Course Information

How often courses are offered

Required major courses and Group 1 and Group 2 elective courses are offered every semester. Other elective classes are offered on a semi-regular basis. Some PSYC classes listed in the Shepherd Catalog are no longer offered. See the lists below.

How to select courses for next semester

Students should work with their academic advisor when making plans for upcoming semesters. Answers to some course-related questions are available in the Psychology Major FAQ. A list of classes being offered in a specific semester is available from the Registrar’s website.

Note that some courses must be taken in a specific order. Review the Psychology Program “Spine” diagram that’s linked from the program’s Academic Advising page.

Courses that are frequently offered

Course Number	Course Name	Next Offered	Core Curriculum code	Notes
PSYC 101	Introduction to Psychology	Every semester	SO, MD	Required of Psychology majors and minors. The prerequisite to most other PSYC classes.
PSYC 102	Introduction to the Psychology Major (1-credit)	Every spring		Not required, but a useful introduction for new majors.
PSYC 211	Faculty-Led Research	Contact desired faculty mentor		Won’t serve as a free elective for majors, but a useful hands-on introduction to research.
PSYC 250	Statistics for the Social Sciences	Every semester		Required of Psychology majors. Must first pass the MATH prerequisite. Ideally taken before, but can be taken with, PSYC 251.
PSYC 251	Research Methods in Psychology	Every semester		Required of Psychology majors. Must have completed, or be taking, PSYC 250.
PSYC 270	Well-Being and Happiness	Every semester	WE	Good Core Curriculum Wellness option for Psychology majors, but not required.
PSYC 305	Social Psychology	Every semester		Psychology major Group II restricted elective, Psychology minor grouped elective.
PSYC 309	Abnormal Psychology	Every semester		Psychology major Group II restricted elective, Psychology minor grouped elective.
PSYC 310	Psychology of Personality	Every semester		Psychology major Group II restricted elective, Psychology minor grouped elective.
PSYC 312	Research Practicum	Contact desired faculty mentor		Psychology major free elective. Useful for students interested in hands-on research experience & those going to graduate school.
PSYC 313	Clinical Practicum	Every semester		Psychology major/minor free elective. Useful for students going into clinical careers.
PSYC 316	Art Therapy	Spring 2025		Psychology major/minor free elective. Useful for students considering using art as part of clinical work.
PSYC 322	Introduction to Forensic Psychology	Spring 2025		Psychology major/minor free elective. Useful for students interested in forensic psychology. Cross-listed with CRIM.
PSYC 326	Psychology of Substance Abuse	Fall 2024		Psychology major/minor free elective. With PSYC 365, useful for students planning to work in the area of substance abuse.
PSYC 340	Lifespan Developmental Psychology	Every semester		Required of Psychology majors and minors.
PSYC 341	Child Development	Every spring		Psychology major/minor free elective. Useful for students planning to work with children.
PSYC 342	Adolescent Development	Every fall		Psychology major/minor free elective. Useful for students planning to work with adolescents.
PSYC 343	Psychology of Aging	Every spring		Aging Studies minor requirement and Psychology major/minor free elective. Useful for students planning to work with older adults.
PSYC 361	Biopsychology	Every spring (but not spring 2025)		Psychology major requirement (361 or 365) and minor free elective. Take 361 for a more general understanding of brain function.
PSYC 365	Drugs and the Brain	Every fall		Psychology major requirement (361 or 365) and minor free elective. With PSYC 326, useful for students planning to work in the area of substance abuse.
PSYC 370	Sensation and Perception	Rotates with 371 & 372		Psychology major Group I restricted elective and minor free elective. Can be taken with the lab or by itself.
PSYC 370L	Sensation and Perception Laboratory	With PSYC 370		Group I restricted elective lab. Psychology majors must pass one of the Group I labs.
PSYC 371	Memory and Cognition	Rotates with 370 & 372		Psychology major Group I restricted elective and minor free elective. Can be taken with the lab or by itself.
PSYC 371L	Memory and Cognition Laboratory	With PSYC 371		Group I restricted elective lab. Psychology majors must pass one of the Group I labs.
PSYC 372	Psychology of Learning	Rotates with 370 & 371		Psychology major Group I restricted elective and minor free elective. Can be taken with the lab or by itself.
PSYC 372L	Learning Laboratory	With PSYC 372		Group I restricted elective lab. Psychology majors must pass one of the Group I labs.
PSYC 382	Humanistic Psychology	Every other spring (maybe spring 2026)		Psychology major/minor free elective.
PSYC 392	Cooperative Education in Psychology	Contact desired faculty sponsor		Psychology major/minor free elective. Useful for students with a job relevant to psychology.
PSYC 404	Psychology Seminar	Contact desired faculty instructor		Psychology major/minor free elective. Opportunity for students to explore topics not covered by other classes.
PSYC 420	History and Systems of Psychology	Every semester		Psychology major requirement, minor free elective.
PSYC 484	Directed Readings	Every semester	WM	Psychology major requirement. Writing in the Major class.
PSYC 485	Senior Thesis	Every semester	CP	Psychology major requirement. Capstone class.

Recent Special Topics Courses

The 399- and 499-numbered courses are special topics not represented in our catalog courses taught by faculty and qualified guest instructors.

PSYC 399 – Deliberative Dialog Workshop for Leaders (fall 2020)
PSYC 399/499 – Persuasion and Social Influence (fall 2024)
PSYC 499 – West Virginia Recovery Coach Academy (fall 2021)
PSYC 399 – Introduction to Counseling Psychology (spring 2023)
PSYC 399 – Prejudice and Stereotyping (fall 2023)
PSYC 399 – Social Psychology of the Holocaust (spring 2024, for study abroad trip)
PSYC 399 – Death, Dying, & Grief (fall 2022)
PSYC 399 – Introduction to Counseling Techniques (fall 2024)
PSYC 399 – Introduction to Applied Behavior Analysis (TBD)

Classes not currently offered

We have no immediate plans to offer some of these classes. Others will be offered again when a qualified instructor can be found.

PSYC 311 – Introduction to Clinical Psychology
PSYC 315 – Psychological Tests & Measurements
PSYC 320 – Human Sexual Behavior
PSYC 321 – Industrial/Organizational Psychology
PSYC 325 – Health Psychology
PSYC 331 – Counseling Children
PSYC 367 – Social Perception
PSYC 381 – Sport Psychology

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