Advanced Studies in Psychology | Northwestern SPS - Northwestern School of Professional Studies

Research Methods in Psychology serves as an introduction to applying scientific methods to psychological questions and topics. We will focus on how to formulate research questions and evaluate research claims in everyday life. We’ll cover different aspects of designing experiments, including how to select participants, choose independent and dependent variables, control for confounding variables, and consider ethical and equitable research practices. This course will also help students learn to communicate scientific ideas through presentations and research papers. By learning to conduct a research project from start to finish, students will learn to think holistically about research to become better scientists or consumers of science.

May not be audited. Carries social science credit. Prerequisite: PSYCH 201.

This course will survey the field of social psychology, which is the study of how social forces and social relationships shape individual thinking and behavior, with a focus on the classic studies and enduring topics in the field. Sample topics include: the self and self-esteem, altruism, aggressive behavior, close relationships, stereotyping and prejudice, and behavior in groups. Students will also be exposed to recent research and current debates on these topics. Carries social science credit. Prerequisite: PSYCH 110 or equivalent.

This course was formerly PSYCH 204 Social Psychology.

The purpose of this course is to introduce students to important theory, research, and methodologies in social psychology. Social psychologists examine how people interpret the social world and investigate the influence of the social environment on individuals’ thoughts and behaviors. We will examine classic topics in social psychology: social cognition, social influence, conformity, group processes, helping, and prejudice. There will be a strong emphasis on methodology and the ways in which study design affects both the research questions one can answer and the conclusions one might draw. Because social psychologists sometimes investigate “everyday” behavior, students often believe that they can rely on intuition or common sense to learn about social psychology. Unfortunately, one core finding in social psychology is that common sense can be misleading at best and seriously biased at worst. Thus, this course will focus on how the scientific method helps to provide empirical answers to questions about humans and their social world.

The course is conducted completely online. A technology fee will be added to tuition.

Note: This course is limited to School of Professional Studies students only. Undergraduate students in other schools at Northwestern are not permitted to enroll in this course.

In this course, we will explore personality psychology broadly. In lay terms, personality psychology explores deep questions of who we are, and why we think, feel, and behave as we do. We will discuss the tools for studying personality (including research methods and measurement design), and we will consider personality itself from the perspective of the various frameworks through which it is studied. Beyond simply building an understanding of these topics, this course also addresses their applications toward gaining better insight into ourselves and others, and how to utilize the course content as it pertains to various career paths. Carries social science credit. Prerequisite: PSYCH 110 or equivalent.

This course is a survey of theories and research in cognitive psychology, covering topics such as perception, attention, memory, representation of knowledge, language, reasoning and problem solving, judgment and decision-making, and consciousness. Classes will consist of lectures, demonstrations and discussion. Students will be required to think critically about the assumptions and methods underlying research on class topics. Carries science or social science credit. Prerequisite: PSYCH 110 or equivalent.

The focus of this course is the development of perception, cognition, language, personality, and social interaction from infancy through adolescence. The course considers perspectives and methods in developmental research. As each new topic is introduced, students are encouraged to think critically about the assumptions and methods that underlie research on particular issues. A central goal is to help students develop an appreciation of different criteria for evaluating research and other forms of evidence. The course will have weekly quizzes and a comprehensive final exam. Carries social science credit. Prerequisite: PSYCH 110 or equivalent.

This course introduces the study of psychopathology with an emphasis on the continuum between normal and abnormal patterns of behavior, emotional regulation, and thought processes. Students will learn about different types of psychological disorders including mood disorders, panic, anxiety, obsessions, personality disorders, schizophrenia, substance abuse, eating disorders, sexual dysfunctions, childhood-onset disorders, trauma, and neurocognitive disorders. We will consider biological, psychological, and societal causes of dysfunction. We will also explore how psychopathology has been understood throughout history, how those views have evolved to inform psychological treatments available today, and how culture continues to play a role in shaping our conceptualization of mental illness. Lastly, opportunities for prevention and organized efforts to promote mental health will be discussed. Carries social science credit. Prerequisite: PSYCH 110 or equivalent.

This course introduces major concepts and methods of clinical psychology. The course emphasizes four main areas relevant to clinical psychology: (1) fundamentals of clinical psychology with some discussion of the history of the field, (2) psychological assessment, (3) psychotherapy, and (4) research that has been used to investigate the efficacy of interventions in clinical psychology. Ethical issues as they relate to the field are also be considered. Course requirements include an annotated bibliography and research paper, two essay exams, and class attendance and participation. Carries social science credit. Prerequisite: PSYCH 110 or equivalent. Completion of PSYCH 303 is recommended for students enrolled in PSYCH 306, but not required.

