Course Descriptions

The following are course descriptions for all courses offered by the Behavioral Sciences Department.
Anthropology ||Psychology || Sociology  ||  Social Work

Anthropology
ANTH 2301 Physical Anthropology
Human evolution, race, heredity, the organic basis of culture history through the Paleolithic period.
Lec 3, Cr 3
ANTH 2351 Cultural Anthropology
Key concepts, methods and theory in the study of cultural diversity, social institutions, linguistics of culture change among world peoples.
Lec 3, Cr 3
ANTH 3301 Cultures and Communities of Latin America
This class examines contemporary communities in Latin America with special emphasis on Mexico and Guatemala. The class is designed to integrate theory and case studies to provide the student an overview of regional sociocultural processes.
Lec 3, Cr 3
ANTH 3335 Anthropological Theory
This course examines contemporary anthropological theory. The course provides critical analysis of the epistemological foundations of anthropological thinking and surveys major theoretical orientations.
Lec 3, Cr 3
ANTH 3375 Mexican American Folklore
A survey of general introductory topics in folklore as applied to the Hispanic American population of the American Southwest and Northern Mexico. Topics include myth, tale, folk medicine, song, dance, as well as discussion of the Material culture.
Lec 3, Cr 3
ANTH 3374 Religion in Society
This course surveys both classical and newer approaches to the social scientific study of religion. The course is designed to give students in the social sciences a thorough understanding of te leading approaches to religion.
Lec 3, Cr 3
ANTH 4083 Independent Study
This course provides students with an opportunity to engage in study of anthropological subjects that may not otherwise be available in regular course offerings. Lec 3, Cr 3
ANTH 4353 Ritual, Belief and Healing
An examination of how ritual and belief systems create alternative healing systems with a focus on the U.S. Mexico border and curanderismo.
Lec 3, Cr 3
ANTH 4369 Archeology of Mexico and Central America
A survey of the major archeological sites and the theories concerning the pre-Colombian societes of Meso-America.
Lec 3, Cr 3

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Psychology
PSYC 2102 Orientation for Psychology Majors
This course prepares students for success and service within the psychology major. Topics include: research, ethics, APA style, critical thinking, study skills, civic engagement and professional development.
This course is required of all majors.
PSYC 2301 Introduction to Psychology
A survey of the scope and methods of psychology; cultivation of a scientific attitude toward behavior.
Lec 3, Cr 3
PSYC 2308 Developmental Psychology: Infancy and Childhood
This course investigates the physical, behavioral, mental, emotional and social changes that accompany growth and development during infancy and childhood.
Lec 3, Cr 3
PSYC 2314 Lifespan Developmental Psychology
This study of the biological, cognitive and psychosocial changes in the development of the individual from conception through maturity to death.
Lec 3, Cr 3
PSYC 2317 Statistics of Psychology and Sociology
This course covers measures of central tendency and variability, statistical inference and correlation. Maybe counted as SOCI 2317 or PSYC 2317.
Prerequisite: PSYC 2301 or SOCI 1301; Lec 3, Cr 3
PSYC 3301 Research Methods in Psychology
Quantitative research methods and techniques used in contemporary psychological research; instruction in the steps involved in the scientific approach to solving problems and in applying the experimental method in the laboratory.
Prerequisite: PSYC 2317; Lec 3, Cr 3
PSYC 3302 Developmental Psychology: Adolescence
This course investigates the physical, behavioral, mental, emotional, and social changes that accompany growth and development in adolescence.
Lec 3, Cr 3
PSYC 3303 Developmental Psychology: Adulthood and Aging
This course investigates the physical, behavioral, mental, emotional, and social changes that accompany growth and development during the adult years from maturity to old age.
Lec 3, Cr 3
PSYC 3318 Theories of Learning
This course is the study of how the behavior of an individual undergoes enduring changes as a result of exposure to events in the environment. The main focus is on classical, operant, and observational learning.
