DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY

The Department of Psychology offers courses in both Psychology (PSY) and Philosophy (PHIL) as well as one undergraduate degree, the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Psychology, and one graduate degree, the Master of Arts (M.A.) in Psychology. The Department offers a minor in Psychology for students pursuing undergraduate degrees or majors in other academic units at the University.

Students interested in the Master of Arts Degree in Psychology are referred to the Graduate School Bulletin of Texas Southern University for detailed information.

In formulating the mission of the Department, its members have focused on the desired characteristics of a productive individual who has assumed a role in society upon completion of a liberal education. Such an individual thinks without prejudices, creates without destruction, cares without obsession, conceptualizes without distortion, knows and understands. Thus, the primary mission of the Department of Psychology is to provide students with a thorough knowledge and understanding of the theoretical, practical, and philosophical factors associated with the study of human behavior. In fulfilling this mission, five major objectives may be identified:

(1)                           to develop in undergraduate students a better understanding of themselves, their work, and their fellow beings through a study of factors contributing to personal growth and effective living;

(2)                           to establish tolerance which comes from understanding the principles of human behavior and individual differences;

(3)                           to introduce undergraduate students to significant philosophical problems such as the relation between thought and language, mind and body, knowledge and belief;

(4)                           to develop students’ abilities to analyze critically their own theoretical assumptions and beliefs, as well as those offered in their studies; and

(5)                           to lay a foundation for graduate and professional study.

Students wishing to pursue either the B.A. in Psychology or an undergraduate minor in Psychology, must satisfy the ASSET requirements and eradicate identified deficiencies through the General University Academic Center (GUAC), and must petition the Department for admission by completing the appropriate form available through the Department Office. Students applying for either major or minor status must present evidence of having an overall GPA of 2.25 or better, must submit official copies of their transcripts, must have completed PSY 131 (General Psychology) as a prerequisite to all other Psychology courses with a grade of “B” or better, and must have their petitions reviewed by the Departmental Admissions Committee. Students are notified of the decision of the Committee approximately thirty (30) days after submission of their petitions. Upon admission to the Department, students are each assigned an official advisor; and they are expected to keep the Department Office informed of changes in address and telephone number up to graduation.

For the Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, students must declare a minor in another academic discipline (as first-time seekers of an undergraduate degree) at the University and must earn grades of “C” or better in all Psychology and minor courses undertaken. (Grades of “C-“ are unacceptable in these courses.) In selecting a minor, majors should seek detailed advisement from their designated advisors because the selection of a minor having representative courses in the core curriculum of study could impact the total number of credits required. In no case will students qualify for graduation at the undergraduate level with fewer than 120 semester credit hours satisfactorily completed. Prior to graduation, candidates for the B.A. degree in Psychology must complete an exit examination in the Department.

For a minor in Psychology, twenty-one (21) semester credit hours are required through enrollment in six specified courses (credit values indicated) and one elective course. The specified courses are as follows: PSY 231 (3 credits), PSY 234 (3 credits), PSY 235 (3 credits), PSY 331 (3 credits), PSY 433 (3 credits), and PSY 435 (3 credits). The elective course may be selected from one of the following three-credit courses: PSY 332, PSY 333, PSY 336, PSY 432, PSY 434, PSY 436, PSY 439, PSY 461, and PSY 463. Students must earn grades of “C” or better in the seven (7) courses constituting the minor. As is the case for the major in Psychology, minor courses completed by a Psychology Major in another academic discipline must be completed with grades of “C” or better, where grades of “C-“ are unacceptable.

Summarizing the above, students must gain admission to the University; must satisfy ASSET requirements; must fulfill prerequisites noted above; and must apply to the Department as either a Psychology major or minor once ASSET requirements have been fulfilled. Acceptance to major or minor status is subject to the decision of the Departmental Admissions Committee. Once admitted, each student is assigned an official advisor and provided with extensive advisement before progression toward the completion of degree or minor requirements occurs. Seniors are required to pass an exit examination administered by the Department.

For further information regarding the Psychology major or minor requirements, contact the Department Office at (713)-313-7344.

Members of the Department are housed in the College of Education Building with the Department Office located in Suite B001, until September 1, 2007, at which time it will be located on the Third Floor of the Mickey Leland/Barbara Jordan Building.

FACULTY IN THE DEPARTMENT OF  PSYCHOLOGY

PHILOSOPHY COURSES
 

PHIL 231                    Introduction to Philosophy                                         (3)
Exploration of the methods and problems of philosophy through critical discussion and analysis of contemporary social and moral issues. Three hours of lecture per week. Listed as PHIL 1301 in the Texas Common Course Numbering System.

