Psychology
Department Website:
https://www.haverford.edu/psychology
The aim of the Psychology Department is to provide students with an understanding of human behavior that will support their ability to add to scientific knowledge, to help others, and to participate as informed members of our society. One path to this goal involves mastery of the theoretical concepts psychologists use in describing and understanding behavior; the other involves competence in the use of the scientific methodologies employed in the study of behavior. We emphasize the importance of both concepts and methods across diverse topic areas within psychology, including biological, cognitive, social, personality, and culture.
Learning Goals
The Haverford psychology program aims to instill in our students an excitement for learning about the mind and behavior and to develop skills for making original contributions in basic research or application of psychological knowledge. Our curriculum emphasizes a hands-on and inclusive approach that builds students’ ability to do the following:
- Articulate and evaluate foundational theories and concepts from the major subfields of psychology;
- Conduct primary research with methodological rigor, using sophisticated technologies and analytic approaches to generate new knowledge;
- Think critically about ideas and findings, developing healthy skepticism, tolerance of ambiguity, and consideration of alternative explanations;
- Value and engage with diverse socio-cultural contexts, perspectives, and contributions;
- Embody ethical scientific practice and community engagement;
- Communicate psychological findings and principles effectively through multiple modes (oral, written, and visual), in styles appropriate for both scientific and nonscientific audiences;
- Apply psychological research to broader societal domains, such as mental and physical health, social work, education, law, policy, and industry.
Haverford’s Institutional Learning Goals are available on the President’s website, at http://hav.to/learninggoals.
Major Requirements
The psychology major contains a breadth requirement, a general research requirement, a discipline-specific research requirement, and a senior project, as described below:
Breadth Requirement
- One semester of introductory psychology: PSYC H100 (Foundations of Psychology) or its equivalent (Bryn Mawr PSYC B105 or Swarthmore PSYC S001).
- One semester of methods and statistics: PSYC H200 (Experimental Methods and Statistics), or its equivalent (Bryn Mawr PSYC B205).
- Six additional psychology courses beyond the introductory level:
- At least one course must be taken from each of two breadth areas: Group A and Group B. See the Psychology Student Guidebook on the departmental website for details on which classes fulfill each of these groups. Please note that the breadth area courses must be completed in the Tri-Co.
- One of the six upper-level courses must be a full-credit 300-level course (i.e., a seminar).
- Two laboratory courses (can be either half-credit or full-credit lab courses).
- One of the following senior thesis options:
- two semesters of empirical senior research or
- a one semester non-empirical senior thesis and an additional psychology course beyond the introductory level.
We typically accept equivalent courses within the Tri-Co, with permission of the department, to fulfill major requirements. See the Psychology Student Guidebook for more information. As a general rule, no more than two courses taken outside of the Tri-Co may count toward the psychology major; this includes courses taken for a study abroad program. All courses taken outside of the Tri-Co for major credit must be submitted to the department for approval. Please note that methods and statistics, breadth area courses, and lab courses cannot be taken abroad.
Research Requirement
The research requirement of the major trains students to think scientifically about psychological questions and to understand empirical approaches to the discipline. In addition, students obtain hands-on training in conducting behavioral research and answering original research questions.
General Research Training
Students take one semester of Research Methods and Statistics (PSYC H200). In this lecture and lab course, students will learn the principles of statistics and research design. In lab sessions, students put the statistical techniques that they learn during lectures into practice by designing and conducting several different kinds of data collection and analyses. This course is equivalent to PSYC B205 at Bryn Mawr; either PSYC H200 or PSYC B205 will be offered in each semester. Either of these courses is a prerequisite for the following lab course requirement.
Discipline-Specific Research Training
- Lab courses: Two 300-level lab courses are required. These lab courses can be either half-credit or full-credit courses, and must be taken in the Haverford Psychology Department. They typically have PSYC H200 as a prerequisite.
- Senior Research: By the time psychology majors reach the senior year, they are well prepared to carry out their senior research requirement. If students choose the year-long original empirical project, they will be involved in all phases of the research process; from formulating the questions, designing the study, collecting and analyzing data, and presenting the research both orally and in writing. If students choose the one-semester non-empirical thesis, they will conduct an in-depth literature review of a given topic along with their own original synthesis and analysis of the issues.
Senior Project
The senior thesis experience is the capstone of the psychology major. In a typical thesis project, each student works closely with a faculty advisor and a small group of fellow seniors to carry out an original research study. A detailed description of this process is set out in the annual departmental Guide to the Psychology Senior Thesis Experience (available as PDF download or from the department chair).