Prerequisite: PSYC 2301; Lec 3, Cr 3
PSYC 3322 Biopsychology
In this course, psychology will be approached from the perspective of the human being as a living organism and as part of the biological world. Emphasis will be on how the nervous system, especially the brain, is related to various aspects of behavior and experience.
Prerequisite: BIOL 1406 and six hours PSYC; Lec 3, Cr 3
PSYC 3324 Health Psychology
This is a relatively new field of psychology that studies mental, emotional and behavioral factors that affect the onset, duration, recovery and prevention of physical illnesses.
Lec 3, Cr 3
PSYC 3326 Social Psychology
This course studies the individuals' behavior as it is influenced by and in turn influences the behavior of others in various social situations, ranging from dyads to small groups to large crowds. May be counted as PSYC 3326 or SOCI 3326.
Prerequisite: Six hours of PSYC of SOCI; Lec 3, Cr 3
PSYC 3343 Tests and Measurements in Psychology
This course looks at theoretical issues and practical problems involved in designing and administering tests and measures such as questionnaires, surveys, aptitude and achievement tests, personnel selection, and personality inventories.
Prerequisite: Six hours of basic psychology, three hours of behavioral statistics; Lec 3, Cr 3
PSYC 3363 Human Sexuality
This course explores the multidimensional nature of human sexuality including the physiological, psychological, and sociological aspects of human sexuality.
Prerequisite: PSYC 2301 or SOCI 2301; Lec 3, Cr 3
PSYC 4302 Advanced Statistics for Psychology
This course reviews and expands on basic principles of statistical analysis with an emphasis on inferential techniques such as analysis of variance and integrated with the use of prepackaged statistical analysis programs such as SPSS and SAS. Prerequisite: PSYC 2317 and PSYC 3301; Lec 3, Cr 3
PSYC 4305 Behavior Management and Modification
This course explores the application of various techniques derived from learning theories for the treatment of a wide variety of behavioral and emotional problems in clinical settings; decreasing the frequency of undesirable behaviors and increasing the frequency of desirable behaviors in non-clinical settings.
Prerequisite: PSYC 4318; Lec 3, Cr 3
PSYC 4306 Conflict Resolution
An investigation of the nature of conflict and the methods to resolve conflict with an emphasis on collaborative problem solving and mediation.
Prerequisite: PSYC 2301; Lec 3, Cr 3
PSYC 4312 Psychology of Gender: Female and Male
This course asks how biological and cultural factors influence the development of gender roles and identities and stereotypes of masculinity and femininity and how these affect our lives at the personal, social, and institutional levels.
Prerequisite: Nine hours of psychology and/or sociology; Lec 3, Cr 3
PSYC 4313 Abnormal Psychology
This course explores the origins, categories and treatments of mental, emotional and behavioral disorders ranging from relatively mild stress and anxiety disorders to the more severe schizophrenias and organic mental disorders.
Prerequisite: Six hours of basic psychology; Lec 3, Cr 3
PSYC 4319 Cognitive Psychology
Cognitive psychology is the scientific study of the organization and functioning of such mental activities as thinking, planning, remembering, comprehending language, making decisions, solving problems, and processing information.
Prerequisite: PSYC 3301; Lec 3, Cr 3
PSYC 4322 Sensation and Perception
This course look at how the sensory nervous system monitors the internal and external environments and how the central nervous system organizes evaluates and acts on incoming sensory information.
Lec 3, Cr 3
PSYC 4330 Psychology and the Legal System
This course provides an interdisciplinary introduction to the field of Forensic Psychology, including basic concepts of the American legal process in civil and criminal cases and application of the science of Psychology in the legal system for the development and implementation of law and policy.
Prerequisite: PSYC 3301 or CRIJ 3302 or SOCI 4305.
PSYC 4333 Theories of Personality
This is an examination of some of the major theories of how we acquire the distinctive behavioral, mental, and emotional characteristics that make us unique individuals.
