Psychology

200 | 300 | 400 | Graduate Courses

www.psychology.iastate.edu/

Craig A. Anderson, Chair of Department
Distinguished Professors: Wells
Distinguished Professors (Emeritus): Ahmann
University Professors (Emeritus): Brown
Professors: Anderson, Andre, Bonett, Cutrona, Epperson, Gerrard, Gibbons, Larson, Phye, Russell
Professors (Emeritus): Bath, Borgen, Charles, Edwards, Hannum, Hughes, Karas, Layton, Lewis, Peters, Strahan, Warman, Wolins, Zytowski
Professors (Collaborators): Conger
Associate Professors: Cooper, Cross, Cunnick, Dark, Hanisch, Scott, Venkatagiri
Assistant Professors: Cleary, Gentile, Madon, Malmberg, Morris, Parkhurst, Vogel, Wade, Wei
Assistant Professors (Adjunct): Mason
Assistant Professors (Collaborators): Day
Senior Lecturer: Bonett

Undergraduate Study

For college-level requirements in undergraduate curricula leading to the degrees of bachelor of arts and bachelor of science, see Liberal Arts and Sciences, Curriculum.

An undergraduate major in psychology may be taken as liberal arts education, as preparation for graduate study in psychology, or as background for professional education in law and in the health professions. A student with a bachelor's degree in psychology may qualify for a variety of positions including those in social sciences, mental health, corrections, rehabilitation, developmental disability centers, business, management, and public opinion surveying. Depending on professional goals, a minor in another discipline may be desirable. Students should consult with their academic advisors early in their undergraduate curriculum.

The requirements of the program enable graduates to understand and apply the scientific principles, facts, and basic methods of psychology in their personal and professional activities. Graduates learn to think scientifically about human behaviors and mental processes. They can communicate effectively in speech and in writing, respect individual and cultural differences in behaviors, and appreciate ethical issues in both the science and practice of psychology. Professional work with a job title of psychologist in academic, business, clinical, government, and school settings requires graduate degrees.

The major must include the following psychology courses: 101, 102, 111, 201, 301, and 440, each with a minimum grade of C-. The major also must include five courses distributed across at least four of the following five areas: Area A - 230; Area B - 280; Area C - 310, 315; Area D - 312, 313, 316; Area E - 360, 460. Two additional 3-credit courses in psychology must be taken. Area courses may be used to meet this requirement, but variable credit courses (470, 490, 491, and 492) may not. In accordance with college requirements, a C or better average is required in the courses used to satisfy the major.

Departmental requirements for the B.A. and B.S. include the following supporting courses: six credits in philosophy including 201; two of the following: Biol 101, 155, or 211; Chem 163; Gen 260; one of the following: Stat 101, 104, or 226; and a course in mathematics acceptable in LAS Gen Ed group 111a.

Students electing a B.S. degree also must complete Psych 302 with a minimum grade of C- and a minimum of 10 additional supporting credits as follows: three credits from LAS Gen Ed group 111a or approved departmental list; six credits from LAS Gen Ed group 111b; and, one credit in a laboratory course from LAS Gen Ed group 111b.

Students electing a B.A. degree also must complete an ISU approved minor.

See also the B.S./M.S. program under Graduate Study.

The department offers a minor in psychology. The minor requires completing 18 credits in psychology, including 101 and 301, each with a minimum grade of C-. At least 9 of the 18 credits must be in 300 level courses (or above), but no more than three credits total may be from Psych 490, 491, and 492. A C average or better is required in the courses used to satisfy the minor. Contact the psychology advising office for more information.

English proficiency requirement: The department requires a grade of C- or better in Engl 104 and in Engl 105 (or 105H) and a C- or better in Psych 302 or Psych 490 (2 credits minimum) or Engl 302, 309, or 314.

Graduate Study

The department offers work for the degrees master of science and doctor of philosophy in psychology, and for a minor for students with a major in other departments.

Within the major of psychology, the department offers a doctoral specialization in counseling psychology (APA accredited) and doctoral areas of concentration in cognitive psychology and social psychology. The department also offers a non-thesis master's degree program in general psychology.

