PSYCHOLOGY Courses

PY–100 PERSONAL ADJUSTMENT
FALL/SPRING/ALL YEARS

3 credit hours

This is an applied introductory-level course intended to help students learn personal adjustment skills through a variety of experiential activities and projects. Students are encouraged to work together to create a supportive environment for addressing important psychological issues, such as self-concept, identity stress, anxiety, depression, loneliness, substance use, relationships, gender roles, sexuality, family, and culture. The course applies evidence-based techniques for modifying behavior to goals selected by the individual student. The course also focuses on behavioral health issues of regional significance, including risk of suicide, domestic violence, and substance abuse. The course addresses these issues in part by drawing on cultural strengths, protective factors, and forms of resilience that are unique to the Pacific Island region.

PY–101 GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY
FALL/SPRING/ALL YEARS

3 credit hours

This course provides an introduction to the basic principles of psychology, to methods for research in psychology, and to key finding from its subfields. Topics include the biological bases of behavior sensation and perception, consciousness and altered states, learning, human memory, problem-solving, motivation and emotion, development across the life span, personality, stress and coping, psychological disorders, psychotherapy, and social behavior.

PY–201 CHILD DEVELOPMENT
FALL ONLY/ALL YEARS

3 credit hours

This course provides a scientific and up-to-date picture of child development in physical, cognitive, emotional and social areas from the prenatal period up to adolescence. The course examines the way children actually live, the current social conditions that influence their lives, and the practical applications of child development research and its relevance to the lives of children and their families in the Western Pacific region. Course material enables students to appreciate the developmental capabilities and needs of children at different ages and the role of culture in early child development. Prerequisite: PY101.

PY–202 ADOLESCENT PSYCHOLOGY
SPRING ONLY/ALL YEARS

3 credit hours

This course offers an overview of physical, cognitive, social and emotional development during adolescence. It introduces theory and research on contemporary social problems affecting adolescents and engages students in active research to explore these issues locally, regionally and nationally. Prerequisite: PY101.

PY–210 INTRODUCTION TO EXPERIMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY
SPRING ONLY/ALL YEARS

3 credit hours

This is an introduction to experimental design, methods, and statistics used in psychological research. Prerequisite: PY101. Corequisite: PY210L.

PY–210L INTRODUCTION TO EXPERIMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY LABORATORY
SPRING ONLY/ALL YEARS

1 credit hour

This is the laboratory component of PY210. They MUST be taken concurrently. The lab meets for three hours each week. Students learn APA writing style, conduct experiments, analyze data, write reports, and present results. Prerequisite: PY101. Corequisite: PY210.

PY–304 LEARNING AND MOTIVATION
FALL ONLY/EVEN YEARS

3 credit hours

The investigation of learning and motivation involves the experimental study of the effects of experience on behavior and the organization of action in animals and humans. The course examines actions ranging from basic biological motives (e.g., eating, drinking, and sex) to complex human social motives (e.g., attachment and achievement). Important issues and theories in the control of actions will be considered through an exploration of different kinds of learning and the role of cognition and emotion in motivated behavior. Prerequisite: PY101. Corequisite: PY304L.

PY–304L LEARNING AND MOTIVATION LABORATORY
FALL ONLY/EVEN YEARS

1 credit hour

This is the laboratory component of PY304 and MUST BE taken concurrently. Students conduct experiments with simulated and live animals to learn laboratory techniques and better understand seminal studies encountered in the didactic course. All students meet each week for one-hour general instruction and then coordinate with the instructor and group mates to condition animals for two more hours. Prerequisite: PY101. Corequisite: PY304.

PY–305 SENSATION AND PERCEPTION
SPRING ONLY/ODD YEARS

3 credit hours

Mechanisms of visual, auditory, gustatory, olfactory, and tactile experience are examined. Topic coverage includes: information processing by the vertebrate nervous system, basic concepts of psychophysics, stimulus coding and feature extraction by the sensory systems. Laboratory demonstrations and experiments are conducted, with students performing an independent project. Prerequisites: PY101 and PY210.

