PSY-P 457 TOPICS IN PSYCHOLOGY (1-3 CR.)
Studies in special topics not ordinarily covered in other departmental courses. Topics vary with instructor and semester.
13 classes found
Spring 2024
Component | Credits | Class | Status | Time | Day | Facility | Instructor |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
LEC | 3 | 7989 | Closed | 3:00 p.m.–3:50 p.m. | MWF | PY 230 | Vlachos-Weber I |
Regular Academic Session / In Person
LEC 7989: Total Seats: 20 / Available: 0 / Waitlisted: 0
Lecture (LEC)
- TOPIC : Interventions & Evaluation
- Prerequisites: PSY-P324 or permission of the instructor
- Half of above class reserved for senior Psychological and Brain Sciences majors.
- Half of above class reserved for senior Clinical Psychological Science majors
Topic: Psy interventions & evaluation
Component | Credits | Class | Status | Time | Day | Facility | Instructor |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
LEC | 3 | 9719 | Open | 9:10 a.m.–11:30 a.m. | F | PY 286 | Kennedy D |
Regular Academic Session / In Person
LEC 9719: Total Seats: 22 / Available: 4 / Waitlisted: 0
Lecture (LEC)
- TOPIC : Psychology and Neuroscience of Autism
- Prerequisite: PSY-P 326 or PSY-P 346
- ++Students must avoid Final Exam conflicts-See Exam Schedule
- Above class reserved for senior Psychological and Brain Sciences majors
Topic: Psych and neurosci of autism
Component | Credits | Class | Status | Time | Day | Facility | Instructor |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
LEC | 3 | 8334 | Open | 1:15 p.m.–2:30 p.m. | TR | PY 230 | Bradshaw H |
Regular Academic Session / Hybrid-On Campus & Online
LEC 8334: Total Seats: 20 / Available: 10 / Waitlisted: 0
Lecture (LEC)
- Prerequisite: PSY-P 326 or PSY-P 346
- ++Students must avoid Final Exam conflicts-See Exam Schedule
- Topic: Cannabinoid Neurobiology
- It is also recommended for students to have taken: Math-M211, BIOL-L211, CHEM-C117, and PHYS-P202
- 26% to 75% of the instruction is provided through asynchronous online or synchronous live video instruction. The remainder of the instruction is provided through traditional face-to-face instruction. Regular on-campus meetings are required.
- Above class reserved for junior and senior Psychological and Brain Sciences majors
Topic: Cannabinoid neurobiology
Cannabinoids are the active compounds in Cannabis. The course, Cannabinoid Neurobiology, focuses on the molecular neuroscience of how the endogenous system that cannabinoids activate are involved in nervous system regulation. This is not a typical lecture class where one sits passively and is not required to engage in the material. During the first 7 weeks we will focus on specific topics from the primary literature, and everyone will be required to generate a 5-minute presentation each week and then take questions from classmates about that presentation. The material is primarily molecular neuroscience and not policy so you will need to have a strong background in the underpinnings of this field (biology, chemistry, physics, neuroscience), which means that you should have completed introductory courses in each of these topics. During the second half of the course, students will complete a set of writing summary/critical reviews of at least 10 primary resources articles. Then, as a final project, student choose a topic to research in-depth and generate a ¿Scientific American¿ type article as their final paper that uses the primary literature and avoids some of the pitfalls of this type of writing. All evaluations in the course are ¿open note¿ and there are no graded in-class exams, though all weekly and project assignments are graded. A grade of B or higher in P346 is required.
Component | Credits | Class | Status | Time | Day | Facility | Instructor |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
LEC | 3 | 11585 | Closed | 3:00 p.m.–5:30 p.m. | MW | S2 102 | Katona I |
Eight Week - Second / In Person
LEC 11585: Total Seats: 25 / Available: 0 / Waitlisted: 0
Lecture (LEC)
- Topic: Molecular, Cellular and Circuit Mechanisms of Addiction
- Prerequisites: PSY-P 346 or permission of instructor.
