Associate Professor: Jennifer Daniels
Assistant Professors: Britt Florkiewicz, Robert Miller, Allison Sonia, and Nikki Yonts

Psychology, the study of behavior and mental processes, is a social, behavioral, and cognitive science. The psychology major at Lyon introduces students to the empirical study of human and animal behavior and such diverse mental faculties and processes as perception, memory, intelligence, problem solving, and decision making. Students are also introduced to a wide range of current professional issues and responsibilities regarding both the academic discipline and the applied profession of psychology.

All psychology students develop an understanding of the social, psychological, and biological causes of behavior and an understanding of the effects of these factors on a variety of psychological phenomena, including interpersonal relationships, human growth and development, learning, personality, and abnormal behavior. In addition, they are introduced to the application of basic psychological principles in a variety of endeavors, including counseling and other areas of clinical psychology and education.

There are two major offerings from the Psychology program, a Bachelor of Science and a Bachelor of Arts. Majors who pursue a B.S. will become skilled researchers and wise consumers of scientific psychological research, designed to prepare students for graduate study in psychology or related fields. Students who pursue the B.A. major tend to be interested in applied aspects of the discipline and will gain practical experience in the field through a supervised internship in their junior or senior year. Both majors are designed to prepare students for work in psychology and related fields. Additionally, a background in psychology is appropriate and valuable for students planning to enter such professions as business, education, law, medicine, social work, and the ministry.

Note: To graduate with a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree from Lyon College, students must successfully complete a minimum of 120 semester credit hours comprised of our required core curriculum (44-48 hours, the requirements of at least one major (credit hours vary per major), and a selection of our Liberal Arts electives. They must also earn at least a 2.00 cumulative grade point average for all work taken at Lyon College and a 2.00 cumulative grade point average in their major, minor, and concentration.

Degrees

Courses

PSY 203: Introduction to Biological Psychology

Class Program
Credits 3

Examination of the underlying brain mechanisms responsible for behavior. Topics include research methods used to study the brain, functional organization of the nervous system, properties of neurons, sensory and motor systems, and neural mechanisms related to memory, language, emotion, and intelligence.

Prerequisite Courses

PSY 205: Introduction to Abnormal Psychology

Class Program
Credits 3

Examination of the definition and etiology of major types of psychological disorders from the perspective of several psychological theories. Attention is given to their diagnosis, assessment, treatment, and related ethical concerns.

Prerequisite Courses

PSY 208: Introduction to Cognitive Psychology

Class Program
Credits 3

The intent of this course is to introduce the basic concepts and findings of cognitive psychology, including, but not limited to, the topics of perception, attention, motor control, learning, memory, language, categorization, imagery, judgment and decision-making, and problem-solving. Cognition will be discussed from the perspectives of information processing and cognitive neuroscience.

Prerequisite Courses

PSY 209: The Psychology of Pet Ownership

Class Program
Credits 3

The goal of this course is to study the pet-ownership relationship from a variety of psychological perspectives (biological, clinical, cognitive, developmental, and social). We will focus on proximate-level (i.e., how) and ultimate-level (i.e., why) explanations for this relationship. This course will provide you with the skills and tools needed to better understand yourself and the animals you may encounter/interact with. 

Prerequisite Courses

PSY 210: Cultural Psychology

Class Program
Credits 3

This course seeks to help students develop an understanding and valuing of diversity, based on the principles of awareness, knowledge and skills as they relate to the areas of worldview, identity, and acculturation. Student will be able to articulate differences among cultural communities, whether of ethnicity, race, religion, gender or socioeconomic status, is critical to understanding attitudes, beliefs, and behavior.

Prerequisite Courses

PSY 225: Social Psychology

Class Program
Credits 3

A holistic approach to the study of individuals interacting with other individuals and groups within social, psychological, and cultural environments.

