Department of Psychology
Jubilee Hall, Room 339
(973) 761-9484
psych@shu.edu
shu.edu/psychology
Faculty: Bergold; Burton (Chair); Caulfield; Fikslin; Fisher (Director of Psychology Honors Program; Internship Adviser); Goedert (Director of Undergraduate Programs); Hunter; Jia; Joh; Lloyd; Nolan; Podchaski; Sahin; Simon; Teague
Retired and Emeritus: Hovancik; Levy; Vigorito
The Department of Psychology offers undergraduate programs of study leading to either the Bachelor of Arts degree or the Bachelor of Science degree. It also offers an undergraduate minor. All programs empahsize the use of the scientific method to investigate questions about thought and behavior. The BA and BS degrees in Psychology differ primarily with respect to the College of Arts and Sciences core requirements, with BS students required to take more math and science and BA students required to take more humanities classes and have greater language proficiency. Students are encouraged to discuss their goals and the BA/BS choice with their Psychology faculty academic advisor. Students who are double-majoring in a department outside of Arts & Sciences, and for whom Psychology is their second major, follow the college core for their primary major.
Donald N. Lombardi Scholarship
Donald N. Lombardi, Ph.D., was a respected and beloved colleague and teacher who, except for his graduate education, was a member of the South Orange community for nearly fifty years. To honor Dr. Lombardi’s memory, the Donald N. Lombardi Scholarship is awarded annually to a Psychology major with junior standing. To be considered for the Lombardi Scholarship, students need at least 75 credits by the beginning of the spring semester of their junior year; a minimum G.P.A. of 3.40 in the Psychology major, and they need to demonstrate exceptional service to the department and community, to participate in scholarly activities, and to show promise as a researcher or practitioner in psychology. Each spring the faculty review all psychology majors who meet these eligibility requirements and nominate three students to apply for the award. The application process entails a written essay and interview.
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Accelerated and Dual Degrees
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Note to Students: The following listing represents those courses that are in the active rotation for each department, i.e., have been offered in the past five years. Some departments have additional courses offered more rarely but still available – to find the complete list of all official courses for a department, please use the “Course Catalogue Search” function in Self-Service Banner
Course Descriptions
PSYC 1101 Introduction to Psychology (3 Credits)
Survey of the major content areas of psychology, including physiological, perception, motivation, learning, cognition, personality, developmental, abnormal and social.
PSYC 1201 Orientation to the Psychology Major (1 Credit)
Designed to give psychology majors the knowledge and tools they need to get the most out of the major and to assist them in making informed decisions about career choices in psychology. Exposes students to the subdisciplines of psychology. Students explore career options in psychology and develop academic and career plans.
PSYC 1212 Child Psychology (3 Credits)
Child behavior and development with reference to motor abilities, language, intelligence, cognition, emotional and social development. Emphasis on normal human development in the early stages of life.
PSYC 1213 Adolescent Psychology (3 Credits)
Fundamental biological, cognitive and psychosocial changes during adolescence in the context of family, school and peer group.
PSYC 1214 Adult Development (3 Credits)
Study of men and women over the life span, beginning with early adulthood and concluding with death. Emphasis on the patterns of change and stability that occur as a function of biological, social and psychological development in life.
PSYC 1215 Psychology of Gender (3 Credits)
Examines biological, cultural and psychosocial differences and similarities between women and men with respect to development and personality. Emphasizes the role of gender in contemporary culture.
PSYC 1216 Industrial/Organizational Psychology (3 Credits)
Addresses psychological and interpersonal components of the workplace. Organizations are understood as social systems, with an emphasis on individuals and their interaction. Topics include personnel selection, leadership, motivation, decision making, group dynamics, and performance assessment.
PSYC 1218 Drug and Alcohol Abuse (3 Credits)
Psychosocial factors leading to drug use and abuse. Short and long-term psychological effects, as well as systematic approaches to institutional modification.
PSYC 1219 Sport Psychology (3 Credits)
Introduction to the psychological aspects of athletic performance. Topics include roles of personality, physiology, motivation and cognition in sport. Training techniques found to improve performance.
