A survey of current psychological research on the factors that contribute to a person's sense of well being. What are the components of happiness? What are the biological, personality and contextual factors that contribute to that happiness? How does a person's sense of well being influence health, relationships and other important life outcomes? Prerequisites: PSY 170 or PSY 180. Enrollment limited to 12. Juniors and seniors only. Instructor permission required.

Examination of the empirical and theoretical research relevant to anxiety disorders and their associated features in youth. Using a developmental perspective, the course focuses on risk factors, theoretical models and methods of assessment and intervention. Prerequisites: (PSY 100 and PSY 150) or PSY 253 or equivalent. Enrollment limited to 12. Juniors and seniors only. Instructor permission required.

This seminar focuses on a comprehensive understanding of the science, study and treatment of high-risk behaviors in severe psychopathology. Discussions include: alcohol/substance use, disordered eating, impulsivity, and self-injurious thoughts and behaviors. Readings involve empirical studies and theoretical papers that have shaped the study of these behaviors and their relationship/presence in DSM-5.

This course explores a range of psychological perspectives on racism: what it is, how it operates and resulting approaches to healing it. The course then considers racialization of key resource domains globally: e.g., time, power and health. Students apply their understandings to a topic of their choosing and practice communicating their findings for academic and lay audiences, respectively. Prerequisites: PSY 140 and PSY 202. Enrollment limited to 12. Juniors and seniors only. Instructor permission required. (E)

This seminar explores the cognitive processes underlying human perception and comprehension of film and the techniques filmmakers use to capitalize on these processes. Students read and discuss empirical articles and view relevant examples of film. Discussions range from change blindness and apparent motion to character identity and narrative. Prerequisite: PSY 100. Enrollment limited to 12. Juniors and seniors only. Instructor permission required.

Flourishing has been described as living a good, fulfilling life with a sense of purpose. Sometimes called thriving, it is a state of emotional, psychological and social well-being. This seminar examines pathways to flourishing via close reading of empirical articles, class discussion and guided practices in and out of class.

This course explores various theories of career development and the application of those theories to career coaching and personal career development. Career assessment measures and the utility of those measures are examined. Statewide and national resources for job seeking are reviewed. A multicultural approach to career coaching is taken throughout the course, with an eye to diversity and its role in the changing world of work. Enrollment limited to 25. (E)

This course explores the human side of climate change. Drawing from the domains of social, cognitive, developmental and clinical psychology, as well as interdisciplinary theories related to human decision-making, behavior and motivation, the course explores questions raised by the American Psychological Association’s Task Force on global climate change. Prerequisites: PSY 100 or equivalent. Enrollment limited to 25. (E)

This colloquium is concerned with the psychological processes underlying political phenomena. The course is divided into three sections: Leaders, Followers and Social Movements. In each of these sections, students examine how psychological factors influence political behavior and how political acts affect individual psychology. Prerequisites: PSY 100 & PSY 202. Enrollment limited to 25.