Peter Millet, Ph.D., Head, 304 Clay Hall, (615) 963-5141
Faculty: E. Ascencao, H. Barrett, J. Chatman, J. Dossett, D. Fuller, L. Guthrie, M. Hammond, R. Jeffries, R. Jones, W. Jordanov, J. Joyner, L. Knieps, P. Knox, C. Lane, J. Lee, D. Martin, P. Millet, S. Putman, A. Sibulkin, D. Smith, S. Trotter.
General Statement: The philosophy of the Department of Psychology is embodied in the concept that psychology is a discipline that contributes to the understanding of human behavior and experience. The emphasis of the program is on the scientific study of behavior and practical applications of this knowledge. The objectives are to provide undergraduate majors and minors with courses of study and related experiences that provide 1) A general avenue for increased understanding of human behavior, 2) A solid foundation for advanced study leading to careers in the fields of psychology, counseling and guidance, or to study in the health professions, social work, and pupil personnel services 3) Training for bachelor’s level entry into careers in mental health services, industry and human services, and 4) the ability to enhance the quality of one’s life and to relate more effectively with others.
ADMISSION, RETENTION, GRADUATION
The undergraduate curriculum in psychology terminates in a Bachelor of Science Degree. All majors are required to take a total of 45 hours of psychology courses. Of this number, there are 27 hours of required psychology courses and 18 hours of elective psychology courses. The required courses include: PSYC 1010 (Orientation), PSYC 2010 (General Psychology), PSYC 2180 (Elementary Statistics) and 20 additional hours in psychology at the 3000/4000 level. The 20 hours of additional required coursework includes: PSYC 3150, 3180, 3300, 4110, 4115 or 4116, 4500, and 4810. A total of 18 hours of psychology electives are required. At least six of these elective hours must be selected from Group 1 psychology courses (PSYC 3210, 3410, 3510, 4250, 4620), and the remainder from either Group 1 or Group 2 psychology electives. Group 2 psychology electives include any 3000 or 4000 level classes not included in the required psychology major or group 1 psychology elective categories. Majors must earn a grade of C or better in all psychology courses counted towards the major. Majors who receive a grade of D or F in a required psychology course must repeat and pass the course with a grade of C or better. When a course is a prerequisite for another psychology course, a grade of C must be earned in the course before taking the psychology course for which it is a prerequisite.
Majors are required to participate in performance evaluation measures (taking various tests, responding to inquiries) designated by the Department, College or University.
Bachelor’s Level Employment
Students who plan to seek employment in the Mental Health field with the Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology should enroll in Field Placement, PSYC 4360, after completing prerequisites.
Social Science Concentration
A student may elect to pursue a social science major with a concentration in psychology (see Arts and Science Interdisciplinary Degree Program in this catalog for a detailed description). Students in this program may design a course of study comparable to the educational background provided through the psychology major while at the same time tailoring it to their specific goals and interests.
DEPARTMENTAL REQUIREMENTS FOR BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN PSYCHOLOGY
Total 120 Semester Hours
All majors in Psychology must take the following courses.
GENERAL EDUCATION CORE (39-41 hours) The General Education Requirements for the Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology are the same as the University Requirements. The following courses and hours are required: English Composition (6), English Literature (3), Humanities (6), Natural Sciences (6-8), Math (3), American History (6), Social Science (3).
MAJOR REQUIRED CORE ( 27 hours) PSYC 1010, 2010, 2180, 3150, 3180, 3300, 4110, 4115 or 4116, 4500, and 4810.
GUIDED ELECTIVES IN PSYCHOLOGY (18 hours). At least 6 semester hours are required from Group 1 Basic Courses, and the remaining 12 hours are required from either Group 1 or Group 2.
Group 1 courses include PSYC 3210, 3410, 3510, 4250, and 4620. Group 2 courses include PSYC 3230, 3310, 3360, 3520, 3530, 4130, 4140, 4240, 4360, 4370, 4400, 4515, 4516, 4517, 4605, 4606, 4607, 4608.