PSYC 1221 Exceptional Child Psychology (3 Credits)
Overview of psychological, biological, sociological, and educational considerations for children with exceptional characteristics, including children with disabilities and those classified as gifted.
PSYC 1222 International Psychology (3 Credits)
Explores psychology around the world, including its role in international issues such as mental and physical health, immigration, global poverty, peace and conflict, and terrorism. Examines the influences of economic development and culture-based norms.
PSYC 1223 Psychology of Religion (3 Credits)
Examines the psychological connection of religious belief to such diverse domains as: physical and mental health; attitudes, values, and traits; politics and world view, including terrorism; and interpersonal relationships and happiness. Components of religious belief and practice are analyzed using classic and contemporary psychological perspectives.
PSYC 1224 Decision-Making and Careers (3 Credits)
Designed to facilitate students’ career exploration process by introducing them to relevant social science principles on career development. Introduces theories of career decision-making, explores personality styles and careers, and provides opportunities to engage in academic and career development. Does not count toward the major or minor in psychology.
PSYC 2205 Intro to Forensic Psychology (3 Credits)
Explores the differing, yet varied facets of the field of forensic psychology including landmark legal cases relevant to psychology, potential careers in forensic psychology, police psychology, expert testimony, forensic psychological assessment, psychopathy, homeland security, ethics, correctional psychology, and issues in working in the juvenile justice system.
PSYC 2210 Health Psyc in a Diverse Socie (3 Credits)
Health psychology is the scientific study of the psychological, social, and behavioral aspects of health and illness. In this course, you will learn about the main theories and concepts in health psychology through the lens of understanding health disparities and promoting health equity. Topics include racism as a chronic stressor, cultural considerations in patient-provider relations, illness and identity, and behavioral interventions to improve health.
PSYC 2211 Personality Concepts (3 Credits)
Individual, social and cultural factors in personality formation and development. Introduction to the concepts underlying the major theories of personality.
Prerequisites: PSYC 1101
PSYC 2212 Developmental Psychology (3 Credits)
Basic principles, data and methods in the study of human development from conception to death.
Prerequisites: PSYC 1101
PSYC 2214 Mental Health (3 Credits)
Introduction to the field of psychopathology and personality disorders. Examination of problems, causes and treatment approaches.
Prerequisites: PSYC 1101
PSYC 2215 Psychological Testing (3 Credits)
Theory, methodology and critique of psychological assessment and testing. Exposure to aptitude, achievement, vocational and personality tests, as well as interview assessment techniques.
Prerequisites: PSYC 1101
PSYC 2216 Social Psychology (3 Credits)
Introduction to the major theoretical views and research in the field, including examinations of conformity and rejection; attraction, aggression and violence; attitudes and beliefs; prejudice and discrimination. Relationship of principles and research to daily life is emphasized, including applications to business, health, and law. .
Prerequisites: PSYC 1101
PSYC 2218 Psychology and Law (3 Credits)
This course will explore the inter-disciplinary field of Psychology and Law through the lens of increasing the accuracy of criminal justice outcomes. We will evaluate the U.S. legal system in light of psychological research, Supreme Court rulings, and wrongful conviction cases. Much of our readings will consist of psychological studies, and our class discussions will focus on how to use psychological research to reform the criminal justice system. Students will be exposed to the major sub-topics in the field, including" race in the justice system, deception detection, police interrogation and confessions, eyewitness identification, repressed memories, forensic evidence, plea bargaining, juries, and the death penalty.
PSYC 2220 Behavior Modification (3 Credits)
Describes the basic psychological principles underlying such empirically-validated procedures as applied behavior analysis (ABA) for autism spectrum disorders and cognitive behavioral therapy for major depressive disorder. Detailed descriptions are provided of how to implement behavioral procedures with diverse populations. Addresses practical, theoretical, and ethical issues raised by the application of behavioral procedures. Students will learn to apply behavior modification procedures to address topics of interest such as time management and study skills, nutrition and exercise habits, shyness and public speaking anxiety.
