Department of Psychology and Neuroscience

Introduction

In the undergraduate study of psychology, the emphasis is on a broad acquaintance with the behavioral sciences, not specialization. The subject matter is preparatory to a career in psychology either in basic research and teaching, or in any number of professional applications to various human problems. A psychology major may prove valuable to those planning other professional careers such as medicine, law, education, or business, as well as to those who seek a broad cultural background in the behavioral sciences.

The undergraduate study of neuroscience embodies the liberal arts experience as it draws on techniques and findings from several academic disciplines including biology, chemistry, computer science, mathematics, physics, and psychology. The neuroscience major provides students with the fundamental knowledge and exposure needed to pursue careers and post-graduate studies in fields related to neuroscience, human development and aging, health and disease, rehabilitation, biomedical research, human-machine interactions, and other emerging disciplines.

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Advising

All psychology and neuroscience majors have a primary university academic advisor assigned in ConnectCarolina. Students are strongly encouraged to meet regularly with their university academic advisor and review their Tar Heel Tracker each semester. It is also strongly advised that students prioritize enrolling in one or more core major requirements every semester. Department advisors are also available and students can see who department academic advisors are, how to contact and/or make appointments with them, and see what types of advising are offered here. Especially note that there are different departmental advisors for psychology and neuroscience majors. Students who are considering graduate studies in psychology or neuroscience are particularly encouraged to contact departmental advisors. Students interested in medical and/or health careers are strongly encouraged to connect with Pre-professional and Pre-graduate Advising and Health Professions Advising. Particularly note that medical and/or health professional schools may recommend, though not require, psychology courses. Additional information about courses, undergraduate research opportunities, the honors program, and various clubs and organizations may be obtained from the department’s website. (Please see all options under the "Undergraduate Studies" tab.)

Graduate School and Career Opportunities

The psychology B.A. and B.S. degree programs, and the neuroscience B.S. degree program, prepare students for entry into graduate programs in psychology, neuroscience, and a large number of related areas. All degrees, augmented by courses dictated by various graduate and professional schools, also provide training that has proved beneficial for those applying to business, law, and medical schools.

Undergraduate psychology and neuroscience majors seek and find employment in a wide range of occupations, and many continue their education and training in graduate school. Students should understand that many of the occupations traditionally associated with psychology (e.g., clinical psychologist) are licensed specialties that require graduate training.

Professors

Jonathan S. Abramowitz, Sara B. Algoe, Jennifer Arnold, Anna Bardone-Cone, Daniel J. Bauer, Charlotte A. Boettiger, Kenneth A. Bollen, Regina M. Carelli, Shauna Cooper, Patrick Curran, Stacey B. Daughters, Barbara L. Fredrickson, Kathleen M. Gates, Karen M. Gil, Kelly Giovanello, Peter C. Gordon, Kurt J. Gray, Joseph Hopfinger, Andrea M. Hussong, Deborah J. Jones, Kristen Lindquist, Donald T. Lysle, Neil Mulligan, Abigail T. Panter, B. Keith Payne, Mitchell J. Prinstein, Kathryn J. Reissner, Paschal J. Sheeran, Eva Telzer, Todd Thiele, Eric A. Youngstrom.

Associate Professors

Carol L. Cheatham, Jessica Cohen, Sylvia Fitting, Oscar Gonzalez, Michael Hallquist, Keely Muscatell, Margaret A. Sheridan.

Assistant Professors

Dan Christoffel, Annie Maheux, Julian Rucker, Dalal Safa, Sami Yousif.

Clinical Professors

Jennifer Kirby, Jennifer K. Youngstrom.

Research Professor

Montserrat N. Thiele.

Research Assistant Professor

Kaitlyn Burnell.

Professor of the Practice

Viji Sathy.

Teaching Professors

Steven Buzinski, Desiree Griffin, Jeannie Loeb, F. Charles Wiss.

Teaching Associate Professors

Vicki Chanon, Sara Estle, Patrick Harrison, Sabrina Robertson.

Teaching Assistant Professors

Monica Gaudier-Diaz, Rosa Li, Shveta Parekh, Natasha Parikh.

Courses 

NSCI-Neuroscience

Undergraduate-level Courses

IDEAs in Action General Education logoNSCI 61.  First-Year Seminar: Drug Addiction: Fact and Fiction.  3 Credits.  

The course will tackle questions through classroom discussions, lectures, movies, writing assignments, and a visit to a research laboratory and a treatment facility. Students will be introduced to fundamental concepts in addiction research. Honors version available.

Rules & Requirements  
IDEAs in Action General Education logo IDEAs in Action Gen Ed: FY-SEMINAR.
Making Connections Gen Ed: PL, CI.  
Grading Status: Letter grade.  
IDEAs in Action General Education logoNSCI 71.  First Year Seminar: Plasticity and the Brain.  3 Credits.  

This course will introduce students to the recent research and debate regarding neural plasticity and the ability of the healthy adult brain to change. Exciting new research suggests that the ability of the adult brain to change goes well beyond simply acquiring new knowledge and memories. Previously offered as PSYC 71.

Rules & Requirements  
IDEAs in Action General Education logo IDEAs in Action Gen Ed: FY-SEMINAR.
Making Connections Gen Ed: PL.  
Grading Status: Letter grade.  
IDEAs in Action General Education logoNSCI 89.  First Year Seminar: Special Topics.  3 Credits.  

Content varies by semester. Honors version available.

Rules & Requirements  
IDEAs in Action General Education logo IDEAs in Action Gen Ed: FY-SEMINAR.
Grading Status: Letter grade.  
IDEAs in Action General Education logoNSCI 175.  Introduction to Neuroscience.  3 Credits.  

Provides an introduction to the structure and function of the nervous system. Fundamental principles will be introduced including nervous system anatomy; molecular and cellular properties of the nervous system; sensory and motor systems; current methods used in neuroscience; and how the nervous system produces behavior and cognition. This course provides greater breadth and depth of neuroscience topics, as compared to Biopsychology (PSYC 220). Previously offered as PSYC 175 and 315. Honors version available.

Rules & Requirements  
IDEAs in Action General Education logo IDEAs in Action Gen Ed: FY-LAUNCH (only designated sections), FC-NATSCI.
Making Connections Gen Ed: PL.  
Grading Status: Letter grade.  
NSCI 190.  Special Topics in Neuroscience.  3 Credits.  

An undergraduate seminar course that is designed to be a participatory intellectual adventure on an advanced, emergent, and stimulating topic within a selected discipline of neuroscience. This course does not count as credit toward the neuroscience major or minor.

Rules & Requirements  
Grading Status: Letter grade.  
NSCI 221.  Neuropsychopharmacology.  3 Credits.  

This course provides an introduction to the scientific study of psychopharmacology, with emphasis on drugs of abuse and psychotherapeutic drugs. Previously offered as NSCI/PSYC 320.

Rules & Requirements  
Making Connections Gen Ed: PL.  
Requisites: Prerequisites, NSCI 175, or both PSYC 101 and PSYC 220.  
Grading Status: Letter grade.  
NSCI 222.  Learning.  3 Credits.  

Topics in Pavlovian and operant (instrumental) conditioning, learning theory, higher order cognitive learning, and application of those principles to mental-health related situations. Previously offered as PSYC 222. Honors version available.

Rules & Requirements  
Making Connections Gen Ed: PL.  
Requisites: Prerequisite, NSCI 175 or PSYC 101.  
Grading Status: Letter grade.  
NSCI 225.  Sensation and Perception.  3 Credits.  

Topics in vision, audition, and the lower senses. Receptor mechanisms, psychophysical methods, and selected perceptual phenomena will be discussed. Previously offered as PSYC 225. Honors version available.

Rules & Requirements  
Making Connections Gen Ed: PL.  
Requisites: Prerequisite, NSCI 175 or PSYC 101.  
Grading Status: Letter grade.  
IDEAs in Action General Education logoNSCI 271.  Cellular Mechanisms in Addiction Lab.  3 Credits.  

