Courses Offered

Psychology

A list of regularly offered courses follows. The indication of when a course will be offered is based on the best projection of the department and can be subject to change.

Please note the key for the following abbreviations: (A) Arts; (H) Humanities; (S) Social Sciences; (N) Natural Sciences with Laboratory; (LS) Language Studies requirement; (NW) Non-Western Cultures requirement.

PSY100. Introductory Psychology. (N) Every Semester

An experimental and conceptual analysis of the processes of learning, thinking and perception and the biological bases of behavior. The relationships of these to behavioral development, social behavior and more complex phenomena of personality formation and abnormal behavior are undertaken. Required laboratory work involves investigation of the various processes in animals and humans. Staff

PSY230. Experimental Design and Statistics. Every Semester

Descriptive and inferential statistics. Research design as reflected in statistical methods. Analysis of variance designs for independent groups and for repeated measurements. Statistical power and comparison techniques. Required laboratory will focus on design and methodology. Prerequisite: PSY 100 or BIO 110. Bashaw

PSY240. Neuroscience. (N) Every Spring

Principles of nervous system function from the molecular through the organ system level as illustrated by the vertebrates and invertebrates. Approximately one half of the course will cover basic cellular principles of nervous system organization, development and physiology. The remaining lectures will consider the role of functionally-identified neural networks in behavior control. Prerequisite: BIO 220 or BFB/PSY 302. Same as BFB/BIO/SPM 240. Cecala

PSY250. Animal Behavior. (N) Every Fall

An integrative approach to animal behavior from the perspectives of ethology, behavioral ecology and comparative psychology. The structure, function, development and evolution of behavioral adaptations including foraging and predation, communication, social organization and reproductive strategies. Observational and experimental research required. Prerequisites: BIO 110 and permission of instructor. Corequisite: either BIO 210 or PSY 230, or permission of the instructor. Same as BFB/BIO 250. Sunsay

PSY270–279, 370–379. Special Topics in Psychology.

An examination of a single problem area of psychology receiving attention in the current literature. Permits in-depth analysis of a single, important psychological phenomenon. Admission by consent of instructor.

PSY290, 390. Research in Psychology.

A laboratory or other scholarly independent research project conducted under the supervision of a faculty member from the department. Prerequisite: permission of chairperson.

AREA STUDIES COURSES

PSY301. Sensation and Perception. (N) Every Spring

Review of phenomena and research on sensory processes and their role in perception. Readings and discussion will examine evidence from behavioral, psychophysical and physiological research and consider implications for explanations arising from the mechanistic, cognitive, computational and naturalistic theoretical perspectives. Prerequisite: PSY 100 or permission. Corequisite: PSY 230 or BIO 210. Same as BFB/SPM 301. Owens

PSY302. Biopsychology. (N) Every Fall

Behavioral and mental processes as viewed from a biological perspective with particular emphasis upon the role of neurochemical and endocrine factors in central nervous system function. Topics covered will include reproduction and gender, chemical senses and ingestion, emotion, learning, sleep and psychopathology. A neuropharmacological approach to the study of the nervous system will be emphasized. Prerequisite: PSY 100 or BIO110 or permission. Same as BFB/SPM 302. Staff

PSY304. Developmental Psychology. Every Fall

An examination of the relative contributions of nature and nurture on children’s behavioral, cognitive and perceptual development from the prenatal period through adolescence. Topics include the development of language, concepts, intelligence, socialization, motor abilities and emotional understanding, with discussion informed by current and classic primary reading. Research activities and analyses integrated into course work. Prerequisite: PSY 100 or permission. Corequisite: PSY 230 or BIO 210. Same as SPM 304. Clipman

PSY305. Cognitive Psychology. Every Fall

In this course we will ask how some familiar human behaviors seeing, classifying, remembering, speaking, reasoning are possible. We will learn how cognitive scientists go about answering these questions and what some of the classic answers are. The idea is both to introduce some key findings in cognitive psychology and to develop the skills to understand and critically evaluate cognitive psychology research. In addition to lectures, the course will include hands-on experiments and demonstrations; student presentations of individual journal articles; and debates about the broader implications of some cognitive psychology research. Prerequisite: PSY 100 or permission. Corequisite: PSY 230 or BIO 210. Same as SPM 305. Staff

