission of the instructor.

Chris Soto

W

7-9:30pm