PSYC 103: Introduction to Psychological Science
Last Taught: Spring 2017
This course is an introduction to the scientific study of affect, behavior, and cognition. The course introduces students to an array of essential topics in psychology that are important to study as a scientific discipline and are applicable to everyday life. Topics include research mehods and statistics in psychology, learning, the nervous system and brain, memory, senstation and perception, psychological disorders, personality, social, and developmental. We’ll talk about how we learn, think and remember, influence one another, and much more. Students will be exposed to a range of classic and current theoretical perspectives and the importance of scientific methods and research design will be emphasized across course topics.
PSYC 223: Social Psychology
Last Taught: Summer 2023
This course will familiarize students with the principal theories, concepts, and methods of social psychology. The material covers phenomena related to how we think and feel about each other, how we relate to and influence each other, and how our thoughts, feelings, and behavior can be affected by others even when they are not present. Topics include social perception and cognition, attitudes, attraction and relationships, helping, aggression, social influence, and group processes. The lectures, discussions, and readings are designed to acquaint students with both classic and current research trends . Students will apply course concepts to everyday life and develop critical thinking skills through analysis of research studies and questions.
PSYC 462: Advanced Social Psychology
with Lab
Last Taught: Spring 2024
This course is designed to provide students with an in depth examination of theories and research practices in social psychology and to provide students with the opportunity to conduct original research using common social psychological research methodology. We will largely focus on projects examining interpersonal relationships and the self. This course is writing intensive and is designed to foster critical thinking and communication about research trends in social psychology. Students will gain the skills needed to independently develop ideas and materials, collect and analyze data, and draw conclusions from and present original research. Students will present original research both orally and in the form of APA style research manuscripts.
PSYC 423: Social Psychology Advanced Topics
(Interpersonal Relationships)
Last Taught: Spring 2023
This course offers an overview of the means by which individuals develop and maintain interpersonal relationships. The course will examine various orientations to the study of interpersonal relationships, including interdependence, attachment, evolutionary-biological, and cognitive. In addition, the course will explore issues such as physical attraction, trust, intimacy, love, and commitment. The course may also address processes in distressed relationships. The lectures, discussions, and readings are designed to acquaint students with both classic and current research trends in these subject areas. Students will apply course concepts to everyday life and develop critical thinking skills through analysis of research studies and questions.
FYSE 132: First-Year Seminar Experience:
Must Love Dogs: Our Relationship with Human's Best Friend
PSYC 499 Bachelor's Essay,
PSYC 498 Independent Study, & PSYC 497 Tutorial
Last Taught: Fall 2020
First-Year Seminars focus on topics within or across the disciplines of study in the College curriculum. Seminars introduce students to the discipline, its ways of thinking and methods of conducting research. Seminars also address the needs of first-year students: introducing students to the College’s liberal arts and sciences curriculum and to resources such as the Library, computing facilities, advising and other student support services. Dogs and humans have a unique bond, and our relationships with our dogs can have wide-ranging impact on our daily lives. In this course we will review from a psychological scientific perspective research, theory, and practice related to our close relationships with dogs. We begin by reviewing scientific principles that will serve as the foundation of our examination, and we will explore how humans and dogs came to develop a unique bond. We will then examine different questions about our relationships with dogs.
Last Taught: Spring 2024
View a Sample Tutorial Syllabus
Bachelor's Essay and Independent Study afford students the opportunity to obtain empirical skills and research experience in a supportive academic environment. Students will have the opportunity to read primary literature in the field, learn about skills and techniques used by researchers in the field, and learn about how the data collected in a study are analyzed and disseminated. BE students execute a yearlong intensive, empirical research project. The Tutorial course affords students the opportunity to explore and learn about a particular area of study in Psychology by engaging in an extensive literature review. Students who enroll in a tutorial experience will have the opportunity to: read primary literature in the field and learn about skills and techniques used by researchers in the field. Along with the time students spend reading primary source materials, they are also expected to meet regularly with their research supervisor.
FYSE 132: First-Year Seminar Experience:
Psychology of Travel
Last Taught: Spring 2024
First-Year Seminars focus on topics within or across the disciplines of study in the College curriculum. Seminars introduce students to the discipline, its ways of thinking and methods of conducting research. Seminars also address the needs of first-year students: introducing students to the College’s liberal arts and sciences curriculum and to resources such as the Library, computing facilities, advising and other student support services. In this course, we seek to understand how travel impacts individuals, close relationships, broader social groups, and the larger world by reviewing and applying psychological scientific research and theory. We will examine how travel affects our mental and physical health, relationship quality, and work productivity, and we will discuss challenges that individuals of different demographic groups and backgrounds may face when traveling. We will also examine how our travel may impact people who live and work at the locations to which we travel, and how our travel can impact our attitudes and behaviors toward other cultures and social groups. Finally, we will examine how travel may impact our natural environment and surrounding world, including a focus on sustainability.
PSYC 397: Internship Experience
Last Taught: Spring 2024
This course provides the student interested in the application of psychological theories and principles an opportunity to have an applied learning experience in a pre-approved agency or organization. The learning experience will be guided by an individualized learning contract that will specify the academic and work components of the experience.
This class is only open to
-
Junior or senior psychology majors
-
3.0 overall GPA and a 3.0 GPA in the major
-
Completion of PSYC 211 and 220 (or PSYC 250) required
-
Special consideration will be given to students with more credits in psychology and students who have successfully completed (at least some of) our Core A courses
Enrollment in the course is made on a competitive basis. If you are interested in applying for this course, you must attend an informational session during the preceding semester. These informational sessions will be announced in several ways (e.g., through the PSYC Majors listerv).
For more information, please see CofC PSYC's website.