In the course of this project, students apply skills and knowledge that they acquired during previous coursework in the psychology major. Thesis students do not merely learn about research that has already been done in psychology. Rather, they collect new data to address questions of interest. In this way, the thesis embodies the highest level of scholarship, in which students strive to contribute original knowledge to the field.
The thesis project is typically carried out over two semesters. In the first semester, students work to identify a conceptual question of interest, read and integrate background literature on that topic, and formulate a novel research plan. In the second semester, students carry out their proposed studies by collecting data, statistically analyzing the results of the study, and interpreting how the results relate to the study’s original hypothesis. Both semesters involve intensive writing, with detailed feedback from the faculty advisor.
An alternative option is a one-semester, non-empirical project that may be appropriate in some circumstances. In the one-semester project, a student conducts an in-depth literature review of a given topic along with their own original synthesis and analysis of the issues, and submits a paper that relates this work.
Senior Project Learning Goals
The senior thesis is envisioned as a capstone experience in which students are required to integrate the content knowledge and skills acquired in the earlier parts of our curriculum to a specific research question of interest. This, in turn, leads to increasingly sophisticated critical thinking skills that vary somewhat between one vs. two semester projects but can be summarized as follows:
For two semester projects, students are to:
- thoroughly review the extant literatures on the chosen topic and integrate those literatures into a cohesive rationale for an empirical project.
- develop and articulate testable hypotheses that are contextualized within the psychological literature using the scientific method of inquiry.
- design and conduct a rigorously conceived empirical study to test the stated hypotheses, using the methods that are normative within that discipline.
- analyze the empirical data that has been collected using the appropriate statistical techniques to test the stated hypotheses, and interpret those analyses with respect to the stated hypotheses.
- describe the results of the study using
- correct statistical notation and
- clear, concise, and accessible language.
- interpret the results and discuss how they relate to past research findings and/or theory on the chosen topic.
- identify the strengths and limitations of the current project.
- imagine directions for future research and applications based on the findings of the study conducted.
- work cohesively within a collaborative lab group (if conducting research in a group).
- communicate the study in the form of a written research report that is clear and sophisticated with regards to scholarly writing.
- present the project orally to the department (faculty and peers) clearly and concisely.
- demonstrate mastery of the research topic and ownership of the empirical project.
For one-semester projects, students are to:
- thoroughly review the extant literatures on the chosen topic and integrate those literatures into a cohesive summary of past work.
- develop a novel theoretical framework or original application of the literature.
- communicate their work in the form of a written manuscript that is clear and sophisticated with regards to scholarly writing.
- present the project orally to the department (faculty and peers) clearly and concisely.
- demonstrate mastery of the research topic and ownership of the project.
Senior Project Assessment
Senior thesis work is assessed via two main components: the strength of the student’s paper and their contribution to the thesis project.
- The paper is evaluated on a number of criteria, including the thoroughness of the background literature review, its overall organization, accuracy, style, the student’s creative input, their ability to integrate different ideas in a novel and cogent fashion and finally, whether arguments and conclusions are persuasive given the issues at hand. Each student is expected to hand in an individual paper, even if working as part of a thesis group.
- The student’s degree of active involvement in the senior thesis experience is also assessed. During the fall semester, we consider the extent to which each student helps shape the study questions, design, and methodology of the project. During the spring, we consider the effort expended in the data collection and analysis phases of the study, and the contribution to project presentations and the final poster. Although the paper is weighted more heavily than the project contribution in arriving at the final course grade, it is possible to write an excellent paper but receive a significantly lower grade due to insufficient involvement with the project.
The thesis advisor will evaluate work based on the above criteria. Final grades are determined after discussion with all department members, who will discuss each student’s performance and compare it with other students, both past and present, in order to arrive at a fair evaluation of your work.
For a two-semester thesis, the following criteria are used grading the first semester paper:
4.0 work for the first semester indicates a paper that has gone above and beyond a summary of the relevant literature in terms of scope, synthesis and integration. In addition to reflecting a nearly flawless paper that provides a coherent rationale for the study to be undertaken, this grade can also represent exceptional or original independent contributions, or individual effort that has gone beyond what is normally expected. A grade of 4.0 is not commonly awarded during the first semester.
3.7 work for the first semester indicates an extremely thorough, coherently organized, and generally well-written summary of the literature that identifies all of the seminal work that has led up to the current study. In addition, this grade reflects that the rationale for the current study is abundantly clear and the procedures to be used are well-described. There may be improvements that can be made to this paper, but there are no major areas of deficiency.
