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| Psychology (School of Humanities and Social Sciences) |
| PSYC-1200 General Psychology An introduction to psychology. Topics covered vary with instructor but may include physiological bases of behavior, sensation, perception, learning, memory, child and adult development, motivation, personality, psychological disorders, social behavior. Introduction to basic methods of psychological research is a course requirement that can be met in several ways (described during the first class meeting). There is a significant experiential component that varies with the instructor but will include interactive computer stimulations, class demonstrations, group projects. Fall, spring, and summer terms annually. 4 credit hours |
| PSYC-2210 Introduction to Human Computer Interaction An introduction to the current theories, methods, and issues in human-computer interaction. Theory and research along with practical application are discussed within the context of organizational impact. The course provides the knowledge of HCI systems and research used for the implementation of safe, quick, and useable technologies. (Cross listed as ITEC-2210. Students cannot obtain credit for both this course and ITEC-2210.) Fall term annually. 4 credit hours |
| PSYC-2220 Human Factors in Design This course provides a broad introduction to the theories and principles of human performance, man-machine interfaces, and systems designs. It also emphasizes the applications of these theories and principles to the design of controls, work space, data entry devices, training systems, and the human-computer interface. Prerequisite: PSYC-1200 or permission of instructor. Annually. 4 credit hours |
| PSYC-2240 Creativity in Human and Artificial Agents This course provides a broad introduction to the theories and principles of human performance, man-machine interfaces, and systems designs. It also emphasizes the applications of these theories and principles to the design of controls, work space, data entry devices, training systems, and the human-computer interface. Prerequisite: PSYC-1200 and CSCI-1100 or permission of instructor. Annually. 4 credit hours |
| PSYC-2310 Experimental Methods and Statistics This course provides an introduction to basic methods of psychological research and the use of statistics to interpret psychological data. Students participate in several experiments and prepare written reports. Topics include experimental design, data collection and analysis, and communication of results. Prerequisite: PSYC-1200. Spring term annually. 4 credit hours |
| PSYC-2600 Moral Development An analysis of psychological research on how our commonsense moral beliefs develop from early childhood through old age, and their application to daily problems. A major focus is on the conflict between themes of justice or individual rights and caring compassion and its relation to gender differences (the Kohlberg/Gilligan debate). (Cross listed as PHIL-2600. Students cannot obtain credit for both this course and PHIL-2600.) Annually. 4 credit hours |
| PSYC-2730 Social Psychology This is a survey course covering theories, methods, and empirical research on personal and situational factors influencing social behavior. Topics covered include social perception, the construction of social reality, decision making, group influences on behavior, and attitudes. Prerequisite: PSYC-1200. Annually. 4 credit hours |
| PSYC-4110 Motivation and Performance This course encompasses a broad spectrum of theories concerned with the biological, psychological, and social components of motivation. Throughout the course, students relate theoretical issues to both recent research evidence and potential practical applications to enhance performance. Group projects, focus group discussions, and interactive guest speakers are used to establish links between theory and performance. Prerequisite: PSYC-1200. Annually. 4 credit hours |
| PSYC-4160 Human Factors Seminar A comprehensive, project-oriented survey of special topics in human factors. Applied, experimental, and/or field research will be required. Prerequisite: PSYC-2220 or permission of instructor. Offered on sufficient demand. 4 credit hours |
| PSYC-4180 Selected Topics in Engineering Psychology An interactive seminar in human factors involving discussion of recent research on visual displays, multiple resources, mental work load, skill training, and reaction time. Corequisite: PSYC-2220 or graduate status. Spring term annually. 4 credit hours |
| PSYC-4190 Program Evaluation Methods and procedures of evaluating program effectiveness in public and private organizations are critically evaluated. The integration of organizational principles and quantitative techniques is stressed. Prerequisite: PSYC-1200 and one statistics course. Annually. 4 credit hours |