Topics vary. Past topics include: Moral Psychology; May be repeated for credit with different topic. Prerequisite: PSYCH 110 or equivalent.

Attitudes are an integral part of the social world. At the most basic level, attitudes represent our willingness to approach or avoid a certain object or idea. However, attitudes can also take far more complex forms. Society is becoming increasingly aware of the various forms that attitudes can take, and the important consequences that they can hold. In this course, we will situate a longstanding history of scholarship focusing on attitudes within the context of contemporary issues and implications. Specifically, we will consider a variety of basic questions, including: What are attitudes and what functions do they serve? Where do attitudes come from? Can attitudes be unconscious? Are attitudes generally logical and rational or are they emotional and irrational? How do our attitudes influence everyday life? Are there effective ways to change an attitude? We will seek to: a) understand the central role of attitudes in daily life (including your life), b) gain a broad familiarity with how attitudes can be and have been studied scientifically, c) apply course concepts to a topic of personal interest to you, and d) learn to interrogate, object to, or avoid circumstances where attitudes might impose a negative influence on you or those around you. Carries social science credit. Prerequisite: PSYCH 110 or equivalent.

What makes two people attracted to one another? What makes relationships thrive? In what ways do our identities and relationships influence each other? In this course, we will answer questions like these by exploring the field of relationship science, a discipline that uses the scientific method to study attraction and relationships. Throughout the course, we will pay particular attention to issues of diversity, including how people of various backgrounds and identities experience their relationships. The content covered in this course will focus primarily on insights drawn from social psychological research on romantic relationships. Carries social science credit. Prerequisite: PSYCH 110 or equivalent.

This course will be an exploration of how particular psychological theories and concepts can inform our understanding of the events of the Holocaust at both a group and individual level. Material from the fields of Social and Clinical Psychology will be a particular focus of the course. Carries social science credit. Prerequisite: PSYCH 110 or equivalent.

As of 1/3/23, this course has been cancelled.

This course will look at digital technologies and devices from the neuroscientific, psychological, and cognitive points of view. We will discuss how modern digital technologies affect our everyday life, behavior, mood and cognition. Our discussions will include how internet, email, social networking, and other digital activities from mobile devices influence our everyday living. The second part of the course will be focused on technological advances in neuroscience and mental health practice. It will introduce methods and techniques aimed to investigate brain functionality and assist a person in improving psychological well-being as well as modifying undesired behaviors. Through demonstrations and practice exercises, students will get first-hand experiences. Prerequisite: PSYCH 110 or equivalent. Carries science or social science credit.

This course was formerly PSYCH 314 Topics in Psychology.

Examines the application of psychology to law, including topics such as the insanity defense, criminal profiling, eyewitness testimony, and interrogation. Carries social science credit. Prerequisite: PSYCH 110 or equivalent.

Theory, methodology, and empirical data related to how evolution has influenced human psychology and behavior. Emphasis on mating. Carries science or social science credit. Prerequisite: PSYCH 110 or equivalent.

The purpose of this course is to thoughtfully consider psychological theory, methodology, and empirical data relating to questions regarding what makes us find beautiful people beautiful, how evolutionary psychology explains why we find certain features beautiful, whether beauty is really in the eye of the beholder, and how beauty ideals have shifted over history. We will also examine how gender roles and sexual orientation are related to beauty and its pursuit and the ways that beauty biases can affect how we perceive and treat others. Disorders such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and body dysmorphic disorder will be examined from the perspective of beauty pressures. Carries social science credit. Prerequisite: PSYCH 110 or equivalent.

Our culture and psychological processes are inexplicably related, intertwined to the point of uncertainty if culture is shaping our psyche, our psyche influencing culture or potentially a two-way interaction. This course will be an introduction to understanding some of those intricate connections between cultural experiences in the United States and numerous social and cognitive psychological concepts. We will discuss and explore the definition, competing perspectives and the many dimensions of culture. Once we are grounded in a holistic understanding of culture, we will learn some of the fundamental theories and research on topics within both cognitive and social psychology including: perceptions, memory, reasoning and stereotypes. Within each of these theories, we will explore the relationship to real world manifestations, that is, the impact these psychological processes have on our own psyche and behaviors and how they interact, confluence, drive and reflect cultural meanings, practices, movements and institutions.

Carries social science credit. Prerequisite: PSYCH 110 or equivalent.

Topics vary. Past topics include:Older Adulthood and End of Life; Psychology of Film; Identity Development. May be repeated for credit with different topic.