Cellular Mechanisms in Addiction is a laboratory and research-based course aimed at investigating the cellular underpinnings of drug addiction. Students will gain hands-on experience in cutting-edge approaches utilized in addiction research. Utilizing rodent brain tissue and immunohistochemistry techniques, students will delve into the cellular and molecular changes associated with addiction. Majors only.

Rules & Requirements  
IDEAs in Action General Education logo IDEAs in Action Gen Ed: RESEARCH.
Requisites: Prerequisite, NSCI 175; Pre- or corequisite, PSYC 210 or STOR 155.  
Grading Status: Letter grade.  
IDEAs in Action General Education logoNSCI 273.  Brainwaves: Human Electroencephalography Lab.  3 Credits.  

This research-based course is focused on understanding the neural underpinnings of electroencephalography (EEG) data. By synchronizing EEG recorded on the scalp with experimental events, Event-Related Potentials (ERPs) link human brain activity to specific mental processes. Students will gain technical skills, through hands-on experience, in processing, analyzing, and interpreting electrophysiological data. Majors only

Rules & Requirements  
IDEAs in Action General Education logo IDEAs in Action Gen Ed: RESEARCH.
Requisites: Prerequisite, NSCI 175.  
Grading Status: Letter grade.  
IDEAs in Action General Education logoNSCI 274.  Neurophysiology Data Science Lab.  3 Credits.  

In this research-based course, students will design novel experiments to examine sex differences in large neurophysiology datasets. Students will use Python to access and analyze data. Students will also learn research literature analysis, experimental design, data analysis, collaboration, and presentation skills by developing a research proposal, paper, and poster. Students may only receive credit for one of: NSCI 274, 276, 277, 278 and 279. Restricted to Neuroscience Majors only.

Rules & Requirements  
IDEAs in Action General Education logo IDEAs in Action Gen Ed: RESEARCH.
Making Connections Gen Ed: EE- Mentored Research.  
Requisites: Prerequisites, NSCI 175 and either COMP 110 or COMP 116.  
Grading Status: Letter grade.  
IDEAs in Action General Education logoNSCI 277.  Addiction Neuroscience qPCR Laboratory.  3 Credits.  

Addiction Neuroscience qPCR Laboratory is a laboratory and research-based course that will expose students to the fundamental and emerging approaches used in RT-qPCR addiction neuroscience research. In this course students will learn to handle rodent brains, perform cryostat sectioning, conduct reverse transcription, create a cDNA library, and utilize R programming to analyze qPCR results by studying genes of interest in the context of a drug exposed rodent. Majors only.

Rules & Requirements  
IDEAs in Action General Education logo IDEAs in Action Gen Ed: RESEARCH.
Making Connections Gen Ed: PX, EE- Mentored Research.  
Requisites: Prerequisites, NSCI 175 and one of the following: PSYC 210 or STOR 155.  
Grading Status: Letter grade.  
IDEAs in Action General Education logoNSCI 278.  Molecular Brain Imaging Lab.  3 Credits.  

Students will design novel experiments to examine and visualize sex differences in the nervous system. Students will learn how to handle brain slices, neuroanatomy, microscopy, immunohistochemistry and imaging analysis techniques by studying neuronal diversity in the norepinephrine system of mice. Students will have the opportunity to develop and test hypotheses, write a research proposal, and present their work in poster form. Students may only receive credit for one: NSCI 274, 276, 277, 278 and 279. Majors only.

Rules & Requirements  
IDEAs in Action General Education logo IDEAs in Action Gen Ed: RESEARCH.
Making Connections Gen Ed: PX, EE- Mentored Research.  
Requisites: Prerequisites, NSCI 175 and one of the following: PSYC 210 or STOR 155.  
Grading Status: Letter grade.  
IDEAs in Action General Education logoNSCI 279.  Microglia Laboratory.  3 Credits.  

In this laboratory course, students will utilize molecular biology techniques (e.g., immunohistochemistry and immunoassays) while developing and testing hypotheses regarding how environmental or experimental conditions alter microglia. Students will work in teams to design an experiment, and then collect, analyze, and report data. Students may only receive credit for one of: NSCI 274, 276, 277, 278 and 279. Neuroscience majors only.

Rules & Requirements  
IDEAs in Action General Education logo IDEAs in Action Gen Ed: RESEARCH.
Making Connections Gen Ed: PX, EE- Mentored Research.  
Requisites: Prerequisites, NSCI 175 and one of the following: PSYC 210 or STOR 155.  
Grading Status: Letter grade.  
NSCI 290.  Current Topics in Neuroscience.  3 Credits.  

Various special areas of neuroscientific study, offered as needed. Honors version available.

Rules & Requirements  
Requisites: Prerequisite, NSCI 175.  
Repeat Rules: May be repeated for credit. 6 total credits. 2 total completions.  
Grading Status: Letter grade.  
IDEAs in Action General Education logoNSCI 294.  Service Learning in Neuroscience: APPLES.  1-3 Credits.  

Permission of the instructor. Service learning component for students enrolled in Neuroscience APPLES courses. May not count toward the major or minor.

Rules & Requirements  
IDEAs in Action General Education logo IDEAs in Action Gen Ed: HI-SERVICE.
Making Connections Gen Ed: EE- Service Learning.  
Requisites: Prerequisite, NSCI 175.  
Grading Status: Letter grade.  
NSCI 326.  Neuroscience Career Development, Networking & Applications in the Working World.  3 Credits.  

This course provides students interested in the neuroscience field an opportunity to gain valuable networking, job application and interviewing skills. Over the course of the semester students will meet with neuroscience professionals and create application packages. Students will learn from individuals in neuroscience related jobs about the diverse careers options available and strategies for navigating the job market successfully. Students will explore advances in neuroscience research and how they relate to industry, research, etc. Majors only.

Rules & Requirements  
Requisites: Prerequisite, NSCI 175.  
Grading Status: Letter grade.  
NSCI 390.  Current Topics In Neuroscience.  3 Credits.  

Various special areas of neuroscience study, offered as needed.

Rules & Requirements  
Requisites: Prerequisite, NSCI 175.  
Repeat Rules: May be repeated for credit. 6 total credits. 2 total completions.  
Grading Status: Letter grade.  
IDEAs in Action General Education logoNSCI 395.  Independent Research.  1-3 Credits.  

Supervised research resulting in a written report for declared NSCI majors. May be repeated for credit up to six hours. Up to three hours may count as a neuroscience methods elective. Permission of the instructor.

Rules & Requirements  
IDEAs in Action General Education logo IDEAs in Action Gen Ed: RESEARCH.
Making Connections Gen Ed: EE- Mentored Research.  
Requisites: Prerequisites, NSCI 175 and two additional STEM courses one of which must be at the 200 level or above; a minimum of a 3.0 cumulative grade point average.  
Repeat Rules: May be repeated for credit. 6 total credits. 6 total completions.  
Grading Status: Letter grade.  

Advanced Undergraduate and Graduate-level Courses

IDEAs in Action General Education logoNSCI 405.  Advanced Molecular Neuropharmacology.  3 Credits.  

This course will examine the molecular basis of drug action in the brain. Students will learn about ligand-receptor interactions and modulation of receptor number, structure, and function by drugs. Detailed examples will examine the molecular details of both ligand-gated ion channels and G-protein coupled receptors. The course will use analysis of primary literature and a semester-long makerspace project to delve into research where central themes will include developing critical thinking, design thinking, and communication skills.

Rules & Requirements  
IDEAs in Action General Education logo IDEAs in Action Gen Ed: FC-CREATE, RESEARCH.
Making Connections Gen Ed: PL.  
Requisites: Prerequisites, NSCI 175 or both PSYC 101 and PSYC 220; and NSCI 221.  
Grading Status: Letter grade.  
NSCI 415.  History of Neuroscience.  3 Credits.  

In this class, we will consider how neuroscience emerged as a multidisciplinary field. The class will cover key research findings that propelled the field forward. We will also delve into the autobiographies of some of the pioneering researchers who made these important discoveries. Previously offered as PSYC 415.

