Psychology

Psychology allows you to examine in depth the study of behavior in the areas of:

Aging and development
Biological bases of behavior
Brain-behavior interactions
Clinical and abnormal psychology
Cognition
Cognitive neuroscience
Learning and memory
Personality
Sensation and perception
Social interactions

The psychology department at Washington University has particular strengths in the areas of:

Aging
Human development
Cognitive neuroscience
Learning and operant conditioning
Neuropsychology
Personality and psychopathology
Sensory processes in vision and audition
Social theories of self and social processes

Opportunities for undergraduates include:

Research involvement with faculty members
Supervised internships with community service agencies
Practicum in Applied Behavior Analysis
Study abroad
Supplemental concentrations within the major
Senior Honors
Membership in Psi Chi, the national honor society in psychology

Contact Person:	Sharon Corcoran
Phone:	314/935-5169
E-mail:	sharoncorcoran@wustl.edu
Departmental website:	http://www.artsci.wustl.edu/~psych/

Faculty

Chair

Randy J. Larsen: William R. Stuckenberg Professor of Human Values and Moral Development
Ph.D., University of Illinois

Associate Chair

Michael J. Strube: Professor
Ph.D., University of Utah

Endowed Professors

John Baugh: Margaret Bush Wilson Professor in Arts & Sciences
Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania
(African and African-American Studies, Anthropology, Education, English)
Pascal R. Boyer: Henry Luce Professor of Individual and Collective Memory
Ph.D., University of Paris–Nanterre
(Anthropology)
Steven E. Petersen: James S. McDonnell Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience
Ph.D., California Institute of Technology
(Neurology and Neurological Surgery)
Thomas F. Oltmanns: Edgar James Swift Professor of Arts & Sciences
Ph.D., State University of New York–Stony Brook
Henry L. Roediger III: James S. McDonnell Distinguished University Professor
Ph.D., Yale University
Rebecca A. Treiman: Burke and Elizabeth High Baker Professor of Child Developmental Psychology
Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania

Professors

Richard A. Abrams: Ph.D., University of Michigan
David A. Balota: Ph.D., University of South Carolina
Deanna M. Barch: Ph.D., University of Illinois, Urbana–Champaign
Todd Braver: Ph.D., Carnegie Mellon University
Leonard S. Green: Ph.D., State University of New York at Stony Brook
Larry L. Jacoby: Ph.D., Southern Illinois University–Carbondale
Kathleen B. McDermott: Ph.D., Rice University
Michael Merbaum: Ph.D., University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill
Mark A. McDaniel: Ph.D., University of Colorado
Mitchell Sommers: Ph.D., University of Michigan
Martha Storandt (part-time): Ph.D., Washington University
Denise E. Wilfley: Ph.D., University of Missouri

Associate Professors

Brian D. Carpenter: Ph.D., Case Western Reserve University
Ian G. Dobbins: Ph.D., University of California–Davis
Janet M. Duchek: Ph.D., University of South Carolina
Sandra S. Hale: Ph.D., University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee
Denise P. Head: Ph.D., University of Memphis
Alan J. Lambert: Ph.D., University of Illinois, Urbana–Champaign
Desirée A. White: Ph.D., Washington University
Jeffrey M. Zacks: Ph.D., Stanford University

Assistant Professors

Joshua Jackson: Ph.D., University of Illinois, Urbana–Champaign
Brett Kessler: Ph.D., Stanford University
Lori Markson: Ph.D., University of Arizona
Thomas L. Rodebaugh III: Ph.D., University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill
Simine Vazire: Ph.D., University of Texas at Austin

Adjunct Professors

Robert Carney: Ph.D., Washington University
(Psychiatry)
Kenneth Freedland: Ph.D., University of Hawaii
(Psychiatry)
Barry Hong: Ph.D., Saint Louis University
(Psychiatry)
Patrick Lustman: Ph.D., Michigan State University
(Psychiatry)
Marcus E. Raichle: M.D., University of Washington
(Radiology)
Eugene Rubin: M.D., Ph.D., Washington University School of Medicine
(Psychiatry)
James V. Wertsch: Marshall S. Snow Professor in Arts & Sciences
Ph.D., University of Chicago
(Anthropology, International and Area Studies, Education)

Adjunct Associate Professors

C. Robert Almli: Ph.D., Michigan State University
(Occupational Therapy)
John Newcomer: M.D., Wayne State University
(Psychiatry)
John Rohrbaugh: Ph.D., University of Illinois
(Psychiatry)
R. Keith Sawyer: Ph.D., University of Chicago
(Education)

Research Professor

Joel Myerson: Ph.D., Arizona State University

Lecturers

Arpana Agrawal: Ph.D., Virginia Commonwealth University
Amy D. Bertelson: Ph.D., Ohio State University
Patricia Cooper: Ph.D., Washington University
Joachim Faust: Ph.D., University of Kansas
Delores Kennedy: Ph.D., Pennsylvania State University
Pascale Michelon: Ph.D., University of Lyon, France
James D. Reid: Ph.D., Fordham University
Heather Rice: Ph.D., Duke University
Robinson Welch: Ph.D., University of Missouri–Columbia

Professors Emeriti

Stanley Finger: Ph.D., Indiana University–Bloomington
Richard M. Kurtz: Ph.D., University of Cincinnati
Anthony Schuham: Ph.D., Washington University
Robert L. Williams: Ph.D., Washington University

Majors

The Major in Psychology

Total units required: 28 units, of which at least 22 must be at the 300 level or above.

Required courses:

Psych 100B Introduction to Psychology is a prerequisite for all upper-level courses (numbered 300 and above). Exemption from Psych 100B is possible in the following circumstances:
- Completion of an equivalent course transferred from another institution, if approved by the Director of Undergraduate Studies.
- An AP Psychology test score of 5 or IB score of 6 or 7. (N.B. AP or IB earns exemption from Psych 100B, but no credit.)
Psych 300 Introduction to Psychological Statistics
Psych 301 Experimental Psychology or Psych 3011 Experimental Psychology

Elective courses: At least one course from each of the following three categories:

Social/Developmental:

Psych 315 Introduction to Social Psychology
Psych 321 Developmental Psychology
Psych 325 Psychology of Adolescence
Psych 326 Introduction to the Psychology of Aging
Psych 427 Social Gerontology

Personality/Abnormal:

Psych 353 Psychology of Personality
Psych 354 Abnormal Psychology
Psych 357 Introduction to Clinical Psychology
Psych 3195 Abnormal Child Psychology

Behavior, Brain and Cognition:

Psych 330 Sensation and Perception
Psych 3401 Biological Psychology
Psych 360 Cognitive Psychology
Psych 3604 Cognitive Neuroscience or Psych 4604 Cognitive Neuroscience
Psych 361 Psychology of Learning
Psych 380 Human Learning and Memory
Psych 433 Psychology of Language

No more than 6 units from the following categories may be used to satisfy the minimum requirements for the psychology major:

Psych 225 Internship in Psychology
Psych 235 Practicum in Applied Behavior Analysis: Autism/PDD
Psych 500 Independent Study
Psych 498 and 499 Honors
Approved Study Abroad
University College-approved psychology classes
Cross-listed, not psychology home-based classes
100/200-level classes (other than 100B)
Transfer classes (students transferring from another college, see below.)

