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Department of Psychology

Summer 2008 Registration Information

Check out the new JMU Summer Session website at http://www.jmu.edu/summersession.

The Department of Psychology is offering a full array of courses during Summer School, and you can register today!  As of April 25, space was still available in most of our courses!.  Courses are offered both on campus and online.  You can take online courses from any location, as long as you have reliable internet access.  We anticipate offering the following courses:

  • Gpsyc 101, General Psychology (1st 4 weeks and online)
  • Gpsyc 160, Life Span Human Development (1st 4 weeks and online)
  • Gpsyc 122, Vision and Audition (1st 4 weeks)
  • Psyc 180, Introduction to Behavior Analysis (online)
  • Psyc 200. Mental Toughness (1st 4 weeks)
  • Psyc 210, Psyc Statistics (1st 4 weeks)
  • Psyc 211, Psyc Research Methods (offered weeks 1-6 AND weeks 5-10)
  • Psyc 304, Death and Dying (2nd 4 weeks)
  • Psyc 316, Human Development and Crime (1st 4 weeks)
  • Psyc 330, Personality (1st 4 weeks)
  • Psyc 365, Developmental Psychology (1st 4 weeks)
  • Psyc 375, Sensation & Perception (1st 4 weeks and online)
  • Psyc 380, Cognitive Psychology (1st 4 weeks)
  • Psyc 390, Psyc of Learning (online)
  • Psyc 395, Comparative Animal Behavior (online)
  • Psyc 440, Counseling Psychology
  • Psyc 475, Adult Development (2nd 4 weeks)
  • Psyc 497, Senior Seminar: Addictive Behaviors (1st 4 weeks)
  • Psyc 497, Senior Seminar: Environment Health and Behavior (1st 4 weeks)

Also of possible interest to Psychology Majors and Psychology-Preparation Students:

  • Gsci 104. Science vs. Pseudoscience (Dr. Zinn)  This course meets General Education Cluster 3 requirements with psychology laboratory experiences.

Summer Capstone Offerings

Contingent upon enrollment, the following capstone courses will be offered this summer:

Psyc 497. Addictive Behaviors. This course will give students the opportunity to apply and integrate their experiences and knowledge in psychology to the study of the initiation, maintenance, prevention and treatment of addictive behaviors. The course will explore biological, learned, cognitive and socio-cultural factors that contribute to, maintain and impact the treatment of addictions. Dr. Monica Reis-Bergan (568-4365; Miller 1145; reisbemj@jmu.edu) will offer this course during the first 4-week session.

Psyc 497.  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; Clevland 202; gibsonpr@jmu.edu ).

Psyc 211 Prerequisite for Area Courses

If space is available, the following Psychology Area Class may permit selected students to complete Psyc 211 concurrently.  (An override is necessary to apply.  Please submit an online override request form available at http://psyc.jmu.edu/ug/overridesexceptions.html.):

  • Psyc 330. Personality
  • Psyc 365. Developmental Psychology
  • Psyc 375. Sensation and Perception
  • Psyc 380. Cognitive Psychology
  • Psyc 390. Learning (Students who have completed Psyc 180 only)
  • Psyc 395.  Comparative Animal Behavior (Biology Majors and Human Science Minors only).

Other Courses

Psyc 200 – Mental Toughness
This course focuses on the psychological construct of mental toughness and its application in sport and life.  The emphasis of the course will be on gaining an understanding of mental toughness and knowledge about the attributes of an ideally mentally tough performer. Students will learn what mental toughness is, the characteristics that a mentally tough performer possesses, and strategies to improve their own level of mental toughness for sport or life.  Students will engage in a combination of course readings, class discussion, and hands-on learning experiences.  This course is open to all JMU students.  No prerequisites.  Offered by Dr. Robert Harmison (568-7959; harmisrj@jmu.edu )

Psyc 210
Pre-Psychology student who would like to take Psyc 210 during the summer should submit an override request form during registration and apply to be a Psychology Major. On a space available basis, students who currently have high GPA’s will be granted an override into the summer section of Psyc 210. Admission to Psyc 210 does not guarantee admission to the Psychology Major. Applications for admission to the Psychology Major will be reviewed immediately after grades are posted for the Spring semester.

Gsci 104. Scientific Perspectives: Science vs. Pseudoscience. This course will provide students with the skills needed to differentiate between science and pseudoscience disguised as science, with a particular focus on claims that are presented in the media. Students will practice designing and conducting experiments to test pseudoscience claims (such as ESP and astrology). This is a 1-week course. It may be taken during the inter-session week (between graduation and the start of summer school, or during the first week of the summer session.  This course will be offered by Dr. Tracy Zinn (568- 6309; zinnte@jmu.edu).

Transferring Summer Courses

Information about transferring courses taken at other institutions to JMU, including a table of courses that are equivalent to Psyc 210 & 211 can be found at http://psyc.jmu.edu/ug/psyc_major/transfercredits.html