Psychology can be defined as the scientific study of behavior and mental processes. The courses in the Psychological Sciences Department are designed to acquaint students with psychological theory and the findings of psychological researchers; familiarize students with the terminology and principles of cognition and behavior; provide education in the techniques of psychological investigation with an emphasis on empirical research; study ways in which psychological principles apply to practical situations; and relate the findings of psychology to Christian faith. Department courses interface with numerous other Bethel majors, including biology, business, nursing, applied health sciences, philosophy, and many others. The Psychological Sciences Department also works with the Biological Sciences Department in running the neuroscience major. A Master of Arts in Counseling is offered through the graduate school. An Addiction Studies Certificate can be obtained through dual enrollment with the College of Adult and Professional Studies.
The required senior capstone options provide an opportunity for students to gain hands-on experience, either with a 135 hour internship or independent research supervised by a faculty member. The seminar portion of the capstone provides more intensive time to interact with faith/psychology integration issues. The senior capstone experiences helps students refine career goals and graduate study plans as well as offer opportunities to integrate classroom learning with experience.
PSY 100 • Introduction to Psychology 3 Credits
Methods, theories, and principal findings of psychological investigation.
Offered: Fall, Spring.
PSY 203 • Lifespan Development 3 Credits
Physical, cognitive, emotional, social, moral, and spiritual development from conception to death. Includes a consistent focus on individual differences.
Prerequisites: PSY 100. Offered: Fall, Spring. Special Notes: Students may not receive credit for PSY 203 and PSY 206.
PSY 206 • Child and Adolescent Development 3 Credits
Interacting processes of physical, cognitive, social, emotional, moral, and spiritual development from conception through adolescence. Includes observations of children.
Prerequisites: PSY 100. Offered: Occasionally. Special Notes: Students may not receive credit for both PSY 206 and PSY 203.
PSY 211 • Adult Development and Aging 3 Credits
Interacting processes of physical, cognitive, social, emotional, moral, and spiritual development and change from early adulthood until death.
Prerequisites: PSY 100. Offered: Occasionally.
PSY 215 • Social Psychology 3 Credits
Behavior and experience of individuals and groups in relation to other individuals and groups. Theory, method, and findings in areas such as conformity, persuasion, social cognition, attraction, altruism, aggression, prejudice, group behavior, and applied topics.
Prerequisites: PSY 100. Offered: Fall, Spring.
PSY 230M • Introduction to Statistical Methods and Experimental Design 4 Credits
Descriptive, correlational, and inferential statistics, plus experimental design. Parametric and nonparametric statistical techniques are taught with emphasis on designing and conducting two-group experiments and analyzing the data.
Offered: Fall, January, Spring. Special Notes: Students may not receive credit for both PSY 230M and MAT 207M or AHS 250M.
PSY 300 • Psychopathology 3 Credits
Classification, causes, symptoms, and treatment of various forms of psychopathology. Analysis of Christian and secular perspectives of psychopathology and a survey of major issues in the field of mental health.
Prerequisites: PSY 100. Offered: Fall, Spring.
PSY 304 • Introduction to Forensic Psychology 3 Credits
Explore psychological and social processes in the legal, judicial, and criminal investigation systems. Emphasis placed on students developing the capacity to evaluate relevant research theory and application in forensic psychology.
Prerequisites: One of the following: ANT 200U, PSY 100, SOC 101, or SOW 200Z, or Consent of instructor. Offered: Fall, even # years.
PSY 305 • Personality 3 Credits
Examination of traditional and contemporary theories of personality, with an emphasis on comparing and contrasting these theories. Explores non-western and Christian perspectives of the description and development of personality.
Prerequisites: PSY 100. Offered: Spring.
PSY 308G • Cross-Cultural Psychology 3 Credits
Behavior and experience related to cultural differences. Theory, method, and findings in areas of cognition, social psychology, and applied concerns. Specific people groups may be emphasized.
Prerequisites: [GES 130; GES 160; Contemporary Western Life and Thought (L) course; World Cultures (U) course] or [GES 244; World Cultures (U) course]. Offered: Spring.
PSY 310 • Addiction and Recovery 3 Credits
Psychological, physiological, and causal aspects of addiction, with emphasis on understanding the experience of persons with addiction. Addictions studied include drugs, alcohol, gambling, sex, and the internet. Also covers family issues related to addiction, models of recovery, and treatment options. Integration of Christianity with this topic throughout the course.
