Courses

Search for courses listed in this bulletin. To find a semester course schedule (including instructors, meeting times and locations), go to mynmu.nmu.edu.

PA 599 Thesis in Public Administration 1-6 cr.
  • Graded: S/U
  • Prerequisites: PA 500

The student develops a thesis with the help of a three member thesis committee (chair and two readers). The student will submit a three- to five-page research proposal which must be approved before registering for credit. Appropriate thesis forms must be completed prior to enrollment. The thesis must be approved by the thesis committee and the Office of Graduate Education. The student should consult with the department and the Office of Graduate Education for specific requirements.

PH 598 Directed Study 1-4 cr.
  • Prerequisites: Department consent
A course involving either: (1) assisting a faculty member in research, (2) devising an advanced undergraduate physics laboratory experiment, or (3) preparing a written scholarly exposition of some physics-related topic approved by the faculty adviser or research director. If option (3) is selected, the paper must be read and approved by three department faculty members.
PR 432 Environmental Campaigns 4 cr.
  • Offered: Fall

This course will provide an in-depth exploration of the theoretical, methodological, and applied aspects of environmental and nonprofit campaign design. Students will put those understandings into practice with the creation of a campaign related to communicating an ecological or social issue, e.g., water quality, local climate change impacts, etc. Additionally, students will learn how to translate complex scientific information for diverse, public Audiences.

PSY 400 History of Psychology 4 cr.
  • Offered: Contact department
  • Prerequisites: PSY 100 or PSY 101

Examination of the philosophical and historical roots of psychology culminating in an analysis of major theoretical perspectives leading to modern scientific psychology.

PSY 423 The Psychology of Organizational Behavior 4 cr.  (3-0-1)
  • Offered: Contact department
  • Prerequisites: PSY100 or PSY101; PSY201 and PSY202; PSY 220 recommended.

A focus on empirically researched areas of organizational behavior including performance management, leader behavior, organizational environments, feedback, etc., and on implementing programmatic changes through the use of researched psychological techniques. Field and laboratory investigations included when appropriate.

PSY 440 Psychological Assessment 4 cr.  (4-0-0)
  • Offered: Fall
  • Graded: A/F

Advanced examination of the variety of mental health psychology patterns of disordered or dysfunctional behavior and the procedures through which they may be understood and assessed. Course will include relevant theory in psychological assessment, basic principles of psychometrics, and practical applications of psychological assessment.

PSY 445 Positive Psychology 4 cr.  (4-0-0)
  • Offered: Contact Deptartment
  • Graded: A/F

A combination of theoretical and practical applications of positive psychology. This course includes a focus on the background and history of positive psychology, and includes research, experience, and application of positive psychology.

PSY 450 Methods in Psychophysiology 4 cr.  (3-0-2)
  • Offered: Fall
  • Graded: A/F
  • Prerequisites: PSY 100 or PSY 101; PSY 250 or PSY 251; PSY 201 and PSY 202 recommended.

Seminars on relevant topics, selected by students, including independent laboratory experience involving psychophysiological research in bio-behavioral or sensory processes of humans or other animals. Includes a focus on neuroscience techniques.

PSY 451 Sensation and Perception 4 cr.
  • Offered: Contact department
  • Prerequisites: PSY 100 or PSY101; and PSY201, PSY 202, and PSY 230; and PSY 250 or PSY 251.

Scientific exploration of sensory and perceptual phenomena with emphasis on relevant psychological laws, neurological mechanisms, the relationship between brain function and mental experience, and the practical implications of each. Laboratory investigation of methods and phenomena.

PSY 453 Affective Neuroscience 4 cr.  (4-0-0)
  • Graded: A/F
  • Prerequisites: PSY 100 or PSY 101; PSY 201 and PSY 202; PSY 250 or PSY 251, or instructor permission.

This course explores how emotions interact with cognition and other mental processes to motivate behavior. The underlying brain basis of emotional behaviors and emotional states are explored in this course.