3.3 work for the first semester reflects a good to very good paper that needs improvement in one or more areas. The literature review may need to be more thorough, or the literature better summarized or integrated. The writing may be choppy or difficult to follow in some areas. There may be conceptual gaps that lead to an incomplete rationale for the study to be undertaken.
3.0 work for the first semester indicates that although the paper is good, there are several areas in which improvement can be made. For example, the literature review may have been too scant or poorly integrated. That is, the paper may have included summaries of appropriate studies without integrating how those studies support an important point or how they relate to the study that you are undertaking. The literature review may not have been thorough enough or may have relied too heavily on non-primary sources. In general, the reader may have had a difficult time understanding how the literature review culminates in the problem to be addressed in the current study.
Requirements for Honors
The department awards honors to majors who show exceptionally high attainment in their coursework and demonstrate work in senior research or senior thesis and related research courses that is of superior quality.
Minor Requirements
The Haverford minor in psychology consists of six credits in psychology including:
- PSYC H100 (Foundations of Psychology), and
- Five additional psychology courses beyond the introductory level, with at least one from each of the two breadth areas: Group A and Group B.
See the Psychology Student Guidebook on the departmental website for details on which classes fulfill Group A and Group B, which must be taken in the Tri-Co. As a general rule, no more than two courses taken outside of the Tri-Co may count toward the psychology minor; this includes courses taken for a study abroad program. All courses taken outside of the Tri-Co for major credit must be submitted to the department for approval.
Affiliated Faculty
Laura BeenAssociate Professor of Psychology; Director of Neuroscience
Emily Black
Visiting Assistant Professor of Neuroscience
Marilyn Boltz
Professor of Psychology
Mikayla Carson
Lab Instructor and Research Manager
Jane Chandlee
Associate Professor of Linguistics (TriCo)
Peiyao Chen
Visiting Assistant Professor of Psychology
Rebecca Compton
Professor of Psychology
Rachel Herman
Visiting Instructor of Neuroscience
James Keane
Executive Director of Academic Assessment and Operations, Registrar and Advising Dean
Benjamin Le
Associate Provost for Faculty Development; Professor of Psychology
Ryan Lei
Associate Professor of Psychology
Jennifer Lilgendahl
Associate Professor of Psychology
David Owens
Associate Professor of Economics
Patrese Robinson-Drummer
The Prockop Assistant Professor of Neuroscience
Jonathan Schacherer
Visiting Assistant Professor of Psychology
Shu-wen Wang
Associate Professor and Chair of Psychology; BiCo Chair of Asian American Studies (TriCo)
Courses
PSYC H100 FOUNDATIONS OF PSYCHOLOGY (1.0 Credit)
Marilyn Boltz, Peiyao Chen
Division: Social Science
Domain(s): B: Analysis of the Social World; C: Physical and Natural Processes
An introduction to the study of mind and behavior. Topics include biological, cognitive, personality, abnormal, and social psychology, as well as a general consideration of the empirical approach to the study of behavior. This course is a prerequisite for most other 200 and 300 level psychology courses. However, in most cases, this prerequisite may be met with an AP Psychology score of 4 or 5 or IB Psychology credit. Prerequisite(s): Students with AP Psychology credit from high school (and a score of 4 or 5 on the AP exam) have the option to waive the Foundations course and enroll in upper-level courses; this should be done only after consultation with a faculty member in the Psychology Department. Students are welcome to take PSYCH 100 even if they have AP Psychology credit from high school (and a score of 4 or 5 on the AP exam).
(Offered: Fall 2024)
PSYC H200 RESEARCH METHODS AND STATISTICS (1.0 Credit)
Laura Been, Mikayla Carson
Division: Quantitative; Social Science
Domain(s): B: Analysis of the Social World
A general overview of the research methods used in psychological science along with training in the statistical methods used in the field. Activities focus on designing research studies, collecting data, data analysis, and presenting results through written assignments. Prerequisite(s): PSYC 100 or PSYC B105 or Psychology AP Score of 4 or instructor consent
(Offered: Fall 2024)
PSYC H203 COGNITION (1.0 Credit)
Division: Social Science
Domain(s): B: Analysis of the Social World
This course provides an overview of the field of Cognitive Psychology, the branch of psychology that studies how we think. Over the semester we will survey classic and contemporary theory and findings on a wide range of mental processes that we use every day – from attention and memory to language and problem solving – and our goal will be to understand how the human mind works! Pre-Requisite(s): PSYC H100 or PSYC B105 or Psychology AP Score 4+ or consent.
