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Spring 2010 Registration Information
Most Psychology courses are reserved for Admitted Psychology Majors only; students who have not yet been admitted cannot register for these courses. For information about declaring the Psychology Major see http://psyc.jmu.edu/ug/declaring.html.
About Capstone Courses: Advanced psychology majors including students who have completed some, but not all prerequisites, will be considered for capstone courses that have available space. Different courses are offered each semester. If you are interested in the history of psychology (Psyc 497) or a Senior Seminar (Psyc 497) topic, ask the instructor for more information about their course and/or permission to register.
Special Topics Classes & Course Notes
Psyc 200, Section 101 Preparing for Graduate School in Psychology. (First Block, 1 credit). This course will guide students through the graduate school application process. Graduate professors from various fields of psychology will discuss the different career opportunities available in various fields of psychology. Topics will include the importance of participating in research and field work experiences, preparing for and taking the GREs, and applying to graduate schools (including letters of recommendation, interviews, and writing curriculum vitae and personal statements. By the end of the 8-week course, students will have the majority of their applications completed. Offered by Dr. Bill Evans (evanswf@jmu.edu; 568-6373; Miller 1173).
Psyc 200, Section 201. Preparing for a Job in Psychology. (Second Block, 1 credit) . This course will guide students through the job application process for careers in psychology and related fields . Students will discuss what jobs will be available to them upon graduation with an undergraduate degree in psychology . Topics will include resume-building, how to write a cover letter, interview skills, and information on how to budget finances after college . By the end of this 8-week course, students will have completed several job applications. Offered by Dr . Bill Evans (evanswf@jmu.edu; 568-6373; Miller 1173).
Psyc 250. Introduction to Abnormal Psychology. This course is not recommended for Psychology Majors or Psychology Preparation Students. Psychology students interested in this content should take Psyc 335, Abnormal Psychology. Credit cannot be earned for Psyc 335 by students who have previously taken Psyc 250. Psyc 250 is a course designed for non-psychology students who need a brief exposure to this content for their non-psychology academic program.
The list of courses that can satisfy BS or BA degree requirements is available at http://www.jmu.edu/registrar/BA_and_BS_Degree_Courses.shtml.
For Research and Service Learning Opportunities (Psyc 290 and 402) see http://psyc.jmu.edu/ug/training.html .
Sociocultural Awareness Courses
Psychology Majors who started at JMU in August 2006 are required to complete at least one “Sociocultural Awareness” course as part of their academic program. The following courses being offered during the Spring 2010 semester fulfill this requirement:
- Psyc 220. Psychology and Culture
- Psyc 308. Health Psychology
- Psyc 310. Psychology of Women and Gender
- Psyc 460. Community Psychology in Developing Societies
- Psyc 497, Sections 1 & 2. Senior Seminar: Psychology of the Holocaust
- Psyc 497, Section 5. Senior Seminar: Women and Mental Health
Senior Seminars & Senior Lab Courses
The prerequisites for all capstone courses are two courses from Area A and two courses from Area B. Overrides are routinely given for these courses, if space is available, if a student is completing their final semester of coursework before graduation; submit an override request if you are in that situation. Please register for no more than ONE senior seminar during the first round of registration; submit override requests for additional seminars but don’t register for more than one until after everyone has had to take at least one seminar
Psyc 492, Section 1. History of Psychology. The history of psychology as reflected through the individuals, theories and experimental investigation of the discipline. Special emphasis is placed upon relating the current state of psychology to its historical development.This course is offered by Dr. Ashton Trice (tricead@jmu.edu; Johnston 209; 568-8189).
