2016-2017 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]
Courses of Instruction
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American Government and Political Processes Courses in the American government and political process subfield focus on the institutions, actors, inputs, and outcomes of the American political process and the role of citizenship within the broader society.
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PSC 400 - Seminar in Urban Policy & Planning 1 course unit
This seminar is designed as an exploration of urban politics and planning in the United States. Its purpose is to provide an improved understanding of the workings of urban political systems and the mechanisms by which government attempts to manage urban environments. The course will examine both historical and contemporary aspects of urban politics with an emphasis on the evolution of governmental arrangements in the last century. It will also focus on contemporary urban problems such as transportation, housing, and crime and, finally, will examine the basic foundations of urban planning and its application throughout cities in the United States.
Course limited to juniors and seniors.
Prerequisite(s): PSC 101 Introduction to American National Government and PSC 301 Political Science Research Methods .
Meets general academic requirement W.
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Comparative Politics Comparative Politics is the comparative study of political phenomena, including political institutions, behavior, and ideas in countries other than the United States. The sub-discipline studies the domestic politics of foreign nations with a focus on how power is organized and exercised.
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PSC 230, 231 - Government & Politics of Europe 1 course unit
This course introduces students to European politics in the post-Cold War era. It focuses on political, economic, and social continuity and change in Western, Southern, and East-Central European nations. Taught from a broad regional perspective, the course will analyze the role of institutions and actors in shaping the dynamic political processes in the nations of Europe. Special attention is given to their economic and political interactions and their ramifications for the European integration process.
Meets general academic requirement SL (and W when offered as 231).
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PSC 232 - Governments & Politics of East Asia 1 course unit
Analysis of the contemporary political systems of East Asia, primarily China and Japan, in their social and cultural settings, historical background, and dynamics of modernization.
Meets general academic requirement SL and DE.
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PSC 234, 235 - Government & Politics of Russia 1 course unit
The course evaluates in-depth the contemporary political, economic, and social changes in post-Soviet Russia. Students will analyze the challenges facing Russia’s transition to markets and democracy. We will look at how the legacy of the Soviet experience impacts the democratization and marketization processes in Russia today. Students will also study and evaluate the efficacy and viability of the new institutions regulating political and economic life in post-Soviet Russia. The course will focus on the political struggles surrounding institutional choice and policy making in contemporary Russia, and it will pay particular attention to reforms undertaken by President Vladimir Putin since 2000.
Meets general academic requirement SL (and W when offered as 235).
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PSC 237 - Government & Politics of Africa 1 course unit
This course will examine the domestic politics and international relations of Africa. In particular, it will explore common problems faced by these states, including the formation of viable political systems, the implementation of policies to promote economic development, and the conduct of viable foreign policies. The course will also examine the effect of historical culture, economic conditions, and colonial penetration upon the formulation and conduct of public policy in Africa.
Meets general academic requirement SL and DE.
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PSC 244, 245 - Government & Politics of Latin America 1 course unit
A study of the political processes within the Latin American region; the historical and cultural contrasts with North American-European politics; and the social, political, and economic development problems which continue to face this region. Particular attention will be given to Mexico, Colombia, Chile, Brazil, Argentina, and a representative number of other nations in Central America, South America, and the Caribbean region.
Meets general academic requirement SL and DE (and W when offered as 245).
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PSC 246 - Developing Nations 1 course unit
A study of the politics of developing nations, their struggles to overcome poverty and underdevelopment, their efforts at nation-building, and their impact in the world. The challenges and dilemmas of modernization and contending theories about the causes of underdevelopment and appropriate development strategies will be discussed.
Meets general academic requirement SL and DE.
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PSC 248, 249 - Governments & Politics of the Middle East 1 course unit
This course will examine the domestic politics and international relations of the Middle East. In particular, the course will examine the effect of historical culture, economic conditions, and colonial penetration upon the current political conditions of the area.
Meets general academic requirement SL and DE (and W when offered as 249).
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PSC 420 - Seminar in Regimes & Regime Changes 1 course unit
The course is designed to introduce students to modern democratic, authoritarian, and totalitarian political systems (regimes). We will study how power is organized and exercised in various political systems of the world. Students will learn about institutions and processes that shape domestic politics in various regimes and that explain why and how political regimes change. The course will analyze the causes of breakdown as well as consolidation of democratic and non-democratic regimes. Iraq will be used as a case study.
Prerequisite(s): PSC 103 Introduction to Comparative Politics & International Relations or IST 101 Introduction to International Studies . Two additional courses in the Comparative and/or International subfields are strongly recommended.
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PSC 430 - Seminar in Comparative National Security Policy 1 course unit
This course uses a comparative approach to examine national security policy processes in the United States and a selected group of countries. Students will engage in policy analyses that examine the impact of a range of factors-including the international system, size of the state, historical and societal factors, governmental system, bureaucratic politics, and individual personalities-in determining the national security policies of these states.
Prerequisite(s): PSC 103 Introduction to Comparative Politics & International Relations or IST 101 Introduction to International Studies . Two additional courses in the Comparative and/or International subfields are strongly recommended.
Meets general academic requirement W.
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International Politics and Foreign Policy International Politics in the study of the interaction among nations, international organizations, and an increasing range of non-state or nongovernmental actors, such as multinational corporations, terrorist organizations, etc. International relations also seeks to explain the processes by which this wide range of actors attempt to address the increasingly broad range of security, development, and environmental issues facing the world.
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PSC 242, 243 - Introduction to Conflict & Peace Studies 1 course unit
This is an introductory course in the interdisciplinary field of conflict and peace studies which examines different approaches to conflict definition, management, and resolution. Fundamental issues of peace, war, conflict, and violence are discussed from a variety of perspectives within the political science and international studies paradigms.
