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Table of Contents Academic Life Academic Regulations The Academic Programs International and Off-Campus Studies Special Programs Admissions and Financial Aid Life Outside the Classroom People Facts and Figures College Calendar |
Psychology http://www.stolaf.edu/depts/psych/ Chair, 2000-01: Charles W. Huff, Jr., social psychology, social and ethical issues in computing Faculty, 2000-01: William Altermatt, social psychology; Deborah J. Anderson, clinical and health psychology; Harry Brull, industrial/organizational psychology; James F. Dickson, Jr., experimental, comparative, and biopsychology; Scott Gregory, industrial/organizational psychology; Dana L. Gross, developmental psychology; Donna McMillan, clinical psychology; Glenn Pickering, personality and counseling psychology, gender issues; Bruce Roberts, community and cross-cultural psychology; Mary Ellen Ross, developmental and counseling psychology; Bonnie S. Sherman, experimental psychology, perception and neuropsychology; Mark Sundby, counseling psychology; Howard I. Thorsheim, human cognition, learning, performance and systems The Department of Psychology is committed to maintaining a rigorous academic curriculum within a supportive community structure. It seeks to address broad questions posed by a liberal education and specific concerns of individual students. St. Olaf College's mission statement provides a framework for curriculum, personal development, and community relations. Because life is more than facts and theories, the psychology department encourages students to be "responsible citizens dedicated to service," as well as scientific "seekers of truth." Ten psychology courses contribute to General Education by fulfilling both foundation studies (ORC and WRI) and core studies (HBS, NSL, NST, MCS-D, MCS-G). They introduce the disciplinary knowledge that nurtures growth and behavioral change while providing background for advanced study. Psychology contributes to majors in Social Work, Family Resources and Nursing, to concentrations in Linguistics, Women's Studies, and the psychology core of the Social Studies Education major. All psychology students complete a statistics course; some may also seek interdisciplinary strength in neuroscience through courses in biology, chemistry or physics. Psychology majors are prepared for graduate and professional programs in psychology, medicine, law, physical therapy, social work, nursing, ministry, and for entering positions in business, government or industry. OVERVIEW OF THE MAJOR The Department of Psychology follows the American Psychological Association's guidelines of "synthesizing the natural and social science aspects of the discipline, in part, by requiring students to take courses in both knowledge bases." Thus both interpersonal and investigative skills are enhanced. Students benefit from research in the library, laboratory and field, as well as from internships. Through course structure and faculty diversity, the department challenges students to think critically and creatively as they investigate ways in which animals, especially humans, adapt to their environment through biological, social, emotional, spiritual, perceptual, behavioral, linguistic, and cognitive processes. REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MAJOR Psychology majors are required to take nine courses, including one Level I principles course (Psychology 121, 122), Statistics 110 or Mathematics 112 or 212, Psychology 231 and at least two Level III courses (excluding Placement [393] and Internship [394]), and at least one course from each of the following areas: Natural Science area: Social Science area: NOTE: Students may take only one of the following courses which is prerequisite for all Level II and III departmental courses: Psychology 121 or 122. Psychology majors should take either Psychology 121 or 122 by the end of their first year. Psychology majors should take Statistics 110 or Mathematics 212 by the end of the first semester of their sophomore year. By the end of the second semester of the sophomore year, students should have taken
DISTINCTION The Department of Psychology seeks as candidates for graduation with distinction in psychology those students with (1) excellent academic qualifications, (2) a commitment to the field of psychology as evidenced by active involvement in programs and activities relating to psychology, and (3) an ability to use the skills of psychology in a distinctive thesis or other coherent project. Psychology majors who are eligible for candidacy are in their junior year and have maintained a 3.60 or higher grade-point-average in all psychology courses. Applicants complete a thesis or project proposal and submit a dossier to the faculty in the spring of the senior year. The dossier includes the thesis or project document, an outline of the process that led to the final paper, and evidence of commitment to the field of psychology. Candidates then make a formal presentation at the Psi Chi Paper Session, at the Minnesota Undergraduate Psychology Conference, or other regional or national conference. SPECIAL PROGRAMS Independent study and research projects, usually completed during the junior or senior year, allow students to take an idea through the entire research process culminating in presentation at local, regional or national conferences. The Psychology Club, open to all students interested in psychology, is an active organization on campus, as is Psi Chi, the national honor society in psychology. Together they offer group activities of psychological interest and give a Paper Session each spring for student research presentation. Psychology majors are eligible for affiliate membership in the American Psychological Association and to receive its publications and announcements. Special study programs include the Social Studies Education program with a major in psychology, internships programs to pursue special areas of interest in the field, (generally undertaken during Interim of the senior year), and a Preceptor Program for students interested in teaching a laboratory course while working with a faculty member. Departmental honors and awards include the Gordon Allport Award granted each spring to the junior whose aspirations are in basic sympathy with Allport's views, and who have made efforts to develop their own talents, interests and personalities toward fulfilling their individual potential. A Psychology Endowment Fund provides funding for equipment and supplies for students undertaking research in the department. COURSES 121 Principles of Psychology Students use critical thinking skills to examine fascinating topics: dreaming, cultural influences, identity, learning, thinking, and the biology of behavior. Applying basic research methods, students act as skeptical scientists. This course applies to almost any career choice in today's world and provides insight into self and others. GE: HBS, MCS-D. Offered each semester. 