| PSYC-4200 Industrial and Organizational Psychology A broad introduction to the field of Industrial and Organizational Psychology. Topics covered include personnel selection, job analysis, training, performance appraisal, work-related attitudes, employee motivation, leadership, decision making, and organizational theory. Prerequisite: PSYC-1200. Annually. 4 credit hours |
| PSYC-4260 Psychological Tests and Measurements Methods, techniques, and instruments for measuring individual differences are surveyed. Topics include representative methods of test construction, a critical analysis of representative tests, criteria for evaluating and selecting tests, and the value and limitations of tests. Prerequisite: PSYC-1200. Annually. 4 credit hours |
| PSYC-4280 Human-Computer Interaction Covers current topics in the field of human-computer interact design including research in interactional hardware and software, matching models, tasks, design, and organizational impact. Class discussion focuses mainly on theory and practice from the perspectives of cognitive science and cognitive engineering. Prerequisites: PSYC-1200 and PSYC-2220 or permission of instructor. Annually. 4 credit hours |
| PSYC-4320 Psychobiology The neural and hormonal systems are studied in an evolutionary perspective with particular emphasis on the relation between physiological systems and human performance. Group projects, computer-simulated experiments, and film-clip-based discussions provide a multifaceted interactive component. Prerequisite: PSYC-1200. Spring term annually. 4 credit hours |
| PSYC-4340 Human Sexuality This course provides biological, cultural, historical, and psychological perspectives of sexuality. Basic information on human development and reproductive physiology is provided. In addition, current topics such as marriage, alternate lifestyles, contraception, and pornography are discussed. Small group focus discussions, media-based discussions, and interactive guest speakers are used to link course material to responsible sexuality and understanding of diversity. Prerequisite: PSYC-1200. Spring term annually. 4 credit hours |
| PSYC-4370 Cognitive Psychology The focus of this course is on the flow of information from sensory input to retrieval from long-term memory. Within this framework, topics such as mnemonics, pattern recognition, attention, computer simulation, reasoning, and the relationship between culture and thought are discussed. Prerequisite: PSYC-1200. Fall term annually. 4 credit hours |
| PSYC-4400 Personality Modern theories of personality are presented and compared. Using these theories, students analyze the processes by which people cope with intrapsychic, interpersonal, and institutional demands. Evidence on adaptive processes from clinical, field, and laboratory studies is evaluated. Prerequisite: PSYC-1200. Offered on availability of instructor. 4 credit hours |
| PSYC-4410 Sensation and Perception The various sensory modalities are surveyed in substantial consideration of their physiological substrate. Color perception, constancies, perceptual development, speech, music, form, space, time, motion, and individual differences are all examined. Relevant demonstrations as provided by the instructor allow the student extensive interaction with course materials as does an obligatory laboratory that accounts for 25% of the course. Prerequisite: PSYC-1200. Annually. 4 credit hours, 5 contact hours |
| PSYC 4420 Perception in Action This course will focus on the role of perception in the performance of both routine and skilled goal-directed activities, such as walking along a crowded sidewalk, playing sports, and driving automobiles. Content will be drawn from current empirical, theoretical and computational research on such topics as perceiving direction of self-motion, intercepting moving objects, catching and hitting balls, and avoiding collisions with obstacles. Prerequisite: PSYC-4410 Sensation and Perception. Spring term annually. 4 credit hours |
| PSYC-4430 Foundations of Instruction and Learning in Secondary School Education II A continuation of ISCI-4400. Students spend at least four hours per week working with teachers in the Troy School District and four hours each week in a problem-solving experience at Rensselaer. (Cross listed as NSST-4410. Students cannot obtain credit for both this course and ISCI-4410.) Prerequisite: NSST-4400. Spring term annually. 6 credit hours |
| PSYC-4450 Learning The first half of this course is devoted to presentation of traditional theories of learning. Classical and operant conditioning and single-subject methodology are studied in depth. During the second half of the course, students apply their knowledge of operant conditioning principles in the context of a group-based field study. Prerequisite: PSYC-1200. Annually. 4 credit hours |