PSY306. Evolution of Mind and Intelligence. Spring 2010

What is intelligent behavior, what is it for and how did it evolve? We will attempt to answer these questions and understand the nature and development of Mind from a comparative perspective. We will do so by investigating learning, perception, memory, thinking and language in animals and humans. Research activities and analyses integrated into course work. Prerequisite: One of: PSY 100, PSY 301, PSY 302, PSY 303, PSY 304, PSY 305, BIO 240, BIO 250 or PHI 338, or permission. Corequisite: PSY 230 or BIO 210. Same as BFB/SPM 306. R. Thompson

PSY307. Personality Psychology. Every Spring

This course provides an evaluative and comparative overview of major models of personality selected to illustrate psychodynamic, trait, cognitive, humanistic, physiological and learning approaches. The course will emphasize the testability of the models and their connection with current research. Research activities and analyses integrated into course work. Prerequisite: PSY 100 or permission. Corequisite: PSY 230 or BIO 210. Same as SPM 307. J. Campbell

PSY308. Psychopathology. Every Spring

This course will serve as an introduction to descriptive and theoretical approaches to the study of psychopathology. In addition to the study of disease-related processes, special emphasis will be placed upon developing an understanding of those biological, psychological and social conditions that are essential for healthy psychosocial functioning across the life span. Prerequisite: PSY 100 or permission. Same as SPM 308. Penn

PSY309. Social Psychology. Every Spring

This course involves the student in exploration of some of the basic topics in experimental approaches to social psychology, such as cognitive and motivational perspectives on social phenomena, the role of affect and emotion in social action and current uses of the concept of self. Issues explored in this context include self-affirmation processes, regulation of social action and the relationship between affect, cognition and action. Research activities and analyses integrated into course work. Prerequisite: PSY 100 or permission. Corequisite: PSY 230 or BIO 210. Same as SPM 309. Knowles

PSY310. Conditioning and Learning. Every Fall

An introduction to the process by which human and animal behavior changes as a function of experience. Examines basic mechanisms for learning (including habituation, sensitization and classical and operant conditioning) and explores the scientific and practical application of these mechanisms to explain and predict behavior. Discusses the extent to which learning mechanisms are consistent across species and how the physiology, natural environment and social systems of individual species interact with basic learning processes to produce different behavioral outcomes. Same as BFB 310. Sunsay

PSY312. Embodied Cognition. (NSP) Every Spring

In this course we will study intelligence by focusing on perception and action in the environment. To this end, we will focus on ecological psychology, robotics, artificial neural networks and simulated evolution. Although students will be expected to build simple robots and work with computer models, no background knowledge of engineering or computing will be assumed. (Knowledge of programming is not required) Prerequisite: PSY 100. Same as SPM 312. Chemero

PSY315. Cross-Cultural Psychology. Fall 2009

Cross-Cultural Psychology serves as an introduction to the relationships among cultural processes, human consciousness, human health and human development. Prerequisite: PSY 100. Penn

PSY355. Possibility of Artificial Intelligence. (H) Spring 2010

A critical analysis of the progress and prospects of attempts to build intelligent machines. Prerequisites: PHI 244 and PHI/SPM 250; or permission of instructor. Same as PHI/SPM 355. Chemero

RESEARCH COLLABORATION COURSES

PSY360. Advanced Quantitative Methods. (N) Fall 2010

An examination of complex univariate and multivariate statistical techniques as applied in the context of psychological research. The course will focus on techniques including complex analysis of variance, multivariate regression and correlation, principal components analysis and factor analysis and power and effect size. We will examine published research and conduct research projects to explore the relationship between hypotheses, experimental designs and these statistical techniques. Prerequisites: PSY 230 or BIO 210. Bashaw