122 Principles of Psychology: Experimental Foundations with Lab This course examines the basic principles and methods of psychological science from an evolutionary perspective. Students actively engage in collaborative work in a variety of laboratories, develop skills in planning investigations, using equipment, collecting data and analyzing results. GE: NST, NSL, HBS. Offered each semester. 224 Sleep and Dreaming Human beings spend one-third of their lives asleep, yet most people know little about this aspect of their lives. This course explores sleep, sleep disorders, and dreaming, examining questions such as: Why do we sleep and dream? What are the effects of sleep deprivation? What is known about sleeptalking, sleepwalking, and disorders of sleep like insomnia and narcolepsy? Is there any meaning to dreams? Prerequisites: Psychology 121 or 122. Offered only in Interim. 226 Childhood in China How is China's unique history and culture reflected in Chinese parents' beliefs? How are the development of the self, peer relationships, families and childrearing practices, arts and language education, and school achievement different in China from our own culture? Students examine these and other questions through the use of developmental theory and cross-cultural research in psychology, as well as memoirs, works of fiction, and films. Prerequisites: Psychology 121 or 122. GE: MCS-G. Offered only in Interim. 231 Research Methods in Psychology This course prepares the student with tools for understanding how research studies in psychology are conceptualized, designed, carried out, interpreted, and disseminated to the public. Use of library and Internet resources, ethical guidelines in the conduct of research, and the skills of good scientific writing will be emphasized. Students work independently and in small groups to design and conduct their own research projects. Prerequisites: Psychology 121 or 122, Statistics 110 or Mathematics 112 or 212. Offered every semester. 235 Sensation and Perception This course offers the opportunity to study our senses and sensibilities - sensations of cold, tenderness, and pain, perceptions of movement, pitch, symmetry, and color. Students participate actively in psychophysical, physiological, and perceptual laboratories and classes on vision, audition, somesthesis, and the chemical senses. Laboratory and other independent work is required. Students attend three hours lecture and three hours laboratory per week. Prerequisites: Psychology 121 or 122. GE: NST, NSL. Offered every year. 236 Conditioning and Learning How do psychologists characterize the most basic aspects of the learning process? While some emphasis will be on analysis of the behavioral viewpoint (Pavlov, Skinner), students will also examine approaches to how we learn which have grown out of recent cognitive and ecological (evolutionary) perspectives in psychology. The course includes lecture and laboratory work with nonhuman animals. Prerequisite: Psychology 121 or 122. GE: NST, NSL. Offered every year. 237 Cognition, Learning and Memory Focus includes information processing, learning and remembering speech, artistic, musical and athletic performance, invention, and other forms of creativity. Students unlock the mind's mysteries using state-of-the-art scientific instrumentation, developing cognitive science knowledge and research skills. The course includes three hours lecture and one three-hour laboratory per week. Prerequisite: Psychology 121 or 122, Statistics 110, Mathematics 112 or 212. GE: NST, NSL. Offered every year. 238 Biopsychology The student is introduced to the study of relationships between the brain and behavior which lie at the heart of modern neuroscience. Study of the brain and behavior from anatomical, physiological, and biochemical perspectives will focus on neural factors which contribute to basic behavioral processes including sensation, movement, emotion, sleep and arousal, motivation, learning, and behavior abnormalities. Prerequisites: Psychology 121 or 122. GE: NST. Offered every year. 241 Developmental Psychology This course will help students better understand the development of themselves and others from the moment of conception and across the life span. The course focuses on the biological and environmental factors that shape human development. Major changes in physical, cognitive, personality, and social development are discussed. Teaching methods include lecture, discussions, individual and small-group projects. Prerequisites: Psychology 121 or 122. Offered both semesters. 242 Psychology of Women Past and present myths about the "nature" of men and women are contrasted with evidence of differences - from the brain to the work sphere, from relationships to psychopathology. Students will explore theoretical explanations from a variety of fields, including biology, anthropology, economics and sociology, critically examine research, and find answers through their own research projects and discussion. Prerequisite: Psychology 121 or 122. GE: MCS-D. Offered every year. 249 Social Psychology Why are people prejudiced and how can we reduce prejudice? Why do people help others? What is self-esteem and how do we defend it? How does romantic attraction develop? What are emotions and how do they influence us? In this introduction to the ways people interact and think about each other, students design their own theories of social behavior. Prerequisite: Psychology 121 or 122. Offered each semester. 