Psychology (PSY)
Associate Professors Gregg; Assistant Professors J. O'Reilly, Sass and Stark.
Psychology is a science that focuses on all aspects of human behavior and mental processes. The primary goals of the field of psychology are to describe, explain and predict human behavior. Students aware of the general principles of psychology may better understand their friends, their family, their coworkers, society at large, and themselves.
The Department of Psychology offers a curriculum that allows students to explore the developmental, biological, cognitive and social contributions to human activity, both normal and abnormal. The curriculum also allows students to become familiar with how psychologists assess and treat human psychopathologies.
Department of Psychology Mission Statement: The Heidelberg University Psychology faculty seek to nurture students to think scientifically about human behavior and mental processes. Through academic skill-building and applied experiences, we seek to prepare our students for a wide range of possible career and academic paths. We believe the grounding they receive in evidencebased reasoning, ethical decision making, and respect for the diversity of human experiences will prepare them for a life of purpose with distinction.
The primary goals of the department are to ensure that students 1) learn to think scientifically about human behavior and mental processes, 2) know the major theories and research findings in psychology and allied fields, 3) appreciate the ethical practice of scientific inquiry in psychology and 4) speak and write effectively within the discourse of the discipline and associated disciplines.
The Department offers a general major course of study (general psychology), three specialized major concentrations of study (child and adolescent, mental health and biopsychology), and two minor courses of study (psychology and women's and gender studies). The track selected will appear on our official University transcript. All programs entail completion of a core set of psychology requirements and a core set of allied requirements. Specific requirements vary by program. Beyond the core courses, majors are free to choose additional psychology courses depending on personal interest.
However, no more than 48 semester hours in psychology can be applied toward graduation.
Required Core Courses:
Major: 20 hours. Each student must take all Category A courses: PSY 101, 209, 307 (Junior level discipline specific communication requirement), 308 (Junior level discipline specific communication requirement), 490 (Capstone), and 6 PSY 099 offerings. Also select one from the following Category B courses: 315, 316, or 413.
Allied: 9 hours: MTH 115, 210 and PHI 202 or PHI 216 (Note: Students who have achieved academic credit for MTH 210, without having completed MTH 115, are exempt from the MTH 115 requirement.)
Child and Adolescent Psychology Track Additional Courses:
Major: 12 hours: PSY 206, 207, 309, and one from 210, 211, 316, 317, 321, 413, 416, 417, or 435. Note: You may not use 316 or 413 for this requirement if you used it as your Category B course for the major (see above), but you may take an additional Category B course to fulfill this requirement.
Allied: 9 hours: ANT 200, BIO 110, one of the following COM 254, EIS 320, NDI 255. The goal of this track of study is to provide a specialized background for careers involving day to day contact with children or adolescents, including: day care provision, juvenile crime management, human service casework, educational administration, and postgraduate scientific study in developmental, school, or child clinical psychology.
Mental Health Track Additional Courses:
Major: 12 hours: Choose 3 of the following 4 courses: PSY 211, 321, 416, 417. In addition, at least three hours of internship credit (PSY 370) must be completed.
Allied: 9 hours: ANT 200, BIO 110, and either COM 254 or 245
The goal of this track of study is to provide a specialized background for careers including: psychological treatment of children or adults, counseling, social work, vocational and rehabilitation counseling, probation officer work and postgraduate scientific study in clinical, counseling or school psychology.
Biopsychology Track Additional Courses:
Major: 9 hours: PSY 315, 321, 413.
Allied: 18-19 hours: ANT 205, BIO 110 or 123, 222, 223, 363.
Note that although BIO 222 has prerequisites, these prerequisites are waived for students declaring a Biopsychology Track of study within the psychology major.
The goal of this track of study is to provide students with a specialized background for careers dealing with human biological functioning, including: counseling, industrial research, pharmaceutical sales, and postgraduate scientific study in biology, biopsychology, neuropsychology, or medicine. Note: Students wishing to go to medical school should take some additional courses, in consultation with advisor.
