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Birmingham-Southern College Catalog 2017-2018
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ACADEMIC PROGRAMS
the brain and on behavior. Topics may also include addiction and treatment, history of
drug use, and the influence of drugs on the unborn child, the individual, and on society.
Prerequisite: PY 101.
PY 224 Developmental Psychology (1)
Explores the science of human development across the lifespan, from conception through
death. The course examines theories and research of physical development, sexual
development, cognition, personality, language, intelligence, and social development.
Prerequisite: PY 101.
PY 245 Stereotyping, Prejudice, and Minority Experience (1)
An examination of psychological theory and research on the causes and consequences
of stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination. The course will consider the development
and causes of stereotypes and prejudice, and reasons for their persistence and prevalence;
the effects that stereotypes and prejudice have on people's perceptions of and behaviors
toward particular groups or group members, as well as their effects on members of
stereotyped groups; and the implications of research findings on stereotypes, prejudice
and discrimination for education, business and government policies. Possible techniques
for reducing prejudice and discrimination will also be discussed. Prerequisite: PY101.
PY 250 Why People Believe “Weird” Things (1)
A focus on heuristics and biases in thinking and how these phenomena can distort and
deceive. Various pseudoscientific phenomena (e.g., psychics, astrology, ESP), common
misconceptions of human behavior, and controversial practices within psychology (e.g.,
use of the Rorschach, fringe therapies) will serve as illustrative concepts. An emphasis is
placed on how major characteristics of scientific thinking and skepticism can be used to
assess extraordinary and ordinary claims. How people tend to arrive at and maintain a
variety of beliefs and how individuals can weigh evidence regarding beliefs is
considered. Prerequisite: PY 101.
PY 293, 393, 493 Independent Study in Psychology (½ or 1)
Directed study for advanced students in the major. Specific guidelines concerning
independent study projects appear in the “Exploration Term and Contract Learning”
section of this catalog.
PY 298, 398, 498 Teaching Experience in Psychology (½ or 1)
A teaching experience course. Specific guidelines concerning teaching experiences
appear in the “Teaching Experiences” section of this catalog. (“S”/“U” only.)
PY 304 Research Methods for Psychology (1)
An in-depth study of experimental design techniques, psychological research
methodology, and research report writing in APA style. This course has a laboratory
component in which students will conduct experiments, including researching a topic
with primary sources, collecting data, analyzing results, and writing the study in APA
style. Laboratory required. Prerequisites: PY 101 and PY 204. Open only to psychology
majors.