Margaret Stevenson

Psychology is the study of behavior and mental processes. In this introductory course, we explore a variety of areas in which psychologists conduct research: the biological foundations of behavior, sensory and perceptual processes, cognition, learning and memory, developmental psychology, personality and social psychology, psychological disorders, and variability in behavior related to culture. This course is open only to first-year and sophomore students. This counts toward the foundations requirement for the major. No prerequisite. Offered every semester.

Social psychology is the systematic study of social behavior. In general, it examines how we are affected by our social environment: how we perceive and interpret the behavior of others and the social situation, how we respond to others and they to us, and the nature of social relationships. Application of social psychological theory and methodology is encouraged through participation in small-scale laboratory or field observational studies. This counts toward the person and society requirement for the major. Prerequisite: PSYC 100 or 110 or AP score of 5. Generally offered every year.

This course introduces students to the major topics represented in the field of psychology and law. Students examine how psychological research (across subdisciplines such as social, clinical, cognitive and community psychology) can contribute to a better understanding of the law or legal process, how the legal system can be informed by the results of psychological research, and how psychological research can be more reactive to legal issues. Topics include the reliability of eyewitness testimony; factors that affect jury decision-making; interrogation and confessions; the clinical determination of insanity, competence and future dangerousness; myths associated with “psychological profiling”; sexual victimization of adults and children; race and the law; and juvenile justice. This counts toward the person and society requirement for the major. Prerequisite: PSYC 100 or 110 or AP score of 5. Generally offered every year.

Special issues arise when children become involved in our legal system, a system that was designed for adults. This course introduces students to the major topics represented in the field. Students examine how psychological research (across subdisciplines such as social, clinical, cognitive and community psychology) can contribute to a better understanding of the special issues pertaining to children who enter the legal system. Topics include the nature of and societal response to child maltreatment, the reliability of children’s eyewitness testimony, jurors’ perceptions of children’s testimony, and juvenile justice. This course reviews how psychological research can contribute to a better understanding of these issues, how the legal system can be informed by the results of research, how psychological interventions can improve the mental health and well-being of legally involved youth, and how to design future research to address remaining questions. This counts toward the clinical issues and health requirement for the major. Prerequisite: PSYC 250. Generally offered every year.

This course introduces students to psychological theory and research concerning stereotyping, prejudice, racism and the effects of social stigma on self and society. Students examine how stereotypes, prejudice and racism are formed, maintained and reduced. For instance, students explore research unpacking the psychological underpinnings of why we treat "out-group" members differently from "in-group" members ("in-group bias"), as well as the experiences of stereotyping for targets (e.g., stereotype threat). Class content includes a review of research focusing on prejudice toward different social groups, including those formed by racial and ethnic origins, gender identity, sexual orientation, and overweight and physically different individuals. Students leave this class with concrete, evidence-based, practical strategies and interventions to work toward eradicating prejudice and racism. This counts toward the person and society requirement for the major. Prerequisite: PSYC 250. Generally offered every year.\n

This is the first semester of the two-part sequence required for senior psychology majors. Each section has a different topic, but in every seminar, students read and discuss psychological literature, write and discuss critiques of research articles, review the literature and develop a research proposal on a topic related to the seminar's topic, and make a formal oral presentation to the class. This theoretical framework lays the groundwork for the execution of a project in the second half of the practicum. This counts toward the Senior Capstone requirement for the major. Senior standing and psychology major. Offered every fall.

This is the second semester of the two-part sequence required for senior psychology majors. This class features hands-on experience in creating and conducting research to allow students to learn by doing. We investigate the procedure of generating research from start to finish through the lens of theory learned in the first semester. This course strongly and equally emphasizes strengthening scientific writing skills, generating research designs and quantitative reasoning and application. Along the way we practice evaluating research designs and perfecting APA style. This course is designed to prepare students for a career in research in psychology. This counts toward the Senior Capstone requirement for the major. Prerequisite: PSYC 475. Senior standing, psychology major. Offered every spring

Individual study in psychology allows students the opportunity to pursue research on a topic of special interest. The course is designed in consultation with a faculty mentor. The level of credit can range from 0.25 to 0.5 unit, and students may take more than one semester of individual study. Typically, only juniors or seniors may pursue this option. To enroll, a student must first identify a member of the psychology department who is willing to mentor the project. The student must give the department chair a written description of the project, including the nature of the proposed work and a list of references. The project should include reading and reviewing scientific literature and likely entail a research project in which original data are collected. The student and faculty member are expected to meet, on average, once a week. The final project likely a paper written in the style of the American Psychological Association. Additional assignments may be required, including a public presentation. The amount of work required for the individual study should approximate that required of other 400-level psychology courses. It is possible for students to pursue a group project, but more work is expected for the completed project and each student writes her or his own individual paper. Because students must enroll for individual studies by the end of the seventh class day of each semester, they should begin discussion of the proposed individual study by the semester before, so that there is time to devise the proposal and seek departmental approval.