Courses

• CAS PO 641: Public Policy Analysis: Issues, Concepts, and Tools
  Discusses the analytical foundations of public policy analysis and the limitations on “rational” policy- making, and analyzes several controversial public policies-- e.g., regulating the economy, immigration, health care reform--which may vary from year to year.
• CAS PO 657: Problems in Comparative Political Analysis
  Focuses on the problem of nationalism. Distinguishes between and compares types of nationalism, examines their origins, and analyzes their political, social, and economic implications using as examples England, France, Germany, Russia, and the United States. Particular emphasis on the possible role of national consciousness as a stimulus of radical political change. Also discussed is the extent to which various nationals may be affected by economic trends such as globalization and the emergence of supra-national identities.
• CAS PO 670: Science Fiction and World Politics
  Uses science fiction literature as a starting point for an analysis of themes that concern scholars of present international relations, and those interested in imagining and making alternative political futures. Topics include causes of war, distribution of wealth and power, and consequences of nationalism.
• CAS PO 674: The United States as a World Power
  The course material is organized along a debate format. Although the course is primarily concerned with twentieth-century U.S. foreign policy, attention is also given to eighteenth- and nineteenth-century issues.
• CAS PO 676: Political Biography
  Political biographies and memoir literature used to evaluate twentieth-century international relations and statecraft. Topics vary but may include biographical literature related to World War II, the Cold War, and Third World political leaders.
• CAS PO 691: Seminar in Political Philosophy
  An in-depth study of a major political philosopher, historical period, or topic in political philosophy. Topic for Spring 2011: TBA.
• CAS PO 693: Enlightenment and Its Critics
  Meets with CAS HI 514 and PH 412. Explores how eighteenth-century criticisms of the Enlightenment have been taken up by twentieth-century thinkers such as Heidegger, Horkeimer, Adorno, Gadamer, and Foucault; discusses recent defenses of Enlightenment ideals of reason, critique, and autonomy by Habermas and others.
• CAS PS 101: General Psychology
  Basic introduction to field of psychology; topics include theories and findings governing learning, memory, perception, development, personality, social and abnormal psychology. Three hours large lecture and one hour discussion section or three hours of small lecture class with no discussion sections. Requirements vary. Students are required to participate as subjects in psychology studies.
• CAS PS 202: Introduction to Cognitive Neuroscience
  Cognitive neuroscience seeks to understand the brain basis of cognition. This course introduces research methods and human neuroanatomy, and provides a survey of topics including learning and memory, attention, perception, language, social cognition, and executive function. Also offered as CAS NE 202.
• CAS PS 205: Memory and Brain
  Explores how modern methods of cognitive science and neuroscience have led to new insights about memory and, more generally, to a greater understanding about the mind and brain functions that mediate cognition, emotion, behavior, and consciousness.
• CAS PS 211: Introduction to Experimental Design in Psychology
  Concepts of experimental design in psychology, including the identification and control of bias, minimizing unsystematic error, the statistical description of data, elementary probability theory, and elementary statistical inference. Does not count toward the eight principal course requirement for concentrators.
• CAS PS 222: Perception and Behavior
  Why do things look as they do? This question is examined with particular emphasis on experiments that clarify the relative contributions of nature and nurture, and structural and experiential factors.
• CAS PS 231: Physiological Psychology
  Analysis of the central nervous system: information processing and decision making; emphasis on physiological aspects of perception, attention, learning, and memory.
• CAS PS 234: Psychology of Learning
  Survey of theory and techniques in learning and their applications in different settings. Topics include problem solving, memory, reward and punishment, and reinforcement schedules as studied in animals, normal classrooms, and remedial settings.
• CAS PS 241: Developmental Psychology
  Students may elect either CAS PS 241 or PS 243, but not both. Critical review of research and theories pertaining to intellectual and social development of infants and children. Role of early experiences and biological factors in later formation of personality, intellectual and motivational behaviors; theories include Erikson, Piaget, and Freud. Term paper may be required.
• CAS PS 243: Life Span Developmental Psychology in Health and Illness
  Students may elect either CAS PS 241 or PS 243, but not both. Psychological aspects of human growth, development, and adaptation throughout the life span, with an emphasis on responses to illness during the various developmental stages.
• CAS PS 251: Psychology of Personality: Theories and Application
  Students may elect either CAS PS 251 or PS 252, but not both. The historical development of personality theories and their application to social and clinical concerns are emphasized. Classic theories of personality (e.g., psychoanalytic, behavioral, trait, humanistic, cognitive, and social roles) are explored and evaluated through lectures, readings, case materials, and films.
• CAS PS 261: Social Psychology
  Provides an understanding of how behavior, feelings, and thoughts of individuals are influenced and determined by characteristics of the situation. Topics: attraction, attitudes, prejudice, social roles, aggression, person perception, and groups. Readings cover theories, experimental research, and application.
• CAS PS 322: Experimental Psychology: Physiological
  Laboratory course in physiological psychology. Emphasis on neuroanatomical mechanisms involved in behavior. Experiments are performed on rats and resulting data is analyzed. Research reports required.
• CAS PS 323: Experimental Psychology: Learning
  Methodology, results, and interpretation of respondent and operant conditioning. Experimental analyses of selected topics in learning within the context of reinforcement theory. Required reports of instructor-planned and student-planned experiments using the albino rat. Courses include two hours of lecture and two hours of laboratory work a week.

Note that this information may change at any time.

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