Courses

• CAS PS 125: Revolutions in the Conceptualization of Mind: 1950s to the Present
  Beginning with the Cognitive Revolution of the 1950s, when the mind was first viewed as a computational machine, this seminar explores changing concepts of the mind, with focus on key questions of cognitive development, language acquisition, and the emotion/cognition split.
• CAS PS 200: Autism and Society
  This 2-credit seminar involves faculty from several schools and departments at Boston University, with the goal of analyzing autism not only as a medical disorder, a scientific puzzle, an educational challenge, or an emotional burden for families and individuals, but also, more broadly, as a 'fact' that generates questions and reactions in a wide range of social contexts, from politics to the arts. The seminar consists of weekly lectures and discussion of assigned materials. Topics include defining, diagnosing, and treating autism: autism and the law; institutional structures of autism-related services; educational strategies; families with autism; representation of autism in literature, film, and media; musicology and autism therapy. Requirements include weekly readings and papers. Cannot be used for concentration credit toward the major or minor in Psychology.
• 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
  Introduction to logic and methodology of univariate statistics with relevance to psychology. Topics include descriptive statistics, data representation, statistical inference, probability and significance, correlation and regression, and non parametric analyses. Does not count toward 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. Carries social science divisional credit in CAS.
• 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. Carries social science divisional credit in CAS.
• 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.Carries social science divisional credit in CAS.
• 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. Carries social science divisional credit in CAS.
• 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. Carries social science divisional credit in CAS.
• 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. Carries social science divisional credit in CAS.
• 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.
• CAS PS 324: Experimental Psychology: Developmental
  Human development selected for experimental study; live subjects. Class discussion and practical experience with observational, assessment, and experimental techniques, and review of statistical concepts. Focus varies. Independent research and paper required. Courses include two hours of lecture and two hours of laboratory work a week. Two 2-hour lectures per week.
• CAS PS 325: Experimental Psychology: Personality
  Systematic approaches to the study of personality. Experimental and observational investigations of selected aspects of personality. Demonstration of experimental procedures; student participation in laboratory and field studies. Two hours of lecture and two hours of laboratory work a week.
• CAS PS 326: Experimental Psychology: Social
  Supervised experience in formulating, carrying out, interpreting, and critically evaluating social-psychological research. Students conduct research on such topics as attraction, impressions and stereotypes, helping, aggression, conflict, etc. Variety of research techniques examined. Two hours of lecture and two hours of laboratory work a week.
• CAS PS 332: Behavioral Medicine
  Examines applications from the social and behavioral sciences and allied health professions as they are integrated in the practice of traditional medicine. Examples of interventional strategies, treatments, and procedures, including biofeedback and hypnosis.
• CAS PS 333: Drugs and Behavior
  Comprehensive survey of drug influences on behavior; introduces a neuroscience approach to behavior. Several classes of drugs discussed, including abused and addictive substances and psychoactive and therapeutic agents.
• CAS PS 336: Introduction to Cognitive Psychology
  Provides an introduction to basic topics and research issues relevant to cognitive psychology. Emphasis placed on understanding how we perceive, attend, and remember information. Related topics include language, problem solving, and intelligence.

Back to full list of College of Arts & Sciences