Psychology: Spring 2009 Course Offerings

 

Spring 2009 Course Offerings

Note about meeting times and locations:

The meeting times and locations of the courses listed here can be found on the Course Offering Directory. Be sure to consult the COD for the most updated information regarding schedules and rooms.


101-1 Introduction to Psychology 405 Intelligence
101-2 Introduction to Psychology 406 Psychological Trauma
215 Introduction to Cognition 407 Neurobiology of Learning and Memory
220 Introduction to Psychobiology 408 The Evolution of Language
240 Introduction to Personality Psychology 409 Substance Abuse, Addiction and Recovery
250 Introduction to Child Psychology 411 Psycholinguistics
260 Introduction to Social Psychology 412 Psychology of Reading
305 Research Methods & Data Analysis I 420 Neural Mechanisms of Behavior
306-1 Research Methods & Data Analysis II 423 Social Neuroscience
306-2 Research Methods & Data Analysis II 425 Brain System invovled in Memory
341 Abnormal Psychology 446 Woman's Issues in Clinical Psycholgy
348 Psychology of Aging 449 Sexual Oreintaton and 4Human Development
401 Psychology of Adol. Romance & Sexuality 469 Self-Knowledge
402 Perception and Action in Infants 520 Seminar on Psychobiology
403 Pleasures of the Mind 541 Juvenile Justice, Violence and Adolescent Devel.
404 Children Learning 555 Development Psycholinquistics
   
   
   


PSYC 101-1 Introduction to Psychology

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Instructor: Haidt

Time and Place: TR 3:30-4:45 , Gilmer 130

Includes Optional Review Session R 5-6

Credits: 3

Prerequisites: None

Enrollment Restrictions: None

If course is full through ISIS: An online waitlist may be started if needed.Do not email professor.

Description of course contents: If you never picked up the owners's manual for your mind, this course is the next best thing. The course gives an overview of the major areas of contemporary psychology: psychobiology, cognition, child development, social psychology and clinical psychology. Cross-cutting themes include the ways that evolution and culture work together to create the human mind, and how to use psychology to improve your own life.

Format: Lecture

No. and type of exams: Two 1-hour tests and a final exam

Papers or projects: None



PSYC 101-2 Introduction to Psychology

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Instructor: Bonvillian

Time and Place: TR 12:30- 1:45, Gilmer 130

Includes optional review : T 6-7 Gilmer 130

Credits: 3

Prerequisites: None

Enrollment Restrictions: None

If course is full through ISIS: An online waitlist may be started if needed. Do not email the Professor.

Description of course contents: If you never picked up the owners's manual for your mind, this course is the next best thing. The course gives an overview of the major areas of contemporary psychology: psychobiology, cognition, child development, social psychology and clinical psychology. Cross-cutting themes include the ways that evolution and culture work together to create the human mind, and how to use psychology to improve your own life.

Format: Lecture

No. and type of exams:

Papers or projects: None



PSYC 215: Introduction to Cognition

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Instructor: Willingham

Time and Place: TR 9:30-10:45 Gilmer 130

Includes Optional Review: W 5-6Gilmer 130

Credits: 3

Prerequisites: None

Enrollment Restrictions: None

If course is full through ISIS: Please use the online wait list. Do not email professor.

Description of course contents: Cognition is the Activity of knowing: and use of knowledge. Emphasizing fundamental issues, this course introduced such basic content areas in cognitive psychology and perception, attention, memory and language

Format: Lecture

No. and type of exams:

Papers or projects:



PSYC 220: Introduction to Psychobiology

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Instructor:Illig

Time and Place: MWF 10-10:50 Gilmer 130

Includes Optional Review Session M 6:00-7:00 Gilmer 130

Credits: 3

Prerequisites: None

Enrollment Restrictions: None

If course is full through ISIS: An online waitlist may be started if needed. Do not email the Professor.

Description of course contents: One approach to understanding human behavior is to consider ourselves from a biological perspective. This course attempts to do so by examining how the brain guides behavior. The first portion is an overview of the structure and function of the central nervous system. With this knowledge, we then examine how the brain controls a variety of higher behaviors, including learning and memory, sex, emotions and sleeping.

Format: Lecture

No. and type of exams:

Papers or projects: None



PSYC 240: Introduction to Personality Psychology

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Instructor: Llwewllyn

Time and Place: TR 2:00-3:15 Gilmer 130

Optional Review Session: T 5-6

Credits: 3

Prerequisites: None

Enrollment Restrictions: None

If course is full through ISIS: Please use the online wait list. Do not email the Professor.

