Course Descriptions

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Psychology
Olin-Rice Science Center, Room 321
651-696-6223
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Psychology

PSYC 100 - Introduction to Psychology

Introductory Course An introduction to psychological perspectives on problems and processes of behavior and experience, surveying such topics as motivation, learning, intelligence, perception, emotion, thought, social processes and language. Recommended for students with no previous exposure to academic psychology who seek a general overview of the field. Lecture and laboratory components. Every semester.

PSYC 180 - Brain, Mind, and Behavior

A multidisciplinary investigation of behavior and the nervous system. Particular emphasis is placed on human processes of perception, cognition, learning, memory, and language. This course also serves as the introductory course for the neuroscience studies major.  Fall semester.

PSYC 182 - Drugs and Society

Topics covered include: social and legal history of drug use and abuse in America including ethnicity and chemical use, pharmacology of mood altering chemicals, chemical dependence and treatment, and drugs used in treating mental illness. Classes will consist of a mixture of lecture, film, discussion, role plays, etc. Spring semester.

PSYC 194 - Topics Course

Varies by semester. Consult the department or class schedule for current listing.

PSYC 198 - Excursions Exploring Psychology

This course exposes students to topics in psychology not covered in our standard curriculum through travel to a new geographic region. The course focuses on aspects of psychology unique to that region and also typically includes a study of the geography and culture of the region. It is designated as a January course. Participants meet prior to departure in order to learn necessary background information. the field excursion generally spans two to three weeks. The region and area of psychology to be studied varies from year to year, and a student may take the course more than once for credit. This course is offered on a pass/fail basis only. Offered occasionally.

PSYC 201 - Research in Psychology I

This course is an introduction to the basic principles of research in psychology. We focus on how to design and execute psychological studies, analyze and interpret data, and write research reports. Students conduct studies in different areas of psychology (e.g., social, clinical, cognitive) that illustrate basic methodology and learn statistical techniques commonly used to understand psychological data. The course includes a laboratory component that facilitates expertise with computer statistical software and increases familiarity with American Psychological Association style. Every semester.

PSYC 202 - Research in Psychology II

This course continues instruction begun in PSYC 201. We more closely examine key factors for planning and implementing research studies, such as validity, variable operationalization, and common ethical dilemmas faced by psychologists. Students gain in-depth experience in developing, interpreting, and communicating different types of empirical psychological research designs (e.g., experiments, surveys, interviews). Every semester.

PSYC 220 - Educational Psychology

An introduction to theory and research in educational psychology. Topics include learning theory, learner characteristics, intelligence, creativity, motivation, measurement and evaluation, and models of teaching appropriate for diverse learners from early childhood through young adulthood. Students are required to complete observations in classroom settings. Every semester.

PSYC 240 - Principles of Learning and Behavior

This course provides an in-depth introduction to the principles and methods used in the study of how behavior changes as a function of experience. The emphasis will be on classical and operant conditioning principles and procedures, which have become the standard research technologies used in biomedical, psychopharmacological, and other animal laboratory research areas. The laboratory component is designed to give students experience with behavioral technology and data collection and analysis. Group A course.  Spring semester.

PSYC 242 - Cognitive Psychology

A survey of the experimental analysis of the mind. Topics include attention, memory and forgetting, problem solving, creativity, reasoning, and language. Special emphasis is given to the study of discourse comprehension and reading. The weekly laboratory sessions afford students an opportunity to interact directly with cognitive phenomena and research methods. Group A course. Fall semester.

PSYC 243 - Psychological Anthropology

This course explores the relationship between self, culture and society. We will examine and discuss critically the broad array of methods and theories anthropologists use to analyze personality, socialization, mental illnes and cognition in different societies. Our aim is to address questions related to the cultural patterning of personality, the self and emotions and to understand how culture might shape ideas of what a person is. We will also seek to understand how cultures define behavior as abnormal, pathological or insane, and how they make sense of trauma and suffering. Alternate years.

