Psychology (PSYX)
PSYX 100. Intro to Psychology. 3 Credits.
An introductory survey of the scientific discipline of psychology. Attention will be given to such standard topics as the nature of empirical, scientific research, and the learning process, intelligence, perception, personality, motivation, emotion, cognitive processes, abnormal behavior, human sexuality, psi-phenomena, major systems of psychotherapy, human growth and development, psychobiology and physiology, social psychology, memory, stress, forensic and industrial psychology. Students will be guided towards an appreciation of the six major theoretical perspectives that psychology has to offer. As psychology is intended to describe, predict, understand, and to control behavior, students should emerge from the course with an increased degree of enlightened control over their lives.
PSYX 150. Drugs and Society. 3 Credits.
This course will help students become more informed about the factors that may underlie drug use and introduce them to historical and contemporary controversies surrounding drugs and society. There are many issues related to the use of drugs: Why people use them? How they affect people? How society responds to drug use? What can be done to prevent or terminate use? This course will address these topics by considering mind/psychology, body/pharmacology, and environment/sociology.
PSYX 191. Special Topics. 3 Credits.
Courses not required in any curriculum for which there is a particular one-time need, or given on a trial basis to determine acceptability and demand before requesting a regular course number.
PSYX 192. Independent Study. 3 Credits.
Provides an opportunity for students to engage in directed research and study on an individual basis rather than in a formal class environment.
PSYX 217. Community Psychology. 3 Credits.
This course provides an introduction to the emerging field of community psychology, including critical analyses of the principles of social justice, diversity, civil rights, human rights, empowerment, and social paradigms, conceptual models, and strategies and tactics of social and community change through civic engagement and direct action. Case examples of social problems from a variety of contexts and systems (such as education, housing, health care, mental health, criminal justice, social services, and the workplace) are examined. Students focus on developing their ability to think critically and scientifically within the social sciences by applying analytical frameworks and methodologies to understand the causes of social problems, as well as how to prevent, manage, or resolve them.
PSYX 230. Developmental Psychology. 3 Credits.
Human development is the study of how and why people change over time, as well as how and why they remain the same. Thus this course will provide an overview of what is empirically known about all the periods of life from conception to death of our physical vehicles. We shall examine what is known scientifically about physical, cognitive, and psychosocial development in humans. We shall examine how changes in each one of these major areas impacts change in each of the other two. The relative importance of nature and nurture will be examined for each of the various life stages. The issues of native temperament and physical appearance will be given special emphasis as these areas impact psychosocial and cognitive development. A considerable amount of time will be devoted to what is known about methods of effective/ineffective, successful/unsuccessful parenting. Finally, we shall look at the physical, cognitive, and psychosocial aspects of our final years of life.
PSYX 238. Adolescent Psychology. 3 Credits.
This course will present the major methods, theories, and themes of adolescent behavior and development (including cognitive development, social development and physical development). This course will help students recognize adolescent themes in everyday life, critique media accounts, analyze research presented in scholarly journals and develop an understanding of the impact of culture on adolescent physical and social development skills.
PSYX 291. Special Topics. 3 Credits.
Courses not required in any curriculum for which there is a particular one-time need, or given on a trial basis to determine acceptability and demand before requesting a regular course number.
PSYX 292. Independent Study. 3 Credits.
Provides an opportunity for students to engage in directed research and study on an individual basis rather than in a formal class environment.
PSYX 298. Cooperative Education. 1-12 Credits.
A planned and supervised work-learning experience in industry, business, government, or community service agencies related to the University program of study. Prerequisites: two semesters of attendance at Montana State University-Northern, approval of advisor, Dean of the College of Technical Sciences, and cooperative education coordinator. Pass/Fail Only.
PSYX 305. Ecological Psychology. 3 Credits.
This course explores the ecological perspective of psychology, meaning that because people live in relationship to specific environments, analyses of these environments are just as essential as analyses of individuals in order to fully understand human behavior. Real or perceived opportunities for action within an environment, known as affordances, increase the potential for some behaviors while reducing the potential for others. Thus, different environments result in different types and frequencies of behaviors and, as a corollary, these behaviors can be modified by changing the environments in which people live. To better understand the ecological perspective, the course also examines corresponding qualitative social research methods, including especially phenomenology, ethnography, and action research.
PSYX 340. Abnormal Psychology. 3 Credits.
