Cognitive Science & Psychology Coursework

  • Distinguished Major Thesis Seminar (cogs 4970)

    A two-semester course in which the student prepares a thesis under the supervision of a departmental faculty member. The thesis may be based on empirical research conducted by the student or a critical review or theoretical analysis of existing findings.

  • Research Methods and Data Analysis (psyc 2005)

  • Fundamentals of Neuroscience (psyc 3200)

    This course will build on students' general knowledge of Neuroscience topics and aim to achieve a deeper understanding of the fundamental principles of Neuroscience. Topics covered: (1) cell biological and electrical properties of the neuron; (2) synaptic transmission and synaptic plasticity; (3) transduction of physical stimuli and processing of sensory information; and (4) development and evolution and the nervous system.

  • Animal Minds (psyc 3240)

    This course looks at the evolutionary basis of cognition through the lens of animal behavior, with an emphasis on understanding how general mechanisms of perception and learning interact with more specialized systems for navigation, social interaction, and planning to produce the rich behavioral adaptations seen throughout the animal kingdom.

  • Psycholinguistics (psyc 4110)

    This course focuses on the psychological processes that underlie the acquisition and the use of language. There is an emphasis on the interaction between linguistic skills and other cognitive skills. Topics include learnability, microgenesis of speech, bilingualism and variation, and a psycholinguistic approach to breakdowns (i.e., language pathology).

  • Special offering: The origins of Human mind (psyc 4500)

  • Speech and Hearing Science (edhs 4030)

    The course examines principal concepts and procedures for the study of physiologic, perceptual and acoustic aspects of voice, speech and hearing. The course leads the student into the fascinating world of new applications in daily life, in business, and especially in education and clinical work.

  • Foundations of Behavioral Science (lppl 2600)

    An overview of the fields of social psychology and behavioral science. We will explore behavioral research in basic social psychology, leadership and organizational behavior, and the ways in which social science methods and research are currently being used in public policy and to solve major societal problems. The ultimate goal is to teach students how to think like behavioral scientists.

Socio-cultural Anthropology Coursework

  • Moral Experience (anth 3295)

    This course introduces students to one of the key frameworks in anthropology’s “ethical turn”: moral experience. The investigation of moral experience explores questions of ethics from a phenomenological-hermeneutic perspective and attends closely to subjectivity, affect, and embodiment. We will explore moral experiences such as ethical self-cultivation, empathy, love, hope, breakdown, mood, and moral transformation.

  • Biopolitics (anth 3290)

    Biopolitical analysis has become one of the prominent critical approaches across the social sciences and humanities. This course will consider various biopolitical theories and the ways in which they help us understand diverse phenomena of our contemporary condition, which will be examined through various case studies.

  • The Corporation: History, Culture, Capital (anth 3275)

    “It’s easier to imagine the end of the world than to imagine the end of capitalism.” —Frederic Jameson What is a corporation? Contrary to wide belief, the corporation is a very ancient social form that arose in diverse world regions and is the heritage of many civilizations. In this course, we explore its history and relation to culture, economics, and law. How has financialization shaped today’s major business corporations and theories of corporate social responsibility? How might we improve the corporations of the future?

  • Desire and World Economics (anth 2190)

    This course offers an insight into the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services practiced by peoples ignored or unknown to classic Western economics. Its principle focus will open upon the obvious differences between cultural concepts of the self and the very notion of its desire. Such arguments as those which theorize on the "rationality" of the market and the "naturalness" of competition will be debunked.

  • Rainforests of Flesh / Peoples of Spirit (anth 3250)

    Ethnographies of Amazonian Peoples and the new anthropological theories about their way of life. Cannibalism, sexuality, and cosmology.

  • Power and the Body (anth 3370)

    Studying the cultural representations and interpretations of the body in society.

  • Major Seminar--Anthropology of Sports (anth 4591)

    The majors seminars in anthropology offer majors and minors an opportunity to engage deeply with a topic of anthropological concern. Through these courses anthropology students gain experience in doing an independent research project on a topic they care about and produce a significant paper or other major work. Enrollment for majors and minors is preferred.

  • Language and Identity (Graduate-anth 5470)

    In anthropology, where identity has become a central concern, language is seen as an important site for the construction of, and negotiation over social identities. In linguistics, reference to categories of social identity helps to explain language structure and change. This seminar explores the overlap between these converging trends by focusing on the notion of discourse as a nexus of cultural and linguistic processes.

  • Speech Play and Verbal Art (Graduate-anth 5490)

    This graduate-level seminar seeks to understand variation in language (and its significance for social relations and social hierarchies) by focusing on forms of language that are aesthetically valued (whether as powerful or as poetic) in particular communities. The course assumes some familiarity both with technical analysis of language and anthropological perspectives on social formations.

Public Policy and Leadership Coursework

  • Research Methods and Data Analysis in Public Policy (lppa 3640)

    This course will provide an overview of research methods and data analysis in public policy, integrating basic statistical modeling. The class will promote a critical understanding of what good research is, how people sometimes lie with statistics, and how flawed research can be identified, and an appreciation of the relationship between researchers and the rest of society, and how researchers can most suitably deal with the existence of skeptics

  • Behavioral Sciences for Civic Leadership (lppl 3210)

    Drawing on social science research, this course explores how public leaders contribute to problem identification, issue framing, policy adoption, crisis management, and organizational and societal change. The course will clarify the relationships among key concepts including leadership and followership, authority and influence, reciprocity and persuasion, and examine the role of contextual factors in shaping the strategies of 21st century leaders

  • Public Policy Challenges of the 21st Century (lppp 3230)

    This survey course that introduces students to the history, politics, and economic and social significance of the major challenges facing 21st century U.S. policymakers. Examples of topics that may be explored include: the federal deficit and debt, the rise of China and India, health care costs, climate policy, energy security, economic opportunity in an era of globalization, the future of public higher education, and U.S. foreign policy

  • Intro to Management Consulting and Strategic Decision Making (lpps 5440)

    Students study complex & ambiguous problems like a strategy consultant. The immersive, case-based course gives students the skills & confidence to navigate complex business problems & facilitate discussion around the psychology of decision making teams. Learn hypothesis driven structured problem-solving approach & apply to mock case interviews & live consulting project w/a real-world client. Final case competition is presented to alumni leaders.

  • Environmental & Public Health Policy (Graduate- PHS 5050)

    Focus on interconnections between human health and the environment impacting individuals, communities and populations. Including ecological perspectives highlighting human health, animal health and ecosystem health. Use analytic frameworks to identify, evaluate and address environmental health concerns. Gain real world experience through field trips and interactions with environmental health professionals.