Have you ever wondered how social situations guide how we think about and act toward others, what determines who we love and who we hate, how we form attitudes about our own and others behavior, what determines whether we will help or hurt others, or how we construct knowledge about the self? If so, social psychology addresses these questions and many more. Social psychology is the science of how others influence the way people think, feel, and act. The aim of this course is to familiarize you with current and classic research and theory in social psychology, help you to develop critical thinking skills about social-psychological phenomena, and stimulate you to think about the implications of social-psychological research for everyday living. For this course, students will complete readings from a textbook and articles. There be will be four quizzes and a final project applying one concept within social psychology to everyday life.

Prerequisite: HPSS-S101 for Undergraduate Students

Elective

What is personality? What makes you unique? In this course we will explore “personality” from the perspective of major psychological theories and research. We will consider how different areas of psychology explain how personality is developed, what different aspects of our personality are related to other aspects of our lives, and how we can measure personality traits. This course is intended to be an introductory course, and will cover a broad understanding of the major topics in personality psychology. Classes will consist of lecture and discussion. There will be weekly assignments, papers, and a final.
Prerequisite: HPSS-S101 for undergraduates

Elective

Winter is a time of reflection, rest, and quieting. In this course, we will explore ways of embracing this season by considering various practices related to the qualities of wintering. This will include topics related to mindfulness/meditation, self-compassion, reflection, and the stage of growth that comes through pause. Throughout the course, we will visit these topics through the lens of psychological theory and research with readings and in-class discussion. We will also allow for time to engage in practices of wintering.

Elective

You may register for this section if your EFS studio days are Tuesday/Thursday/Friday.

We seem to encounter psychology often and in many different ways in our daily lives. Yet, what truly does the field of psychology consist of? And how does the field define and describe who we are? In this course, we will explore “personality” from the perspective of major psychological theories and research. We will consider how different areas of psychology explain how personality is developed and what different aspects of our personality are related to other aspects of our lives. While reviewing several key topics and research studies in personality psychology, this course aims to cultivate skills in critical thinking, reading, analysis, research, and writing. Throughout the course, there will be a variety of assignments that will support students in writing a paper on a psychological topic.

Transfer and upper-level students should register for one of the evening sections.

Major Requirement | BFA

What is mental health and mental illness? When is anxiety helpful and when does it start to become unhelpful? Is an existential crisis part of the human condition? How do different internal experiences impact how humans interact and perceive the world? This course aims to examine these questions and many more through an introduction to psychopathology. Psychopathology examines the conceptualization, etiology, diagnosis, and treatment of various psychological disorders. Through promoting greater awareness and knowledge about mental health and illness, this course hopes to help increase perspective and reduce stigma associated with mental disorders. For this seminar, students will engage in weekly class discussion, as well as complete readings from a textbook and articles. There will be reflective writing assignments and a final paper or creative project. 

Prerequisite: HPSS-S101 for Undergraduate Students

Elective

We seem to encounter psychology often and in many different ways in our daily lives. Yet, what truly does the field of psychology consist of? And how does the field define and describe who we are? In this course, we will explore “personality” from the perspective of major psychological theories and research. We will consider how different areas of psychology explain how personality is developed and what different aspects of our personality are related to other aspects of our lives. While reviewing several key topics and research studies in personality psychology, this course aims to cultivate skills in critical thinking, reading, analysis, research, and writing. Throughout the course, there will be a variety of assignments that will support students in writing a paper on a psychological topic.

Major Requirement | BFA