Course Descriptions
ANT 210: Cultural Anthropology (3 units)
Understanding of diverse cultures of the world, from preliterate societies to modern technological societies; mankind's universal as well as adaptive dimensions of people. Examination of socioeconomic, political, religious and physical environmental factors related to the values and lifestyles of various peoples of the world.
ANT 241: Field Anthropology (3 units)
Practical application of anthropological concepts designed to assist in analyzing, understanding and living within other cultural traditions. Topics include the role of culture, living with culture shock, strategies for analyzing cultures, the processes of assimilation, language issues, and cultural food, ways, manners, and
social expectations.
ANT 314: Native Peoples of North America (3 units)
An anthropological overview of native North American societies from pre-Columbian times to the present utilizing a culture area approach. Emphasis on the native people of California.
ANT 364: Culture and Self (3 units)
An exploration of the relationship between individual experiences and the sociocultural context. Course will focus on the role sociocultural institutions play on personality, health and world view.
ANT 435: Anthropology of Religion (3 units)
A comparative examination of religion as an aspect of human culture. Topics will include substantive and functional approaches to religious behavior, religion as a symbol system, ritual behavior, magic, religious movements and paranormal phenomena. Prerequisite: ANT 210 or consent of instructor.
BSC 220: Qualitative Research Methods (3 units)
A methodological course instructing students in the skill of participant observation and ethnographic reporting. Students will read a variety of ethnographies, collect primary field data, write descriptions and provide an analysis of a selected community. The class involves a field component.
BSC 265: Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences (3 units)
An introduction to the basic principles of elementary statistics for students intending to do social science and education research involving the use of statistical analyses. Topics include basic descriptive measures; sampling and sample size estimation; hypothesis testing; testing for differences between means, correlation
and measures of association; techniques for analyzing categorical data; and summarizing and presenting statistical results. A heavy emphasis will be placed on applications of basic statistical concepts to a wide variety of problems encountered in social, educational and policy-related research. The use of computer packages for assisting in data analysis will be emphasized. Prerequisite: MTH 201, 211, 251 or equivalent.
BSC 296: Introduction to Research Methods (3 units)
An experimental learning situation in which research techniques and methodologies are studied by the developing and carrying out of a research project: selection of research problems, research design, data collection and analysis, statistical computation, hypothesis testing and theory building. Prerequisite: BSC 265.
BSC 301: Topics in the Behavioral Sciences (3 units)
Individual and group study of selected topics that bring together perspectives of anthropology, psychology and sociology. A capstone course for seniors that emphasizes their major in synthesis with other majors in the behavioral sciences. Prerequisites: BSC 265 and either BSC 220 or 296.
HST 371: Islamic Civilization (3 units)
An introduction to the lands, peoples and cultures of the Middle East from antiquity to modern times. The role of religion in shaping social and political institutions is emphasized, especially the influence of Islamic thought on the Arab world and conflicts in the contemporary Middle East.
MUS 451: Music Cultures of the World: Emerging Nations (3 units)
Introduction to the study of music as a universal cultural phenomenon and the discipline of ethnomusicology, with exposure to the musical and social aspects of a variety of folk, traditional and art music of Latin America, Africa, India, North America and contemporary mass media. Prerequisite: MUS 101 or equivalent knowledge and experience in music strongly encouraged.
MUS 452: Music Cultures of the World: The Silk Road (3 units)
Introduction to the discipline of ethnomusicology and of music as a universal cultural phenomenon, with exposure to the musical and social aspects of a variety of folk, traditional and art music of regions from Eastern Europe to Asia, including the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Oceania, China, Japan, and Korea. Prerequisite:
MUS 101 or equivalent knowledge and experience in music strongly encouraged.
PSY 202: Human Sexuality (3 units)
Survey topics in human sexuality, with a foundation in Christian ethics guiding sexual conduct. The focus is on the development of sexual behavior, including areas such as gender identity, sexual orientation, sexual anatomy, contraception, reproduction and birthing, sexually transmitted diseases, sexual dysfunctions and
the paraphilias.
PSY 313: Developmental Psychology: Childhood (3 units)
The development of physiological and psychological aspects of human growth will be traced from birth through childhood. Theories and research evidence as well as methodological problems will be reviewed as they relate to the growth process. Prerequisite: sophomore standing or above.
PSY 314: Developmental Psychology: Adolescence (3 units)
A study of human development during the adolescent period. Emphasis will be placed on an examination of theories and research data as these relate to adolescent development. Problems and adjustment patterns in the context of the family, peer groups, school and society will be included.
PSY 315: Developmental Psychology: Adulthood and Aging (3 units)
An introduction to the major psychological and developmental issues concerning adulthood, aging and the aging process. Specific objectives are: to dispel many of the myths and stereotypes about aging; to examine issues associated with the physical, psychological, cultural and social aspects of aging; and to give the student
a better understanding of the grief process as it relates to the issues of adulthood and aging.