This course will survey the psychotic, neurotic, and life adjustment disorder/diseases to which humankind is subject. Each problem area will be analyzed as to its etiology, behavioral symptomology, and viable therapeutic modalities. Emphasis will be placed on the biological underpinnings of behavioral pathology, and upon the ways whereby such underpinnings influence social learning and environmental experiences. Additional emphasis will be placed on classical and operant conditioning as these processes relate to the development of counterproductive, abnormal behavior patterns. The course will also examine the impact of lifestyle (including thinking style) upon brain biochemistry. Finally, the course will examine several of the major theories (and related research) of personality. Graduate credit requirements are described in the course syllabus.
PSYX 360. Social Psychology. 3 Credits.
Social Psychologists focus on the theoretical and experimental investigations of social processes. They ask questions like: Why do we tend to conform when faced with social pressures from others? Are we adept at explaining and predicting people's behaviors and attitudes? Are there strategies for improving our interpersonal relationships and reducing our stereotypes and prejudices? This course will help students develop the skills needed to think like a social psychologist. This course will cover social psychology's history and its philosophical perspectives, as well as theories, methodologies, and experimental research. Students will learn how people interpret social situations, how different cultures engage in social interaction, how people think during social engagement, and the role of emotions in our social lives. Finally, this course will help students think more critically about issues in psychology and assist them in implementing what they learn in this course to their own life.
PSYX 361. Industrial Organizational Psyx. 3 Credits.
Industrial/Organizational Psychology is an applied science in which the ultimate objective of this discipline is to maximize both employee well-being and organizational effectiveness. This course will introduce students to the many important and interesting topics related to I/O Psychology. Many topics that are thought provoking, interesting and applicable to students' future experiences in the workplace will be covered.
PSYX 362. Multicultural Psychology. 3 Credits.
This course is an introduction to the principles, theories and applications of multicultural psychology. Students will learn the necessary multicultural competencies for effective work with children and adults from diverse backgrounds (i.e. culture, race, ethnicity, class & gender) in multicultural environments (i.e. schools, community organizations & workplaces). Students will also develop an understanding and valuing of diversity, based on the principles of awareness, knowledge, and skills as they relate to the areas of worldview, identity, and acculturation.
PSYX 382. Forensic Psychology. 3 Credits.
The major goal of this course is to provide a broad overview and critical analysis of the field of forensic psychology and the variety of ways that mental illness interacts with the courts. Forensic psychology addresses the application of psychological research, methods, and expertise to issues that comes before the legal system. Some topics include competency to stand trial, criminal responsibility, coerced treatment, mental health courts, drug courts and eyewitness testimony. The discipline of forensic psychology has become extremely popular for students over the past two decades, in part because of TV programs addressing the topic such as: Law & Order, CSI, Criminal Minds, as well as a number high profile cases which captured the national media spotlight. A good understanding of forensic psychology will benefit students entering into a number of professions including: corrections, law enforcement, child/adult protective services, probation, mental health and healthcare fields, forensic sciences, and the legal system.
PSYX 383. Health Psychology. 3 Credits.
This course will provide an overview of the growing field of health psychology, with particular attention to the biological, psychological, and social determinants of health. The course will also provide overviews of major illnesses for which psychologists can and do play a major role and will examine the tools and techniques that clinical psychologists employ in medical settings.
PSYX 385. Psychology of Personality. 3 Credits.
A survey course examining major theories of personality development and change. Particular attention will be paid to the impact of lifestyle upon brain biochemistry, and to the major "trait" approaches to assessing and understanding human personality. The causes, treatment, and prevention of severe shyness will be accorded special attention. Graduate credit requirements are described in the course syllabus.
PSYX 391. Special Topics. 3 Credits.
Courses not required in any curriculum for which there is a particular one-time need, or given on a trial basis to determine acceptability and demand before requesting a regular course number.
PSYX 392. Independent Study. 3 Credits.
Provides an opportunity for students to engage in directed research and study on an individual basis rather than in a formal class environment.
PSYX 460. Sport Psychology. 3 Credits.
A study of psychological and sociological implications of sports participation.
PSYX 491. Special Topics. 3 Credits.
Courses not required in any curriculum for which there is a particular one-time need, or given on a trial basis to determine acceptability and demand before requesting a regular course number.
PSYX 492. Independent Study. 3 Credits.
Provides an opportunity for students to engage in directed research and study on an individual basis rather than in a formal class environment.
PSYX 498. Cooperative Education. 1-12 Credits.
A planned and supervised work-learning experience in industry, business, government, or community service agencies related to the University program of study. Prerequisites: two semesters of attendance at Montana State University-Northern, approval of advisor, Dean of the College of Technical Sciences, and cooperative education coordinator. Pass/Fail Only.