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ACADEMIC PROGRAMS
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Birmingham-Southern College Catalog 2015-2016
of the genders by society; and current gender issues and their historical
context. (Also listed as SO 215, this course may be counted for credit in
either psychology or sociology.) Prerequisites: PY 101, SO 101, or SO 102;
and at least sophomore standing. Spring.
PY 217 Drugs, Brain, and Behavior (1)
A study of licit and illicit drugs (focusing on drugs of abuse) examining
their effects on 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.
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 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 300 Media and Society (1)
An exploration of the interactive relationship between media and society
from political, psychological, economic, and sociological perspectives. This
course will focus on how media sources, such as television, film, and the
Internet, influence society at group and individual levels and how society,