PY–309 HISTORY AND SYSTEMS OF PSYCHOLOGY
FALL ONLY/EVEN YEARS

3 credit hours

This course is a study of the historical development of modern psychology, of its foundation in the other sciences and philosophy, and of the people, ideas and theoretical systems that have been most influential in shaping contemporary psychological thought. Prerequisite: PY101.

PY–310 STATISTICS FOR THE SOCIAL AND BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES
FALL/SPRING/ALL YEARS

3 credit hours

This course aims to provide students with the statistical skills necessary to analyze and interpret datasets in the social and behavioral sciences. The students learn the conceptual underpinnings of different statistical techniques typically used in social and behavioral research. They are also given the space to develop practical skills in using statistical software and apply their understanding in navigating datasets from real life social and behavioral studies. The course emphasizes the use of statistics in the decision-making process involved in the application of statistical tools, including clear grasp of assumptions, picking the proper technique given the nature of the dataset, interpretation of results, and scientific formulation of conclusions. Co-requisite: PY-310L Prerequisites: MA-151.

PY–310L STATISTICS FOR THE SOCIAL AND BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES LABORATORY
FALL/SPRING/ALL YEARS

1 credit hour

This course aims to provide students with the skills necessary to apply statistical knowledge to real-world social and behavioral research scenarios. The students learn the basic principles involved in conceptualizing and executing quantitative designs used in social and behavioral research - particularly survey construction, psychometrics, and other variable-based models. The course also gives students the necessary skills to better navigate the research process by giving them space to conduct their own data gathering. Lastly, the course lets the students employ the statistical tools they learned in analyzing their own datasets. Co-requisite: PY-310 Prerequisites: MA-151

PY–342 THE PSYCHOLOGY OF CLOSE RELATIONSHIPS
SPRING ONLY/EVEN YEARS

3 credit hours

This course addresses how relationships form, change and end between friends, family members and romantic partners. Topics include interpersonal attraction; types of intimacy and love; sexuality in close relationships; parent-child and sibling relationships; friendship; fairness, selfishness and altruism; communication; social power; jealousy; conflict; ending relationships; loneliness; social networks; and therapy for relationships. This course emphasizes: 1) knowledge of theory and research findings in close relationships; and 2) developing one's own skills for creating and maintaining rewarding relationships. Prerequisite: PY101.

PY–370 INTRODUCTION TO CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY
FALL ONLY/ALL YEARS

3 credit hours

This course offers an examination of the methods and profession of clinical psychology, including history, theories, types of psychological problems, methods of assessment, forms of intervention, current development. Prerequisite: PY101.

PY–394 SPECIAL STUDIES
SPRING ONLY/SPRING ONLY

3 credit hours

PY–404 COGNITIVE PSYCHOLOGY
SPRING ONLY/EVEN YEARS

3 credit hours

This course offers an examination of the major capacities and functions involved in human learning. Major topics discussed include historical background, verbal learning, language and thought, serial position learning, concept formation and forgetting. Prerequisite: PY101.

PY–405 ANIMAL BEHAVIOR
FALL ONLY/ODD YEARS

3 credit hours

The investigation of animal behavior involves the comparison of behavior across a wide range of animal species. Emphasis will be on principles and phenomena in animal development, control of behavior, communication, feeding, reproduction, habitat selection, and mating systems. Evolutionary theory, as a framework for the adaptive character of behavior in animals and humans, is emphasized. Some semesters may involve intensive investigation of the behavior of a single animal species in the Micronesian region. Prerequisite: PY101 or BI158/158L. Corequisite: PY405L.

PY–405L ANIMAL BEHAVIOR LABORATORY
FALL ONLY/ODD YEARS

1 credit hour

PY405L, is the Laboratory component of PY405 and MUST be taken concurrently. The course meets for three hours per week. Students learn about animal laboratory procedures and basic phenomena by working with experimental animals and local critters. Prerequisite: PY101 or BI158/158L. Corequisite: PY405.

PY–413 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY IN THE BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES
FALL ONLY/ALL YEARS

3 credit hours

This course is an in-depth study of the scientific research process, and an application of its principles and techniques to proposing, designing, conducting and analyzing original research. Students demonstrate mastery of APA style and deliver research results orally and in written format. Prerequisite: PY101, PY210, and MA385 or MA-387 MA-387L. Corequisite: PY413L.