| PSYC-4500 Drugs, Society, and Behavior This course is an exploration of the social and psychological effects of extensive use of pharmacological agents that are salient to daily behavior. There is an emphasis on the effects of addictive drugs such as alcohol, heroin, and cocaine. Prerequisite: PSYC- 1200. Annually. 4 credit hours |
| PSYC-4600 Cognition and the Brain Perception and thought are considered in terms of processes represented in the brain. The localization and lateralization of function are examined, drawing upon research on the behavioral effects of brain damage as well as brain-imaging studies and other approaches. Examples of topics include object recognition, memory, language, emotion, spatial ability, and motor processes. Prerequisite: PSYC-1200. Fall term annually. 4 credit hours |
| PSYC-4630 AIDS: Paradise Lost AIDS, with its combination of sex, death, and celebrities, holds a strong fascination for our society. The AIDS story is a complex one, shaped by a number of forces. While the primary focus is on the biology of the HIV virus and its interface with the immune system, we do not neglect how social, technical, administrative, political, legal, and economic factors mold the AIDS story. (Cross listed as BIOL-4430. Students cannot obtain credit for both this course and BIOL-4430.) Prerequisite: BIOL-2120. Spring term annually. 4 credit hours |
| PSYC-4720 Abnormal Psychology The definition, history, major schools of thought, and models of the normal and abnormal personality are presented. Disorders are examined within the framework of D.S.M. and competing schools of thought. The description, etiology, treatment, including pharmacologic, and prevention of each of the disorders are considered. Illustrative cases are presented. Students write a paper on a topic, approved by the instructor, that focuses upon the impact of public policies on psychopathology. Prerequisite: PSYC-1200. Annually. 4 credit hours |
| PSYC-4770 Psychopharmacology and Behavioral Toxicology This course is a detailed examination of the neuroscience and psychology inherent to the development of pharmacological agents for treating psychopathology. There is also an exploration of chemicals that are toxic to the brain as manifest by induction of psychopathology. Prerequisite: PSYC-1200. Annually. 4 credit hours |
| PSYC-4940 Readings in Psychology An individually arranged independent study course under the supervision of a member of the Psychology Department. The topic is selected by consultation between student and faculty member. Prerequisite: PSYC-1200 and/or permission of supervising faculty member. 1 to 4 credit hours |
| PSYC-4960 Topics in Psychology An advanced course concerned with selected topics in psychology. Prerequisite: PSYC-1200 or permission of instructor. 1 to 4 credit hours |
| PSYC-4990 Undergraduate Thesis Students conduct original scholarly projects: original research, theoretical or analytical reviews of the literature, or computer simulations. Working either alone or in groups, students prepare written reports relating to this project, under the supervision of a faculty member. Prerequisite: permission of a supervising faculty member. Fall, spring, and summer terms annually. 1 to 4 credit hours |
| PSYC-6170 Advanced Human Factors This seminar covers some of the basic principles and findings in human performance and human factors in design. Examples of the selected topics include psychophysics, human capabilities and limitations, mental work load, motor performance, feedback and knowledge of results, displays and controls, anthropometry, task analysis, and computer-user communications. Prerequisites: graduate status and PSYC-2220 or permission of instructor. Offered on availability of instructor. 4 credit hours |
| PSYC-6180 Engineering Psychology This interactive seminar deals with some of the basic principles and findings in engineering psychology. The course emphasizes the discussion of recent research on visual displays, multiple resources, mental work load, skill training, and reaction time, as it applies to human factors issues. Prerequisite: permission of instructor. Spring term annually. 4 credit hours |
| PSYC-6200 Cognition Current issues and methodologies in cognitive psychology are discussed. Topics include sensory processes, signal detection theory, semantic memory, selective attention, automatic processes, reading behavior, and text comprehension. These topics are covered in an in-depth manner that includes critical evaluation and synthesis of major issues. Graduate students only. Fall term annually. 4 credit hours |