PHIL 431                    Aesthetics                                                                   (3)
Critical examination of classical and contemporary aesthetic theories and their relevance for students' aesthetic experiences. Three hours of lecture per week.

PSYCHOLOGY COURSES
 

PSY 131                      General Psychology                                                    (3)
Foundation for the understanding of basic psychological principles underlying human behavior. A prerequisite to all other Psychology courses. Three hours of lecture per week. Listed as PSYC 2301 in the Texas Common Course Numbering System.

PSY 231                      Child Psychology                                                        (3)
Special study of the mental and emotional development from birth to middle childhood. Development considered from a life long process viewpoint. Three hours of lecture per week. Prerequisites: PSY 131. Listed as PSYC 2308 in the Texas Common Course Numbering System.

PSY 234                      Elementary Statistics                                                  (3)
Basic statistics course for students in Psychology and in the College of Education. Limited practice in the use of calculations and computational devices included. Three hours of lecture per week. Prerequisite: MATH 133. Formerly PSY 436.

PSY 235                      Educational Psychology                                              (3)
Study of the relationship between psychology and education and its usefulness in the normal processes of growth and development. Three hours of lecture per week. Prerequisite: PSY 131.

PSY 331                      Psychology of Learning                                              (3)
Study of classical and instrumental conditioning, verbal learning, and theories of learning. Motivational factors also covered. Four hours of lecture per week. Prerequisite: PSY 131

PSY 332                      Vocational and Industrial Psychology                        (3)
Study of the basic factors in vocational selection, methods of estimating aptitude, measurement of special abilities, problem analysis and specifications. Three hours of lecture per week. Prerequisite: PSY 131.

PSY 333                      Adolescent Psychology                                              (3)
Social and psychological bases of adolescent behavior. Three hours of lecture per week. Prerequisites: PSY 131 and PSY 231.

PSY 334                      Experimental Psychology                                           (3)
Study of the experimental analysis of behavior and experimental design. Emphasis placed on the application of behavior principles to non-laboratory settings. Two hours of lecture and two hours of laboratory per week. Prerequisites: PSY 131 and consent of the instructor.

PSY 336                      Psychological Testing and Measurement                  (3)
Emphasis on the role and function of informal and standardized tests in the mental health and educational settings.  The use of group and individual tests in the assessment of the cognitive, affective and psychomotor domains will be considered.  Prerequisite:  Statistics course.

PSY 432                      Social Psychology                                                       (3)
Study of the psychological basis of social behavior. Three hours of lecture per week. Prerequisite: PSY 131.

PSY 433                      Abnormal Psychology                                                 (3)
Study of pathological behavior, its causes, preventive measures, and remedial treatment. Three hours of lecture per week. Prerequisite: Completion of nine (9) semester credit hours in Psychology.

PSY 434                      Mental Health                                                            (3)
Study of the basic problems of mental health encountered by parents, teachers, and others. Consideration given to emotional problems of childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. Three hours of lecture per week. Prerequisites: Completion of nine (9) semester credit hours in Psychology and consent of the instructor.

PSY 435                      Psychology of Personality                                           (3)
Consideration of the individual as both a social and biological unit by relating each group of factors to the development of personality. Three hours of lecture per week. Prerequisites: Completion of nine (9) semester credit hours in Psychology and consent of the instructor.

PSY 436                      Biopsychology                                                            (3)
Study of brain structures and their relationship to behavior. Brain chemicals and psychoactive medications also covered. Three hours of lecture per week. Prerequisites: Completion of nine (9) semester credit hours in Psychology, and BIOL 143. Formerly carried under the title of Introduction to Child Behavioral Problems as PSY 234.

PSY 439                      Behavioral Problems in Children                               (3)
Survey of behavioral abnormalities in children with particular emphasis on types of social and emotional disorders. Three hours of lecture per week. Prerequisite: Consent of the instructor or Faculty Chair. Formerly listed as Behavioral Psychology under the same course designation.

PSY 461                      Selected Topics in Psychology                                   (3)
Seminar which focuses upon selected topics in the field of Psychology. Three hours of lecture per week. Prerequisite: Senior standing and the completion of at least twelve (12) semester credit hours in Psychology.

PSY 463                      Independent Study in Psychology                              (3)
Investigation of an area in Psychology and/or the conduction of a research project under the direction of a faculty member. Prerequisites: Senior standing and consent of the Faculty Chair.