Students seeking a graduate major in psychology must have graduated from an accredited college in a curriculum substantially equivalent to the undergraduate curriculum in Liberal Arts and Sciences at Iowa State University. Prerequisite to admission is at least 15 credits of basic psychology, which should include a laboratory course, a measurement course, and a statistics course.

Graduates function as academic psychologists in higher education or as professional psychologists in applied settings. They have an extensive knowledge of psychological principles and the conceptual and quantitative skills to conduct psychological research, communicating the results to the scientific community, students in the classroom, and the general public. Graduates in applied programs have specialized knowledge in counseling and program development. They are skilled in delivering such programs and services to diverse clientele in a variety of settings.

The department also participates in the interdepartmental programs in human computer interaction and neuroscience, and in the interdepartmental minor in gerontology (see Index).

A formal class and a supervised practicum in the teaching of psychology is recommended for all doctoral students whose future plans may include teaching at the college level. A 12-month internship in a training site or agency approved by the faculty is required of all doctoral students in counseling psychology.

The department also offers a B.S./M.S. program in psychology that allows the student to obtain both the B.S. and M.S. degrees in five years. Students interested in this program should contact the chair of the department's Graduate Program Committee. Application for admission to the Graduate College and department should be made near the end of the junior year of undergraduate study.

Courses open for nonmajor graduate credit: Psych 401, 413, 422, 436, 440, 450, 460, 484, 485, 488. CmDis 471.

Courses primarily for undergraduate students

Psych 101. Introduction to Psychology. (3-0) Cr. 3. F.S.SS. Fundamental psychological concepts derived from the application of the scientific method to the study of behavior and mental processes. Applications of psychology. 101H: (2-2) F. Honors section. (For students in the University Honors Program only.)

Psych 102. Laboratory in Introductory Psychology. (0-2) Cr. 1. F.S. Prereq: Credit or enrollment in 101. Laboratory to accompany 101.

Psych 111. Orientation to Psychology. (1-0) Cr. R. F.S. Program requirements and degree/career options. Required of psychology majors. Offered on a satisfactory-fail grading basis only.

Psych 131. Academic Learning Skills. (0-2) Cr. 1. F.S. Efficient methods of study and reading. Offered on a satisfactory-fail grading basis only.

Psych 201. Exploring Psychology at ISU. (0-2) Cr. 1. F.S. Survey of psychological research and practice. Psychology majors only. Offered on a satisfactory-fail grading basis only.

Psych 230. Developmental Psychology. (3-0) Cr. 3. F.S.SS. Life-span development of physical traits, cognition, intelligence, social and emotional behavior, personality, and adjustment.

Psych 280. Social Psychology. (3-0) Cr. 3. F.S.SS. Individual human behavior in social contexts. Emphasis on social judgments and decisions, attitudes, perceptions of others, social influence, aggression, stereotypes, and helping.

Psych 301. Research Design and Methodology. (3-0) Cr. 3. F.S.SS. Prereq: Stat 101; 1 course in psychology. Survey of the principal research techniques used in psychology with an emphasis on the statistical analysis of psychological data.

Psych 302. Research Methods in Psychology. (2-2) Cr. 3. F.S. Prereq: 301. Discussion of and experience in designing research studies, collecting and analyzing data, and preparing research reports in psychology.

Psych 310. Brain and Behavior. (3-0) Cr. 3. F.S. Prereq: 101; Biol 101, 155, or 211. Survey of basic concepts in the neurosciences with emphasis on brain mechanisms mediating sensory processes, arousal, motivation, learning, and abnormal behavior.

Psych 312. Sensation and Perception. (3-0) Cr. 3. F.S. Prereq: 101. Survey of the physiology and psychology of human sensory systems including vision, audition, smell, taste, the skin senses, and the vestibular senses.

Psych 313. Learning and Memory. (3-0) Cr. 3. F.S. Prereq: 101. Fundamental concepts and theories of learning and memory derived from human and animal research.

Psych 314. Motivation. (3-0) Cr. 3. F.S. Prereq: 101. Concepts and topics of motivation including curiosity, pain, emotion, sex, aggression, love, play, addiction, sleep, fatigue, and work.