Prerequisite: Six hours of basic psychology; Lec 3, Cr 3
PSYC 4356 Industrial and Organizational Psychology
This course explores psychological and behavioral factors involved with organizational design and effectiveness; leadership, personnel selection, placement, training, promotion and retention; morale, job satisfaction and productivity.
Prerequisite: Six hours of basic psychology; Lec 3, Cr 3
PSYC 4360 Clinical and Counseling Psychology
This course introduces the methods of applying psychological principles to the diagnosis and treatment of emotional and behavioral problems and providing help with problems of social adjustment and vocational and educational goals. Prerequisite: Six hours of psychology; recommended Abnormal Psychology; Lec 3, Cr 3
PSYC 4363 History, Systems and Theories in Psychology
This course chronicles the development of psychological thought from the ancient Greeks into the modern era in terms of the most influential people and the ideas and theories that they have proposed.
Lec 3, Cr 3
PSYC 4374 Topics in Psychology
A study of recent developments in psychology. Topics may vary. May be repeated twice for credit.
Prerequisite: PSYC 2301; Lec 3, Cr 3
PSYC 4380 Independent Study
This course allows students to arrange a personalized study schedule on a topic of their interest. The topic may be one which is not covered in the above courses or one which goes into more depth than is usually the case. Requires permission of a faculty member and Department Chair;
Lec 3, Cr 3
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Sociology
SOCI 1301 Introduction to Sociology
The study of human society; relationship of culture, social interaction, and group life to personality and human behavior; analysis of group structure, social organization, and social process.
Lec 3, Cr 3
SOCI 1306 Social Problems
A survey and analysis of contemporary social problems, their likely causes and how they affect us with consideration of possible solutions that work toward social improvement. Particular attention is given to local problems.
Lec 3, Cr 3
SOCI 2301 Marriage and Family
A functional analysis of the contemporary American Family; basic sociological insights, including a brief historical and cross-cultural perspective as well as intensive study of American courtship, marriage, and family institutions.
Lec 3, Cr 3
SOCI 2317 Statistics of Psychology & Sociology
Measures of central tendency and variability; statistical inference; correlation and regression. May be counted as SOCI 2317 or PSYC 2317.
Prerequisite: SOCI 1301 or PSYC 2301; Lec 3, Cr 3
SOCI 4305 Methods of Social Research
An overview of the use of scientific methods in social research, formulation of research designs, hypothesis testing, sampling, interviewing, observation, coding, use of documents, questionnaires and scales. Emphasis on interpretation of social data. Prerequisite: SOCI 1301 and SOCI 2317; Lec 3, Cr 3
SOCI 3306 Advanced Methods of Social Research
An in-depth analysis of methods of social research. Designed especially for the serious students intending to pursue graduate work in sociology.
Prerequisite: SOCI 3305; Lec 3, Cr 3
SOCI 3313 Criminology
A study of crime, its causes, and its social treatment.
Prerequisite: Three hours of sociology; Lec 3, Cr 3
SOCI 3324 Sociology of Health
Analysis of basic problems in the maintenance and preservation of health and delivery of health care services by social class. Focus is on environmental course of disease, social-psychological response to illness and family cohesion; strain and resources as affected by illness.
Prerequisite: Three hours of sociology; Lec 3, Cr 3
SOCI 3326 Contemporary Issues in Social Psychology
A review and discussion of recent issues and advances in social psychology. This course will focus on contemporary concerns with regard to both theory and research in the laboratory and the community. May be counted as SOCI 3326 or PSYC 3326. Prerequisite: SOCI 1301 or PSYC 2301; Lec 3, Cr 3
SOCI 3333 Urban Sociology
The culture, history and growth patterns of cities; demographic, ecological patterns and trends. Problems of housing and community organization.