General Psychology Track Additional Courses:
Major: 12 hours: two of the following: 206, 207, 210, 211; and two from 309, 315, 316, 317, 321, 413, 416, 417, 435. Note: You may not use 315, 316, or 413 to fulfill this requirement if you used it as your Category B course for the major (See above). You may, however, take additional Category B courses to fulfill this requirement.
Allied: 6 additional hours: ANT 200, BIO 110.
The goal of this track of study is to provide a sound but generalized background of study for majors not interested in a specialized track of study or for students who have not yet decided on a specialized track of study within the psychology major. Students pursuing a general
track of study might be interested in any of the above careers or fields of postgraduate study, but might also be interested in careers in business having to do with management or personnel, or careers in public administration.Minor in Psychology:
Minor: 19 hours: PSY 101, 209, 307, and three of the following: 206, 207, 210, 211, 309, 315, 316, 317, 321, 413, 416, 417, 435
Allied: 12 hours: ANT 200, BIO 110, MTH 115, 210. (Note: Students who have achieved
academic credit for MTH 210 (without 115) are exempt from 115.)Minor in Women's and Gender Studies:
Minor: 15 hours: WGS 100, 300, 400, HIS 386, ANT200
Allied: 6 hours: Select 6 hours from the following: ENG 307, PSY 309, NDI 112, 340 or other courses as approved by the department chair.
Self-defining as a “woman” or a “man” affects nearly every aspect of an individual’s life. A minor in Women’s and Gender Studies will challange students to examine critically the ordinarily unexamined gendered aspects of their identity. Through in-class discussion and presentations and out-of-class readings and assignments, students in Women’s and Gender Studies courses will consider how gender intersects with other aspects of identity, including race/ethnicity, sexuality, and class, and how gender operates within systems of power. Such a consideration of gender and its effects will benefit students in both their personal and professional lives, as exposure to gender theories will increase awareness of and sensitivity toward societal issues such as domestic violence, health and reproductive rights, religion and spirituality, and family values and workplace issues such as discrimination, sexual harassment, affirmative action, salary discrepancies, and unfair hiring practices.
Course Offerings
PSY
099. Psychology Seminars (0 sem. hrs.). Students must attend one approved psychology speaker presentation per seminar. Prerequisite: (Open to sophomores, juniors, and seniors).
These seminars consist of attending a Psychology Department-sponsored presentation and filling out a summary and evaluation form. Students should be alert for notices on PsychTalk (a listserve for Psychology majors) and for posted notices advertising these each semester. Students must complete six 099 seminars to fulfill major requirements in psychology. For transfer students, completion of these seminars is pro-rated to your status when you transfer in to Heidelberg University (students transferring in with 56 to 87 credit hours must complete four 099 seminars; students transferring in with at least 88 credit hours must complete two 099 seminars). Please see the Psychology Department Chair for any questions about these seminars. Students may enroll in up to two PSY 099 courses per semester.
101. General Psychology (3 sem. hrs.). Introduction intended to acquaint student with the scope of psychological phenomena and methods of the psychologist and to survey fundamentals of human behavior. (Fall and Spring)
206. Child Psychology (3 sem. hrs.). This course introduces students to scientific and theoretical aspects of child development from birth to adolescence with a focus on psychological development. Prerequisite: PSY 101. (Spring only)
207. Adolescent Psychology (3 sem. hrs.). Course addresses normal intellectual, emotional, moral, and social growth in the teen years. Problems that affect individuals and family relationships in this age range will also be addressed. Prerequisite: PSY 101. (Fall only)
209. Abnormal Psychology (3 sem. hrs.). This course introduces students to such concepts as mood disorders, schizophrenia, and personality disorders and provides a discussion of related phenomena. Prerequisite: PSY 101. (Spring only)
210. Social Psychology (3 sem. hrs.). Course designed to study such topics as aggression, persuasion, conformity, obedience, attitude change, interpersonal attraction and prejudice. Prerequisite: PSY 101. (Spring only)
211. Behavior Modification (3 sem. hrs.). An introduction to classical conditioning, operant conditioning, observational learning and aversive control of behavior. Discussion of and practical experience with use of learning principles in modifying child behavior in the home and classroom, employer- employee interactions, marriage and family counseling. Special emphasis on modifying maladaptive behaviors and shaping adaptive behaviors. Prerequisite: PSY 101. (Spring only)
251, 252. Apprenticeship in Psychological Research (1-3 sem. hrs.). This is a course designed to offer first- and second-year psychology majors the opportunity of a closely mentored research relationship within the context of an ongoing research program being carried out by a member of the psychology faculty. Prerequisites: 6 hours of psychology coursework, and permission of instructor. Can be taken one semester or two.