PSY 457 Psychopharmacology 4 cr.  (4-0-0)
  • Graded: A/F
  • Prerequisites: PSY 100 or PSY 101; PSY 201 and PSY 202; PSY 250 or PSY 251, or instructor permission.

This course provides advanced coverage of psychoactive drugs used for recreational or therapeutic purposes. The major topics covered include basic pharmacology, psychoactive drug effects on nervous system functioning and behavior, recreational drugs, and pharmacotherapeutic drugs.

PSY 470 Psychological Aspects of Athletic Performance 3 cr.
  • Offered: Winter
  • Prerequisites: PSY 100 or PSY 101, or instructor permission.

Study of psychological applications in the field of sports and coaching. Topics include behavioral coaching of motor skills, competition anxiety analysis and management, mental rehearsal techniques and aggression control.

PSY 500 Development of Modern Psychology 4 cr.

Content addresses the beginnings of modern psychology from the late 19th century founding of the American Psychological Association (1892) through the 20th-century developments of physiological, learning theory, cognitive, Gestalt, humanistic, behavioral, social, psychoanalytic, and the various applied psychologies of the 21st century. Students will also learn about the structure of the American Psychological Association and its role in both the academic and professional components of the discipline.

PSY 504 Behavioral Neuroscience 4 cr.
  • Prerequisites: PY 204 or BI 201, BI 202 or consent of instructor
Foundation course in the biological basis of behavior: neuronal function, sensory and motor systems, limbic system, and higher cortical functions.
PSY 506 Advanced Statistics in the Behavioral Sciences 3 cr.
  • Prerequisites: Graduate level standing

Provides a conceptual approach to learning descriptive and inferential statistical procedures in the behavioral sciences, including topics on statistical decision theory, analysis of variance, factorial designs, multiple comparison procedures, correlation, and regression. This course emphasizes the use of statistical software.

PSY 508 Program Evaluation 4 cr.
  • Prerequisites: Prerequisites: PY 305, PY 505, PY 506 or consent of instructor
Basic methods of evaluation research allowing the student to undertake systematic evaluation of community and social programs.
PSY 512 Advanced Learning: Theory and Methods 4 cr.
  • Prerequisites: PY 211 and senior or higher standing or consent of instructor
Learning theory, historically crucial experiments, and modern developments in learning, with laboratory and independent research activity.
PSY 541 Advanced Developmental Psychology 4 cr.
  • Prerequisites: Graduate standing. An undergraduate course in developmental psychology is recommended.

Theory and research concerning physiological and psychological development with an emphasis on current research findings and methodology.

PSY 561 Cognition: Advanced Theory and Methods 4 cr.
  • Prerequisites: PY 211 or PY 311; PY 305 and PY 205 or consent of instructor

Advanced course in cognition and selected issues in cognitive psychology. Includes theoretical review of memory and cognition issues and seminar-style presentations of selected topics in cognition.

PSY 564 Psychological Interventions 3 cr.  (3-0-0)
  • Offered: Contact department
  • Graded: A/F
  • Prerequisites: Graduate Level Standing in the Department of Psychological Science or Consent of Instructor

This course explores theory and applications of adult psychotherapy interventions for correcting or resolving mental or emotional problems.

PSY 587 Advanced Seminar in Psychological Science 3 cr.  (3-0-0)
  • Graded: A/F
  • Prerequisites: Enrollment in the MS in Psychology Program or instructor permission

Advanced study of specialized content areas of psychology which have a research or theoretical base, but which are not regularly offered as part of the curriculum.

Note: This course may be repeated for credit if topic differs.

PSY 588 Topics in Psychological Science 1 cr.  (1-0-0)
  • Graded: A/F
  • Prerequisites: Enrollment in the MS in Psychology Program or instructor permission.

A weekly seminar for students in the MS Program in Psychological Science. Students, faculty, and/or external speakers will make research, career development, or other psychological science related presentations during the weekly seminar.

Note: PSY 588 is offered at 1cr. and taken for a total of 4cr.