Meets general academic requirement DE (and W when offered as 243).
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PSC 254 - Globalization & Social Justice 1 course unit
Interdependence and globalization have brought the world closer to American citizens. As their lives become more inter-connected with the dynamics of international market and political forces, the traditional distinctions between local and global concerns begin to fade. The events of September 11th, wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and the cycles of anti-globalization social mobilization have made us acutely aware that national security or national economic prosperity can no longer be conceived apart from the international context. As issues concerning Americans become more “intermestic”, the avenues and scope for affecting socioeconomic and political transformation also change. The course aims to further student understanding of the complex phenomenon of globalization and its impacts. We will analyze how citizens, as social actors, respond to the new challenges posed by globalization. Students will look at how issues of global socioeconomic and political justice are addressed by various citizen groups, social movements, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in areas as diverse as human rights, environmental concerns, cultural diversity, and economic welfare.
Meets general academic requirement SL.
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PSC 328, 329 - International Law & Organization 1 course unit
The course will study the development and role of international law and international organizations (the United Nations, regional, and functional organizations) in the regulation of interactions among nation-states. The view of Western, communist, and less developed states toward these institutions will be examined. It will focus on issues such as the rights and obligation of states, treaty law, and the role of international organization in maintaining the peace and promoting the improvement of the physical conditions of humankind. Students will be expected to provide brief analyses of hypothetical cases in international law plus an in-depth analysis of an issue facing international organizations.
Prerequisite(s): PSC 103 Introduction to Comparative Politics & International Relations or IST 101 Introduction to International Studies .
Meets general academic requirement W when offered as 329.
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PSC 330, 331 - Comparative & International Environmental Policies 1 course unit
The course will examine the domestic and global dimensions of environmental politics. Subjects covered will include atmospheric issues, coastal and ocean pollution and multiple resource use, land resources, biodiversity, international river systems, environmental refugees, and population. It will compare policy-making in the European Union, ASEAN, NAFTA, and the United Nations systems.
Prerequisite(s): PSC 103 Introduction to Comparative Politics & International Relations or IST 101 Introduction to International Studies .
Meets general academic requirement W when offered as 331.
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PSC 339, 340 - Theories of International Relations
A critical analysis of the current and historical theories of international relations, including the nation-state system, balance of power, and societal and governmental factors predisposing nations to peace and war. The course will also explore emerging theories of decision-making at the national and international level as well as the growing role of transnational relations.
Prerequisite(s): PSC 103 Introduction to Comparative Politics & International Relations or IST 101 Introduction to International Studies
Meets general academic requirement W when offered as 340.
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PSC 341 - American Foreign Policy 1 course unit
A study of the evolving nature of the formulation and conduct of American foreign policy, including the impact of an emerging international civil society on the policy formulation process since World War II. The course will emphasize contemporary issues, such as North-South relations, defense, humanitarian intervention and disarmament, international trade, as well as emerging issues, such as international resource management, pandemic disease control, and transnational organized crime.
Prerequisite(s): PSC 103 Introduction to Comparative Politics & International Relations or IST 101 Introduction to International Studies .
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PSC 343 - International Political Economy 1 course unit
The course examines the complex relationship between politics and economics in the global system. Students will analyze inter-connected themes, such as the relationship between power and wealth, the politics of international trade and international monetary management, globalization’s impact on international, regional, and national economies. There is a particular focus on the theories and practice of international development.
Prerequisite(s): PSC 103 Introduction to Comparative Politics & International Relations or IST 101 Introduction to International Studies .
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PSC 440 - Seminar in International Studies 1 course unit
The course will focus on an emerging issue in international relations. Potential topics would include democratization, cross-cultural communications, sustainable development, regional organizations, the management of international trade, conflict resolution, peace-making efforts in selected geographic regions, etc. It will provide the students with an opportunity to engage in cooperative learning through the development of policy analyses of various aspects of selected issues in international relations.
Prerequisite(s): PSC 103 Introduction to Comparative Politics & International Relations or IST 101 Introduction to International Studies . Two additional courses in the Comparative and/or International subfields are strongly recommended.
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Political Theory Political theory involves the critical examination of the ideological and philosophical underpinnings of political communities, the analysis and evaluation of ideas that animate contemporary political arguments, and the interpretation of classic texts in the history of political theory.
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PSC 260, 261 - American Political Thought 1 course unit
An examination of the major political ideas and ideological arguments influencing the development of political institutions and democratic practices in the United States. Attention is given to the debates leading to the ratification of the Constitution as well as to important nineteenth and twentieth century political figures and intellectuals who challenged and reshaped our understanding of the Constitution and the American Founding. Consideration is also given to contemporary political thought such as feminism, multiculturalism, and environmentalism.
Meets general academic requirement HU (and W when offered as 261).
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PSC 262, 263 - Utopia & Its Critics 1 course unit
An examination of utopianism and realism as contrasting modes of political thinking. By examining the works of thinkers such as Plato, Thomas More, Bellamy, and Morris, the course will consider the meaning, justifications, and functions of utopian thought, both as a blueprint for a just society and a genre of social criticism. The course will consider anti-utopian or realist thinkers such as Thucydides, Machiavelli, and Hobbes who insist on a sober assessment of power as the basis of political and social order.
Meets general academic requirement HU (and W when offered as 263).
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PSC 264 - Politics & Public Space 1 course unit
This course considers how ideas about the use and meaning of public space, such as neighborhoods, city streets, marketplaces, parks, and public monuments, frame political conflicts on issues such as social justice, environmental protection, and historical preservation. We examine how laws, socio-economic forces, and cultural values give shape to public spaces and how such spaces are transformed by the political struggles over their access, control, and meaning. We consider questions such as: What is public space? How is it constructed, interpreted, and contested? Who defines the boundaries between public space and private property? Who has the right to access public space? We also consider how social-economic forces such as suburbanization, globalization, and privatization are reshaping public space.
