Undergraduate Courses
PSYC 100 Career Choice and Planning (1-0-1), fall, spring. Current information about the job market and career decision-making. Assessment of personal goals, interests, values, and abilities. Strategies for achieving Christian service, personal satisfaction, and economic security in careers.
PSYC 120 Introduction to Psychology (3-0-3), fall, spring, summer. A comprehensive survey of the science of psychology emphasizing human behavior. May be used to satisfy Social Science Degree Core requirements.
PSYC 201 Psychology Seminar I (1-4*-1), fall, spring. Introduction to the training and career opportunities in psychology; strategies for studying psychology. Relation of Christian beliefs to the study of psychology. To be taken in the first semester of the psychology major. *Fifty hours of community experience in an approved setting is required.
PSYC 232 Developmental Psychology (3-0-3), fall, spring. A survey of the biological, cognitive, moral, and psycho-social development of the individual from conception through death. PSYC 233 Physiological Psychology (3-0-3), fall, spring. Special emphasis on the nervous system, brain and behavior, neuroanatomy, genetics, neurological basis of learning, cognition, sensation, memory, motivation, and abnormal behavior. Prerequisite: BIOL 120 or 203 or 112/113.
PSYC 233 Physiological Psychology (3-0-3), fall, spring. Special emphasis on the nervous system, brain and behavior, neuroanatomy, genetics, neurological basis of learning, cognition, sensation, memory, motivation, and abnormal behavior. Prerequisite: BIOL 120 or 203 or 112/113.
PSYC 240 Principles of Learning (3-0-3), fall, spring, summer. Includes the fundamentals of perception, learning, memory, cognition, and intelligence.
PSYC 252 Mental Health (3-0-3), Maymester. The principles of psychology as they relate to effective living. Same as HED 252.
PSYC 278 Stress and Its Management (3-0-3), spring, Maymester. The impact of stress on physical and emotional health; survey and practice of stress management methods.
PSYC 301 Psychology Seminar II (1-4*-1), fall, spring. Discussion of personal, professional, and Christian ethics in psychology. Application of psychological knowledge to contemporary social issues. *Either 50 hours of approved community experience or a social issue paper is required.
PSYC 311/511 Elementary Statistics (3-0-3), fall, spring, summer. Introduction to basic formulas, methods, and interpretations of statistical measures, both descriptive and inferential. Prerequisite: Completion of General Education mathematics requirement.
PSYC 342/542 Applied Sports Psychology (3-0-3), fall. Development of knowledge and skill in the application of psychology to the enhancement of sport and exercise performance and to the personal development of the athlete.
PSYC 343 Selection and Performance Appraisal (3-0-3), spring. Application of the theory and analytical skills of job analysis, selection, and performance appraisal to staffing organizations. Skill in developing job descriptions and criteria, use of tests, biographical data, and other selection devices. Design of appraisal systems is emphasized. Prerequisite: PSYC 368 or equivalent.
PSYC 350 Applied Research Design and Analysis (3-0-3), on demand. Focuses on development of conceptual and technical skills for doing research in the workplace and other applied settings. Emphasis is on research as a problem-solving strategy.
PSYC 351 Experimental Psychology (3-2-4), fall, spring. A survey of experimental methods employed in the study of human behavior. Special attention is given to the sensory systems, perception, and learning. Required laboratory is graded with the course. Prerequisite: PSYC 368.
PSYC 368 Psychological Tests and Measurements (3-0-3), fall, spring. A study of the principles of psychological measurement including scale development and evaluation. An overview of the major assessment instruments in each area of psychological testing. Prerequisite: Completion of General Education mathematics requirement.
PSYC 370 Social Psychology (3-0-3), fall, spring, summer. A study of the processes of intersocial stimulation and their consequences. Prerequisite: PSYC 120 or SOCI 111.
PSYC 373/573 Characteristics and Needs of Exceptional Children (3-0-3), fall. A survey of the nature and needs of exceptional children, such as the mentally retarded, gifted, and emotionally disturbed. Same as SPED 473/573.
PSYC 374/574 Emotionally Disturbed Child (3-0-3), fall. A study of social and emotional problems in children and adolescents including intervention and prevention strategies. Same as SPED 474/574.
PSYC 375 Industrial and Organizational Psychology (3-0-3), spring. The application of psychological principles to business and industrial problems. Prerequisite: PSYC 368.
PSYC 376/576 Psychology of Mental Retardation (3-0-3), spring. The nature and characteristics of mental retardation and its social, emotional, and cognitive aspects. Same as SPED 476/576.
PSYC 382 Abnormal Psychology (3-0-3), fall, spring, summer. A study of the types of psychopathologies, their causes, and accepted methods of treatment. PSYC 388 Teams and Team Leadership (3-0-3), fall. Analysis of the factors contributing to the success of teams in complex organizations; focusing on team selection, development, training, and evaluation. Students will develop skills through team building, and by leading in simulations and team projects.