Rules & Requirements  
Making Connections Gen Ed: SS.  
Requisites: Prerequisite, NSCI 175, or both PSYC 101 and 220.  
Grading Status: Letter grade.  
NSCI 418.  Glial Neuroscience.  3 Credits.  

The purpose of this course is to provide an in-depth investigation into glia cells in the brain, and their roles in health and disease. We will focus particularly on astrocytes, microglia, and oligodendrocytes, but we will also cover and discuss other glial cell types as well. A general overview will be provided for each topic, followed by study and discussion of primary literature.

Rules & Requirements  
Requisites: Prerequisites, NSCI 175, or both PSYC 101 and 220.  
Grading Status: Letter grade.  
IDEAs in Action General Education logoNSCI 419.  Behavioral Endocrinology.  3 Credits.  

The endocrine and nervous systems interact with each other in complex ways to influence behavioral processes. In this course, we will discuss the ways by which hormones regulate homeostatic and social behaviors, learning, stress responses, and affective disorders, among others. Additionally, we will read scientific articles to learn about advances in the field of neuroendocrinology.

Rules & Requirements  
IDEAs in Action General Education logo IDEAs in Action Gen Ed: FC-NATSCI or FC-QUANT.
Requisites: Prerequisite, NSCI 175 or PSYC 220.  
Grading Status: Letter grade.  
NSCI 420.  Functional Neuroanatomy.  3 Credits.  

For advanced undergraduate and graduate students. An introduction to human neuroanatomy, covering function of the neuroanatomy of each major system and relation to neurobehavioral disorders associated with damage to the neuroanatomy of the system. Previously offered as PSYC 420.

Rules & Requirements  
Making Connections Gen Ed: PL.  
Requisites: Prerequisites, NSCI 175, or PSYC 101 and 220; recommended preparation, EXSS 175.  
Grading Status: Letter grade.  
NSCI 421.  Principles of Brain Circuits.  3 Credits.  

This course is designed for upper-level undergraduates who are interested in how brain circuits control behavior. A major focus will be the new technique of optogenetics that is revolutionizing our approach to systems neuroscience. Circuits that control movement, sensation, sleep, memory, and fear will be explored in detail. Points of emphasis will be circuits mediating pain as related to actions of opiates and circuits mediating feeding behavior as related to obesity.

Rules & Requirements  
Making Connections Gen Ed: PL.  
Requisites: Prerequisites, NSCI 175, or both PSYC 101 and PSYC 220; BIOL 101 recommended.  
Grading Status: Letter grade.  
NSCI 422.  Genetics of Brain Diseases.  3 Credits.  

This course will explore the manifestations and causes of important neurological and psychiatric diseases. A particular focus will be the impact of advances in genetics on our understanding of these disorders. Disorders that affect large numbers of patients including Alzheimer's disease, autism, and schizophrenia will be studied in detail.

Rules & Requirements  
Making Connections Gen Ed: PL.  
Requisites: Prerequisite, NSCI 175, or both PSYC 101 and PSYC 220.  
Grading Status: Letter grade.  
NSCI 423.  Cellular and Molecular Neurotechnology.  3 Credits.  

This course addresses fundamental challenges inherent in studying the brain and explores the theory, applications, and limitations of new and traditional neurotechnology. The unique ethical issues and significance of interdisciplinary approaches in neuroscience will also be highlighted. Students will analyze research literature and focus on cellular, molecular, and genetic techniques that are essential staples in the neuroscientist's toolkit. Students will also design experiments, utilize publicly available resources, and analyze big data generated by high-throughput approaches.

Rules & Requirements  
Making Connections Gen Ed: PL.  
Requisites: Prerequisite, NSCI 175, or both PSYC 101 and PSYC 220.  
Grading Status: Letter grade.  
IDEAs in Action General Education logoNSCI 424.  Neural Connections: Hands on Neuroscience.  3 Credits.  

This class will explore links between the brain and behavior through neuroscience outreach activities. Students will also reflect on the meaning of community engagement. By the end of the semester, each student must complete a minimum of 30 hours of service within the community. Previously offered as PSYC 424.

Rules & Requirements  
IDEAs in Action General Education logo IDEAs in Action Gen Ed: HI-SERVICE.
Making Connections Gen Ed: PL, EE- Service Learning.  
Requisites: Prerequisite, NSCI 175, or both PSYC 101 and 220.  
Grading Status: Letter grade.  
NSCI 427.  Neurobiology of Aging.  3 Credits.  

This course will survey clinical and experimental literature regarding the neurobiology of aging, considering different theories of aging, how aging is studied in the laboratory, and recent findings. Biochemical, molecular, physiological, and behavioral changes associated with both "normal" and pathological aging will be considered. Previously offered as PSYC 427.

Rules & Requirements  
Making Connections Gen Ed: PL.  
Requisites: Prerequisites, NSCI 175, or both PSYC 101 and 220.  
Grading Status: Letter grade.  
NSCI 428.  Neuroscience, Society, and the Media.  3 Credits.  

Neuroscience is a "hot" topic in popular media. We will consider media coverage of neuroscientific research by reading the popular press versions of studies alongside the findings from primary sources and what kinds of topics are most often covered by the media and why. Previously offered as PSYC 428.

Rules & Requirements  
Making Connections Gen Ed: PL.  
Requisites: Prerequisite, NSCI 175, or both PSYC 101 and 220.  
Grading Status: Letter grade.  
NSCI 434.  Cognitive Neuroscience.  3 Credits.  

Introduction to cognitive neuroscience. Higher mental processes including attention, memory, language, and consciousness will be covered, with an emphasis on the neural mechanisms that form the substrates of human cognition. Previously offered as PSYC 434.

Rules & Requirements  
Making Connections Gen Ed: PL.  
Requisites: Prerequisite, One of the following: NSCI 175, NSCI 222, NSCI 225, PSYC 220, or PSYC 230.  
Grading Status: Letter grade.  
NSCI 439.  Neuroimmunology.  3 Credits.  

The nervous and immune systems interact with each other in complex ways to influence behavior, health and well-being. In this course, we will examine the mechanisms by which these two systems interact. Further, we will cover how the nervous and immune systems function together to serve homeostasis, behavior and disease.

Rules & Requirements  
Requisites: Prerequisite, NSCI 175 or PSYC 220.  
Grading Status: Letter grade.  
NSCI 440.  Behavioral Neuroscience and Experimental Methods in Rodents.  3 Credits.  

This is to survey the wide variety of experimental methods used in rodent studies to assess behavioral outcomes, including memory, anxiety, depression, and drug seeking. This will be combined with readings on how changes in brain circuitry can affect behavioral outcomes, such as drugs of abuse or other disease states.

Rules & Requirements  
Requisites: Prerequisite, NSCI 175 or PSYC 220.  
Grading Status: Letter grade.  
NSCI 490.  Current Topics in Neuroscience.  3 Credits.  

Various special areas of neuroscience study, offered as needed. Honors version available.

Rules & Requirements  
Requisites: Prerequisite, NSCI 175.  
Repeat Rules: May be repeated for credit. 6 total credits. 2 total completions.  
Grading Status: Letter grade.  
IDEAs in Action General Education logoNSCI 493.  Internship in Neuroscience.  3 Credits.  

Required preparation, minimum of two other neuroscience courses and junior/senior standing. Designed for highly motivated neuroscience majors interested in exploring professional opportunities in neuroscience-related areas. Juniors and seniors only.

Rules & Requirements  
IDEAs in Action General Education logo IDEAs in Action Gen Ed: HI-INTERN.
Making Connections Gen Ed: EE- Academic Internship.  
Requisites: Prerequisites, NSCI 175 and two additional NSCI courses.  
Grading Status: Letter grade.  
NSCI 507.  Autism.  3 Credits.  

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is characterized by difficulty in communication and social interaction. This course will examine scientific advancements in diagnosis, causes, and interventions for ASD. Additional topics include neurodiversity and inclusion.

