PSYC 395 - Special Topics in Psychology

Credits: 1, 2, or 3
Planned Offering: Offered when interest is expressed and departmental resources permit.

These seminars are designed to help the advanced student integrate his or her knowledge of specific fields into a comprehensive view of psychology, both as a science and as a profession. Specific topics vary and are determined, in part, by student demand. May be repeated for degree credit with permission and if the topics are different.

Topics for Winter 2012:

PSYC 395A-01: Positive Psychology (3). Prerequisites: Six credits in Psychology. Meets requirements 3 (topical coursework) or 6 (cognate) of the major leading to B.A. This course examines the emerging field of positive psychology, which synthesizes empirical studies concerning the virtues, emotions, experiences, and social structures that allow human beings to thrive. Theoretical and philosophical conceptualizations of happiness are discussed, as well as basic and applied research regarding affective, cognitive, behavioral, and physiological correlates of well-being. Students engage in experiential learning to explore ideas of and pathways toward psychological flourishing. Murdock

PSYC 395B: Leaders and Followers: a Psychological Perspective (3). Prerequisites: PSYC 112 or 114; and 250. Meets requirement 3 of the major leading to B.S. or requirement 4 of the major leading to B.A. This course explores the psychological underpinnings of what it means to be both a leader and a follower, drawing on theories and concepts from several subdisciplines of psychology, including cognitive, social cognitive, social, personality, and industrial/organizational. Specific topics include trait-based approaches to leadership, physical and emotional components of leadership, relational leadership, and the “dark side” of leadership. As many researchers have argued that one cannot be a leader without followers, the class also examines notions of follower-implicit expectations for leaders, “contagion” of leader behavior among followers, and follower self-identity/self-concept. J. Gregory

PSYC 395C-01 (NEUR 395): Neuropharmacology (3). Prerequisites: PSYC 111 and 250; or NEUR 120 and permission of instructor. Meets requirement 3 of the psychology major leading to B.S.; requirement 4 of the psychology major leading to B.A.; or requirement 3 of the neuroscience major. This course combines lecture and seminar elements to explore the physiological bases for drug action in the nervous system, with emphasis on cellular mechanisms. The course begins with an overview of quantitative pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics and regulation of neurotransmitter systems. This is followed by examination of major psychoactive drug classes, with special reference to recent literature on their mechanisms of action. The role of neuropharmacology in the growth of our understanding of normal neurochemical function is stressed throughout. Stewart.

Topic for Fall 2011:

PSYC 395: Organizational Psychology (3). Prerequisites: Three credits in psychology. Topical description- This course provides an introduction to the applications of psychology in the workplace. Specific topics include employee selection, training & development, well-being at work, performance management, attitudes & motivation, leadership, and organizational change. Staff