Bulletin 2007-2008 - Austin College

PSYCHOLOGYemphasizes the relationship between loss andbehavior as evidenced through physiologicaland psychological changes in the organism.Topics in the course include coping techniquesfor working with dying patients and bereavedindividuals, grief, hospice care, acute andchronic illness trajectories, and euthanasia. Prerequisite:Psychology 101. (Each fall or spring)250 Topics in PsychologyA study of selected topics offered on an occasionalbasis. Prerequisite: Psychology 101. Maybe repeated when topic varies.255 Health PsychologyThis course focuses on health psychology andbehavioral medicine in the areas of theory, empiricalresearch, assessment, and clinical treatment.Specific topics may include stress andcoping, psychoneuroimmunology, psychophysiologicaldisorders, the physician-patient relationship,and prevention and health promotion.The changing health care environment andthe role of the psychologist in medical settingswill also be discussed. Students will have anopportunity to explore topics related to HealthPsychology in community settings throughobservation, research, and intervention. Prerequisite:Psychology 101. (Each fall or spring)260 Intermediate Directed Study(Variable course credit)265 Psychology of Human SexualityAn examination of methodologies used in thestudy of human sexuality, with attention toattitudes regarding sexual orientation, identity,and gender. The course investigates theanatomy and physiology of sexual behavior aswell as accompanying psychological phenomena,and considers biological, psychological,and cultural schools that serve as a basis forunderstanding heterosexual, lesbian, gay, andbisexual orientations. Prerequisite: Psychology101. (Each fall)320 PsychopathologyAn investigation of the types of behavioral disordersand psychopathologies, including theirdiagnoses, causes, symptoms, and treatments.Prerequisite: Psychology 101 and Psychology201. (Each fall or spring)325 Research Practicum(1/4 course credit unit)Supervised research study in psychology usinganalytical and behavioral science researchtechniques. Prerequisite: Psychology 101 andPsychology 201. May be repeated for a total ofone course credit unit.340 Cultural PsychologyThe psychology canon suggests that we understandsuch processes as language development,moral reasoning, causal attributions,and intelligence. However, how much of whatwe know really is universal and how muchis relevant only to Western industrialized societies?We will begin to address these issuesin this course. Psychologists have also oftenstudied the world as “the East versus the West”or “collectivist versus individualist cultures,”implying that collectivism and individualismare mutually exclusive and monolithic. Thisclass will critically address these assumptions.Prerequisite: Psychology 101, Psychology 201.(Every other year)345 Life Span PsychologyIntensive study of development of the personthroughout the life span. Theory and methodsfor examining cognitive, social, and personaldevelopment are explored. Laboratory experiencesinvolve application of developmentalpsychology in understanding persons in educational,clinical, and community settings. Prerequisite:Psychology 101 and either Psychology201 or Education 225, and at least juniorstanding. (Each fall and spring)355 Conditioning andCognitive ProcessesInvestigation of fundamental principles oflearning and conditioning including animalcognition, the application of conditioning toclinical and classroom settings, and the humancognitive processes of knowledge acquisition,categorization, memory, problem solving,and reasoning. Extensive laboratory exercisesinvolve hands-on exploration of classic experimentsin cognitive psychology, the applicationof cognition, and the observation of cognitionand learning. Prerequisite: Psychology 101 andeither Psychology 201 or Education 225, andat least junior standing. (Each fall and spring)410 Stigma and PrejudiceThis course will cover a social psychologicalperspective of stigma. The study of stigma inherentlyinvolves a discussion of prejudice becausestigma involves how people experienceother’s prejudice towards themselves. Stigmais connected to the experience of oneself inparticular social relationships and contexts.People’s experience of themselves may involvewhether they believe another is prejudicedCOURSES OF INSTRUCTION| 141