Psychology

• MET PS 101: General Psychology
  Basic introduction to the study of psychology as a behavioral science. Emphasis on learning, motivation, perception, personality, and social psychology.
• MET PS 222: Creativity
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: (METPS101) - Human creativity stands at the core of the human experience. It plays a key role in the type of societies we create, the types of inventions we come to rely on and the works of art we love. This course reviews current theories, research and applications of this rapidly evolving and fascinating field of study. Students also learn what they can do to enhance their own creative process and participate in innovation.
• MET PS 234: Psychology of Learning
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: (METPS101) - Theory and techniques in learning and their applications in different settings. Explores problem solving, memory, reward and punishment, and reinforcement schedules in animals, normal classrooms, and remediational settings.
• MET PS 241: Developmental Psychology
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: (METPS101) - Critical and technical review of theories on intellectual and social development of infants and children. Emphasis is on the role of early experiences and biological factors in the later formation of personality and intellectual motivational behaviors. Discusses the work of Erikson, Piaget, and Freud.
• MET PS 251: Psychology of Personality
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: (METPS101) - Provides a conceptual framework for understanding the development, organization, and change of the normal individual according to such diverse theoretical positions as the psychoanalytic, humanistic, and social learning schools.
• MET PS 261: Social Psychology
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: (METPS101) - Manner in which the behavior, feelings, and thoughts of one individual are influenced and determined by the behavior and/or characteristics of others. Attraction, attitudes, aggression, person perception, and groups. Readings cover theories, experimental research, and application.
• MET PS 273: Introduction to Clinical Psychology
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: (METPS101) - An overview of the field of clinical psychology as applied to children, adolescents, and adults. Theoretical, applied, and research topics include: neurobiology, psychopharmacology, individual and group psychotherapy, testing and assessment, family systems therapy.
• MET PS 275: Principles of Counseling and Motivational Interviewing
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: METPS 101 or consent of instructor. - Basic theories of counseling and motivational interviewing are compared and contrasted. Emphasis is placed on investigating the various contexts in which these theories and techniques are particularly applicable (e.g., sports psychology, weight loss, smoking cessation, crises management, etc.)
• MET PS 295: Psychology and Film: Images of Madness
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: (METPS101) - Classic feature films (1920's to the present) portraying mental illness are considered from both cinematic and psychosocial perspectives. The public image of madness on the big screen is related to clinical concepts and practices current during the period of the film.
• MET PS 300: Applied Social Science Theory
  Applied Social Science Theory introduces students to major authors and seminal works that continue to inform theory and research in social sciences. The focus is on reading primary source materials to examine not only the major conclusions of these authors, but the arguments they use to justify those conclusions. Effective Spring 2021, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Social Inquiry II, Critical Thinking, Research and Information Literacy.
  BU Hub Learn More

  • Critical Thinking
  • Research and Information Literacy
  • Social Inquiry II
• MET PS 326: Experimental Psychology: Social
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: PS101 and PS261, and MA113 or MA213 - 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.
• MET PS 330: Leadership in the Workplace
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: (METPS101) - This class is aimed at students who are eager to develop an understanding of the interplay between psychology, leadership, and workplace dynamics within organizations. The focus of the class is on the practical as well as the applied and theoretical aspects of organization psychology. Investigations will focus on actual work related case studies and leadership and work related issues, as well as an investigation of the dynamic nature of the field. We will use the classroom setting as a laboratory to analyze cases and to discuss solutions for work related problems. This class is ideal for students preparing to enter the workplace.
• MET PS 335: How the Brain Works: An Introduction to Neuropsychology
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: (METPS101) - Where do our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors come from? They all originate in the brain. The mysteries of the brain become accessible through the study of tragically commonplace medical events and conditions such as stroke and dementia and exceptionally rare cases where n = 1 (the amnesic patient H.M.; the infamous Phineas Gage). Neuropsychology is the study of the relationship between the brain and behavior. This course examines the anatomical structures of the brain including the cerebral lobes, brain stem and subcortical regions and will explore cognitive processes including memory, language, attention, and emotion. Significant emphasis will be placed on the relation between brain disorders (resulting from head injury, stroke, degenerative disease, etc.) and abnormal behavior.
• MET PS 340: Business and Organizational Psychology
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: MET PS 101 - The discipline of business and organizational psychology is a fast-growing expert area in the behavioral sciences. As a whole it concerns itself with the scientific application of psychological principles, research, theories, methods, and interventions to the world of business and organizations. This course introduces the undergraduate student to the discipline's theories, methods, and practical applications.
• MET PS 371: Mental Health, Diagnosis, and Wellbeing
  Learn an integrative approach to the psychology of mental health, focusing on the biopsychosocial paradigm for understanding and treating psychological distress. You will examine psychological diagnoses, emotional distress, and treatment approaches through different fields of knowledge, including psychiatric symptoms and diagnosis, the 'recovery model,' subjective lived experience, and holistic approaches.
• MET PS 472: Psychology of Women
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: three psychology courses or consent of instructor. - This course is designed to introduce undergraduate students to the myriad factors influencing the development of girls and women in a variety of cultures and societies. Topics that will be covered include feminist scholarship and research; gender socialization, women's biology, and health; sexuality, relationships and family; and work, career, and power issues.
• MET PS 512: Sexual Violence
  This course will engage the topics of sexual deviance and sexual trauma through multiple lens. These lenses will include psychological, sociological, criminal justice, public health and social justice perspectives. The course will explore multiple facets of understanding sexual deviance and sexual trauma including legal and philosophical perspectives, historical activism, understanding and treatment of sexual offending, and survivor responses. The roles of multiple systems including the media, mental health organization and the criminal justice system will be taken into account. This course includes ongoing group work that will engage critical inquiry, addressing relevant topics in sexual trauma in practical ways. Students will utilize knowledge of theory and research methodology to pursue real world responses to issues of sexual violence and trauma.
• MET PS 515: Introduction to Forensic Psychology: Methods, Practice, and Theory
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: (METPS371) - The field of forensic psychology lies at the crossroads of psychology, the law, and the criminal justice system. This course presents upper-level undergraduates and master's level graduate students with the scope of forensic psychology practice and research. First, the course focuses on the scope of the field: what forensic psychologists do, the ethical conflicts they encounter, and the field's special methodology (e.g., assessment of malingering and deception). The use and function of expert witness testimony is reviewed and critically evaluated. A range of civil and criminal psychological issues is addressed including eyewitness memory, sexual offenders and battered women.
• MET PS 520: Violence and Trauma
  Violence and Trauma examines the psychological impact of crime, terror and disasters on society and the individuals who are members of it. The class is geared toward students in the social sciences including Psychology, Urban Affairs, Criminal Justice, and Sociology. A variety of traumas will be examined (e.g., childhood abuse, domestic violence and crime, war combat, terrorism, and natural disasters). The course examines the social, cultural and political environments in which trauma, trauma research and treatment occur. This course provides an introduction and overview of the field of traumatic stress studies including the nature of trauma, responses to trauma and treatment for disorders of traumatic stress.
• MET PS 592: Positive Psychology
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: (METPS101) - Positive Psychology is the scientific study of what makes it possible for human beings to lead happy, meaningful and productive lives--sometimes despite formidable odds. This course offers an introduction to the discipline's methods, empirical findings and theory.