Additional Information

Transfer Credit: If accepted by the College of Arts & Sciences, transfer credits will be evaluated by the Director of Undergraduate Studies in the psychology department for their applicability toward the major. At least 15 units of course work in psychology must be completed at Washington University to earn a major.

Senior Honors: The primary goal of the Honors Program in Psychology is to provide students who have achieved a superior academic record the opportunity to conduct a comprehensive empirical investigation under the direction of a faculty member.

To be admitted into the honors program, you must meet the following requirements:

Overall and psychology GPAs ≥ 3.5
Completion of both Psych 300 and 301 (or 3011)
Have an approved honors research adviser.

Supplemental Concentration in Psychology

To augment the broadly based Psychology major, the department offers Supplemental Concentrations for students who wish to engage more intensively with a specific area within the discipline. The Supplemental Concentration is meant as an enrichment of the major, and the classes for a concentration may not be used to fulfill the requirements of the major, nor can they be counted toward any other major or minor. In addition, to complete the Supplemental Concentration, students will have to undertake an approved research assistantship (Psych 500A, Independent Study for a Supplemental Concentration), or approved internship, or practicum.

A concentration entails 9 to 10 units of course work over and above the minimum major requirements and includes an advanced, 400-level class. The research, internship or practicum that also comprise a requirement for the concentration, may count toward the 28 units required for the Psychology major.

The Supplemental Concentration will be a valuable experience for students planning on graduate study in psychology or related fields, or for those who have a particular interest or want to gain expertise in one of the approved concentrations. Each concentration will have a member of the faculty as contact person to meet with and advise students in the concentration.

There are at present six Supplemental Concentrations, listed below.

Cognition in Children — This concentration allows students to acquire deeper knowledge of cognition and its development in the first few years of life. The courses for the concentration consider child development more generally and then explore in more depth the early development of cognitive, conceptual and social-cognitive abilities. Adviser/coordinator: Professor Lori Markson.

Course work required: Psych 321 Developmental Psychology

Electives (must include two classes, at least one of which is at the 400 level):

Psych 4046	Developmental Neuropsychology	3
Psych 4301	Contemporary Topics in Cognitive Development	3
Psych 4591	The Development of Social Cognition	3

Research mentorship: Prior approved research mentorship with a relevant faculty member and successful completion of a research paper. Relevant faculty: Pascal Boyer, Sandra Hale, Lori Markson, Desiree White.

Cognitive Neuroscience — This concentration allows students to acquire deeper knowledge of the relation between mind and brain. The courses for the concentration consider the neurobiological basis for psychological functions at a more general level, and then explore in greater depth specialized topics relating to how higher cognitive processes, such as memory, attention, perception and emotion, emerge from brain function. Adviser/coordinator: Professor Todd Braver.

Course work required:

Psych 3401	Biological Psychology	3
or	Psych 344 Principles of the Nervous System (3 units)

Electives (must include two classes, at least one of which is at the 400 level):

Psych 374	Drugs, Brain and Behavior	3
Psych 3604	Cognitive Neuroscience	3
Psych 4604	Cognitive Neuroscience	3
(cannot take both 3604 and 4606)
Psych 4047	History of Neuroscience	3
Psych 4450	Functional Neuroimaging Methods	3
Psych 488	The Cognitive Neuroscience of Film	3
Psych 4415	Cognitive Neuroscience of Language	3

Research mentorship: Prior approved research mentorship with a relevant faculty member and successful completion of a research paper. Relevant faculty: Deanna Barch, Todd Braver, Ian Dobbins, Denise Head, Kathleen McDermott, Jeff Zacks.

Reading, Language and Language Acquisition — This concentration provides students with a deep and broad knowledge of linguistic development. The courses look in-depth at the development of written and spoken language. Adviser/coordinator: Professor Rebecca Treiman.

Course work required: Ling 170D Introduction to Linguistics

Electives (must include two classes, at least one of which is at the 400 level):

Psych 358	Language Acquisition	3
Psych 433	Psychology of Language	3
Psych 4351	Reading and Reading Development	3

Research mentorship: Prior approved research mentorship with a relevant faculty member and successful completion of a research paper. Relevant faculty: Rebeccah Treiman, Brett Kessler, David Balota, Lori Markson, Mitchell Sommers.

Lifespan Development — Many introductory courses in Developmental Psychology focus on changes that occur from birth to adolescence. The supplemental concentration in Lifespan Development provides students with an understanding of the cognitive and physiological changes that occur over the lifespan, with a primary focus on older adulthood. A major goal of the concentration is to provide students with an understanding of the similarities and differences in development at different stages of the lifespan. Adviser/coordinator: Professor Mitchell Sommers.

Course work required:

Psych 326	Introduction to the Psychology of Aging	3
Psych 427	Social Gerontology	3

Electives (must select at least one of the following courses):

Psych 321	Developmental Psychology	3
Psych 4301	Contemporary Topics in Cognitive Development	3

Research mentorship or internship experience: Students can complete this aspect of the concentration with either a prior approved research mentorship or an approved internship related to older adults. Successful completion of a paper is required in either case. Relevant faculty for research mentorship: Mitchell Sommers, David Balota, Sandra Hale, Denise Head, Brian Carpenter. Possible internships: Work in an assisted-living facility or other community-based program designed to assist older adults. Other internships are available; see Dr. Brian Carpenter for opportunities.

Experimental Psychopathology — This concentration allows students to acquire more advanced knowledge of the ways in which psychologists study mental disorders. Current research has demonstrated the importance of integrating psychological and biological variables in understanding the classification, etiology and treatment of a wide variety of mental disorders, including schizophrenia, mood disorders, anxiety disorders, substance use disorders and eating disorders. Students who pursue this concentration will develop a broadly based appreciation for conceptual and methodological issues that are central to research in psychopathology. Adviser/coordinator: Professor Deanna Barch.

Course work required: Psych 354 Abnormal Psychology

Electives (must include two classes, at least one of which is at the 400 level):

Psych 345	Genes, Environment and Human Behavior	3
Psych 374	Drugs, Brain and Behavior	3
Psych 4541	Personality and Psychopathology	3
Psych 4557	Biopsychosocial Aspects of Eating Disorders and Obesity	3
Psych 4765	Biological Basis of the Major Mental Disorders	3

Research mentorship: Prior approved research mentorship with a relevant faculty member and successful completion of a research paper. Relevant faculty: Deanna Barch, Tom Oltmanns, Denise Wilfley, Tom Rodebaugh.

Personality and Individual Differences — This concentration allows students to acquire deeper knowledge of how and why individuals differ from one another and the ways in which individual (e.g., personality, self) and group differences (e.g. gender) influence behavior, emotion, experience, identity and psychopathology. The core course for the concentration (Psych 353) considers personality more generally. The seminars explore in depth specific aspects of personality and individual differences, including biological bases of individual differences (i.e., genetics), the interpersonal processes associated with personality and personality judgment, individual differences in self and identity, group differences and personality pathology. Adviser/coordinator: Professor Simine Vazire.