Rules & Requirements  
Making Connections Gen Ed: PL.  
Requisites: Prerequisite, NSCI 175 or PSYC 101.  
Grading Status: Letter grade.  
IDEAs in Action General Education logoNSCI 568.  Emotion.  3 Credits.  

This course will provide a comprehensive overview of the scientific study of emotion. Topics will include theoretical models of emotion process and structure. A range of perspectives, including social, cultural, developmental, clinical, and cognitive psychology, as well as behavioral neuroscience, will be considered. Previously offered as PSYC 568.

Rules & Requirements  
IDEAs in Action General Education logo IDEAs in Action Gen Ed: FC-NATSCI.
Making Connections Gen Ed: SS.  
Requisites: Prerequisite, NSCI 175 or PSYC 101.  
Grading Status: Letter grade.  
NSCI 573.  Neuropsychobiology of Stress.  3 Credits.  

Stress is a common experience in modern life that impacts psychological and physical health. In this course, we will delve into the scientific literature in psychology and neuroscience that explores how the brain and the body respond to stress, and how we can intervene to prevent stress from negatively impacting physical and mental health.

Rules & Requirements  
Making Connections Gen Ed: PL.  
Requisites: Prerequisites, PSYC 210 and 270, and NSCI 175 or both PSYC 101 and PSYC 220.  
Grading Status: Letter grade.  
IDEAs in Action General Education logoNSCI 693H.  Honors in Neuroscience I.  3 Credits.  

This course comprises the first semester in the two-semester sequence of Senior Honors in Psychology/Neuroscience. There are two components to the course: research that you will conduct under the direction of your faculty thesis advisor, and this class, which you will attend with the other senior honors students to learn about research-related topics and receive consultations with the instructor and your classmates.

Rules & Requirements  
IDEAs in Action General Education logo IDEAs in Action Gen Ed: RESEARCH.
Making Connections Gen Ed: CI, EE- Mentored Research.  
Requisites: Prerequisites, A cumulative GPA of 3.3, at least one semester of PSYC/NSCI 395 or the approved equivalent, and acceptance into the Psychology or Neuroscience Senior Honors Program; PSYC/NSCI 693H must be taken in the first semester of the last year of studies.  
Grading Status: Letter grade.  
IDEAs in Action General Education logoNSCI 694H.  Honors in Neuroscience II.  3 Credits.  

This course comprises the second semester in the two-semester sequence of Senior Honors in Psychology/Neuroscience. There are two components to the course: research that you will conduct under the direction of your faculty thesis advisor, and this class, which you will attend with the other senior honors students to learn about research-related topics and receive consultations with the instructor and your classmates. Admission to the neuroscience honors program required.

Rules & Requirements  
IDEAs in Action General Education logo IDEAs in Action Gen Ed: RESEARCH.
Making Connections Gen Ed: CI, EE- Mentored Research.  
Requisites: Prerequisites, A cumulative GPA of 3.3, completion of PSYC/NSCI 693H, at least one semester of PSYC/NSCI 395 or the approved equivalent, and acceptance into the Psychology or Neuroscience Senior Honors Program; PSYC/NSCI 694H must be taken in the second semester of the last year of studies.  
Grading Status: Letter grade.  

PSYC–Psychology

The courses available to undergraduate students are listed below. No courses numbered 700 or above may be taken by undergraduate students. Consult the current directory of classes for each semester’s offerings. PSYC 101 is prerequisite to ALL courses offered in the department except for first-year seminars, which are numbered below 100. Students and their advisors should take careful note of the specified prerequisites for advanced offerings in this listing.

Undergraduate-level Courses

IDEAs in Action General Education logoPSYC 54.  First-Year Seminar: Families and Children.  3 Credits.  

This course will consider family from a life-course perspective and family influences on child development. Research and theory concerning divorced and step families, single parents, gay and lesbian parents, and family processes that shape children's development will be examined.

Rules & Requirements  
IDEAs in Action General Education logo IDEAs in Action Gen Ed: FY-SEMINAR.
Making Connections Gen Ed: SS.  
Grading Status: Letter grade.  
IDEAs in Action General Education logoPSYC 58.  First-Year Seminar: The Psychology of Mental States and Language Use.  3 Credits.  

Examines how language use is affected by one's reasoning about the mental activities of others. We will examine the development of language, adult language use, and the language of autistic individuals, who are known to have difficulty reasoning about others' minds. This seminar will follow a discussion format. Honors version available.

Rules & Requirements  
IDEAs in Action General Education logo IDEAs in Action Gen Ed: FY-SEMINAR, RESEARCH.
Making Connections Gen Ed: SS.  
Grading Status: Letter grade.  
IDEAs in Action General Education logoPSYC 62.  First-Year Seminar: Positive Psychology: The Science of Optimal Human Functioning.  3 Credits.  

This course invites students to explore the opportunities presented by the vibrant and emerging field of positive psychology.

Rules & Requirements  
IDEAs in Action General Education logo IDEAs in Action Gen Ed: FY-SEMINAR.
Making Connections Gen Ed: SS, CI.  
Grading Status: Letter grade.  
IDEAs in Action General Education logoPSYC 63.  First-Year Seminar: Use, Misuse, and Addiction to Drugs in the 21st Century.  3 Credits.  

This is a first-year seminar on the use of drugs in the U.S. Its purpose is to understand the effects of drug use on pain management, overdose prevention, substance use disorder, overdoses, diversion, legal consequences, public health policy, harm reduction, and treatment. Activities include lectures from technical experts, post-lecture discussions, readings and student-lead discussions, written summaries of class material, formal debates, and a final class project on an effective evidence-based overdose prevention program.

Rules & Requirements  
IDEAs in Action General Education logo IDEAs in Action Gen Ed: FY-SEMINAR.
Making Connections Gen Ed: SS.  
Grading Status: Letter grade.  
IDEAs in Action General Education logoPSYC 66.  First-Year Seminar: Eating Disorders and Body Image.  3 Credits.  

Students will learn about anorexia and bulimia nervosa, as well as prevention and treatment efforts. The course explores factors related to these disorders and body image from a psychosocial perspective. Learning will occur through discussions, readings, videos, guest speakers, experimental assignments, writing assignments, and research projects.

Rules & Requirements  
IDEAs in Action General Education logo IDEAs in Action Gen Ed: FY-SEMINAR.
Making Connections Gen Ed: SS.  
Grading Status: Letter grade.  
IDEAs in Action General Education logoPSYC 67.  First-Year Seminar: The Senses of Animals.  3 Credits.  

This course deals with the sensory systems of animals. A description of the human senses is included, but senses that differ from our own are emphasized. Some treatment of research methods is also included. Classes will be a mixture of lecture, discussion, and student reports.

Rules & Requirements  
IDEAs in Action General Education logo IDEAs in Action Gen Ed: FY-SEMINAR.
Making Connections Gen Ed: PL.  
Grading Status: Letter grade.  
IDEAs in Action General Education logoPSYC 68.  First-Year Seminar: Psychology of Emotion.  3 Credits.  

This first-year seminar is designed for students interested in exploring the psychological study of emotion. Topics include theoretical models of emotion process and structure, as well as a review of research questions about emotional expressions, autonomic physiology, affective neuroscience, emotion and reasoning, and emotion and health.

Rules & Requirements  
IDEAs in Action General Education logo IDEAs in Action Gen Ed: FY-SEMINAR.
Making Connections Gen Ed: SS.  
Grading Status: Letter grade.  
IDEAs in Action General Education logoPSYC 89.  First Year Seminar: Special Topics.  3 Credits.  

Special topics course. Content will vary each semester. Honors version available.

Rules & Requirements  
IDEAs in Action General Education logo IDEAs in Action Gen Ed: FY-SEMINAR.
Grading Status: Letter grade.  
IDEAs in Action General Education logoPSYC 101.  General Psychology.  3 Credits.  