Description of course contents:Personality psychology tries to describe the psychological funtioning of whole individuals. This course surveys the many methods and theoretical approached used for the study of personality and includes discussion of the psychoanalytic, social and cognitive systems of thought. Relevant reserch from the perspectives are presented.

Format: Lecture

No. and type of exams:

Papers or projects: None



PSYC 250: Introduction to Child Psychology

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Instructor: Patterson

Time and Place: MW 2:00- 3:15 Gilmer 130

Includes Optional Review Session R 6-7

Credits:3 ( optional 1 credit discussion section)

Prerequisites: None

Enrollment Restrictions: None

If course is full through ISIS: An online waitlist may be started if needed. Do not email the Professor.

Description of course contents: This course provides an introduction to psychological development from birth through adolescence. The nature of changes during infancy, childhood, and adolescence, as well as the methods of study and theorizing about development are discussed.

Format: Lecture, discussion

No. and type of exams: 3, combination of objective and short answer

Papers or projects: One hands-on project (4-5 page paper)



PSYC 260 Introductions to Social Psychology

Instructor: Oishi

Time and Place: TR 11:00- 12:15 Gilmer 130

Credits: 3 (1 credit discussion section is optional)

Prerequisites: None

Enrollment Restrictions: None

If course is full through ISIS: An online waitlist may be started if needed. Do not email the Professor.

Description of course contents: A survey of the major topics in social psychology, including social perception, social cognition, attitudes and persuasion, confromity, helping relationships, and stereotyping and prejudice. Research, theory and applications of social psychology are considered.

Format: Lecture/discussion

No. and type of exams: Three multiple-choice exams

Papers or projects: Two short papers are assigned in discussion sections



PSYC 305: Research Methods & Data Analysis I

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Instructor: Storbeck

Time and Place: TR 9:30-10:45 Gilmer 190

Review Session T 6-7

Credits: 4 (Required lab section)

Prerequisites: PSYC 101 or any 200-level PSYC course

Enrollment Restrictions: Registration is required for the BOTH the lecture and a lab section to be officially enrolled in the class. Otherwise you will be dropped from the class. Instructions on how to add the lecture, lab, or change lab sections will be given during the first lecture.

If course is full through ISIS: An online waitlist may be started if needed. Do not email professor.

Description of course contents: Introduction to research methods in psychology, integrating statistical analysis. Emphasis on descriptive statistics and non-experimental research methods. Use of computers for data analysis, experimentation, and report writing. This course is required for majors and is the first part of a two-part series (305-306).

Format: Lecture

No. and type of exams: 3 or 4 exams and final; short answer, problems

Papers or projects: Lab includes papers/projects



PSYC 306-1: Research Methods & Data Analysis II

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Instructor: Freeman

Time and Place: TR 2:00-3:15 Gilmer 190

Review Session T 5-6

Credits: 4 (Required lab section)

Prerequisites: PSYC 305 (with C- or better, C if class of 2010)

Enrollment Restrictions: Psyc Majors/Minors, Cog- Sci Majors Registration is required for the BOTH the lecture and a lab section to be officially enrolled in the class. Otherwise you will be dropped from the class. Instructions on how to add the lecture, lab, or change lab sections will be given during the first lecture.

If course is full through ISIS: An online waitlist may be started if needed. Do not email professor.

Description of course contents: Second part of a two-part series required for psychology majors. Emphasis on inferential statistics (t-tests and ANOVA) and issues in experimentation. **Course May Meet Second Writing Requirement**

Format: Lecture

No. and type of exams: 3 or 4 exams and final; short answer, problems

Papers or projects: Lab includes papers/projects



PSYC 306-2 Research Methods & Data Analysis II

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Instructor: Schmidt

Time and Place: MWF 9:00-9:50 Maury 209

Includes Optional Review Session R 5-6Gilmer 190

Credits: 4 (Required lab section)

Prerequisites: PSYC 305 (with C- or better, C if class of 2010)

Enrollment Restrictions: Psyc Majors/Minors, Cog- Sci Majors Registration is required for the BOTH the lecture and a lab section to be officially enrolled in the class. Otherwise you will be dropped from the class. Instructions on how to add the lecture, lab, or change lab sections will be given during the first lecture.