PY–413L RESEARCH METHODOLOGY IN THE BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES LAB
FALL ONLY/ALL YEARS

1 credit hour

This course is the laboratory component of PY413. This lab must be taken concurrently. Students are expected to complete a list of project-specific reading, design an independent study, participate in data collection, analyze the data, and report the results in writing and orally. Prerequisite: PY-101, PY-210,MA-385 or MA-387 MA-387L. Co-requisite: PY413/G.

PY–420 ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY
FALL/SPRING/ALL YEARS

3 credit hours

This course covers the study of historical changes in theories and methods of treatment; theory of personality development; dynamics of adjustment; the symptoms, dynamics, therapy, and prognosis of various abnormal reaction patterns, both functional and organic; and modern theories and methods of diagnosis, therapy, and prevention. Prerequisite: PY101.

PY–426 PERSONALITY THEORY
FALL ONLY/ALL YEARS

3 credit hours

This course provides an intensive and comparative overview of the theories of personality from Freudian, Neo-Freudian, Trait, Cognitive, Socio-behavioral, Existential and Humanistic perspectives. Major theorists' concepts and principles, assessment and techniques are examined within a cross cultural and ethnically diverse context. Prerequisite: PY101.

PY–440 SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY
FALL ONLY/ALL YEARS

3 credit hours

This course applies the scientific method to analysis of the behavior of individual people in social situations. Topics include aggression, attitude formation and persuasion, conflict resolution, conformity, gender roles, group decision making, interpersonal attraction, positive social behaviors, prejudice, social factors in the self-concept, social information processing, and applications of social psychology to social problems. Prerequisite: PY101.

PY–442 CROSS-CULTURAL PSYCHOLOGY
SPRING ONLY/ODD YEARS

3 credit hours

Cross-cultural psychology seeks to identify behaviors common to all human beings and differences in behavior caused by differences in culture. This course covers cross-cultural commonalities and differences in development, thinking and problem solving, perception, motivation, values, relations between the sexes, aggression, and organizational behavior. The course also covers recommendations for contact between members of different cultures. Prerequisite: A minimum of 3 credits in psychology at the 300 or 400 level.

PY–455 PSYCHOLOGY OF WOMEN
SPRING ONLY/ALL YEARS

3 credit hours

This course offers a study of women through feminist scholarship and research. It is designed to introduce students to the myriad factors influencing the development of girls and women in a variety of cultures and societies, including Micronesia. Areas covered include feminist scholarship and research; gender socialization, women's biology and (mental) health; sexuality; victimization and abuse; work career, and power issues. Prerequisite: PY101.

PY–475 MICRONESIA AND MENTAL HEALTH
SPRING ONLY/ODD YEARS

3 credit hours

This course offers an examination of mental health services and problems in Micronesia. Geography, political systems, health problems, peoples and cultures provide the context for a detailed examination of mental health and social change concerns within our region. Prevalence of psychiatric disorders within Micronesia, applications of psychological interventions to regional concerns, and Micronesian perspectives toward psychology are the primary focus of the course. Prerequisite: PY101, PY370, PY420 or consent of instructor.

PY–491 PSYCHOLOGICAL RESEARCH SEMINAR
FALL/SPRING/ALL YEARS

3 credit hours

This course gives students experience in conducting psychological research as collaborators in faculty-supervised investigations. Students complete a list of project-specific readings, participate in the planning and supervision of data collection, help to code and interpret data, and design proposals for further research in the topic area. This course may be repeated for elective credit. Prerequisites: PY101 and the consent of the instructor. MA151 is recommended.

PY–492A PSYCHOLOGY PRACTICUM
FALL ONLY/ALL YEARS

3 credit hours

This practicum course in clinical psychology places students in a mental health or social service facility under the supervision of an approved practicum supervisor. Students are required to attend a weekly seminar on professional issues and ethics and minimally spend one day a week in a placement setting. This course is restricted to psychology majors. PY492a and/or PY492b may be repeated for elective credit. Prerequisites: PY101, PY370, PY420 or consent of instructor.

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PSYCHOLOGY Courses