Course work required:Psych 353 Psychology of Personality

Electives (must include two classes, at least one of which is at the 400 level):

Psych 3091	Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual Identity Development	3
Psych 3290	Psychology of Women	3
Psych 4361	Psychological Perspectives on the Self	3
Psych 4535	Personality Judgment: How We Perceive Ourselves and Others	3
Psych 4541	Personality and Psychopathology Current Directions in Research on Genetic and Environmental Contributions to Psychological Phenomena — Psych 5345 (also will be offered as a 400-level course)	3

Research mentorship: Prior approved research mentorship with a relevant faculty member and successful completion of a research paper. Relevant faculty: Simine Vazire, Randy Larsen, Michael Strube, Tom Oltmanns.

Minors

The Minor in Psychology

Units required: 15

Required course: Psych 100B Introduction to Psychology.

Elective courses:

Four additional courses (i.e., a minimum of 12 units of additional course work) in Psychology, all of which must be at the 300-level or above.

Additional Information

No more than 3 units of a previously approved cross-listed course originating outside the Department of Psychology, an approved psychology course taken in University College, an approved psychology course taken at another university, or an independent study-type course (e.g., Psych 500) may count toward the minor. (Transfer students must complete at least 9 advanced units of home-based Psychology courses at Washington University.)

For those who have a broad or general interest in psychology, we recommend taking several courses from the three core areas (i.e., Social/Developmental; Personality/Abnormal; and Behavior, Brain and Cognition).

For those students who want to concentrate in a more specialized area, courses can reflect such specialization. For example, a student interested in the helping professions or counseling may wish to select from such courses as Psych 353 Psychology of Personality, Psych 354 Abnormal Psychology, Psych 361 Psychology of Learning, Psych 321 Developmental Psychology and Psych 314 Behavior Modification and Self-management. A student wishing to pursue a specialization in experimental psychology/neuroscientific bases of behavior might select from such classes as Psych 3401 Biological Psychology, Psych 361 Psychology of Learning, Psych 330 Sensation and Perception, Psych 360 Cognitive Psychology and Psych 3604 Cognitive Neuroscience and consider doing Independent Study (Psych 500).

