PSYC 6211 Contemporary Issues in Psychology (5 cr.)
This course is an advanced-level overview of the core areas, topics, and concepts in psychology through a consideration of related contemporary issues. Major topics include biological bases of behavior, learning and memory, cognition, motivation, lifespan development, theories of personality, stress and coping, psychological disorders, and social psychology. Students learn and practice critical-reading and analysis skills through reviews of journal articles and media publications. Specific focus is on distinguishing opinions from facts, identifying bias in writing, and understanding the importance of data and evidence. Students use these skills in the analysis and composition of scientific writing. Themes of diversity are highlighted throughout the course.