GENERAL ELECTIVES (33-35 hours) These electives must include at least 12 hours of 3000 and 4000 level courses. Electives can include PSYC courses as well as courses from other departments. The advisor can recommend and will approve such electives.
UPPER DIVISION ADMISSION Upper Division Admission is granted in the semester in which the student has completed or will complete all General Education Courses and PSYC 1010, 2010, 2100 and 2180. A grade of C or higher must be made in the psychology courses. Upper Division Admission is an official action taken by the psychology department and the student will be notified in writing that admission has been granted. The following psychology courses require that the student has been given Upper Division Admission status before being permitted to enroll in them: PSYC 3150, 3180, 3300, 4110, 4115/4116, 4130, 4250, 4360, 4370, 4500, 4515, 4516, 4517, 4605, 4606, 4607, 4608, 4620, and 4810. Students must also meet any University testing or other requirements necessary for upper division admission (see advisor regarding Rising Junior Examination).
REQUIREMENTS TO TEACH PSYCHOLOGY IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS
Students seeking endorsement to teach Psychology at the high school level must:
- Be licensed in a specialty area of Social Studies (Admission to Teacher Education Program is required; (see section on Teacher Education Admission and Retention in this catalog)
- Major in History or Political Science;
- Minor in Psychology (PSYC 2010 and 18 Upper Division Hours in PSYC);
- Have the enhanced student teaching experience in the secondary school and middle school (Documentation of current professional liability insurance is required.)
- Successfully pass the Praxis II Series Examinations: Principles of Learning and Teaching Test (PLT 7-12) and Specialty Area Test for Psychology.
MINOR REQUIREMENTS
General Psychology 2010 plus 18 additional semester hours of 3000 and 4000 level psychology courses are required for a minor.
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE DEGREE IN PSYCHOLOGY
Suggested Four-Year Plan
Freshman year
| FALL SEMESTER | HR | SPRING SEMESTER | HR |
| PSYC 1010 | 1 | PSYC 2010 | 3 |
| ENGL 1010 | 3 | ENGL 1020 | 3 |
| HIST 2010 | 3 | HIST 2020 | 3 |
| *Soc. Science Elective | 3 | *Humanities Elective | 3 |
| Math | 3 | SPCH 2200 | 3 |
| *Humanities Elective | 3 | ||
| 16 | 15 |
Sophomore year
| FALL SEMESTER | HR | SPRING SEMESTER | HR |
| PSYC elective | 3 | PSYC 2180 | 3 |
| *Nat. Science Elective | 4 | PSYC elective | 3 |
| ENGL 2010 or 2020 | 3 | *Nat. Science Elective | 4 |
| Electives | 5 | Electives | 5 |
| 15 | 15 |
Junior year
| FALL SEMESTER | HR | SPRING SEMESTER | HR |
| PSYC 3180 | 3 | PSYC 4110 | 3 |
| PSYC 3300 | 4 | PSYC 4115/4116 | 1 |
| PSYC elective | 3 | PSYC 3150 | 3 |
| Electives | 6 | PSYC electives | 3 |
| Electives | 5 | ||
| 16 | 15 |
Senior year
| FALL SEMESTER | HR | SPRING SEMESTER | HR |
| PSYC 4500 | 3 | PSYC electives | 3 |
| PSYC 4810 | 3 | Electives | 10 |
| PSYC elective | 3 | ||
| Electives | 6 | ||
| 15 | 13 |
* These courses must be selected from the approved courses from the category of General Education in consultation with the students academic advisor.
COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
Psychology (PSYC)
All 3000 and 4000 level courses have as a minimum prerequisite Psychology 2010 or the consent of the instructor.
PSYC 1010 Orientation (1) [formerly PSY 101]. Designed to assist freshmen and new students in their adjustment to university life while providing a historical perspective of the Tennessee State University community. Major emphasis is given to personal adjustment and development, goal-setting, study skills, time management and careers in the area of Psychology.
PSYC 2010 General Psychology (3). The basic course in introductory psychology for majors and non-majors. The course introduces students to the fundamental concepts of psychological methodology, basic psychological processes, learning memory, motivation, and emotions. The course is a prerequisite for all psychology courses.
