Psychology Courses
All undergraduate courses except PSY 101 and PSY 113 offered by this department are cross-listed as CSP and PSY. Some courses in the department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences are cross-listed as BCS and PSY. Click on the following links learn more about them.
Special Courses, Including Honors Courses
Research Methodology And Laboratory or Practicum Courses
General Course Information
An Introduction to Psychology course is a prerequisite for declaring the major
and a requirement in the minors in psychology. It may be waived for students
who receive a score of 3 or higher on the Advanced Placement psychology examination.
A score of 4 or 5 on that examination will earn college credit for PSY 101.
College courses taken in high school do not always satisfy the requirement.
Students should see an adviser with questions. There is also a placement
examination offered through the College Center for Academic Support Any
PSY 101 prerequisites or requirement is waived upon passing this exam.
Students taking psychology courses as part of a Psychology degree should register for those courses under PSY rather than CSP or BCS.
The Introductory Course
PSY 101 - Introduction to Psychology
Introduction to Psychology is a balanced and integrated survey of psychology with coverage of both social and natural science domains. Sections of PSY 101 vary, but most consist of lectures, readings, discussions, and demonstrations.
Open to: Freshmen Only
Usually offered: Every Fall
Prerequisites: None
Core Courses
Core Courses in Psychology present surveys of their specific areas. They enter into the requirements for the major and the minors in psychology. The natural science psychology core courses are PSY 110, Neural Foundations of Behavior; PSY 112, Cognitive Psychology; PSY 113, Biopsychology of Social and Clinical Behaviors. The social science psychology core courses are PSY 161, Social Psychology and Individual Differences; PSY 171, Social and Emotional Development; and PSY 181, Theories of Personality and Psychotherapy
PSY 110 - Neural Foundations of Behavior
Introduces the structure and organization of the brain, and its role in perception, movement, thinking, and other behavior. Topics include the brain as a special kind of computer, localization of function, effects of brain damage and disorders, differences between human and animal brains, sex differences, perception and control of movement, sleep, regulation of body states and emotions, and development and aging. No Prerequisites
Open to: All
Usually offered: Every Fall
Prerequisites: None
PSY 112 - Cognitive Psychology
Provides an introduction to basic concepts in modern cognitive psychology. Topics covered include pattern recognition, attention and memory, concepts and categories, language comprehension and production and higher-level thinking, such as reasoning and decision-making. No prerequisites.
Note: Students cannot receive credit for both PSY/BCS 112 and BCS 111.
Open to: All
Usually offered: Every Spring
Prerequisites: None
PSY 113 - Biopsychology of Social and Clinical Behaviors
An exploration of biological explanations of topics in social and clinical psychology, e.g., emotions, sexuality, psychopathology, and addiction.
Open to: All
Usually offered: Every Spring
Prerequisites: None
PSY 161 - Social Psychology and Individual Differences.
An introduction to the field of social psychology and an overview of research on individual differences in personality. Topics include the self, attitudes, social cognition, emotion, interpersonal attraction, relationships, helping, social influence, group behavior, and dispositional differences among people. Students will complete several individual difference measures and receive individualized feedback at the end of the course. Format is lectures augmented with discussions and demonstrations.
Open to: All
Usually offered: Every Spring
Prerequisites: None
PSY 171 - Social and Emotional Development
An examination of the interpersonal, emotional, cognitive, and environmental factors that influence children's social and emotional development from early infancy through late adolescence
Open to: All
Usually offered: Every Fall
Prerequisites: None
PSY 181 - Theories of Personality and Psychotherapy
A survey of personality, emphasizing modern theoretical approaches, basic methods of investigation, and the relations of these theories to psychotherapy and behavioral change.
Open to: All
Usually offered: Every Fall
Prerequisites: None
Special Courses, Including Honors Courses
PSY 309 - Honors Seminar
A survey of the range of research conducted by department faculty. Involves planning for engaging in thesis research and the consideration of research design and presentation issues.
