Psychology reflects the study of human behavior. Whether describing, explaining or predicting this behavior, students come to see that people are the focus of the field. They struggle to comprehend what it means to be caught in the human condition and discover that they can make choices and take responsibility for those choices. They develop empathy with themselves, each other, and the diverse populations who live on this planet.

The program in psychology at Rocky Mountain College educates students in the basic principles, language, and theories of the science of psychology. Students learn to think critically, evaluating the evidence and reasoning upon which explanations of human behavior are based. They collect data, design and conduct studies, interpret and apply research, and discover what that research means in the real world of people. When analysis is completed, they learn to communicate their findings both orally and in writing. Such work prepares them for graduate work in psychology.
Whether using statistics to support experimental research, literary analysis to help explicate a psychological passage in a novel, or cultural history to broaden awareness of their field, students use the liberal arts as grounding for disciplinary knowledge.

Major in Psychology

A minimum of 30 semester hours in psychology courses is required, including
PSY101 General Psychology
PSY305 Abnormal Psychology
PSY312 Behavior Management
PSY410 Experimental Psychology
PSY431 Psychological Testing and Assessment
PSY450 Internship
PSY483 Psychological Counseling
MAT210 Probability and Statistics
Six credits of electives are also required.

Choose one of the following:
PSY205 Human Development I
PSY206 Human Development II

A course in biology and a course in chemistry are recommended.

Major in Psychology Education

A minimum of 30 semester hours is required, including:
PSY101 General Psychology
PSY205 Human Development I
PSY206 Human Development II
PSY302 Educational Psychology
PSY305 Abnormal Psychology
PSY312 Behavior Management
PSY410 Experimental Psychology
PSY420 Methods and Materials Teaching Psychology in the Secondary School
PSY431 Psychological Testing and Assessment
PSY450 Internship
PSY483 Psychological Counseling

In addition, students must complete all of the requirements of the professional education program for secondary teaching (grades 5-12) as described in the "education" section of the catalog.

Minor in Psychology

A minimum of 21 semester hours is required, including:
PSY101 General Psychology
PSY410 Experimental Psychology

Choose one of the following:
PSY205 Human Development I
PSY206 Human Development II

12 credits of psychology electives.

Minor in Psychology Education

A minimum of 21 semester hours is required including
PSY101 General Psychology
PSY205 Human Development I
PSY206 Human Development II
PSY302 Educational Psychology
PSY410 Experimental Psychology
PSY420 Methods and Materials Teaching Psychology in the Secondary School

PSY312, and PSY431 are recommended. In addition, students must complete all of the requirements of the professional education program for secondary teaching (grades 5-12) as described in the "Education" section of the catalog.

PSY101 - General Psychology

Semester: Fall and Spring
Semester hours: 3
A survey of the field of psychology investigating such topics as learning, motivation, human development, personality, social psychology, and physiological psychology. In order to make inquiry into any academic discipline, the student must first learn the language and methodology of that discipline; the field of psychology is no exception. Therefore, this course will include the study of major psychological theories, terminology, and investigative methods, as well as limited opportunity to apply those methods.

PSY201 - Social Psychology

Semester: Spring
Semester hours: 3
Students study the behavior of individuals as it is controlled, influenced, or limited by the sociocultural environment, social interaction, and basic interrelations of the individual, society, and culture. This course is designed to enable stu- dents to see themselves as both shaping and being shaped by their culture. Attention is also focused on inclusion and diversity. This course is cross listed with SOC 201.
Prerequisite: PSY 101

PSY205 - Human Development I

Semester: Fall
Semester hours: 3
Students examine a study of human growth from conception to puberty. Physical, cognitive, personality, and social development will be investigated from theoretical and practical perspectives. The student will explore stages of human development through adolescence, be able to apply the major developmental theories, and make better choices as a parent or teacher.

PSY206 - Human Development II

Semester: Spring
Semester hours: 3
Students examine a study of human development from adolescence through the lifespan, which makes use of recent research studies in physical, cognitive, personality, and social development. The student will demonstrate a basic understanding of the physical, cognitive, and psychosocial changes that occur as people move through the stages of adulthood.

PSY212 - Family Dynamics

Semester: Fall
Semester hours: 3
This course is a study of the main theories of family systems, family patterns, and family-of-origin work. Material studied will be taken from required texts, articles obtained at the
library, and class activities. The course will require some knowledge of the therapy models utilized in psychotherapy.
Prerequisite: PSY 101

PSY302 - Educational Psychology

Semester: Fall
Semester hours: 3
This course is designed to aid the student in continuing to develop an understanding of human behavior, especially as that understanding applies to elementary and secondary classrooms. Emphasis will be on why and how human learning takes place and how that learning relates to schools and teaching situations where the needs of each student must be considered. The course also includes participation in and the analysis of interpersonal relations and communication skills. This course is cross listed with EDC 302.
Prerequisite: PSY 205 or PSY 206

PSY305 - Abnormal Psychology

Semester: Spring
Semester hours: 3
This course reviews the history of mental illness from a western perspective, and surveys the types of research used in the field. The symptoms, causes, and treatment of the major mental disorders are investigated from a variety of theoretical perspectives.
Prerequisite: PSY 101