PSY480. Collaborative Research in Comparative Cognition and Behavior. (N) Every Spring

Comparative perspectives and approaches to the study of selected topics drawn from cognitive and developmental psychology, cognitive ethology, cognitive and behavioral neuroscience, cognitive science and behavioral primatology. Research required. Prerequisites: PSY 230 or BIO 210, one of PSY 250, 301, 302, 303, 304, 305, 306; OR one of BIO 250, 330, 379; OR one of BFB 250, 301, 302, 306, 330, 379; OR permission of the instructor. Same as BFB/SPM 480. Staff

PSY481. Collaborative Research in Developmental Psychology. (N) Every Spring

An overview of methods for conducting research with children, with an emphasis on ethics of working with child participants. Current empirical and theoretical issues in developmental psychology are addressed through literature review and group research projects. Topics reflecting student interests are considered. Laboratory research required. Prerequisites: PSY 230 or BIO 210; PSY 304, or permission. Same as SPM 481. Casler

PSY482. Collaborative Research in Social Psychology. (N) Every Fall

Selected topics in experimental social psychology. Emphasis on experimental methods. Traditional areas of social psychology and topics that reflect student research interest are considered. Laboratory research required. Prerequisites: PSY 230; PSY 309, or permission. Knowles

PSY483. Collaborative Research in Human Cognition. (N) Every Spring

An in-depth consideration of selected empirical and theoretical issues in cognitive psychology. Emphasis is on recent literature covering basic research in cognitive psychology, cognitive neuroscience and computational neuroscience modeling, including such topics as attention and resource allocation, representation, concept formation, memory and topics reflecting research interests of participating students. Laboratory research required. Prerequisites: PSY 230 or BIO 210; PSY/SPM 305, or permission. Same as SPM 483. Staff

PSY484. Collaborative Research in Personality. (N) Every Fall

Selected empirical and theoretical topics from the contemporary literature in personality psychology with emphasis on measurement issues and comparative analyses of major models and taxonomies. Topics that reflect student research interests will be discussed. Laboratory research required. Prerequisites: PSY 230 or BIO 210; PSY/SPM 307, or permission. J. Campbell

PSY485. Collaborative Research in Human Perception and Action. (N) Every Fall

Contemporary research and theories of the interrelations of perceptual and motor processes. Content will be drawn from the literatures of experimental psychology, neurophysiology and human factors. Animal models and computational algorithms will be considered when applicable, with primary emphasis on implications for human performance. Laboratory research required. Prerequisites: PSY 230 or BIO 210; PSY 301, or permission. Same as SPM 485. Owens

PSY487. Collaborative Research in Biological Psychology. (N) Every Spring

The neurophysiological and structural basis of behavior with emphasis on motivation and learning, including the use of psychopharmacological methods. The role of endocrine and metabolic processes in the regulation of behavior is integrated with considerations of structure. Laboratory research required. Prerequisites: PSY 230 or BIO 210; PSY 302 or BIO/BFB 240 or permission. Same as BFB 487. Heyser

PSY488. Collaborative Research in Psychopathology. (N) Every Fall

An upper-level, research-based seminar that explores normative, healthy and abnormal psychosocial development across the life span. Students are assisted to undertake individual or group research projects using a variety of methods — including both quantitative and qualitative approaches. Prerequisites: PSY 230 or BIO 210; PSY 308, or permission. Penn

CAPSTONE COURSE

PSY489. History and Philosophy of Psychology. (N) Every Fall

The historical origins of contemporary psychology in European philosophy, physiology and biology and subsequent development of the schools of structuralism, functionalism, Gestalt, behaviorism and psychoanalysis. Emphasis on identifying the goals, implicit assumptions and potential contributions of scientific psychology. Prerequisite: Senior psychology major status or permission of instructor. Same as SPM/STS 489. Chemero, Owens

INDEPENDENT RESEARCH

PSY490. Senior Independent Research.

Independent study under the direction of the Psychology staff. Permission of chairperson required.