Psychological & Brain Sciences

• CAS PS 339: 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 354: Psychology and Criminal Justice
  The psychological perspective in understanding the offender and the offense and in dispositional planning, with special emphasis on the young adult offender. Concepts, realities, and problems in working at the interface of law and psychology.
• CAS PS 361: Racism, Sexism, and Prejudice
  Similarities and differences in racism and sexism examined as prejudice, cognitions, self-image, and group relations. Tactics, strategies, and programs of changing issues in schools and industry. Student projects.
• CAS PS 370: Psychology of the Family
  Survey of psychological issues related to the family. Includes examination of psychological research and data on the individual's experience in the family, with special emphasis on developmental and clinical issues.
• CAS PS 371: Abnormal Psychology
  Attention to the wide range of ways in which personality may become disordered; emphasis on normal behavior development as highlighted by psychopathology. Evidence and theories concerning problems of treatment also considered.
• CAS PS 401: Senior Independent Work
  Supervised independent research in some area of psychology.
• CAS PS 402: Senior Independent Work
  Supervised independent research in some area of psychology.
• CAS PS 404: Senior Honors Seminar in Psychology and Neuroscience
  Prepares honors students in Psychological & Brain Sciences and Neuroscience to write and present their Senior Independent Work projects, and enhances the honors experience through engagement in honors community discussions of current research. Also offered as CAS NE 404.
• CAS PS 471: Seminar: Psychopathology
  Selected clinical syndromes; neuroses, character disorders, and schizophrenia in children or adults. Selected clinical issues such as sleep and dreaming, psychosomatic illness, attachment and loss, and depression.
• CAS PS 472: Family Violence: Theories and Research
  Studies family violence, particularly child and spouse abuse. Students learn various theories while examining epidemiologic, cross-cultural, and clinical data. Through demonstrations, students also learn basic preventative and intervention techniques.
• CAS PS 473: Introduction to Clinical Psychology
  Introduction to current diagnostic and treatment techniques in clinical psychology from empirical, applied, and theoretical perspectives. Topics covered include clinical interviewing, psychological testing, and a comparison of humanistic, analytic, and systems approaches to therapy.
• CAS PS 475: Counseling: Theory and Listening Techniques
  Introduces the theoretical underpinnings of counseling and builds students' listening skills. Extensive role-playing using audio and videotapes.
• CAS PS 491: Directed Study in Psychology
  Individual instruction and directed research in a selected topic. Application required - additional information/application available on the psychology department web site at www.bu.edu/psych/undergraduate.
• CAS PS 492: Directed Study in Psychology
  Individual instruction and directed research in a selected topic. Application required - additional information/application available on the psychology department web site at www.bu.edu/psych/undergraduate.
• CAS PS 504: Trends in Contemporary Psychology
  Various contemporary trends in psychology presented. Content varies: consult department for emphasis and topics.
• CAS PS 510: The Psychology of Decision Making: Implications for Business and Public Policy
  We provide an introduction to how individuals make decisions, applying the tools of psychology and economics. We will learn to identify common mistakes and biases. Students will have the opportunity to evaluate their own decision-making ability and learn how to make improved decisions. We link each aspect of decision-making studied to current personal finance decision, business problem & public policy issue. This course will improve negotiation ability and prepare students to use social science data to support decisions. The course consists of cases, discussions, lectures & project. This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Social Inquiry II, Critical Thinking.
  BU Hub Learn More

  • Social Inquiry II
  • Critical Thinking
• CAS PS 512: The Political Psychology of Group-Based Politics
  The study of political psychology, integrating political science and social and cognitive psychology as it informs the dynamics of group-based politics, including especially race, gender, class, and political party affiliation. Also offered as CAS PO 409.
• CAS PS 521: Animal Models in Behavioral Neuroscience
  Examines the modern behavioral approaches and wide range of species across the animal kingdom used to model human behavior and neural function. Lectures present background material, and students lead discussion of primary research articles. Also offered as CAS NE 521.
• CAS PS 525: Cognitive Science
  Theories of human cognition which integrate findings from diverse fields: psychology, philosophy, linguistics, computer science, and neuroscience. Review of interdisciplinary research methodology, including connectionist modeling, and applications to questions on human thinking, problem solving, development, dysfunction, and social behavior.
• CAS PS 528: Human Brain Mapping
  Localization in the brain of human mental functions and the study of their neural mechanisms. Topics include methods (fMRI, PET, TMS, ERP), memory, perception, recognition, attention, and executive processes. Also offered as CAS NE 528.

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