If course is full through ISIS: An online waitlist may be started if needed. Do not email professor.

Description of course contents: Second part of a two-part series required for psychology majors. Emphasis on inferential statistics (t-tests and ANOVA) and issues in experimentation. **Course May Meet Second Writing Requirement**

Format: Lecture

No. and type of exams: 4 exams and final: short-answer, multiple-choice, problems

Papers or projects: Lab includes projects/papers



PSYC 341: Abnormal Psychology

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Instructor: Coan

Time and Place: TR 11:00-12:15 Gilmer 190

Credits: 3

Prerequisites: 6 credits in psychology

Enrollment Restrictions: Psychology majors/minors have priority registration

If course is full through ISIS: Please use the online waiting list. Do not email the professor.

Description of course contents: This is an introductory course in psychopathology, or the scientific study of mental disorders. It will focus on the description of specific forms of abnormal behavior and the ways in which they are studied.

Format: Lecture

No. and type of exams:

Papers or projects:



PSYC 348: Psychology of Aging

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Instructor: Salthouse

Time and Place: TR 2:00- 3:15 Gilmer 141

Credits: 3

Prerequisites:

Enrollment Restrictions: Psyc major/minors

If course is full through ISIS: Please use the online waiting list. Do not email the professor.

Description of course contents: Survey of research on adult age differences in psychological characteristics. Topics will include demography, biological changes, cognitive changes, effects of aging on personality and social relationships, death and dying, successful aging and more.

Format: Lecture

No. and type of exams: multiple choice

Papers or projects: None, but several brief "press releases"required in which findings from at least two research articles are described.

 

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PSYC 401 Psychology of Adolescent Romance and Sexuality

Instructor: Hare

Time and Place: TR 11:00 - 12:15 Gilmer 225

Credits: 3

Prerequisites: None

Enrollment Restrictions: 4th Year Psychology majors/minors

If course is full through ISIS: Please use the online waiting list. Do not email the professor.

Description of course contents: This course is designed to provide an advanced overview of theories and research related to sexuality and intimate relationships during childhood and adolescence. It has an empirical and psychological focus, which means that we will learn about youth sexual development primarily from scientific research collected by methods commonly used in various areas of psychological science. Students will be encouraged to think critically about the research we discuss, as well as about its implications. It is not my interest or intention to persuade you in any way to view these matters from a particular perspective, only to raise issues for you to consider.

 

Format: Lectures, Discussion

No. and type of exams: Two exams, mulible choice and essay questions

Papers or projects:Research proposal

 



PSYC 402 Perception and Action in Infants

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Instructor:Keen

Time and Place: MW 2:00 - 3:15 Gilmer B001

Credits: 3

Prerequisites: Psyc 250

Enrollment Restrictions: Psychology majors/minors

If course is full through ISIS: Please use the online waiting list. Do not email the professor.

Description of course contents: We will cover the development of the major perceptual systems (vision and audition) in infancy, and their coordination with major action systems (locomotor systems like walking and fine motor control like reaching/grasping). To understand infant development, we must consider how these systems interact with one another and with the child's developing intellect .

Format: Lectures, Discussion and class presentations

No. and type of exams: One Midtem essay exam

Papers or projects:One, one or more oral presentation in class

 


PSYC 403 Pleasures of the Mind

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Instructor: Kubovy

Time and Place: T 2:00-4:30 Gilmer 081

Credits: 3

Prerequisites: Psych 305 & 306

Enrollment Restrictions: 4th year Psychology majors/minors, Neuroscience, Cog-Sci, GSAS

If course is full through ISIS: Please use the online waitlist. Do not email the professor.

Description of course contents:A re-examination of the concept of pleasure, this course will focus on the pleasure we take when we go through episodes in our lives. We will discuss theories of emotion, motivation, and esthetics with the goal of gaining an understanding of this complex notion.

Format: lecture/discussion and presentations

No. and type of exams: Short Quix on reading ath the begining of each class.

Papers or projects: One Paper, One presentation



PSYC 404: Children Learning

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Instructor:Lillard

Time and Place: F 9:00-11:30 Gilmer 225

Credits: 3

Prerequisites: PSYC 305 and 306 and Psyc 250

Enrollment Restrictions: 4th year Psychology Major/ minors

If course is full through ISIS: Please use the waiting list. Do not email the professor.