Meets general academic requirement SL.
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PSC 348, 349 - Democratic Theory 1 course unit
Examines important contributions to the meaning and practice of democracy drawn from both classic and contemporary sources, including representatives of liberal, communitarian, civic republican, and Marxists traditions of thought. Among the issues considered are the nature and scope of democratic citizenship, forms of participation, civic education, deliberation and representation, issues of identity and difference, social and economic conditions needed for democratic politics, and structure of democratic institutions.
Prerequisite(s): PSC 201 Political Ideologies or PSC 260, 261 American Political Thought or PSC 262, 263 Utopia & Its Critics or any course in political philosophy offered in the Philosophy Department.
Meets general academic requirement HU (and W when offered as 349).
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PSC 356, 357 - War & Justice 1 course unit
This course considers the relationship between international relations, statecraft, and ethics through an examination of the just war tradition in Western political thought. The moral arguments of both ancient and contemporary theorists of just war will be examined along with their application to modern conflicts such as World Wars I and II, Vietnam, and the Persian Gulf War.
Prerequisite(s): PSC 103 Introduction to Comparative Politics & International Relations or IST 101 Introduction to International Studies .
Meets general academic requirement HU (and W when offered as 357).
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PSC 450 - Seminar on Modernity & Its Discontents 1 course unit
Does modernity have a future? Modern liberalism, socialism, and communism grew out of the Enlightenment faith in progress, reason, and emancipation, each promising an expansion of freedom and equality through the human mastery of nature. Yet the catastrophes of the twentieth century have revealed darker forces at work in the modern era: world wars, alienation, totalitarianism, genocide, environmental deterioration, and terrorism. This seminar considers those political and social critics who offer both a diagnosis of and a cure for modernity’s discontents. Thinkers may include Nietzsche, Marx, Henry Adams, Freud, Max Weber, Arendt, Marcuse, and Foucault.
For juniors and seniors only.
Prerequisite(s): PSC 201 Political Ideologies or PSC 260, 261 American Political Thought or PSC 262, 263 Utopia & Its Critics or any course in political philosophy offered in the Philosophy Department.
Meets general academic requirement W.
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Internship |
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PSC 960 - Political Science Internship 1 course unit
Pass/fail only.
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PSC 970 - Political Science Independent Study/Research
Each independent study/research course is to be designed in consultation with a faculty sponsor.
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Psychology |
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PSY 101 - Introductory Psychology 1 course unit
An introduction to the science of psychology. Students will investigate theories, topics, and applications in the field of psychology across biological, cognitive, social, developmental and clinical areas. Students learn to identify ways in which the science of psychology affects everyday lives and gain knowledge in multiple areas of psychology that provides a foundation for future courses within the major and across campus. The course will highlight connections among different areas of psychology and identify ways in which different perspectives contribute to a fuller understanding of human behavior.
Meets general academic requirement SL.
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PSY 103 - Psychological Statistics 1 course unit
Introduction to the role of statistical analyses in testing hypotheses in psychology. Students will learn both descriptive and inferential uses of statistics as they apply to a variety of research designs commonly used in psychology. This course also emphasizes scientific writing and the use of SPSS to conduct statistical analyses.
Prerequisite(s): PSY 101 Introductory Psychology and MTH 119 Statistical Analysis or MTH 121 Calculus I .
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PSY 104 - Research Methods in Psychology 1 course unit
Exploration of the methodological issues and strategies most germane to research in psychology. Topics include types of research designs, ethics, measurement, library resources, and a review of data analysis procedures. Scientific writing and oral presentations of research results will be emphasized. Four hours lecture/lab.
Prerequisite(s): PSY 101 Introductory Psychology and PSY 103 Psychological Statistics or permission of instructor.
Meets general academic requirement W.
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Biological, Behavioral, and Cognitive Processes |
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PSY 212 - Learning & Behavior 1 course unit
An investigation of how our behavior is changed by experience. Topics will include the nature-nurture issue, conditioned reflexes, operant conditioning, observational learning, reinforcement schedules, punishment, and the stimulus-control of behavior.
Prerequisite(s): PSY 101 Introductory Psychology .
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PSY 214 - Sensation & Perception 1 course unit
Exploration of the human sensory systems and perception. The course is focused on investigating the relationship between our conscious experience of the world and the anatomy and physiology of the sensory systems. We start with very basic sensory coding and work up to looking at individual differences and the influence of learning and development on perception. There is an emphasis on classroom demonstrations and laboratory experiences. All students run a perception experiment.
Prerequisite(s): PSY 101 Introductory Psychology .
Meets general academic requirement SC.
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PSY 215 - Biological Psychology 1 course unit
A study of the nervous system and physiological processes directly related to behavior in human beings and animals. The mechanisms underlying sensory and motor processes, learning, emotion, and innate behavior patterns.
Prerequisite(s): PSY 101 Introductory Psychology .
Meets general academic requirement SC.
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PSY 311 - Cognitive Processes 1 course unit
The study of human mental processes, including perception, attention, memory, problem solving, language, conceptual representation, and visual imagery. All students participate in classroom demonstrations and in cognitive research. This is an upper level class and is not recommended for first year students. Recommended for teacher education candidates.
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PSY 410 - Memory & Amnesia 1 course unit
This seminar will examine the broad categories of memory and amnesia. Readings will be based entirely on primary literature, and class meetings will follow a discussion-based format. Memory and amnesia will be examined via both psychological and biological perspectives and will include topics such as memory modulation and malleability, consolidation and reconsolidation, various forms of amnesia (e.g., retrograde and anterograde amnesia), recovery of memory, and memory-based treatments for some forms of psychological pathology (e.g., PTSD).
