Course Notes

PSYC 250. Introduction to Abnormal Psychology. This course is not open to Psychology Majors. Psychology majors 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.

PSYC 400, Section 1. Community Psychology. In this course, students will be introduced to historical overviews, conceptualizations, theoretical perspectives, values, and goals of community psychology and prevention science. Topics will be covered include: (1) history of and proponents and values in community psychology; (2) ecology and community context; (3) community-based participatory research approach; (4) strategies promoting social changes; (5) prevention, resiliency, empowerment, and public policy; (6) studies on gender, race, and poverty. Prerequisite: 1 Social Science Content Core and 1 Natural Science Content Core class. This course is offered by Dr. Yanbin Li.

PSYC 400, Section 2. Attention and Mindfulness. Through the pervasive myth of multitasking and the constant immersion in information-saturated environments, human beings have found themselves anxious, overwhelmed, and unable to carry out their goals. This course will explore the reasons for this situation and possibilities for regaining the ability to navigate these environments. Of particular emphasis will be the role of mindfulness practices. In addition to learning the mechanisms behind attention and distraction, students will apply the theory and findings to their own experience. This course is offered by Dr. Sri Upadhyay.

PSYC 400, Section 3. Emerging Adulthood. Students will explore the social, cognitive, and physiological development of adolescents and adults. This course examines the contexts and institutions that influence adolescent and adult development with a cultural and interdisciplinary approach. Using a variety of research method, including ethnographic studies, longitudinal surveys, and cross-cultural comparisons, students will examine both the similarities and differences in pathways to adulthood across the world. Fulfills Sociocultural Awareness requirement for the Psychology Major. This course is offered by Dr. Haeyoon Chung.

PSYC 400, Section 4. [X-Labs course].  This course is offered by Dr. Jessica Irons through a collaboration with X-Labs and requires instructor permission to enroll.

Sociocultural Awareness Courses

Psychology Majors are required to complete at least one "Sociocultural Awareness" course as part of their academic program. The following courses being offered during the Spring semester fulfill this requirement:

• PSYC 310. The Psychology of Women and Gender
• PSYC 325. Counseling Psychology
• PSYC 400, Section 3. Emerging Adulthood.
• PSYC 497, Section 7. Political Psychology.
• PSYC 497, Section 9. Work-Life Integration.

Please continue to check MyMadison. Courses to fulfill the Sociocultural Awareness requirement may be added.

Capstone Courses

The prerequisites for all capstone courses are two courses from the Social Science Content core and two courses from the Natural Science Content core. Email ugpsyc@jmu.edu if you are having trouble registering for your final semester coursework.

PSYC 492, Sections 1, 2 & 3. History of Psychology. This course will examine the history of psychology by looking at people, theories, and historical events that have influenced the development of psychology. We will pay special attention to how Psychology’s history is reflected in current topics in the discipline, and will also look at where Psychology as a field is headed in the future. This course will be offered online asynchronous. We will use an online format for group discussion and for student-led activities such as leading discussion and presenting on relevant topics. This course is offered by Dr. Suzanne Baker.

PSYC 497, Section 1. Motivation in Education. Why do some students thrive in school while others struggle? What truly motivates people to learn, achieve, and keep going when things get tough? And how can we use psychological science to create better learning environments—for ourselves and others? In this senior seminar, we’ll dig into the big questions behind human motivation. You’ll explore classic and contemporary theories, critically evaluate what the research actually tells us, and examine how that research is being used in real-world educational settings—from federal policy to local classrooms. We’ll challenge assumptions, wrestle with complex ideas, and connect the science of motivation to your own experiences—in school, work, and beyond. Expect lively discussions, thought-provoking readings, and plenty of opportunities to apply what you learn in meaningful ways. If you're curious about what makes people tick—and how to use that knowledge to make a difference—this course is for you. This course is offered by Dr. Kenn Barron.