Courses

L33 Psych 100B. Introduction to Psychology: A survey and analysis of concepts, theory and research covering the areas of learning, memory, social, abnormal, clinical, physiological and sensory psychology. This is a general survey course designed to introduce students to the diversity of areas, approaches and theories that comprise the study of mind and behavior. Psych 100B is required of all majors and is prerequisite to all upper-level courses in Psychology. Open to freshmen. Note: For students enrolled in Psych 100B who are interested in exploring a few areas of Psychology within a seminar format, see the companion course, Psych 102 Seminar: Introduction to Psychology.
Credit 3 units. A&S: SS BU: BA FA: SSP
L33 Psych 102. Seminar: Introduction to Psychology: This seminar enables students enrolled in Psych 100B Introduction to Psychology to explore in greater depth several of the ideas and concepts in contemporary psychology. Open to freshmen who are concurrently enrolled in or have completed Psych 100B. Also open to sophomores who are concurrently enrolled in Psych 100B. Sections are limited to 15 students.
Credit 1 unit. A&S: SS FA: SSP
L33 Psych 104. Cognitive Illusions: Understanding Distortions in Perceiving, Remembering and Thinking: Cognitive processes (such as perceiving, attending, remembering, judging and predicting) are critical for keeping us in touch with our environments and for deciding what actions we take. Although these processes usually are accurate, they also are subject to error. Cognitive illusions are the systematic errors people make in perceiving the world, remembering events from the past, and thinking and reasoning about the future. This course explores these cognitive distortions, what they tell us about how the mind works, and practical challenges they pose. For example, if a witness cannot accurately remember the face of an individual who committed a crime, an innocent person might be convicted. If a pilot is subject to perceptual distortions while flying, an accident may result.
Credit 3 units. A&S: SS BU: BA
L33 Psych 105. Psychology of Young Adulthood: College Years: This course covers selected topics relevant to the developmental, social, personal and cognitive issues confronting young adults during their college years. Material is drawn mainly from the field of psychology, and the emphasis is on the scientific basis of concepts and on empirically supported strategies for growth and development. The knowledge gained may contribute to academic success, personal development and a more rewarding social and academic experience over the course of college and beyond. Freshman standing, entering first-year undergraduates only.
Credit 1 unit.
L33 Psych 109. Research Seminar in Psychology: Weekly presentations by various members of the psychology faculty; introduces students to research areas and current issues. Attendance at all lectures required. Open to freshmen and sophomores only. Prerequisite: Psych 100B. Credit/no credit only.
Credit 1 unit. A&S: SS FA: SSP
L33 Psych 204. Psychobiography: Exploration of the use of psychological perspectives in the in-depth study of the life of an individual, with a focus on historical, literary and artistic figures. We examine how research is conducted, and how one writes a narrative account of a life. After looking at essays describing what is involved in investigating an individual life, we read psychological studies of such figures as Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt; William, Henry and Alice James; Woodrow Wilson; Mohandas Gandhi; Sigmund Freud; Edith Wharton; and Frank Lloyd Wright. the main project in the course for each student is the writing of a study of an individual life. Prerequisite: Psych 100B.
Credit 3 units. A&S: SS BU: BA
L33 Psych 209. Evolutionary Psychology: This course explores the extent to which an understanding of biological evolution is relevant for an understanding of human psychology. Basic evolutionary principles are introduced, and their application to psychological theory and research carefully evaluated. Individual discussion topics include romantic relationships, family dynamics, cooperation and religion. Prerequisite: Psych 100B.
Credit 3 units. A&S: SS
L33 Psych 221. Introduction to Memory Studies: This course focuses on memory not only as an individual phenomenon but also as the basis for the transmission of culture and the construction of collective identity. We survey such topics as experimental methods and findings in the study of individual memory; questions of accuracy and vividness of memory and witness reports; repressed memories; transmission of cultural norms and identity through narratives; shared historical memories; individual trauma and historical upheaval; revision of the past and political usage of collective memory.
Credit 3 units. A&S: SS BU: BA
L33 Psych 222. Human Memory from Neurons to Novels: How Scientists and Other Scholars Study Memory: Introduces students to the different methods used in the study of memory, from neuroscience to anthropology and from experimental psychology to literary studies and history. We consider how e.g. an historian works from documents and sources, how a neuroscientist explains the details of particular experimental findings, how an anthropologist comments on the connections between historical past and individual identity in a particular place, how a cognitive psychologist uses laboratory result to understand memory function. Prerequisites: Psych 221, Psych 100B.
Credit 3 units. A&S: SS BU: BA
L33 Psych 225. Internship in Psychology: An opportunity to gain supervised, applied experience in a nonacademic, community service agency. For a description of prerequisites, goals, agency selection, registration policies and course requirements, obtain a copy of A Guide to Internships in Psychology online at http://www.artsci.wustl.edu/~psych/undergrad.html or available outside of Room 221 and Room 419A, Psychology Building. In addition to work at their internship site, students are required to meet regularly with the internship coordinator. This course can be taken only once. CBTL course. Credit/no credit only.
Credit 3 units. FA: SSP
L33 Psych 234. Introduction to Speech and Hearing Sciences and Disorders: Same as Educ 234
Credit 3 units.
L33 Psych 235. Practicum in Applied Behavior Analysis: Autism/PDD: An opportunity to be trained in applied behavior analytic techniques and to work with a child with autism/pervasive developmental disorder. Training and supervision are arranged and coordinated by the family of the child and their consultant. To receive credit, students must undertake a year’s work with the child, complete the minimum number of hours of training and therapy, and attend regular therapy meetings. In addition, students must meet with the practicum coordinator for discussion of assigned readings and presentations on autism and therapy. Completion of a paper also is required. For further information and petition form, pick up the Practicum brochure from the department. This course can be taken only once for credit. Credit/no credit only. Enrollment through the practicum coordinator only. CBTL course.
Credit 3 units. FA: SSP
L33 Psych 300. Introduction to Psychological Statistics: Descriptive statistics including correlation and regression. Inferential statistics including nonparametric and parametric tests of significance through two-way analysis of variance. Course emphasizes underlying logic and is not primarily mathematical, although knowledge of elementary algebra is essential. Prerequisite: Psych 100B.
Credit 3 units. A&S: NS, QA FA: NSM
L33 Psych 301. Experimental Psychology: This course provides training in the logic and techniques of psychological research so as to provide students with experience in the design of psychology experiments and interpretation of results. Topics include experimental design and control, library research, quantitative treatment of data, graphical presentation of results, and clarity of scientific writing. Lectures focus on general principles of experimentation, whereas the laboratory sections provide an introduction to a range of psychological phenomena through hands-on experience in experimentation. Each student also completes an independent research project. Declared Psychology majors are given priority over others to enroll. Prerequisites: Psych 100B and 300.
Credit 4 units. A&S: NS BU: BA FA: NSM
L33 Psych 3011. Experimental Psychology: Course is limited to students who have not taken Psych 300 and want to enroll in Psych 300 and Experimental Psychology concurrently. Therefore, students who enroll in Psych 3011 also must register for Psych 300. Psych 3011 fulfills the Psych 301 requirement for the major. Topics in the two courses (i.e., Psych 300 and Psych 3011) are coordinated in order to integrate the concepts from Statistics course with those from Experimental Psychology course. Experimental Psychology provides training in the logic and techniques of psychological research so as to provide students with experience in the design of psychology experiments and interpretation of results. Topics include experimental design and control, library research, quantitative treatment of data, graphical presentation of results, and clarity of scientific writing. Lectures focus on general principles of experimentation while the laboratory component provides an introduction to a range of psychological phenomena through hands-on experience in experimentation. Each student also completes an independent research project of his or her own design under supervision of a faculty member. Enrollment limited to 15 students. Concurrent enrollment in Psych 300 Section 02 is required.
Credit 4 units. A&S: NS BU: BA