PSYC H210 DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY (1.0 Credit)
Ryan Lei
Division: Social Science
Domain(s): B: Analysis of the Social World
An examination of human development, surveying the physical, cognitive, social and emotional changes individuals undergo from conception onward. Theoretical and empirical approaches to the growing person will be explored through lectures, readings in the primary research literature, and class discussions. This course is mutually exclusive with PSYCB211 and PSYCB206, meaning students who are interested in this course can take this one, or one of the two alternatives at Bryn Mawr, but not both. Prerequisite(s): PSYC H100 or PSYC B105 or Psychology AP Score 4+ or consent.
(Offered: Fall 2024)
PSYC H215 PERSONALITY PSYCHOLOGY (1.0 Credit)
Jennifer Lilgendahl
Division: Social Science
Domain(s): B: Analysis of the Social World
An examination of the fundamental issues and questions addressed by personality psychology, including: What is personality? What are its underlying processes and mechanisms? How does personality develop and change over time? What constitutes a healthy personality? This course will explore these questions by considering evidence from several major approaches to personality (trait, psychodynamic, humanistic, and social-cognitive), and it will encourage students to develop a dynamic understanding of human personality that is situated within biological, social, and cultural contexts. Prerequisite(s): PSYC 100 or PSYC B105 or Psychology AP Score 4 or instructor consent
(Offered: Fall 2024)
PSYC H217 BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE (1.0 Credit)
Division: Natural Science
Domain(s): B: Analysis of the Social World; C: Physical and Natural Processes
Interrelations between brain, behavior, and subjective experience. The course introduces students to physiological psychology through consideration of current knowledge about the mechanisms of mind and behavior. Crosslisted: Psychology, Biology Prerequisite(s): Any one of the following or instructor consent: PSYC 100, PSYC B105, BIOL H123, BIOL H124, BIOL H128, BIOL H129, NEUR H100, Psychology AP Score 4
PSYC H220 THE PSYCHOLOGY OF TIME (1.0 Credit)
Marilyn Boltz
Division: Social Science
Domain(s): B: Analysis of the Social World
An examination of the various ways in which time is experienced and influences psychological behavior. Topics include: the perception of rhythm, tempo, and duration; temporal perspective; societal concepts of time; neural substrates of temporal behavior. Prerequisite(s): PSYC H100 or PSYC B105 or Psychology AP Score 4 or instructor consent
(Offered: Spring 2025)
PSYC H224 SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY (1.0 Credit)
Division: Social Science
Domain(s): B: Analysis of the Social World
This course is deigned as an in-depth exploration into the field of Social Psychology. Topics include impression formation, perceiving groups, social identity, attitudes/persuasion, social influence, group processes, aggression/altruism, and interpersonal attraction will be discussed. in addition to these specific topic areas, overarching themes and theoretical issues, within the field of social psychology will be emphasized throughout the course. Students will become familiar with the research that has contributed to the current social psychology knowledge base. Prerequisite(s): PSYC 100 or PSYC B105 or Psychology AP Score of 4 or instructor consent
(Offered: Spring 2025)
PSYC H228 FIRST LANGUAGE ACQUISITION (1.0 Credit)
Jane Chandlee
Division: Social Science
Domain(s): B: Analysis of the Social World
A seminar course on how humans acquire native language(s). The class surveys acquisition theories and the experimental methodologies that test them. Topics include a range of linguistic areas (phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics), and contexts (monolingual, multilingual, and atypical development). Crosslisted: Linguistics, Psychology Prerequisite(s): Any one of the following: LING 101, 113, 114, 115, or Swarthmore equivalent.
PSYC H236 INTRODUCTION TO BEHAVIORAL ECONOMICS (1.0 Credit)
David Owens
Division: Social Science
Domain(s): B: Analysis of the Social World
This course explores how observations of human psychology has influenced our understanding of economic thinking and decision-making. Students will reinforce and expand their understanding of classical economic models, and learn to work with new models incorporating insights from the field of psychology. Course assignments include problem sets, as well as work with real world data sets and academic writing. Crosslisted: PSYC. Pre-requisite(s): Economics 104 or 105, or equivalent
(Offered: Fall 2024)
PSYC H242 CULTURAL PSYCHOLOGY (1.0 Credit)
Peiyao Chen
Division: Social Science
Domain(s): B: Analysis of the Social World
An examination of cultural variation in psychological processes, covering development, personality, social behavior, neuroscience and genetics, and acculturation and multiculturalism. Prerequisite(s): PSYC 100 or PSYC B105 or Psychology AP Score of 4 or instructor consent
PSYC H260 COGNITIVE NEUROSCIENCE (1.0 Credit)
Rebecca Compton
Division: Natural Science
Domain(s): C: Physical and Natural Processes
An examination of the neural basis of higher mental functions such as object recognition, attention, memory, spatial functions, language, and decision-making. Major themes include mind/brain relationships, localization of function, and the plasticity of the brain. Prerequisite(s): PSYC 100 or PSYC B105 or NEUR 100 or Psychology AP Score of 4 or instructor consent
(Offered: Fall 2024)
PSYC H303 PSYCHOLOGY OF MUSIC (1.0 Credit)
Marilyn Boltz
Division: Social Science
Domain(s): B: Analysis of the Social World; C: Physical and Natural Processes
What functions does music serve and how does it influence behavior? This course examines the evolutionary and biological bases of music as well as its effects upon cognition, social behavior, and our sense of self and identity. Prerequisite(s): PSYC 100, PSYC 200, and at least one additional 200-level course in psychology.