PSYC 497, Section 2. Existential Psychology. This course introduces students to an emerging discipline within the field of social psychology known as existential psychology. Many topics once thought to be in the domain of existential philosophy – such as fear of death, the search for meaning and authenticity of life – are now widely studied using experimental methods. The course focuses on various theories and empirical research investigating how concerns about basic issues of the human condition, such as death, meaning, isolation, identity, control, and freedom influence a wide array of human behaviors. Furthermore, this course provides an in-depth understanding of existential issues within the field of social psychology along with the experimental techniques used to study their effect on the human experience. This course is offered by Dr. Eliza Stucker-Rozovsky.

PSYC 497, Section 3. Sport & Performance Psychology. This course is offered by Lauren Shoss.

PSYC 497, Section 4. Neuroscience of Memory. Our memories shape how we describe and understand ourselves and they can alter our personality, emotions, and cognition. In short, memory is central to our everyday experiences. The purpose of this course is to explore memory, particularly memory dysfunction and Alzheimer’s disease, from the perspective of neuroscience. We will base class discussions around empirical articles and other literature which examine different types of memory, how we quantify memories, and the effect disruptions of memory have on our brain and behavior. In addition, this course will focus on integrating information from other psychology courses with the neuroscience perspective presented in the course. This course is offered by Dr. Janna Taft Young.

PSYC 497, Section 5. Positive Psychology. This course will examine the nature of happiness, engagement, and meaning from the perspectives of experimental social psychology and positive psychology. Recent empirical research will be reviewed and you will be asked to critically analyze and apply the information in written assignments, an oral presentation, and in class discussion. While the main goal of this course is to extend your understanding of research on the topics of well-being, you will also be encouraged to apply some of the findings to your own life. This course is offered by Dr. Jaime Kurtz.

PSYC 497, Section 6. Sleep & Circadian Rhythms. For most humans, sleep is an activity that occupies approximately one-third of their lives. Despite this prominent position among human behaviors, most know little about what happens during sleep and the significance of sleep for psychological and physiological functioning. This course will survey the contemporary scientific literature on the science of sleep, emphasizing normal functioning, mechanisms involved in sleep and wake, the methods of investigation using human and animal approaches, and basic understanding of sleep disorders. Additionally, students will gain familiarity with the science of biological rhythms, aka chronobiology, and how these two disciplines overlap. Students will be familiar with sleep assessment to include basic scoring from polysomnographic recordings and will evaluate several sleep and chronobiology articles. This course is offered by Dr. Jeff Dyche.

PSYC 497, Section 7. Political Psychology. Political psychology is the study of the psychological processes that underlie political phenomena. This course will focus on psychological research and theories that increase our understanding of political ideology, participation, and decision-making. This material considers how the person, the situation, and society shape our political thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. The social justice implications of political psychology topics will be highlighted throughout the course. Fulfills Sociocultural Awareness requirement for the Psychology Major. This course is offered by Dr. Benjamin Blankenship.

PSYC 497, Section 8. Choice Behavior. Choice Behavior will survey modern ideas in choice behavior, with attention to the historical origins of this work, its development as a specialty within psychology, and its impact on our everyday lives. With a focus on psychology, students will learn to rely on empirical information to understand situations under which choice behavior is often irrational – yet predictable. Students will also learn to apply their understanding of the various factors that influence choice behavior to everyday contexts. This course is offered by Dr. Dan Holt.

PSYC 497, Section 9. Work-life Integration. This course will focus on how the dynamics among work, family, and individual responsibilities and goals relate to mental and physical health, public policy, family functioning, and discrimination, among other topics. This class will highlight historical changes in family structure, international variation in work/life integration issues, socioeconomic influences, and ideas for solving problems related to work/life integration. Fulfills Sociocultural Awareness requirement for the Psychology Major. This course is offered by Dr. Tracy Zinn.

PSYC 497, Section 10. Evolutionary Psychology. This course will explore the theories and methods used when studying human behavior through the lens of evolution by natural selection. Behaviors studied will include mating, group behavior, parenting, cognition, brain size, and others. This course is offered by Dr. Melanie Shoup-Knox.

PSYC 497, Section 11. Social Influence. This course is offered by Dr. Jessica Salvatore.

PSYC 497, Section 12. Leadership and Service. *This course meets during the 2^nd 7-week Block of the Spring Semester and follows a Hybrid schedule* 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 Dr. Bill Evans.