PSY306 - Personality Theories

Semester: Fall
Semester hours: 3
Designed to facilitate inquiry into the psychological theories of personality. Students will explore the basic concepts underlying major theories as well as apply those theories to hypothetical cases. Students will demonstrate a basic understanding of the fundamental principles underlying theories of personalities.
Prerequisite: PSY 101

PSY312 - Behavior Management

Semester: Fall
Semester hours: 3
Students review behavior management techniques and therapies. Principles of operant conditioning and classical conditioning are investigated in depth. The student will be able to use behavioral principles appropriately and understand the ethical issues involved.
Prerequisite: PSY 101

PSY315 - Community Problems/Contemporary Issues in Psychology

Semester: Fall
Semester hours: 3
Provides students with the opportunity to research common issues facing mental health practitioners in today's society. Students will read conflicting arguments on each issue, write a paper from each perspective, and explore their own biases in regard to a series of issues.
Prerequisite: PSY 101

PSY320 - Cognitive Psychology

Semester: Spring
Semester hours: 3
This course will familiarize the student with basic issues and recent advances in the study of the cognitive bases of behavior. Students will be introduced to the scientific study of attention, knowledge representation, memory, problem solving, decision making, learning and expertise, reasoning, and language. Students will learn to understand and critically evaluate theory and research in cognitive psychology, apply recent developments in cognitive psychology to their own work and way of thinking about how the brain processes information, and understand sources of individual differences and diversity in cognitive abilities and processes.

PSY342 - Psychology and The Soul

Semester: Spring
Semester hours: 3
This course, delivered online, with some face-to-face sessions, is designed as an introduction of faith and psychology concepts and theories through the development of current philosophers and psychologists. The focus is to explore concepts, theories and research that support the reunification of faith and psychological understanding of thought and behavior. Attention will be given to methods of spiritual and psychosocial review of life development and methods of interviewing. Among authors work to be explored are Frattaroli, Schumacher, Wilber, Vaughan and Kabat-Zin.
Prerequisite: PSY 101 or PSY 205 or PSY 206

PSY360 - History of Psychology

Semester: Spring
Semester hours: 3
This course provides a detailed study of the important foundation of the science and art of psychology. Students will understand the history of the major fields of clinical psychology, psychometrics, physiological psychology, sensation perception, learning, and motivation.
Prerequisites: PSY 101 and junior standing

PSY410 - Experimental Psychology

Semester: Fall
Semester hours: 3
Designed to acquaint the student with various methods used in psychological research. The student will learn to evaluate the quality of research, will design and execute various types of research, and will be able to document research using APA guidelines.
Prerequisites: PSY 101 and MAT 210

PSY420 - Methods and Materials: Teaching Psychology in the Secondary School

Semester: On Demand
Semester hours: 2
This course requires focused study and consultation with a public school psychology teacher or other acceptable professional. Hours will be arranged in consultation with the content area professor, the secondary education professor, the student, and the professional mentor. This course deals with teaching high school psychology. Particular attention is focused on diverse and at-risk student populations. Methods of teaching psychology, reviewing psychology texts for content appropriate to various grade levels, and the use of technology in the classroom constitute majors parts of the course. Attention is also given to the performance of research in the field of psychology.
Prerequisites: Admission to the teacher education program; senior standing

PSY431 - Psychological Testing and Assessment

Semester: Spring
Semester hours: 3
This course provides an introduction to the theory and practice of testing and clinical assessment procedures. Emphasis will be on the development and standardization of current psychological tests. The student will become acquainted with the strengths and weaknesses of the major tests in use today.
Prerequisites: PSY 101 and MAT 210

PSY450 - Internship

Semester: Fall and Spring
Semester hours: 1-12
An applied course in which interviewing techniques, listening skills, observation and assessment procedures, and counseling skills will be reviewed and practiced at a local agency. Observation of the student and feedback on developing skills will be shared throughout the training program. Pass/no pass grading. Contract is required.
Prerequisites: PSY 305; and PSY 306 or PSY 483

PSY483 - Psychological Counseling

Semester: Fall
Semester hours: 3
Students examine the theories and techniques used in the field of counseling. The course includes the discussion of psychopathologies, cultural diversity, privacy issues, counselor ethics, professionalism, and personality characteristics of both counselor and client as well as the effects of these issues on the counseling process.
Prerequisites: PSY 101 plus six additional semester hours in psychology

PSY490 - Seminar in Physiological Psychology

Semester: Spring
Semester hours: 3
This course provides a study of the anatomical, biochemical, and physiological aspects of human psychology. Students will have a detailed knowledge of the anatomy of the human brain and nervous system, and understand the biochemical principles that relate to the human nervous system and the physiology involved in phenomena such as sleep, memory, schizophrenia, and depression.
Prerequisites: PSY 101 and one course in biology or one course in chemistry

PSY499 - Independent Study

Semester: On Demand
Semester hours: 1-3
This course allows a superior student to devise and pursue independent study in an area agreed upon in consultation with, and supervised by, a faculty member. Students should be either a major or minor and have a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or greater.
Prerequisite: Junior or senior standing