PSY 340: Introduction to Biopsychology (3 units)
An introduction to the biological basis of behavior. Topics include the structure and functioning of the nervous system, brain-behavior relationships and hormonal and genetic effects on behavior. Limited to psychology and behavioral science majors or consent of instructor. Prerequisite: PSY 101.
PSY 345: Social Psychology (3 units)
The effect of social influences upon the development of personality and behavior patterns. Topics include socialization, attitude formation and change, communication, propaganda, roles and stereotypes, leadership and collective behavior. Prerequisite: BSC 296.
PSY 351: Personality Theory (3 units)
A study of personality through examination of those psychological systems which determine individuals' unique adjustments to their environment. Major issues and variety of personality theories are explored and underlying researches are evaluated. (Alternate prerequisite for all upper-level psychology courses.)
PSY 361: Abnormal Psychology (3 units)
An introduction to the symptoms, causes, treatment and prevention of psychopathology. Topics include anxiety disorders, personality disorders, psycho-physiological disorders, psychoses, addictions, sexual deviations and organic disorders. Prerequisite: Junior or senior standing or consent of instructor.
PSY 371: Cognition (3 units)
A theoretical and research-based investigation of the mental processes that underlie perception, imagery, attention, memory, language, reading, reasoning, decision making and problem solving.
PSY 381: Advanced Research Methods 1 (3 units)
Students will conduct original, empirical and/or literature review only research in psychology under the direct supervision of and/or collaboration with a psychology faculty member. The express intent of the projects is to have the resulting manuscript published in reputable psychological outlets; e.g. professional journals,
monographs, book chapters. Students will be required to submit their projects for presentation at professional conferences.
PSY 382: Advanced Research Methods 2 (3 units)
A continuation of PSY 381.
PSY 403: Health Psychology (3 units)
This course is designed to introduce students to Health Psychology, a relatively new area in the psychology discipline. Unlike traditional models and schools of thought that see diseases solely as malfunctions or organs or breakdowns of body systems, health psychology approaches health and illness as parts of a complex
interplay among biological, psychological and social factors.
PSY 441: Clinical and Forensic Psychology (3 units)
An overview of the field of clinical psychology, with a particular emphasis on its sub-discipline of forensic psychology; the application of clinical research and practice findings to legal cases where someone's mental status is one of the issues being adjudicated; e.g. competency to stand trial, insanity, dangerousness and
other forensic questions. The course covers clinical psychology's history and current professional issues, psychological assessment, training and ethical issues; emphasizing the role of the psychologist as an expert witness in court. Prerequisites: PSY 351 and 361; junior or senior standing.
PSY 466: Principles of Counseling (3 units)
A foundation course providing an understanding of the content and process of counseling. Specific aspects of the counseling process addressed include: basic skills, legal and ethical issues, crisis intervention, cultural sensitivity, how and when to refer, control-mastery theory and the integration of psychology and theology.
SOC 229: Criminology (3 units)
Introduction to the scientific study of crime as a social phenomenon. Course focuses on how crime in our society is related to the collective aspects of human life.
SOC 316: Ethnic and Minority Relations (3 units)
An analysis of ethnicity in contemporary urban society including relationships between subcultural communities and the larger society. Factors and processes in the formation of minority groups will be examined as well as strategies for changing dominant-minority patterns.
SOC 320: Social Stratification (3 units)
This course introduces the sources, functions and dynamics of the unequal distribution of wealth, power, knowledge and prestige in an historical, comparative perspective.
SOC 321: Social Problems (3 units)
An introduction to the major problems in contemporary America with a focus on the causes, theoretical explanations and social policy solutions. Topics include economic and political problems, urbanization and environmental problems, family and educational problems, child abuse, social deviance, crime and delinquency, and drug, alcohol and tobacco abuse.
SOC 325: Women and Gender Issues (3 units)
An analysis of the status of women in Western society as well as from a cross-cultural perspective. Topics include: theories of male domination, gender stereotypes, male-female relationships, women's liberation and the role of women in the church. A multidisciplinary perspective in understanding women's roles will be featured.
SOC 331: Marriage and the Family (3 units)
A study of marriage, the family and the intimate environment. Topics such as courtship, marriage and role relationships in the family as a social institution will be discussed. Additional emphasis will be placed on the changing nature of the family, family problems and family strengths. A Christian perspective of the family will be offered.
SOC 332: Child, Family and Community (3 units)
An overview of the socialization process involving the young child in the larger cultural setting. Focus will be on social institutions as social agents including the family, the school, peer groups, mass media and community structures. Prerequisite: sophomore standing or above.
SOC 355: Social Gerontology (3 units)
An introduction to the study of aging from a sociological perspective with attention given to current research, problems faced by the elderly, the impact of an increasingly aged population on society, and the resulting implications for policy and social intervention.
SOC 461: Social Theory (3 units)
Selected major social theories and theorists; introduction to the formulation and evaluation of social theories, including social systems theory, evolutionary theory, formal and phenomenological theory, sociology of knowledge, symbolic interaction theory functionalism, social action theory and exchange theory. History and development of social theory.