307. Research Methods I (4 sem. hrs.). Introduces student to experimental techniques and research tools. Prerequisites: PSY 101 and (or taken concurrently) MTH 210. Open to juniors and seniors. (Fall only)
308. Research Methods II (3 sem. hrs.). Original student research conducted utilizing the background developed in PSY 307. Prerequisite: PSY 307. Open to juniors and seniors. (Spring only)
309. Psychology of Women and Gender Development (3 sem. hrs.). Examination of sex role stereotyping, research on sex differences in abilities and achievement, sex role development, sex roles in marriage and family, careers and the politics of power, women’s ways of knowing, women’s development of self, sex differences in communicative styles, ethnicity in women, mental health in women, interrelationships between language, status and power. Prerequisite: PSY 101, Junior or Senior status. (Spring only)
315. Biopsychology (3 sem. hrs.). Course designed to show the student relationships between physiological and psychological factors affecting human behavior. Prerequisites: BIO 110 or 123, and PSY 101. (Fall of odd-even years)
316. Cognition (3 sem. hrs.). Examination of theories and research about human thinking, memory, concept formation, problem solving, creativity and language. Prerequisite: PSY 101. (Offered Fall of even-odd years)
317. Psychology of Personality (3 sem. hrs.). Study of theories of personality, both past and present. Prerequisite: PSY 101 and 209. (Fall of odd-even years)
321. Health Psychology (3 sem. hrs.). Health psychology is the study of the relationships between psychological processes (emotions, thoughts and behaviors), social processes, and physical health and illness. It includes such topics as the role of social support on immune functioning, psychological issues moderating the onset and course of major disease and the effects of stress on the body. Prerequisite: PSY 101 or permission of the instructor. (Fall of odd-even years)
370. Internship (1 to 15 sem. hrs.). Supervised off-campus work experience in mental health-related job; site and schedule must be determined by student with Psychology Department approval. Credit is given only if work is monitored by a Heidelberg psychology faculty member. Prerequisites: (Open to juniors and seniors); PSY 209; also PSY 206 is recommended if internship is for children. PSY 207 is recommended for sites concerned with adolescents. See Psychology Department chair for permission to register, and for a list of internship opportunities.
403, 404. Individual Research (1 to 3 sem. hrs.). Prerequisites: PSY 101, 307 and 308. Semester or entire year. Admission with consent of supervising professor.
413. Psychopharmacology (3 sem. hrs.). The effects of psychoactive drugs on neurochemical, mental, and behavioral processes, including a consideration of drugs used to treat emotional disorders. Prerequisite: PSY 101. (Spring of even-odd years)
416. Counseling and Clinical Methods (3 sem. hrs.). A survey of the methods of clinical psychology, with an emphasis on counseling techniques, and the use of scientifically-proven treatments. Prerequisite: (Open to juniors and seniors); PSY 209. (Spring only)
417. Psychological Tests and Measures (3 sem. hrs.). Introduction to use of individual, group, objective and projective techniques in evaluating human characteristics. Prerequisites: MTH 210 and PSY 101. (Fall of even-odd years)
435. Special Topics in Psychology (3 sem. hrs.). Focus in this course will rotate with the interest of the faculty member offering it. The special topics covered in the course will typically incorporate in-depth investigations of “hot” or specialized issues relevant to the field of psychology. Students may repeat the course once under a different subtitle. Prerequisites: PSY 101 and six hours of psychology beyond the 101 course, or permission of the instructor. (Spring only)
451, 452. Readings in Psychology (2 sem. hrs.). Supervised readings about a topic of individual student’s choice, by permission of a professor of student’s choice. Prerequisite: PSY 101, 307 and 308. Semester or entire year.