Open to: Majors
Usually offered: Every Spring
Prerequisites: Permission of Instructor (required), PSY 101 (required), STT 211 (required)
PSY 310W - Honors Research I
Development and conduct of research leading to the Honors Thesis
Open to: Majors in Honors Program
Usually offered: Every Fall
Prerequisites:
PSY 311 - Honors Research II
Development and conduct of research leading to the Honors Thesis
Open to: Majors in Honors Program
Usually offered: Every Spring
Prerequisites:
Lecture Courses
PSY 151 - Perception and Action
Explores how the biology of our senses shapes perceptual experiences of reality. Emphasizes sense of sight primarily and hearing secondarily. An important theme is that our sensory systems play a crucial role in the execution of coordinated movements of our bodies, as we navigate in, and interact with, the environment.
Open to: All
Usually offered: Every Fall
Prerequisites: BCS 111 (one of), equivalent background (one of), PSY 110 (one of), PSY 112 (one of)
PSY 152 - Language and Psycholinguistics
An overview of the nature and processing of human languages, including comparisons between language and animal communication systems, the biological bases of human language, and the cognitive mechanisms used in producing, understanding, and learning language.
Open to: All
Usually offered: Every Fall
Prerequisites: BCS 111 (one of), LIN 110 (one of), PSY 110 (one of), PSY 112 (one of)
PSY 153 - Cognition
Considers human cognitive processes, including behavioral and computational methods used to understand the nature of cognition. Explores how we perceive and integrate sensory information to build a coherent perception of the world; how we memorize and retrieve information; how we reason and solve problems. Prerequisites: PSY 110; (PSY 112 recommended). (Spring)
Open to: All
Usually offered: Spring
Prerequisites: PSY 110 required; BCS 111 or PSY 112, recommended
PSY 162 - Understanding Reading
Examines how people read, drawing on ideas from linguistics, cognitive psychology, and cognitive neuroscience. Explores writing systems and the aspects of language they represent, what our eyes do when we read, brain regions involved in reading, factors that underlie developmental difficulties in reading, and how brain damage affects reading.
Open to: All
Usually offered: Every Fall
Prerequisites: None
PSY 172 - Development of Mind and Brain
Introduces human development, focusing on the ability to perceive objects and sounds, to think and reason, and to learn and remember language and other significant patterned stimulation. Includes the nature and mechanisms of development in humans and an overview of what is known about brain and behavioral development in other species.
Open to: All
Usually offered: Spring
Prerequisites: None
PSY 183 - Animal Minds
Considers the cognitive and communicative abilities of animals, especially primates, as compared with humans. Topics include thinking, reasoning, remembering, communicating, and understanding number, time, and causality, in animals ranging from ants to apes.
Open to: All
Usually offered: Every Fall
Prerequisites: None
PSY 209 - Psychology of Human Sexuality
Survey course on understanding sexuality. Includes such topics as biological sexual differentiation, gender role, gender-linked social behaviors, reproduction issues, intimacy, and the role of social and personal factors in psychosexual development.
Open to: All
Usually offered: Fall
Prerequisites: PSY 101 (required)
PSY 220 - The Intelligent Eye
Provides an inter-disciplinary view of modern research into how the human brain solves the problems involved in perception, including how we perceive the three dimensional structure of the world, how we recognize objects and how visual information is used to control action in the world. Students read contemporary research and, through classroom discussion and critical essays, explore and analyze the questions and debates that define contemporary perceptual science.
Open to: All
Usually offered: Spring
Prerequisites: PSY 151 (required)
PSY 221 - Audition
Examines the physiological substrate responsible for hearing. Topics include the physical stimulus for hearing, receptive aspects of speech and language, peripheral physiology (the outer and middle ears, cochlea, and auditory nerve) and central physiology (brainstem nuclei, auditory cortex, descending systems). Introduces electrophysiological techniques used to study auditory function, and explores sensory and perceptual correlates of physiology and sensorineural hearing loss.
Open to: All
Usually offered: Every Spring
Prerequisites: equivalent background (one of), PSY 110 (one of)
PSY 228 - The Human-Machine Interface
Surveys the factors that influence human performance with machines and other artificial systems, including: sensory and motor function, information processing, memory, motivation, decision making, problem solving, the influence of the environment, and facilitators such as instructions, performance aids, selection, and training. Includes in-depth consideration of visual displays and motor input.
