School of Criminal Justice, Behavioral, Political and Social Sciences
The School of Behavioral and Social Sciences is committed to the University’s particular emphasis on liberal studies. Baccalaureate degree programs are offered in psychology and social sciences with a track in history, and social studies education. The Division provides its students with the knowledge, skills, tools, and perspectives to analyze and interpret phenomena in their selected fields as well as in related disciplines. The intent is to develop scholars who are knowledgeable and well-versed in each of the behavioral and social sciences.
In cooperation with the School of Education, Human Development, and Consumer Sciences, the Division offers a track in social studies education, which prepares students for teacher certification in grades 8-12. The Teacher Education Program in social studies has specific admissions requirements and coursework, including a semester of full-time student teaching. Students in this program should maintain close contact with their Social Studies Education advisor in the Division as well as the faculty in the School of Education, Human Development, and Consumer Sciences.
Social Sciences – Social Studies Education Track
The Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences with a Social Studies Education track prepares graduates to seek Kentucky teacher certification in Secondary School (8th through 12th grade). Admission to KSU’s Social Studies Teacher Education Program (TEP) has specific requirements that include introductory education coursework, a nationally standardized test, and field hours in schools. A semester of full-time student teaching (70 days) is required in the student’s last semester of study and admission to student teaching also has specific requirements, including coursework and 200 verified hours of field experiences. This degree is offered in conjunction with the School of Education, Human Development, and Consumer Sciences in the College of Agriculture, Community, and the Sciences, so students in this program should maintain close contact with their advisor in the School of Behavioral and Social Sciences as well as with the chair and faculty of the School of Education, Human Development, and Consumer Sciences. Students interested in becoming certified teachers are referred to the School of Education, Human Development, and Consumer Sciences section of this catalog to learn more about admission criteria and procedures.
International Studies
Students at Kentucky State University must be prepared to participate and compete in our increasingly globally connected world. Thus, they need to be exposed to an international curriculum that enables them to interact in, understand, and appreciate cultures other than their own.
Psychology
Psychology involves the scientific study of a vast array of phenomena related to the actions and experiences of organisms. Psychologists study phenomena such as perception, memory, thought, behavior, and the psychological, social, physiological, and developmental processes that underlie these phenomena. In addition to its commitment to scientific truth, psychology requires the application of knowledge and critical thinking/reasoning skills to assess, prevent, and resolve individual and social problems.
The Psychology program at Kentucky State University leads to a major or a minor that prepares the student with a solid, well-rounded education in psychology. The study of psychology serves as a useful foundation for the pursuit of careers in business, law, medicine, social work, and the other helping professions; or majors may pursue further study in psychology at the graduate level.
Psychology major/minor students must complete PSY 200 General Psychology as part of the Liberal Studies Requirements. PSY 215 Orientation to Psychology, which does not count toward the core major requirements, must be taken as a pre-requisite.
Behavioral and Social Sciences
This course serves as an introduction to the use of statistics as a method of describing and analyzing data from research in the behavioral and social sciences. Credit: 3 semester hours.
This course introduces the basic logic, knowledge, and skills of research design and methodology in the behavioral and social sciences.
Situationally contextualized information related to issues of counterintelligence and counterterrorism, with a focus on analyzing, preparing and disseminating intelligence in an operational setting.
Contemporary issues in cybersecurity addressed in terms of the political, ethical, and legal standards in the virtual community of cyberspace.
US Security agencies and intelligence agencies shape national security policy. Topics include current major security threats to the US, sources of security information, and analysis of US intelligence and national security problems.
This course examines the concepts of "terrorists" and "terrorism" in the context of contemporary events, and techniques of counter-terrorism which can be used by national and global governments to combat non-state actors.
This course examines the concepts of "terrorists" and "terrorism" in the context of contemporary events, and techniques of counter-terrorism which can be used by national and global governments to combat non-state actors.
This course will examine the methods and ethics of behavioral profiling. Review of historical and contemporary issues such as the interface of the mental health system and the criminal system, civil commitment, diminished capacity, insanity, competency to stand trial, and the issues of stereotyping, prejudice, will be investigated, with reference to the influence of social context and social cognition.
This course is designed to develop analytical skills, interpretation and research; and to nurture intellectual self-reliance and critical thinking. Credit: 3 semester hours.
Psychology
A first course in human behavior. Among the topics covered are heredity and environment, development of the individual, motivation, emotion, perception, personality, and abnormal behavior.
Ac ourse focused on preparing students wo write in the discipline, meeet and learn about psychology faculty research interests, introduction to research methods, and statistical analyses in the behavioral sciences.
Theories and research methods of developmental psychology, including psychoanalytic, cognitive, and behavioral methodologies. The development of language, personality, cognition, and social behavior are also explored. Credit: 3 semester hours.
This course serves as an introduction to the use of statistics as a method of describing and analyzing data from research in the behavioral and social sciences.
This course introduces the basic logic, knowledge, and skills of research design and methodology in the behavioral and social sciences.
Theories and research methods of developmental psychology, including psychoanalytic, cognitive, and behavioral methodologies. The development of language, personality, cognition, and social behavior are also explored.
