Class Schedules

An introduction to psychological science -- the study of behavior and mental processes. This course surveys the major subdisciplines of the field, including such topics as the brain and neuroscience, behavioral genetics, cognitive and social development, perception, learning, memory, decision-making, language, consciousness, emotions, motivation, psychological disorders, social identity, interpersonal interactions and group and cultural processes. Lecture and laboratory components.

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:
Social science

Course Materials

This course is an introduction to the basic principles of research in psychology, with an emphasis on statistical techniques used in psychological science. We examine how to test psychological hypotheses using various statistical analyses, and we consider the pros and cons of experimental, quasi-experimental, and correlational research designs. The course includes a weekly laboratory component in which students develop proficiency with statistical software, writing reports in American Psychological Association style, and familiarity with experimental techniques unique to behavioral research. Prerequisite(s): PSYC 100 Permission of instructor is required for first year students.

General Education Requirements:
Quantitative Thinking Q3

Distribution Requirements:
Social science

Course Materials

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.

General Education Requirements:
Quantitative Thinking Q1

Distribution Requirements:
Social science

Course Materials

Each of us is a unique individual with distinct interests, abilities, and appearances. At the same time, we all have much in common-each of us started as just a single cell at conception, our brains and bodies developed in essentially the same sequence, and someday, we will all die. What are the general paths and stages of development? How do our unique qualities emerge? What role does our genetic material play in development? What role does our environment play? Is there a point at which some of our traits are "set," or do we retain the capacity to change throughout development? In this course, we will work to answer these questions and more. With a life-span approach, we will examine the theories and research that describe and explain our physical, cognitive, and social development from conception to death. Prerequisite(s): PSYC 100 or permission of instructor.

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:
Social science

Course Materials

This course examines 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, dissociative disorders, stress disorders, and personality disorders. We critically evaluate theories and research derived from biological, genetic, psychological, interpersonal, and social-cultural perspectives. Group B course. Prerequisite(s): PSYC 100 or PSYC 180

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:
Social science

Course Materials

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). Prerequisite(s): PSYC 201 and must be a declared psychology major.

General Education Requirements:
Writing WA
Quantitative Thinking Q2

Distribution Requirements:
Social science

Course Materials

This advanced level seminar takes many of the topics covered in Behavioral Neuroscience and Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience to the next level-- investigating and discussing further the biopsychology of a range of topics, such as learning and memory, brain neuroplasticity, aging, consciousness, genetics, addiction, sex differences, emotion and stress, psychiatric disorders, and current thought about the biology of behavior. Prerequisites: PSYC 201 or STAT 155; and PSYC 244 or PSYC 246 or PSYC 248, or BIOL 316 with PSYC 100 or PSYC 180.

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:
Social science

Course Materials

It is known that high levels of early life stress disrupt several aspects of children's development. In this course, we will examine the role of neurobiology, family environment, and societal factors in early life adversity. The questions we will address include: What aspects of the developing brain make children sensitive to stress? What factors contribute to child maltreatment, and what are its long-term outcomes? In what ways do poverty and deprivation affect the developing child? How do racism and discrimination contribute to health disparities in young people? And how does resilience develop? Students will read primary research articles and lead discussions throughout the semester; they will also write and present a research proposal on a subtopic of interest to them. Prerequisite: PSYC 100; and PSYC 201 or STAT 155.

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:
Social science

Course Materials

Directed Research provides an intensive research experience in which students engage fully in the research process and produce a complete study over the course of the semester. With the close support of a faculty member each step of the way, students design a research project intended to extend knowledge in a psychological area of their interest, collect and analyze data, write a research report that includes an extensive literature review, and present their project as a poster in a public setting. Directed research is open only to declared psychology majors; students are assigned to sections by the supervising faculty. This course fulfills the capstone requirement for the psychology major. Prerequisite(s): PSYC 301, at least one intermediate course, and at least one advanced course (or permission of instructor).