PSYC 244 - Cognitive Neuroscience

Cognitive neuroscience is a relatively recent discipline that combines cognitive science and cognitive psychology with biology and neuroscience to investigate how the brain enables the myriad of complex functions we know as the mind. This course will explore basic concepts and contemporary topics in the field, focusing in particular on the methods used in cognitive nueroscience research. Through lecture and lab sessions, students will learn to read and interpret primary source material, design and implement cognitive neuroscience studies, and present research in verbal and written forms. Overall, students will gain an appreciation for the amazing intricacy of the brain-mind relationship, as well as a sense of how this relationship may be understood eventually using cognitive neuroscience techniques. Group A course. Offered yearly.

PSYC 246 - Exploring Sensation/Perception

An examination of the processes of sensation and perception. While the course features a strong emphasis on neurophysiology of sensation, classical approaches to the study of perception will also figure prominently. Particular emphasis will be placed on vision and somatosensation, including pain processes. Lecture and weekly 3.5 hour investigatory laboratory.  Offered occasionally.

PSYC 248 - Behavioral Neuroscience

An examination of the role of the nervous system in the control of behavior. While the course features a systems approach to the investigation of sensory and perceptual mechanisms, molecular and cellular components of the nervous system will also be discussed in the context of course topics. Particular emphasis is given to the nature of learning, memory, and motor processes, motivation, emotion, homeostasis, cognition, and human neuropsychology. The laboratory will be used for a variety of instructor-demonstrative and student participatory research and laboratory activities. Spring semester.

PSYC 250 - Developmental Psychology

This is a course in lifespan human development; as such, we examine psychological theories and research to describe, understand, and explain the processes that shape our lives between conception and death. We will cover issues related to physiological/biological, cognitive/linguistic, and social/emotional development. A theme throughout this course is an exploration of the lifelong interaction between nature and nurture. This course also focuses on developing an understanding of the concepts, methods, research findings, and applied knowledge central to the study of developmental psychology. Group B course. Offered once each year.

PSYC 252 - Distress, Dysfunction, and Disorder: Perspectives on the DSM

This course will examine the experiences, causes, and treatments of the major forms of distress and disorder codified in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM), including schizophrenia, mood disorders, anxiety disorders, and personality disorders. We will critically evaluate theories and research derived from biological, genetic, psychological, interpersonal, and social-cultural perspectives. Group B course.  Spring semester.

PSYC 254 - Social Psychology

This course will survey the ways in which social phenomena influence the thoughts, feelings, and behavior of individuals. The major theories, experiments, and issues associated with social psychology will be examined. Sample topics include love, aggression, conformity, attitudes, prejudice, persuasion, obedience, and attribution. Group B course.

PSYC 256 - Personality Psychology

This course will survey the major theoretical and empirical approaches to understanding human personality. Specific topics to be covered include psychoanalytic, humanistic, existential, and biological personality theories; motivation and cognition; traits; identity and the self; and the cultural and social context of personality. Research and assessment strategies for understanding personality will be explored and critically evaluated. Group B course. Spring semester.

PSYC 262 - Asian American Psychology

This course explores the psychological experiences of Asian Americans through readings from disciplines such as psychology, sociology, Asian American Studies, as well as the popular media. The central question organizing this course is how academic research can inform the daily lived experiences of Asian Americans. Topics include racialization and racialized imagery, how behavior is shaped by prevalent stereotypes of Asian Americans, negotiating bicultural/biracial identities, transracial adoption, immigration, acculturation, and mental health, among others. Counts as a UP3 course.

PSYC 264 - The Psychology of Gender

This course provides an examination and a critique of psychological theories, methods, and research about gender. We will explore structural, social, individual, and biological explanations of how gender is experienced and represented, as well as of gender similarities and differences. Examples of research and theory will come from a wide variety of areas in psychology and related disciplines, and will address such issues as social and personality development, bodies and body image, social relationships, cognition, identity, language, violence, moral reasoning, sexuality, sexual orientation, etc. We will explore the intersection of gender with other social identities and will also learn about the historical, cultural, and epistemological underpinnings of psychological research on gender. Counts as a UP3 course. Offered occasionally.

PSYC 266 - History of Psychology

This course explores major developments and ideas in psychology such as: the history of ideas about "the mind"; the effects of theorists' life experiences on their ideas; key historical and social events that shaped the field; when and how psychology became a science; and how ideas about what is "normal" shape and are shaped by psychology. Counts as a UP3 course.