| PSYC-6240 Cognitive-Systems Engineering This is a project-based seminar. Course work covers the design and development process for applying a cognitive science to system design. Topics include design systems, mental models, design evaluation, analytical techniques, expert systems, knowledge elicitation, human-computer dialog, and automated design. Annually. 4 credit hours |
| PSYC-6320 Seminar in Psychopharmacology This course deals with the recent literature on selected topics in psychopharmacology and neuroscience. Prerequisite: PSYC-4770. Annually. 4 credit hours |
| PSYC-6340 Seminar in Industrial Psychology This class integrates research and practice in industrial psychology. In-depth coverage of current issues relevant to job analysis, personnel selection, placement, performance evaluation, and compensation is provided. The implications of legislation enacted to provide equal employment opportunity on personnel issues is also examined. Prerequisite: graduate status or permission of instructor. Annually. 4 credit hours |
| PSYC-6350 Seminar in Organizational Psychology A seminar for reading and discussing methods and substance data in organizational psychology (micro-level analysis) and some organizational theory (macro-level analysis). Current theories in the areas of motivation, leadership, expectancies, learning, equity, and goal setting are presented and discussed. This course requires the completion of a research proposal in the area of organizational psychology for the purpose of introducing students to the methods used for testing theory and applying theory to organizational settings. Prerequisite: graduate status or permission of instructor. Spring term annually. 4 credit hours |
| PSYC-6370 Seminar in Organizational Conflict A broad introduction to negotiation, bargaining, third-party intervention, and conflict within organizational settings. Theoretical perspectives, factors contributing to conflict, and techniques for resolving conflict are discussed. Prerequisite: graduate status or permission of instructor. Annually. 4 credit hours |
| PSYC-6420 Seminar in Organizational Development The first half of the course is a comprehensive survey of the field. The second half is a project in an industrial, governmental, educational, recreational, or health care organization. Prerequisite: graduate status or permission of instructor. Spring term annually. 4 credit hours |
| PSYC-6540 Visual and Auditory Psychophysics and Perception This course is an advanced survey of these fields derived from recent laboratory and clinical laboratory research. It covers both sensory and perceptional phenomena. To some extent, specific topics will be governed by class interests, but will include the neurobiology of the auditory and visual systems, their psychophysics and systems, auditory and visual prosthetics. The course is directed to provide a sound foundation for students of cognitive science. Students are expected to select and execute a research project. Prerequisite: PSYC-4410 or permission of instructor. Offered on availability of instructor. 4 credit hours |
| PSYC-6570 Advanced Behavioral Statistics An accelerated course covering important behavioral statistical concepts including probability, sampling distributions, hypothesis testing, ANOVA, and multiple regression. Course requires usage of statistical software package and is taught using the general linear model framework. Prerequisite: graduate status and one course in undergraduate statistics. Fall term annually. 4 credit hours |
| PSYC-6690 Seminar in Research Design An in-depth study of quasi-experimental and experimental design of behavioral research. Topics include test construction and development, factor analysis, meta-analysis, repeated measures, and MANOVA. Prerequisite: PSYC-6570 or permission of instructor. Spring term annually. 4 credit hours |
| PSYC-6940 Readings in Psychology An individually arranged independent study course under the supervision of a member of the Psychology Department. The topic is selected by consultation between student and faculty member. Prerequisite: graduate status and permission of supervising faculty member. 1 to 4 credit hours |
| PSYC-6960 Topics in Psychology An advanced course concerned with selected topics in psychology. Prerequisite: permission of instructor. 1 to 4 credit hours |
| PSYC-6990 Master’s Thesis Active participation in research, under the supervision of a faculty adviser, leading to a master’s thesis. Grades of IP are assigned until the thesis has been approved by the faculty adviser and accepted by the Office of Graduate Education to be archived in a standard format in the library. Grades will then be listed as S. 1 to 9 credit hours |
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Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), 110 8th St., Troy, NY 12180. (518) 276-6000 Please direct questions regarding this site to catalog@rpi.edu. |