Psych 315. Drugs and Behavior. (3-0) Cr. 3. F.S. Prereq: 101; Biol 101, 155, or 211. A biological perspective on fundamentals of psychoactive drugs and their use in experimental, therapeutic, and social settings.

Psych 316. Cognitive Processes. (3-0) Cr. 3. F.S. Prereq: 101. Human information processing during thinking, problem solving, reading and language. Fundamental processes in perceiving, coding, storing, and retrieving information from short-term and long-term memory, including underlying brain mechanisms.

Psych 333. Educational Psychology. (Same as C I 333.) See Curriculum and Instruction.

Psych 346. Psychology of Women. (Same as W S 346.) (3-0) Cr. 3. S. Prereq: 2 courses in psychology including 101. Survey of psychological literature relating to biological, developmental, interpersonal, and societal determinants of the behavior of women.

Psych 360. Psychology of Normal Personality. (3-0) Cr. 3. F.S.SS. Prereq: 101. Theories and research in the study of development and functioning of normal personality.

Psych 380. Social Cognition. (3-0) Cr. 3. Prereq: 101 or 280. How people understand themselves and others, including attribution, social categories and schemas, the self, social inference, stereotypes, and prejudice.

Psych 381. Social Psychology of Small Group Behavior. (Same as Soc 381.) (3-0) Cr. 3. S. Prereq: 280 or Soc 305. A survey of small group research and theory from a social psychological perspective. Major theories of interpersonal behavior such as exchange theory, equity theory, and status consistency theory, and major areas of research such as leadership, power, conformity, bargaining, status, norms, and roles.

Psych 401. History of Psychology. (3-0) Cr. 3. F.S. Prereq: 4 courses in psychology. Philosophy and science backgrounds of psychology. Development of theories and causes of events in academic and applied psychology. Nonmajor graduate credit.

Psych 413. Psychology of Language. (Same as Ling 413.) (3-0) Cr. 3. Prereq: 101. Introduction to psycholinguistics. Topics may include origin of language, speech perception, language comprehension, reading, bilingualism, brain bases of language, and computational modeling of language processes. Nonmajor graduate credit.

Psych 422. Counseling Theories and Techniques. (2-2) Cr. 3. F. Prereq: 3 courses in psychology. Survey of major theoretical approaches in counseling and related assessment and treatment techniques. Supervised practice in basic counseling skills. Nonmajor graduate credit.

Psych 434. Applied Behavior Analysis. (Dual-listed with 534.) (3-0) Cr. 3. Prereq: 9 credits in human development and family studies or psychology. Design and evaluation of behavioral interventions in applied settings such as classrooms, institutions, and families. Design of single subject experiments.

Psych 436. Individual Differences and Exceptional Patterns of Development. (3-0) Cr. 3. Prereq: 230. Behaviors, abilities, and needs of retarded, gifted, handicapped, and other atypical persons; differences associated with race, sex, and socio-economic status. Nonmajor graduate credit.

Psych 437. Characteristics of Giftedness. (Dual-listed with 537.) (3-0) Cr. 3. Prereq: 9 credits in human development and family studies or psychology, including Psych 230 or HD FS 102; junior classification. Understanding of giftedness and talent from cognitive, developmental, and social perspectives using a life-span approach. Current conceptualizations and research regarding gifted children and adults. Implications for education and guidance.

Psych 440. Psychological Measurement I. (2-2) Cr. 3. F.S.SS. Prereq: 301 and 9 credits in psychology, Stat 101. Principles of psychological measurement, including concepts of reliability and validity; interpretation of scores; factors influencing performance; construction and use of measures of ability, achievement, and personality. Nonmajor graduate credit.

Psych 450. Industrial Psychology. (3-0) Cr. 3. F.S. Prereq: 2 courses in psychology including 101, Stat 101. Content and methods of industrial psychology including the different approaches used to select employees, how to conduct performance appraisals, and how to train employees in organizations. Work attitudes and behaviors of employees, work schedules, safety and human factors as well as relevant legal issues are discussed. Statistics including regression and correlation are used in the course. Nonmajor graduate credit.