Open to: All
Usually offered: Spring
Prerequisites: BCS/PSY 110 or 112; and PSY 151 or 153
PSY 242 - Neuropsychology
Examines clinical neuropsychology, which bridges neurology, neuroscience, and clinical psychology. Covers history of clinical neuropsychology, principles of neuropsychological assessment and the interpretation of cognition and behavior as they relate to brain dysfunction. Considers specific neurological syndromes including: neurodegenerative, cerebrovascular, toxic and memory disorders; epilepsy; head trauma; toxic disorders; infectious processes; pediatric neuropsychology; psychiatric syndromes; and forensic neuropsychology. Patient presentations (videotape and in-person interviews) supplement lectures.
Open to: All
Usually offered: Every Fall
Prerequisites: equivalent background (one of), PSY 110 (one of)
PSY 246 - Biology of Mental Disorders
Remarkable changes have taken place over the past decades in the approach to and understanding of disorders generally termed "psychiatric disorders" or "mental disorders". Even in the mid-twentieth century, such disorders were viewed in social and psychological terms and there was virtually no effective medications to treat these disorders. Today, there is an increasing appreciation of the biological basis of mental disorders, and patients with these disorders benefit from a wide availability of medical treatments. The working concept of this course is that disorders that arise from malfunctioning brain cells are neurobiologic disorders.
The first part of the course will overview basic neurobiology. In the remainder of the course, basic concepts of neurobiology will be presented coincidentally with clinical presentations and a discussion of the clinical management of various disorders: major psychoses, mood disorders, anxiety disorders, addictive disorders, neurodegenerative disorders, and childhood onset disorders.
The understanding of the pathology of these disorders is undergoing rapid change. Therefore, while a text is used, it must be considered a progress report and text readings will be supplemented with readings from the primary literature. BCS 110 is a minimum prerequisite for this course.
Open to: All
Usually offered: Every Fall
Prerequisites: PSY 110 (required)
PSY 259 - Language Development
Introduces children’s language development, including the acquisition of phonology, syntax, and semantics. Focuses on the acquisition of a first language by young children, comparing the acquisition of a variety of spoken and signed languages to find possible universal principles of language learning.
Open to: All
Usually offered: Spring
Prerequisites: BCS 111 (one of), equivalent background (one of), LIN 110 (one of), PSY 101 (one of), PSY 110 (one of), PSY 112 (one of), PSY 172 (one of)
PSY 261 - Language Use and Understanding
Explores the cognitive mechanisms used to speak and understand language, with a special focus on contextually situated language use. Studies the moment-by-moment processes underlying language production and comprehension, including how speakers choose words and phrases and how listeners understand them.
Open to: All
Usually offered: Spring
Prerequisites: PSY 152 (required)
PSY 262 - Human Motivation and Emotion
A study of the motivational and emotional processes and theories that underlie both adaptive and maladaptive behavior. Includes consideration of research largely with human subjects.
Open to: All
Usually offered: Every Spring
Prerequisites: PSY 161 (one of), PSY 181 (one of)
PSY 263 - Relationship Process and Emotions
Relationships are among the most important endeavors of human activity. In the past two decades, extensive theory and research has been devoted to understanding the processes of regulating people's thoughts, feelings, and behavior in meaningful relationships with friends, family, and romantic partners. The purpose of this seminar will be to explore this literature. We will examine psychological research on such important topics as attachment, emotion, intimacy, conflict resolution, relationship differences and similarities, and the impact of relationships on physical health and emotional well-being (as well as other topics that may arise).
Open to: All
Usually offered: Fall
Prerequisites: PSY 161 (one of), PSY 171 (one of), PSY 181 (one of)
PSY 264 - Industrial and Organizational Psychology
Applications of psychological theory and research to work settings. Topics include personnel selection, training and appraisal; organizational structure and transformation; performance in work groups; motivation and satisfaction; leadership; work conditions; and cross-cultural issues.
Open to: All
Usually offered: Fall
Prerequisites: None
PSY 267 - Psychology of Gender
Exploration of the ways males and females differ in interaction, theories of development of sex differences, consequences for social change.