(Offered: Fall 2024)
PSYC H305 COMMUNICATING PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE (0.5 Credit)
Jonathan Schacherer
Division: Social Science
Domain(s): B: Analysis of the Social World
The forms of communication in psychological science, including writing funding requests, research proposals, empirical research reports, research reviews, and peer review, are covered. Oral presentation of research will be emphasized, and science journalism and academic blogging will be explored. Prerequisite(s): PSYC 200 and at least one additional 200-level Psychology course.
(Offered: Fall 2024)
PSYC H310 LAB IN DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY (0.5 Credit)
Ryan Lei
Division: Social Science
Domain(s): B: Analysis of the Social World
This course will focus on the development of skills necessary for evaluating, implementing, and presenting empirical research in Developmental Psychology. Students will learn how research with young children is done and help to collect and analyze data to address these questions. Please note that there will be weekend work as part of this course. Additionally, students should be advised that data analysis will be done using the R statistical software package. Pre-requisite(s): prior enrollment in Psychology 210 (or Bryn Mawr's equivalent) and Psychology 200
(Offered: Spring 2025)
PSYC H315 LABORATORY IN PERSONALITY PSYCHOLOGY (0.5 Credit)
Jennifer Lilgendahl
Division: Social Science
Domain(s): B: Analysis of the Social World
An overview of methods used to conduct research on personality. Through lab activities and class projects, students will learn about important methodological topics within the study of personality, including measurement, reliability and validity, different modes of data collection (self-report questionnaires, interviews and narratives, observational and experimental approaches), and how to analyze and interpret personality data. Prerequisite(s): Past or concurrent enrollment in PSYC 215 is required. Prior completion of PSYC 200 or PSYC B205 is recommended; however, concurrent enrollment in PSYC 200 or PSYC B205 may be permissible with instructor consent
(Offered: Fall 2024)
PSYC H317 LABORATORY IN BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE (1.0 Credit)
Emily Black, Laura Been
Division: Natural Science
Domain(s): C: Physical and Natural Processes
Prerequisite(s): Past or concurrent enrollment in PSYC 217 (Behavioral Neuro) is required. Completion of Stats/Methods (PSYC H200 or PSYC B205) is strongly recommended; however, concurrent enrollment with Stats/Methods may be permissible with consent
(Offered: Spring 2025)
PSYC H320 LABORATORY IN THE PSYCHOLOGY OF TIME (0.5 Credit)
Marilyn Boltz
Division: Social Science
Domain(s): B: Analysis of the Social World
An overview of the different methodologies used in the psychological study of time. During laboratory sessions, students will explore some different temporal phenomena through the use of the empirical method and both the collection and analysis of statistical data. Prerequisite(s): PSYC H200 or PSYC B205 and past or concurrent enrollment in PSYC H213, B212, or H220, or instructor consent
(Offered: Spring 2025)
PSYC H323 RESEARCH ETHICS IN PSYCHOLOGY (0.5 Credit)
Rebecca Compton
Domain(s): B: Analysis of the Social World
Examines ethical issues in the conduct of psychological research. Issues will include those common to all sciences (e.g., scientific integrity, data manipulation, intellectual property) and those more specific to psychological research (e.g., protection of diverse human and nonhuman research participants). Prerequisite(s): Any 200-level course in psychology, or instructor consent
PSYC H328 NEUROBIOLOGY OF SEXUAL BEHAVIOR (1.0 Credit)
Laura Been
Division: Natural Science
Domain(s): C: Physical and Natural Processes
An examination of the neurobiology underlying sexual behavior. This seminar will focus on systems-level understanding of the neural regulation of both pre-copulatory and copulatory behavior, drawing from primary literature in invertebrate, rodent, and human model systems. Prerequisite(s): PSYC 100 and PSYC 217, or instructor consent
(Offered: Fall 2024)
PSYC H337 STRESS AND COPING (1.0 Credit)
Shu-wen Wang
Division: Social Science
Domain(s): B: Analysis of the Social World
An examination of theory and research on stress and coping processes, and their links with disease and mental health. Students will also learn and apply stress management techniques. Crosslisted: Psychology, Health Studies Prerequisite(s): PSYC H100 or PSYC B105 or Psychology AP Score 4, and one topical 200-level Psychology course (i.e., not PSYC H200, B205)