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:
Social science

Course Materials

An introduction to psychological science -- the study of behavior and mental processes. This course surveys the major subdisciplines of the field, including such topics as the brain and neuroscience, behavioral genetics, cognitive and social development, perception, learning, memory, decision-making, language, consciousness, emotions, motivation, psychological disorders, social identity, interpersonal interactions and group and cultural processes. Lecture and laboratory components.

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:
Social science

Course Materials

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 behavioral standard research technologies used in neuroscience, 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. Prerequisite(s): PSYC 100 or PSYC 180.

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:
Social science

Course Materials

How do people learn, remember, and think?  How much of our cognitive life are we even consciously aware of?  This course addresses these questions and others from the perspective of experimental cognitive psychology.  Topics include perception, attention, memory, the organization of knowledge, language, and decision making. Weekly laboratory sessions afford students the opportunity to interact more directly with cognitive phenomena and research methods.  Readings are mainly from primary sources.  Group A course. Prerequisite(s): PSYC 100.

General Education Requirements:
Writing WP

Distribution Requirements:
Social science

Course Materials

This class is an introduction to feminist psychological theory and research dedicated to understanding and critiquing biological, psychological, social, and cultural meanings and implications of gender and its intersections with race, physical ability, sexual orientation, etc. Examples of research and theory will come from a wide variety of areas in psychology and related disciplines, and will address such issues as socialization and social development, stereotypes, bodies and body image, social relationships, identity, language, violence, sexuality and sexual behavior, well-being, work, etc. We will also learn about the historical, cultural, and epistemological underpinnings of psychological research on gender. Counts as a UP3 course. Prerequisite(s): PSYC 100 or permission of the instructor.

General Education Requirements:
U.S. Identities and Differences

Distribution Requirements:
Social science

Course Materials

What is "disability" and what does an understanding of disability tell us about human experience more generally? What is a "disability identity" and what implications might claiming that identity have for psychological well-being and social change? How do stereotypes of disabled people and expectations of "normality" affect everyone's lives (not just those with disabilities)? Why don't many Deaf people consider themselves "disabled?" What might we learn from shifting the "problem" of disability from the individual person to the social environment? This course will explore these and many other questions that emerge from thinking about the experience of disability (and its intersection with identities based on gender, race, class, and sexuality). Grounded in a critical disability and Deaf studies framework that considers the socially, culturally, linguistically, and historically constructed meaning of physical, sensory, and cognitive "impairments," the course will rely on theoretical and empirical readings from psychology and related disciplines, memoir, film, and guest visitors as we explore the social and psychological meanings of disability. Prerequisite(s): PSYC 100 and PSYC 201

General Education Requirements:
U.S. Identities and Differences

Distribution Requirements:
Social science

Course Materials

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, social psychology, and especially from cognitive psychology. Emphasis is placed on current research methods so that students can design an original study. Student led component. Prerequisite(s): PSYC 100 (or PSYC 201) and PSYC 242 or two linguistics classes or permission of instructor.

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:
Social science

Course Materials

Why are we motivated to find meaning in our lives, where do we look for it, and when do we feel that we’ve found it? To explore these questions this course will draw from current psychological research on self-definition, narrative identity, mortality salience, free will, religious belief and political affiliation. Prerequisite: PSYC 100; and PSYC 201 or STAT 155.

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:
Social science

Course Materials

What exactly happens inside the brain when the mind goes awry? What are the subjective experiences of psychiatric disorders and how can our understanding of the brain better elucidate the causes and potential treatments for these conditions? Today, modern neuroscience has significantly advanced our insight into these questions. This course is designed to overview major types of mental illness and delve into their origins using a neuroscience approach. In order to explore these topics, class will involve (1) first-hand narratives of individuals with mental illness, (2) interactive lectures, during which you’ll acquire and share knowledge, (3) group presentations, and (4) group discussions on neuroscience research. As students in this course, you will be evaluated through written and presented work, as well as critical review and discussion of neuroscience research. By the completion of this course, you should have a detailed understanding of the neurobiology of psychopathologies, and an increased capacity to read and interpret neuroscience research. Prerequisite: PSYC 201 or STAT 155; and PSYC 244 or PSYC 246 or PSYC 248, or BIOL 316 with PSYC 100 or PSYC 180.