PSYC 268 - The Psychology of Multiculturalism: Identity in Diverse Societies

This course examines the psychological effects of social diversity on our lives as individuals and as group members. Topics include: 1) gender, ethnicity, social class and other group memberships; 2) the perception of others; 3) social identity formation and change in relation to self; 4) in group/out-group relations in relation to identity; and 5) social change to reduce intergroup tensions. Finally, the class will consider how psychology as a discipline might change to become more relevant and sensitive to questions of diversity. Counts as a UP3 course. Fall semester.

PSYC 270 - Psychology of Sustainable Behavior

This course is an introduction to the psychological study of sustainable behavior. As scientific evidence of degraded world environmental conditions accumulates, researchers from many disciplines are joining the effort to find solutions. Technological innovation will certainly play a role, but equally important are behavior changes at both the organizational and individual level. Psychologists use their training in the scientific study of human behavior to examine why people do or do not act sustainably in a variety of situations. In this course we will study this body of research and use psychological principles, theories, and methods to understand the factors that underlie both environmentally destructive as well as environmentally sustainable actions. A significant component of the course will be direct application of theory to one's own actions as well as to a campus-or community-based sustainability issue.  Fall semester.

PSYC 294 - Topics Course

Varies by semester. Consult the department or class schedule for current listing.

PSYC 300 - Directed Research in Psych

Students are involved and guided in conducting research within specific content areas approved by the supervising faculty. Research may be conducted individually or in small groups depending on the content area. Research groups meet regularly for presentation of background material, discussions of common readings, and reports on project status. Directed research is typically taken in the junior year and is open only to declared majors. Students will be assigned to sections by the supervising faculty.  Every semester.

PSYC 370 - Understanding and Confronting Racism

An examination of the social psychological factors associated with race prejudice and racism, particularly in the United States. Focusing on the psychological theories proposed to understand racism, this course investigates the causes and consequences of racism at the individual, interpersonal, institutional and cultural levels of society. Special attention will be given to exploring interventions to reduce racism. Counts as a UP3 course.

PSYC 372 - Health Psychology

The field of health psychology addresses three issues: 1) the ways in which psychological factors and experiences (such as stress, personality patterns, discrimination, etc.) affect health, 2) changing health behaviors and 3) the psychological effects of being ill. We will read research articles, theoretical essays, and first person accounts as a basis from which to understand these issues and also to grapple with such questions as: What exactly is "health"? What are the connections between the mind and the body? Can psychology help explain how our membership in different social groups affects our health? Why do some people get sick and others stay well? What is it like to be a patient? A doctor? How do societal ideas about illness and disability affect us?  Fall semester.

PSYC 374 - Clinical and Counseling Psych

This course examines specific applications of psychological principles to the mental health field, focusing on strategies for therapeutic intervention. We will pay particular attention to the issues raised by traditional clinical practice, such as ethics, the politics and economics of mental health, and cultural biases, and consider alternatives to mainstream clinical services, including art therapy, spirituality, and non-Western healing. Fall semester.

PSYC 375 - Mood and Anxiety

Sadness, despair, anxiety, dread: This seminar explores contemporary theories and research that help us understand and alleviate mood and anxiety disorders. We will examine evolutionary, cognitive, biological, sociocultural, and developmental perspectives on mood and anxiety, and we will grapple with current controversies concerning diagnosis, comorbidity, prevention, and pharmacology of mood and anxiety disorders. The seminar will also examine the promotion of well-being and positive psychology. Offered every few years.

PSYC 378 - Psychology of Language

An examination of psychological factors that affect the comprehension of oral and written language. Topics include the origin of language, how language can control thought, the role of mutual knowledge in comprehension, and principles that underlie coherence in discourse. Includes readings from psycholinguistics, philosophy, sociolinguistics, gender studies, social psychology, and especially from cognitive psychology. Emphasis is placed on current research methods so that students can design an original study. Spring semester.

PSYC 379 - Cultural Psychology

This course will examine the interplay of culture and the mind. In the first part of the course, we will briefly examie theoretical developments and methodological limitations in the field of cultural psychology, which has hightlighted fundamental differences in models of the self, attention, perception, memory, morality, and emotions across East/Southeast Asians and Western Europeans/North Americans. The remaining time will be spent examining a series of topics on how culture and psychology interrelate in our increasingly globalized world. These topics include, but are not limited to, acculturation, multicultural identity negotiation, cultural evolution and reproduction, multicultural competence, emotion and memory across cultures, culture of gender, and culture of socioeconomic status. Offered yearly.

