Course Descriptions

PS 6185 Computer Applications in Behavioral and Social Science
1 semester hour
This course provides students with the knowledge about the analysis and database features of SPSS, with emphasis on the data editor, variable view, and output windows, and cross-platform use with other software applications. The course is partice-based to ensure students gain skills in using the data editor, creating databases, manipulating and transforming data, merging and exporting data across files and platforms, and editing and printing statistical output.

PS 6363 Group Dynamics in Organizations
3 semester hours
The purpose of this seminar is to cover special topics in psychology, utilizing faculty and community professionals (possessing appropriate certification and degrees). (When different topics are treated, PS 6363 may be repeated for additional credit upon approval of the graduate program director.)

PS 6366 Personnel Psychology
3 semester hours
The application of psychological theory and practices to human resources activities in organizations. Special emphasis is placed on job analysis and design, employee selection and placement, training and development, and performance management and appraisal. Legal and ethical considerations are underscored. Students will gain a working knowledge of the psychological principles in effective organizations.

PS 6369 Organizational Psychology
3 semester hours
This course is designed as a graduate-level introduction to classic and contemporary research literature in organizational psychology. The course objectives are to: 1) provide an overview of the literature (theory, empirical studies) in a sampling of major content areas, 2) develop research skills through critical review/analysis of organizational literature, and 3) stimulate ideas for original research projects.

PS 6371 Motivation and Human Behavior
3 semester hours
Theories and reports of empirical investigations.

PS 6370 Professional Development and Assessment Centers
3 semester hours
This course provides students with knowledge of current issues of professional development in Industrial-Organizational Psychology and the use of assessment centers in professional development. Assessment centers are widely used in industry for personnel development, training, and decision making. Students will participate in an assessment center process, receive developmental feedback about their performance, and write a personal development plan based on the feedback. Prerequisite: PS 6366.

PS 6381 Psychological Research
3 semester hours
Methodology and scientific inquiry in psychology. Experimentation, its relation to theory and design. Prerequisite: PS 6385.

PS 6383 Advanced Experimental Psychology
3 semester hours
Projects and lectures. Advanced methodology for thesis, dissertation, and professional journal research. Includes a laboratory.

PS 6385 Advanced Statistics
3 semester hours
Advanced topics in statistics to include the analysis of variance, factor analysis, multiple discriminant analysis, multiple regression analysis and the use of statistical software to assist in these analyses.

PS 6386 Multivariate Statistics
3 semester hours
Topics in multivariate analysis with wide application in the behavioral and management sciences such as analysis of variance, analysis of covariance, multivariate analysis of variance, multivariate analysis of covariance, principal components, exploratory factor analysis, reliability analysis and discriminant function analysis. The course stresses theory, assumptions, and practical application of each technique. Students apply methods using SPSS and interpret results of analyses. Prerequisite: PS 6385.

PS 6387 Research (Thesis)
3 semester hours
Normal empirical projects designed to test a well formulated hypothesis. Other approaches may be considered. Required for thesis candidates. Prerequisites: PS 6381, PS 6385, and approval from Graduate Program Director.

PS 6388 Thesis (Defense)
3 semester hours
The thesis is a complete documentation of an independent research project conducted by the student and supervised and approved by a thesis committee. The final report includes information related to the relevant theoretical background, research area, hypotheses, methods and procedures, results and interpretations, and discussion related to the significance of the results and application to the discipline.

PS 7321 Advanced Tests and Measurements
3 semester hours
Advanced topics in psychological measurements to include: reliability and validity theory, criterion development, performance appraisal, test construction, and questionnaire development. Prerequisites: PS 6381, PS 6385.

PS 7361 Psychological Factors in Systems Management
3 semester hours
Human characteristics and their effect on systems management; psychological principles and innovations relative to selection, classification and placement; job analysis; job evaluation; performance evaluation; employee morale, working conditions, effects on personnel; human engineering and consumer psychology; communications.

PS 7363 Human Performance Assessment and Measurement
3 semester hours
Comprehensive and practical review of basic concepts in the integration of the human component into the design, development and evaluation of man-machine systems and subsystems: Human and computer performance capabilities, interface problems in man-machine systems; human factors theory and data applied toward effective systems management, design, operation, environment; personnel subsystems; workplace layout and arrangements; design for ease of maintenance; anthropometry; man-machine dynamics (same as EG 6309).

PS 7365 Operation Dynamics in Systems Management
3 semester hours
Analysis of operator dynamics; special environments and life science considerations emphasizing applications to systems management; homeostasis, stress, sensory systems, fatigue, biorhythms acceleration, radiation, pollution, ecology; training-learning factors.

PS 7367 Survey Development
3 semester hours
This course covers theories, methods, and procedures for conducting survey research in business. Topics include designing a survey instument, planning a survey research study, and basic survey analysis techinques. Sampling issues will addressed. Prerequisites: PS 6381, PS 6385.

PS 7368 Job Analysis
3 semester hours
In-depth review of major job analysis techniques. Quantitative data analysis will be stressed along with some examination of scaling and data display techniques.

PS 7381 Practicum in Experimental Psychology & Research Design
3 semester hours
Supervised practice in the design and execution of research in psychology. As a portion of the practicum, the student will plan, carry out research, and perform statistical and other analyses of results, all leading toward a publishable paper. Student may also act as laboratory instructor, planning research experiments, setting up equipment, supervising write ups of experiments and grading reports. Prerequisites: PS 6381, PS 6385, and permission of instructor.

PS 7383 Practicum in Quantitative Methods in Psychology
3 semester hours
Supervised practice in the selection and execution of statistical techniques appropriate to specific problem areas in psychology. The student will participate in data capture and reduction projects. The student may act as a tutor in the statistics laboratory as a means of enhancing his/her ability to communicate his/her knowledge of quantitative methods. Prerequisites: PS 6381, PS 6385, and permission of instructor.

PS 7385 Practicum in Personnel Psychology
3 semester hours
Supervised practice in research and/or application of psychological principles and innovations to selection, classification, and placement; job analysis; job evaluation; performance evaluation; employee morale; working conditions; human engineering and consumer psychology. The student may select certain of these topics for special emphasis. When feasible, on-the-job training in some business or industry may be recommended. May be repeated once for additional credit. Prerequisites: PS 6385, PS 6385, and approval from Graduate Program Director.