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:

Course Materials

What makes people choose their jobs and careers? Why are women and people of color hardest hit by unemployment due to COVID-19? First, we'll establish a foundational understanding of classic gendered topics, such as interests, stereotypes, socialization, and intersectionality. Then, we’ll focus on specific issues such as occupational choice, the opportunity gap, the wage gap, workplace prejudice and discrimination, leadership, and parenthood-career dynamics. This seminar will grow students’ skills in reading and discussing research and science from multiple psychology fields. Students will gain an important perspective on their upcoming experiences as members of the workforce and discuss ways to advance employment social justice. Prerequisites: PSYC 100; and PSYC 201 or STAT 155.

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:
Social science

Course Materials

The Theory of Special Relativity makes our heads hurt. The Theory of Gravitation has graduated to Law. The Theory of Evolution remains divisive somehow. But what are the key theories of Neuroscience? This class deals with the theoretical underpinnings of neuroscience on all levels from the generation of action potentials through channel dynamics in the cell to models of animal (and human) behavior. By studying these theories we will explore the organization of the nervous system on many different levels, explore the ways in which the brain is similar to and highly different from a traditional desktop computer, see the way in which a proper theory can help explain the results of experiments and guide the development of future experiments, and begin to understand those areas of Neuroscience in which theoretical understanding is currently lacking. Along the way we will discuss computational and mathematical methods that have been successful in furthering our knowledge about the brain and are likely to be important in the future theoretical development of neuroscience. By the end of class students will be able to evaluate theoretical descriptions of neural phenomena, design experiments to test these theories, and propose their own models and explanations. Prerequisites: PSYC 201 or STAT 155; and PSYC 244 or PSYC 246 or PSYC 248, or BIOL 316 with PSYC 100 or PSYC 180.

General Education Requirements:
Writing WA

Distribution Requirements:

Course Materials

Directed Research provides an intensive research experience in which students engage fully in the research process and produce a complete study over the course of the semester. With the close support of a faculty member each step of the way, students design a research project intended to extend knowledge in a psychological area of their interest, collect and analyze data, write a research report that includes an extensive literature review, and present their project as a poster in a public setting. Directed research is open only to declared psychology majors; students are assigned to sections by the supervising faculty. This course fulfills the capstone requirement for the psychology major. Prerequisite(s): PSYC 301, at least one intermediate course, and at least one advanced course (or permission of instructor).

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:
Social science

Course Materials

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:
Social science

Course Materials

An introduction to psychological science -- the study of behavior and mental processes. This course surveys the major subdisciplines of the field, including such topics as the brain and neuroscience, behavioral genetics, cognitive and social development, perception, learning, memory, decision-making, language, consciousness, emotions, motivation, psychological disorders, social identity, interpersonal interactions and group and cultural processes. Lecture and laboratory components.

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:
Social science

Course Materials

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 major.

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:
Natural science and mathematics

Course Materials

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.

General Education Requirements:
Quantitative Thinking Q1

Distribution Requirements:
Social science

Course Materials

This course is built around the argument that environmental problems do not exist; they are human behavior problems. Crafting effective solutions to issues such as ocean acidification, air pollution, or climate change requires understanding the human behaviors that lead to them. Course readings will cover psychological principles and theories relevant to sustainability, and in-class discussions will explore the complex web of factors underlying environmentally sustainable and unsustainable actions. Woven through the course is the theme of identity - personal, social, and cultural –and how it intersects with environmentalism. Psychology of Sustainable Behavior is a project-based class. Students will participate in a self-change project (2.5 weeks) and a campus- and community-based collaborative project (4.5 weeks). Prerequisite(s): PSYC 100 for Psychology majors.