PSYC 2100 The Psychology of Adjustment (3). [formerly PSY 210] Study of personality development and structure, with major emphasis on personal adjustment and the functional aspects of the psychology of daily living. Topics covered include development of adjustment patterns, individual adjustment to life situations, societal definitions, treatment of the maladjusted, personal appraisal systems, and modification of behavior.
PSYC 2180 Elementary Statistics (3). [formerly PSY218] An introduction to statistics for the general student, with emphasis on organizing and describing numerical data, probability, sampling distributions, correlation, regression, point estimation, testing hypotheses and distribution-free methods.
PSYC 2420 Human Growth and Learning (3). [formerly PSY 242] A course designed to give the student an understanding of the child as a growing organism, and how behavior is acquired; an introduction to learning theory and its classroom application; and training in the application of psychological principles to various functions of the school. Required in the professional education core. Field experience required.
PSYC 3120 Meas/Eval/Clrm in Public Schools (3). [formerly PSY 312] A course primarily concerned with offering training in administering, scoring, processing and using the results of standardized and teacher-made tests, and other measures of progress in schools; also training is offered in the construction of objective tests. Attention is also given to various tests as they relate to the functions, techniques, and tools of guidance and counseling. Prerequisite: Psychology 2420. Required in the professional education core. Admission to Teacher Education required for those planning to be teachers. Others enrolled with permission of the Psychology department head.
PSYC 3150 Principles of Learning (3). [formerly PSY315] A study of classical and operant conditioning (including reinforcement, scheduling, acquisition, extinction, generalization discrimination) and topics in complex human learning (including verbal learning, memory, problem solving, information processing and concept information.) Prerequisite: Upper Division Admission.
PSYC 3180 Computer Applications and Technical Writing (3). [formerly PSY318] A study of statistical and other software that is relevant to psychology; the use of the Internet in research, and aspects of technical writing in psychology including the use of APA style. Prerequisites are PSYC 2180 and Upper Division Admission.
PSYC 3210 Abnormal Psychology (3). A descriptive and theoretical survey of the major forms of psychopathology in children, adolescents and adults. The course will examine current trends and research in the field of mental health and psychopathology.
PSYC 3230 The Psychology of the Black Experience (3). [formerly PSY 323] The Psychology of the Black Experience deals with coping strategies of Black families (opposed to current emphasis on pathology of Black families); psychology of the Black female and Black male. Research of Black authors will be emphasized.
PSYC 3300 Physiological Psychology (3 hrs.). [formerly PSY 330] An introduction to the study of the relationship between bodily processes and behavior. Emphasis is placed upon the basic anatomy and psychology of sensory and motor functions, motivation, emotion, learning and behavior disorders. The laboratory focuses on individual and group experience in these areas. Prerequisite: Upper Division Admission.
PSYC 3310 Principles of Human Sexuality (3). [formerly PSY 331] A study of theories and current research related to psychological and physiological aspects of human sexuality, as well as the effect of sex-roles on sexual interaction.
PSYC 3360 Introduction to the Delivery of Mental Health Services (3). [formerly PSY 336] A course designed to acquaint students with the mental health profession and its delivery of mental health services. The student will observe and interact with mental health workers in various settings, e.g. community mental health centers, crisis call centers, day care centers, etc. to obtain first hand knowledge of what mental health service delivery encompasses.
PSYC 3410 Social Psychology (3). [formerly PSY 341] A study of interpersonal behavior including such topics as perceiving others, interpersonal attraction, prejudice, attitude change, social influence, aggression, altruistic behavior, group processes and the psychology of organizations.
PSYC 3510 Developmental Psychology (3). [formerly PSY 351] The growth and development of the human organism from a theoretical perspective: biological, cognitive, social, and emotional development.
PSYC 3520 The Psychology of Adult Development and Aging (3). [formerly PSY 352] A study of the developmental tasks of adulthood. Emphasis will also be given to the search for meaning and the courage to create one’s life style.
PSYC 3530 The Psychology of Death and Dying (3). [formerly PSY 353] A study of such topics as the dying person, attitudes toward death, children and death, bereavement, and funeral rites. Emphasis will be placed on individual experience.