PSYC 392/592 Child Psychology (3-0-3), fall. An advanced course in the study of children and adolescents, including physical, emotional, cognitive, moral, and social development.
PSYC 401 Psychology Seminar III (1-4*-1), fall, spring. Detailed study of graduate school admissions and job search strategies including school selection, personal skills assessment, resume writing, and interviewing. To be taken in the junior year. *Fifty hours of approved community experience or other approved experience is required.
PSYC 451 Statistics in Psychological Research (3-0-3), fall. Basic formulas, methods and interpretations of statistical measures, both descriptive and inferential. Special emphasis placed on the integration of statistics and experimental design in psychological research. Provides extensive training in SPSS software skills for data analysis and display. Prerequisite: PSYC 351.
PSYC 471/571 Behavior Modification (3-0-3), on demand. An introduction to behavior and cognitive-behavior therapy. Major topics include learning foundations and theoretical bases. Therapy techniques, applications to specific clinical problems, prominent research, and ethics are also considered. Prerequisites: PSYC 240, 12 hours of psychology.
PSYC 485 Introduction to Counseling (3-2-4), fall, spring. Introduction to theory and practice of counseling. Emphasis is on the development of essential attending, interviewing, and influencing skills. Course requires a lab. Laboratory graded and credited with course. Prerequisite: PSYC 382.
PSYC 487 Theories of Personality (3-0-3), on demand. Personality theories, their historical development, concepts, issues, and methods of research, assessment, and treatment that are essential for preparation for professional areas of applied psychology. Prerequisite: 15 hours of psychology or consent of advisor.
PSYC 493 History of Theories in Psychology (3-0-3), on demand. Survey of major psychological theories and systems and an overview of the history of psychology with an emphasis on modern history. A writing-intensive course. Prerequisites: psychology major or minor and 12 hours of psychology.
PSYC 499 Senior Project and Seminar (1-6-3), on demand. Observation, experience, and research in a specific area. Each student will be required to attend a weekly seminar. Guest speakers and ACU faculty will address professional issues.
Graduate Courses
PSYC 605 Negotiation and Mediation, fall. Development of analytic, decision-making, and interventions skills for negotiation and mediation. Emphasis is on contingent skills for effective intervention as a neutral third party in disputes. Conceptual understanding of negotiation and mediation as well as ethical considerations are included. Active participation in simulations and other class activities is expected.
PSYC 606 Mediation: Principle and Practice, spring. Comprehensive study of the conceptual and interpersonal skills required to serve as a mediator. Topics include analyzing background information, preparing a mediation plan, conducting mediation sessions and caucuses, resolving impasses, and documenting agreements. Emphasis on strategic approach to assisting parties by creating opportunity for agreement.
PSYC 610 Psychotherapy, fall. Studies the problems involved in diagnostic interviewing, case conceptualization, treatment planning, and evaluating treatment effectiveness. Develops specific skills in basic psychological intervention problems. Laboratory graded and credited with the course. Prerequisites: admission into the graduate program or consent of instructor.
PSYC 611 Introduction to Research, spring. An introduction to research methods and their application to research problems. Prerequisite: PSYC 368 or 511.
PSYC 612 Clinical Research Methods, fall. An emphasis on the conceptualization, design, completion, and evaluation of research in clinical, counseling, and school psychology. Attention is also given to philosophy of science, formulating questions in applied research, choosing appropriate statistical tests, and presenting results in a professional manner.
PSYC 620 Group Psychotherapy, summer. Intended to provide training and exposure to techniques in group interventions. Reviews historical perspectives, popular treatment techniques, empirical evidence on treatment efficacy, ethnical and legal issues, and integration considerations.
PSYC 624 Social and Cultural Bases of Behavior, fall. Study of classic and contemporary theories and empirical research of social and cultural foundations of behavior and their impact on the therapeutic relationship, competencies and standards, and culture specific knowledge. Emphasizing social cognition, stereotypes and prejudice, group processes, conformity, and gender/ethnic psychology.
PSYC 625 Seminar in Intercultural Studies, spring. Observation and analysis of human behavior in small groups. Abstraction of taken-for-granted behavior patterns and fundamental psychological variables universal to such groups.
PSYC 631 Human Life Cycle II, fall. Provides a thorough survey of the specified divisions of the life span from early adulthood, through middle adulthood and late adulthood to death. Same as GERO 631.
PSYC 641 Behavioral Medicine, Maymester. The study of psychological factors that influence physical health and illness and the application of behavioral principles to the prevention and treatment and the promotion of health.
PSYC 642 Cognitive Assessment: Intelligence, Memory, and Achievement, fall, spring. An advanced study of the theory, principles, and practice of cognitive assessment. Substantial experience in administration, scoring, interpretation, and report-writing for the most commonly used cognitive assessment tools. Prerequisites: PSYC 368, 511.
PSYC 643 Personnel Assessment, spring. An overview of the role of assessment in industrial settings. Topics include need assessment, job analysis, personnel selection, interviewing, test selections, test reliability and validity, performance appraisal, ethical and legal issues in assessment, and interpretation of selected tests in employment settings.