PSYC H339 ASIAN AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGY (1.0 Credit)
Shu-wen Wang
Division: Social Science
Domain(s): B: Analysis of the Social World
This seminar course addresses major theories and findings in Asian American Psychology, with a focus on immigration and acculturation, ethnic identity, stereotyping and discrimination, families and development, and mental health. Prerequisite(s): One 200 level PSYC course or permission from instructor
(Offered: Fall 2024)
PSYC H343 THE PSYCHOLOGY OF STEREOTYPING AND PREJUDICE (1.0 Credit)
Ryan Lei
Division: Social Science
Domain(s): B: Analysis of the Social World
This course focuses on the scientific research of stereotyping, prejudice, and discrimination to begin examining and explaining the underlying processes of why group-based divides persist. Prerequisite(s): PSYC H210, H213, or H242; or PSYC B208, B224, or B211
(Offered: Fall 2024)
PSYC H347 CLINICAL PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY (1.0 Credit)
Staff
Division: Social Science
Domain(s): C: Physical and Natural Processes
Psychopharmacology is the study of the action of drugs on the brain and the resulting changes in the physiology and behavior of an organism. During the semester we will use primary literature, classroom discussions and individual presentations to explore the history, rationale, pharmacology, mechanism of action and effects of current used and potential drugs for the treatment of diseases and disorders of the central nervous system. Pre-requisite(s): Psychology 217: Behavioral Neuroscience or BMC 218 Lottery Preference: 1) senior psychology majors and neuroscience majors, 2) senior psychology minors and neuroscience minors, 3) junior psychology majors and neuroscience majors, 4) junior psychology minors and neuroscience minors.
PSYC H348 LANGUAGE AND THOUGHT (1.0 Credit)
Staff
Division: Social Science
Domain(s): B: Analysis of the Social World
This class will provide an advanced overview of language’s role in cognition, asking whether the language(s) we speak affect the way we think. For instance, we will consider how languages might—or might not—affect the way we perceive colors, categorize events, understand emotions, and reason abstractly. We will also examine interactions and dissociations between language and cognition across varied populations including multilingual speakers, adults with aphasia, prelinguistic infants, non-human animals, and artificial intelligences. Pre-requisite(s): Psych 100 required; and any 200-level Psychology course or by instructor consent. Lottery Preference: Senior Psychology majors, Junior Psychology majors, Senior Psychology minors, Junior Psychology minors, Linguistics majors and minors, all else by seniority.
PSYC H352 THE SOCIAL SELF (1.0 Credit)
Division: Social Science
Domain(s): B: Analysis of the Social World
This course provides an advanced level overview of how interpersonal pressures impact identity and the self. We will review experimental evidence and theories investigating the self at the social, cultural, and individual levels. We will examine and integrate topics such as intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, social perception, interpersonal relationships, and the effects of self-regulation on health. Pre-requisite(s): Psychology H200 or BMC Psychology 205 AND any other 200-level psychology course Lottery Preference: 1) senior psychology majors, 2) junior psychology majors, 3) senior psychology minors, 4) junior psychology minors, 5) all other students by class.
PSYC H353 PERSONALITY IN CULTURAL CONTEXT (1.0 Credit)
Jennifer Lilgendahl
Division: Social Science
Domain(s): B: Analysis of the Social World
An in-depth examination of personality in cultural context. Topics will include cross-cultural variations in personality structure and processes, personality’s relation to acculturation and multiculturalism, identity development in immigrant families, and how personality and identity in the U.S. are shaped by historically powerful cultural master narratives regarding race, class, gender and sexuality. Personality will be understood as a complex system that involves 1) basic traits, 2) contextualized characteristics, and 3) life stories. Pre-requisite(s): Any 200-level course in Psychology Lottery Preference: Psychology majors and minors (seniors then juniors) then by class (seniors, juniors, sophomores).