PSYC 101 is a prerequisite for all psychology courses. This course will give an overview of the many different scientific perspectives from which to understand behavior, including the biological, cognitive, developmental, social and psychopathological perspectives. This course is offered in two formats: a large-course format and as a First-Year Launch.

Rules & Requirements  
IDEAs in Action General Education logo IDEAs in Action Gen Ed: FY-LAUNCH (only designated sections).
Making Connections Gen Ed: PL.  
Grading Status: Letter grade.  
IDEAs in Action General Education logoPSYC 115.  Reasoning with Data: Navigating a Quantitative World.  3 Credits.  

Students will use mathematical and statistical methods to address societal problems, make personal decisions, and reason critically about the world. Authentic contexts may include voting, health and risk, digital humanities, finance, and human behavior. This course does not count as credit towards the psychology or neuroscience majors.

Rules & Requirements  
IDEAs in Action General Education logo IDEAs in Action Gen Ed: FC-QUANT.
Making Connections Gen Ed: QR.  
Grading Status: Letter grade.  
Same as: MATH 115, BIOL 115, STOR 115.  
PSYC 180.  Social Media, Technology, and the Adolescent Brain.  3 Credits.  

In this course, we will learn about current evidence, theory, and controversies with regards to how technology use may affect adolescent development. Questions such as how technology is changing adolescents' social relationships, impacting their mental health, and interacting with the developing brain to influence social, emotional, and cognitive development will be explored.

Rules & Requirements  
Grading Status: Letter grade.  
PSYC 190.  Special Topics in Psychology.  3 Credits.  

An undergraduate seminar course that is designed to be a participatory intellectual adventure on an advanced, emergent, and stimulating topic within a selected discipline in psychology. This course does not count as credit towards the psychology major.

Rules & Requirements  
Grading Status: Letter grade.  
IDEAs in Action General Education logoPSYC 210.  Statistical Principles of Psychological Research.  3 Credits.  

Consideration of the methodological principles underlying psychological research, descriptive and inferential techniques, and the manner by which they may be employed to design psychological experiments and analyze behavioral data. Three lecture hours. Students may not receive credit for both PSYC 210/PSYC 210H and PSYC 215/PSYC 215H. Honors version available.

Rules & Requirements  
IDEAs in Action General Education logo IDEAs in Action Gen Ed: FC-KNOWING or FC-QUANT.
Making Connections Gen Ed: QI.  
Requisites: Prerequisite, PSYC 101.  
Grading Status: Letter grade.  
PSYC 220.  Biopsychology.  3 Credits.  

Introductory course which surveys the biological bases of behavior. Topics may include nerve cells and nerve impulses, sensory systems, wakefulness and sleep, reproductive behaviors, and cognitive functions. This course would be an appropriate foundational course for Advanced Biopsychology (PSYC 402). Honors version available.

Rules & Requirements  
Making Connections Gen Ed: PL.  
Requisites: Prerequisite, PSYC 101.  
Grading Status: Letter grade.  
PSYC 230.  Cognitive Psychology.  3 Credits.  

Topics in attention; memory; visual, auditory, and other forms of information processing; decision making; and thinking. Honors version available.

Rules & Requirements  
Making Connections Gen Ed: PL.  
Requisites: Prerequisite, PSYC 101.  
Grading Status: Letter grade.  
PSYC 242.  Introduction to Clinical Psychology.  3 Credits.  

Overview of clinical psychology: history, scientific basis, and major activities and concerns, including assessment, psychotherapy and other psychological interventions, community psychology, ethics, and professional practice. Honors version available.

Rules & Requirements  
Requisites: Prerequisite, PSYC 101.  
Grading Status: Letter grade.  
PSYC 245.  Psychopathology.  3 Credits.  

Major forms of behavior disorders in children and adults, with an emphasis on description, causation, and treatment. Honors version available.

Rules & Requirements  
Requisites: Prerequisite, PSYC 101.  
Grading Status: Letter grade.  
PSYC 250.  Child Development.  3 Credits.  

Study of the development of social and intellectual behavior in normal children and the processes that underlie this development. Emphasis is typically on theory and research. Honors version available.

Rules & Requirements  
Making Connections Gen Ed: SS.  
Requisites: Prerequisite, PSYC 101.  
Grading Status: Letter grade.  
PSYC 260.  Social Psychology.  3 Credits.  

Introductory survey of experimental social psychology covering attitudes, interpersonal processes, and small groups. Honors version available.

Rules & Requirements  
Making Connections Gen Ed: SS.  
Requisites: Prerequisite, PSYC 101.  
Grading Status: Letter grade.  
IDEAs in Action General Education logoPSYC 270.  Research Methods in Psychology.  3 Credits.  

Students in this course will be exposed to a survey of methodology (i.e., experimental, quasi-experimental, non-experimental) used across various disciplines in psychology (i.e., social, clinical, development, cognitive, and neuroscience). In addition, students will work as a class to conduct research projects on a common theme. Students will spend class time planning, conducting, and writing up the results of this project. Class time will also be used to discuss methodological considerations in psychological research more broadly.

Rules & Requirements  
IDEAs in Action General Education logo IDEAs in Action Gen Ed: RESEARCH.
Making Connections Gen Ed: PL, EE- Mentored Research.  
Requisites: Prerequisites, PSYC 101.  
Grading Status: Letter grade.  
PSYC 290.  Current Topics in Psychology.  1-3 Credits.  

Various special areas of psychological study, offered as needed. Course may be repeated for credit. Honors version available.

Rules & Requirements  
Requisites: Prerequisite, PSYC 101.  
Repeat Rules: May be repeated for credit; may be repeated in the same term for different topics; 6 total credits. 2 total completions.  
Grading Status: Pass/Fail.  
IDEAs in Action General Education logoPSYC 294.  Service Learning in Psychology: APPLES.  1-3 Credits.  

Permission of the instructor. Service learning component for students enrolled in psychology APPLES courses. May not count toward the major.

Rules & Requirements  
IDEAs in Action General Education logo IDEAs in Action Gen Ed: HI-SERVICE.
Making Connections Gen Ed: EE- Service Learning.  
Repeat Rules: May be repeated for credit; may be repeated in the same term for different topics; 6 total credits. 6 total completions.  
Grading Status: Letter grade.  
PSYC 310.  Applied Statistical Methods in the Psychological Sciences.  3 Credits.  

This course extends statistical and data analytic concepts covered in PSYC 210 with direct applications to empirical data commonly encountered in psychological research. Topics include measurement, group comparisons, linear associations, and prediction. An equal balance is placed on statistical concepts, computer-based data analysis, and interpretation of findings.

Rules & Requirements  
Making Connections Gen Ed: SS, QI.  
Requisites: Prerequisite, PSYC 210, PSYC 215, SOCI 252, or STOR 155.  
Grading Status: Letter grade.  
PSYC 330.  Introduction to Cognitive Science.  3 Credits.  

Recommended preparation, PSYC 210 or another quantitative reasoning course. An introduction to the interdisciplinary study of the mind, intelligent behavior, information processing, and communication in living organisms and computers.

Rules & Requirements  
Making Connections Gen Ed: PL.  
Requisites: Prerequisite, PSYC 101.  
Grading Status: Letter grade.  
PSYC 390.  Current Topics in Psychology.  1-3 Credits.  

Various special areas of psychological study, offered as needed. Course may be repeated for credit.

Rules & Requirements  
Requisites: Prerequisite, PSYC 101.  
Repeat Rules: May be repeated for credit; may be repeated in the same term for different topics; 6 total credits. 2 total completions.  
Grading Status: Letter grade.  
IDEAs in Action General Education logoPSYC 391.  Pedagogy Course for Psychology & Neuroscience Undergraduate Learning Assistants.  3 Credits.  

This course gives an overview of teaching methods that facilitate the acquisition of knowledge and understanding as well as entails hands-on experience in the classroom. Common misconceptions of learning as well as legal and ethical considerations related to working closely with an undergraduate population will also be covered. Departmental application and approval required.

