Listed here are all regular courses offered by the department, excluding special topics.
Important: These descriptions are unofficial and are provided for convenience of reference. For the official description ( including prerequisites, semester taught, etc.) consult the current course catalog at registrar.boisestate.edu/catalogs/. For courses being offered in the current semester, consult the Class Schedules at registrar.boisestate.edu/class-schedules.shtml.
Distance/Online: Get more information on Distance and Online courses.
| Psyc# | Course Title | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 101 | General Psychology | Provides the basis for understanding psychological science. Topics considered may include: scientific method, biopsychology, consciousness, sensation, perception, development, learning, cognitive processes, motivation, emotion, health psychology, personality, individual differences, social psychology, psychopathology, and psychotherapy. |
| 120 | Introduction to the Psychology Major | This course is designed to orient the prospective psychology major to the field of psychology and to inform the student about academic requirements, expectations, opportunities, career options and limitations. PREREQ: PSYC 101. PASS/FAIL. |
| 213 | Psychology of Aging | An examination of the functional changes occurring during the aging process. Topics will include contemporary methods in the study of aging, aging as a part of life-span development in perception, cognition, personality, achievement, and family relations. Attention will be given to mental health problems of the aged, diagnosis and therapy. PREREQ: PSYC 101. |
| 219 | Cross-Cultural Psychology | Review of cultural similarity and differences in such areas as child development, gender roles, social behavior, language and communication, and mental illness. Focus on psychological theory and research relevant to explaining how cultural factors influence human behavior and thought. PREREQ: PSYC 101. |
| 229 | Psychology of Gender | Examines gender issues from a psychological perspective, including scientific literature and psychological theories on these issues. Topics, among others, include work and family issues, biological vs. psychosocial influences on behavior, and gender roles. PREREQ: PSYC 101. |
| 261 | Human Sexuality | An overview of human sexuality emphasizing both physiological and psychological aspects of sexuality. Topics include sexual anatomy and physiology, sexual response cycle, childbirth, contraception, sexual dysfunction, sex role development, and sexual deviation. Cross-cultural values will be examined and a values clarification unit will be included. PREREQ: PSYC 101. |
| 295 | Statistical Methods | Statistical concepts and methods commonly used in treatment of data in the social sciences. Topics covered will include: measures of central tendency and of variability, correlation measures, probability, and analysis of variance. PREREQ: PSYC 101. |
| 301 | Abnormal Psychology | A descriptive approach to the study of the etiology, development, and dynamics of behavioral disorders, together with a review of current preventive and remedial practices. PREREQ: PSYC 101, upper-division standing. |
| 309 | Child Development | Designed for psychology majors, the course emphasizes theories of human development including psychodynamic, behavioral, social-learning, and cognitive. Contemporary views of genetic and environmental contributions will be examined. Research designs appropriate to developmental issues will be explored. The emphasis will be on development from the prenatal period to adolescence. PREREQ: PSYC 101, upper-division standing. |
| 310 | Adolescent & Adult Development | Designed for psychology majors, the course emphasizes theories of human development including psychodynamic, behavioral, social-learning, and cognitive. Includes contemporary views of genetics, the environmental, and research designs appropriate to developmental issues. PREREQ: PSYC 101, upper-division standing. |
| 321 | Research Methods | The application of scientific methodology to the study of behavior. Design of experiments, methods of analysis, and interpretation of data; reporting of behavioral research. PREREQ: PSYC 120, grade of at least C- in PSYC 295, upper-division standing. |
| 331-331G | The Psychology of Health | Principles that have emerged from the experimental analysis of behavior will be examined. The principles include, but are not limited to, operant and classical conditioning. The course will deal with applications of these principles to the understanding and change of phobias, obesity, smoking, alcoholism, aberrant sexual behavior, and similar problems. PREREQ: PSYC 101, PSYC 295, upper-division standing. |
| 335 | Biological Bases of Behavior (formerly Physiological Psychology) | Classical and current issues in physiological psychology including central and peripheral nervous systems, processing of information and organization of behavior, perception, motivation, emotion, and learning. PREREQ: PSYC 101, BIOL 227, upper-division standing. |
| 343 | Cognitive Psychology | Foundation for understanding the issues, principles, and models involved in the study of mental processes. Topics range from classic cognitive psychology to more current neuroscience. PREREQ: grade of at least C- in PSYC 321, upper-division standing |
| 351 | Personality | A study of the major contemporary theories and concepts of personality, with special emphasis on psychoanalytic, humanistic, and behavioral approaches. PREREQ: PSYC 101, upper-division standing |