Prerequisites: PSY 100. Offered: January. Special Notes: This course carries cross-credit with ADST 450.
PSY 313G • Families in Cross-cultural Perspective 3 Credits
Contemporary, historical, and cross-cultural, predominantly non-Western perspective on a variety of family systems and the people living in them. Explores values and assumptions underlying these systems, roles, intergenerational relationships, identity formation, and developmental tasks.
Prerequisites: [GES 130; GES 160; Contemporary Western Life and Thought (L) course; World Cultures (U) course] or [GES 246; World Cultures (U) course]. Offered: Occasionally.
PSY 315 • History of Psychology 3 Credits
Historical roots of contemporary psychology. Focus on the influence of historical trends, people, and events on the evolution of psychological questions, constructs, methods, and issues.
Prerequisites: PSY 100 and Junior or senior standing. Offered: Spring, odd # years.
PSY 316 • Consciousness: Psychology and Philosophy in Dialogue 3 Credits
A team-taught investigation of ancient, medieval, and modern philosophies of consciousness and the historical roots of contemporary psychology. How philosophical and psychological theories of consciousness transcend disciplinary boundaries. Focus on interaction between philosophy and psychology, emphasizing the origins of cognitive science in philosophy of mind and consciousness.
Prerequisites: PSY 100 or One philosophy course. Offered: Spring, odd # years. Special Notes: This course carries cross-credit in philosophy.
PSY 317 • Political Psychology 3 Credits
Causes, dynamics, and consequences of human thinking and action in the context of politics. The psychology of decision making, political attitude formation, public opinion, personality and emotions, intergroup relations, ideology, and the role of mass media in politics.
Offered: Fall, odd # years. Special Notes: This course carries cross-credit in political science.
PSY 320Z • European Pioneers in Psychology 3 Credits
A study-abroad experience exploring prominent European figures in the history of psychology within the context of the major historical currents and schools. Cultural, philosophical, intellectual, and spiritual roots of psychological theory, especially in connection with host countries. Site and museum visits, and encounters with local professional and academic psychologists.
Prerequisites: PSY 100; Junior or senior standing; Consent of instructors; Timely completion of application process. Offered: Occasionally January.
PSY 323 • Motivation and Emotion 3 Credits
How biological, environmental, cognitive, emotional, and personal systems interact to initiate and direct human behavior. How experimental psychologists study emotional and motivational systems.
Prerequisites: PSY 100. Offered: Fall.
PSY 325G • Psychology of Religion 3 Credits
Topics of central importance within many world religions (e.g., wisdom, love) examined through various psychological theories and empirical findings. Emphasizes the capacity to understand religious behavior and experience from psychological and religious perspectives.
Prerequisites: [GES 130; GES 160; Contemporary Western Life and Thought (L) course; World Cultures (U) course] or [GES 244; World Cultures (U) course]. Offered: Spring.
PSY 330 • Disabilities and Giftedness 4 Credits
Focus on the development of individuals with disabilities and giftedness from a lifespan perspective. Cognitive, physical, emotional, and sociocultural variables relevant to developmental delay; giftedness; learning disabilities; physical, sensory, and communication disabilities; emotional disturbance; and multiple disabilities. Critical analysis of psychosocial educational interventions. Service learning with those with disabilities.
Prerequisites: EDU 240/EDU 241, PSY 203, PSY 206, or PSY 211; Junior standing. Offered: Fall.
PSY 335 • Psychological Assessment 4 Credits
Methods of assessing human behavior and the nature and significance of individual differences. Includes basic psychometric theory; principles of test construction; and theory and utilization of current standardized tests of intelligence, achievement, and personality.
Prerequisites: PSY 100 and PSY 230M. Offered: Spring.
PSY 340 • Physiological Psychology 3 Credits
Physiological and neuroanatomical mechanisms underlying behavior; sensory mechanisms, wakefulness, and attention processes; and brain mechanisms of aggression, fear, pain, thirst, reproductive behavior, learning, and discrimination processes.
Prerequisites: PSY 100 and Mathematics (M) course. Corequisites: Concurrent registration in PSY 341 is required. Offered: Fall.