Open only to Psychology or Neuroscience majors.
Prerequisite(s): PSY 101 - Introductory Psychology . PSY 215 - Biological Psychology or NSC 310 - Brain & Behavior required.
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Sociocultural Processes |
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PSY 220 - Social Psychology 1 course unit
The study of social influences on individual behavior, including topics in social cognition, attitude change, interpersonal behavior, social influence, and small group behavior.
Prerequisite(s): PSY 101 Introductory Psychology .
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PSY 221 - Multicultural Psychology 1 course unit
This course will examine marginalized groups within the United States and will address the role of race, ethnicity, gender, class, disability status, and sexual orientation in psychological discourse. Psychological theory and research will serve as a basis to explore topics such as identity development, acculturation, and world views. This course also aims to examine privilege and the way various “isms” (e.g., sexism, racism, heterosexism, classism, ableism, and their intersections) inform psychological theory, research, and practice.
Prerequisite(s): PSY 101 Introductory Psychology .
Meets general academic requirement W.
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PSY 320 - History of Psychology 1 course unit
A review of the historical background and development of psychology with special attention given to the positions on controversial issues taken by different schools in the past and present. Primarily for upper-class majors to provide a perspective on the field of psychology.
Prerequisite(s): PSY 101 - Introductory Psychology and at least two additional psychology courses or permission of instructor.
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PSY 322, 323 - Psychology of Women 1 course unit
This course will examine theory and research on gender differences, specifically female gender development, taking into consideration biological, cognitive, behavioral, and social influences. Emphasis will be placed on a critical analysis of the assumptions about human behavior and the methods used to test these ideas. Topics include gender-role development, achievement motivation, women and work, sexuality and health, and violence against women.
Prerequisite(s): PSY 101 - Introductory Psychology and two additional psychology courses or WST 202 - Topics in Women’s and Gender Studies .
Meets general academic requirement W when offered as 322.
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PSY 425 - Contemporary Racism 1 course unit
This seminar is an in-depth, psychological examination of the new and more subtle types of racism present in American society. Based primarily on research from social psychology, we will explore the manifestations and consequences of contemporary racism and the challenges inherent in reducing this form of racism. We will focus predominantly on prejudice toward, and the experiences of, African-Americans. The seminar will include, among other assignments and activities, student-led discussions, primary source readings, and critical intrapersonal analysis recorded in student journals.
Prerequisite(s): PSY 101 - Introductory Psychology and two additional psychology courses, including either PSY 220 - Social Psychology or PSY 221 - Multicultural Psychology or permission of instructor.
Meets general academic requirement DE.
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Developmental Processes |
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PSY 230 - Child Development 1 course unit
This course examines the physical, psychological, and social aspects of human development from conception to middle childhood. In particular, this course focuses on strengthening content knowledge of developmental psychology in conjunction with real-life examples of child growth and development.
Prerequisite(s): PSY 101 Introductory Psychology .
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PSY 231 - Adolescent Development 1 course unit
This course addresses human development throughout the adolescent years. In particular, the course focuses on making connections between theories of developmental psychology and real-life experiences of teenagers growing up in American society.
Prerequisite(s): PSY 101 Introductory Psychology .
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PSY 232 - Personality Psychology 1 course unit
Historical and more contemporary approaches to personality are explored. Current research topics in the field of personality psychology are also addressed.
Prerequisite(s): PSY 101 Introductory Psychology .
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PSY 305 - Adult Personal & Cognitive Development 1 course unit
This course is designed for students who are interested in becoming a Peer Learning Assistant. This course will explore current theories in psychology, neuroscience, and education relating to reasoning ability, problem-solving, learning, memory, and other relevant cognitive processes as they apply to adult learning. Students will gain experience in implementing teaching strategies with current available technology, and will learn how to engage with peers in a peer-teacher context. May not be used by psychlogy majors to satisfy a requirement.
Prerequisite(s): Permission of instructor.
Meets general academic requirement SL.
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PSY 430 - Development: Inclusion-Exclusion 1 course unit
All individuals have had experiences with the joys of being included and the disappointment of being excluded. This seminar course, grounded in developmental psychology, will explore how individuals, from young children to adults, reason about the dynamics of inclusion and exclusion, looking at how and why social reasoning about interrelationships changes with age.
Prerequisite(s): PSY 101 - Introductory Psychology and two additional psychology courses, including either PSY 230 - Child Development or PSY 231 - Adolescent Development .
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Clinical and Applied Psychology |
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PSY 240 - Abnormal Psychology 1 course unit
An exploration of psychological problems ranging from the commonplace to the bizarre. The classification, assessment, causes, course, treatment, and prevention of the major types of abnormal behavior will be addressed. Pertinent scientific research, narrative approaches, and major theories will be emphasized.
Prerequisite(s): PSY 101 Introductory Psychology .
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PSY 241 - Interpersonal Psychology 1 course unit
This course will serve as an introduction to contemporary psychological theories of interpersonal communication, its nature, its functions, and its goals. It will include both discussion of interdisciplinary theory and facilitation of the development of skills for communicating, in a diverse and global world, in relationships both interpersonal and professional.
Prerequisite(s): PSY 101 - Introductory Psychology .
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PSY 341 - Psychological Assessment 1 course unit
Introduction to the theory and application of psychological tests as measures of personality, intellectual functioning, and attitudes. This course considers the use, abuse, and limitations of such measures and focuses on topics such as validity and reliability of tests; construction of tests, rating scales, and surveys; the administration of tests and the interpretation of test results.
Prerequisite(s): PSY 101 - Introductory Psychology , PSY 103 - Psychological Statistics , and one other psychology course. PSY 104 - Research Methods in Psychology recommended.