(Offered: Spring 2025)
PSYC H357 FEMINIST NEUROSCIENCE (1.0 Credit)
Division: Natural Science
Domain(s): B: Analysis of the Social World; C: Physical and Natural Processes
As societal conceptions of gender and sex change, so to do scientific approaches to neuroendocrinology (the study of hormones and the brain) and sex differences research. In this seminar, we will trace the history of this scientific field before placing it in conversation with feminist and queer theories. Students will utilize close reading, writing, and presentation techniques to consider sociological concepts and reframings of neuroscience. Crosslisted: NEUR. Pre-requisite(s): Psychology 217: Behavioral Neuroscience or BMC equivalent Lottery Preference: 1) Senior psychology majors and senior neuroscience majors, 2) Junior psychology majors and junior neuroscience majors, 3) Senior psychology minors and senior neuroscience minors, 4) Junior psychology minors and junior neuroscience minors, and 5) all other students by class (senior, junior, sophomore; no first-years)
PSYC H358 NEUROPSYCHOLOGY SEMINAR (1.0 Credit)
Jonathan Schacherer
Division: Social Science
Domain(s): B: Analysis of the Social World; C: Physical and Natural Processes
This course will provide comprehensive coverage of the principles of human neuropsychology—how the neurological organization of the brain influences the way people think, feel, and act. Topics include foundations (e.g., history, methods, approaches), major functional systems (e.g., vision, memory, executive functions, spatial processing), and applications (e.g., experimental, clinical). Pre-requisite(s): One of the following: NEURO 100, PSYC H217/B218, PSYC 260 Lottery Preference: Senior psychology majors, Junior psychology majors, Senior and Junior neuroscience majors, Psychology minors by class year, Neuroscience minors by class year, all else by class year.
(Offered: Fall 2024)
PSYC H360 LABORATORY IN COGNITIVE NEUROSCIENCE (1.0 Credit)
Rebecca Compton
Division: Natural Science
Domain(s): C: Physical and Natural Processes
An examination of methodologies used to study the neural basis of higher mental functions. Students will utilize both cognitive and electrophysiological (EEG, ERP) recording methods, and will examine methodological issues in hemodynamic neuroimaging and the study of patient populations. Prerequisite(s): Stats/Methods (PSYC H200 or B205), or instructor consent. The PSYC H260 lecture is not required for this lab
(Offered: Fall 2024)
PSYC H361 COMMUNICATION DISORDERS SEMINAR (1.0 Credit)
Peiyao Chen
Division: Social Science
Domain(s): B: Analysis of the Social World
What are communication disorders? What are the characteristics of these disorders? What can different communication disorders tell us about normal speech and language processing? In this course, students will learn about common disorders that affect communication throughout the lifespan, including developmental, acquired, and neurogenic communication disorders in the speech, language, and hearing domains. We will draw on empirical studies and theoretical reviews to examine potential causes and underlying mechanisms of different disorders. Pre-requisite(s): PSYC100 Foundations of Psychology, PSYC200 Research Methods and Statistics, and one additional 200-level Psychology or any 100-level Linguistics course Lottery Preference: Senior psychology majors, Junior psychology majors, Senior psychology minors, Junior psychology minors, Linguistics majors and minors, all others by class year.
(Offered: Fall 2024)
PSYC H362 DEVELOPMENTAL BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE (1.0 Credit)
Patrese Robinson-Drummer
Division: Natural Science
Domain(s): C: Physical and Natural Processes
Developmental Behavioral Neuroscience is a broadly defined branch of psychology that seeks to understand how individuals develop behaviorally, both from a biological and comparative perspective. Topics include development of sensory, motivational, and cognitive processes and social-emotional development. Prerequisite(s): HC Psych 217 or BMC Psych 218 or HC Psych 260
PSYC H363 LABORATORY IN EYE-TRACKING METHODS (0.5 Credit)
Rebecca Compton
Division: Social Science
Domain(s): B: Analysis of the Social World; C: Physical and Natural Processes
This half-credit laboratory course will give students hands-on experience with eye-tracking, a non-invasive method of quantifying gaze direction that is used to study issues in visual attention, memory, social cognition, and language (reading), with extensions to applied fields such as user experience, human factors design, and advertising. After learning background about human oculomotor control and common eye-tracking metrics, students will work in small groups to design and conduct small-scale data collection projects. Pre-requisite(s): PSYC H200 or PSYC B205 Lottery Preference: Priority to psychology majors by class year (seniors then juniors)
(Offered: Spring 2025)
PSYC H367 MYTH OF MULTITASKING (1.0 Credit)
Jonathan Schacherer
Division: Social Science
Domain(s): B: Analysis of the Social World
Before you continue reading, take some time to try the following: pat your head while rubbing your stomach. Although silly, this is a clear example of multitasking. This seminar course focuses on our (in)ability to multitask. The purpose of this course is to introduce students to major issues, theories, methods, empirical data, and real-world implications for multitasking research. Students will communicate knowledge in spoken and written form, and formulate ideas for future research. Pre-requisite(s): PSYC 200 Lottery Preference: Senior psychology majors, Senior neuroscience majors, Junior psychology majors, Junior neuroscience majors , Psychology minors by class year, Neuroscience minors by class year, all else by class year.