L33 Psych 304. Educational Psychology: Same as Educ 304
Credit 3 units. A&S: SS BU: BA FA: SSP
L33 Psych 3091. Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual Identity Development: Examination of sexual orientation and identity. Topics: historical perspectives, gender socialization, identity formation across the life span, cultural prejudices, the liberation movement, and recent legal changes affecting stigmatized minorities. Prerequisite: Psych 100B
Credit 3 units. A&S: SS, SD BU: BA FA: SSP
L33 Psych 314. Behavior Modification and Self-management: Provides an overview of behavior modification and its applications for behavior change in various personal and social contexts. An important focus is on how behavioral tools can be used to enhance the personal change process leading to effective self-improvement. Prerequisite: Psych 100B. Enrollment limited to 15.
Credit 3 units. A&S: SS BU: BA
L33 Psych 315. Introduction to Social Psychology: Introduction to the scientific study of individual behavior in a social context. Topics: person perception; stereotyping and prejudice; attitudes; memory; and political psychology, among other issues. Prerequisite: Psych 100B.
Credit 3 units. A&S: SS BU: BA FA: SSP
L33 Psych 3195. Abnormal Child Psychology: This course familiarizes students with current perspectives on the nature, causes, assessment, treatment and prevention of child psychiatric disorders and related family dysfunction. Theoretical perspectives and research findings are discussed pertaining to anxiety, depression, conduct disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, autism, learning impairments and parent-child conflict. Prerequisite: Psych 100B.
Credit 3 units. A&S: SS BU: BA
L33 Psych 321. Developmental Psychology: This course concentrates on the cognitive and social development of the person from conception to adolescence. Topics covered include: infant perception, attachment, cognitive development from Piagetian and information processing perspectives, aggression and biological bases of behavior. Prerequisite: Psych 100B.
Credit 3 units. A&S: SS BU: BA FA: SSP
L33 Psych 3221. Developmental Psychology II: Social Development: Focuses on research and theories pertaining to social development during infancy and childhood. That is, as they develop, how do children interact with, think about and learn from other people? Topics include: attachment, day care, social cognition, prejudice, aggression, prosocial behavior, morality, gender roles, peer relations and parenting. Prerequisite: Psych 100B.
Credit 3 units. A&S: SS FA: SSP
L33 Psych 323. Play and Development: An examination of current research and theory in play, in development and education, from infancy through the early school years. Topics include play and the development of language, social skills, creativity and cognitive abilities. We also examine the uses of play in educational contexts, focusing on preschool and the early primary grades. Prerequisite: Psych 321 or Educ 304.
Same as Educ 337
Credit 3 units. A&S: SS BU: BA
L33 Psych 325. Psychology of Adolescence: A broad introduction to adolescence as a developmental period of transition and change. The major topics include the fundamental changes of adolescence; the context of adolescence; and processes of psychological development. Prerequisite: Psych 100B.
Credit 3 units. A&S: SS BU: BA FA: SSP
L33 Psych 326. Introduction to the Psychology of Aging: Study of the processes of aging in the individual in terms of their behavioral effects. Age changes in biological functions, sensation, perception, intelligence, learning, memory and creativity are studied to understand the capacities and potentials of the mature and older person. Prerequisite: Psych 301.
Credit 3 units. A&S: SS BU: BA
L33 Psych 329. The Psychology of Women: Examines the current status of research evidence regarding gender differences in human behavior and compares explanations of gender differences from several theoretical perspectives, including psychoanalytical theory, social learning theory, social/cultural perspectives, evolutionary theory and biological perspectives, and cognitive developmental theory. Discussion of patterns of public attitudes and beliefs about gender roles and gender differences and their impact on the study of gender issues. Prerequisite: Psych 100B.
Credit 3 units. A&S: SS BU: BA FA: SSP
L33 Psych 3290. Psychology of Women: Same as WGSS 329
Credit 3 units. A&S: SS BU: BA
L33 Psych 330. Sensation and Perception: What’s involved in seeing and hearing? This course covers perception from the physical stimuli (light and sound) that impinge upon the sensory receptors through the higher-level percepts that the stimuli generate. Demonstrations and illusions are used as we learn about the anatomy and physiology of the sensory systems and study the brain mechanisms that are involved in vision and audition. Prerequisite: Psych 100B.
Credit 3 units. A&S: NS BU: BA, SCI FA: NSM
L33 Psych 331. Introduction to the Psychology of Hearing: This course examines the perception of auditory stimuli. The focus is on the psychological response to acoustic events and the mechanism mediating those responses. Topics include basic acoustic concepts, pitch perception, localization and auditory stream segregation. Prerequisite: Psych 100B.
Credit 3 units. A&S: SS FA: SSP
L33 Psych 335. The Science of Sleep: Sleep is a basic need for human survival. We sleep daily and yet there is so much unknown about how sleep works. Sleep is a science: a biological and behavioral science that impacts both psychological and physiological functioning. In this course you learn about a variety of topics crucial to the field of sleep medicine including: sleep changes across the lifespan, sleep hygiene, sleep deprivation, clinical sleep disorders and treatments. You gain understanding with what is known about sleep as well as how to integrate the importance of sleep into your daily life. Prerequisite: Psych 100B.
Credit 3 units. A&S: SS
L33 Psych 3401. Biological Psychology: An introduction to biological mechanisms underlying behavior. Topics include the physiology of nerve cells; anatomy of the nervous system; control of sensory and motor activity, arousal and sleep; motivation; and higher mental processes. Prerequisite: Psych 100B.
Credit 3 units. A&S: NS BU: SCI FA: NSM
L33 Psych 344. Principles of the Nervous System: Prerequisite: Psych 100B.
Same as Biol 3411
Credit 3 units. A&S: NS BU: SCI FA: NSM
L33 Psych 345. Genes, Environment and Human Behavior: This class examines how genetic influences impact various dimensions of human behavior, ranging from personality to clinical disorders. Topics covered include methods used to study genetic influence, how genetic predispositions interact with the environment, and ethical implications of genetic research in psychology. Prerequisiste: Psych 100B.
Credit 3 units. A&S: SS BU: BA
L33 Psych 347. Environmental Psychology: Explores relations between people and their physical and social environments. Topics include interactions between human behavior and toxins, habitat destruction/species extinction, exhaustion of fossil fuels, and climate change as well as environmental contributors to psychopathology. The course examines the influence of space on human behavior and the design of homes, work areas, educational settings and urban environments. Prerequisite: Psych 100B.
Credit 3 units. A&S: SS
L33 Psych 353. Psychology of Personality: Review of basic theoretical orientations to the understanding of personality and complex human behavior. Overview of related techniques, procedures and findings of personality assessment and personality research. Discussion of critical issues in evaluation of personality theories. Prerequisite: Psych 100B.
Credit 3 units. A&S: SS BU: BA FA: SSP
L33 Psych 354. Abnormal Psychology: Survey of deviant and maladjusted behavior including neuroses and psychoses; consideration of biological, social and individual determinants of maladjustment. Cultural perspectives on mental health and illness. Diagnosis, etiology and treatment. Review of pertinent research. Prerequisite: Psych 100B.
Credit 3 units. A&S: SS BU: BA FA: SSP
L33 Psych 356. Introduction to Forensic Psychology: This course is an introduction to the interaction between psychology and the legal system. The contribution of psychology to such legal areas as family law, juvenile delinquency, criminal cases, law enforcement and correctional psychology is surveyed. Topics covered include domestic violence, child abuse, personal injury, eyewitness testimony, insanity, sex offenders and psychopaths. Legal standards regarding insanity, civil commitment and expert testimony are reviewed. We also focus on the emerging contributions of neuroscience to the field of forensic psychology. Prerequisite: Psych 100B.
Credit 3 units. A&S: SS BU: BA
L33 Psych 357. Introduction to Clinical Psychology: A survey of clinical psychology. Emphasis is placed on historical and recent developments in the field (e.g., managed care), as well as the consideration of the roles, functions and techniques of clinical psychologists including psychological testing and psychotherapy. Prerequisites: Psych 100B and either Psych 353 or Psych 354.
Credit 3 units. A&S: SS BU: BA FA: SSP
L33 Psych 358. Language Acquisition: This course examines the development of language skills in children, asking how children so rapidly learn their first language. Topics include: biological bases of language development; development of phonology, syntax and morphology; language development in atypical populations; childhood bilingualism; and development of written language skills. Prerequisite: Psych 100B or Ling 170D.
Credit 3 units. A&S: SS BU: BA FA: SSP