Psych 460. Abnormal Psychology. (3-0) Cr. 3. F.S.SS. Prereq: 3 courses in psychology including 101. Description of major forms of maladaptation including anxiety, mood disorders, personality disorders, substance dependence, and schizophrenia. Factors in the development of behavior deviations. Research pertinent to the description, development, and maintenance of abnormal behavior. Nonmajor graduate credit.

Psych 470. Seminar in Psychology. (1-0 to 3-0) Cr. 1 to 3 each time taken. Prereq: 12 credits in psychology. Current topics in psychological research and practice.
A. Counseling
B. Experimental
C. Individual Differences
D. Social

Psych 484. Psychology of Close Relationships. (3-0) Cr. 3. Prereq: 9 credits in psychology including 280. Theories and research concerning the functions, development, and deterioration of close relationships. Influence of psychological processes on friendship, romantic, marital, and family relationships. Topics include mate selection, interdependence, trust and commitment, power and dominance in relationships, sexuality, divorce, gender roles, and family interaction. Nonmajor graduate credit.

Psych 485. Health Psychology. (3-0) Cr. 3. F. Prereq: Junior classification, 6 credits in psychology. Application of psychological theory and research methods to issues in physical health. Psychological factors in illness prevention, health maintenance, treatment of illness, recovery from injury and illness, and adjustment to chronic illness. Nonmajor graduate credit.

Psych 488. Cultural Psychology. (3-0) Cr. 3. Prereq: 280 and 301; junior classification. Examination of psychological differences among people living in different parts of the world with a focus on cross- cultural research related to social, developmental, and personality psychology. Nonmajor graduate credit.

Psych 490. Independent Study. Cr. var., maximum 3 per semester. F.S.SS. Prereq: Junior classification, 6 credits in psychology, and permission of instructor. No more than 9 credits of 490 may be counted toward a degree in psychology. Supervised reading in an area of psychology. Writing requirement.

Psych 491. Research Practicum. Cr. var. F.S.SS. Prereq: Junior classification, permission of instructor, and credit or enrollment in 301. No more than 9 credits of 491 may be counted toward a degree in psychology. Supervised research in an area of psychology. Primarily for students intending to pursue graduate education.

Psych 492. Fieldwork Practicum. Cr. var. F.S.SS. Prereq: Junior classification, 12 credits in psychology, and permission of instructor. No more than 9 credits of 492 may be counted toward a degree in psychology. Supervised fieldwork in a human service agency or other appropriate setting. Offered on a satisfactory-fail grading basis only.

Courses primarily for graduate students, open to qualified undergraduate students

Psych 507. Applications of Multivariate Methods in Psychology. (3-0) Cr. 3. Prereq: Stat 401, Stat 402. Training in the application of multivariate methods in the analysis of psychological data using standard statistical packages. Techniques that are covered include exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, MANOVA, multiple regression models, logistic regression, survival analysis, path analysis, and structural equation analysis with latent variables.

Psych 508. Research Methods in Applied Psychology. (3-0) Cr. 3. Prereq: 440, Stat 401. Methods and issues in applied psychological research. Role of theory in research, fidelity of measurement, selection of subjects, sampling, ethical issues, experimenter bias, data collection methods, power analysis, and professional standards for writing research articles. Emphasis on research methodological issues, not statistical issues.

Psych 512. Advanced Perception. (3-0) Cr. 3. Prereq: 312. Survey of current theory and research in perception with an emphasis on vision.

Psych 514. Advanced Human Learning and Memory. (3-0) Cr. 3. Prereq: 313 or 316 and Stat 101. Theoretical and empirical research in human learning and memory.

Psych 516. Advanced Cognition. (3-0) Cr. 3. Prereq: 316. Theoretical models and empirical research in human cognition including pattern recognition, attention, text processing, memory, problem solving, decision making, and language.

Psych 517. Psychopharmacology. (3-0) Cr. 3. Prereq: 310, 315, or equivalent and permission of instructor. Fundamentals of drug-behavior interactions with emphasis on psychoactive drugs and their use in experimental, therapeutic, and social settings.