General Education Requirements:
U.S. Identities and Differences

Distribution Requirements:
Social science

Course Materials

For children to thrive in our increasingly diverse world, they must be prepared to engage with issues of race and racism. Children need to develop positive racial identities and learn how to navigate the racial privilege or discrimination that they will face in our society. One of the best places for children to learn about race is from their parents, yet parents often struggle with this topic. Should we teach our children to be "colorblind," or should we teach them to notice race? When is the right age to start these conversations? For families who are committed to equity and justice, how can we ensure that these values are passed on to our kids? In this experiential class, you will be research assistants in the Macalester Development of Social Identities Lab. After becoming familiar with key theories from developmental, educational, and social psychology, you will work with a team of researchers to analysize interviews in which parents discussed how they teach their children about race. Prerequisite(s): PSYC 100, PSYC 201, and at least one intermediate course in Psychology. This course counts as an upper-level psychology course, and it satisfies the psychology major's "UP3" requirement.

General Education Requirements:
U.S. Identities and Differences

Distribution Requirements:
Social science

Course Materials

An introduction to psychological science -- the study of behavior and mental processes. This course surveys the major subdisciplines of the field, including such topics as the brain and neuroscience, behavioral genetics, cognitive and social development, perception, learning, memory, decision-making, language, consciousness, emotions, motivation, psychological disorders, social identity, interpersonal interactions and group and cultural processes. Lecture and laboratory components.

General Education Requirements:
Writing WP
Quantitative Thinking Q1

Distribution Requirements:
Social science

Course Materials

An introduction to psychological science -- the study of behavior and mental processes. This course surveys the major subdisciplines of the field, including such topics as the brain and neuroscience, behavioral genetics, cognitive and social development, perception, learning, memory, decision-making, language, consciousness, emotions, motivation, psychological disorders, social identity, interpersonal interactions and group and cultural processes. Lecture and laboratory components.

General Education Requirements:
Writing WP
Quantitative Thinking Q1

Distribution Requirements:
Social science

Course Materials

An introduction to psychological science -- the study of behavior and mental processes. This course surveys the major subdisciplines of the field, including such topics as the brain and neuroscience, behavioral genetics, cognitive and social development, perception, learning, memory, decision-making, language, consciousness, emotions, motivation, psychological disorders, social identity, interpersonal interactions and group and cultural processes. Lecture and laboratory components.

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:
Social science

Course Materials

An introduction to psychological science -- the study of behavior and mental processes. This course surveys the major subdisciplines of the field, including such topics as the brain and neuroscience, behavioral genetics, cognitive and social development, perception, learning, memory, decision-making, language, consciousness, emotions, motivation, psychological disorders, social identity, interpersonal interactions and group and cultural processes. Lecture and laboratory components.

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:
Social science

Course Materials

An introduction to psychological science -- the study of behavior and mental processes. This course surveys the major subdisciplines of the field, including such topics as the brain and neuroscience, behavioral genetics, cognitive and social development, perception, learning, memory, decision-making, language, consciousness, emotions, motivation, psychological disorders, social identity, interpersonal interactions and group and cultural processes. Lecture and laboratory components.

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:
Social science

Course Materials

An introduction to psychological science -- the study of behavior and mental processes. This course surveys the major subdisciplines of the field, including such topics as the brain and neuroscience, behavioral genetics, cognitive and social development, perception, learning, memory, decision-making, language, consciousness, emotions, motivation, psychological disorders, social identity, interpersonal interactions and group and cultural processes. Lecture and laboratory components.

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:
Social science

Course Materials

An introduction to psychological science -- the study of behavior and mental processes. This course surveys the major subdisciplines of the field, including such topics as the brain and neuroscience, behavioral genetics, cognitive and social development, perception, learning, memory, decision-making, language, consciousness, emotions, motivation, psychological disorders, social identity, interpersonal interactions and group and cultural processes. Lecture and laboratory components.