Carries social science credit. Prerequisite: PSYCH 110 or equivalent.

In this course, we will be studying film from a psychological perspective. There are three aspects to this perspective: the psychology of the characters, of the viewers, and of the creator. Readings that present these three aspects of the psychology of cinema will be a part of the course, as well as readings about each of the individual movies. All of the films viewed in the course are psychologically insightful and have received critical acclaim, and include Vertigo (Alfred Hitchcock), Ordinary People (Robert Redford), Autumn Sonata (Ingmar Bergman), Blue Velvet (David Lynch), and Hannah and Her Sisters (Woody Allen). The chief assignment is writing a paper on a movie of your choice. Carries social science credit. Prerequisite: PSYCH 110 or equivalent

Since the beginning of human civilization people have suffered from numerous pandemics. Some pandemics were caused by human actions, while others came naturally. Each outbreak has also brought about changes in protocols for handling such situations in the future and played an important role in shaping the world we live in today; from inspiring new research and healthcare practices to creating greater awareness of hygiene, sanitation, pandemic preparedness, and developing psychological coping strategies. The study of pandemics is an insightful way to understand society\'s strengths and weaknesses, as well as its capacity for self-protection. In this course, we\'ll explore some of the major pandemics throughout history and what they can teach us about how to respond to similar threats in the future to effectively protect our health and psychological wellbeing. The course will be conducted through lectures, demonstrations, and practical tasks. Students\' involvement and hands-on experience will be the key elements in learning how pandemics affect our psychological well-being and what can be done to effectively protect our mental and psychological health during pandemics.

Carries social science credit. Prerequisite: PSYCH 110 or equivalent.

This course will introduce students to advanced topics in cognitive psychology, with a focus on learning and reasoning. The goal is to 1) introduce various learning mechanisms (e.g., analogical reasoning, statistical learning); 2) discuss how they interact with other cognitive processes (e.g., language, memory); and 3) explore the consequences in knowledge formation and application. Emphasis will be put on development: how these processes allow children to build an understanding of the world around them. Students will have the opportunity to read, present, and examine critically the state-of-the-art research and theories of cognitive psychology, as well as reflect and apply the class knowledge to areas of their interest. Carries social science credit. Prerequisite: PSYCH 110 or equivalent.

As of 9/14/23, this course has been cancelled.

Description TBA. Carries social science credit. Prerequisite: PSYCH 110 or equivalent.

As of 3/18/24, this course has been cancelled.

This course will introduce nonverbal, verbal, and physiological indicators of deceit and how to detect lies using these indicators. First, the course covers descriptions of the types of lies and the reasons why people lie; how often people lie; individual differences in telling lies; the "intuitive" and professional techniques and tools for detecting lies and deception; nonverbal and verbal cues to deception; and accuracy in lie detection. The equipment and methods using physiological markers associated with lying, such as Polygraph or Event-Related Potentials (Brain Waves) recordings will be discussed. Carries social science credit. Prerequisite: PSYCH 110 or equivalent.

This course analyzes causes and consequences of stereotyping and prejudice, as well as methods used to study these issues. Students may conduct original research. Carries social science credit. Prerequisite: PSYCH 205 or equivalent.

As of 3/29/23, this course has been cancelled.

This course examines the major psychopathologies of childhood and adolescence. Various theories for the etiologies of child and adolescent psychopathology are considered, and the implications for diagnosis, consultation, and treatment are also addressed. The general purpose of this course is to facilitate an understanding of developmental psychopathology and related principles addressing the range of processes and underlying mechanisms that result in the emergence, escalation, and maintenance of psychopathological adaptation in children and adolescents. Course requirements include a long literature review paper, several shorter case papers, and co-leading a class discussion with peers. Carries social science credit. Prerequisites: PSYCH 205 and PSYCH 303, or equivalents, are helpful as background, but not required.

This course explores the science of psychological assessment, including its history, test construction and evaluation, and common measures of personality, psychopathology, and ability. Students create and evaluate their own psychological measures. Carries social science credit. Prerequisite: PSYCH 110 or equivalent.

This course was formerly PSYCH 375 Psychological Tests and Measures.

Human decision making from both descriptive and prescriptive perspectives. Theories and models of decision making applied to a variety of contexts. Carries social science or science credit. Prerequisite: PSYCH 205, PSYCH 228.

Scientific study of human memory, including memory systems of the brain, amnesia, remembering, forgetting, encoding, consolidation, memory suppression, and memory distortion. Emphasizes original research reports in cognitive neuroscience. Carries science credit. PSYCH 205-CN; or consent of instructor.