Description of course contents: This course will provide a foundation in Cognitive Development, exploring the development of chidlren's thinking in realms such as Theory of Mind and Pretend Play. There will be an emphasis on recent research and source material, building on the foundations laid in Psychology 250.

Format: Seminar

No. and type of exams: None

Papers or projects: 15 page paper; Class presentation and discussion leadership



PSYC 405: Intelligence

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Instructor:Tucker-Drob

Time and Place: R 2:00-4:30 Gilmer 081

Credits: 3

Prerequisites: Psyc 305

Enrollment Restrictions: 4th year Psychology majors/minors, Cognitive Science

If course is full through ISIS: Please use the online waiting list. Do not email the professor.

Description of course contents: Intelligence is one of the oldest researched concepts in all of psychology. Intelligence has been linked with real world outcomes in several important life areas, including socioeconomic status, crime/delinquency, mate selection, health risk behavior, quality of life, and longevity. However, intelligence research has also been one of the most controversial areas of inquiry. Some have suggested that intellectual assessment should be abandoned all together, as tests and testing situations are inherently biased, and intelligence tests are wholly unrepresentative of real world cognitive demands. Others have made claims about the causes and consequences of intelligence that seem to threaten conceptions of free will, meritocracy, and social egalitarianism. Despite its long history, debates surrounding intelligence research remain heated. In fact, no single definition of the concept of intelligence is yet to have been agreed upon. This seminar will be structured in two segments. First we will delve into the history and current state of intelligence research. We will familiarize ourselves with current theories of intelligence, its substrates, and its developmental progression, and with the methods of measuring and understanding intelligence. Second, we will join the debates. We will examine the evidence with critical eyes and begin on our way towards resolving the paradoxes that are prevalent within this controversial field.

Format: Seminar

No. and type of exams:TBA

Papers or projects:


PSYC 406: Psychological Trauma

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Instructor:Wagner

Time and Place: T 5:00-7:30 Gilmer 225

Credits: 3

Prerequisites: None

Enrollment Restrictions: 4th Year Psychology major/minors

If course is full through ISIS: Please use the online waiting list. Do not email the professor.

Description of course contents: The primary purpose of the course is to be introduced to and understand the experience of various types of psychological trauma (e.g., combat trauma, sexual assault) both phenomenologically (through first person accounts) and scientifically (empirial research on posttraumatic stress disorder). In addition, the effects of psychological trauma will be explored through readings on the psychobiology of traumatic stress. We will also begin to explore the various treatment modalities indicated for trauma recovery. The course will also include a discussion of vicarious traumatization, a concept which explores how individuals are affected by exposure to/learning about traumatic material; we will discuss how students in this course will care for themselves while learning about traumatic stress.

Format: Seminar

No. and type of exams: Class will consist of Lectures and Readings, Short reaction papers and an Integrative Final Exam on a topic of the students choice.

Papers or projects:



PSYC 407: Neurobiology of Larning and Memory

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Instructor: Wiltgen

Time and Place: TR 9:30-10:45 Gilmer 081

Credits: 3

Prerequisites: PSYC 305, 220 or 420

Enrollment Restrictions: 4th year Psyc majors/minors, Cog-sci majors, Neuroscience

If course is full through ISIS: Please use the online waiting list. Do not email the professor.

Description of course contents: This seminar will examine the neural basis of learning and memory. We will study brain systems that mediate different types of learning and memory as well as the cellular and molecular mechanisms that allow these systems to acquire and store information. The course will begin with a historical overview of learning and memory research in psychology and transition into modern studies in behavioral neuroscience. Topics will include memory consolidation, neural plasticity, cellular competition for memory storage, the role of neurogenesis in learning and memory and mechanisms of retention and forgetting. We will also discuss disorders that produce memory impairments in humans and current attempts to model these in animals and develop treatments. Students will learn how to read and interpret scientific articles, present their ideas in a group setting and critically analyze current theories in memory research.

Format: Seminar

No. and type of exams: 1 Mid-term exam

Papers or projects: 2-3 oral presentations and a final term paper

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PSYC: 408 The Evolution of Language

Instructor: Wood

Time and Place: TR 9:30-10:45 Gilmer B001

Credits: 3

Prerequisites: Any Linguistics course or Psyc 555 or Psyc 530 or Psyc 411

Enrollment Restrictions: 4th year Psychology majors/minors. Cognitive science and linguistics students

If course is full through ISIS: Please use the online waiting list. Do not email the professor.