Psych 519. Cognitive Neuropsychology. (3-0) Cr. 3. Prereq: 310 and 316 or 313. Psychological models and related neurological substrates underlying cognition in normal and brain-damaged individuals.

Psych 521. Cognitive Psychology of Human Computer Interaction. (3-0) Cr. 3. Prereq: Graduate classification or instructor approval. Biological, behavioral, perceptual, cognitive and social issues relevant to human computer interactions.

Psych 533. Educational Psychology of Learning Cognition, and Motivation. (Same as C I 533.) See Curriculum and Instruction.

Psych 534. Applied Behavior Analysis. (Dual-listed with 434.) (3-0) Cr. 3. Prereq: 9 credits in human development and family studies or psychology. Design and evaluation of behavioral interventions in applied settings such as classrooms, institutions, and families. Design of single subject experiments.

Psych 537. Characteristics of Giftedness. (Dual-listed with 437.) (3-0) Cr. 3. Prereq: 9 credits in human development and family studies or psychology, including Psych 230 or HD FS 102; junior classification. Understanding of giftedness and talent from cognitive, developmental, and social perspectives using a life-span approach. Current conceptualizations and research regarding gifted children and adults. Implications for education and guidance.

Psych 538. Developmental Disabilities in Children. (Same as HD FS 538.) See Human Development and Family Studies.

Psych 542. Psychoeducational Assessment. (3-0) Cr. 3. F. Prereq: 440. Theory and research concerning assessment of intelligence and achievement with emphasis on developmental patterns and diagnosis of learning problems. Critical examination of current assessment practices in clinical and educational settings.

Psych 544. Practicum in Assessment. Prereq: 542 and admission into the PhD program in counseling psychology. Supervised practice in designing and implementing observational systems and in administering, scoring, interpreting, and reporting individual tests.
A. Behavioral Assessment (2-1) Cr. 2.
B. Individual Tests: Children (2-1) Cr. 2.
C. Testing: Adult Ages (1-2) Cr. 2.

Psych 550. Advanced Industrial and Organizational Psychology. (3-0) Cr. 3. Prereq: 440, Stat 402. Critical examination of theories, methods, and applications in industrial and organizational psychology. History and legal issues, predictor and criteria relationships, employee attitudes and behaviors, employee training and motivation, and human factors.

Psych 560. Advanced Personality Psychology. (3-0) Cr. 3. Prereq: 4 courses in psychology, including 360. Analysis of theories of personality, concepts, methods, and current research issues.

Psych 561. Psychopathology and Behavior Deviations. (3-0) Cr. 3. Prereq: 460. Examination of theoretical perspectives and current research pertinent to the major forms of adult dysfunction including: adjustment, anxiety, mood, somatoform, dissociative, sexual and gender identity, personality, schizophrenic, eating, and substance abuse disorders.

Psych 562. Personality Assessment. (3-0) Cr. 3. Prereq: 360, 440, and Stat 401 and admission to the PhD program in counseling psychology. Principles, concepts, and methods of personality assessment. Though not a practicum course, exposure is given to a variety of objective, projective, and situational tests.

Psych 563. Developmental Psychopathology. (3-0) Cr. 3. Prereq: 230 and 460 or graduate classification. Theory and research related to major disorders of childhood and adolescence with an emphasis on assessment, etiology, and developmental processes, and multimodal interventions.

Psych 580. Advanced Social Psychology: Psychological Perspectives. (3-0) Cr. 3. Prereq: 4 courses in psychology, including 280. Current theories, methods, and research in social psychology with an emphasis on cognitive and interpersonal processes such as attribution, social cognition, attitude change, attraction, aggression, and social comparison.

Psych 581. Applications of Social Psychology Theories. (3-0) Cr. 3. Prereq: 12 credits in psychology, including 280. Application of social psychological theory to various applied topics, including physical and mental health, stress, and coping.

Psych 586. Research Methods in Social Psychology. (3-0) Cr. 3. Prereq: Stat 402 and permission of instructor. Ethical issues, generating testable hypotheses, operationalizing independent and dependent variables, sampling and design issues, laboratory procedures, and interpretation of results in experimental research. Issues in analysis of variance, Bayesian reasoning, and effect size estimation will be emphasized, as will writing and publication strategies.