PSYC 3750 Educational Psychology and Human Development (3). [formerly PSY 375] Principles of psychology as applied to human development and education. Issues relevant to physical, cognitive, and psycho-social development of the school-age child are integrated with developmentally appropriate practices in the classroom. Processes of teaching and learning are explored. Fifteen hours of field experience are required. Admission to Teacher Education required.
PSYC 4110 Foundations of Psychological Investigation (3). PSYC 4115 or 4116 Foundations of Psychological Investigation Lab (1) [formerly PSY 411] Introduction to methods of behavioral research commonly employed in psychology and education. Topics include methods of observing behavior, measurement, subject selection, design and interpretation of behavioral research, research ethics and conducting and reporting research projects in the behavioral sciences. Pre- or Co-requisite: PSYC 3180.
PSYC 4130 Human Learning and Cognitive Processes (3). [formerly PSY 413] This course is designed to be a survey of human cognition. Topics relating to attention, memory, language, problem solving, reasoning, decision making, concepts and categorization will be covered. A cross-cultural perspective will add to students’ appreciation of the role of culture in cognition. Participation in web-based activities will further students’ understanding of the role of empirical research in this area of psychology.
(Note: Students who have taken either PSYC 4605, 4606, 4607, 4608): Special topics in Fall 2002 or Spring 2003- cannot get credit for this course).
PSYC 4140 Psychology of Stress Management (3). [formerly PSY 414] A study of the nature and sources of stress in modern society. Topics include the various ways our systems react to stress and specific techniques for managing stress.
PSYC 4240 Behavior Modification (3 ). [formerly PSY 424] A course designed to give the student a firm background in the behavior theory for several discrete methods of behavioral management in the home, clinical settings, and the school. Ethical considerations of manipulating human behavior will be thoroughly explored. Contrast with other techniques and criticism will be documented.
PSYC 4250 Introduction to Personality Theory (3). [formerly PSY 425] A study and analysis of the major theoretical approaches to the personality. Prerequisite: Upper Division Admission.
PSYC 4360 Field Placement in Psychology (3). [formerly PSY 436] Placement experience in a mental health setting. A minimum of nine hours per week at the practicum site is required. Prerequisites: PSYC 3210, and either 3360 or 4370, permission of instructor and Upper Division Admission.
PSYC 4370 Fundamentals of Counseling (3). [formerly PSY 437] The course will emphasize understanding the helping relationship from the viewpoint of both the client and the professional. Students will be introduced to methods of interviewing, observing and gathering information. Issues, problems and values related to the counseling process will be examined. Prerequisite: Upper Division Admission.
PSYC 4400 Drugs and Behavior (3). [formerly PSY 440] A study of the biomedical, psycho-social and mental health aspects of drugs that affect behavior including alcohol. Substance abuse and treatment modalities will also be emphasized.
PSYC 4500 Senior Project (3). [formerly PSY 450] A requirement of all seniors majoring in psychology. A course in which students plan and carry out projects in the area of psychology under the supervision of a faculty person. Prerequisite: PSYC 4110 and either 4115 or 4116.
PSYC 4515, 4516, 4517 Readings and Research in Psychology (3, 3, 3). [formerly PSY 451] Individual study and research under faculty guidance. Prerequisite 12 hrs. of upper division psychology courses, permission of instructor and Upper Division Admission.
PSYC 4605, 4606, 4607, 4608 Special Topics in Psychology (3,3,3,3). [formerly PSY 460] An intensive study of some specialized area in the field of psychology. Topics will vary.
PSYC 4620 Introduction to Psychological Tests and Measurements (3). [formerly PSY ]462 A program of study designed to give the basic principles underlying psychological measurement, training in selection and use of psychological tests, and practice in both group and individual testing. This course is an intensive study of individual differences, with emphasis on intellectual, personality, and academic achievement testing. Prerequisite: Upper Division Admission.
PSYC 4810 History and Systems of Psychology (3). [formerly PSY 481] A study of the historical development of psychology as a science and profession and the fundamental concepts of various schools of psychology. Prerequisite: Upper Division Admission.