Course Descriptions

PSYC 1110 -- General Psychology,   4 credits
(Meets MnTC Goal 5 and 7)
Psychology is the science concerned with behavior and mental processes. Psychology deals with environmental, biological, social and individual forces that help to describe, explain, predict, and control behavior. This course is a comprehensive introduction to psychology. The course examines the history of psychology, the brain, the senses, hypnosis, ESP, drugs, sleep, child and adult development, language, thinking (including critical thinking) and learning, motivation, emotion, social psychology, personality, human diversity, conflict and the diagnosis and treatment of emotional problems such as anxiety, schizophrenia, paranoia, depression, and suicide. This course presents a broad survey of basic concepts, issues, theories, classic experiments, and new discoveries in the field of psychology.


PSYC 1115 -- Stress Management,   3 credits
(Cross-listed as HPER 1115)
(Meets MnTC Goal 2)
Investigation of various theories and techniques used in effective stress management. The course is designed to help students develop effective stress management techniques, including cognitive restructuring, perception modification, deep breathing, muscle relaxation, and others.


PSYC 1130 -- Parenting Psychology,   3 credits
(Meets MnTC Goal 2)
Prerequisites: PSYC 1110.
Investigation of various parenting styles and techniques. The course is designed to help parents develop effective parenting techniques, including behavior modification, modeling, active listening, problem-solving, and others.


PSYC 1150 -- Psychology of Men,   3 credits
(Meets MnTC Goal 5 and 7)
The course will examine the male experience from a variety of perspectives to include psychological, physical, cultural, mythological, and philosophical. The emphasis will be on promoting critical thinking rather than stereotypes.


PSYC 2215 -- Child and Adolescent Development,   3 credits
(Meets MnTC Goal 5 and 8)
Prerequisite: Three credits of psychology.
Introduction to the science of child psychology emphasizing physical, psychological, cognitive, and social development from conception through adolescence. The concern is with those aspects of human behavior that change from childhood to adulthood and with the factors that account for those changes.


PSYC 2225 -- Adult Development/Psychology of Adulthood,   3 credits
(Meets MnTC Goal 5 and 7)
Prerequisite: One college course in psychology.
An introduction to the study of adulthood, aging and the process of death and dying. The course emphasizes physical, cognitive, emotional and social development throughout the adult life-span. This course includes an investigation of health and longevity, physical and mental illness, intellectual changes and challenges, social roles and relationships and work and career issues. It also covers death, dying and the grieving process. This course, together with PSYC 2215, provides a comprehensive study of lifespan development.


PSYC 2235 -- Lifespan Development,   4 credits
Meets MnTC Goals 5 and 8.
Prerequisites: PSYC 1110
This course would serve as an introduction to the science of lifespan psychology emphasizing physical, psychological, cognitive, and social development from conception through death. The concern is with those aspects of human behavior that change from childhood to death and with the factors that account for those changes. Students who take this course are advised not to take PSYC 2215 or PSYC 2225 because of an overlap in content with those courses.


PSYC 2250 -- Abnormal Psychology,   3 credits
(Meets MnTC Goal 5 and 9)
Prerequisite: PSYC 1110.
Abnormal Psychology is an introduction to the diagnosis, etiology, and treatment of psychological disorders. The course will include discussion of historical foundations, theoretical approaches, methodology, and ethical issues related to psychopathology. The class will cover the following topics: diagnosis, anxiety disorders, sexual disorders, schizophrenic disorders, mood disorders, suicide, personality disorders, and psychophysiological disorders. The course also focuses on important social and ethical issues such as labeling, confidentiality, civil commitment, and clinical decision-making.


PSYC 2257 -- Psychology and the Media,   3 credits
(Meets MnTC Goal Areas 2 and 9)
Prerequisites: Psychology 1110
This course will explore the depiction of psychological issues in the media and examine the causes and psychological, cultural, and ethical implications of those depictions. The focus will be on critical analysis of the media's portrayal of psychological constructs.


PSYC 2260 -- Social Psychology,   3 credits
(Meets MnTC Goal 2 AND 5)(Cross-listed as SOC 2260)
Prerequisite: PSYC 1110, SOC 1111 or consent of instructor.
Social Psychology concerns itself with the nature of human behavior. It focuses on the point of interaction between the individual and society and groups. The basic questions studied are how the individual shapes societies and groups and how societies and groups affect the individual's behavior. The course will include basic concepts, assumptions, methods, findings and applications.


PSYC 2265 -- Educational Psychology,   3 credits
(Meets MnTC Goal 2)
Prerequisite: PSYC 1110
Educational Psychology focuses on how psychological theory and concepts can be understood and inform effective classroom practices. Topics include cognitive and social development, theories of motivation and learning, classroom management, individual and group differences and student assessment. Attention will be directed toward the nature and conditions of learning, critical aspects of learning and the problems encountered in fostering and directing learning.


PSYC 2270 -- Theories of Personality,   3 credits
(Meets MnTC Goal 2 and 5)
Prerequisite: PSYC 1110.
A survey of the major contemporary theories of personality. Areas covered include psychoanalytic, neo- psychoanalytic, psychosocial, humanistic, trait, existential, learning, social learning, and other current theories.


PSYC 2299 -- Independent Study,   1 credit
Prerequisite: Two courses in psychology successfully completed.
Designed to offer students the opportunity to do extensive reading or research on a specific topic in psychology.