Description of course contents: We will examine the Evolution of language in humans from linguistic and cognitive perspectives. Gesture, newly-developed sign languages, home sign systems, and creolization will be studied to understand the evolutionary path of language. We will also discuss the literature in research regarding the origin and emergence/evolution of language in humans.

Format: Seminar

No. and type of exams: One take home midterm

Papers or projects: 1 paper

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PSYC 409: Substance Abuse, Addiction and Recovery

Instructor: Doyle

Time and Place: W 9:00-11:30 Gilmer 081

Credits: 3

Prerequisites:

Enrollment Restrictions: 4th year Psychology majors/minors.

If course is full through ISIS: Please use the online waiting list. Do not email the professor.

Description of course contents: This seminar will examine the phenomenon of recovery from substance abuse and addiction, including alcoholism and other drug addiction. We will review the basics of addiction and focus on how addiction treatment as currently delivered and other interventions (such as self-help/mutual-help, spirituality, alternative methods) are effective with various populations.

Format: Seminar

No. and type of exams: One midterm.

Papers or projects: Two small papers, one class presentation, one final project/paper

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PSYC 411: Psycholinguistics

Instructor: Loncke

Time and Place: M 3:30-6:00 Gilmer 225

Credits: 3

Prerequisites:

Enrollment Restrictions: 4th year Psychology majors/minors. Cog-Sci, Speech Path, Linguistics

If course is full through ISIS: Please use the online waiting list. Do not email the professor.

Description of course contents: This course will discuss how linguistic models help us to understand the psychology of language. We will focus on the emergence of language in children, acquisition and development of language, language disorders and neurolinguistics, sociolinguistics, and bilingualism.

Format: The classes will consist of (1) lecture, (2) video demonstrations, (3) debate and discussion

No. and type of exams: There will be three exams (two in-terms and one final)

Papers or projects: Each student will be expected to do TWO of the following: (1) read and write a discussion paper on a psycholinguistics-related article in a recent journal, (2) give a twenty-minute class presentation and lead a class debate on a psycholinguistics-related hot issue, (3) participate in a psycholinguistics experiment.

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Psyc 412: Psychology of Reading

Instructor: Adams

Time and Place:

Credits: 3

Prerequisites: Psyc 305

Enrollment Restrictions: 4th year Psychology majors/minors.

If course is full through ISIS: Please use the online waiting list. Do not email the professor.

Description of course contents: For psychologists who study the psychology of reading, it sometimes amazes us that most literate people do not think much about the reading process. If you ask the typical person about how reading works, a typical response is that …it just does. I look at words on a page and then the sounds come out of my mouth. You might also hear… I do not know how I do it, but for as long as I can remember I could do it. Under certain circumstances, however, a deeper level of evaluation is forthcoming and people report that it is a very complicated process. Listening to someone who has some type of reading impairment, observing young children as they are learning to read, wondering about the meaning of a passage (Did the main character insult a minor character or was it the other way around?), debating the pronunciation of a word (greasy, Roanoke, Staunton, theater, insurance), or reading a passage in a second language, readers make evaluations/decisions during the reading process. The focus of this class, Psychology of Reading, is the study of the reading process; what happens when we process the squiggles on the page to meaningful information that we can use. This includes word processing, sentence processing, speed-reading, text comprehension, etc. All of this is related to how the brain works and how we think. We will read basic/historical information from texts, review recent psychological research articles, and consider some hands-on experiences related to the reading process. The Psychology of Reading course is an interesting mix of experimental & cognitive psychology and structural linguistics, as well as psychoneurology, phonetics, anthropology, sociology, education, and so on.

Format:

No. and type of exams: about 4 weekly short answer quizzes

Papers or projects: occasional weekly reaction papers, 2 partner projects, 1 research proposal


PSYC 420: Neural Mechanisms of Behavior

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Instructor:Erisir

Time and Place:TR 11:00-12:15 Gilmer 166

Credits: 4

Prerequisites: PSYC 220 or PSYC 222 or permission of instructor

Enrollment Restrictions: Psychology, Cognitive Science, Biology and Neuroscience majors/minors.

If course is full through ISIS: Please use the online waiting. Do not email the professor. If you have special circumstances or alternates for prerequisites, please include a note for the professor while you sign up on ISIS waitlist.