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:
Social science

Course Materials

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

General Education Requirements:
Writing WA

Distribution Requirements:

Course Materials

This course is an introduction to the basic principles of research in psychology, with an emphasis on statistical techniques used in psychological science. We examine how to test psychological hypotheses using various statistical analyses, and we consider the pros and cons of experimental, quasi-experimental, and correlational research designs. The course includes a weekly laboratory component in which students develop proficiency with statistical software, writing reports in American Psychological Association style, and familiarity with experimental techniques unique to behavioral research. Prerequisite(s): PSYC 100 Permission of instructor is required for first year students.

General Education Requirements:
Quantitative Thinking Q3

Distribution Requirements:
Social science

Course Materials

This course is an introduction to the basic principles of research in psychology, with an emphasis on statistical techniques used in psychological science. We examine how to test psychological hypotheses using various statistical analyses, and we consider the pros and cons of experimental, quasi-experimental, and correlational research designs. The course includes a weekly laboratory component in which students develop proficiency with statistical software, writing reports in American Psychological Association style, and familiarity with experimental techniques unique to behavioral research. Prerequisite(s): PSYC 100 Permission of instructor is required for first year students.

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:
Social science

Course Materials

This course is an introduction to the basic principles of research in psychology, with an emphasis on statistical techniques used in psychological science. We examine how to test psychological hypotheses using various statistical analyses, and we consider the pros and cons of experimental, quasi-experimental, and correlational research designs. The course includes a weekly laboratory component in which students develop proficiency with statistical software, writing reports in American Psychological Association style, and familiarity with experimental techniques unique to behavioral research. Prerequisite(s): PSYC 100 Permission of instructor is required for first year students.

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:
Social science

Course Materials

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.

General Education Requirements:
Quantitative Thinking Q1

Distribution Requirements:
Social science

Course Materials

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.

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:
Social science

Course Materials

How do people learn, remember, and think?  How much of our cognitive life are we even consciously aware of?  This course addresses these questions and others from the perspective of experimental cognitive psychology.  Topics include perception, attention, memory, the organization of knowledge, language, and decision making. Weekly laboratory sessions afford students the opportunity to interact more directly with cognitive phenomena and research methods.  Readings are mainly from primary sources.  Group A course. Prerequisite(s): PSYC 100.

General Education Requirements:
Writing WP

Distribution Requirements:
Social science

Course Materials

How do people learn, remember, and think?  How much of our cognitive life are we even consciously aware of?  This course addresses these questions and others from the perspective of experimental cognitive psychology.  Topics include perception, attention, memory, the organization of knowledge, language, and decision making. Weekly laboratory sessions afford students the opportunity to interact more directly with cognitive phenomena and research methods.  Readings are mainly from primary sources.  Group A course. Prerequisite(s): PSYC 100.

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:
Social science

Course Materials

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 neuroscience 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. Prerequisite(s): PSYC 180 or PSYC 100.

General Education Requirements:
Quantitative Thinking Q1

Distribution Requirements:
Natural science and mathematics

Course Materials

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 neuroscience 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. Prerequisite(s): PSYC 180 or PSYC 100.

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:
Natural science and mathematics

Course Materials

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. Lecture and weekly investigatory laboratory. Fulfills Group A requirement. Prerequisite(s): PSYC 100 or PSYC 180 and permission of instructor.

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:
Natural science and mathematics

Course Materials

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. Lecture and weekly investigatory laboratory. Fulfills Group A requirement. Prerequisite(s): PSYC 100 or PSYC 180 and permission of instructor.

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:
Natural science and mathematics

Course Materials

This course survey the ways in which social phenomena influence the thoughts, feelings, and behavior of individuals. We examine the major theories, experiments, and issues in the field of social psychology. Sample topics include emotion, aggression, conformity, attitudes, altruism, prejudice, persuasion, and group dynamics. Group B course. Prerequisite(s): PSYC 100.

