Category Archives: Liberal Arts & Sciences – Electives

All Liberal Arts Elective Courses: Quantitative Reasoning, Physical Science OR Life Science, Societies & the Social Sciences, Expressive Culture, General Liberal Arts Electives

Spring 2019

Lab in Clinical Research (PSYCH-UA 43)

The course provides instruction in methods and concepts employed in research in the area of clinical psychology. Students learn about these methods and concepts in a hands-on manner by completing a set of research exercises. Methods covered include correlational and experimental designs and observational procedures. Topics include psychotherapy process research, case formulation approaches to psychopathology and therapy, and several theoretical perspectives that are employed in both research and clinical practice. Prerequisites: PSYCH-UA 1 AND PSYCH-UA 10 AND (PSYCH-UA 30 OR PSYCH-UA 51 OR PSYCH-UA 81)

Psychology (Undergraduate)
4 credits – 15 Weeks

Liberal Arts & Sciences - Electives Undergraduate
Spring 2020

Industrial Organizat’L Psychology (PSYCH-UA 62)

Personal, social, and environmental factors related to people?s attitudes and performance in industry and other organizations. Topics include personnel selection and evaluation, training and development, attitudes and motivation, leadership, group dynamics, organizational structure and climate, and job design and working conditions.

Psychology (Undergraduate)
4 credits – 15 Weeks

Sections (Spring 2020)

PSYCH-UA 62-000 (9065)01/27/2020 – 05/11/2020 Mon3:00 PM – 4:00 PM (Late afternoon)at Washington SquareInstructed by Goldenberg, Liz

Liberal Arts & Sciences - Electives Undergraduate
Fall 2022

Motivation and Volition (PSYCH-UA 74)

The course provides an overview of the major theories and findings in research on motivation and volition. More specifically, we will address the history of research on motivation and volition, classic phenomena of being motivated versus lacking motivation and willpower, the psychology of goals (goal setting, goal implementation, effortful goal pursuits, disengagement, content and structure of goals, the mental representation of goals), disorders of self-regulation, and cognitive-neuropsychological research as well as the perspective of economics on motivation and volition. We will focus on understanding the interrelations and contradictions between the different approaches, and on designing research that promotes these different lines of thinking.

Psychology (Undergraduate)
4 credits – 15 Weeks

Liberal Arts & Sciences - Electives Undergraduate
Summer 2022

Lab in Personality & Social Psychology (PSYCH-UA 39)

Methodology and procedures of personality and social psychological research and exercises in data analysis and research design. Statistical concepts such as reliability and validity, methods of constructing personality measures, merits and limitations of correlational and experimental research designs, and empirical evaluation of theories. Student teams conduct research projects.

Psychology (Undergraduate)
4 credits – 6 Weeks

Sections (Summer 2022)

PSYCH-UA 39-000 (2400)05/23/2022 – 07/06/2022 Mon,Tue,Wed3:00 PM – 5:00 PM (Late afternoon)at Washington SquareInstructed by Vega, Melissa · Abrams, Ellie

Liberal Arts & Sciences - Electives Undergraduate

Abnormal Psychology (PSYCH-UA 9051)

Credits: 4
Duration: 14 Weeks
Dates: Tue,Thu

The kinds, dynamics, causes, and treatment of psychopathology. Topics include early concepts of abnormal behavior; affective disorders, anxiety disorders, psychosis, and personality disorders; the nature and effectiveness of traditional and modern methods of psychotherapy; and viewpoints of major psychologists past and present.

Psychology (Undergraduate)
4 credits – 14 Weeks

Fall 2025 Liberal Arts & Sciences - Electives Spring 2026 Undergraduate
Spring 2022

Lab in Infancy Research (PSYCH-UA 42)

Part of a yearlong research training program. Students learn general methods for studying infant development and specific methods for examining infants’ perceptual-motor development. Students design and conduct laboratory research projects, code and analyze data, and prepare results for presentation and publication (grant proposals, conference submissions, and journal submissions).

Psychology (Undergraduate)
1-4 credits – 15 Weeks

Liberal Arts & Sciences - Electives Undergraduate
Spring 2022

Lab in Developmental Psychology (PSYCH-UA 40)

In depth investigation of the methodological foundations of developmental psychology, in particular, behavioral methods with infants and children. Students will learn how to design experiments, create experimental stimuli, collect quantifiable measures from infant and child behavior, and analyze developmental data. Each week students will read ~3 primary research articles from a variety of domains in developmental psychology, but all focused on one methodological theme. Students will produce a thoroughly researched and creative proposed experiment and analysis plan for the course’s final project.