250 Industrial/Organizational Psychology Students apply psychological facts and principles to the problems that permeate business and industry. Topics include organizational structure, personnel management, employee-supervisor relationships, job satisfaction and motivation, communication and leadership. Prerequisite: Psychology 121 or 122, Statistics 110 or Mathematics 112 or 212. Offered every year. 259 Cross-Cultural Psychology Students in this course work individually and in teams to explore and understand cultural differences in human behavior, emotion, and thought processes. E-mail conversations with university student-partners in such countries as Japan, Hong Kong, China, Thailand, Mexico, and France are possible. The text information challenges assumptions of "normal" human behavior, and leads to highly interactive classroom discussions. Prerequisite: Psychology 121 or 122. GE: MCS-G. Offered in Interim. 264 Abnormal Psychology When and why should certain experiences or patterns of behavior be considered psychologically "abnormal"? Students will investigate a wide array of psychological disorders, including anxiety disorders, depression, eating disorders, and schizophrenia. We will examine models used to conceptualize abnormal behavior, as well as current evidence and theories regarding the etiology and treatment of these important and sometimes devastating disorders. Not open to first-year students. Prerequisite: Psychology 121 or 122. Offered each semester. 271 Psychology of Personality Students will examine theories of normal personality development in an effort to understand the factors that shape personality. Is personality biologically determined? Is it a result of interpersonal experiences, learning and reinforcement? Are other factors involved as well? We will investigate prominent personality theories of this century and their conceptualizations of this fundamental aspect of human experience. Prerequisite: Psychology 121 or 122. Offered each semester. 298 Independent Study This opportunity to investigate in-depth a topic of interest, typically culminating in a library research-based paper, is strongly recommended as preparation for Psychology 398 and at least three courses in the department and permission of the instructor. Prerequisite: Psychology 121 or 122; Psychology 231 is strongly recommended. Offered each semester. 373 Psychology of Testing Students learn to understand themselves and others in-depth by exploring the concepts underlying the development of psychological tests. Through didactic and "hands-on" methods, students will learn to develop and interpret tests and to evaluate their power in prediction. The benefits as well as limitations of tests of intelligence, aptitudes, personality, creativity, neuropsychological disorders, and others will be explored. Prerequisite: Psychology 121 or 122, Statistics 110 or Mathematics 112 or 212. Offered every year. 375 Psychology of Counseling Students examine counseling and why it helps. Counseling theories, ethical and multicultural issues are explored through discussion and in-class exercises. Students also study and practice active and basic helping skills, which they can use immediately and apply to everyday life. Prerequisite: Psychology 121 or 122. Juniors and seniors only unless with instructor's permission. Offered each semester. 376 Group Process and Social Conflict In this practical introduction to the subject, students experience and analyze group process and social conflict. Students read the latest research on negotiation, conflict, social perception, and group processes. They also participate in several long, intensive role plays of negotiation on real issues (e.g., abortion, civil rights, international conflicts), gaining practical experience in negotiating and an academic analysis of its difficulties. Prerequisite: Psychology 249. GE: ORC. Offered every year. 382 Comparative Psychology Students will develop an understanding of the behavior and cognitive abilities of animals, including the "how" (environment and physiology) and "why" (evolution and function) questions which have guided the study of animal behavior in the 20th century. The course offers lecture and laboratory experience with a variety of animal species, both on-campus and at the Minnesota Zoo. $15 supply fee. Prerequisites: Psychology 121 or 122. Offered every year. 385 Human Neuropsychology Complex cognitive processes such as memory, language, and spatial perception have a neurological basis. This course provides the opportunity to examine the relationship between human brain structures and their expression in cognition. Students examine cerebral asymmetry, head trauma, learning disabilities and aphasia. The course includes three hours lecture and three hours laboratory per week. Prerequisite: Psychology 121 or 122. Offered each year. 388 History and Systems of Psychology Historical revolutions in thinking (or paradigm shifts) in systems of psychological thought have raised major questions ranging from "How do heredity and learning interact to produce our identities?" to "How does mind influence our physical body, and vice versa?" Students learn how to understand systems of psychological thought, and together discover how those systems have provided the roots from which contemporary psychological understanding has grown. Prerequisite: Psychology 121 or 122. Offered every year. 390 Issues in Psychology "Issues courses" allow in-depth study of particular themes or topics in psychology. Students "get below the surface" of broad textbook summaries and introductory material. Past seminars have included: linguistics, personal narrative and lifestory, addictions, women and madness, integrative therapies, and the biopsychology of mental disorders. Prerequisite: Psychology 121 or 122. Specific topics are announced each year. Different topics may be repeated for credit. Offered each semester. 393 Placement in Applied Settings Senior majors who have complete five psychology courses can work and learn in settings like crisis centers, community action and battered women's shelters, personnel and industrial/organizational settings, and research settings. A minimum of 160 contact hours in the internship experience is required. Only one Internship credit (393 or 394) can count toward the major. P/N only. Applications must be approved before registration. Prerequisite: Psychology 121 or 122. Offered only in Interim. 394 Internship 398 Independent Research Students have the opportunity to work in-depth on a research project of interest under the supervision of a member of the psychology department faculty. Prerequisite: Statistics 110 or Math 112 or 212, Psychology 231, four additional courses in the department, and permission of instructor. Psychology 298 is strongly recommended. Offered each semester. |