This course is an introduction to the psychological study of religion and religious experience. Topics will include dimensions of religiousness, theories of the role of religion in human experience, religion and well-being, and the psychosocial investigations of religious experience across diverse faith traditions. This course will also compare psychological and Christian perspectives on many topics and discuss how perspectives intersect with other faiths. It will evaluate how psychology can influence religion, how religion can influence psychology, and how people have attempted to integrate psychology and religion.
Occaasional Interims
This course will focus on the psychosocial factors influencing athletic performance. Topics will include individual psychological characteristics such as personality, motivation, stress and arousal. This will be followed by an exploration of group dynamics in sport such as competition, cooperation, and team dynamics. We will also examine the field of applied sport psychology and the interventions used by sport psychologists to improve both athletic performance and the overall health and well-being of the athlete.
Every Summer
This course will explore the cognitive, emotional, and social lives of children, as they interact with their multiple environments (family, peer groups, school, and community networks). Students will learn research and theory that informs our understanding of children, and will also investigate practical ways of applying this knowledge to improve children's lives, through in-class activities, visits from local professionals, and a weekly service-learning commitment.
Every Spring
With a multidimensional approach, this course will cover aging from a biopsychosocial model. Emphasis is given to the issues of normal vs. pathological age-related changes, particularly in the case of neurodegeneration. Caregiving is highlighted along with societal viewpoints surrounding death and dying. Some additional attention will be given to the impact of public policy (e.g., healthcare, retirement) on older adults.
Odd Fall Semesters
This course examines psychological processes associated with death and separation. Bereavement, grief, and mourning are the central elements of this course, and we will explore how these have been studied in response to death along with other losses people face in life. Emphasis will be placed on discussing how we can help others and ourselves better face loss in its myriad forms. While taking a lifespan approach and addressing normative loss (i.e., death in old age), this course will emphasize how loss impacts children, adolescents, and emerging adults.
This course examines how psychological states (e.g., anxiety, stress) influence physical health as well as how physical states (e.g., illness, pain, injury) influence psychological health. Topics include the impact of stress on health and proneness to illness; coping with illness, injury and trauma; and the role of health-enhancing and health-compromising behaviors in health.
PSYC 115
Every other Spring, even years
An in-depth study of behavior modification and assessment, its major assumption and issues, basic principles and methods, and applications. In addition, the student is required to design and carry out behavior modification projects under direct supervision of the instructor.
Every other Spring, even years
This course will focus on conceptual and technical issues involved in psychological assessment. Methods used by psychological professionals to understand and quantify human behavior, abilities, and traits will be explored. Topics covered will include the development of good psychological measures, how assessment information should be used, and how to critically evaluate existing psychological measures. A number of measures commonly used in clinical and research settings will be examined.
Occasional Interims
This course will focus on basic helping skills employed in psychotherapy from a theoretical integrative perspective. These skills are useful across the spectrum of professional fields. Using a three-stage approach, students will develop skills in the problem exploration, insight building, and action phases of personal change. Students will participate in experiential lab sessions, discussions and self-reflective work.
Every Spring
This course provides an introduction to the psychological construct of “mindfulness” and an experiential training in becoming more mindful in everyday life, such as through the practice of meditation. Students will be exposed to diverse teachings on the subject in order to facilitate their own personal discovery of what it means to be “present” and will cultivate an understanding of why being present has been shown to improve well-being. It is the instructor’s hope that this course will help students increase their resilience to stress, understand themselves and others more effectively, focus more deeply, and enjoy life more fully.
Has already received Sophia well-being approval
This course examines the operation of human sensory systems and major principles of perception by focusing on how the human brain receives and processes information from our environment. It explores how physical stimuli are transformed into signals that can be understood by the nervous system. Topics include vision, audition, taste, smell, touch, and basic psychophysics, the methods by which sensations and perceptions can be measured and some of the philosophical issues underlying the study of perception.
Every other Fall, odd years
An interdisciplinary approach to basic social science research methods. The course introduces students to the several research methodologies used within the social sciences. Students participate in all stages of a research project.
Every Spring
A study of the human strengths and virtues that enable people to thrive, this course surveys the emerging field of Positive Psychology, focusing on major theories and latest research findings. This course will examine research on topics such as happiness, purpose and meaning in life, growth through adversity, forgiveness, humility, and humor. Students will read and discuss research, try out and analyze practical ways of promoting psychological wellbeing, and design and carry out a research project.
Supervised field experience in settings where psychology is practiced or applied.
Junior Standing; Instructor permission
Every Fall, Interim, Spring, and Summer
Students will be involved in carrying out one or more empirical research projects currently being conducted by the supervising faculty member. Students will meet regularly with the faculty member, read relevant research articles and collect, enter, code, or analyze data. Required application and recommendation forms for this course are available from the supervising faculty member or on the Psychology Department's website at: www.augie.edu/dept/psych/research.html. Preference will be given to students who plan to apply to graduate school.
PSYC 271; Approval of Supervising Faculty Member
Every Fall and Spring
Students will be involved in carrying out one or more empirical research projects currently being conducted by the supervising faculty member. Students will meet regularly with the faculty member, read relevant research articles and collect, enter, code, or analyze data. Required application and recommendation forms for this course are available from the supervising faculty member or on the Psychology Department's website.
PSYC 271; Approval of Supervising Faculty Member
Every Fall and Spring
Special Topics in Psychology.
Individual study and research under direction of department faculty.
Permission of the Instructor and Department Chair
Every Fall and Spring