PSYC 490 Contemporary Topics Seminar
Canine Cognition
This course serves as an exploration of the emerging field of canine cognition, the study of thinking and reasoning in domestic dogs. Topics include social reasoning, problem solving, cooperation, communication, and other current focal points of canine cognition research. Additional emphasis will be placed on the role of domestication in shaping modern dogs, effective research methodologies and practices for canine research, implications of canine research for working dogs and responsible pet caretaking, and the future of canine cognition. This course will draw on both foundational and current research in the field of canine cognition.
Eating: From Cells to Society
Eating is fundamental to life more so than drinking or sex. It infuses the thoughts feelings and behavior of humans and other animals and thus serves as a model system for psychological inquiry. It is also for better and for worse intensely personal and thus serves as a model system for inquiry into the self. This course will explore eating from cellular to cultural levels of analysis.
Prerequisites: PSYC 200 and one of the following: PSYC 302, PSYC 321, PSYC 323, or PSYC 336.
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.
Prerequisite: PSYC 200
Teamwork Within Diverse Environments
Examination of how individual and group differences influence the performance of workgroups. The course focuses on theoretical and practical concerns related to the key topics of teamwork and leadership as they are performed within the context of a diverse work environment. Some related issues of fairness in managing diversity will also be introduced.
Prerequisites: PSYC 201 and either PSYC 323 or PSYC 340.
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.
Prerequisites: PSYC 330.