Psychology Courses At St. Olaf
Psychology Courses At St. Olaf
125 Principles of Psychology
This course examines the basic principles and methods of psychological science from an evolutionary and cultural perspective. Students use critical thinking skills to examine fascinating topics: dreaming, cultural influences, identity, learning, thinking, and the biology of behavior. Applying basic research methods, students act as skeptical scientists. This course applies to almost any career choice in today's world and provides insight into self and others. Offered each semester.
126 Investigative Explorations in Psychology
Students engage in hands-on laboratory experiments to (1) understand the experimental basis of current scientific theory in psychology; and (2) develop proficiency in using equipment, testing hypotheses, collecting data, and interpreting results. Phenomena selected for these introductory investigations are robust, central to introductory psychology, of interest to students, and relevant to psychological research. Prerequisite/corequisite: Psychology 125. Offered each semester.
231 Research Methods in Psychology
This course prepares the student with tools for understanding how research studies in psychology are conceptualized, designed, carried out, interpreted, and disseminated to the public. Use of library and Internet resources, ethical guidelines in the conduct of research and the skills of good scientific writing are emphasized. Students work independently and in small groups to design and conduct their own research projects. Prerequisites: Psychology 125, Statistics 110, 212, or 263. Offered each semester.
235 Sensation and Perception
This course offers the opportunity to study our senses and sensibilities -- sensations of cold, tenderness and pain, perceptions of movement, pitch, symmetry, and color. Students participate actively in psychophysical, physiological, and perceptual laboratories and classes on vision, audition, somesthesis, and the chemical senses. The course includes lecture and laboratory work. Prerequisite: Psychology 125 or Neuroscience 234. Offered each year.
236 Conditioning and Learning
How do psychologists characterize the most basic aspects of the learning process? While some emphasis is on analysis of the behavioral viewpoint (Pavlov, Skinner), students also examine approaches to how we learn which have grown out of recent cognitive and ecological (evolutionary) perspectives in psychology. The course includes lecture and laboratory work with nonhuman animals. Prerequisite: Psychology 125, or Biology 125. Offered each year.
237 Cognition, Learning and Memory
Focus includes information processing, learning and remembering speech, artistic, musical and athletic performance, invention and other forms of creativity. Students unlock the mind's mysteries using state-of-the-art scientific instrumentation, developing cognitive science knowledge and research skills. The course includes lecture and laboratory work. Prerequisites: Psychology 125, Statistics 110, 212 or 263. Offered each year.
238 Biopsychology
The student is introduced to the study of relationships between the brain and behavior which lie at the heart of modern neuroscience. Study of the brain and behavior from anatomical, physiological and biochemical perspectives focuses on neural factors which contribute to basic behavioral processes including sensation, movement, emotion, sleep and arousal, motivation, learning and psychopathology. Prerequisite: Psychology 125 or Biology 123 or 125. Biology 123 or 125 strongly recommended. Offered each semester.
241 Developmental Psychology
This course helps students better understand human development from the moment of conception and across the life span. The course focuses on biological and environmental factors that shape human development. Major changes in physical, cognitive, personality and social development are discussed. Prerequisite: Psychology 125. Offered each semester.
249 Social Psychology
Why are people prejudiced and how can we reduce prejudice? Why do people help others? What is self-esteem and how do we defend it? How does romantic attraction develop? What are emotions and how do they influence us? In this introduction to the ways people interact and think about each other, students design their own theories of social behavior. Prerequisite: Psychology 125. Offered each year.
250 Industrial/Organizational Psychology
Students apply psychological facts and principles to the problems that permeate business and industry. Topics include organizational structure, personnel management, employee-supervisor relationships, job satisfaction and motivation, communication and leadership. Prerequisite: Psychology 125, Statistics 110, 212 or 263. Offered Spring Semester only.
264 Psychopathology
Why are certain experiences or patterns of behavior considered psychologically "abnormal?" Students investigate a wide array of psychological disorders, including anxiety disorders, depression, eating disorders and schizophrenia. We examine models used to conceptualize abnormal behavior, as well as current evidence and theories regarding the etiology and treatment of these important and sometimes devastating disorders. Not open to first-year students. Prerequisite: Psychology 125. Offered each semester.
271 Psychology of Personality
Students examine theories of normal personality development in an effort to understand the factors that shape personality. Is personality biologically determined? Is it a result of interpersonal experiences, learning and reinforcement? Are other factors involved as well? We investigate prominent personality theories and research and their conceptualizations of this fundamental aspect of human experience. Prerequisite: Psychology 125. Offered each year.