Rules & Requirements  
IDEAs in Action General Education logo IDEAs in Action Gen Ed: HI-LEARNTA.
Making Connections Gen Ed: EE - Undergraduate Learning Assistant, ULA.  
Grading Status: Letter grade.  
IDEAs in Action General Education logoPSYC 395.  Independent Research.  1-3 Credits.  

A minimum of a 3.0 cumulative grade point average. Supervised research resulting in a written report for declared PSYC majors. May be repeated for credit up to eight hours. Up to three hours may count as a psychology elective. Permission of the instructor.

Rules & Requirements  
IDEAs in Action General Education logo IDEAs in Action Gen Ed: RESEARCH.
Making Connections Gen Ed: EE- Mentored Research.  
Requisites: Prerequisites, PSYC 101 and two additional psychology courses, at least one of which must be numbered 200 or greater.  
Repeat Rules: May be repeated for credit; may be repeated in the same term for different topics; 8 total credits. 8 total completions.  
Grading Status: Letter grade.  

Advanced Undergraduate and Graduate-level Courses

PSYC 404.  Clinical Psychopharmacology.  3 Credits.  

This course will investigate the pharmacological effects and the clinical efficacy of drugs used to treat behavior disorders.

Rules & Requirements  
Making Connections Gen Ed: PL.  
Requisites: Prerequisite, PSYC 101.  
Grading Status: Letter grade.  
PSYC 430.  Human Memory.  3 Credits.  

This course explores classic and current issues in the study of human memory. Topics include working memory, encoding and retrieval processes, implicit memory, reconstructive processes in memory, eyewitness memory, developmental changes in memory, neuropsychology and neuroscience of memory and memory disorders, memory improvement, and the repressed/recovered memory controversy.

Rules & Requirements  
Making Connections Gen Ed: PL.  
Requisites: Prerequisites, PSYC 101, and 222 or 230.  
Grading Status: Letter grade.  
PSYC 432.  Psychology of Language.  3 Credits.  

Recommended preparation, PSYC 230 or LING 101 or LING 400. This course examines the mental representations and cognitive processes that underlie the human ability to use language. Covers what people know about language, how they process it, and how people make inferences about the speaker's meaning based on context. Recent work in experimental psycholinguistics is discussed.

Rules & Requirements  
Requisites: Prerequisite, PSYC 101.  
Grading Status: Letter grade.  
PSYC 433.  Behavioral Decision Theory.  3 Credits.  

Simple mathematical and psychological models of judgment and choice, and related experiments, are treated, as are applications to real world problems in medical, environmental, policy, business, and related domains.

Rules & Requirements  
Making Connections Gen Ed: PL.  
Requisites: Prerequisite, PSYC 101.  
Grading Status: Letter grade.  
PSYC 435.  Gender and Pronouns.  3 Credits.  

This course offers an inside look at pronouns from an interdisciplinary perspective. From a cognitive perspective, we examine major models of the role that pronouns play, and the mental processes involved in using them. From a social perspective, we examine the role pronouns play in marking gender identity, and how both language usage and gender concepts are currently in flux. Students also learn about research methods and conduct a novel empirical study.

Rules & Requirements  
Making Connections Gen Ed: SS.  
Requisites: Prerequisite, PSYC 101.  
Grading Status: Letter grade.  
IDEAs in Action General Education logoPSYC 438.  Research Topics in the Psychology of Language.  3 Credits.  

Examines the cognitive mechanisms behind language comprehension, focusing on how we make predictions about the speaker's meaning, based on context, background, gestures, and other cues. In this course-based undergraduate research experience (CURE), groups of students generate novel research questions, perform their own research experiments, and present the results in spoken and written format.

Rules & Requirements  
IDEAs in Action General Education logo IDEAs in Action Gen Ed: FC-LAB, RESEARCH.
Making Connections Gen Ed: SS, CI, EE- Mentored Research.  
Requisites: Prerequisites, PSYC 101; Recommended: PSYC 270 and any course in linguistics (PSYC 432, any LING course, or any course with a substantial linguistics component).  
Grading Status: Letter grade.  
PSYC 463.  Development of Social Behavior and Personality.  3 Credits.  

Developmental processes during early childhood as these relate to social behavior and personality.

Rules & Requirements  
Making Connections Gen Ed: SS.  
Requisites: Prerequisites, PSYC 101 and either PSYC 210 or 215.  
Grading Status: Letter grade.  
PSYC 467.  The Development of Black Children.  3 Credits.  

PSYC 210 or 215 recommended. A survey of the literature on the development of black children. Topics include peer and social relations, self-esteem, identity development, cognitive development, school achievement, parenting, family management, and neighborhood influences.

Rules & Requirements  
Making Connections Gen Ed: SS.  
Requisites: Prerequisites, PSYC 101 and 250.  
Grading Status: Letter grade.  
PSYC 468.  Family as a Context for Development.  3 Credits.  

Explores how the family influences children's development. Topics include family theories, genetics, family structure (e.g., single parents, working mothers, divorce), discipline, parent behavior and values and beliefs, fathers and ethnic diversity.

Rules & Requirements  
Making Connections Gen Ed: SS.  
Requisites: Prerequisites, PSYC 101, 250, and either PSYC 210 or 215.  
Grading Status: Letter grade.  
PSYC 469.  Evolution and Development of Biobehavioral Systems.  3 Credits.  

Examines the evolution and development of behavior patterns and their physiological substrates.

Rules & Requirements  
Making Connections Gen Ed: PL.  
Requisites: Prerequisites, BIOL 101 and PSYC 101, 210, or 215.  
Grading Status: Letter grade.  
PSYC 471.  The Study of Adolescent Issues and Development.  3 Credits.  

The developmental period of adolescence is studied from a multidisciplinary perspective. The course will distinguish among early, middle, and late adolescence and will cover several theoretical perspectives.

Rules & Requirements  
Requisites: Prerequisites, PSYC 101, 250, and either PSYC 210 or 215.  
Grading Status: Letter grade.  
PSYC 474.  Digital Mental Health.  3 Credits.  

This course will provide an overview of the use of digital technologies to increase opportunities for training in, access to, and use of evidence-based mental health services. Coverage will include the current status of and future directions in research, innovations in service delivery, and policy implications. Special attention will be given to the evolution of the field, the potential costs and benefits, and the promise to address health disparities in particular.

Rules & Requirements  
Requisites: Prerequisite, PSYC 101.  
Grading Status: Letter grade.  
PSYC 490.  Current Topics in Psychology.  3 Credits.  

Various special areas of psychological study, offered as needed. Course may be repeated for credit. Honors version available.

Rules & Requirements  
Repeat Rules: May be repeated for credit; may be repeated in the same term for different topics; 12 total credits. 2 total completions.  
Grading Status: Letter grade.  
IDEAs in Action General Education logoPSYC 493.  Internship in Psychology.  3 Credits.  

Required preparation, minimum of two other psychology courses and junior/senior standing. Designed for highly motivated psychology majors interested in exploring professional opportunities in psychology-related areas. Students complete hands-on internships at community sites for approximately 120 hours across the semester. Students also attend a weekly one-hour class with other interns.

Rules & Requirements  
IDEAs in Action General Education logo IDEAs in Action Gen Ed: HI-INTERN.
Making Connections Gen Ed: EE- Academic Internship.  
Requisites: Prerequisite, PSYC 101.  
Grading Status: Letter grade.  
PSYC 500.  Developmental Psychopathology.  3 Credits.  

A survey of theories bearing on atypical development and disordered behavior, and an examination of major child and adolescent behavior problems and clinical syndromes.

Rules & Requirements  
Making Connections Gen Ed: SS.  
Requisites: Prerequisites, PSYC 101, 245, and 250.  
Grading Status: Letter grade.  
PSYC 501.  Theoretical, Empirical Perspectives on Personality.  3 Credits.  

An in-depth coverage of the traditional clinically based personality theories of the early 20th century contrasted with more recent empirically based perspectives.

Rules & Requirements  
Making Connections Gen Ed: SS.  
Requisites: Prerequisite, PSYC 101.  
Grading Status: Letter grade.  
PSYC 502.  Psychology of Adulthood and Aging.  3 Credits.  