(Offered: Fall 2024)
PSYC H371 JUNIOR RESEARCH SEMINAR: PSYCHOLOGICAL BIASES AND ECONOMIC DECISIONS (1.0 Credit)
David Owens
Division: Social Science
Domain(s): A: Meaning, Interpretation (Texts); B: Analysis of the Social World; C: Physical and Natural Processes
A seminar-based course covering current research on the role of psychological biases in economic decision-making. The focus is on critical reading of recent work and developing students’ own research. Crosslisted: Economics, Psychology Prerequisite(s): ECON 300 or ECON B200 at Bryn Mawr; ECON 304 (can be taken concurrently). MATH 118 (or equivalent of 2 semesters of college calculus)
PSYC H380 PSYCHOLOGY PRACTICUM SEMINAR (1.0 Credit)
Shu-wen Wang
Division: Social Science
Domain(s): B: Analysis of the Social World
Seminar to accompany 7-8 hour weekly practicum in psychology at a fieldwork site. Students learn about core issues in the “helping” fields and develop basic therapy skills. Application process takes place during Fall pre-registration period; instructor consent required. Prerequisite(s): PSYC 100 and one additional 200-level course in Psychology. Some sites may require additional Psychology coursework.
PSYC H390 SENIOR THESIS (1.0 Credit)
Shu-wen Wang
Division: Social Science
Open to senior psychology majors doing a one semester thesis in current semester.
(Offered: Fall 2024)
PSYC H391 SENIOR RESEARCH TUTORIAL IN COGNITION (1.0 Credit)
Marilyn Boltz
Division: Social Science
This senior research tutorial involves small group collaborative research on topics in memory and cognition, and especially those involving music cognition, the psychology of time, audiovisual interactions, and language behavior. Open to senior psychology majors.
(Offered: Fall 2024)
PSYC H392 SENIOR RESEARCH TUTORIAL IN PERSONALITY (1.0 Credit)
Jennifer Lilgendahl
Division: Social Science
This senior research tutorial examines personality processes and identity development in emerging and middle adulthood, with an emphasis on the role of narrative meaning-making for understanding life trajectories and outcomes. Open to senior psychology majors.
(Offered: Fall 2024)
PSYC H393 SENIOR RESEARCH TUTORIAL IN SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY (1.0 Credit)
Benjamin Le
Division: Social Science
This senior thesis tutorial explores social psychological processes and close relationships using both experimental and survey methodologies, with an emphasis on transparency and utilizing best-practices for open science. Open to senior psychology majors.
PSYC H394 SENIOR RESEARCH TUTORIAL IN BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE (1.0 Credit)
Laura Been, Patrese Robinson-Drummer
Division: Natural Science
This senior thesis tutorial examines the bidirectional relationship between the brain and behavior, emphasizing how hormones influence this relationship. Using a rodent model and cutting-edge neuroscience methodologies, students will design and conduct independent empirical projects in behavioral neuroendocrinology. Open to senior psychology majors.
(Offered: Fall 2024)
PSYC H395 SENIOR RESEARCH TUTORIAL IN COGNITIVE NEUROSCIENCE (1.0 Credit)
Rebecca Compton
Division: Social Science
This senior thesis tutorial involves designing and implementing projects using EEG methods to study aspects of human cognition. Specific topics vary, but often involve executive functions, attention, or emotion regulation. Open to senior psychology majors.
(Offered: Fall 2024)
PSYC H397 SENIOR RESEARCH TUTORIAL IN DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY (1.0 Credit)
Patrese Robinson-Drummer
Division: Social Science
Open to Senior Psychology Majors
(Offered: Fall 2024)
PSYC H398 SENIOR RESEARCH TUTORIAL IN CULTURAL PSYCHOLOGY (1.0 Credit)
Shu-wen Wang
Division: Social Science
This senior thesis tutorial examines the influence of culture, ethnicity, and race on psychological processes. Topics on social behavior and support, emotion processes, and health and well-being are emphasized. Open to senior psychology majors.
(Offered: Fall 2024)
PSYC H480 INDEPENDENT STUDY (1.0 Credit)
Staff
Division: Social Science
This course involves independent research under the supervision of a faculty member and requires faculty invitation and approval.
(Offered: Fall 2024)