Prerequisites: PSYC 1101
PSYC 2222 Cultural Psychology (3 Credits)
Cultural psychology studies the relations between the cultural context and human behavior. It is interested in the systematic similarities, as well as differences, that can be found between individuals from different cultural backgrounds. This course will introduce you to the basic dimensions of human variation across a range of psychological areas including perception, cognition, emotion, developmental processes, as well as social and abnormal behavior.
Prerequisites: PSYC 1101
PSYC 2228 Neuroscience of Art (3 Credits)
Art and science converge in this course that explores the relationship between the human brain and art. Students will gain a deeper appreciation of art as they analyze renowned artworks from a neuroscientific perspective, uncovering how the visual arts shape and are shaped by neural functions such as perception, attention, and emotion. The class will also examine the process of artistic creation, including the neural basis of creativity and how neurological and psychological conditions can shape and influence the creation of art.
Prerequisites: PSYC 1101
PSYC 2229 Leadership & Soc Systems (3 Credits)
This class will address leadership from the perspective of individuals, groups, and systems. The focus will extend beyond the common approach to understanding leadership – where attention is typically focused on the attributes and behaviors of individual leaders – to include group pressures and broad, systemic forces. Class meetings will occur once a week and will involve experiential exercises and group reflection. Pre-requisite: PSYC 1101 (with a C- or better for psychology majors)
PSYC 2311 Elementary Psychological Statistics (4 Credits)
Descriptive and inferential statistics in the design and interpretation of experimental data. Includes computer laboratory.
PSYC 2315 Laboratory Research Experience (3 Credits)
Formalizes the experience of working as a research assistant. Provides exposure to a limited domain of psychology research with a single faculty member, while bringing together all students working as research assistants in multiple laboratories (with both human and animal participants). Familiarizes students with ethics in research, professional development, careers as a scientist, and the interaction between laboratory research and applied topics. Research duties may include literature searches, collecting and analyzing data, and reading journal articles related to the studies being conducted. Course may be repeated for a total of 6 credits.
PSYC 2316 Laboratory Research Experience (3 Credits)
Formalizes the experience of working as a research assistant. Provides exposure to a limited domain of psychology research with a single faculty member, while bringing together all students working as research assistants in multiple laboratories (with both human and animal participants). Familiarizes students with ethics in research, professional development, careers as a scientist, and the interaction between laboratory research and applied topics. Research duties may include literature searches, collecting and analyzing data, and reading journal articles related to the studies being conducted. Course may be repeated for a total of 6 credits.
PSYC 2317 Laboratory Research Experience (2 Credits)
Formalizes the experience of working as a research assistant. Provides exposure to a limited domain of psychology research with a single faculty member, while bringing together all students working as research assistants in multiple laboratories (with both human and animal participants). Familiarizes students with ethics in research, professional development, careers as a scientist, and the interaction between laboratory research and applied topics. Research duties may include literature searches, collecting and analyzing data, and reading journal articles related to the studies being conducted. Course may be repeated for a total of 6 credits.
PSYC 2318 Exp Learn Psyc (3 Credits)
This course formalizes the experience of students doing experiential learning in the Psychology Department as Research Assistants or engaging in a field experience. The class will focus on contemporary issues in the field of psychology, on workforce skill development, and on reflection and metacognitive practices.
Prerequisites: PSYC 1101
PSYC 2320 Leadership & Optimal Perf. (3 Credits)
This course explores the core principles of effective leadership and the factors that contribute to optimal performance for individuals, teams, and organizations. Content will center around leadership components central to success, such as emotional intelligence, social perceptions, and systems dynamics. Emphasis will also be on the barriers that inhibit powerful leadership and how they can be overcome. Students should be prepared to engage in self-reflective assignments throughout the semester.
In addition to standard course credit, students who complete this course will receive an ebadge and certificate from SHU’s Buccino Leadership Institute.
PSYC 2614 Psyc of the Black Experience (3 Credits)
PSYC 3112 Theories and Techniques of Clinical Work (3 Credits)
This course examines the field of clinical psychology, as well as related fields of counseling psychology and social work. Students will learn about the different roles in which clinical psychologists typically engage, including assessment/diagnosis, research, therapy, and specialty areas such as Neuropsychology and Forensic Psychology.
