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

Methods of psychological research; experimental design; reliability and validity; review and application of statistics; execution and reporting of psychological research.

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.

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. May not be audited. Carries social science credit.

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.

This course covers the nature of personality and its development; modern theoretical interpretations; biological and social bases of individual differences. 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.

This course focuses on the development of cognitive, social, and other psychological functions. 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.

This course covers human perception, particularly vision but also hearing, taste, smell, and touch; biological foundations, development, and disorders of perception; the senses in everyday life.

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

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.

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

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.

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.