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ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR (Major, Minor)

Organizational Behavior involves the application of psychology to the workplace. Drawing on psychology and other social sciences, Organizational Behavior addresses areas such as leadership, group dynamics, personnel selection, worker motivation, and training. The Organizational Behavior program is designed for people with career interests in human resources, organization development, consulting, training, and related areas.

Organizational Behavior majors must complete 12 courses.
Requirements for the Major (12)
Core Courses (8)
         PSY        101      Introduction to Psychology
         PSY        211      Social Psychology or
         PSY        317      Group Dynamics
         PSY        301     Research Methods
         PSY        304      Statistics and Decision Making
         PSY        306      Tests and Measurements
          PSY        330      Organizational Behavior
         PSY        407      Organization Development
         PSY        316      Ethics or
         BUS        336     Management & Leadership or
         COM      340      Organizational Law

Students majoring in Organizational Behavior may not minor in Psychology.

Requirements for the Minor (8)
Core Courses (5)
        PSY         101      Introduction to Psychology
        PSY         211      Social Psychology or PSY 317 Group Dynamics
        PSY         301      Research Methods
        PSY         330      Organizational Behavior
        BUS         336     Management & Leadership or COM 340 Organizational Law

Interdisciplinary and Application Courses (3)
Students may choose three courses from the Interdisciplinary and Application Courses listed for the major (above).

Course Descriptions:

PSY 101 Introduction to Psychology
Provides students with a broad introduction to the field of psychology including: the biological basis of behavior, sensation and perception, learning, memory, cognition, human development, intelligence, personality, psychological disorders as well as the psychology of the world of work.

PSY 211 Social Psychology
Presents a broad account of how the actual or imagined presence of others influences thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Touches upon conformity, attraction, prejudice, aggression, group decisions, and attitude change, as well as advertising, law, and indoctrination. Prerequisite: PSY 101. Corequisite for psychology majors: PSY 301, 304.

PSY 217 Psychology of Drugs and Addictions
Questions whether chemical addiction (drugs and alcohol) is a disease or an attempt to adapt to inner needs and external pressures. Prerequisite: PSY 101. Corequisite for psychology majors: PSY 301, 304.

PSY 261 Learning and Behavior Change
Introduces fundamentals of behavior acquisition and modification: reinforcement, stimulus discrimination, extinction, and sequential organization. Emphasizes total competence learning, requiring students to advance beyond recognition and recall. Prerequisite: PSY 101. Corequisite for psychology majors: PSY 301, 304.

PSY 301 Research Methods in Psychology and Organizational Behavior
Examines the major research methods used to explore important issues in psychology and organizational behavior. The process of identifying and addressing research questions will be investigated by reviewing key research strategies including field and laboratory experiments, correlational studies, and observational techniques. The course will also examine specific techniques for collecting and analyzing data and summarizing research findings. Prerequisite: PSY 101.

PSY 303 Lifespan Development
An introduction to the study of human growth and change over the lifespan. Topics include prenatal development, cognitive development, attachment, personality, social development, and gerontology. These topics form a basis for a discussion of the major theories of human development including cognitive development, social learning, and psychoanalytic models. Prerequisite: PSY 101. Corequisite for psychology majors: PSY 301, 304.

PSY 304 Statistics and Decision Making
This course introduces descriptive and inferential statistical procedures for the social sciences. Topics covered include scales of measurement, probability, measures of central tendency and variability, null hypothesis testing using single or multiple samples, correlation and regression, and both inferential and procedural errors individuals can make when calculating and interpreting statistics. Course must be completed as student declares psychology as a major. Individuals with insufficient mathematical preparation are encouraged to complete remedial work prior to enrolling in the course. Prerequisite: PSY 101 and high school algebra or equivalent.

PSY 306 Tests and Measurements
The theory of test construction and validation. Topics covered include intelligence testing, personality assessment, performance appraisal, skills tests, structured interviews, surveys, and other data gathering instruments. Prerequisite: PSY 101. Corequisite for psychology majors: PSY 301, 304.