- ++Students must avoid Final Exam conflicts-See Exam Schedule
- Above class meets with PSY-P 657
- It is highly recommended that students have taken: BIOL-L 211 or BIOL-S 211; and CHEM-C 117, CHEM-H 117, CHEM-J 117, or CHEM-S 117.
- Above class meets second eight weeks only
- Half of seats reserved for Psychological and Brain Sciences majors
Topic: Mole, cell mech of addict
To help us surviving in the ever-changing environment, activity patterns in our brain circuits are undergoing dynamic modifications in response to environmental and metabolic stimuli. These adaptive plasticity processes manifest at the molecular, cellular and circuit levels across broad time scale and orchestrate our appropriate behavioral responses to the challenging life conditions thereby helping our survival. However, certain chemical substances and behavioral stimuli can hijack these plasticity processes and lead to maladaptive behavioral responses and mental illnesses such as addiction. The major objective of this course is to introduce the emerging concept that addiction should be considered as a brain disorder driven by maladaptive plasticity processes. To achieve this objective, we will study the neurobiological basis of the normal and abnormal plasticity processes in the healthy and the addicted brain, respectively. We will first learn about the organization and functional logic of the dopaminergic signaling system in the context of addiction. Next, we will become familiar with the basic molecular and cellular processes that go awry in addiction. We will also study the neurobiological mechanisms of action of the commonly abused substances and pleasure-evoking stimuli. Finally, we will discuss the most important genetic and environmental factors contributing to the susceptibility to addiction and learn about the neurobiological basis of the current therapeutic approaches for addiction treatment.
Component | Credits | Class | Status | Time | Day | Facility | Instructor |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
LEC | 3 | 14750 | Closed | 9:45 a.m.–11:00 a.m. | TR | PY 120A | Hansen N |
Regular Academic Session / In Person
LEC 14750: Total Seats: 25 / Available: 0 / Waitlisted: 0
Lecture (LEC)
- Prerequisite: PSY-P 324; or permission of the instructor
- Topic: Mindfulness as Therapeutic Tool
- ++Students must avoid Final Exam conflicts-See Exam Schedule
- Above class reserved for majors within the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences. A preference will be given to Clinical Psychological Science major and Certificate students as space allows.
Topic: Mindfulness as a therapeutic
Recent years have seen mindfulness skyrocket in popularity, starring in everything from corporate leadership trainings and the front covers of wellness magazines to psychotherapy interventions. This upper-division seminar will introduce you to the science and practice of mindfulness as a therapeutic tool. You will get the chance to peek behind the curtain of the top 5 empirically-supported mindfulness-based psychotherapies: (1) Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction (MBSR), (2) Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), (3) Mindfulness-based Relapse Prevention (MBRP), (4) Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and (5) Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and gain an understanding of what these therapies look like in practice as well as some of the proposed mechanisms by which they work to promote change. In each class, you will have the opportunity to learn from your own experience as you practice some of the evidence-based mindfulness techniques we are studying. We will explore the evidence base for how mindfulness affects physical health and psychological wellbeing, including touching on neuroscientific findings showing mindfulness training can result in long-term beneficial changes to the brain¿s activation patterns and even structure. You will learn about specific psychological disorders, including depression, anxiety, addiction, and borderline personality disorder, and the clinical science indicating mindfulness-based therapies can help alleviate these conditions. This course is for the clinical scientists and psychotherapists of tomorrow, and also for anyone who is just curious and ready to dive in and learn what the mindfulness hype is all about.