A developmental approach to the study of adulthood, from young adulthood through death. Topics include adult issues in personality, family dynamics, work, leisure and retirement, biological and intellectual aspects of aging, dying, and bereavement.

Rules & Requirements  
Making Connections Gen Ed: SS.  
Requisites: Prerequisites, PSYC 101 and 250.  
Grading Status: Letter grade.  
PSYC 503.  African American Psychology.  3 Credits.  

This course examines race and culture in the psychological processes and behavior of African Americans.

Rules & Requirements  
Making Connections Gen Ed: SS, US.  
Requisites: Prerequisite, PSYC 101.  
Grading Status: Letter grade.  
PSYC 504.  Health Psychology.  3 Credits.  

An in-depth coverage of psychological, biological, and social factors that may be involved with health.

Rules & Requirements  
Making Connections Gen Ed: PL.  
Requisites: Prerequisites, PSYC 101 and 245.  
Grading Status: Letter grade.  
PSYC 505.  Sports and Performance Psychology.  3 Credits.  

This course examines the mental health and psychological factors that impact the performance of athletes. Furthermore, the mental health of sports fans, along with the physiological and psychological impact of being a spectator will be examined.

Rules & Requirements  
Requisites: Prerequisite, PSYC 101, 242 or 245.  
Grading Status: Letter grade.  
PSYC 514.  Mania and Depression.  3 Credits.  

The social, developmental, and biological contributions to mania and depression are examined, as well as the impact of these moods on the brain, creativity, relationships, quality of life, and health.

Rules & Requirements  
Requisites: Prerequisites, PSYC 101 and 245.  
Grading Status: Letter grade.  
PSYC 517.  Addiction.  3 Credits.  

PSYC 245 and 270 recommended but not required. This course will provide students with a comprehensive overview of the etiology and treatment of addiction, along with exposure to real-life stories of addiction.

Rules & Requirements  
Making Connections Gen Ed: PL.  
Requisites: Prerequisite, PSYC 101.  
Grading Status: Letter grade.  
IDEAs in Action General Education logoPSYC 518H.  Creating Digital Tools for Positive Youth Development.  3 Credits.  

In this upper-level course, students will learn about the interdisciplinary field of Positive Youth Development and create a digital tool to improve health, well-being, or developmental outcomes for youth through an intensive semester-long project.

Rules & Requirements  
IDEAs in Action General Education logo IDEAs in Action Gen Ed: FC-CREATE.
Requisites: Prerequisite, PSYC 250.  
Grading Status: Letter grade.  
PSYC 525.  Psychological Archival Data Science.  3 Credits.  

This course addresses techniques in answering new questions with existing data. Students will learn about data from multiple perspectives: different data source and types, intended audiences, and visualization, analysis, and presentation formats. This will make students more savvy consumers as well as producers of data.

Rules & Requirements  
Making Connections Gen Ed: CI, EE- Mentored Research, QI.  
Requisites: Pre- or corequisites, PSYC 270 and 245.  
Grading Status: Letter grade.  
IDEAs in Action General Education logoPSYC 528.  Clinical Research: Design, Analyze, Disseminate.  3 Credits.  

Students work with a community partner to identify a research question related to our understanding and treatment of psychological health. Using an iterative scientific method, students collaborate to develop hypotheses, to prepare and analyze data, to propose interpretations of data, and to present their results to the public.

Rules & Requirements  
IDEAs in Action General Education logo IDEAs in Action Gen Ed: RESEARCH.
Making Connections Gen Ed: EE- Mentored Research, QI.  
Requisites: Prerequisites, PSYC 101 and either PSYC 210 or 215; Pre- or corequisite, PSYC 270.  
Grading Status: Letter grade.  
PSYC 530.  Design and Interpretation of Psychological Research.  3 Credits.  

Emphasis on the methodological principles underlying experimental and correlational research. Interaction of theory and practice in the design and interpretation of psychological studies. This is a course-based undergraduate research experience (CURE).

Rules & Requirements  
Making Connections Gen Ed: PL, CI, EE- Mentored Research, QI.  
Requisites: Prerequisites, PSYC 101 and 270.  
Grading Status: Letter grade.  
PSYC 531.  Tests and Measurement.  3 Credits.  

Basic psychometric theory underlying test construction and utilization. Detailed study of issues and instruments used in assessing intellectual functioning, educational progress, personality, and personnel selection.

Rules & Requirements  
Making Connections Gen Ed: SS, QI.  
Requisites: Prerequisites, PSYC 101, and either PSYC 210 or 215.  
Grading Status: Letter grade.  
PSYC 532.  Quantitative Psychology.  3 Credits.  

This course examines the science of quantitative psychology. Topics include the analysis of data, the design of questionnaires, and the assessment of psychological attributes, among others. Honors version available.

Rules & Requirements  
Requisites: Prerequisite, PSYC 210, 215, SOCI 252, or STOR 155.  
Grading Status: Letter grade.  
PSYC 533.  The General Linear Model in Psychology.  3 Credits.  

Consideration of multiple regression and the general linear model in psychological research, including hypothesis testing, model formulation, and the analysis of observational and experimental data. Honors version available.

Rules & Requirements  
Requisites: Prerequisite, ECON 400, PSYC 210, PSYC 215, SOCI 252 or STOR 155.  
Grading Status: Letter grade.  
PSYC 534.  Introduction to Computational Statistics.  3 Credits.  

Introduction to programming and the implementation of statistical techniques. Topics include data manipulation, graphical procedures, writing loops and functions, data simulation, use of regular expressions, and scraping data from the web.

Rules & Requirements  
Making Connections Gen Ed: PL, QI.  
Requisites: Prerequisite, PSYC 210, 215, SOCI 252, or STOR 155.  
Grading Status: Letter grade.  
IDEAs in Action General Education logoPSYC 535.  Programming for Psychologists: Computational Tools for Psychological Research.  3 Credits.  

In this course, we will cover fundamental coding practices and computational tools used frequently in psychology research. We will go over the basics of coding, how to present computer-based experiments, how to keep a digital lab notebook, univariate data analyses, and visualization through programming. Through this process, students will have the opportunity to develop and run a simple experiment from start to finish.

Rules & Requirements  
IDEAs in Action General Education logo IDEAs in Action Gen Ed: FC-QUANT, FC-LAB, RESEARCH.
Making Connections Gen Ed: SS, QI.  
Requisites: Prerequisite, PSYC 101; Pre- or corequisite, PSYC 210.  
Grading Status: Letter grade.  
PSYC 559.  Applied Machine Learning in Psychology.  3 Credits.  

As opposed to hypothesis-driven data analysis, machine learning takes an exploratory and predictive approach to data analysis. This course introduces machine learning approaches in psychology to identify important variables for prediction and uncover complex patterns in datasets, such as nonlinearity, interactions, or clusters. Classes include theoretical lectures and hands-on examples.

Rules & Requirements  
Making Connections Gen Ed: SS.  
Requisites: Prerequisites, PSYC 101, and either PSYC 210 or 215.  
Grading Status: Letter grade.  
PSYC 562.  Psychology of Race and Racism.  3 Credits.  

This course offers an overview of research investigating the psychological underpinnings and impacts of racialization, racism, and racial inequality. It will center research in social psychology, but will also feature work from other areas of psychology (e.g., developmental), as well as other social science disciplines (e.g., sociology, political science).

Rules & Requirements  
Requisites: Prerequisites, PSYC 101, and either PSYC 210 or 215.  
Grading Status: Letter grade.  
PSYC 564.  Interpersonal Relationships.  3 Credits.  

PSYC 270 Recommended. This advanced course will comprehensively cover the social psychological literature on normally-developing interpersonal relationships, with implications for relationships with family, friends, co-workers, and romantic partners. This is a research-intensive course with a major aspect involving an independent research project to facilitate learning by doing.