Description of course contents: Lectures and discussion on molecular and cellular aspects of neural mechanisms as they relate to behavior. Topics will include neuroanatomy, neurophysiology, neurotransmitters and receptors, neuropharmacology, cortical organization and function, plasticity and neurodegenerative diseases.

Format: Lectures, discussions and hands-on demonstration. Weekly lectures will be supplemented by practicum sessions on the same topics.

No. and type of exams: Two midterms and one final exam, in multiple-choice and essay formats. Weekly quizzes or take-home assignments based n Practicums

Papers or projects: Optional term paper

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Psyc 423: Social Neuroscience

Instructor: Morris

Time and Place:

Credits:3

Prerequisites: PSYC 220

Enrollment Restrictions: 4th year Psychology, Cognitive Science, Neuroscience majors/minors.

If course is full through ISIS: Please use the online waiting. Do not email the professor.

Description of course contents: A broad perspective on the expanding field of social neuroscience. An overview of novel empirical attempts to illuminate the neural mechanisms underlying social phenomena. Topics include but are not limited to social perception, social cognition, person perception, attitudes, and interpersonal processes. Emphasis on understanding the reciprocal interaction between brain function and everyday social behaviors.

Format: Lectures, discussions

No. and type of exams: 1 10-12 page paper and weekly reaction papers

Papers or projects: Optional term paper



PSYC 425/725: Brain System Involved in Memory

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Instructor: Williams

Time and Place: TR 2:00 -3:15 Gilmer B001

Credits: 3

Prerequisites:Psyc 220,

Enrollment Restrictions: 4th Psychology, Neuroscience majors/minors CogSci majors, GSAS or Instructor Permission

If course is full through ISIS: Please use the online waiting. Do not email the professor.

Description of course contents: The seminar will examine historical and current experimental findings that describe the contribution of neuroanatomical structures in regulating memory formation. An extensive review of the literature will be covered to understand how separate brain regions interact to modify our capacity to learn and remember new information. The literature reviews will also assist in identifying how specific neurotransmitter systems modulate activity in these brain regions during memory storage. Students will learn how to conduct comprehensive literature searchers, organize large volumes of information, improve public speaking skills, be introduced to a broad spectrum of neuroscience techniques and gain a better understanding of the interactions that occur between brain structures and neurotransmitter systems to enable new memories to be formed. Students who enjoy learning from non-traditional sources such as journal articles, archives, annual reviews etc. and are enthusiastic about discussing this information in a public forum are well-suited for this type of seminar.

Format: Lecture, presentations and discussion

No. and type of exams: I midterm exam

Papers or projects: 2-3 (15-20 min) oral presentations and a final 15 page term paper.

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PSYC 446: Womans Issues in Clinical Psychology

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Instructor: Llewellyn

Time and Place: TR 11:00-12:12 Gilmer 001

Credits:3

Prerequisites: PSYC 305 and 306, PSYC 341

Enrollment Restrictions: 4th year Psychology Major/minors

If course is full through ISIS: Please use the online waiting. Do not email the professor.

Description of course contents: Current research and historical perspectives on Women's Psychology and on clinical psychology issues as they pertain uniquely to women. The first part of the course focuses on women's psychology and gender research, investigating how gender differences have been researched. The course then focuses on looking at 2 areas where the influence of clinical psychology -through diagnosis, treatment, and research - can be determined and discussed. These two areas will be eating disorders and domestic violence. The role of culture, feminism, and the media will also be discussed. Students will be asked to give class presentations and to write a research paper on some aspect of one of these two issues.

Format: Lecture, discussion and presentations

No. and type of exams: 5-6 take-home essay questions divided over several weeks and a take-home final - that is both multiple choice & essay

Papers or projects: A research proposal including a literature review of a topic chosen by the student.

Other: In-class presentation on the literature review of their research proposal topic, including leading the class discussion on the current research in this area.



PSYC 449: Sexual Orientation and Human Development

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Instructor:Patterson

Time and Place: M 9:00-11:30 Gilmer 225

Credits: 3

Prerequisites: Psyc 305

Enrollment Restrictions: 4th-year Psychology majors/minors

If course is full through ISIS: Please use the online waiting. Do not email the professor.

Description of course contents: This seminar is an overview of the research and theory related to sexual orientation across the lifespan from the standpoint of the social sciences. Topics include conceptualization of sexual identities, origins and development of sexual orientation, sexual identity formation and disclosure. Selected issues such as couple relationships, employment and careers, parenthood, and aging are also explored, since they may be affected by sexual orientation.