Component | Credits | Class | Status | Time | Day | Facility | Instructor |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
LEC | 3 | 30919 | Closed | 10:20 a.m.–11:10 a.m. | MWF | PY 109 | Vlachos-Weber I |
Regular Academic Session / In Person
LEC 30919: Total Seats: 20 / Available: 0 / Waitlisted: 0
Lecture (LEC)
- Prerequisite: PSY-P 324; or permission of the instructor
- ++Students must avoid Final Exam conflicts-See Exam Schedule
- Half of above class reserved for senior Psychological and Brain Sciences majors
- Topic: Interventions & Evaluation
- Half of above class reserved for senior Clinical Psychological Science majors
Topic: Psy interventions & evaluation
Component | Credits | Class | Status | Time | Day | Facility | Instructor |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
LEC | 3 | 30920 | Open | 3:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m. | T | PY 137C | Alberts J |
Regular Academic Session / In Person
LEC 30920: Total Seats: 9 / Available: 2 / Waitlisted: 0
Lecture (LEC)
- Prerequisite: PSY-P 346
- ++Students must avoid Final Exam conflicts-See Exam Schedule
- Above class open to majors only
- Topic: Themes and Concepts in Animal Behavior
- Above class meets with P657 & ABEH-A401
Topic: Theme & concpt animal behavior
Component | Credits | Class | Status | Time | Day | Facility | Instructor |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
LEC | 3 | 30922 | Closed | 8:00 a.m.–9:15 a.m. | TR | S2 102 | Mackie K |
Regular Academic Session / In Person
LEC 30922: Total Seats: 15 / Available: 0 / Waitlisted: 0
Lecture (LEC)
- Prerequisite: PSY-P 346
- ++Students must avoid Final Exam conflicts-See Exam Schedule
- Above class open to majors only
- Topic: Neuropsychopharmacology
- Above class meets with PSY-P667
Topic: Neuropsychopharmacology
This course will provide you with in depth exposure to the principles of neuropsychopharmacology. We will study general pharmacological principles, neurotransmitter systems, the relationships of major drug classes to these systems as well as their clinical and recreational applications. The course will consist of lecture and discussion and in class presentations by students of primary research papers on specific psychoactive drugs. This class is co-taught with P667.
Component | Credits | Class | Status | Time | Day | Facility | Instructor |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
LEC | 3 | 30924 | Closed | 1:15 p.m.–2:30 p.m. | TR | PY 120A | Dawson S |
Regular Academic Session / In Person
LEC 30924: Total Seats: 25 / Available: 0 / Waitlisted: 0
Lecture (LEC)
- Prerequisite: PSY-P 346
- ++Students must avoid Final Exam conflicts-See Exam Schedule
- Above class open to majors only
- Topic: Sleep & Sleep Disorders
Topic: Sleep & sleep disorders
Component | Credits | Class | Status | Time | Day | Facility | Instructor |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
LEC | 3 | 12653 | Closed | 3:00 p.m.–4:15 p.m. | TR | PY 111 | Chaku N |
Regular Academic Session / In Person
LEC 12653: Total Seats: 25 / Available: 0 / Waitlisted: 0
Lecture (LEC)
- Prerequisite: PSY-P 315
- ++Students must avoid Final Exam conflicts-See Exam Schedule
- Topic: PSYCHOLOGY OF ADOLESCENCE
- Above class meets with PSY-P 657
Topic: Psychology of adolescence
What does it mean to develop or to age? What changes are involved in those processes? In this course, we will study the physical, cognitive, and socioemotional changes that occur in the second decade of life. We will explore the complex contexts that impact adolescent development such as the family, peers, and schools, as well as the broader context of society and culture. Additionally, we will review major developmental theories and methods of developmental research as well as contemporary adolescent issues and concerns (e.g., work, media, sexuality).