Open to: All
Usually offered: Fall
Prerequisites: None
PSY 278 - Adolescent Development
This course surveys theory and research relating to normal development during adolescence. Adolescent development is examined in a variety of contexts, including families, peer groups, and schools, and issues pertaining to biological, social, and cognitive development are discussed.
Open to: All
Usually offered: Every Spring
Prerequisites: None
PSY 280 - Clinical Psychology
An introduction to the field of clinical psychology, Students are exposed to prevalent theoretical and research models, as well as approaches and research findings to assessment and diagnosis, and treatment modalities.
Open to: All
Usually offered: TBA
Prerequisites: PSY 101 (one of), PSY 282 (one of), PSY 289 (one of)
PSY 282 - Abnormal Psychology
This course provides a conceptual overview to the field of psychopathology. We will discuss assessment and diagnosis, etiology, developmental course, treatment, and prognosis of the major psychological disorders. Current theory and research will be emphasized.
Open to: All
Usually offered: Every Spring
Prerequisites: None
PSY 283 - Behavioral Medicine
Explores the application of psychological theory, research, and clinical practice to specific health issues. The focus will be on the role of psychology in the promotion and maintenance of physical health and well-being, as well as in the treatment of physical illnesses, including chronic pain, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and AIDS. While the course is not biology-intensive, relevant physiology and psychophysiological mechanisms of various disorders will be discussed.
Open to:
Usually offered: Every Spring
Prerequisites: PSY 101 or BIO 110 (required)
PSY 289 - Developmental Child Psychopathology
Presents theory, research, assessment, and intervention in child and adolescent psychological disorder. Contributions of the normal developmental perspective to understanding psychopathology and risk, and vice versa, are emphasized.
Open to: All
Usually offered: Every Spring
Prerequisites: at least one other psychology course (required), PSY 101 (required)
Research Methodology and Laboratory or Practicum Courses
PSY 200 - Experimental Design and Analysis
Introduces statistical methods including descriptive statistics (count, central tendency, dispersion), hypothesis testing (significance, t-test, chi-square, etc.) and elements of correlation, regression, and interaction. Emphasis is on what a technique does at a conceptual level, how a technique is reported in the literature, and how to execute a technique.
Open to: All
Usually offered: Fall
Prerequisites: None
PSY 205 - Laboratory in Development and Learning
Introduces behavioral methods used to study the development of perception, cognition, and language, and computational and neuroscientific methods used to study mechanisms of development, learning, and experiential change. Emphasizes methods for testing human infants and children. Includes observation of these experimental methods as well as opportunities for individual projects.
Open to: All
Usually offered: Spring
Prerequisites: or equivalent background (one of), PSY 151 (one of), PSY 152 (one of), PSY 153, PSY 172 (one of), PSY 200 (required)
PSY 208 - Laboratory in Perception and Cognition
Introduces observational studies of perceptual and cognitive phenomena, showing how scientific questions can be answered by making such observations. Students perform, analyze, interpret, and report results from seven experiments conducted in a sequence that gradually increases the independence of the student experimenters.
Open to: All
Usually offered: Every Spring
Prerequisites: PSY 151 (one of), PSY 153 (one of), PSY 200 (required)
PSY 211 - Introduction to Statistical Methods in Psychology
Introduction to the use of statistics in psychological research. Topics include descriptive statistics, correlation and regression, and inferential statistics. Examples are drawn from social and personality psychology. Logic of statistical inference and proper interpretation of research findings are emphasized.
Open to: All
Usually offered: Every Semester
Prerequisites: None
PSY 219W - Research Methods in Psychology
An introduction to the basic concepts, logic, and procedures needed to do psychological research. Hands-on experience with all major phases of the research process is provided, including: surveying the existing literature, developing research hypotheses, collecting and analyzing data, and reporting the results in manuscript form.
Fulfills upper level writing requirement.
Open to: All
Usually offered: Every Semester
Prerequisites: PSY 101 (required), PSY 211 (required)
PSY 211 - Introduction to Statistical Methods in Psychology
Introduction to the use of statistics in psychological research. Topics include descriptive statistics, correlation and regression, and inferential statistics. Examples are drawn from social and personality psychology. Logic of statistical inference and proper interpretation of research findings are emphasized.