Prerequisite Courses

PSY 235: Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences

Class Program
Credits 3

An introduction to descriptive and inferential techniques for analyzing research data. Topics covered include central tendency, variability, distributions, Z-scores, analysis of variance, correlation, regression, and nonparametric tests of significance.

Prerequisites

MTH 101, MTH 103, or MTH 105, and PSY 101

PSY 240: Introduction to Research Methods

Class Program
Credits 3

Study of research methods in the behavioral sciences. Students are introduced to basic design and practical procedures in carrying out research, as well as ethical considerations in gathering data.

Prerequisite Courses

PSY 290: Human Development

Class Program
Credits 3

Study of the physical, cognitive, emotional, and social development of the individual from birth through adulthood. (Same as EDU 290)

Prerequisite Courses

PSY 303: Psychology of Parenting

Class Program
Credits 3

This course explores the psychology of the parent-child relationship, focusing specifically on parenting. The course will examine and discuss models of parenting, factors that predict parenting behavior, the scientific basis of effective parenting and discipline, and the impact that parenting has on development across the lifespan.

Prerequisite Courses

PSY 305: Child Psychopathology

Class Program
Credits 3

In this course, psychological disorders that develop in childhood and adolescence are examined, including autism spectrum disorders, ADHD, learning and cognitive disabilities, and behavioral disorders. In addition, the course explores issues of risk and resilience, interventions and treatments, and the controversies and ethical issues surrounding diagnosis, classification, and treatment of disorders in children and adolescents.

Prerequisite Courses

PSY 306: Animal Behavior I

Class Program
Credits 3

To date, we have identified over 2 million distinct animal species living on planet Earth. Most psychologists are interested in studying the brain and behavior of only one of these species: humans. But what about the remaining animal species? What kinds of brains do they possess, and what kinds of behaviors do they exhibit? The goal of this course is to provide an overview of the various theoretical approaches that are used to study the brain and behavior of animals (other than humans). 

Prerequisite Courses

PSY 307: Animal Behavior II

Class Program
Credits 3

Animal behavior research has changed dramatically over the past 100 years. The goal of this course is to provide students with the opportunity to learn more about the applications and techniques used in animal behavior research today. This course will help students bridge the gap between previous coursework (i.e., Animal Behavior I) and applied experience through labs & independent research. This class will emulate the structure of a research lab and will result in a final paper & presentation on a topic of the student's choosing.

Prerequisite Courses

PSY 308: Primate Perspectives on Behavior and the Brain

Class Program
Credits 3

The human brain is an incredibly complex structure that allows us to perform amazing behaviors (such as language). But how (and why) did this structure evolve? What features of the brain and behavior are unique to humans? Widespread among other animals? This course will examine the evolutionary origins of the human brain and behavior by studying our closest living relatives: the non-human primates. In this class, students will develop effective research and writing strategies which will culminate into a final paper. 

Prerequisite Courses

PSY 310: Child and Adolescent Development

Class Program
Credits 3

Examination of the development processes from conception through adolescence. Topics include physical, cognitive, social, and personality development from the perspective of the major theories of the field. In addition, students will focus on cultural and educational issues that arise from the study of the development of children and adolescents.

Prerequisite Courses

PSY 312: Sensation & Perception

Class Program
Credits 3

A biopsychological analysis of sensory systems and the organization of sensory input into perception. This course covers the five primary sensory / perceptual systems: vision, audition, body sensation, olfaction, and gustation. It is strongly encouraged that students have completed a lab science before attempting this course.

Prerequisite Courses

PSY 318: Biological Psychology

Class Program
Credits 3

Examination of the underlying brain mechanisms responsible for behavior. Topics include research methods used to study the brain, functional organization of the nervous system, properties of neurons, sensory and motor systems, and neural mechanisms related to memory, language, emotion, and intelligence.

Prerequisite Courses

PSY 335: Abnormal Psychology

Class Program
Credits 3

Examination of the definition and etiology of major types of psychological disorders from the perspective of several psychological theories. Attention is given to their diagnosis, assessment, treatment, and related ethical concerns.