L33 Psych 360. Cognitive Psychology: Introduction to the study of thought processing from an information-processing approach. Emphasis on theoretical models grounded in empirical support. Topics include pattern recognition, attention, memory, reasoning, language processes, decision making and problem solving. Prerequisite: Psych 100B.
Credit 3 units. A&S: NS BU: BA FA: NSM
L33 Psych 3604. Cognitive Neuroscience: A general introduction to the underlying principles and mechanisms of brain function that give rise to complex human cognitive behavior. Emphasis is placed on how emerging methods and approaches from both neuroscience and cognitive psychology have been integrated to yield new insights into the organization and structure of higher mental processes. Topics include perception, attention, memory, language and executive control. Prerequisite: Psych 100B.
Credit 3 units. A&S: NS BU: SCI FA: NSM
L33 Psych 361. Psychology of Learning: Basic learning processes in animals, such as conditioning, reinforcement, punishment and constraints on learning. Comparisons and interactions between classical and operant conditioning. Consideration given to learning theorists and theories, along with applications from the laboratory to the “real world.” Prerequisite: Psych 100B.
Credit 3 units. A&S: NS BU: BA FA: NSM
L33 Psych 361A. Psychology of Learning: Laboratory: This laboratory course is a supplement to the Pysch 361 Psychology of Learning class. Students gain firsthand experience, via a virtual rat, of principles and procedures related to the acquisition and maintenance of behavior. Weekly lab meetings introduce Pavlovian and operant principles, which are then implemented as laboratory exercises with the virtual rat. Concurrent enrollment in Psych 361 required.
Credit 1 unit. A&S: NS
L33 Psych 366. Psychology of Creativity: Same as Educ 366
Credit 3 units. A&S: SS BU: BA FA: SSP
L33 Psych 367. Seminar in Positive Psychology: Reviews the relatively recent development in the field known as “Positive Psychology.“ Topics may include: happiness and life satisfaction, positive self-esteem, creativity, caring relationships, love (passionate and otherwise), empathy, optimism, ambition, moral character development, attachment, compassion, forgiveness, helping, work ethics and successful aging. Designed to take a sampling of those aspects of psychology that emphasize the positive side of human nature. Prerequisites: Psych 100B and at least one 300-level course.
Credit 3 units. A&S: SS FA: SSP
L33 Psych 374. Drugs, Brain and Behavior: This course reviews information pertaining both to medications used to treat psychiatric disorders and to psychoactive drugs of abuse. By learning principles of pharmacology and mechanisms of action of these agents, students develop an enhanced knowledge of the brain mechanisms underlying abnormal human behavior. Prerequisites: Psych 100B and one of the following: Psych 354 or 3401 or 344.
Credit 3 units. A&S: NS BU: SCI
L33 Psych 380. Human Learning and Memory: A survey of issues related to the encoding, storage and retrieval of information in humans. Topics include memory improvement strategies, people with extraordinary memories, memory illusions and distortions, among other topics. Prerequisite: Psych 100B.
Credit 3 units. A&S: NS BU: BA FA: NSM, SSP
L33 Psych 399. Living, Dying and Death: A Biopsychosocial Approach to Understanding the End of Life: This survey course examines dying and death from biological, psychological and social perspectives. Topics include theoretical and research approaches to studying dying and death; historical and cross-cultural attitudes; psychological understanding and coping with death over the life span; the process of dying and definitions of death; health care professionals and treatment approaches for the dying; assisted death and other ethical/legal issues, grief and bereavement, mass tragedy and public death, and planning for death. Prerequisite: Psych 100B.
Credit 3 units. A&S: SS
L33 Psych 4001. Introduction to Neuropsychology: Introduction to the field of brain-behavior relationships: the neurological basis of cognitive and psychological functions such as language, spatial ability, attention and memory. Selected pathological syndromes associated with brain dysfunction also presented. Limit: 20 junior and senior psychology majors, psychology graduate students and others with relevant backgrounds. Prerequisite: an introductory course in the neurosciences or one in biological psychology.
Credit 3 units. A&S: NS FA: NSM
L33 Psych 4044. Topics in Cognitive Neuropsychology: Advances in the understanding of abilities such as memory, attention and language are discussed, with a focus on recent research that integrates the theoretical perspectives of cognitive psychology and neuropsychology. Emphasis on findings from investigations using neuroimaging techniques, psychophysiological techniques and patients with brain disorders. Prerequisite: Psych 100B.
Credit 3 units. A&S: NS FA: NSM
L33 Psych 4046. Developmental Neuropsychology: Development of the brain and associated changes in cognitive abilities are discussed, with an emphasis on recent research that integrates the theoretical perspectives of cognitive psychology and neuropsychology. Discussion focuses on early development and disorders affecting the brain such as cerebral palsy, sickle cell disease and autism. Prerequisite: completion of a course in developmental psychology, cognitive psychology or neuropsychology.
Credit 3 units. A&S: NS, WI FA: NSM
L33 Psych 4047. History of Neuroscience: The study of the relationship between brain and behavior from trephination and head injuries in ancient people through ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome into the Renaissance and more modern times. Emphasis on higher brain functions. Prerequisite: a course in physiological psychology, neuropsychology or the nervous system, or permission of instructor.
Credit 3 units. A&S: SS FA: SSP
L33 Psych 4051. Conceptual Issues in Psychology: Behaviorism has been called a monumental triviality by some while cognitivism is seen by others as prescientific, indeed detrimental to the advancement of psychology. Examination of the theoretical and methodological issues dividing the behaviorists and cognitivists.
Credit 3 units. A&S: SS FA: SSP
L33 Psych 4081. Topics in Psycholinguistics: Language is one of the most important things that people learn, and children are able to speak in complex sentences before they can tie their shoes. How do children master this seemingly impossible task? In this course, we cover theories and research on these issues. We focus on language development in children who are learning English as their first language, with special consideration given to vocabulary development. We also consider other populations, including bilingual children and children with language difficulties. Prerequisites: Psych 100B, completion of a course in developmental psychology, linguistics, and/or speech and hearing sciences, and junior or senior standing.
Credit 3 units. A&S: SS, WI
L33 Psych 4085. Seminar: Human Memory: A seminar that explores the primary literature on the scientific study of human memory. Topics include retrieval processes, forgetting, distortions of memory and individual differences in memory. Prerequisite: Psych 360 Cognitive Psychology, Psych 380 Human Learning and Memory, or permission of instructor.
Credit 3 units. A&S: SS
L33 Psych 4099. Human Evolutionary Psychology: How did evolution by natural selection shape the way human beings think and behave? Does evolution explain human cooperation and friendship, human morality, reproductive decisions, and social interactions? What sex differences in cognition or behavior are caused by evolution? This course introduces the concepts and findings of evolutionary psychology, mostly through reading of primary sources — articles from psychology and biology journals — and discussion and presentation of empirical cases. Prerequisites: at least 6 units of Psychology level 300 or above, or Anthro 3383.
Credit 3 units. A&S: SS
L33 Psych 413. Contemporary Topics in Social Psychology: Intolerance and Prejudice: Consideration of selected contemporary topics in social psychology. Participation in a research project of appropriate scope. Prerequisite: Psych 315.
Credit 3 units. A&S: SS FA: SSP
L33 Psych 4135. Human Behavior in Extreme Situations: This course familiarizes students with psychological theory and research that attempts to answer the question: What are the protective factors that help people who find themselves in an extreme situation respond constructively to the stress they must cope with? Extreme situations are characterized by conditions that force individuals and groups to adapt themselves involuntarily, entirely and with the greatest of speed. Readings are drawn from two sources (a) literature that describes extreme situations and human response to the trauma they cause (e.g., prisoner behavior in Nazi concentration camps, brainwashing of American soldiers during the Korean War, and response to a natural disaster and an airliner crash), and (b) research on potentially protective psychological variables such as coping and resilience. Prerequisites: junior or senior standing and 6 hours of advanced, home-based Psychology course work. Enrollment limited to 17.
Credit 3 units. A&S: SS
L33 Psych 4182. Perception, Thought and Action: This course focuses on current topics in visual perception, visual attention, eye movements and sensory-motor behavior. Readings consist of recent journal articles. Class meetings emphasize presentation and discussion of the material in the readings. Prerequisite: previous course work in Cognitive Psychology, Experimental Psychology or Perception.
Credit 3 units. A&S: NS FA: NSM
