Human Sexuality
This course explores medical, biological, psychosocial, and cultural aspects of human sexuality. Course topics are explored through a biopsychosocial perspective of sexual functions, gender, sex-role orientation and preference; sexual behavior theories and sex therapy techniques; societal attitudes; contraception and reproduction; sexual arousal and response; communication in sexual relationships; sexual dysfunction; AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections; sexual deviance; sexual victimization; and commercialization of sexuality.
Human Development and Aging
This course examines biological, cognitive, emotional, and social changes in later life and how they shape health, decision-making, and well-being. Through interviews with older adults, students connect developmental theory to lived experience and analyze aging through a social-justice lens, including ageism and equity in care.
Neurodivergence
This course focuses on neurodiversity and neurodevelopmental disorders (including autism spectrum disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, intellectual disability, and specific learning disorder) through multiple lenses—including clinical psychology, psychiatry, developmental psychopathology, neuroscience, education, and sociology. Topics such as etiology, developmental course, symptom experience, classification, group and individual differences, and intervention and support will be discussed.
Psychology of Prejudice
This course focuses on how we can use social psychological theories and methods to understand prejudice, stereotyping, and discrimination. We will examine how prejudice and stereotypes differ across social groups, why prejudice is prevalent, and what are the origins of prejudice. This course will also examine the ways psychology as a field has contributed to prejudice and how it can be used to combat prejudice.
Psychology and Law
Intersection of social science theory and data with law and legal procedure: Topics may include: normative and psychological theories of justice; eyewitness memory, deception detection, investigative interviewing and interrogations; jury selection and jury decision-making; forensic psychology and assessment; corrections and sentencing.
Trauma
This course focuses on the experience of and responses to trauma in its many forms - natural disaster war and genocide child abuse assault and violence. The impact of trauma for both the individual and society at large are examined in the context of a stress coping resilience framework. Prevention and intervention strategies will be explored.