PSYC 380 - Community Psychology and Public Health

This course will examine the inter-related fields of community psychology, public health psychology, and critical health psychology.  These disciplines share a commitment to the promotion of well-being within a social and cultural context.  We will explore theory, research, and praxis related to ecological analysis, empowerment models, prevention and health promotion, risk and resilience, community organizing and activism, and systems assessment.  These conceptual tools will help us understand the complex processes underlying clinical psychopathology (e.g., serious and persistent mental illness; perinatal mood disorders), behavioral health (e.g., smoking; obesity; substance abuse), and symptoms of structural violence (e.g., domestic violence; homelessness).  Throughout the course, we will focus on the unique contributions of psychological scholarship to understanding and improving population health.  All students will participate in a civic engagement experience of at least two hours a week to foster fuller understanding of the course concepts. Student led component. UP3 course. Offered every few years. 

PSYC 382 - Hormones and Behavior

This class will focus on the hormonal mechanisms of behavior in animals (including homo sapiens). Following introductory lectures, a series of topics will be explored, with a particular emphasis placed on those behaviors most directly mediated by hormonal activity (such as aggression, sexual and reproductive behaviors, stress responses, etc.).

PSYC 385 - Mind Reading:Understanding Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a non-invasive technique used to provide indirect measures of neural activity in healthy (and unhealthy) humans. Although the technique has been readily available to researchers for only about 20 years, its popularity and use has grown tremendously in the last 10, and we now see it influencing aspects of culture and society not traditionally based in biomedical research (i.e. law, politics, economics). This course will cover the mechanics of fMRI, evaluate its strengths and weaknesses, and explore recent applications that have received wide and sometimes controversial media coverage. By the end of the course, students will understand essential components of the fMRI technique and be informed consumers of primary and secondary source reports involving brain imaging. Prequisites: PSYC 100 or PSYC 180; PSYC 201; and either PSYC 244 or PSYC 248.  Spring semester.

PSYC 386 - Seminar in Neuropharmacology

This is an advanced course that will focus on the study of drugs used to alter the central nervous system. The course will begin with basic pharmacological principles and then concentrate on the various uses of drugs to alter brain neurochemistry. Topics for discussion will include the pharmacological treatment of schizophrenia, depression, pain, anxiety and generally, the neurochemical basis of behavior. In addition to discussion of the use of drugs for clinical purposes, a significant amount of time will be spent on the use of "drugs of abuse" (e.g. cocaine, marijuana, LSD). While the focus of the course will be on the biochemical mechanisms of these drugs, an effort will be made to investigate and discuss the sociological ramifications of drug use. Three discussion/lecture hours per week.

PSYC 394 - Topics Course

Varies by semester. Consult the department or class schedule for current listing.

PSYC 488 - Senior Seminar

Senior seminars examine a variety of topics. Specific topics will be determined at the time of registration, and may include African American Psychology, Lives in Context, Culture and Psychology, and Development in Context. These count as a UP3 course.

PSYC 494 - Topics Course

Varies by semester. Consult the department or class schedule for current listing.

PSYC 601 - Tutorial

Every semester.

PSYC 602 - Tutorial

Every semester.

PSYC 603 - Tutorial

Every semester.

PSYC 604 - Tutorial

Every semester.

PSYC 611 - Independent Project

Every semester.

PSYC 612 - Independent Project

Every semester.

PSYC 613 - Independent Project

Every semester.

PSYC 614 - Independent Project

Every semester.

PSYC 615 - Independent Project

Every semester.

PSYC 621 - Internship

Every semester.

PSYC 622 - Internship

Every semester.

PSYC 623 - Internship

Every semester.

PSYC 624 - Internship

Every semester.

PSYC 631 - Preceptorship

Every semester.

PSYC 632 - Preceptorship

Every semester.

PSYC 633 - Preceptorship

Every semester.

PSYC 634 - Preceptorship

Every semester.