PSY 307 Introduction to Neuropsychology
Principles of brain functions, including areas of speech, language, general intelligence, memory, motor skills, and higher cognitive abilities, are presented to provide a basic understanding of human brain-behavior relationships. Topics covered include general neuroanatomy, organization of the nervous system, brain structure and function, central nervous system disorders, neuropsychological evaluation, and basic neurodiagnoses. General rehabilitation and recovery of brain function are also addressed. Prerequisite: PSY 101. Corequisite for psychology majors: PSY 301, 304.

PSY 308 Psychology of Dreams
Dreams have inspired psychologists from Freud to present-day theorists. This course will examine dream interpretation and its place in modern psychology. Students will learn various theories and interpretation techniques to better understand these unconscious mysteries and processes. Emphasis will be focused upon Freud, Jung, Gestalt, physiological, and existential theories as explanations for dreams. This course will include self-disclosure and dream-journal activities. Previously offered as topic. Prerequisite: PSY 101. Corequisite for psychology majors: PSY 301, 304.

PSY 310 Psychopathology
Psychopathology is a clinical term related to the study and examination of abnormal behavior. This class will examine facts, theories, and treatment strategies relevant to abnormal behavior in present day society. Topics to be studied include disorders of childhood, mood disorders, anxiety disorders, substance related conditions, psychotic disorders, and other conditions that impair a persons functioning. Prerequisite: PSY 101. Corequisite for psychology majors: PSY 301, 304.

PSY 311 Health Psychology
Course contents include: wellness theory and practice with emphasis on the holistic approach; stress management techniques and strategies; and understanding and applying personality style. The roles of work, play, communications, and personal philosophies will be examined within the framework of the topics. Prerequisite: PSY 101. Corequisite for psychology majors: PSY 301, 304.

PSY 315 Topics in Psychology
Explores varied topics, such as neuropsychology or industrial psychology. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: PSY 101. Corequisite for psychology majors: PSY 301, 304.

PSY 316 Ethics
Presents history of ethics in psychology and organizations, covering ethical codes of the American Psychological Association and the Organizational Development Institute and focusing on practical ethical dilemmas in organizations. Prerequisite: PSY 101. Corequisite for psychology majors: PSY 301, 304.

PSY 317 Group Dynamics
Investigates group leadership, decision making, communication, conflict, creativity, team building, power relationships, and personal growth within groups. Prerequisite: PSY 101. Corequisite for psychology majors: PSY 301, 304.

PSY 320 Violence in the Family
This course explores the issues of spouse abuse including current psychological theories and treatment for victims and abusers. Students will learn about community facilities and programs for prevention and treatment. Guest speakers will be experts currently working in the field. Previously offered as topic. Prerequisite: PSY 101. Corequisite for psychology majors: PSY 301, 304.

PSY 322 Cognitive Psychology
An investigation of human cognitive functioning. Topics covered include: information processing models, sensation and perception, pattern recognition, attention, memory, language, thinking and intelligence, problem-solving, and creativity. Formerly PSY 400. Prerequisite: PSY 101. Corequisite for psychology majors: PSY 301, 304.

PSY 325 Psychology of Women
Examines historical and contemporary theories, issues, and research related to the psychology of women. Topics covered include: psychoanalytic theory and its critics, sex differences, lifestyles, communication styles and aging. Prerequisite: PSY 101. Corequisite for psychology majors: PSY 301, 304.

PSY 330 Organizational Behavior
Surveys the field of industrial and organizational psychology as it applies to the world of work and business. The research and development methods of the field are examined. Operational applications of these methods are analyzed in terms of their use in organizations. The use of industrial-organizational psychology to aid individuals who work with others to solve human performance problems in the work environment are studied. Prerequisite: PSY 101. Corequisite for psychology majors: PSY 301, 304.

