Department of Psychological Sciences
Department website: http://www.wku.edu/psychological-sciences
Matthew Shake, Department Chair
Kelly Thompson Hall 1039
(270) 745-3918
psychsciences@wku.edu
Faculty
Professor
Gordon C. Baylis PhD (Neuroscience), University of Oxford, 1985
Amy M. Brausch PhD (Psychology), Northern Illinois University, 2008
Reagan D. Brown PhD (Psychology), Virginia Tech, 1997
Kelly L. Madole PhD (Psychology), University of Texas at Austin, 1992
Andrew S. Mienaltowski PhD (Psychology), Georgia Institute of Tech, 2008
James F. Norman PhD (Psychology), Vanderbilt University, 1990
Matthew C. Shake PhD (Educational Psychology), University of Illinois at Urbana-Champa, 2009
Associate Professor
Katrina A. Burch PhD (Industrial/Organizational Psychology), University of Connecticut, 2018
Lance W. Hahn PhD (Psychology), University of Texas at Austin, 1994
Diane M. Lickenbrock PhD (Psychology), University of Notre Dame, 2010
Jenni B. Teeters PhD (Psychology), University of Memphis, 2017
Aaron L. Wichman PhD (Psychology), The Ohio State University Main Campus, 2005
Matthew J. Woodward PhD (Psychology), University of Memphis, 2017
Assistant Professor
Xiaowen Chen PhD (Industrial/Organizational Psychology), Florida Institute Technology, 2020
Psychological Sciences Courses
PSYS 423G Psychology of Adult Life and Aging 3 Hours
Psychological processes in adulthood and aging. Emphasis on contemporary theories, methodological issues, and interactions of psychological, biological, social, and environmental factors in adulthood and aging.
Recent Term(s) Offered: fall 2021; summer 2022; winter 2023
PSYS 424G Topics in Developmental Psychology 3 Hours (repeatable max of 6 hrs)
A consideration of special topics to acquaint students with theoretical and research issues of particular interest in developmental psychology.
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
PSYS 431G Psychology of Language 3 Hours
Overview of scientific study of human language abilities, with primary emphasis on individual psychological mechanisms. Note: A research methods course required.
Prerequisite(s): permission of instructor
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
PSYS 440G Abnormal Psychology 3 Hours
Introduction to abnormal psychology emphasizing forms of abnormal behavior, etiology, developmental factors, interpretations, behavioral manifestations and treatment programs.
Prerequisite(s): (PSY 100 or PSYS 100) or permission of instructor
Equivalent(s): PSY 440G
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
PSYS 450G Psychology of Personality 3 Hours
Overview of the major theoretical approaches to the study of personality, including historical as well as contemporary theorists, avenues of analysis, and concepts.
Prerequisite(s): PSY 100 or PSYS 100
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
PSYS 453G Psychology of Women 3 Hours
Scientific study of the behavior and mental processes of girls and women. Topics include gender differences and similarities, inclusion of females in psychological research, psychological development of girls and women, sexuality, and mental health issues.
Recent Term(s) Offered: fall 2021
PSYS 465G Psychopharmacology 3 Hours
Examination of psychoactive drugs and their effects upon the brain and neural mechanisms responsible for mind and behavior.
Prerequisite(s): permission of instructor
Recent Term(s) Offered: fall 2021; fall 2023
PSYS 473G Training in Business and Industry 3 Hours
Theories, research and methods of training needs analysis, program design, implementation, and evaluation.
Prerequisite(s): (PSYS 370 or MGT 311) or permission of instructor
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
PSYS 510 Advanced Research Methods in Psychology 3 Hours
Examination of methodological concepts and issues in the conduct of psychological research.
Restriction(s): Enrollment is limited to students in Psychology (0469)
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2022; spring 2023
PSYS 512 Analysis of Variance 3 Hours
Examines the theory behind and application of between- and within-subjects designs, mixed designs, and other data analytic techniques with an emphasis on analysis of variance.
Restriction(s): Enrollment is limited to students in Psychology (0469)
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2021; spring 2022; spring 2023
PSYS 513 Correlation and Regression Analysis 3 Hours
Advanced analysis techniques appropriate to psychological research. Emphasizes regression analysis, partial correlation, moderated multiple regression, and analysis of covariance.
Restriction(s): Enrollment is limited to students in Psychology (0469)
Recent Term(s) Offered: fall 2021; fall 2022; fall 2023
PSYS 518 Statistics and Psychometric Theory 3 Hours
Introduction to psychometric theory. Emphasis on statistical techniques and construction of psychological measurement instruments.
Restriction(s): Enrollment is limited to students in Psychology (0469)
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2021; fall 2021; fall 2022; fall 2023
PSYS 520 Individual Differences and Human Diversity 3 Hours
Research and theory in aspects of human diversity, including intelligence, motivation, personality, achievement, and aptitudes. Both individual and group differences are addressed, and sources of diversity are explored.
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
PSYS 521 Advanced Child Developmental Psychology 3 Hours
Particular emphasis on a critical review of current research in child development.
Recent Term(s) Offered: fall 2023
PSYS 530 Conditioning and Learning 3 Hours
Advanced discussion and critical analysis of theoretical approaches to associative learning with particular emphasis on experimental studies of Pavlovian and instrumental conditioning, motivation, and affect.
