Catalog 12-13.indd - McMurry University

Course Descriptions - Undergraduateper level elective for psychology majors and minors. Thiscourse covers some of the major theoretical schools of thoughtwithin psychology. Some of the ethical, value, and legal issuesrelated to counseling and their implications for the counselingrelationship are discussed. Students will be challenged to thinkabout their own intrapersonal and interpersonal strengths andweaknesses and how these factors could impact the counselingrelationship. (Spring)PSYC 4388Internship in Psychology (0-9) Prerequisites: PSYC 1340,6 advanced hours in psychology coursework, and junior or seniorstanding. Intended as an upper level elective for psychologymajors. A pre-approved and supervised work experience designedto supplement academic training. Students work 150hours at a local agency and attend supervisory meetings. Interestedstudents should discuss this course with the psychologyfaculty by October 1 for spring semester placement and byMarch 1 for summer or fall semester placement. This is anexperience-enriched course. May be repeated for credit.(Fall, Spring)PSYC 4392Senior Seminar in Psychology (3-0) Prerequisites: Seniorstanding, and 24 hours in psychology or approval by theinstructor. Required for all psychology majors. This course isdesigned to stimulate critical thinking and initiate debate ona number of diverse controversial issues in psychology. Theemphasis is on explaining different theoretical approaches topsychological issues and how they can be integrated into aconceptual whole. Students take a locally prepared departmentalexam and the Major Field Achievement Test (MFAT) in Psychologyas part of this course. These tests are considered instudents’ final grade. This course is designated as the capstonecourse in psychology. (Fall, Spring)PSYC 4X95Independent Studies (variable credit) Prerequisites:PSYC 1340, six additional advanced hours in psychology, andjunior or senior standing. An upper level elective for psychologymajors and minors. This is an advanced study or research programarranged between an advanced student and an instructorto provide intensive study of a particular area of interest. Thecourse includes a defi nition of goals appropriate for the advancedstudent, ways of attaining those goals, a schedule forfrequent consultation, and means of measuring progress. Nomore than three semester hours can be approved in IndependentStudies. (By arrangement)PSYC 4X96*Honors Tutorial (variable credit) Prerequisites: 15 hours inpsychology and admission to the departmental honors program.Designed to challenge unusually gifted students in psychology.This course provides opportunities for investigation into a varietyof psychological topics. It can be taken concurrently with anupper level psychology course or as a separate independentstudy. This is an experience-enriched course.(By arrangement)PSYC 4397*Honors Thesis (0-9) Prerequisites: 15 hours in psychology,admission to the departmental honors program, and approvalof the topic by the department and the Honors Committee.This course will provide an opportunity for a student to pursuean in-depth analysis of some contemporary approach to a topicin psychology and write a comprehensive review paper on thefi ndings (25-50 pages). There must also be an oral presentationof this material to an appropriate audience. Honors graduatesmust successfully complete either Honors Thesis or HonorsResearch. This is an experience-enriched course and the capstonecourse for the honors program in Psychology.(By arrangement)PSYC 4398*Honors Research (0-9) Prerequisites: 15 hours in psychology,admission to the departmental honors program, and approvalof the topic by the department and the Honors Committee.This course will provide an opportunity for a student to pursuean original research topic under the direction of a faculty memberfrom the Department of Psychology. There must be a writtenreport (25-50 pages) of the research fi ndings in a form suitablefor publication. There must also be an oral presentation ofthis material to an appropriate audience. Honors graduatesmust successfully complete either Honors Research or HonorsThesis. This is an experience-enriched course and the capstonecourse for the honors program in Psychology.(By arrangement)PSYC XX99Special Topics (level and credit are variable) Prerequisites:PSYC 1340, three additional advanced hours in psychology,and junior or senior standing. An elective for psychologymajors, minors, and other interested students. Courses of thisnature are infrequent on unique topics of study offered occasionallyto groups of students to broaden departmental curriculum,to meet student demand, or to observe special events.Courses of this type may be repeated once for credit when thetopics vary. (Fall, Spring, Summer)READINGREAD 3300Introduction to the Teaching of Reading EC-Grade 6(3-0) Prerequisite: None. Methods and approaches foreffective reading instruction. Includes a foundational understandingof phonological awareness, phonics, fl uency, vocabulary,and comprehension.(Fall, Spring, Summer) (Required for EC-6 certifi cation)READ 3310Language: Mind, Brain and Society (3-0) Prerequisites:None. This course is Cross-listed as PSYC 3310. Thiscourse is required for ESL teaching endorsement focus students,but serves as a major elective for other Early ChildhoodEducation students. The course focuses on defi ning the natureof human language, the linguistic structure of the Englishlanguage, and how the knowledge of linguistics, psychological,neurological, and social foundations of language is useful forteaching and learning. (Fall, Summer I)READ 3315Children’s Literature I (3-0) Prerequisites READ 3300. Surveyof seven genres of children’s literature from ancient to presenttimes with emphasis on award-winning selections. Specialemphasis on use of children’s books in elementary grades.(Fall, Summer) (Required for EC-6 certifi cation)READ 3316Children’s Literature II (3-0) Prerequisites: READ 3300. Asurvey of books suitable for readers in the upper elementaryschool. It will include a survey of Newbery Award winning authorsand texts. All seven genres of literature will be studied.May be used as a major elective for EC-6 certifi cation. (Spring)READ 3332Reading in the Content Areas Grades 4 – 8 (3-0) Prerequisite:Junior standing. Teaching reading skills necessary tomaster printed text material in sciences, social studies, andother content areas. Exploring the correlation of reading abilityand learning in the content area classroom. Discovering waysto level content area material for students. Planning samplecontent area units of work incorporating reading skills improvement.(Fall, Spring, Summer)195