PSY 335 Clinical Psychology
Clinical Psychology is a complex and fascinating field that is ever-changing and evolving. In this course, students will be ushered through the real world of the contemporary clinical psychologist. They will learn about the various activities, roles, and responsibilities of the clinician through actual case material. Traditional functions of the clinician such as psychological testing and psychotherapy will be highlighted as well as current issues such as whether psychologists should have the right to prescribe medications as well as whether their training ought to be Ph.D. or PsyD. Prerequisite: PSY 101, and PSY 307 or 310. Prerequisite: PSY 101. Corequisite for psychology majors: PSY 301, 304.

PSY 338 Clinical Assessment Procedures
Presents principles of psychological testing and evaluation. Highlights referral setting, relationships among test scores, consulting outside sources, role of the clinician, interpreting test data, integrating client's history with observations, and age considerations affecting interpretation of test data. Attempts to establish an elusive connection between the results of psychological testing and psychotherapy. Prerequisite: PSY 335 or consent. Prerequisite: PSY 101. Corequisite for psychology majors: PSY 301, 304.

PSY 347 Modern Psychology: History and Systems
Chronicles development and decline of systematic positions within psychology since its establishment as a separate discipline in 19th century. Prerequisite: PSY 101. Corequisite for psychology majors: PSY 301, 304.

PSY 354 Personality
Examines traditional and contemporary theories of human nature, including psychoanalysis, behaviorism, humanistic psychology, evolutionary psychology, and others. Students apply theories to autobiographical data. Previously PSY 254. Prerequisite: PSY 101 or consent. Corequisite for psychology majors: PSY 301, 304.

PSY 407 Organization Development
The purpose of this course is to provide the student with opportunities to learn the history, theories, models, research and strategies for change in the development of organizations. Prerequisite: PSY 101. Corequisite for psychology majors: PSY 301, 304.

PSY 410 Human Factors Psychology
Human factors is the branch of science and technology that explores what is known about human behavioral, cognitive, and perceptual characteristics that can be applied to the design, evaluation, and operation of both large systems as well as consumer products to enhance safe, effective, and satisfying use by individuals. In short, Human Factors attempts to fit the environment, task or product design to the human's capabilities. This course will examine human abilities and limitations and apply these "usability" concepts to the design and evaluation of work environments, computer systems, tools, and consumer products used by humans. Prerequisite: PSY 101. Corequisite for psychology majors: PSY 301, 304.

PSY 413 Human Sexuality
This course takes a multidisciplinary approach to understanding all aspects of the human sexual condition. Topics include anatomy and physiology of sexual organs as well as the neural mechanism underlying ovarian and menstrual cycles and the brain testicular axis. Transmission and symptomology of sexually transmissible diseases including AIDS are also examined. The sociocultural and physiological aspects of gender and variations in sexual practice are elucidated and discussed. Finally, sexual dysfunction, its courses and the efficacy of various therapeutic options are considered. Prerequisite: PSY 101. Corequisite for psychology majors: PSY 301, 304.

PSY 480 Senior Research Seminar
Brings together diverse approaches in psychology, both clinical and research, for contrast and comparison. Students conduct research projects in community, lab, or other setting. Prerequisite: senior status, PSY 101, INT 221 or PSY 304, and PSY 301.

BUS 260 Financial Accounting
Exposes students to theory and methods of using accounting information to solve problems throughout the business cycle. Emphasizes decision making based on financial statements. Utilizes computers. Prerequisite: Sophomore status.

BUS 280 Managerial Accounting
Explores accounting's role in providing managers accurate and timely information for planning, controlling, and decision making. Covers budgeting, profit planning, and statement analysis, as well as theory and application of managerial accounting in production. Utilizes computers. Prerequisite: BUS 260 and Sophomore status.

BUS 317 Personal Finance
Outlines a wide variety of financial instruments available for managing money. Touches upon personal financial statements, insurance, social security, investments, tax, retirement, and estate planning. Also introduces personal financial planning as a profession. Prerequisite: Junior status.