May be taken concurrently with PSY 301. An introduction to laboratory procedures and the use of experimental designs to study psychological processes. A laboratory course.
Exploration of the history of psychology as a scientific approach to understanding behavior from the ancient Greeks to the present, with a focus on the last two centuries.
A specific area of psychology will be studied based on current trends and students needs. This course serves as a precursor to Senior Colloquium. Students begin work on their Senior Colloquium papers as part of this course.
A study of the nature and concept of abnormality; problems and schemes of classification; and the theories, symptoms, etiology, and treatment of deviant behavior.
Major theories of personality and personality development are closely examined, including psychodynamics, behavioral, trait, humanistic, cognitive, and other approaches.
Application of general principles of psychology to the industrial setting with emphasis on job analysis; worker analysis; work/fatigue accidents; human engineering; and worker effectiveness.
A study of social and individual dynamics, social roles, attitude formation and change with emphasis on behavioral variation and social control.
A survey course of broad categories into which psychological assessment instruments and techniques can be divided and the study of existing assessment instruments and techniques.
Approaches to the treatment of mental disorders as examined from a multidisciplinary prospective.
The examination of behavior through principles of classical, operant, and cognitive learning theories and research, and through theories and research regarding motivation.
An intensive study of the growing field of cognitive psychology. The course explores concepts of memory, attention, thinking, and language with reflections on information processing and artificial intelligence.
The study of the neurophysiological bases of behavior, with emphasis on neuroanatomy and the physiology of learning, motivation, emotion, and sensation.
Human sensory and perceptual processes will be examined. Major theories and experimental findings will be presented. Includes laboratory assignments.
This course explores the interface between social psychology and cognitive psychology. The topics examined include attribution theory, schemas, affect, behavior, and research methods in social cognition.
A directed reading, research, or pre-professional working/ learning experience for advanced students in psychology. Usually taken independently and designed in collaboration with the instructor.
A directed reading, research, or pre-professional working/ learning experience for advanced students in psychology. Usually taken independently and designed in collaboration with the instructor.
A directed reading, research, or pre-professional working/ learning experience for advanced students in psychology. Usually taken independently and designed in collaboration with the instructor.
A seminar for the discussion of specific topics concerning Rehabiltation Counseling offered by the University of Kentucky. May be repeated for credit no more than four times (12 credit hours).
This course is designed to develop analytical skills, interpretation and research; and to nurture intellectual self/reliance and critical thinking.
Sociology
The course offers an introduction to agriculture economics and some basic tools and concepts essential to economic decision making.
Social problems of small communities are examined in changing rural America. The approach is sociological but interdisciplinary incorporating historical analysis and political economy.
Survey of the basic principles and concepts of sociology.
This course serves as an introduction to the use of statistics as a method of describing and analyzing data from research in the behavioral and social sciences.
Introduces the basic logic, knowledge, and skills of research design and methodology in the behavioral and social sciences.
Introduction to the scientific study of human culture; the examination of the ecological, historical, and evolutionary foundations of culture.
A sociological analysis of modern race and ethnic relations with attention given to black/white interaction, race prejudice, discrimination, cultural differences, and socio/cultural dynamics.
An examination of social issues and conflicts of society from a sociological perspective.
Investigation of the socio/cultural factors that contribute to poverty and deprivation in rural and urban settings.
Examination of the factors that affect growth, size, composition, and distribution of human populations; the components of population change and their relationship to socio/cultural variables.
Study of systems of social ranking in societies. Attention is focused on social classes in American societies and the distribution of power, prestige, and privileges.
Focuses on education's role in creating and redressing inequality, and in shaping how we understand our place in society. Education from creoss-national and historicial prespectives, and education as a vehicle for examining and solving social problem.
The prerequisite may be taken concurrently. Study of the causes of delinquency as revealed through personal, family, and community/situational conditions.
The prerequisite may be taken concurrently. Examination of social processes, including the emergence of leadership, the structure of authority, and the differentiation between and among urban institutions.
The internship offers experiential learning wherein students are assigned to research and agriculture extension mentors. The objective is to encourage careers in agriculture through direct experience.
Prerequisite(s): PSY 200 and SOC 203, or consent of instructor. A study of social and individual dynamics, social roles, attitude formation and change with emphasis on behavioral variation and social control.
The social, cultural, and intellectual foundations of sociological theory.
The latter prerequisite may be taken concurrently. A study of criminology from the classical schools to the present, with special units on the professional criminal and white collar crime.
Examination of a broad range of perspectives for the application of sociological principles and techniques to human environmental problems and conditions.
An historical analysis of child welfare as an institution and an in-depth study of programs, policies, practices and their impact on children, youth and families.
Open to seniors only. A seminar in which students present and defend independently developed projects on the dynamics of change.
A directed reading, research, or pre/professional working/learning experience for selected students in sociology.
A directed reading, research, or pre/professional working/learning experience for selected students in sociology.
A directed reading, research, or pre/professional working/learning experience for selected students in sociology.
This course is designed to develop analytical skills, interpretation and research; and to nurture intellectual self/reliance and critical thinking.