Psychology (Undergraduate)
4 credits – 15 Weeks

Liberal Arts & Sciences - Electives Undergraduate
Spring 2022

Advanced Psychological Statistics (PSYCH-UA 11)

Psychology (Undergraduate)
4 credits – 15 Weeks

Sections (Spring 2022)

PSYCH-UA 11-000 (9029)01/24/2022 – 05/09/2022 Mon,Wed2:00 PM – 3:00 PM (Early afternoon)at Washington SquareInstructed by Hilford, Andrew

PSYCH-UA 11-000 (9030)01/24/2022 – 05/09/2022 Tue12:00 AM – 1:00 PM (Early afternoon)at Washington SquareInstructed by Sun, Siqi

PSYCH-UA 11-000 (9031)01/24/2022 – 05/09/2022 Mon9:00 AM – 10:00 AM (Morning)at Washington SquareInstructed by Sun, Siqi

PSYCH-UA 11-000 (9134)01/24/2022 – 05/09/2022 Tue3:00 PM – 4:00 PM (Late afternoon)at Washington SquareInstructed by Yang, Judy

PSYCH-UA 11-000 (9135)01/24/2022 – 05/09/2022 Fri12:00 AM – 1:00 PM (Early afternoon)at Washington SquareInstructed by Yang, Judy

PSYCH-UA 11-000 (9363)01/24/2022 – 05/09/2022 Fri8:00 AM – 9:00 AM (Morning)at Washington SquareInstructed by Yang, Qingqing

PSYCH-UA 11-000 (9364)01/24/2022 – 05/09/2022 Fri9:00 AM – 10:00 AM (Morning)at Washington SquareInstructed by Yang, Qingqing

Liberal Arts & Sciences - Electives Undergraduate
Spring 2022

Social Psychology (PSYCH-UA 32)

Gollwitzer, Trope, Uleman. Offered every semester. 4 points. Introduction to theories and research about the social behavior of individuals, such as perception of others and the self, attraction, affiliation, altruism and helping, aggression, moral thought and action, attitudes, influence, conformity, social exchange and bargaining, group decision making, leadership and power, and environmental psychology.

Psychology (Undergraduate)
4 credits – 15 Weeks

Sections (Spring 2022)

PSYCH-UA 32-000 (8510)01/24/2022 – 05/09/2022 Mon,Wed12:00 AM – 1:00 PM (Early afternoon)at Washington SquareInstructed by Gollwitzer, Peter

PSYCH-UA 32-000 (8511)01/24/2022 – 05/09/2022 Mon2:00 PM – 3:00 PM (Early afternoon)at Washington SquareInstructed by Adjei Boateng, Fiona

PSYCH-UA 32-000 (8512)01/24/2022 – 05/09/2022 Wed3:00 PM – 4:00 PM (Late afternoon)at Washington SquareInstructed by Kwak, Jasmine

PSYCH-UA 32-000 (8513)01/24/2022 – 05/09/2022 Fri11:00 AM – 12:00 AM (Morning)at Washington SquareInstructed by Tao, Bradley

PSYCH-UA 32-000 (8514)01/24/2022 – 05/09/2022 Tue12:00 AM – 1:00 PM (Early afternoon)at Washington SquareInstructed by Tao, Bradley

PSYCH-UA 32-000 (8515)01/24/2022 – 05/09/2022 Thu2:00 PM – 3:00 PM (Early afternoon)at Washington SquareInstructed by Kwak, Jasmine

PSYCH-UA 32-000 (8516)01/24/2022 – 05/09/2022 Fri8:00 AM – 9:00 AM (Morning)at Washington SquareInstructed by Liaquat, Usman

PSYCH-UA 32-000 (25991)01/24/2022 – 05/09/2022 Wed2:00 PM – 3:00 PM (Early afternoon)at Washington SquareInstructed by Adjei Boateng, Fiona

PSYCH-UA 32-000 (25995)01/24/2022 – 05/09/2022 Mon11:00 AM – 12:00 AM (Morning)at Washington SquareInstructed by Liaquat, Usman

Liberal Arts & Sciences - Electives Undergraduate
Spring 2022

Personality (PSYCH-UA 30)

AndersenAndersen. Offered every semester. 4 points. Introduction to research in personality, including such topics as the self-concept; unconscious processes; how we relate to others; and stress, anxiety, and depression.

