Psy 580 Community Psychology

Applications of basic psychological knowledge and methods to community problems. Course includes identification of the psychological aspects of human problems in the community, the use of psychological procedures for evaluating the individual and the individual's psychological environment, and the search for techniques for promoting psychological change under these conditions. Field projects will include contact with community resources in the fields of health, education, and welfare such as poverty projects, mental health clinics, etc. This is the first course in a sequence of three: Psy 580, Psy 581, and Psy 582. which must be taken in sequence. Completion of Psy 480 is prerequisite for enrollment in Psy 481, and completion of Psy 481 is prerequisite for enrollment in Psy 482; all three must be taken during the same academic year. Psy 480, 481, 482 is a true sequence in which work in each succeeding course depends on work done in the preceding one. This includes practicum experience which culminates over a 9-month period covered by the three courses in sequence. Also offered for undergraduate-level credit as Pys 480 and may be taken only once for credit.