Courses on topics of interest to psychology students offered on the basis of need, interest, or timeliness. Prerequisites as determined by the instructor. Restricted to students with junior standing or higher. May be repeated for credit. For specific section description, click to the Section Details in VitNet.

In this course students will learn the various ways in which psychologists study and measure personality factors, traits, and individual differences. Students will compare and contrast different models of personality and evaluate the empirical evidence for each. Contemporary theories related to personality stability, development, and change will be also discussed. Students will also explore research on the psychology of individual differences beyond stable personality factors. Topics may include styles of motivation, emotion, trust, authoritarianism, and others.

Students in Behavioral Neuroscience explore a variety of advanced issues in biopsychology related to both normal and abnormal expressions of behavior through current primary scientific literature. In this seminar-style course, each student works with the instructor to select an appropriate topic of interest and leads the class discussion on this topic and corresponding journal article(s). Example general topic areas include neuroenhancement, neurotoxiclogy, and CNS disorders. Prerequisite: 261 or BIOP 261 or BIOL 353. Restricted to students with junior standing or higher.

This course focuses on the application of assessment and treatment planning to the field of substance abuse. Topics include assessment instruments and procedures, psychosocial interviews, development of behavior treatment goals, record keeping, case management and ethical considerations. Prerequisites: 205.

Students in this course will develop a theoretical foundation and effective counseling skills for work in the specialized field of substance abuse disorders. Topics to be covered will include philosophies, practices, policies, and outcomes of the most generally accepted and scientifically supported models of treatment, recovery, relapse prevention, and continuing care for addiction and other substance-related problems. Prerequisites: 205, 270.

This course provides an overview of the major theories in the field of counseling and the historical perspectives and philosophies upon which they are based. This includes supervised laboratory experience with role-playing practice to understand the client and counselor roles in treatment strategies and techniques used in psychotherapy. Prerequisites: 270 or concurrent.

An overview of various family forms, the family life cycle, and healthy family functioning will be provided, followed by a review of the major theories of systemic family therapy. Basic family therapy process and outcome research will be reviewed. The code of ethics will be applied to clinical ethical dilemmas. A role play format will be used to practice basic therapy counseling skills. Restricted to students with junior standing or higher.

Although psychology historically focused on negative aspects of life (psychopathology, retardation and aggression), Positive Psychology focuses on the more positive (mental health, creativity and pro-social behavior). Topics in this course will also include happiness, humor, human strengths, flow, peace, resilience, optimism, empathy and altruism, love and companionship, and relaxation and mindfulness. Emphasis will be on both scientific findings and the application of those findings in ones personal life. The course will include a significant self-change project.

Psychological Testing explores the history, theory, and methods of measuring human behavior. Students will receive exposure to a variety of representative tests of intelligence, personality, neuropsychological functioning, and more. Strongly recommended for students interested in counseling, clinical, and industrial organization psychology. Prerequisite: 171. Restricted to students with junior standing or higher.

Considering the increasing diversity of the United States and a more interconnected world, this course has two aims. First, this course provides students with an understanding of why fostering belonging is necessary to create healthy and thriving diverse communities. Second, this course provides students with an understanding of how to create communities of belonging. Through a multidisciplinary lens, we will explore and discuss when, why, and how race was invented.