L33 Psych 4215. Critical Issues in Child Psychopathology: Covers issues that are critical to the emergence and maintenance of child psychopathology. Topics include: attachment, genetics, psychological development, cognitive development, cultural influences, etc. Different models of child psychopathology are considered. Prerequisites: Psych 100B and Psych 354.
Credit 3 units. A&S: SS FA: SSP
L33 Psych 4255. Special Topics in Clinical Psychology: An introduction to what clinical psychologists do, why they do it and where they do it. Reviews the history and development of clinical practice with special attention to psychological assessment, psychotherapy, theoretical orientations, settings in which psychologists practice and ethical issues. Written assignments in this writing-intensive course include a research paper, a case study and a formal analysis of an ethical problem in clinical psychology. Prerequisite: Psych 354. Not open to students who have taken Psych 450 or Psych 357.
Credit 3 units. A&S: SS, WI FA: SSP
L33 Psych 427. Social Gerontology: This course provides an introduction to aging and growing old, from an interdisciplinary perspective. Specific attention is paid to demographics, physical health and illness, mental health, interpersonal relations, work issues, living arrangements, ethics, and death and dying. Prerequisites: junior or senior standing and completion of 6 advanced units in Psychology.
Credit 3 units. A&S: SS FA: SSP
L33 Psych 4301. Contemporary Topics in Cognitive Development: Traditional topics in cognitive development, such as conservation, conceptual development and category formation, examined from both information-processing and Piagetian viewpoints. Prerequisite: Psych 321 or 360.
Credit 3 units. A&S: SS, WI FA: SSP
L33 Psych 4302. Cognitive Psychology Applied to Education: This course is intended to cover topics in the cognitive psychology of human memory, conceptual learning and comprehension with special focus on areas, theory and research that have potential application to education. Thus, the course provides selective coverage of theoretical and empirical work in cognitive psychology that provides potential to inform and improve educational practice. The applicability of these themes are explicitly developed and evaluated through the primary research literature using educationally oriented experimental paradigms. The course is of interest and benefit to education majors and to psychology majors interested in cognitive psychology and its applications. Prerequisites: junior/senior status; 9 units in Psychology and Psych 100B or junior/senior status; 9 units in Education and Psych 100B.
Credit 3 units. A&S: SS
L33 Psych 4305. Psychological Science: Fact and Fiction: Skeptical analysis of psychological science as practiced and popularized in the media. Analysis of discrepancies between media and scientific claims regarding areas such as repressed memory, brain imaging, heritability and psychotherapy. Additional examination of scientific career demands such as peer review, journal publication and research funding. These topics are interwoven with a review of common errors in reasoning particularly with respect to probabilistic reasoning and the public misperception of the practice and principles of scientific psychology. Prerequisite: junior or senior standing and completion of 6 advanced units in psychology.
Credit 3 units. A&S: SS, WI
L33 Psych 433. Psychology of Language: This course surveys current research and theory in psycholinguistics, covering the biological bases, cognitive bases and learning of language. We consider studies of normal children and adults, the performance of individuals with various types of language disorders, and computer simulations of language processes. Topics range from the perception and production of speech sounds to the management of conversations. Each student carries out an original research project on some aspect of psycholinguistics. Prerequisites: Ling 170D and Psych 100B.
Credit 3 units. A&S: SS FA: SSP
L33 Psych 4351. Reading and Reading Development: This seminar surveys current research on reading and spelling skills and their development. Students read and discuss journal articles that examine the cognitive and linguistic processes involved in reading, reading disorders and educational issues. Prerequisite: permission of instructor and previous course work in experimental psychology or psychology of language.
Credit 3 units. A&S: SS
L33 Psych 4361. Psychological Perspectives on the Self: Contemporary theories and research related to the self in social psychology. Emphasis on the self as a construct central to understanding important social phenomena. Topics include definitions and measurement of the self; and motivational implications of the self for impression management, ability appraisal and social inference. Prerequisite: Psych 315.
Credit 3 units. A&S: SS, WI FA: SSP
L33 Psych 438. Acoustical Phonetics and Speech Perception: Credit 3 units.
L33 Psych 4408. Trauma and Memory: A thorough investigation of the effects of trauma on memory in both individuals and collective groups. Topics include flashbulb memories; forgetting and repression; post-traumatic stress and memory; and effects of trauma on individual and group identity. Prerequisites: Psych 100B and 6 units of advanced-level psychology or anthropology course work.
Credit 3 units. A&S: SS
L33 Psych 4411. Topics in Cognitive Neuroscience: How the brain organizes behavior, emphasizing higher functions such as perception, language, and attention. Course aims at integration of information from neurobiological approaches (e.g., single-unit recording, lesion-behavior experiments) and information-processing approaches (e.g., cognitive psychological models, connectionist models). Prerequisite: Psych 3401 or Psych 360 or Psych 3604.
Credit 3 units. A&S: NS FA: NSM
L33 Psych 4415. Cognitive Neuroscience of Language: This seminar examines research that uses cognitive neuroscience techniques to inform our understanding of language processing. Readings consist of research and review articles with a focus on studies using electrophysiological and neuroimaging methods. A variety of psycholinguistic topics are covered, including speech perception, semantic processing, language production, syntactic processing, metaphor and joke processing, and bilingualism. Prerequisites: Psych 360 or Psych 3604 or Psych 4604 or Psych 433, and completion of 6 additional units of psychology course work at the 300 level or higher. Not open to graduate students.
Credit 3 units. A&S: SS, WI
L33 Psych 4418. Computational Modeling in Cognitive Neuroscience: Introduces the ideas and methods used in simulating cognitive and perceptual processes using computational models. The focus is on neural network mechanisms, which provide a bridge between behavioral and biological levels of analysis. The first half of the course introduces the basic computational and biological properties of individual neurons and neuronal networks, and the learning mechanisms that organize these networks. The second half of the course examines how these computational mechanisms can be used to explore a range of cognitive phenomena, including perception, attention, memory, language and higher-level cognition (i.e., executive control). Prerequisite: Psych 3604 Cognitive Neuroscience or permission of instructor.
Credit 3 units. A&S: NS FA: NSM
L33 Psych 4450. Functional Neuroimaging Methods: This course is intended for students wishing to become sophisticated producers or consumers of functional neuroimaging data. Emphasis is on extracting the most information from neuroimaging techniques toward the goal of answering psychologically motivated questions. A number of issues relating to neuroimaging methodology are covered, including technical principles; acquisition options; potential sources of artifact; experimental design; software tools; and analytical techniques. Class approach is hands-on, with students gaining experience in actually acquiring and working with neuroimaging data. Prerequisite: graduate standing or permission of instructor.
Credit 3 units. A&S: SS FA: SSP
L33 Psych 4495. Attitude Change and Persuasion: Overview of theory and research in the field of attitudes. Topics include: attitude formation and activation; the attitude-behavior relationship; and measuring attitudes, social influence, attitude change and persuasion techniques. Prerequisite: Psych 315. Enrollment limited to 25.
Credit 3 units. A&S: SS FA: SSP
L33 Psych 4501. Psychotherapy: Research and Practice: Provides an overview of the fast-changing field of psychotherapy covering both the methods and issues of current clinical practice as well as the problems and issues related to the appraisals of the effectiveness of psychotherapy. Particular attention is paid to recent developments. Topics discussed are of particular interest to students considering mental health careers emphasizing counseling and psychotherapy. Prerequisite: Psych 354 or 450.
Credit 3 units. A&S: SS FA: SSP
L33 Psych 4535. Personality Judgment: How We Perceive Ourselves and Others: This course examines how we form judgments of people’s personalities. The central question is the accuracy of personality judgments. The readings examine theory and research concerning this topic, and class discussion focuses on critical evaluations of the readings and generation of new research questions. This course examines personality judgment from a scientific perspective and addresses such questions as: How should accuracy be measured? What do you have to know about a person to judge their personality accurately? Does accuracy increase with greater acquaintance? Who makes a good judge of personality? How well do relationship partners know each others’ personalities? How is judging our own personality similar to or different from judging others’ personalities? How accurate are our perceptions of our own personality? How can the accuracy of personality judgment be improved? Prerequisites: at least 6 units of home-based Psychology courses and Psych 353.
