PSYC 1108 -- Death and Dying, 3 credits Common Course Outline (Cross-listed as SOC 1108)(MnTC Goal 5)Recommended Skills, Abilities, or Coursework: General Psychology and General SociologyDeath is a natural part of the life cycle and a universal event, but it is still a topic that is often not discussed or examined. This course will explore historical and contemporary theories and research about grief and death issues. The course will examine death and grief from psychological, sociological, biological and cultural perspectives. It will include topics such as the understanding of death across the lifespan, legal definitions of death, advance directives, religious and cultural death rituals, and grief trajectory research. It will also include a consideration of controversial issues related to death and dying, such as physician assisted suicide. PSYC 1110 -- General Psychology, 4 credits Common Course Outline (MnTC Goals 5 and 7)This course is a comprehensive introduction to psychology, which is the science concerned with behavior and mental processes. Psychology studies the environmental, biological, social, and individual forces that help to describe, explain, predict, and control behavior. Students will examine the scientific and historical foundations of psychology, the major domains of knowledge in psychology (biological, cognitive, developmental, social and personality, and mental and physical health), and cross-cutting themes relevant to all knowledge domains (cultural and social diversity, ethics, variation in human functioning, and applications of psychology). This course is designed to meet the goals of the American Psychological Association (APA, 2014) for introductory psychology. PSYC 1115 -- Stress Management, 3 credits Common Course Outline (Cross-listed with HPER 1115) (MnTC Goal 2)This course is designed to provide students with a scientific basis for understanding stress along with pragmatic tools for dealing with stress in real-life situations. Students will learn about theories and research to gain a better understanding of stress and will also gain direct experience using stress-management techniques such as breathing control, meditation, perception and thought modification, nutrition, exercise, time management, and many others. PSYC 1117 -- Introduction to Meditation and Mindfulness, 1 credit Common Course Outline (Cross-listed with HPER 1117) Students will develop an understanding of the cultural and historical background of various forms of meditation. Current research on meditation and mindfulness practices in relation to mental and physical well-being will be examined. Students will develop the ability to enter a calm and centered state of awareness through working with the body, the breath, and the mind. PSYC 1130 -- Parenting Psychology, 3 credits Common Course Outline (MnTC Goal 2) Prerequisites (must have a grade of C or better): PSYC 1110 This course involves the investigation of various parenting styles and techniques. It is designed to help parents develop an understanding of child development with a focus on effective parenting techniques, including behavior modification, modeling, active listening, problem-solving, and others. PSYC 1135 -- Understanding Autism Spectrum Disorders, 2 credits Common Course Outline (MnTC Goals 2 and 7)Recommended Skills, Abilities, or Coursework: PSYC 1110 OR PSYC 2235This course will serve as an introduction to Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Content covered will include common characteristics, assessment and diagnoses, theories of causes, and an overview of treatments and interventions. Society's response toward neurodiversity will be examined. Family dynamics related to Autism Spectrum Disorders will also be explored. PSYC 1145 -- Positive Psychology: The Study of Happiness and Well-Being, 3 credits Common Course Outline (MnTC Goal 5)What is well-being, who experiences it, and which practices best foster it? Positive psychology attempts to answer these questions through the scientific investigation of happiness. This course will introduce you to theoretical concepts and scientific research regarding happiness and psychological well-being. You will examine human behaviors that contribute to psychological well-being through topics such as hardiness, hope, flow, meaning, optimism, and resiliency. PSYC 1189 -- Topics:, Common Course Outline This course has been developed as a potential permanent course. The course must follow all the same policies and procedures related to curriculum outlined by the college. It does not duplicate existing course offerings. Refer to course notes for specific course description. PSYC 2110 -- Introduction to Research Methods, 3 credits Common Course Outline (MnTC Goals 2 and 5)Prerequisites: PSYC 1110 with a grade of C or betterRecommended Skills, Abilities, or Coursework: MATH 1110This course is an introduction to the design, implementation, analysis, and presentation of research in psychology. Students will be actively engaged in designing their own research as well as evaluating research published in the field. Students will also develop skills in using statistics and APA style for analyzing data and communicating results. Math 1110 recommended as a pre or co-requisite. PSYC 2120 -- Psychology of Women, 3 credits Common Course Outline (Cross-listed with WGST 2120)(MnTC Goals 5 and 7)Prerequisites: PSYC 1110 with a grade of C or betterThis course is an introduction to the theories and research concerning the psychology of women. The course will explore the way that biological, cultural and psychosocial issues affect the psychological development of women. It will include topics such as sexism, the construction of gender categories, gender comparisons, and female identity formation. It will also explore contemporary women¿s issues related to education, work, and family. PSYC 2215 -- Child and Adolescent Development, 3 credits Common Course Outline (MnTC Goals 5 and 8)(Cross-listed with EDUC 2215) Prerequisites (must have a grade of C or better): 3 credits of PsychologyThis course will provide an introduction to the science of child psychology, emphasizing physical, psychological, cognitive, and social development from conception through adolescence. The concern is with those aspects of human behavior that change from childhood to adulthood and with the factors that account for those changes. PSYC 2235 -- Lifespan Development, 4 credits Common Course Outline (MnTC Goals 5 and 8)Prerequisites: PSYC 1110 with a grade of C or betterThis course serves as an introduction to the science of lifespan psychology emphasizing physical, psychological, cognitive, and social development from conception through death. The concern is with those aspects of human behavior that change from