Students can choose coursework in topical areas that reflect the breadth of faculty expertise and interests, including clinical, cognitive, community, cross-cultural, developmental, educational, engineering, health, industrial/organizational, social, physiological, and sports psychology. All courses emphasize a solid foundation in empirical methods and data analysis. A number of courses in the curriculum reflect the Department's commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice by intentionally featuring and centering issues of social importance, including systemic racism, gender inequities, ageism, mental health stigma, and disability.
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PSYC 219 will count toward the Social Psychology subdivision of the Psychology major for students who take the course during the 2024-25 academic year.
Human psychology shapes technology and in turn is shaped by technology. PSYC 271: Psychology of Humans & Technology examines this reciprocal relationship from the disciplinary perspective of psychological science. The course surveys past, contemporary, and emerging technologies, with a focus on their relationships to human psychology. Topics include tools and cognition, psychology of entrepreneurs and engineers, and psychology of online behaviors and social media, as well as the psychology of virtual reality, artificial intelligence, and human-robot interaction.
PSYC 490.01: Guilty Pleasures
In this capstone course, we will take an interdisciplinary approach to examining the phenomenon of “guilty pleasures” to understand how various leisure activities (e.g., watching reality TV, eating snacks and comfort food, listening to music) can be both helpful and harmful to psychological well-being. Students will read and evaluate scientific psychological research on topics related to media consumption, music, eating and food, parasocial relationships, nostalgia, secrecy, and more to ultimately develop a deeper understanding of and appreciation for why people are drawn toward activities that simultaneously make them feel guilty, shameful, or embarrassed. Through seminar discussions, critical writing, and oral presentations, students will analyze how guilty pleasures reflect broader psychological and social dynamics while honing skills essential for post-graduate work.
Instructor
Togans
PSYC 490_02: Psychology and the Law
In this capstone course, we will examine the intersection of psychology and the law from a wide range of perspectives. We will build on what you have learned in your psychology courses by integrating a variety of approaches in our analyses of theoretical and applied issues that arise in the study of psychology and the law. During the semester, we will examine five topics: (1) stages of a jury trial (2) eyewitness evidence (3) false confessions (4) serial killers & mass murderers, and (5) genetics and criminal responsibility. In addition, we may discuss other current topics in psychology and the law as they arise during the semester. A major focus of this course will be on the continued development of your oral and written communication skills in ways that will translate to life beyond Lafayette.
Instructor
Shaw
PSYC 490_XX: Psychology and the Law
In this capstone course, we will examine the intersection of psychology and the law from a wide range of perspectives. We will build on what you have learned in your psychology courses by integrating a variety of approaches in our analyses of theoretical and applied issues that arise in the study of psychology and the law. During the semester, we will examine five topics: (1) stages of a jury trial (2) eyewitness evidence (3) false confessions (4) serial killers & mass murderers, and (5) genetics and criminal responsibility. In addition, we may discuss other current topics in psychology and the law as they arise during the semester. A major focus of this course will be on the continued development of your oral and written communication skills in ways that will translate to life beyond Lafayette.
Instructor
Shaw
PSYC 490.XX: Disabilities and Assistive Technology
PSYC 490 (Capstone): Disabilities and Assistive Technology is a seminar that examines the historical, theoretical, applied, and ethical aspects of uses of technology to assist people with disabilities. Students evaluate historical perspectives on disability as well as contemporary models of disability and disability rights. The psychological and social experiences of people with disabilities are explored, including first-hand perspectives of disabled people and people with disabilities. The nature of technology is considered, especially as it applies to augmenting the capabilities of people with disabilities. A variety of perspectives on inclusive design are reviewed, and assistive technologies for several domains of functional impairment are covered in detail.
Instructor
Nees