Psych 588. The Meta-Analytic Review. (3-0) Cr. 3. Prereq: Stat 401. Presentation of and hands-on experience with all stages of meta-analytic reviews, including problem formation, data collection, data evaluation, data analysis and interpretation, and public presentation.

Psych 590. Special Topics. Cr. var. Prereq: 12 credits in psychology, and permission of instructor. Guided reading on special topics or individual research projects.
A. Counseling
Q. Cognitive
R. Social
Z. General

Psych 592. Seminar in Psychology. (1-0 to 3-0) Cr. 1 to 3 each time taken. Prereq: 12 hours in psychology. Psych 592A also requires admission into the doctoral program in counseling psychology.
A. Counseling
B. Industrial-Organizational
M. Professional Issues and Ethics
P. Research Methods and Psychometrics
Q. Cognitive
R. Social
Z. General

Psych 597. Internship in Psychology. Cr. R. Prereq: M.S. degree candidacy; permission of instructor. Full-time, non-clinical, supervised experience in a setting relevant to psychology. Intended for master's degree level internships.

Psych 599. Creative Component. Cr. Var. Offered on a satisfactory-fail grading basis only.

Courses for Graduate students

Psych 601. History of Philosophy of Psychology. (3-0) Cr. 3. Prereq: 4 courses in psychology. Origins of psychology in philosophical, medical, and related thought. Development as an independent discipline in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries as a science and as a practice including traditional and contemporary theory and philosophy.

Psych 621. Psychological Counseling: Theory and Process. (3-0) Cr. 3. F. Prereq: Graduate classification. Overview of major counseling theories with emphases upon: key concepts of theories, the role of the counselor, and applications of theory in fostering client change .

Psych 621L. Techniques in Counseling. (0-6) Cr. 3. F. Prereq: 621 or concurrent enrollment in 621 and admission into the doctoral program in counseling psychology. Development of basic counseling skills and techniques through observation, role-playing, case studies, and supervised counseling sessions.

Psych 623. Vocational Behavior. (3-0) Cr. 3. Prereq: 3 courses in psychology and admission to the PhD program in counseling psychology. Theoretical views, research, and issues in career development through the life span. Methods of career counseling, including appraisal interviewing, assessment, test interpretation, and use of information sources.

Psych 626. Group Counseling. (2-2) Cr. 3. Prereq: 621L, 691A and admission to the PhD program in counseling psychology. Theory, research, ethical issues, and therapeutic considerations relevant to group counseling. Participation in lab exercises for development of group counseling skills and observation of ongoing groups.

Psych 633. Teaching of Psychology. (3-0) Cr. 3. Prereq: Enrollment in degree program in psychology, completion of at least 1 year of graduate study, permission of instructor. Orientation to teaching of psychology at college level: academic issues and problems, instructional and evaluative techniques.

Psych 635. Interventions with Children and Adolescents. (3-0) Cr. 3. Prereq: Graduate classification. Research and theory underlying application of behavioral and cognitive psychology to the treatment of childhood and adolescent psychopathology with an emphasis on internalizing disorders, developmental processes, and multimodal interventions.

Psych 691. Practicum in Psychology. Cr. var. Prereq: Permission of instructor. Supervised practice and experience in the following fields of specialization in applied psychology:
A. Counseling
E. Group Counseling. Prereq: 626, 691A
F. Advanced Counseling. Prereq: 691A
T. Teaching. Prereq: 633 (satisfactory-fail basis grading only)
Z. General

Psych 692. Research Seminar. (1-0 to 3-0) Cr. 1 to 3 each time taken. Prereq: Permission of instructor.
A. Counseling
Q. Cognitive
R. Social
Z. General

Psych 697. Internship in Counseling Psychology. Cr. R. Prereq: Ph.D. candidacy in the Counseling Psychology program, approved dissertation proposal, and permission of instructor. Full time supervised predoctoral internship experience in a setting relevant to counseling psychology.

Psych 699. Research. Offered on a satisfactory-fail grading basis only.