This course is meant to provide an overview of what ‘scientific’ psychology can tell us about the creative person, the creative process, and the creative product. this includes psychological theories of art production and consumption; the psychology of aesthetics; psychological correlates of creative and artistic behavior.

In this course we will survey the methods, findings, and theories of psychological science. Psychology is a broad topic and as the name implies (General Psychology) we’ll be covering the general themes and information of broad research areas. We begin the course covering fundamentals of psychological science and progress through fundamental aspects of human thinking and behavior. Along the way we’ll discuss neuroscience, perception, learning, memory, language, and thought.

Pre-&/or Co-Requisites: None.

Course Structure: This class will be taught in person.

Lecture Structure: Class times will consist of both lecture and in-class activities. During class I will pose questions to the class and encourage participation. At times you will work with those around you to complete activities and share with the class. These activities are intended to facilitate learning and are not meant to be high-stakes grades; however, engagement and critical thinking are expected.

Homework: Assignments will be posted through Canvas and an online utility called Achieve. Homework is due prior to the start of class on the day it is due.

Exam Administration: Exams will be administered in person during scheduled class or the final exam time in the same room as lecture. Exams will be completed using paper and pencil without any other resources.

This is a course on the psychology of personality. It covers the major theoretical approaches to the study of human personality and encourages an evaluation of these approaches in the light of relevant empirical research. It is an upper-division course for which a course in introductory psychology is a prerequisite, and a course in psychological statistics is useful but not required. For maximum efficiency, you’ll need to do two things 1) BE ACTIVE AND ENGAGED. Some of the information discussed in lectures will be reinforced by the outside readings, but the majority will not. You’ll need to participate daily to grasp an understanding of this growing field of psychology. 2) ATTEND LECTURE. The material is dense and you will be expected to know it. You will need to develop a command of the topics, not just a general understanding. This course is going to challenge you to think critically; to integrate what you are learning about personality psychology and the rigor of experimental psychology. We will be talking about real human dilemmas.

The official description of this course is: “Introduction to methods used in conducting research on human behavior. Experimental research is emphasized, but the course covers other methods and some statistics.” 

This course involves a lecture component and a lab component. 

During lectures, students will learn about the scientific methods as it is applied to behavioral research. This involves an overview of the research process as well as a review of the ways that this process changes depending on different research questions. Students will complete activities, assignments, and exams covering topics discussed during lectures.  

During labs, students will develop technical skills that can be applied across diverse research topics as well as developing in-depth knowledge related to only a specific topic. In groups, students will develop a research project on a topic of their choosing from start to finish. In addition, students will complete activities to reinforce knowledge and skills gained during lab. 

This semester will be a whirlwind of an introduction to the science of psychology.  We will touch on everything from the structure of individual neurons to the nature of social interactions and social influence.  Throughout the semester we will see how social scientists collect and analyze data, and use these data to draw inferences about psychological processes. 

This course surveys the spectrum of psychiatric disorders (symptoms, epidemiology, etiology, and treatment) and provides a perspective on adaptive functioning and psychological resilience.

The course is designed to give you an overview of the field of Abnormal Psychology based on current perspectives and scientific research. With compassion for the human suffering involved, we will explore the diagnosis, causes, and treatment of psychological disorders, focusing on the interaction of genes, the brain, the person and the environment. The course will draw on scientific studies to understand disorders at all these levels of functioning.  We will also focus on case studies that illuminate the clinical aspects of psychological disorders in the lives of everyday people, as well as the variety of current and historical treatments used to help alleviate suffering and dysfunction.

Prerequisites: General Psychology (PSYC 1101or equivalent, which will not be waived), and familiarity with the different psychological models, learning theories, and functioning of the brain & nervous system. 

This is a broad survey course in scientific psychology, presenting an overview of the field and its methods of inquiry. As a prerequisite for more advanced psychology courses, PSYC 1101 is designed to provide a solid foundation for further study in the field. It also provides opportunities to develop new insights into yourself and others, while honing your scientific and critical thinking skills. 

You’ll learn how brain activity underlies human behavior and our perception of reality. We’ll explore the basic psychological processes of learning, memory, thinking, and human development. And we'll discover what personality theories reveal about the individuality of each unique one of us.