Psyc 497, Sections 1 & 2. Psychology of the Holocaust. This course focuses on trying to explain human behavior during the Holocaust. In this course, we will explore how different psychological theories can help explain the human cruelty evidenced in the Holocaust. Although we will focus on the Holocaust, we will examine other genocides as well. We will explore how theories about social influence (including obedience, conformity, group influence), social relations (prejudice, stereotypes, bystander intervention), and social cognition (misperception, correspondence bias, attribution theory, cognitive dissonance theory, and self-perception theory) can help explain the behavior of perpetrators, victims, and bystanders. These theories are only a beginning in trying to understand the capacity to do evil. This course is offered by Dr. Kevin Apple (applekj@jmu.edu ; Miller 1127; 568-3696).
Psyc 497, Section 3. Cyberpsychology and Virtual Worlds. This class has been cancelled.
Psyc 497, Section 4. Police Psychology. This interdisciplinary capstone course uses psychological theory and methods to study the field of law enforcement, and explores the impact that psychology has on the activities of police officers and police departments, within the larger context of the American legal system and American culture. Prerequisite: Psyc 312 (Forensic Psychology). Registration by override only. This course is offered by Dr. JoAnne Brewster (568-6107; Miller 1151; brewstja@jmu.edu ).
Psyc 497, Section 5. Women and Mental Health. This course will address concepts relating to women’s mental health. Special attention will be given to socio-cultural phenomena, and a respect for women’s experiences will be maintained at all times. This course is being offered by Dr . Pam Gibson (Cleveland 202; 568-6195; gibsonpr@jmu.edu).
Psyc 497, Section 6. Environment, Health and Behavior. This course will examine the effects of toxins on the nervous system, inequities in exposure patterns that place particular populations at higher risk for harm, toxicant-induced illnesses that receive psychological diagnoses (e.g., endometriosis), attitudes toward environmental quality, and the emerging fields of ecopsychology and ecotherapy. This course is offered by Dr. Pam Gibson (568-6195; Clev-202; gibsonpr@jmu.edu ).
Psyc 497, Section 8. Performance Management. Performance Management is an area of psychology that focuses on using behavioral principles to improve and maintain individual, group, and organizational performance. Prerequisites: At least two courses from Area A and two courses from Area B. Recommended courses: One of the following—Psychology of Learning, Applied Behavior Analysis, or Industrial/Organizational Psychology. For more information contact Dr. Tracy Zinn (568-6309; Miller 1171; zinnte@jmu.edu).
Psyc 497, Section 9. Psychology and Literature. This senior capstone experience uses classic and current psychology theory to help enhance readers’ understanding of the thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and motivations of protagonists in a variety of popular literary texts. Attention will also be paid to issues in clinical and counseling psychology including trauma, depression, and anxiety, and how to interpret and employ readers’ reactions to main characters facing major psychological crises. This course is offered by Dr. Matt Lee (568-4915; Miller 1165; leemr@jmu.edu).
Psyc 497, Section 10. Biopsychology of Human Sexuality. This course will examine the genetic, evolutionary, neurological, hormonal and pheromonal influences on human sexual development and adult sexual behavior. Topics will include the biological basis of sexual development, gender differences, sexual motivation, mate attraction, mate selection, cheating, jealousy, mate guarding, and related topics selected by the students enrolled in the class. Prerequisites: Psyc 385 (Biopsychology) or Psyc 395 (Comparative Psychology). This course is being offered by Dr. Michael Stoloff (568-6396; Miller 1223; stolofml@jmu.edu ).
Psyc 497, Section 11. Sport Psychology. This course focuses on an overview of the theoretical, research, practice, and professional issues in the field of sport psychology. The emphasis of the course will be on gaining a foundation in the core topics in sport psychology by exploring essential readings and key studies in sport psychology. This course is offered by Dr. Robert Harmison (568-7959; harmisrj@jmu.edu ).
Psyc 497, Section 12. Small Group Dynamics.This class has been cancelled.
Psyc 497, Section 13. Leadership and Service. Leadership and Service will study the experience of leadership and service from a psychological perspective. The course will assist students with identifying their personal leadership skills and styles as well as how to adapt these to various situations related to service in the community. The course will enable students to integrate concepts of service learning into leadership development. Emphasis will also be on developing an effective leadership approach to service learning. 40-hours of service-learning will be required. This course is offered by by Dr. Bill Evans (evanswf@jmu.edu; 568-6373; Miller 1173).