Format: Seminar.Lecture , Presentations and discussion

No. and type of exams:

Papers or projects:



PSYC 469: Self-Knowledge

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Instructor: T. Wilson

Time and Place: W 2:00-4:30 Gilmer B081

Credits: 3

Prerequisites: Psyc 260. 305 and 306

Enrollment Restrictions: 4th year Psychology majors/minors

If course is full through ISIS: Please use online waiting list. Do not email the professor.

Description of course contents: The purpose of this course is to familiarize students with some of the major viewpoints in psychology on the nature of the unconscious, the nature of the conscious mind, and self-knowledge. There is not enough time in one semester to cover all areas in psychology relevant to self insight. The course is thus a selective one. The topics will include psychoanalysis, modern research on awareness and consciousness, self-perception, and implicit versus explicit mental states. Some of the more popular areas related to self insight will NOT be covered, such as hypnosis, meditation, drug experiences, and other altered states of consciousness. There will be a midterm, final, and three projects meant to illustrate theories of self-knowledge. For example, one project will involve keeping a dream diary and analyzing one of your dreams. The purpose of each project is to teach you, in a practical way, more about psychology and to demonstrate the potential of each approach for improving self knowledge. The projects will not radically improve your self insight; in fact, they probably won’t not increase your self knowledge at all. You will be asked to approach each project critically and to evaluate its usefulness in a written report. Thus, the projects are designed to teach you something about psychology, not make you better people or solve any problems you might be having. Finally, the emphasis of the course will be on normal human functioning and not mental problems or disorders. The instructor is a social psychologist not a clinical psychologist and has not trained to do therapy or psychological counseling. Thus, do not take this course if your goal is to solve personal problems.

Format: Seminar

No. and type of exams: Mid-term and final, take home

Papers or projects:Three projects with Written reports



PSYC 520: Seminar in Psychobiology

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Instructor:Brunjes

Time and Place: TR 11:00-12:15 Gilmer 081

Credits: 3

Prerequisites:Psyc 220 or 420 or graduate standing

Enrollment Restrictions: 4th year Psychology majors/minors. Cognitive Science, Neuroscience, GSAS

If course is full through ISIS: Please use the online waiting list. Do not email the professor.

Description of course contents: The class will examine recent scientific articles and theories of brain structure and function.

Format: Seminar

No. and type of exams:None

Papers or projects: Two



PSYC 541: Juvinile Justice, Violence and Adolescent Development

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Instructor: Reppucci

Time and Place: T 2:00-4:30 Gilmer B081

Credits: 3

Prerequisites: PSYC 346 (with a B+ or better) or permission of the instructor; GRADUATE, OR PROFESSIONAL STUDENT STATUS. Note: undergraduates who have not taken PSYC 346 will not be accepted under any conditions.

Enrollment Restrictions: 4th-year Psychology, 3rd years after 4th years have registered ,GSAS.

If course is full through ISIS: Please use the online waiting list. Do not email the professor.

Description of course contents: The goal of this seminar is to provide an in depth exposure to the interface between adolescent development and the juvenile justice system. Topics will include adolescent competency, culpability and accountability in legal contexts, juvenile violence, the Supreme Court and juvenile justice, prevention of delinquency and interventions with delinquents, the changing court procedures and community standards. All of these will be approached from the standpoint of what community, clinical and developmental psychology can contribute to the legal system.

Format: Lecture, discussion, special guests and student presentations

   
No. and type of exams:

 
Papers or projects: At least three short papers and one major paper that integrates law and psychology on a relevant issue; other assignments TBA.

 



PSYC 555: Developmental Psycholinguistics

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Instructor: Bonvillian

Time and Place: TR 9:30-10:45 Gilmer 225

Credits: 3

Prerequisites:

Enrollment Restrictions: GSAS and 4th year Psychology majors/minors.Cog-sci and Linguistics

If course is full through ISIS: Please use the online waiting list. Do not email the professor.

Description of course contents: Examines current Research and theoretical models of children’s language acquisition. Topics include normal children’s acquisition of spoken language, sign language acquisition, and communication skills in autistic and other groups with language disabilities.

Format: Seminar

No. and type of exams: Final Exam

Papers or projects: One 12-16 page paper.



 

 

 

 


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