Prerequisite: SOCI 1301; Lec 3, Cr 3
SOCI 3334 Sociology of Work
Analysis of selected labor force characteristics including education, occupation, family, housing, and ethnic participation in major industries by job classification. Emphasis on the southwest region.
Prerequisite: Three hours of SOCI; Lec 3, Cr 3
SOCI 3353 Juvenile Delinquency
Delinquency in modern society, basic factors and conditions of juvenile delinquency and the problems of delinquency control. Prerequisite: SOCI 1301; Lec 3, Cr 3
SOCI 3363 Human Sexuality
This course explores the multidimensional nature of human sexuality including the biological, physiological, anatomical, and psycho social, clinical and cultural perspectives. May be counted as SOCI 3363 or PSYC 3363.
Prerequisite: PSYC 2301 or SOCI 1301; Lec 3, Cr 3
SOCI 3393 Sociology of Aging
Analysis of the basic problems faced by the aged within a social context. Within an institutional framework, focus is on health, income, work, religion, leisure, and interpersonal relationships of the aged.
Prerequisite: Three hours of SOCI; Lec 3, Cr 3
SOCI 4313 American Minorities
A study of the principal minority groups in American society and their sociological significance; problems of intergroup relations, social movements and related social changes on the contemporary American scene.
Prerequisite: Six hours of SOCI; Lec 3, Cr 3
SOCI 4314 Sociology of Deviance
The nature and extent of deviancy examined through a review of theory and research on deviant behavior. Selective examination of particular types of individual and subcultural deviance.
Prerequisite: Six hours of SOCI; Lec 3, Cr 3
SOCI 3323 Hispanics in Global Society
Presents an examination of the Mexican-American's economic status, cultural values, style of life, educational attainment, family status an political participation as affected by current socioeconomic conditions and historical antecedents.
Prerequisite: Six hours of SOCI; Lec 3, Cr 3
SOCI 4325 Population and Migration Problems
An introduction to the study of demography and applications for the study of contemporary population problems. This class will emphasize population shifts both nationally and internationally.
Prerequisite: SOCI 1301; Lec 3, Cr 3
SOCI 4335 Social Theory
A survey of historical development of the theories of major sociologists.
Prerequisite: Nine hours of SOCI; Lec 3, Cr 3
SOCI 4336 Advanced Social Theory
An in-depth study of the contemporary theories of major sociologists. Designed especially for the student intended to pursue graduate work in SOCI.
Prerequisite: SOCI 4335; Lec 3, Cr 3
SOCI 4352 Social Inequality
A discussion of research, concepts and theory related to inequality in social life, its causes and consequences. The (social) order of relations between the affluent and the poor and how inequality among the social classes is built into the culture and institutions of society (e.g. government, economics, religion, family). Special attention will be given to an examination of poverty in the Lower Rio Grande Valley and among minority populations in the U.S.
Prerequisite: SOCI 1301; Lec 3, Cr 3
SOCI 4383 Independent Study
Designed to offer students the opportunity to gain experiences in research or in-depth theoretical/empirical readings in a substantive area not normally covered within standard courses. Research projects or advanced readings will vary according to student interest and faculty availability. Sequential registration for up to nine hours is permitted as topics vary.
Prerequisite: Nine hours of SOCI and consent of the instructor; Lec 3, Cr 3
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Social Work
SOCW 2361 Introduction to Social Work
Traces the philosophy and historical development of social welfare as an institutional arrangement, reflecting its European roots and its evolution in America. A general overview of social welfare institutions, structures and functions helps students understand social work concepts, ethics and practice. Descriptions of social work approaches help identify facets of the profession and target populations. Requirements for licensing and graduate social work are introduced.
Lec 3, Cr 3
SOCW 2362 Social Welfare Institution and Legislation
Traces the origin and development of social welfare institutions in the United States. Pays particular attention to the structures and the functions of social welfare as an institution, social welfare organizations, historic and current social welfare legislation, gaps in the social welfare system, and problems of social reform.
Lec 3, Cr 3
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