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PSY 440 - Clinical Case Studies 1 course unit
Focuses on the construction of case conceptualization. Actual clinical cases from the private practices of the instructor(s) and a casebook will be presented. Students will explore cause and precipitating and maintaining influences of a person’s psychological, interpersonal, and behavioral concerns. Conceptualization helps organize the complexities clients bring with them into counseling sessions. Emphasis is on class discussion, deeper understanding of psychological disorders, consideration of practical applications of psychotherapy.
Prerequisite(s): Permission of instructor required.
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PSY 441 - Health Psychology 1 course unit
An interdisciplinary course that examines how biological, psychological, and social factors interact and affect individual health and illness. Topics include: the development of health promotion programs, factors that affect patient adherence to prescribed treatments, psychoneuroimmunology, pain management, the etiology, treatment, and adjustment to chronic illness (cancer, heart disease, HIV/AIDS) and the analysis of local and global heath disparities. Includes required service learning.
Prerequisite(s): PSY 101 - Introductory Psychology and two additional psychology courses or permission of instructor. Public Health majors and minors should contact the instructor for permission to enroll in the course if they do not have the required psychology courses
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Culminating Undergraduate Experience |
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PSY 490 - CUE: Advanced Research in Psychology 1 course unit
CUE: Advanced Research in Psychology is designed to be a culminating undergraduate experience in which students apply and integrate skills and knowledge from the previous psychology courses they have taken. Each course includes an inquiry-driven project requiring students to engage in a substantive literature review; explore novel hypotheses or theories; collect and analyze relevant evidence; synthesize and reflect upon the information gathered; and generate an integrative paper and oral presentation about their work. The course emphasizes mastery of critical thinking, interpersonal, writing, and presentation skills and may have a focal topic that varies by instructor. Past topics have included Stigma of Mental Illness, Stereotyping & Prejudice, Superstition, Family Engagement with Middle School Education, and Memory. Focal topics will be announced prior to registration each semester. Five hours per week, lecture/discussion and lab.
Junior/senior standing.
Prerequisite(s): PSY 103 - Psychological Statistics , PSY 104 - Research Methods in Psychology , and at least one course in each of the 4 content areas.
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Individualized Instruction |
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PHL 960 - Philosophy Internship 1 course unit
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PSY 270 - Research Apprenticeship 0.5 course unit
Students work in a faculty member’s on-going research program, learning a variety of important research skills and gaining in-depth knowledge of a specialized topic in psychology. Experiences may include, but are not limited to, any of the following: gathering and analyzing information to develop proposals, stimulus development, data collection, statistical analysis, writing and presenting results. Topics and course availability will vary by professor. Interested students should consult with individual faculty for more information. This course can be repeated and does not count toward the requirements for the psychology major. It will count toward the 4 course units of individualized instruction that can be earned toward the 34 course unit degree requirement.
Pass/fail only.
Prerequisite(s): Permission of instructor.
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PSY 960 - Internship 1 course unit
Provides psychology students with an opportunity to work in a professional setting and begin to connect their academic knowledge with experiences, expectations, values, and demands of the world outside the classroom. Students will meet weekly to discuss professional, psychological, ethical, and other issues relevant to the internship experience. Students are required to complete a minimum of ten hours a week at their internship, keep a professional journal, attend class meetings, and give a formal presentation about their experience.
Pass/Fail only.
Prerequisite(s): Permission of instructor.
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PSY 970 - Psychology Independent Study/Research
Each independent study/research course is to be designed in consultation with a faculty sponsor.
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PSY 975 - Thesis I 1 course unit
A student with a strong interest in, and intellectual curiosity about, a particular topic may select to conduct a psychology thesis. Students who are accepted into the Thesis Program will conduct two semesters of independent and original research, write a thesis based on that empirical or theoretical work, and make an oral defense of the thesis at a colloquium attended by faculty and students. See this catalog, an advisor, or the Psychology Department website for additional information about the requirements of the Thesis Program and how to apply. Successful completion of both semesters of the thesis program fulfills the required CUE.
Junior/senior standing.
Prerequisite(s): Permission of instructor. PSY 104 - Research Methods in Psychology . PSY 270 - Research Apprenticeship and/or PSY 970 Independent Study/Research strongly recommended.
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PSY 976 - Thesis II 1 course unit
This course is the second semester of the senior thesis sequence. Successful completion of both semesters of the thesis program fulfills the required Culminating Undergraduate Experience.
Prerequisite(s): PSY 975 - Thesis I and permission of instructor.
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Public Health |
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PBH 200, 201 - Issues in Public Health 1 course unit
Using a topical approach, this course is designed to introduce students to the wide variety of disciplines associated with the field of Public Health. Based on the issue or issues selected as the focal point of the course, students will examine the global impact of disease from various points of view - historically, biologically, economically, psychologically, and politically. Students will explore the roles of those in Public Health such as epidemiologists, health care managers, media broadcasters, health specialists, environmentalists, and public policy makers in maintaining the health safety of the public.
Meets general academic requirement W when offered as 201
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PBH 250 - Fundamentals of Epidemiology 1 course unit
This course will cover the basic concepts of epidemiology and biostatistics as applied to public health problems, with emphasis on the principles and methods of epidemiologic investigation and appropriate summaries and displays of data. Topics include study design, measures of disease frequency and association, bias, confounding and effect modification, causality, screening and disease surveillance.