Restriction(s): Enrollment is limited to students in Psychology (0469)
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2022
PSYS 533 Advanced Topics in Cognition 3 Hours
Advanced overview of human cognition. Covers theory and research on the topics of learning, memory, attention, judgment and decision making, and problem-solving.
Restriction(s): Enrollment is limited to students in Psychology (0469)
Recent Term(s) Offered: fall 2021; fall 2023
PSYS 552 Advanced Social Psychology 3 Hours
Behavior of the individual in relation to social contexts. Topics include group dynamics, attitude formation and change, social influence processes, socialization, and language use in communication.
Restriction(s): Enrollment is limited to students in Psychology (0469) or Psychology (092)
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2022
PSYS 565 Cognitive Neuroscience 3 Hours
Graduate level introduction to the functional role of brain structure and activity in cognition and behavior.
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2021; spring 2023
PSYS 567 Advanced Physiological Psychology 3 Hours
Anatomy of the nervous system, relationships among the components of the nervous system and psychological functioning.
Restriction(s): Enrollment is limited to students in Psychology (0469) or Psychology (092)
Recent Term(s) Offered: fall 2022
PSYS 570 Job Analysis and Compensation 3 Hours
Overview of the I/O discipline with an emphasis on job analysis and compensation.
Recent Term(s) Offered: fall 2021; fall 2022; fall 2023
PSYS 571 Personnel Psychology 3 Hours
Employee selection procedures, with emphasis on criterion and validity issues. Direct involvement in data collection and analysis.
Prerequisite(s): PSYS 570
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2021; spring 2022; spring 2023
PSYS 572 Organizational Psychology 3 Hours
Selected topics relevant to work organizations. Emphasizes current theories and research practices.
Prerequisite(s): PSYS 570
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2021; spring 2022; spring 2023
PSYS 579 Internship in Industrial-Organizational Psychology 1-3 Hours (repeatable max of 6 hrs)
Internship experience for IO psychology graduate students. Student is required to locate appropriate internship site; site must be approved by faculty prior to registration.
Prerequisite(s): PSYS 570 and PSYS 571 and PSYS 572
Recent Term(s) Offered: summer 2021; fall 2021; summer 2022; fall 2022; summer 2023
PSYS 581 Professional and Ethical Issues in Psychological Sciences 3 Hours
Professional and ethical issues for basic and applied psychological sciences.
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2021; fall 2021; fall 2022; fall 2023
PSYS 590 Readings of Research Psychology 1-3 Hours (repeatable max of 9 hrs)
Individual readings or research.
Prerequisite(s): permission of instructor
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2021; summer 2021; fall 2021; spring 2022; spring 2023; fall 2023
PSYS 595 Practicum in Psychological Sciences 1-3 Hours (repeatable max of 4 hrs)
Supervised practical experience in a research setting.
Restriction(s): Enrollment is limited to students in Psychology (0469)
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2021; fall 2021; spring 2022; fall 2022; spring 2023; fall 2023
PSYS 597 Trends and Scientific Approaches in Psychological Thinking 1-3 Hours (repeatable max of 3 hrs)
New developments and special topics in contemporary psychological research.
Equivalent(s): PSY 597
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
PSYS 599 Thesis Research/Writing 1-6 Hours (repeatable max of 6 hrs)
Research hours dedicated to the completion of psychology graduate program thesis.
Restriction(s): Enrollment is limited to students in Psychology (0469)
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2021; summer 2021; fall 2021; spring 2022; summer 2022; fall 2022; spring 2023; summer 2023; fall 2023
PSYS 600 Maintaining Matriculation 1 Hour (repeatable max of 6 hrs)
Maintaining matriculation.
Restriction(s): Enrollment is limited to students in Psychology (0469)
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2021; summer 2021; spring 2022; summer 2022; summer 2023
PSYS 640 Psychopathology 3 Hours
Major forms of child and adult psychopathology with emphasis upon recent research, classification systems, the modification of deviant behavior and developmental patterns of learning and motivation variables.
Recent Term(s) Offered: fall 2022
PSYS 641 Theories of Psychotherapy 3 Hours
Selected theories and techniques of psychotherapy and counseling. Also covers group therapy, clinical topics, and professional and ethical issues.
Prerequisite(s): permission of instructor
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2022
PSYS 670 Equal Employment Opportunity, the Law, and Ethical Considerations 3 Hours
Issues relevant to providing equal employment opportunity: EEOC and FEA guidelines regarding selection practices; review of major court decisions and their implications for the conduct of selection; professional and ethical considerations in the practice of I/O psychology.
Prerequisite(s): PSYS 570
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2021; fall 2021; spring 2023
PSYS 673 Advanced Training in Business and Industry 3 Hours
Theories, research and methods of training needs analysis, program design, implementation, and evaluation.
Prerequisite(s): PSYS 571 or permission of instructor
Recent Term(s) Offered: fall 2021; fall 2022; fall 2023
PSYS 771 Human Resources Management and Personnel Decisions for Organizational Leaders 3 Hours
Survey of leadership roles in managing human resources in organizations to achieve both individual and organizational objectives and ensure effective work practices in dynamic work environments. Topics include selection and placement of employees, evaluation of employee performance, compensation and benefits, and effective utilization of human capital.
Restriction(s): Enrollment is limited to students in Educational Leadership (0010)
Recent Term(s) Offered: None