Psychology Department
Psychology is a field of inquiry which is called the science of behavior and answers questions about how and why organisms behave as they do. The field of psychology is enormous with many sub fields. Some areas pertain to animals, while others are focused on the behavior of humans. Still other areas focus on, abnormal behavior or complex social and emotional behavior while the cognitive area focuses on how people perceive, learn, remember, and think.
Psychology is a discipline based on theoretical perspectives and information gained through research. Therefore, the psychology major is based on understanding theory as well as learning the methods of inquiry, evaluation, and drawing appropriate conclusions. These skills are useful for problem solving in many applied settings.
Career/Employment for Psychology Majors
Psychology is a diverse field with hundreds of career paths. Some specialties, like caring for mentally ill people, are familiar to most of us. Others, like studying how we know and remember things, are less well known.
Across the nation, psychology is the second most popular undergraduate major, even though many of those who choose psychology as a major may not be interested in psychology as a career. About 10 percent of psychology majors pursue graduate training and at CSU Pueblo there is excellent preparation available for students wishing to apply to graduate programs in psychology.
For those students who do not wish to become professional psychologists, many jobs are available. Psychology is a valuable major for a Liberal Arts degree. Jobs are found in various sectors of society and psychology graduates are most often employed as interviewers, counselors, mental health workers, human service practitioners, personnel analysts, probation officers, and writers. Employers find that psychology graduates possess strong people skills and psychology majors also value these skills themselves.
Psychology majors cite courses in the principles of human behavior as especially important to life after college. Additional insight gained from these courses into what motivates people to perform at their peak helps them, whether they are functioning as parents at home, coaching athletics, or managers on the job.
Training in the scientific method - the requirement to do thorough, objective research, analyze data logically, and put forth the findings with clarity - stands psychology majors in good stead as they pursue future careers.
Psychology (PSYC)
Undergraduate Courses
Overview of the field of psychology including learning, perception, motivation, emotion, heredity, personality, development, abnormal and psycho-therapy. (F, S, SS) (Gen Ed: SS, GT-SS3)
Explore psychology as a career in addition to an introduction to the basic skills required for conducting psychological research including APA writing style, journal article analysis, and basic statistics. (F, S)
Americans live in a complex and diverse society. This course examines the nature, impact and strategies for dealing with diversity in personal and social contexts. (AN)
Survey of human development through life span. A multi-disciplinary approach to the study of both change and stability in physical, cognitive, social and personality development Review of relevant developmental theory and research. (F, S, SS) (Gen Ed: SS, GT-SS3)
An introduction to psychological theories and constructs affecting performance, coaching & development in sports and athletics. (F)
Statistical overview of the current status of women, followed by examination of theories concerning equality of the sexes. Prerequisite: PSYC 100. (F)
To raise awareness of social inequities, promote cultural competency & appreciation of differences. (AN)
Principles of drug action with attention to beneficial and harmful uses of drugs. (F, S)
Basic comparative and ethological perspectives regarding animal behavior. Scientific techniques for observation of animal behavior may be demonstrated at the Pueblo Zoo. (F, S) (Gen Ed: SS, GT-SS3)
Marriage and family from an institutional and relationship perspective: cross-cultural diversity, mate selection, marital dynamics, parenting, divorce, remarriage, emerging patterns. (F, S) (Gen Ed: SS)
Psychological and biological aspects of human sexual behavior. Prerequisite: PSYC 100 and sophomore standing. (AN)
Physical, social, cognitive, and emotional growth of the individual from childhood through adolescence. Topics include intelligence, social development, self development, moral development, family relations. Prerequisite: PSYC 100. (F, S) (Gen Ed: SS)
Special Topics. Prerequisite: Instructor permission. (AN) Repeatable (6).
Major theories of personality and the methods of personality investigation. Prerequisite: PSYC 100. (F, S)
Application of the principles of psychology to the workplace, including personnel selection, motivation, group processes, leadership, job analysis, and organization. Prerequisite: PSYC 100. (AN)
The senses and how they cooperate with the brain to provide awareness and knowledge of the world about us. Empirical findings and theoretical analysis of the processes of seeing, hearing, tasting, smelling and touching. Role of learning in normal and illusory perception is considered. Prerequisite: PSYC 100. Corequisite: PSYC 334L. (AN)
Principles of learning and memory. Empirical findings and theoretical analyses of topics including conditioning, reinforcement and punishment. Research and application. Prerequisite: PSYC 100 or permission of instructor. (AN)
Theory and research on current topics in cognition, including attention, concept formation, imagery, memory, decision making, language acquisition, problem solving and text comprehension. Prerequisite: PSYC 100. (F)
Survey of characteristics of those individuals considered significantly above or below the norm of the population. Emphasis on behavioral identification and modification of the home, school and social environment. Prerequisite: PSYC 100. (AN)
General and applied psychological principles of the individual's interaction with a group. Prerequisite: PSYC 100. (AN)
Etiology, diagnosis and therapy of maladaptive or abnormal behaviors and mental functioning. Prerequisite: PSYC 100. (F, S)
This course examines scientific research from the fields of Affective Neuroscience, Personality and Positive Psychology regarding emotional intelligence, specifically: emotional awareness, expressivity, motivation and regulation. Prerequisite: PSYC 100. (AN)
This course examines the latest scientific research constituting positive psychology. Topics include: Well-Being, Gratitude, Empathy, Forgiveness, Hope, Resilience, and Humor. Prerequisite: PSYC 100. (AN)
Advanced methods and techniques of behavior modification as practiced in various agencies and institutions. Prerequisite: PSYC 100 and junior or senior standing. (AN)
Special Topics. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor. (AN) Repeatable (99).
Faculty directed research project for undergraduate student. Prerequisite: Junior or senior level standing or permission of instructor. (F, S, SS) Repeatable (3).
Independent Study. Prerequisite: PSYC 100 and junior or senior standing. (F, S, SS) Repeatable (3).