PSYC 3114 Cognition and Data Visualizati (3 Credits)
In this course we will investigate key cognitive processes that have implications for the design of data visualizations, including perception, attention, working memory, long-term memory, reasoning, and decision-making. Students will be challenged to apply the basic research findings of cognitive psychology to the problem of the visual representation of data, creating their own data visualization guided by cognitive principles using the freeware R. Prerequisites: One of the following courses: PSYC 2311, MATH 1203, MATH 2111, MATH 2711, BQUA 2811. 3 credits
PSYC 3121 ST – Environmental Psychology (3 Credits)
This course will explore the complex interplay between individuals and their environments, examining critical issues in environmental psychology. We will examine how both natural and built surroundings, as well as the socio-cultural context, influence our cognition, behavior, and well-being. You will learn how human-nature relationships, landscape preferences, personal space, and crowding impact our experiences, and how our attitudes and behaviors shape environmental quality. We will address pressing environmental challenges like climate change and discuss how these issues impact individuals and sustainability.
PSYC 3212 Adv Social Psychology (3 Credits)
Research in the theoretical and applied areas of the field. Comprehensive examination of the major theories in the areas of contemporary interest. Prerequisite: PSYC 2216.
Prerequisites: PSYC 2216
PSYC 3213 Sensation and Perception (3 Credits)
Examination of research literature pertaining to visual, auditory, olfaction, gustation, skin and pain perception. Surveys of psychophysical methods; basic principles of visual acuity, color perception, perception of movement, constancies, development and learning, illusions, form identification, sound localization and perception of speech.
Prerequisites: PSYC 1101
PSYC 3214 Cognitive Psychology (3 Credits)
Examination of theory and research on the mental processes that characterize thought, including imagery, language, attention, memory, reasoning and problem solving, with discussion of the simulation of mental behaviors.
Prerequisites: PSYC 1101
PSYC 3216 Motivation and Emotion (3 Credits)
Survey of historical and contemporary theories of motivation and emotion integrating concepts that have emerged from biological, cognitive and social approaches. Prerequisites: minimum grade of C- in PSYC 1101.
Prerequisites: PSYC 1101
PSYC 3217 Biological Psychology (3 Credits)
Survey of the physiological basis for sensation and perception, motivation and emotion, altered states of consciousness, and learning and memory. Basic neurophysiological methods and the functions of the nervous system included. Prerequisites: minimum grade of C- in PSYC 1101.
Prerequisites: PSYC 1101
PSYC 3219 Cognitive Neuroscience (3 Credits)
Examination of neuroimaging and neuropsychological methods used to study behavior and mental function from a systems-level perspective. Survey of research in the areas of cerebral asymmetry, voluntary action, spatial processing, object recognition, attention, language, memory, and executive function, with special emphasis on disorders of these functions resulting from damage to the brain.
Prerequisites: PSYC 1101
PSYC 3220 Learning (3 Credits)
Prerequisites: PSYC 1101
PSYC 3224 Cognitive Psychology Lab (1 Credit)
PSYC 3225 Learning Laboratory (1 Credit)
Students conduct classic laboratory exercises in animal learning, including shaping, discrimination training, and chaining. Students collect, compile, and graph the results from these exercises, and produce an American Psychological Association format laboratory report. Pre- or corequisite: PSYC 3215 and PSYC 3311.
Prerequisites: PSYC 3220 (may be taken concurrently)
PSYC 3226 Behavioral Modification Lab (1 Credit)
Provides hands-on experience with some of the basic principles and procedures described in the Behavior Modification lecture course. Students will perform exercises related to behavioral assessment and intervention. They will gain experience in graphing data and writing an APA format research report.
PSYC 3227 Biological Psychology Lab (1 Credit)
Experimental examination of the role of physiological mechanisms in the mediation and control of behavior. Exercises include current techniques used to manipulate the nervous system and observe changes in behavior. Pre- or Corequisite: PSYC 3217.