| 357 | Introduction to Counseling Skills | Selected topics of special interest to persons planning careers in psychology. PREREQ: PSYC 301, upper-division standing |
| 401 | TA for Psyc 101 | A systematic coverage of the general principles of psychology and an opportunity to teach them to others. Practical experience in rendering academic assistance to beginning students and managing large classes. PREREQ: Senior or junior standing in psychology with a GPA above 3.0 and PERM/INST. May be taken only once. |
| 402 | TA for Other classes | PREREQ: Senior or junior standing in psychology with a GPA above 3.0 and PERM/INST. You may have a maximum of 6 credits of Psyc 402 (this usually means TAing 2 courses). |
| 405-405G | Advanced Statistical Methods | Advanced topics in univariate statistics (for example, repeated measures designs) and multivariate techniques such as discriminant analysis, factor analysis, and principal component analysis. PREREQ: PSYC 321 or equivalent or PERM/INST, upper-division standing |
| 421-421G | Psychological Measurement | Theory and nature of psychological measurement together with a survey of types of psychological tests currently used. PREREQ: PSYC 321, upper-division standing |
| 431 | Social Psychology | The primary focus is the individual; the unit of analysis, the interpersonal behavior event. A study of individual motives, emotions, attitudes, and cognition with reference to interactions with other human beings. This course may be taken for either psychology or sociology credit, but not both. SOC 101 and a course in statistics or research design are strongly recommended. PREREQ: PSYC 101, upper-division standing |
| 438 | Community Psychology | Focuses on human and social problems in a systemic context. Primary prevention and community empowerment strategies employed are emphasized for individual, community, and social benefit. A course in research methods is recommended but not required. PREREQ: PSYC 101, PSYC 295, upper-division standing |
| 441 | Learning | Fundamental concepts of learning, with emphasis on classical conditioning, operant conditioning, and observational learning. Human applications of animal learning principles are stressed. PREREQ: PSYC 321, upper-division standing |
| 455 | Industrial/Organizational Psychology | This course examines the psychological theories and methodologies used to respond to the needs of industries and other organizations and to those of the individuals and groups within organizational settings. Topics include organizational theory, organizational behavior, motivation, job satisfaction, job design, group processes, leadership, performance evaluation, selection, placement, training, and development. PREREQ: PSYC 101, PSYC 295, upper-division standing |
| 459 | Psychology and Law | The course provides an overview of research in the field of psychology and the law, and documents how psycholegal research relates to pressing issues facing the legal system. A partial list of the topics covered include: eyewitness testimony, jury deliberations, criminal behavior, evidence, and the structure and function of the legal system. A course in statistics or research methods is strongly recommended. PREREQ: PSYC 101, PSYC 295, upper-division standing |
| 487 | Capstone Perspectives: History and Systems | A detailed account of the history of psychology encompassing the philosophical antecedents of modern psychology as well as the influential pioneers. Topics include history of psychology as a field of scientific inquiry, overview of development of schools of thought, prominent figures and key theories. PREREQ: PSYC 321 and senior standing in psychology. |
| 488 | Directed Research in Psychology | An undergraduate student assists on a research project, supervised by a member of the psychology faculty. Enrollment is contingent on a voluntary commitment to a research by both parties (faculty and student). Course may be repeated for a maximum of 9 credits. PREREQ: Psychology major, cumulative GPA above 3.00, and PERM/INST. |
| 489 | Capstone Perspectives on Psychological Issues | Controversial issues and social problems are addressed. Students analyze how different areas of psychology contribute to the understanding of contemporary problems making psychological theory and research relevant and understandable to community agencies/groups. PREREQ: PSYC 321 and senior standing in psychology. |
| 493 | Internship in Psychology | Some internship experiences are available through the department. Credit may be granted for psychological activities in applied settings. PREREQ: Psychology major, a cumulative GPA above 3.00, and PERM/INST. Repeatable for a maximum of 12 credits. |
| 495 | Senior Thesis | An individual research project in psychology selected by student. Proposal must be approved by instructor before enrolling. Recommended projects are those which will contribute to the body of psychological knowledge or will apply psychological principles to practical problems. Recommended for psychology students planning on graduate school. PREREQ: PSYC 101 and PSYC 321, and PERM/INST.May be taken only once. |
| 496 | Independent Study in Psychology | Independent study is an opportunity to earn academic credit outside of the established curriculum. It assumes the confluence of two streams of interest – that of a student and that of a professor. Thus, enrollment is contingent on a voluntary commitment to the project by both parties. PREREQ: Psychology major, a cumulative GPA above 3.00, and PERM/INST. May be repeated up to a maximum of 9 credits total; max of 6 credits per academic year. |