Component | Credits | Class | Status | Time | Day | Facility | Instructor |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
LEC | 3 | 13556 | Closed | 3:00 p.m.–5:30 p.m. | R | PY 115 | Trueblood J |
Regular Academic Session / In Person
LEC 13556: Total Seats: 25 / Available: 0 / Waitlisted: 0
Lecture (LEC)
- Prerequisite: PSY-P 335, or permission of instructor
- Above class reserved for Psychological and Brain Sciences majors
- ++Students must avoid Final Exam conflicts-See Exam Schedule
- Topic: The Science of Choice
- Above class meets with COGS-Q 450
Topic: The science of choice
Whether choosing what to have for lunch, whom to date, or what career to purse, our choices are based on judgments and decisions. Behavioral decision-making is the study of how decision makers think about difficult problems. At present, it is quite an active field, drawing together people from psychology, economics, political science, and management, among other fields. It is also being used, in one way or another, for a wide variety of applications, from managing potentially hazardous technologies, to involving patients more fully in the choice of medical procedures, to the design of computer-interactive systems. In this course we examine the affective, cognitive, and motivational processes involved in human judgment and decision-making, and the accuracy of human judgment and decision-making. The overall goal of this course is to provide insights and tools that will enable you to support and improve your own decision making as well as to understand the decision making of others.
Component | Credits | Class | Status | Time | Day | Facility | Instructor |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
LEC | 3 | 33481 | Closed | 3:00 p.m.–5:30 p.m. | W | PY 128 | Nozari B |
Regular Academic Session / In Person
LEC 33481: Total Seats: 16 / Available: 0 / Waitlisted: 0
Lecture (LEC)
- Title: Metacognition
- Prerequisite: PSY-P 335, or permission of instructor
- ++Students must avoid Final Exam conflicts-See Exam Schedule
- Above class open to majors only
- Above class meets with P657
Topic: Metacognition
Metacognition: thinking about one¿s own thinking Course description: This course focuses on understanding metacognition, the marvelous ability of humans to inspect, understand, and regulate their own cognition. How do we know what we do or do not know? How good are we at estimating the accuracy of our memories of the past? How about what we will remember or forget in the future? Can we use such knowledge to do better? The study of metacognition provides an answer to these and many more questions. In other words, metacognition is the path to better knowing yourself. What we will learn: The course approaches the question of metacognition from several angles. On the philosophical side, we examine the arguments for whether or not it is possible for an organism to be both the observer and the observed at the same time. On the historical side, we study the historical development of introspection and its role in understanding human behavior against other techniques. On the empirical side, we learn tools and techniques for measuring and quantifying metacognitive abilities. We also review multiple fields in which metacognitive abilities have been studied, such as language, memory, and learning. On the applied side, we learn some practical applications of metacognitive knowledge, such as techniques for improving memory and learning. How we will learn: This is a seminar. The format leans more towards group discussion rather than single-person instruction. We will use a textbook as the backbone but will supplement it with more up-to-date research papers on special topics. Evaluation: There is no exam in this course. Students will use what they learn to propose a scientific project within their own discipline (philosophy, psychology, etc.) related to metacognition, and present it to the group. The proposed research does not need to be carried out to fulfill the requirements.
Component | Credits | Class | Status | Time | Day | Facility | Instructor |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
LEC | 3 | 33486 | Open | 9:45 a.m.–11:00 a.m. | TR | PY 111 | Gunderson E |
Regular Academic Session / In Person
LEC 33486: Total Seats: 20 / Available: 2 / Waitlisted: 0
Lecture (LEC)
- Title: Psychology in Education
- Prerequisite: PSY-P 335, or permission of instructor
- ++Students must avoid Final Exam conflicts-See Exam Schedule
- Class reserved for senior Psychological and Brain Sciences majors
Topic: Psychology in education
Why do some students feel anxious when taking tests, and others breeze through? Why do some children arrive in first grade already knowing how to read and add, while others don¿t? This course will examine the socio-emotional and cognitive processes that impact academic achievement in preschool through college-aged students, with a focus on math, science, and literacy. Topics will include the effect of stereotypes and anxieties on academic performance, beliefs about whether intelligence can be improved with effort, underlying cognitive skills such as numeracy, spatial skills, and phonological awareness, and the role of parents and teachers in shaping children¿s socio-emotional and cognitive development.