PSYC 644 Child and Adolescent Therapy, fall. Surveys psychotherapeutic approaches and techniques for child and adolescent problems. Survey conducted within a strong developmental framework. Emphasizes empirically supported psychotherapeutic programs for specific disorder presentations and conceptual skills necessary for effectively intervening with children, adolescents, and their parents.
PSYC 645 Child and Adolescent Assessment, summer. Advanced training in the use of psychological assessment instruments for the evaluation of children and adolescents experiencing emotional, behavioral, or academic problems. Preparation of evaluations, recommendations, and report writing for presentation of information to family and professionals is emphasized. Prerequisite: PSYC 642.
PSYC 646 Child and Adolescent Development, spring. Overview of conceptual, theoretical, and methodological issues in the study of child and adolescent development in a lecture and seminar format. Coverage will include socioemotional, biosocial, cognitive, and moral development. Prerequisite: PSYC 611 or 612.
PSYC 647 Adolescent Psychopathology, Maymester. Adolescent psychopathology is an interdisciplinary course offered by psychology and ministry to those who wish to (1) recognize the problems of today’s adolescents; (2) understand the etiology of specific childhood and adolescent disorders; and (3) develop strategies for effectively intervening into the lives of troubled youth.
PSYC 648 Advanced Psychotherapeutic Techniques, on demand. Intense exposure to at least three currently-practiced techniques of psychotherapy. Discussion of theory, practice and research; demonstrations and observed student practice.
PSYC 650 Ethics and Issues in Professional Psychology, fall. An overview of the ethical and professional issues in applied psychological fields. Topics addressed include credentialing, ethical standards, legal considerations, professional development, and the role of personal beliefs and values in professional practice.
PSYC 657 Intermediate Statistics, spring. An introduction to such topics as statistical inferences, sampling techniques, hypothesis testing, design of experiments, analysis of variance, special correlation methods, multiple prediction, and errors of measurement. Prerequisite: PSYC 311 or 511.
PSYC 660 Clinical Assessment. Theoretical issues and research in clinical assessment with special reference to administration and interpretation of testing procedures and clinical interviewing. Specific training with various methods of personality testing, behavioral assessment, and interviewing techniques. Prerequisite: PSYC 642.
PSYC 664 Theory and Practice of Career Counseling, fall, spring. A study of social, economic, and occupational information as related to helping relationships. It is designed to acquaint the student with the essential nature of such information in career decision making, job analysis, and its use in career counseling.
PSYC 670 Introduction to Neuropsychological Assessment, fall. Theory, research and practice related to the behavioral expression of brain dysfunction. Overview of selected neuropsychological instruments in current use and their clinical applications. Emphasis on a functional, hypothesis-testing approach and the integration of case history and test data to determine diagnostic indications and remedial prescriptions.
PSYC 672 Cognitive Rehabilitation, spring. The study of neurobiological processes involved in cognitive functioning and the conditions which result in neurologically-based cognitive disorders. Attention is given to remediation of dysfunctional memory, language, and attentional processes through case studies and presentations. Provides a foundation for structuring and conducting cognitive retraining from retroactive and compensatory perspectives appropriate for rehabilitative settings.
PSYC 681 Mental Health in the Workplace, summer. A review of abnormal psychology within the employment setting. The history and definitions of abnormal behavior, major theoretical models of abnormality, and the classification and assessment of mental disorders will be covered. Organizational context issues related to the evaluation of mental health problems will also be studied.
PSYC 682 Advanced Psychopathology, spring. Review of theoretical and empirical literature definitions and systems of classifying deviant behavior patterns. Coverage of specific areas of pathology including situational reactions, emotional disorders, characterological disorders, substance abuse, chronic disorders, and family dysfunction. Instruction in purpose and use of DSM-IV. Prerequisite: PSYC 382
PSYC 688 Teams and Team Leadership, fall. Analysis of the factors contributing to success of teams in complex organizations, focusing on team selection, development, training, and evaluation. Students will develop skills through team-building and leading in simulations and team projects.
PSYC 690 Practicum I, spring. Brings the student into a face-to-face relationship with a client under the supervision of the course instructor. Audio and visual devices will be used for supervision and observation by other students. A minimum of 150 clock hours of supervised experience is required. Prerequisites: PSYC 610,650.
PSYC 692 Practicum II, fall, spring. Supervised practice in clinical psychology, including interviewing, assessment, therapy, report writing, and staff participation. A variety of practicum settings is available. A minimum of 150 clock hours of supervised experience is required. Prerequisites: PSYC 660 or 645, 682, 690.
PSYC 694 Practicum III, on demand. Supervised practice in psychology, including professional activities in clinical, counseling, school or industrial psychology. A variety of practicum settings is available. A minimum of 150 clock hours of supervised experience is required. Prerequisites: PSYC 645 or 660; 682, 690.
PSYC 699 Master’s Thesis