475, 476. Department of Psychology Honors (3 sem. hrs. each). Commensurate with the Department’s goal of providing opportunities for in-depth psychological study, Psychology majors are encouraged to earn the graduation citation “Honors in Psychology” through the Department of Psychology honors program. Students who complete an independent honors thesis with distinction, as determined by vote of the department, and who satisfactorily pass a departmentally instituted comprehensive examination, shall graduate with the distinction of Honors in Psychology. (Fall and Spring; The procedure for graduating with departmental honors is articulated elsewhere in this catalog.)
1.
Requirements for Admission to Departmental Honors Program
A student must be admitted no later than the end of the second semester of the junior year. (Contact the Department Chair for application information.) In addition, the following criteria must be met for admission to the program:
A. An overall GPA of 3.0 or higher.
B. A GPA in Psychology courses of 3.4 or higher.
C.
Successful application into the department honors program, which includes a clearly articulated and well-defined area of study.
2. Requirements for Graduation with Honors in Psychology
Honors students must meet all Requirements for Admission, described above. In addition the student must complete PSY 475 & 476, which includes the completion of an Honors Proposal, an Honors Thesis, and passage of a comprehensive psychology exam.
The final GPA in all Psychology courses must be 3.4 or higher.
490. History and Systems of Psychology (4 sem. hrs.). Historical survey of the fields and schools of thought in psychology. The lab component will consist of one hour per week, and will be devoted to self-assessment, departmental assessment, and planning for life beyond Heidelberg University. Prerequisite: PSY 101 and at least 4 PSY courses beyond 101. Open to juniors and seniors. This satisfies the capstone requirement for students entering Fall 2001 or later. (Fall only)
WGS-Women's and Gender Studies
100. Introduction to Women’s and Gender Studies (3 sem. hrs.). Interdisciplinary approach to the study of gender and its intersections with ethnicity, class, and sexuality. Topics will include the social construction of gender, privilege and inequality, health and reproductive rights, family values, and gender dynamics in the workplace. (Spring only)
300. Topics in Women’s and Gender Studies (3 sem. hrs.). Study of selected topics in women’s and gender studies. Topics offered will concern areas not commonly stressed in regular courses. Prerequisite: WGS 100 or permission of instructor. (Spring of odd-even years)
400. Gender Theory (3 sem. hrs.). An overview of major authors and works in feminist, masculinity, and queer theories. Prerequisite: Junior or Senior standing and WGS 100 or permission of instructor. (Spring of even-odd years)
GRADUATE PROGRAM OPPORTUNITIES (COU)
Associate Professors Sanders (Director) and Cruikshanks; Assistant Professor Harper.
Master of Arts in Counseling Degree Program
The Graduate Studies in Counseling Program at Heidelberg University offers a 48-hour Master of Arts degree with three available program concentrations.
- School Counseling
- Community Counseling
- Dual Community/School Licensure
The program is designed to provide the educational and training requirements needed to effectively and professionally provide counseling services to clients within a variety of professions, including mental health social services, schools, business and industry, and government. All coursework
necessary to satisfy program and licensing board requirements to sit for the Professional Counselor
Licensure Examination (PCLE) and the Ohio Department of Education’s PRAXIS II examination
are available through the Graduate Studies in Counseling Program.Curriculum for Master’s in Counseling Programs
All students seeking the MA in Counseling degree must complete the following Foundation and Core courses. A minimum of 48 semester hours is required for the MAC degree. Of these 48 hours, 6 are electives. In addition, students must complete COU 501-Orientation Workshop and COU 690-Comprehensive Examination.