Credit 3 units. A&S: SS
L33 Psych 4541. Personality and Psychopathology: This course is an advanced seminar in the study of personality disorders. It covers a range of conceptual and methodological issues involved in scientific efforts to understand ways in which pathological personality features disrupt people’s lives. Students learn about the similarities and distinctions between normal and pathological features of personality as well as the role that personality may play with regard to the causes and treatment of other kinds of mental disorder. A laboratory component of the class focuses on the development of practical skills in conducting research interviews designed to elicit information about personality and social adjustment. Prerequisites: Psych 354, junior or senior standing, and permission of the instructor.
Credit 3 units. A&S: SS
L33 Psych 4557. Biopsychosocial Aspects of Eating Disorders and Obesity: The aim of this seminar course is to examine the epidemiology, etiology, prevention and treatment of body image, eating disorders and obesity. An emphasis is placed on understanding the characteristic symptoms of excessive dieting, body image disturbance and binge eating, not only as formal psychiatric syndromes but as a representation of disregulatory processes reflecting social-cultural, psychological and biological disturbances. Students also learn about the clinical characteristics, medical sequelae, and physical aspects of eating disorders and obesity. Prerequisites: Psych 100B and junior/senior standing plus 6 units of advanced psychology.
Credit 3 units. A&S: SS
L33 Psych 4591. The Development of Social Cognition: This course explores what is known about the development of social cognition. Our starting point is infants’ capacity to navigate the social world, for instance, detecting agents, identifying social partners and learning from those around us. We consider what happens when the human ability to reason about others breaks down (as with autism), and what this can teach us about typical development. Each week we cover one topic and a related set of readings. Class meetings are devoted to active discussion and debate about the content of the readings. Students are required to write a weekly reaction paper to the readings to promote class discussion and give an in-class presentation on a novel research topic at the end of the semester. Graduate students may have additional course requirements. Prerequisite: Psych 315 or 321 or 360.
Credit 3 units. A&S: SS BU: BA
L33 Psych 4604. Cognitive Neuroscience: An intensive, case-study–based approach to the underlying principles and mechanisms of brain function that give rise to complex human cognitive behavior. Emphasis is placed on understanding and evaluating cutting-edge neuroscience research that has yielded new insights into the organization and structure of higher mental processes. Students develop critical thinking and writing skills via a strong class participation component and a writing-intensive format. Topics include perception, attention, memory, language, emotion and executive control. Writing-intensive. Declared Psychology majors are given priority to enroll. Not open to students who already have taken Psych 3604. Prerequisites: Psych 100B and either Biol 3411/Psych 344 or Psych 3401.
Credit 3 units. A&S: NS, WI
L33 Psych 4611. Psychological Tests and Measurements: In what sense can abilities and traits be measured? The history of measurement in psychology is traced through abilities, especially general intelligence, objective personality tests and projective tests. Other topics: recent theories of the nature and organization of intelligence (Cattell and Horn, Sternberg, Fischer), contemporary objections to psychological measurement (S. J. Gould). Prerequisite: Psych 300.
Credit 3 units. A&S: SS FA: SSP
L33 Psych 462. Psychology of Memory and Cognition: Credit 3 units. A&S: SS
L33 Psych 4625. Autobiographical Memory: This course investigates how people create and remember their personal life histories, with an emphasis on empirical studies within the cognitive tradition. Possible topics include childhood amnesia, false memories, emotional memories, the role of motivation in remembering, and how personal events are represented in memory. Prerequisite: Psych 360 or Psych 301 or Psych 380.
Credit 3 units. A&S: SS, WI FA: SSP
L33 Psych 4651. History and Modern Systems of Psychology: An introduction to the history of psychology. This course begins with the major figures and influences on behavioral science before the 1870s. It then examines the birth of “modern” psychology in Germany, and the “schools” of psychology that emerged early in the 20th century. Newer orientations and ideas are considered in the final segment of the course. Prerequisites: junior or senior standing and 6 units of advanced home-based Psychology courses.
Credit 3 units. A&S: TH FA: SSP
L33 Psych 4702. Current Debates in Psychology: In this seminar we debate issues of current controversy in psychology. Topics range from perception (Can subliminal messages affect behavior?) to development (Do children in daycare develop differently than children cared for at home?) to mental illness (Is road rage a real psychological illness?). Discussions are based on readings of primary research and review articles, and are augmented by written assignments. Prerequisite: completion of 6 units of advanced home-based Psychology courses.
Credit 3 units. A&S: SS
L33 Psych 473. Seminar: Contemporary Psychology: Critical analysis of theory and research on specific issues and topics in contemporary psychology. Prerequisites: junior or senior standing and 6 units of advanced home-based Psychology courses.
Credit 3 units. A&S: SS FA: SSP
L33 Psych 4765. Biological Basis of the Major Mental Disorders: This course covers research on the biological basis of the major mental disorders, including schizophrenia and related disorders, unipolar and bipolar mood disorders, obsessive compulsive disorder, panic disorder, and alcohol and substance abuse. Emphasis is on examining the evidence of genetic, neurochemical, functional and structural abnormalities as contributing factors to the development of these disorders. Prerequisites: Psych 100B and graduate standing or advanced undergraduates with permission of instructor.
Credit 3 units. A&S: NS FA: NSM
L33 Psych 488. The Cognitive Neuroscience of Film: To understand complex events in real life depends on perception, action and memory. To understand movies, people probably depend on similar psychological and neural mechanisms. This seminar uses results from psychology and neuroscience to try to better understand the experience of a movie viewer, and uses theory and practice to explore psychological hypotheses about perception. Prerequisite: Psych 360 or 3604 or 4604, or graduate standing in Psychology.
Credit 3 units. A&S: NS
L33 Psych 4971. Undergraduate Teaching: Limited opportunities for outstanding undergraduates to serve as teaching assistants for selected departmental courses. Application form and list of potential classes are available from Gary Massey, Administrative Officer, Psychology Department, room 223B. Prerequisite: permission of course instructor, departmental approval and junior/senior standing. Weekly meetings with coordinator required. Credit cannot be counted toward fulfilling the requirements for the major or minor in Psychology. Credit/no credit only.
Credit 2 units. FA: SSP
L33 Psych 498. Study for Honors: Acceptance into the Honors Program is based on superior performance as evidenced by the student’s record in undergraduate course work and the written agreement (Petition for Permission to Enroll) of a member of the faculty of the department (or other approved supervisor) to supervise an Honors project. The student must complete 6 units of Honors work (3 units of Psych 498 and 3 units of Psych 499), submit an acceptable written thesis, and be recommended by the department. Recommendation for an Honors degree is based on the evaluation of the written thesis and the student’s overall performance as an undergraduate. Students in the Honors Program meet regularly in the Honors Seminar to discuss their research and become acquainted with the work of the other students. Psych 498 is a writing-intensive course. All students must meet with Dr. Sommers prior to registering. Prerequisite: Psych 301 or equivalent and permission of instructor.
Credit 3 units. A&S: SS, WI FA: SSP
L33 Psych 499. Study for Honors: Acceptance into the Honors Program is based on superior performance as evidenced by the student’s record in undergraduate course work and the written agreement (Petition for Permission to Enroll) of a member of the faculty of the Department (or other approved supervisor) to supervise an Honors project. The student must complete 6 units of Honors work (3 units of Psych 498 and 3 units of Psych 499), submit an acceptable written thesis, and be recommended by the Department. Recommendation for an Honors degree is based on the evaluation of the written thesis and the student’s overall performance as an undergraduate. Students in the Honors Program meet regularly in the Honors Seminar to discuss their research and become acquainted with the work of the other students. Permission of instructor is required for this course. All students must meet with Dr. Sommers prior to registering. Prerequisite: Psych 301 or 3011.
Credit 3 units. A&S: SS FA: SSP

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