Open to: All
Usually offered:
Prerequisites:
PSY 266 - Research Laboratory in Social Psychology
Individual behavior in social contexts, with selected experiments, which illustrate research methods and techniques.
Open to: All
Usually offered: Fall
Prerequisites: introductory statistics (required), PSY 161 (required)
PSY 373 - Exploring Research in Social Psychology I
First-hand team experience with ongoing research in social psychology areas.
Open to: All
Usually offered: Every Fall
Prerequisites: Permission of Instructor (required)
PSY 374 - Exploring Research in Social Psychology II
First-hand team experience with ongoing research in social psychology areas.
Open to: All
Usually offered: Every Spring
Prerequisites: Permission of Instructor (required)
PSY 377 - Exploring Research in Family Psychology I
Provides guided, direct, research experiences in investigating the interplay between family relationships and children’s social and emotional development. Emphasis is placed on gaining knowledge in translating theories (e.g., family systems theory) into empirically testable hypotheses and designing research methods and techniques to test predictions.
Open to: All
Usually offered: Every Fall
Prerequisites: Permission of Instructor (required)
PSY 378 - Exploring Research in Family Psychology II
A continuation of PSY 377.
Open to: All
Usually offered: Every Spring
Prerequisites: Permission of Instructor (required)
PSY 384 - Practicum in Developmental Disabilities I
Explores educational, therapeutic, and social challenges in developmental disabilities. Students will spend approximately 8 hours per week in a supervised educational or treatment setting as well as participate in weekly meetings to review and discuss general issues in the field.
Open to: All
Usually offered: Every Fall
Prerequisites: Permission of Instructor (required)
PSY 385 - Practicum in Developmental Disabilities II
Explores educational, therapeutic, and social challenges in developmental disabilities. Students will spend approximately 8 hours per week in a supervised educational or treatment setting as well as participate in weekly meetings to review and discuss general issues in the field. (Spring semester)
Open to: All
Usually offered: Every Spring
Prerequisites: Permission of Instructor (required)
PSY 388 - Research Practicum in Developmental Psychopathology I
Experience in conducting research in the area of developmental Psychopathology involving patterns of development in high-risk children.
Open to: All
Usually offered: Every Fall
Prerequisites: Permission of Instructor (required)
PSY 389 - Research Practicum in Developmental Psychopathology II
A continuation of PSY 388.
Open to: All
Usually offered: Every Spring
Prerequisites: Permission of Instructor (required)
PSY 390 - Supervised Teaching of Psychology
Teaching of topics in psychology within a regular course under an instructor’s supervision.
Open to: All
Usually offered: Every Semester
Prerequisites: Permission of Dean (required), Special Application (required)
PSY 391 - Independent Studies in Psychology
Supervised research on topics in psychology. May be repeated. An Independent Studies Fair is held at the beginning of each semester to facilitate linkages between students and researchers.
Open to: All
Usually offered: Every Semester
Prerequisites: Permission of Dean (required), Special Application (required)
PSY 392 - Practicum in Psychology
Supervised reading and experience in an applied setting. Essential supervision by a University instructor only.
Open to: All
Usually offered: Every Semester
Prerequisites: Permission of Dean (required), Special Application (required)
PSY 394 - Internship in Psychology
Experience in an applied setting supervised on site. Approved and overseen by a University instructor. Limit: two internships in program.
Internships are generally developed by student initiative and often grow out of volunteer experiences from which they are differentiated by a time requirement and academic content and credit. The general guidelines are 8-12 hours per week at the internship site, scheduled, periodic conversations with a faculty member about content and progress, and a final summary paper.
Open to: All
Usually offered: Every Semester
Prerequisites: Permission of Dean (required), Special Application (required)
Seminar Courses
Prerequisites typically include prior course work in the sub area or permission of the instructor.
PSY 301W - Teaching Psychology
In-depth consideration of topics in psychology and their communication. PSY 101 is a lab for this course.