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:
Social science

Course Materials

Industrial-organizational (I/O) psychology is the scientific study of people in organizations - and the application of that science to workplace issues facing individuals, teams, organizations and society. This course will introduce you to the science and practice of I/O Psychology, and what I/O Psychology has to offer anyone who plans to lead others or to help develop effective organizations. Topics will include how to determine what to look for in candidates for hire, how to evaluate candidates for hire or promotion, how best to manage performance in organizations, what's been shown to motivate people, employee retention, team effectiveness, and organizational culture. Prerequisite(s): PSYC 100

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:
Social science

Course Materials

This class is an introduction to feminist psychological theory and research dedicated to understanding and critiquing biological, psychological, social, and cultural meanings and implications of gender and its intersections with race, physical ability, sexual orientation, etc. Examples of research and theory will come from a wide variety of areas in psychology and related disciplines, and will address such issues as socialization and social development, stereotypes, bodies and body image, social relationships, identity, language, violence, sexuality and sexual behavior, well-being, work, etc. We will also learn about the historical, cultural, and epistemological underpinnings of psychological research on gender. Counts as a UP3 course. Prerequisite(s): PSYC 100 or permission of the instructor.

General Education Requirements:
U.S. Identities and Differences

Distribution Requirements:
Social science

Course Materials

This course examines multiple, interactive factors that contribute to human health; we take a biopsychsocial approach to understanding how best to promote and maintain health, prevent and treat illness, and adapt and thrive in the context of chronic illness. We discuss the roles of stress, coping, immune response, social relationships, personality, and structural inequalities in the progression and prevention of disease. We also address some ways in which behaviors (e.g., physical activity, nutrition, substance use, sleep) can contribute to wellbeing or sickness, and we examine behavior change strategies that can help improve our own and our community's health habits. Group B course. Prerequisite(s): PSYC 100 .

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:
Social science

Course Materials

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). Prerequisite(s): PSYC 201 and must be a declared psychology major.

General Education Requirements:
Writing WA
Quantitative Thinking Q2

Distribution Requirements:
Social science

Course Materials

This course will explore what "intelligence" means, how it is measured, and how the answers to those questions depend on time, place, and culture. Specific topics will include the history of IQ testing, the biology of intelligence,  intellectual disability, and "brain training". Special attention is given to cognitive approaches and measurement theory. Class sessions will mainly consist of student-led discussions of primary sources. Counts as a Section B course in the Cognitive Science concentration. Prerequisite(s): PSYC 100 and PSYC 201.

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:
Social science

Course Materials

For children to thrive in our increasingly diverse world, they must be prepared to engage with issues of race and racism. Children need to develop positive racial identities and learn how to navigate the racial privilege or discrimination that they will face in our society. Two of the best places for children to learn about race is from their parents and teachers, yet adults often struggle with this topic. Should we teach our children to be "colorblind," or should we teach them to notice race? When is the right age to start these conversations? For families and schools that are committed to equity and justice, how can we ensure that these values are passed on to our kids? In this class, we will draw from developmental, educational, social psychological, and social justice perspectives to generate answers to these questions and more. Counts toward the UP3 requirement. Prerequisite(s): PSYC 100 and PSYC 201, and any other intermediate-level course.

General Education Requirements:
Writing WA
U.S. Identities and Differences

Distribution Requirements:
Social science

Course Materials

This course examines specific applications of psychological principles to the mental health field by exploring strategies for therapeutic intervention. We discuss a wide range of approaches (e.g., psychoanalysis; humanistic therapy; cognitive behavioral and dialectical behavior therapy; mindfulness based stress reduction; family therapy; art therapy) and we consider issues raised by traditional clinical practice, such as ethics, the politics and economics of mental health, and cultural biases. NOTE: Students who have taken European Clinical Psychology through the DIS study away program must have instructor permission to enroll. Prerequisite(s): PSYC 100 and either PSYC 252 or PSYC 272 .