Prerequisites: PSYC 3311 (may be taken concurrently)
PSYC 3228 Social Psychology Laboratory (1 Credit)
This course provides direct experience with basic research methods used in social psychology, and practice in thinking and writing scientifically within a framework of social psychology. We will examine classic research in the discipline, as well as design and conduct our own contemporary studies of social phenomena. A key goal of the course is to demonstrate the many ways in which everyday social behavior can be investigated scientifically.
PSYC 3229 Personality Laboratory (1 Credit)
Application of personality theories and concepts through applied research projects using a mixture of quantitative and qualitative methods (e.g. scale construction and validation, predicting behavior from traits, content analysis of social media). Statistical software will be utilized as appropriate to prepare data for interpretation. Pre- or co-requisites: PSYC 3311 and PSYC 2211. 1 credit
PSYC 3310 Development Thought - Belief (3 Credits)
This PSYC/CORE 3 course is designed to provide a deeper understandiing of the origins and development of thoughts and belliefs in humans, both at individual and collective community levels. Each unit will focus on a 'big question' that has played an important role in how humans think of ourselves and others. Literature from developmental psychology will be interspersed with those from the Catholic Intellectual Tradition to provide an in-depth examination of the two levels of development in parallel.
PSYC 3311 Research Methods (4 Credits)
Examination of the principal methods of empirical psychological research with particular emphasis on experimental design and control procedures. Students develop the ability to assess and critically analyze extant psychological research and report their own research in standardized American Psychological Association (APA) format. Prerequisite: minimum grade of C- in PSYC 2311.
PSYC 3312 Advanced Experimental Psych (4 Credits)
Practical applications of the principles learned in PSYC 3311 in the laboratory or field environment. The student is involved in the design, execution, analysis and interpretation of an original research project. Students enrolled in the Psychology Honors Program propose and design their honors project under the direction of a faculty adviser. Prerequisites: PSYC 3311 and approval of the instructor.
Prerequisites: PSYC 3311
PSYC 3330 Neuropsychology Religious Exp (3 Credits)
This course will explore the intersection between religious
experiences and neuropsychology. We will discuss what
the fields of neuroscience and theology can learn from each
other based on current research on the neurobiology of
religious experiences.
PSYC 3408 Internship in Psychology (3 Credits)
For students who have sufficient theoretical background to participate in applied fieldwork with a professional agency or other psychology-related organization. Placement settings are based upon student objectives and are chosen in consultation with the instructor. Courses may be taken for a total of 6 credits. Prerequisites: minimum grade of C- in PSYC 1101 and approval of instructor.
Prerequisites: PSYC 1101
PSYC 3409 Internship in Psychology (3 Credits)
For students who have sufficient theoretical background to participate in applied fieldwork with a professional agency or other psychology-related organization. Placement settings are based upon student objectives and are chosen in consultation with the instructor. Courses may be taken for a total of 6 credits. Prerequisites: minimum grade of C- in PSYC 1101 and approval of instructor.
Prerequisites: PSYC 1101
PSYC 3410 Internship in Psychology (3 Credits)
For students who have sufficient theoretical background to participate in applied fieldwork with a professional agency or other psychology-related organization. Placement settings are based upon student objectives and are chosen in consultation with the instructor. Courses may be taken for a total of 6 credits. Prerequisites: minimum grade of C- in PSYC 1101 and approval of instructor.
Prerequisites: PSYC 1101
PSYC 3411 Internship in Psychology (3 Credits)
For students who have sufficient theoretical background to participate in applied fieldwork with a professional agency or other psychology-related orgranization. Placement settings are based upon student objectives and are chosen in consultation with the instructor. Courses may be taken for a total of 6 credits. Prerequisites: minimum grade of C- in PSYC 1101 and approval of instructor.
Prerequisites: PSYC 1101
PSYC 3412 Internship in Psychology (6 Credits)
For students who have sufficient theoretical background to participate in applied fieldwork with a professional agency or other psychology-related organization. Placement settings are based upon student objectives and are chosen in consultation with the instructor. Courses may be taken for a total of 6 credits. Prerequisites: minimum grade of C- in PSYC 1101 and approval of instructor.