Psyc 493: Lab in Assessment and Measurement. This experience will focus on the topic of assessment and program evaluation. Students will obtain hands-on, real-world experiences in assessment and program evaluation by working closely with on-going assessment and program evaluation of the JMU's undergraduate psychology program. Students enrolled in this class will: (1) engage in general readings on assessment and program evaluation, as well as specific readings that highlight assessment of undergraduate psychology programs, (2) help plan and participate in Spring assessment day, when we collect extensive data on graduating senior psychology majors, (3) help conduct analyses on assessment data collected, (4) help write the final assessment report, (5) engage in a formal review of the Department of Psychology's overall strategy for program evaluation, as well as a specific audit of each of the assessment measures that are currently being used, (6) propose recommendations on what should be continued and what should be revised for future assessment of the undergraduate psychology major. This course is offered by Dr. Kenn Barron (568-4065; Miller 1161; barronke@jmu.edu). Registration by permission of the instructor only.
Psyc 211 Prerequisite for Area Courses
If space is available, the following Psychology Area Class may permit selected students to complete Psyc 211 or 213 concurrently. (An override is necessary to apply. Please submit an online override request form available at http://psyc.jmu.edu/ug/overridesexceptions.html .):
- Psyc 335. Abnormal Psychology (Juniors and Seniors only)
- Psyc 345. Social Psychology
- Psyc 365. Developmental Psychology
- Psyc 380. Cognitive Psychology
- Psyc 385. Biopsychology
- Psyc 390. Learning (Student who have completed Psyc 180 [Introduction to Behavior Analysis] only)
Other Spring 2010 Courses of Interest
HHS 415 Ethical Decision-making in Healthcare: A cross disciplinary approach. 1 credit. Health care ethics is a shared, relevant concern among health and human service disciplines and is an ideal vehicle for students from different fields to learn about one another’s disciplines and to participate in cross disciplinary team analysis, discussion, and problem-solving. We have designed an integrated cross-disciplinary learning experience for students interested in the complex, real-world dilemmas encountered in practice. The readings and activities will emphasize ethical, legal, moral and spiritual issues and principles for practice within the context of communicating in interdisciplinary teams. The course will meet the following goals and objectives. Goals: (1) Develop understanding of the competencies required to work in cross-disciplinary teams; (2) Understand and appreciate own and others’ professional ethical principles and practices. Meets Thursdays between 5 pm – 8 pm on January 21 and February 4, 5 pm-7:30 pm on February 18, March 4, April 8, and April 15 (April 8 class meets in Festival Highlands Room, all other classes meet in Festival Ballroom A).
HHS 460 Health Informatics 3 Credits. A multidisciplinary introduction to informatics in health care focusing on technology, data, information and knowledge and their applications in health care. Emerging trends and issues are examined. Topics covered include basic databases, health literacy, current and future trends in information technology, and human computer interaction. Mondays from 1:25 to 3:15 HHS 2204.
HHS 490-section 6 Evidence-Based Alternative Medicine & Health Care 3 credits. According to the National Institutes of Health, approximately 38% of American adults used some form of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in 2007, spending $33.9 billion out-of-pocket. Currently, over 43 universities, including Harvard, Yale, Johns Hopkins, Duke and Stanford, have established Integrative Medicine Programs that combine standard medical therapies and CAM therapies supported by scientific evidence. In this course, we will engage alternative health care with the critical eye of the scientist. We will begin by asking what evidence is necessary to demonstrate an alternative treatment’s efficacy. Then we will carefully examine the scientific literature for a variety of CAM therapies. In addition, local CAM practitioners will be invited to discuss and demonstrate their practices. This course is suitable for students contemplating a career in the health professions as well as anyone interested in learning about science and alternative medicine. Meets Mondays 9:05-11:35, ISAT 0150. Sophomore standing or above.