Rules & Requirements  
Making Connections Gen Ed: SS.  
Requisites: Prerequisites, PSYC 101, 260, and either PSYC 210 or 215.  
Grading Status: Letter grade.  
PSYC 565.  Stereotyping, Prejudice, and Discrimination.  3 Credits.  

PSYC 270 recommended. Examines the determinants, functions, processes, and consequences of stereotyping, prejudice, and discrimination. Prospects for change are considered. Class presentations and participation required.

Rules & Requirements  
Making Connections Gen Ed: SS.  
Requisites: Prerequisites, PSYC 101, 260, and either PSYC 210 or 215.  
Grading Status: Letter grade.  
PSYC 566.  Attitude Change.  3 Credits.  

A detailed consideration of the theoretical issues in attitude and belief change.

Rules & Requirements  
Requisites: Prerequisites, PSYC 101, 260, and either 210 or 215.  
Grading Status: Letter grade.  
PSYC 569.  Practical Wisdom from Advanced Social Psychology.  3 Credits.  

Surveys cutting-edge research across the field of social psychology and how it matters for everyday life. Topics include morality, mind perception, judgment and decision making, happiness, affective forecasting, emotion, relationships, negotiation, personality, free will, stress/health, and religion. Clear communication of research also emphasized through figures, presentations, and papers.

Rules & Requirements  
Making Connections Gen Ed: SS.  
Requisites: Prerequisites, PSYC 101, 260, and 270.  
Grading Status: Letter grade.  
PSYC 570.  The Social Psychology of Self-Regulation.  3 Credits.  

PSYC 270 recommended. An intensive review of self-regulation theory and research, focusing on the cognitive, motivational, and affective processes involved in goal commitment, monitoring, and overriding behavioral responses.

Rules & Requirements  
Making Connections Gen Ed: SS.  
Requisites: Prerequisites, PSYC 101, 260, and either PSYC 210 or 215.  
Grading Status: Letter grade.  
PSYC 571.  Social Neuroscience.  3 Credits.  

Social neuroscience is the study of how social processes and experiences are represented in and influence the structure and function of the brain. This course will focus primarily on functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies of humans, though we will also discuss other brain imaging techniques and patient studies. Previously offered as NSCI 571.

Rules & Requirements  
Making Connections Gen Ed: PL.  
Requisites: Prerequisite, PSYC 220 or NSCI 175, PSYC 260 recommended.  
Grading Status: Letter grade.  
PSYC 572.  Theoretical and Empirical Perspectives on Sex and Gender Differences.  3 Credits.  

An in-depth examination of psychological research and theory pertaining to the influence of gender on the lives of men and women. In general, emphasis will be placed on understanding gender as a social psychological construct.

Rules & Requirements  
Making Connections Gen Ed: SS.  
Requisites: Prerequisites, PSYC 101 and 260.  
Grading Status: Letter grade.  
IDEAs in Action General Education logoPSYC 573.  Psychology of Women and Gender.  3 Credits.  

This course will discuss theories, methods, and empirical research findings on the physical, cognitive, emotional, and social aspects of the psychology of women, as well as topics such as feminist psychology, intersectionality, bias in psychological research, sexual orientation, sexuality, lifespan development, work, and health. Men and masculinity, the psychology of transgender persons, and a critique of the gender binary are also discussed.

Rules & Requirements  
IDEAs in Action General Education logo IDEAs in Action Gen Ed: FC-POWER.
Requisites: Prerequisite, PSYC 101 or WGST 101.  
Grading Status: Letter grade.  
Same as: WGST 573.  
PSYC 574.  Science of Moral Understanding.  3 Credits.  

Each of us is committed to our moral values and often struggle to understand those who with different beliefs. This course will focus on difficult moral disagreements (e.g., abortion, euthanasia), using social psychology and related disciplines to reveal the basis of our moral judgments, the drivers of moral divides, and how best to bridge them. We will cover both theory and application, and practice having constructive dialogue and civil disagreement to forge moral understanding.

Rules & Requirements  
Making Connections Gen Ed: PH.  
Requisites: Prerequisites, PSYC 101, and 260.  
Grading Status: Letter grade.  
PSYC 575.  Positive Psychology.  3 Credits.  

This course examines positive psychology, also called the science of thriving. One basic premise of positive psychology is that thriving individuals and thriving communities require the presence and interplay of positive emotions, positive relationships, and positive meaning. A second basic premise is that thriving does not result simply by curing pathology and eliminating problems. Rather, thriving requires building and capitalizing on human strengths and capacities. Students will apply course concepts in their everyday lives.

Rules & Requirements  
Making Connections Gen Ed: SS.  
Requisites: Prerequisite, PSYC 101.  
Grading Status: Letter grade.  
PSYC 601.  Psychology and Law.  3 Credits.  

Examines the legal system from the perspective of psychology methods and research, with a focus on criminal law. Discusses dilemmas within the law and between the legal system and psychology.

Rules & Requirements  
Requisites: Prerequisites, PSYC 101, and either PSYC 210 or PSYC 215.  
Grading Status: Letter grade.  
PSYC 602.  Evolutionary Psychology.  3 Credits.  

Major topics of general psychology are examined from an evolutionary perspective with an emphasis on empirical studies asking why much current human behavior and experience would have been adaptive for our early ancestors.

Rules & Requirements  
Requisites: Prerequisite, PSYC 101.  
Grading Status: Letter grade.  
IDEAs in Action General Education logoPSYC 693H.  Honors in Psychology I.  3 Credits.  

To be taken in the fall of the last year of studies as the first course in the two-semester honors sequence. Students conduct research under the direction of a faculty advisor and receive classroom instruction in research-related topics.

Rules & Requirements  
IDEAs in Action General Education logo IDEAs in Action Gen Ed: RESEARCH.
Making Connections Gen Ed: SS, CI, EE- Mentored Research.  
Requisites: Prerequisites, A cumulative GPA of 3.3, at least one semester of PSYC/NSCI 395 or the approved equivalent, and acceptance into the Psychology or Neuroscience Senior Honors Program; PSYC/NSCI 693H must be taken in the first semester of the last year of studies.  
Grading Status: Letter grade.  
IDEAs in Action General Education logoPSYC 694H.  Honors in Psychology II.  3 Credits.  

This course comprises the second semester in the two-semester sequence of Senior Honors in Psychology/Neuroscience. There are two components to the course: research that you will conduct under the direction of your faculty thesis advisor, and this class, which you will attend with the other senior honors students to learn about research-related topics and receive consultations with the instructor and your classmates. Admission to the psychology honors program required.

Rules & Requirements  
IDEAs in Action General Education logo IDEAs in Action Gen Ed: RESEARCH.
Making Connections Gen Ed: SS, CI, EE- Mentored Research.  
Requisites: Prerequisites, A cumulative GPA of 3.3, completion of PSYC/NSCI 693H, at least one semester of PSYC/NSCI 395 or the approved equivalent, and acceptance into the Psychology or Neuroscience Senior Honors Program; PSYC/NSCI 694H must be taken in the second semester of the last year of studies.  
Grading Status: Letter grade.  

Department of Psychology and Neuroscience

Visit Program Website

Davie Hall, CB# 3270

(919) 843-0174

Chair

Regina M. Carelli

rcarelli@email.unc.edu

Associate Chair

Karen Gil

kgil@email.unc.edu

Associate Chair

Deborah Jones

djjones@email.unc.edu

Director of Undergraduate Studies

Jeannie Loeb

loeb@unc.edu

Director of Undergraduate Psychology Advising

Desiree Griffin

dgriffin@unc.edu

Director of Neuroscience Curricula

Sabrina Robertson

sabrinae@email.unc.edu

Director of Undergraduate Neuroscience Advising

Rachel Penton

NSCIAdvising@unc.edu

Undergraduate Instructional Program Coordinator

Christopher Coffey

ctcoffey@email.unc.edu

Undergraduate Student Services Manager

Andrew Bresson

PsycNeuroUSSM@unc.edu

Graduate Student Services Manager

Ali Carson

PsycGSSM@unc.edu