BUS 336 Management and Leadership
This course focuses on the processes of planning, organizing, influencing, and controlling what leaders use to achieve their objectives in organizational settings. Topics include the human, operational, and structural issues involved in managerial decision making using a variety of methods to develop analytical skills. Prerequisite: Junior status.

BUS 337 Marketing
Presents theories, applications, and case studies of marketing goods and services in public, private, and nonprofit sectors. Looks into interpreting market demands; designing and managing products; establishing distribution channels and pricing policies; communicating with consumers; and analyzing, planning, and controlling marketing activities in a socially responsible context. Prerequisite: Junior status.

BUS 338 Financial Management
Focuses on the role of the financial manager in corporate decision making. Deals with analysis of the corporate financial structure, asset management, capital budgeting, and debt versus equity financing. Prerequisite: BUS 280 and junior status.

BUS 342 Human Resource Management
Examines how to optimize human resource strategies and the people who work for an organization. Links human resource strategies to organizational goals. Provides an overview of the main functions of human resources: employee and labor relations, staffing, development, compensation, and separation. Prerequisite: Junior status.

BUS 348 Investments
Explores theories and techniques of investing, especially in the stock and bond markets. Highlights basic security analysis and portfolio management, as well as financial planning in a changing economic environment. Prerequisite: BUS 338 and junior status.

BUS 369 International Business
Details strategies U.S. firms can use to compete globally. Covers international competition, competitive advantage, international trade, international political economy, importing, exporting, licensing, foreign direct investment, and globalization. Prerequisite: Junior status.

BUS 375 Advertising and Promotion
Examines marketing communication, advertising, publicity, and promotion; management of that process; and effects on consumer behavior. Focuses on current issues. Prerequisite: BUS 33.

COM 110 Public Speaking
Explains research, organization, writing, delivery, and critical analysis of oral presentations with attention to individual needs.

COM 220 Interpersonal Communication
Explores one-on-one communication with significant others in personal and career situations.

COM 300 Communication Theory
Provides various explanations of the process by which senders and receivers of messages interact in social and organizational contexts.

COM 301 Designing Effective Organizations
The study of organizational design and its impact on the efficiency and effectiveness of modern organizations. Students will explore and discuss issues such as strategic planning and management, organizational effectiveness, power and politics, organizational culture and communication, and the designing of organizations for the information age.

COM 302 Interviewing
The study of interviewing as a procedure applied in various ways by professionals in work situations. Dyadic encounters will emphasize the structure and process of different types of interviewing methods.

COM 303 Communication Ethics
Challenges students preparing for professional and business careers to make moral choices and develop questions when confronted by ethical dilemmas in real-life case studies.

COM 305 Listening
The study of the art of listening and its importance in our personal and professional lives. Students learn to analyze, assess, and improve their own listening abilities.

COM 306 Intercultural Communication
Examines concepts/constructs, theories, and empirical research pertinent to communication within and between cultures, with primary foci on contexts and relationships.

COM 312 Persuasion
Explores influencing human behavior in socially acceptable ways. Looks into persuasion strategies from attitude change to audience analysis.

COM 314 Communication and the Media
An evaluation of media relations in contemporary organizations, both government and private. This course will focus on ways the media influences and is influenced by these groups.

COM 315 Topics in Organizational Communication
Study of selected areas of organizational communication taught in seminar fashion designed to promote maximum interaction between students and the instructor. Topics for consideration are at the discretion of the instructor and will change with each course offering. This course may be repeated for general credit but can fulfill the requirements of the major one time.

COM 316 Training and Development
Focuses on the role of communication in the training and development of human resources. Topics will include: the role of training and development; identifying training needs; adult learning theory; instructional design; training evaluation; and approaches to work-force development. Case analysis and work in small groups will be used extensively. Offered on credit/no credit basis only.

COM 318 Public Relations
The study of public relations principles applied to organizations. This course examines the ways in which public relations theories and principles are applied to specific business situations.

COM 319 Leadership and Effective Communication
The study of leadership, leadership styles, and leadership effectiveness in organizations. Students explore the connection between leadership and organizational communication.