Open to: Junior and Senior Psych Majors
Usually offered: Every Fall
Prerequisites: Permission of Instructor (required)
PSY 361 - Social Psychology: Self-Concept
Considers critical theories and research dealing with the processes of formation and change in the self-concept. This course is intended for advanced undergraduates and requires a major research paper which should involve data gathering. During the first part of the course, students read classic and contemporary theory and research in the area. During the second part of the course students read in selected topics, and present their original research proposal and results.
Open to: All
Usually offered: TBA
Prerequisites: None
PSY 362W - Seminar in the Psychology of Gender
Considers specific topics in the area, such as gender and communication, gender in groups, gender in business, gender role development, etc.
Open to: All
Usually offered: TBA
Prerequisites: Permission of Instructor (required)
PSY 364 - Achievement and Motivation
Seminar on achievement motivation, including achievement motives, achievement goals, and the strategies individuals use in achievement settings.
Open to: All
Usually offered: Spring
Prerequisites: PSY 161 (required)
PSY 366 - Social Psychology and Control
Determinants and consequences of the need for control and perceived control, and their relation to individual and social behavior.
Open to: All
Usually offered: TBA
Prerequisites: Permission of Instructor (required)
PSY 367W - Gender and Mental Health
This seminar examines the multiple ways in which gender-related factors impact on mental health, from a biopsychosocial perspective. We will discuss gender-related issues in assessment and treatment, as well as in the prevalence, etiology, course and outcome of selected psychological disorders.
Open to: All
Usually offered: Fall
Prerequisites: PSY 267 (required)
PSY 368W - Seminar in Humanistic Psychology
An introduction to the theory and methods of humanistic psychology with particular emphasis on humanistic approaches to psychotherapy and growth. The course involves learning through experience. In class, we will employ the methods of humanistic psychology, including demonstrations and experimentation, to learn through doing. Assignments include regular reading and writing. Writing requires the applications of theory to one’s own life experiences. This is an upper-level writing course for all participants.
Open to: All
Usually offered: Every Fall
Prerequisites: Permission of Instructor (required)
PSY 371 - Seminar in Social and Personality Development
Guided by a family systems perspective, this seminar explores children’s social and emotional development within contexts of parent-child, interparental, and sibling relationships. Designed for advanced undergraduate students, the course primarily covers research findings and theories and requires research proposal writing and class presentations.
Open to: All
Usually offered: TBA
Prerequisites: PSY 101 (required), PSY 171 (one of), PSY 181 (one of)
PSY 376 - Seminar in Self-Determination
Deals with the field of human motivation with particular emphasis on intrinsic motivation and the meaning of self-determination in human functioning. A theoretically oriented course that reviews a range of research projects.
Open to: All
Usually offered: TBA
Prerequisites: Permission of Instructor (required)
PSY 380 - Theoretical Perspectives on Psychotherapy
This course will focus on foundational perspectives concerning human behavior change, including psychoanalytic, humanistic, behavioral and social-cognitive approaches. Theoretical and practical issues concerning processes of motivation and behavior change in the contexts of child development, psychotherapy, medicine and other applied fields will be addressed.
Open to: All
Usually offered: TBA
Prerequisites: None
PSY 381 - Psychology of Developmental Disabilities
This course provides an introduction to the unique characteristics and challenges of individuals with developmental disabilities across the lifespan. We will address the main concepts and issues involved in the identification, treatment, education, and support of children and adults with mental retardation and other developmental disabilities. We will also explore current beliefs about intelligence, historical trends in society's perspectives on disabilities, and legal and ethical considerations. The class format will include both lecture and discussion.
Open to: All
Usually offered: Spring
Prerequisites: PSY 282 (recommended), PSY 289 (recommended)
PSY 383 - Moral Development
The purpose of this seminar is to examine major theoretical and empirical approaches to moral development. We will examine and contrast major theories of moral and prosocial development, including psychoanalytic theories (primarily Freud), cognitive-developmental theories (Piaget, Kohlberg, Turiel, and Eisenberg), and socialization theories. We will consider research methods and empirical findings within each approach and discuss the applicability of theories cross-culturally. The primary focus of the course is on psychological approaches to moral development, but we will also consider philosophical and applied (e.g., educational) issues.
Open to: All
Usually offered: Fall
Prerequisites: PSY 171 (required)