childhood to death and with the factors that account for those changes. Students who take this course are advised not to take PSYC 2215 or PSYC 2225 because of an overlap in content with those courses. PSYC 2250 -- Abnormal Psychology, 3 credits Common Course Outline (MnTC Goals 5 and 9) Prerequisites (must have a grade of C or better): PSYC 1110 Abnormal Psychology studies the diagnosis, cause, and treatment of psychological disorders. The course includes discussion of historical foundations, theoretical approaches, and research methodology related to psychopathology, with a focus on biological and psychological foundations. The course also covers important social and ethical issues such as labeling, confidentiality, civil commitment, and clinical decision making. PSYC 2257 -- Psychology and the Media, 3 credits Common Course Outline (MnTC Goals 2 and 9)Prerequisites: PSYC 1110 with a grade of C or betterThis course will explore the psychology behind media and technology use and their impact on the emotional, cognitive, behavioral, psychological, and social experience of humans. The depiction of psychological issues in the media will be examined, with a focus on a critical analysis of media portrayals and their influence on human thought and behavior. PSYC 2260 -- Social Psychology, 3 credits Common Course Outline (Cross-listed as SOC 2260)(MnTC Goals 2 and 5)Prerequisites (must have a grade of C or better): PSYC 1110 or SOC 1111 or consent of instructorSocial Psychology mainly focuses on the point of interaction between the individual and society and groups. The basic questions studied are how the individual shapes society and groups and how society and groups affect the individual's behavior. This course examines some of the major social psychological concepts such as social cognition, development of self/social identity, and group processes, in addition to assumptions, methods, findings, and applications of social psychological research. PSYC 2265 -- Educational Psychology, 3 credits Common Course Outline (MnTC Goal 2)Prerequisite: PSYC 1110 with a grade of C or better Educational psychology focuses on how psychological theory and concepts can be understood to inform effective classroom practices. Topics include cognitive and social development, theories of motivation and learning, classroom management, individual and group differences, and student assessment. Attention will be directed toward the nature and conditions of learning, critical aspects of learning, and the problems encountered in fostering and directing learning. PSYC 2270 -- Theories of Personality, 3 credits Common Course Outline (MnTC Goal 2 and 5) Prerequisite: PSYC 1110 with a grade of C or betterThis course examines various aspects of one's personality and their underlying psychological mechanisms by carefully evaluating major theoretical approaches and contemporary research in personality psychology. Topics learned in the course include assessment of personality (personality tests), the role of personality in understanding one's behavior, the relationship between intra-personal and inter-personal perception, and personality functioning in social, cognitive, and biological domains. Applications of personality psychology principles to enhance one's understanding of self and others are also discussed. PSYC 2280 -- Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences, 4 credits Common Course Outline (MnTC Goals 2 and 5)Prerequisites: PSYC 1110; MATH 1114 or MATH 1200 with a grade of C or betterStudents use basic mathematical and computerized procedures to analyze data in the behavioral sciences. Use statistical software (e.g., SPSS, "R," "PSPP") to conduct descriptive and inferential data analyses. Students choose and apply statistical procedures to help to answer psychological and behavioral scientific research questions. Students read, interpret, and write APA-style results sections for behavioral science research. PSYC 2285 -- Introduction to Forensic Psychology, 3 credits Common Course Outline (MnTC Goals 2 and 5)Prerequisites (must have a grade of C or better): PSYC 1110This course provides an introductory survey of the fascinating psychological sub-field of forensic psychology. This course includes examinations of the roles of psychological science in criminal courts, juvenile courts, family and civil courts, corrections, and policing and public safety. PSYC 2299 -- Independent Study, Common Course Outline Independent Study allows a student to earn credit while participating in a supervised learning experience in a community-based or work setting. Students must have successfully completed two courses in the discipline in which they want to undertake independent study. Forms are available in the Educational Services Office. All arrangements must be made prior to registration for the semester in which the project is scheduled and must be approved by the appropriate Dean of Educational Services. In addition, a project outline must be approved by the instructor who will supervise the student's work. PSYC 2360 -- Industrial-Organizational Psychology, 3 credits Common Course Outline (MnTC Goals 2 and 5)Prerequisites: PSYC 1110 with a grade of C or betterThis course will provide an introduction to Industrial and Organizational Psychology, a scientific discipline that studies human behavior in work and organizational settings. It examines the underlying mechanisms of an industry/organization as a "living" entity. We will discuss how individual and collective behaviors relate to such issues as effectiveness, communication, and motivation within organizations. Topics learned in the course include the psychology of personnel decisions, skill training & development, performance appraisals, leadership, management-employee relations, teamwork, occupational health, and the impact of technology and the environment on organizations. PSYC 2370 -- Cross-Cultural Psychology, 3 credits Common Course Outline (MnTC Goals 5 and 8)Prerequisites (must have a grade of C or better): PSYC 1110This course is an introduction to Cross-Cultural Psychology, a field of psychology that studies the influence of individuals' culture on a variety of psychological processes and their understanding of the world in which they live. We will discuss how different aspects of culture - norms, expectations, practices, etc. - play a significant role in understanding of ourselves as well as understanding of others. Topics learned in the course include cultural influence on cognition, perception of reality, interpersonal communication, emotional experience, development of personal and social identity, and understanding mental health issues. In this course, students are expected to develop their cultural competence and global perspective on critical issues.