COM 321 Small Groups and Leadership
Examines communication, leadership, participation, and decision making within groups and teams.

COM 322 Computer Mediated Communication
Study of the fundamental changes in human communication processes brought about by our interactions with technologies such as video conferencing, email, real time chat, Internet and intranet technologies, personal digital assistants, wireless devices, and electronic books. The computer and other communication technologies act as intermediaries in new communication processes, and students will analyze the benefits and challenges they create for effective human communication.

COM 324 Self-Leadership and Communication
This course explores the many ways that self-leadership skills may be enhanced through effective communication principles, strategies and techniques. Topics to be discussed include rebuilding personal infrastructures, establishing high standards and wide boundaries, eliminating tolerations in life, competing with the past, developing reserves, making the present perfect, becoming a problem-free zone, and much more. Offered on a credit/no credit basis only.

COM 325 Communication Campaigns
Communication campaigns are focused, large-scale efforts to exert social influence. This course deals with the planning, organizing, implementation, and evaluation of various educational, political, religious, and commercial campaigns. Students will analyze both classic and current communication campaigns.

COM 340 Organizational Law
Examines the law on national and local levels, focusing on the relationship between effective communication and legal problems.

COM 350 Communication Presentations
The identification of communication opportunities encountered in professional situations. This course analyzes communication objectives and emphasizes the preparation of oral presentations. (Formerly Business and Professional Presentations.)

COM 395 Communication Research
The investigation of qualitative and quantitative communication research focusing on its practices, ethics, and consequences.

COM 415 Topics in Organizational Communication
Study of selected areas of organizational communication taught in seminar fashion designed to promote maximum interaction between students and the instructor. Topics for consideration are at the discretion of the instructor and will change with each course offering. This course may be repeated for general credit but can fulfill the requirements of the major one time.

COM 418 Advanced Public Relations
The advanced study of the discipline of public relations. Students learn the basic communication theories and professional practices necessary in a wide range of roles from publicity to promotion to public information, counseling and management. Students develop skills in written and oral communication, critical thinking, problem solving, research, and strategic planning. Prerequisite: COM 318 or consent.

COM 421 Organizational Communication
The analysis of the role and importance of communication in organizations with special emphasis on corporations, not-for-profit institutions, government agencies, and other structures in which people work. The focus of the course is rooted in theories of organizational communication with applications to contemporary situations. Students must have access to a computer with Internet capabilities, and be familiar with using the Web for searching and sending e-mail with attachments. Advisor approval.

COM 440 Death and Dying
An examination of the legal and ethical issues in the practice of withholding treatment from terminally ill patients, the “Baby Jane Doe” cases, the concept of “mercy killing,” active Euthanasia, suicide, capital punishment and the implications of surviving death. In addition to case studies and professor’s lectures, guest lecturers from various related disciplines and survivors of the Holocaust, Hiroshima, and recent terrorist activities will meet in workshop sessions with the class.

COM 480 Senior Seminar in Organizational Communication
Advanced study of the theory and application of organizational communication. This capstone course, taken in the student's senior year, provides an end-of-the-major opportunity to conceptualize and understand organizational communication and the organizational communication program through the use of various instructional modules, team teaching, outside expert speakers, and program evaluation methods. Prerequisite: senior status and major in Organizational Communication.

INT 340 Great Trials of the Century
A study of the cases that made headlines and influenced our lives in the twentieth century: the Lindbergh Kidnapping, the Rosenburg Spy Case, the Leopold-Loeb Murder trial, the trials of Dr. Spock, Father Berrigan, and the famous “Chicago Seven”, the McCarthy hearings, the Nuremberg Trials, the trial of Adolf Eichmann, the trial of Lee Harvey Oswald for the murder of President Kennedy, the trial of Sirhan for the assassination of Robert Kennedy, the “Anarchy” trials of Sacco and Vanzetti, and a host of other famous cases. Prerequisite: at least one course in sociology, politics, history, or consent.

Last Update: September 11, 2008