Prerequisite(s): PBH 200, 201 Issues in Public Health and MTH 119 Statistical Analysis or PSY 103 Psychological Statistics
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PBH 252 - Occupational Health 1 course unit
From a fire in a Bangladesh garment making facility or an explosion on an oil platform to asbestos-related cancer in shipyard workers or radium poisoning in New Jersey painters, this course considers the impact of business practices on the health of workers and the environment. We will analyze several case studies that emphasize the importance of safe practices and highlight the need for federal safety regulations in the workplace. We will examine the impact of industrial operations both domestically and abroad on the environment and public health, and consider the ethical and social aspects of strategies used by big business to sell their products. Students will learn and practice key skills of research, critical analysis, and oral communication.
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PBH 325 - Introduction to Global Health 1 course unit
In this course, students are introduced to the current and emerging issues in global health, including the global burden of disease, global health systems, and the roles of nation states, international agencies, and nongovernmental organizations in promoting health.
Prerequisite(s): PBH 200, 201 Issues in Public Health
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PBH 350 - Environmental Health 1 course unit
A study of the impact of environmental quality on the health of populations, this course addresses the societal and environmental factors that increase the likelihood of exposure and disease. Topics include the potential health effects of exposure to hazardous substances in air, water, soil, and food; natural disasters; physical hazards; climate change; the impact of food production on the environment; and the built environment.
Prerequisite(s): PBH 200, 201 Issues in Public Health and at least one science course
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PBH 970 - Public Health Independent Study/Research
Each independent study/research course is to be designed in consultation with a faculty sponsor.
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Religion Studies |
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REL 100, 101 - Religion & Popular Culture 1 course unit
This course will examine the ways different religious beliefs and practices are represented in a variety of print, film, television, and other media in our culture and the ways in which those representations may function to influence opinions, actions, and policy. Analysis of media content will accompany an introduction to the study of religions presented and misrepresented in popular culture.
Meets general academic requirement HU (and W when offered as 101).
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REL 102 - Religion & Violence 1 course unit
Religious ideology and rhetoric play a significant role in violent conflict in the modern period, a phenomenon that we are only now coming to appreciate fully. In this course we will examine some of the central religious issues that have been at the forefront of modern conflicts. We will consider some of the ways that religious terminology, symbolism, and myth have been employed as a way of marking difference and setting identity boundaries from the First World War to the current “War on Terror.”
Meets general academic requirement HU.
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REL 104 - Sex, Gender, & Religion 1 course unit
Gender and sexuality as fundamental aspects of human experience play important roles in all major religious systems whether explicit and positive or suppressed and denigrated. In this course we will explore how the varied understandings of gender and sexuality in different cultures and at different times have influenced religious practice and belief and how, in turn, religions have affected these understandings. We will also consider how this interaction between gender and sexuality and religion has affected the status of men and women in their various roles and orientations.
Meets general academic requirement HU.
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REL 107 - Jews & Christians in the Twenty-first Century 1 course unit
Students will study the distinctive relationship between these two religious traditions in recent decades. Topics will be drawn from the current public discourse of Judaism and Christianity. Among the many factors shaping the self-understandings and mutual understandings of the two communities we will consider particularly the legacy of the Holocaust, increased religious diversity in Europe and North America, the State of Israel, and the postmodern critique of religious claims. Both Jews and Christians ground their religious self-understandings in biblical revelation - however conceived. Both receive that revelation mediated through an interpretive tradition - however explicit. This opens an avenue to introduce the ideas of revelation, hermeneutics, tradition, social location, and identity politics in relation to significant theological and communal factors in both traditions.
Meets general academic requirement HU.
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REL 115, 116 - Monotheism: Creating God 1 course unit
O sole God, like whom there is no other! The idea of one God was first expressed by the pharaoh Akhenaten who lived between 1352-1336 b.c.e. Over 3000 years later, three major world religions are still struggling to understand and incorporate this seemingly simple concept of monotheism. In this course we will explore some of the issues that surround monotheism and examine how the idea of one God has shaped the development of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam individually and in relation to each other. In doing so, we will attempt to gain a better understanding of the nature, role, and meaning of the ideas of God in western consciousness and culture.
Meets general academic requirement HU (and W when offered as 116).
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REL 117 - Animals & the Sacred 1 course unit
Religious myth and ritual is full of allusions to animals. From the “Scapegoat” and the “Lamb of God” to the “Sacred Cow” and the “Chinese Dragon” animals are central to the symbolic representation and language of almost every religious tradition. This course will compare and contrast the way animals are imagined and used in the beliefs and practices of several religious traditions.
Meets general academic requirement HU.
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REL 131 - Myth, Religion, and Creation 1 course unit
From Genesis’ depiction of the divine organization of the universe in the Hebrew Bible to Hindu traditions of creation’s emanation from Brahma, narratives concerning the origin of the world have attracted devotional and scholarly attention from around the globe since ancient times. In this course, we will use the comparison of creation stories as an introduction to the study of myth, its relationship to ritual, and its place and function in religious traditions. Furthermore, we will critically examine the ways in which different cultures have used stories of origins to address questions regarding contemporary political, social, or religious contexts. Particular emphasis will be placed on creation stories from the ancient Near East and Bible, and the symbolic and literary connections between them.
Meets general academic requirement DE and HU.
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REL 133 - Pilgrimage: Rites of Way 1 course unit
Why is travel almost universally understood to hold the potential for significant transformation? How do various communities and individuals define sacred travel through their own practice, and how does it define them in turn? This course employs the many methodologies of Religion Studies in investigating pilgrimage around the world. We will look to a number of modern theoretical interpretations of sacred journey, and will examine ethnographic accounts of pilgrimage primarily in the contexts of Buddhism, Islam, Christianity, and Judaism. Pilgrimage will serve as our window onto these traditions’ ethical systems, cosmologies of space and time, religious art and aesthetics, and views of the body’s agency and power, and in some cases, onto the contested space of multiple traditions’ holy ground.
Meets general academic requirement DE and HU.