Prerequisite Courses

PSY 339: Learning and Cognition

Class Program
Credits 3

Examination of the major theories of learning and cognition and identification of a variety of research tools useful in understanding thinking, learning, and teaching.

Prerequisite Courses

PSY 340: Intermediate Research Methods

Class Program
Credits 3

Continuation of the statistical concepts acquired in PSY 235 and experimental methods acquired in PSY 240. Students will learn the advanced tools needed to engage in and evaluate research specific to the social sciences. Specifically, they will design and collect data using a variety of research methods and analyze data employing advanced statistical analysis.

Prerequisites

PSY 235 and 240

PSY 341: Professional Development in Psychology

Class Program
Credits 1

This course focuses on planning for a future with an undergraduate degree in psychology and encourages students to research personal career development and the contemporary workforce. Students will be exposed to information designed to assist in the clarification, selection, and pursuit of a career in psychology or a related field.

Prerequisites

Officially declared psychology major and completion of PSY 101 or permission of instructor.

PSY 342: Introduction to Cognitive Psychology

Class Program
Credits 3

The intent of this course is to introduce the basic concepts and findings of cognitive psychology, including, but not limited to, the topics of perception, attention, motor control, learning, memory, language, categorization, imagery, judgment and decision-making, and problem-solving. Cognition will be discussed from the perspectives of information processing and cognitive neuroscience.

Prerequisite Courses

PSY 353: Introduction to Evolutionary Psychology

Class Program
Credits 3

This course provides an in-depth exploration of the phylogenetic origins of human nature, specifically addressing the presence and nature of evolved psychological mechanisms that solve challenges relevant to survival and reproduction in ancestral environments. Topics covered will include competition, cooperation, natural and sexual selection, inclusive fitness, status, intersexual conflict, kinship, mating strategies, disease and predator avoidance, food acquisition and selection, and more. Throughout coverage of these topics, the role of theoretical perspectives and experimental evidence will be particularly emphasized.

Prerequisite Courses

PSY 410: Psychological Testing

Class Program
Credits 3

A study of the nature and theory of individual and group tests of intelligence, personality, interests and attitudes.

Prerequisites

PSY 235 and PSY 240

PSY 443: Senior Internship

Class Program
Credits 3

A capstone course for psychology majors. Students will gain field experience through direct, supervised contact with professionals in psychology and related fields. In addition to on-site responsibilities, students will write a comprehensive paper integrating the field experience and psychological theory and formally present the paper in an open forum. Prerequisites/corequisites: PSY 235, 240, 332, 340, and permission of instructor.

PSY 485: Senior Thesis

Class Program
Credits 3

A seminar-based capstone course for psychology majors. Students will design and conduct individual research projects that may be suitable for submission to journals or presentations at conferences. Students are guided through the research process on a topic of their choice, designing a study, gathering and analyzing data, and writing the results in an APA-formatted research report. Prerequisites/corequisites: PSY 235, PSY 240, PSY 340, and permission of instructor.

PSY 486: Senior Thesis II

Class Program
Credits 3

A continuation of PSY 485. Students can continue to work on research they began in PSY 485.

Prerequisites

PSY 485 and permission of instructor.

PSY 490: Senior Exit Survey in Psychology

Class Program
Credits 0

This course will provide graduating seniors the opportunity to provide valuable feedback about their experiences in the psychology program. This course does not meet throughout the semester, and instead only requires students to – before finals week – take a senior exit survey online which will assess knowledge of concepts, theories, and principles of psychology, relevant to the primary disciplines within psychology (such as social psychology, biological psychology, developmental psychology, and abnormal psychology) as well as research methods and statistics. Also, the senior exit survey will provide students with the opportunity to provide feedback regarding their own learning, engagement, challenges, and successes during their time in the program. This survey provides the faculty in the psychology program with invaluable data as to the strengths and areas for development and growth within the psychology program and curriculum. Must be taken pass/fail.

Prerequisites

Senior standing