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:
Social science

Course Materials

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

General Education Requirements:
U.S. Identities and Differences

Distribution Requirements:
Social science

Course Materials

Participants in this advanced seminar will probe aspects of a simple but broad question: What is the story of Neuroscience? The information we have gathered about the brain, the nervous system, and behavior is ever-expanding. As it does, is the work that contributed to what we understand (Done where? By whom?), the foundation of this knowledge-- fading from, or neglected in-- the story? Many are familiar with the range of quotes about who writes history, but as the historian Eugen Weber wrote: “If cats could write history, their history would be mostly about cats.” Mehmet Murat ildan asks us first to remember: “History of science is a relay race” and Evelyn Fox Keller cautions: “To know the history of science is to recognize the mortality of any claim to universal truth.” Participants in this course will work to probe the history of specific topics in neuroscience, discuss and report on those activities in presentation and multi-draft paper formats. As Hilary Mantel reminds us: “The past changes a little every time we retell it.” Prerequisite(s): PSYC 100, PSYC 201 or STAT 155, and either: PSYC 180, PSYC 244, PSYC 248 or BIOL 316. Or permission of instructor.

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:

Course Materials

What exactly happens inside the brain when the mind goes awry? What are the subjective experiences of psychiatric disorders and how can our understanding of the brain better elucidate the causes and potential treatments for these conditions? Today, modern neuroscience has significantly advanced our insight into these questions. This course is designed to overview major types of mental illness and delve into their origins using a neuroscience approach. In order to explore these topics, class will involve (1) first-hand narratives of individuals with mental illness, (2) interactive lectures, during which you’ll acquire and share knowledge, (3) group presentations, and (4) group discussions on neuroscience research. As students in this course, you will be evaluated through written and presented work, as well as critical review and discussion of neuroscience research. By the completion of this course, you should have a detailed understanding of the neurobiology of psychopathologies, and an increased capacity to read and interpret neuroscience research. Prerequisite: PSYC 201 or STAT 155; and PSYC 244 or PSYC 246 or PSYC 248, or BIOL 316 with PSYC 100 or PSYC 180.

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:

Course Materials

Why are we motivated to find meaning in our lives, where do we look for it, and when do we feel that we’ve found it? To explore these questions this course will draw from current psychological research on self-definition, narrative identity, mortality salience, free will, religious belief and political affiliation. Prerequisite: PSYC 100; and PSYC 201 or STAT 155.

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:

Course Materials

Directed Research provides an intensive research experience in which students engage fully in the research process and produce a complete study over the course of the semester. With the close support of a faculty member each step of the way, students design a research project intended to extend knowledge in a psychological area of their interest, collect and analyze data, write a research report that includes an extensive literature review, and present their project as a poster in a public setting. Directed research is open only to declared psychology majors; students are assigned to sections by the supervising faculty. This course fulfills the capstone requirement for the psychology major. Prerequisite(s): PSYC 301, at least one intermediate course, and at least one advanced course (or permission of instructor).

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Social science

Course Materials

Students in the Clinical Science Capstone will apply contemporary psychological science to their experiences working in social service settings. During the semester, students will spend a minimum of five hours a week in partnership with an organization serving people living with, or at high risk for living with, mental health challenges. During class time, we will explore the connections between science and practice, discussing evidence-based interventions, ethical dimensions of social service work, specific skill development related to students' internship responsibilities, controversies about caregiving, stress and burnout among care providers, and other topics related to students' specific community placements. Through varied activities (e.g., shared readings, discussion, reflective writing, and guest speakers), the course seeks to deepen students' appreciation for applications of psychological science beyond the lab and classroom. As in Directed Research (PSYC 401), Clinical Science Capstone students will conduct a substantial research project. They will undertake a comprehensive review of past scholarship related to a key aspect of their internship experience, and they will prepare a capstone paper that uses past scholarship to ask and answer a vital question in the field. Unlike Directed Research, however, students in the Clinical Science Capstone will not be expected to gather data. Prerequisite(s): PSYC 301 and an advanced psychology course

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:
Social science

Course Materials