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REL 135 - Religion in America 1 course unit
This course will explore the evolution of religious life in the United States and of American ideas about the nature and place of religion within American society. Beginning in the colonial period and continuing through the present, this class will examine the phenomenon of religion in the United States and consider the ways that immigrants, atheists, and founders of new religious movements have changed and challenged established assumptions about what it means to be an American. Using primary documents, and particularly court cases, the class will explore the contested terrain of American religious life and ask how our understanding of religion has shaped notions of statehood, citizenship, and equality in the United States.
Meets general academic requirement HU.
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REL 201 - Theory & Method in the Study of Religion 1 course unit
This course is required of all Religion Studies majors and is a survey of the various methods used in the study of religion and an examination of several theories about the nature of religion.
Prerequisite(s): Religion Studies major or minor or permission of instructor.
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REL 203 - Religions of India 1 course unit
A survey of the forms and images of religion in the Indian subcontinent, concentrating on Hinduism and Buddhism. The religious spirit, ancient and modern, will be examined through a study of mythological, scriptural, historical, cultural, and artistic phenomena.
Meets general academic requirement HU and DE.
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REL 207 - Religions of China 1 course unit
This course will address the origins and development of Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism and trace the interactions of these religions as they have shaped the spiritual and ethical environment that exists in China today. The course will also consider material culture, popular forms, and folk traditions and, finally, the unique challenges posed by the modern Chinese political situation.
Meets general academic requirement HU and DE.
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REL 208 - Religions of Japan 1 course unit
Students will study the native Japanese religious tradition, Shinto, as well as the Chinese traditions that have become fundamental to Japanese religion (Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism) as they have been interpreted in Japan. The course will also consider material culture, popular forms, folk traditions, and the “new religions” of modern Japan as well as attitudes toward religion in today’s Japan.
Meets general academic requirement HU and DE.
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REL 225 - Buddhist Traditions 1 course unit
From its origins in India to its development throughout East and Southeast Asia and beyond, Buddhism has prospered in a wide variety of cultures and environments. This course will introduce students to the origins, evolution, and manifestations of Buddhism in scripture, practice, and artistic expression.
Meets general academic requirement R or D or HU and DE.
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REL 227 - Islamic Traditions 1 course unit
This course will survey the beliefs, practices, and history of Islam, focusing on how Islam has evolved over time and culminating in a close examination of the forms Islam takes today and the place of Islam in current events. Special consideration will be given to what it means to consider Islam as a religion rather than a cultural or political entity. Attention will also be given to Islam’s relationship with other monotheistic traditions and to American Islam.
Meets general academic requirement HU and DE.
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REL 229 - Jewish Traditions 1 course unit
The Jewish religion includes a fascinating array of rituals, laws, holidays, and life-cycle events. This course is designed to introduce Judaism as it exists today around the world, including Ashkenazic and Sephardic Jews, Middle Eastern and African Jewish communities, and diverse Jewish communities in the U.S.
Meets general academic requirement HU.
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REL 233 - Christian Traditions 1 course unit
Christianity is not and never has been a single set of beliefs and practices; instead, the religion is marked by diversity of thought and action. The purpose of this course is to engage the variety in the tradition through the exploration of rituals and beliefs held by different Christian communities around the world and through time. In addition to primary and secondary readings, students will also explore the visual arts, architecture, and music as manifestations of Christian diversity. Additional themes for consideration will include the place of the Bible and its interpretation, the role of church leaders and their relationship to the divine, and ethical/moral differences that are present within the tradition.
Meets general academic requirement HU.
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REL 302 - Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) 1 course unit
The Hebrew Bible is the most significant touchstone of western literature and civilization and serves as a foundation for the three major western religious traditions. In order to appreciate many aspects of western culture, from an etching by Rembrandt to a novel by Steinbeck or even an episode of the Simpsons, not to mention the religious life and thought of Christianity, Islam, and Judaism, it is often necessary to be familiar with the text of the Hebrew Bible. This course is designed to provide an opportunity for students to read and understand some of the most important and fascinating parts of the Hebrew Bible from the narratives of Genesis and Exodus to the histories of the Kings of Israel to the poetry of the Prophets and Writings. In addition to biblical narrative, we will also explore the historical life and setting of the biblical world through archeological evidence, some of which has only very recently been discovered. No previous study of Hebrew Bible expected.
Meets general academic requirement HU.
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REL 304 - New Testament 1 course unit
This course studies the distinctive scriptural foundation of Christianity in its literary, historical, and theological contexts. Topics may include Jesus as an historical figure and as the object of early Christian faith; the relationships of various early Christian communities to one another and to contemporary Judaisms, Greek religions, and philosophies; the place and role of Paul; the gospel genre and its several examples; the definition of the canon; approaches to interpreting the New Testament. No prior study of the New Testament is expected.
Meets general academic requirement HU.
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REL 308 - Scrolls, Scribes, and Scriptures 1 course unit
Did you ever wonder how ancient texts, like the New Testament, reach the modern world? In this course, students will explore the challenges and opportunities of studying New Testament and other ancient Christian materials in their oldest forms. Central to this examination will be how the texts were read, interpreted, and transmitted within Christian communities over time. This course will include an introduction to several techniques used to analyze ancient scriptural materials as well as the basic syntax and vocabulary of Koine Greek. No previous language skills are expected or required.
Meets general academic requirement HU.
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REL 313 - Religion & Performing Arts in India 1 course unit
This course focuses on dance, dance-drama, and music as ritual expressions of Indian spirituality. Multi-media sources are actively utilized as well as readings from the formal Indian tradition (Natya Sastra) and Western interpretive works on Indian music and dance.
Meets general academic requirement HU and DE.