PSY 341 • Physiological Psychology Lab 1 Credit
Laboratory experience accompanying PSY 340.
Corequisites: Concurrent registration in PSY 340 is required. Offered: Fall.
PSY 346 • Animal Behavior 3 Credits
Behavior from primitive invertebrates to advanced mammals, highlighting trends in behavior systems. Natural setting studies in the ethology tradition, comparative psychology studies, and biosociological principles with their implications for human social systems.
Prerequisites: PSY 100 or One course in biology. Corequisites: Concurrent registration in PSY 347 is required. Special Notes: This course carries cross-credit in biology. Offered: Fall, even # years.
PSY 347 • Animal Behavior Lab 1 Credit
Laboratory course accompanying PSY 346.
Corequisites: Concurrent registration in PSY 346 is required. Offered: Fall, even # years. Special Notes: This course carries cross-credit in biology.
PSY 348 • Conditioning and Learning 3 Credits
Basic procedures of classical and operant conditioning, theories of learning, and applications of behavioral conditioning principles to selected problems in human learning. Includes laboratory experiences that involve working with animals.
Prerequisites: PSY 100 and Mathematics (M) course. Corequisites: Concurrent registration in PSY 349 is required. Offered: Spring.
PSY 349 • Conditioning and Learning Lab 1 Credit
Laboratory experience accompanying PSY 348.
Prerequisites: PSY 100 and Mathematics (M) course. Corequisites: Concurrent registration in PSY 348 is required. Offered: Spring.
PSY 350 • Cognitive Psychology 3 Credits
Psychological theory and research concerning thinking, memory, reasoning, language, and problem solving. Includes laboratory experience.
Prerequisites: PSY 100 and PSY 230M. Offered: January, Spring.
PSY 355 • Research Principles and Laboratory 4 Credits
Research methods in psychology in the context of designing independent research. Standard research designs (experimental, quasi-experimental, and non-experimental) are evaluated in terms of threats to internal and external statistical construct validity.
Prerequisites: PSY 100 and PSY 230M. Offered: Fall, Spring.
PSY 399 • Topics in Psychology 3 Credits
Contemporary concerns in psychology not covered in the current formal course offerings of the department.
Prerequisites: PSY 100. Offered: Occasionally.
PSY 400 • Principles of Counseling and Psychotherapy 3 Credits
Introduction and analysis of major therapy systems from Christian and secular perspectives, basic counseling techniques, and current ethical issues facing the counseling professions. Designed for students planning graduate study in human services.
Prerequisites: PSY 100; PSY 300 or PSY 305. Offered: Fall, Spring.
PSY 440 • Sensation and Perception 3 Credits
A study of how the brain receives and interprets information from the environment. The biological operation of each of the senses is covered, as well as how the action of sense organs is translated into meaningful perceptions.
Prerequisites: PSY 100 and Mathematics M-tag course. Corequisites: Concurrent registration in PSY 441 is required. Offered: Spring, odd # years.
PSY 441 • Sensation and Perception Lab 1 Credit
Laboratory experience accompanying PSY 440.
Prerequisites: PSY 100 and Mathematics M-tag course. Corequisites: Concurrent registration in PSY 440 is required. Offered: Spring, odd # years.
PSY 493 • Psychology Internship and Seminar 4 Credits
A professionally supervised, applied learning experience in the work world. Includes a seminar component in which students meet regularly with the psychology faculty. Facilitates students’ processing of their internship experiences and offers a forum to discuss internship-related issues and career exploration.
Prerequisites: Major in psychology; Senior standing; Minimum 2.25 GPA in psychology courses, 2.0 cumulative GPA. Offered: Fall, Summer.
PSY 498 • Research 2-4 Credits
Students work with a psychology faculty member on an empirical research project. Emphasis on the use of research methodology, techniques, and psychological theory. The work may be spread over two semesters.
Prerequisites: Major in psychology; invitation of supervising faculty member; PSY 230M. Special Notes: Graded on an S/U basis. Offered: Fall, Spring.
PSY 499 • Senior Seminar 3 Credits
Foundational issues in psychology and the interface of psychology, Christianity, and other disciplines. Includes an in-depth individual writing project.
Prerequisites: Major in psychology and Senior standing. Offered: Fall, Spring.