Foundation Courses (Must be taken as first four courses)
COU 503 Human Growth and Development 3 hrs. COU 505 Techniques of Counseling 4 hrs. COU 506 Theories of Counseling 3 hrs. COU 509 Philosophy and History of Counseling 2 hrs. Required Core Courses
COU 508 Group Processes in Counseling 3 hrs. COU 510 Assessment and Appraisal 3 hrs. COU 511 Applied Research and Quantitative Methods 3 hrs. COU 518 Career Planning and Vocational Guidance 3 hrs. COU 532 Professional Issues in Counseling: Legal and Ethical 3 hrs. COU 537 Social Foundations in Cross-Cultural Counseling 3 hrs. Electives
COU 520 Elementary and Middle School Counseling 3 hrs. COU 521 Counseling Youth at Risk 3 hrs. COU 545 Seminar: Current Issues in Counseling 1-3 hrs. COU 550 Independent Study 1-4 hrs. School Counseling Courses and Field Experience
COU 519 Organization and Administration of School Guidance 3 hrs. COU 522 Counseling Children and Adolescents 3 hrs. COU 594 Practicum in School Counseling 3 hrs. COU 596 Internship in School Counseling I 1-3 hrs. COU 597 Internship in School Counseling II 1-3 hrs.
Community Counseling Field Experience Courses
COU 609 Diagnosis of Mental & Emotional Disorders 3 hrs. COU 580 Practicum in Clinical Counseling 3 hrs. COU 581 Internship in Clinical Counseling I 3 hrs. COU 582 Internship in Clinical Counseling II 3 hrs. Dual School/Clinical Licensure Courses
Students seeking the dual school/clinical mental health counseling concentration must complete the 60 semester hours of coursework and experiences required for licensure by the Ohio Counselor Social Worker, and Marriage and Family Counseling Board and the courses listed in the School Counseling Licensure Program and field experiences required by the Ohio Department of Education. Students completing the Dual School/Clinical Licensure program must consult with their Academic Advisor to develop a specific plan geared toward their individual needs.
Clinical Endorsement Courses (20 semester hours required to qualify to test for PC/PCC licensure)
COU 609 Diagnosis of Mental and Emotional Disorders (Area #3) 3 hrs. COU 610 Psychopathology, Personality, and Abnormal Behavior (Area #1) 3 hrs. COU 620 Evaluation of Mental and Emotional Status (Area #2) 3 hrs. COU 636 Marital and Family Counseling (Area #4) 3 hrs. COU 637 Chemical Dependency & Substance Abuse (Area #4) 3 hrs. COU 639 Psychopharmacology for Counselors (Area #4) 3 hrs. COU 640 Clinical Seminar in Methods of Intervention and Prevention (Area #4) 3 hrs. COU 652 Training in Consultation (Area #5) 3 hrs.
+-+COU 653 Clinical Supervision (Area #5) 3 hrs. COU 660 Advanced Supervised Clinical Internship (Area #5) 1-5 hrs.
*Note:
- All requirements for the Master’s degree must be completed within 6 years from date of first coursework taken towards their graduate degree.
- All 600 level courses are advanced Clinical Endorsement courses and require the necessary prerequisites (see course descriptions). They may be used as electives.
- Students must take a total of at least 60 semester hours in order to qualify to sit for the Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (PCC) examination, and a total of at least 45 semester hours in order to qualify to set for the Praxis II exam for professional school counselor licensure.
- To qualify to take the PCC examination, students must have at least 20 hours of advanced course work and take one course in each of the following five clinical areas: (1) clinical psychopathology, personality and abnormal behavior, (2) evaluation of mental and emotional disorders; (3) diagnosis of mental and emotional disorder; (4) methods of intervention and prevention of mental and emotional disorders; and (5) treatment of mental and emotional disorders.
For a detailed description of the program, please request a Graduate Studies Catalog 2009-2010 from the
Office of Graduate Studies, or visit our website at www.heidelberg.edu/graduate/academiclife/graduateprograms/MA_counseling.