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REL 314 - Death and Desire in Tibetan Buddhism 1 course unit
This course examines the practices of death and desire in the unique traditions of Tibetan tantra, a form of Himalayan Buddhism. Tibetan tantra involves practices of wrathful deities, sexual yogas, and subtle body technologies to produce a unique understanding of mind and body and their potential for transformation in both sexual union and in death. We will look at the foundational Tibetan Book of the Dead cycle of texts, as well as explore their evolving meanings in contemporary, non-Buddhist contexts like American Hospice. How have Tibetan Buddhists associated desire, power, and knowing? How might investigations of Tibetan practices of death and desire inform our own?
Meets general academic requirement DE and HU.
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REL 322, 323 - Religion & Literature 1 course unit
This course provides an exploration of the ways in which literary imagination (metaphor, literary style, narrative voice, description, creative manipulation of time and place) interacts with religious imagination (projections of tradition, expression of mystical experience, ritual, symbolic phenomena) to produce works of a transformative nature. Examples from both Eastern and Western literary traditions may be chosen.
Prerequisite(s): Any previous course in religion studies.
Meets general academic requirement HU (and W when offered as 323).
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REL 353 - Gender & Sexuality in Judaism 1 course unit
In this course we will examine how issues relating to gender and sexuality have influenced Jewish experience. We will discuss a wide range of Jewish history and literature, extending from the Bible to contemporary Jewish culture, in order to gain a broad perspective on how gender and sexuality have played a role in Jewish life and thought over time. We will consider how gender and sexuality relate to questions of power and authority and discuss the ways that bodies, both gendered and sexual, become meaningful in different Jewish contexts.
Meets general academic requirement HU.
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REL 355 - Christianity at the Crossroads: The Emergent Church in Late Antiquity 1 course unit
Until the rise of the Roman Emperor Constantine, the history of Christianity was marked by a plurality of belief structures, a constant threat of persecution, and a fluid leadership structure. With the imperial patronage of Constantine the face of ancient Christianity changed forever, embracing a close relationship between the church and the state, instituting particular formulas of belief, and solidifying the hierarchy of the ecclesiastical structure. Among other important developments in this period is the construction of the first grand Christian worship structures, the composition of the Nicene Creed, and the development of the canon of the New Testament. This class will examine these changes in the context of late antique society and politics and trace the influence of these changes across the span of Christian history.
Meets general academic requirement HU.
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REL 357, 358 - The Holocaust: Nazi Germany & the Jews 1 course unit
This course will examine the Holocaust and its historical context by considering both the pre-war position of Jews in Europe and the factors that led to the destruction of European Jewry during WWII. Religious context and responses to these events within affected communities will be studied through a variety of sources, including literature, film, and memoirs.
Meets general academic requirement HU (and W when offered as 358).
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REL 363 - Islam in America 1 course unit
American Muslims come from a wide diversity of backgrounds and cultures. In this course we will explore the historical contexts and current realities of Muslim communities in the United States . Questions to consider will include: How have traditional Islamic and Muslim doctrines and practices converged with American ideals of pluralism and secularism? Is there a distinctive “American Islam”? How have Muslim culture and Islam enriched the broader American culture?
Meets general academic requirements HU and DE.
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REL 365 - Gender and Sexuality in Islam 1 course unit
Islam presents a particular challenge for Women’s and Gender Studies. A submissive, veiled woman is often the first image that comes to mind when Westerners think of Islam. Paradoxically, the oppressed Muslim women has become for non-Muslims a primary symbol of the perceived dangers of Islam, even as that image is used to represent disempowerment. Yet Islam is a major world religion with over 1.6 billion adherents, approximately half of whom are women, and all of whom are sexual beings whose religious positioning intersects with their gender and sexuality in myriad ways. So what do Muslims really believe about gender and sexuality? And what do they do? In this course, we will examine constructions of gender and sexuality in Islam by investigating both traditional sources such as the Qur’an, Hadith, and Islamic Law; and also by considering how Muslim women today are challenging the patriarchal structures of authority, while at the same time critiquing Western feminism.
Meets general academic requirement DE and HU.
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REL 371 - Paths in Jewish Thought 1 course unit
An historical and thematic consideration of leading thinkers and way of thought in the Jewish tradition. Topics to be considered include the relationship between the Jewish people and Judaism, relations between Judaism and other religions, faith and reason, the problem of evil, and Judaism and politics. Students will be exposed to primary sources including the Bible and Talmud and medieval and modern Jewish thinkers.
Meets general academic requirement HU.
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REL 377 - God, Self, & Other in Judaism & Christianity 1 course unit
Human identity, individually and collectively, is shaped in significant ways by the presence, the perception, and the definition of the Other. In the case of Jews and Christians, the mutual heritage of biblical Israel and its covenant with God demands that each continue to articulate its relationship to the other explicitly or implicitly . In this course, we examine the dynamics of the relationship from antiquity to the present, focusing on key transitional periods and major figures, and analyzing the impact of “the other” on their respective self-understandings and interactions.
Meets general academic requirement HU.
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REL 450-469 - CUE: Capstone Seminars in the Study of Religion 1 course unit
The seminars are a capstone experience for our majors and other advanced students. Faculty and students work together to explore a research topic in depth. Each course offers both theoretical and methodological content.
Meets general academic requirement W.
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REL 470 - Honors Thesis in Religion Studies 1 course unit
This project is designed for Religion Studies majors who have consistently proven to be excellent students. It offers them the opportunity to pursue a self-designed major research and analysis thesis in close consultation with a faculty member.
Prerequisite(s): Instructor permission required.
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REL 960 - Religion Studies Internship 1 course unit
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REL 970 - Religion Studies Independent Study/Research
Each independent study/research course is to be designed in consultation with a faculty sponsor.
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