Prerequisites: PSYC 1101
PSYC 3413 Internship in Psychology (6 Credits)
For students who have sufficient theoretical background to participate in applied fieldwork with a professional agency or other psychology-related organization. Placement settings are based upon student objectives and are chosen in consultation with the instructor. Courses may be taken for a total of 6 credits. Prerequisites: minimum grade of C- in PSYC 1101 and approval of instructor.
Prerequisites: PSYC 1101
PSYC 3591 Independent Study (1 Credit)
Directed study and research in individual areas selected by the student in consultation with department adviser. Courses may be taken for a total of 6 credits. Prerequisites: minimum grade of C- in PSYC 1101 and approval of faculty adviser.
Prerequisites: PSYC 1101
PSYC 3592 Independent Study (2 Credits)
Directed study and research in individual areas selected by the student in consultation with department adviser. Courses may be taken for a total of 6 credits. Prerequisites: minimum grade of C- in PSYC 1101 and approval of faculty adviser.
Prerequisites: PSYC 1101
PSYC 3593 Independent Study (3 Credits)
Directed study and research in individual areas selected by the student in consultation with department adviser. Courses may be taken for a total of 6 credits. Prerequisites: minimum grade of C- in PSYC 1101 and approval of faculty adviser.
Prerequisites: PSYC 1101
PSYC 3594 Independent Study (3 Credits)
Directed study and research in individual areas selected by the student in consultation with department adviser. Courses may be taken for a total of 6 credits. Prerequisites: minimum grade of C- in PSYC 1101 and approval of faculty adviser.
Prerequisites: PSYC 1101
PSYC 3693 Emerging Top-Leadshp&Soc Syste (3 Credits)
Special topics in emerging and/or specialized areas of psychology. Topics are designated before the semester and vary from semester to semester as the department directs. Can be repeated in instances where topics change to a maximum of 6 credits. Prerequisites: PSYC 1101 and approval of instructor.
Prerequisites: PSYC 1101
PSYC 3694 Special Topics (3 Credits)
PSYC 3698 SP TP-Robotics and The Mind (3 Credits)
This course explores the relationship between Catholic theological reflection and scientific evidence on the question of what it means to be human. Theoretical discussion will be accompanied by physically constructing and programming a variety of robots. (cross-listed with Computer Science) Cross-listed with Mathematics & Computer Science (CSAS 3085) and CORE 3490 Engaging the World
PSYC 3704 Spec Top - Cultural Psychology (3 Credits)
Prerequisites: PSYC 1101
PSYC 3706 Sp Tp - Dvlpmt Thought-Belief (3 Credits)
PSYC 3707 SpTp Behavioral Modificatn Lab (1 Credit)
PSYC 3708 ST - Social Psychology Lab (1 Credit)
PSYC 3709 ST - Psychopharmacology (3 Credits)
PSYC 3710 Personality Lab (1 Credit)
PSYC 3711 Undergrad Teach Asst I (3 Credits)
PSYC 3712 Undergrad Teach Asst II (3 Credits)
In this course we will investigate key cognitive processes that have implications for the design of data visualizations, including perception, attention, working memory, long-term memory, reasoning, and decision-making. Students will be challenged to apply the basic research findings of cognitive psychology to the problem of the visual representation of data, creating their own data visualization guided by cognitive principles using the freeware R.
PSYC 3894 Psychology Co-Op I (3 Credits)
See Co-op Adviser
PSYC 3895 Psychology Co-Op II (3 Credits)
See Co-op Adviser
PSYC 5111 Seminar in Psychology (3 Credits)
An integrative course requiring the student to survey and organize the primary research literature and prepare an American Psychological Association (APA) style term project.
Prerequisites: PSYC 3311
PSYC 5112 Honors Research (4 Credits)
Students conduct the research project designed and approved in PSYC 3312. Course includes data collection, statistical analyses and presentation of results in an American Psychological Association (APA) style research paper.
Prerequisites: PSYC 3312
PSYC 5113 Advanced Seminar in Psychology (3 Credits)
An integrative course requiring the student to survey and organize the primary research literature, develop an original research proposal, and prepare an American Psychological Association (APA) style paper outlining the proposal.
Prerequisites: PSYC 3311
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