Psychology (Undergraduate)
4 credits – 15 Weeks

Sections (Spring 2022)

PSYCH-UA 30-000 (9269)01/24/2022 – 05/09/2022 Mon,Wed12:00 AM – 1:00 PM (Early afternoon)at Washington SquareInstructed by Andersen, Susan

PSYCH-UA 30-000 (9270)01/24/2022 – 05/09/2022 Mon2:00 PM – 3:00 PM (Early afternoon)at Washington SquareInstructed by Ganapathy, Rheanna

PSYCH-UA 30-000 (9271)01/24/2022 – 05/09/2022 Fri12:00 AM – 1:00 PM (Early afternoon)at Washington SquareInstructed by Qin, Joyce

PSYCH-UA 30-000 (9272)01/24/2022 – 05/09/2022 Tue12:00 AM – 1:00 PM (Early afternoon)at Washington SquareInstructed by Qin, Joyce

PSYCH-UA 30-000 (9273)01/24/2022 – 05/09/2022 Fri8:00 AM – 9:00 AM (Morning)at Washington SquareInstructed by Ganapathy, Rheanna

Liberal Arts & Sciences - Electives Undergraduate
Spring 2022

Cognitive Neuroscience (PSYCH-UA 25)

Curtis, Davachi. Offered every semester. 4 points. Provides students with a broad understanding of the foundations of cognitive neuroscience, including dominant theories of the neural underpinnings of a variety of cognitive processes and the research that has led to those theories. In doing so, students also learn about the goals of cognitive neuroscience research and the methods that are being employed to reach these goals.

Psychology (Undergraduate)
4 credits – 15 Weeks

Sections (Spring 2022)

PSYCH-UA 25-000 (8500)01/24/2022 – 05/09/2022 Mon,Wed4:00 PM – 6:00 PM (Late afternoon)at Washington SquareInstructed by Curtis, Clayton

PSYCH-UA 25-000 (8501)01/24/2022 – 05/09/2022 Mon8:00 AM – 9:00 AM (Morning)at Washington SquareInstructed by Babu, Deepika

PSYCH-UA 25-000 (8502)01/24/2022 – 05/09/2022 Wed6:00 PM – 7:00 PM (Evening)at Washington SquareInstructed by Babu, Deepika

PSYCH-UA 25-000 (8503)01/24/2022 – 05/09/2022 Thu9:00 AM – 10:00 AM (Morning)at Washington SquareInstructed by Yan, Dongni

PSYCH-UA 25-000 (8504)01/24/2022 – 05/09/2022 Thu3:00 PM – 4:00 PM (Late afternoon)at Washington SquareInstructed by Yan, Dongni

Liberal Arts & Sciences - Electives Undergraduate
Spring 2022

Cognition (PSYCH-UA 29)

McElree, Murphy, Rehder. Offered every semester. 4 points. Introduction to theories and research in some major areas of cognitive psychology, including human memory, attention, language production and comprehension, thinking, and reasoning.

Psychology (Undergraduate)
4 credits – 15 Weeks

Sections (Spring 2022)

PSYCH-UA 29-000 (8505)01/24/2022 – 05/09/2022 Tue,Thu11:00 AM – 12:00 AM (Morning)at Washington SquareInstructed by Ausch, Robert

PSYCH-UA 29-000 (8506)01/24/2022 – 05/09/2022 Tue12:00 AM – 1:00 PM (Early afternoon)at Washington SquareInstructed by Muhareb, Samer

PSYCH-UA 29-000 (8507)01/24/2022 – 05/09/2022 Mon11:00 AM – 12:00 AM (Morning)at Washington SquareInstructed by Muhareb, Samer

PSYCH-UA 29-000 (8508)01/24/2022 – 05/09/2022 Fri3:00 PM – 4:00 PM (Late afternoon)at Washington SquareInstructed by Vaghani, Jhanvi Bharatbhai

PSYCH-UA 29-000 (8509)01/24/2022 – 05/09/2022 Thu6:00 PM – 7:00 PM (Evening)at Washington SquareInstructed by Muhareb, Samer

PSYCH-UA 29-000 (26096)01/24/2022 – 05/09/2022 Tue12:00 AM – 1:00 PM (Early afternoon)at Washington SquareInstructed by Vaghani, Jhanvi Bharatbhai

PSYCH-UA 29-000 (26111)01/24/2022 – 05/09/2022 Mon11:00 AM – 12:00 AM (Morning)at Washington SquareInstructed by Vaghani, Jhanvi Bharatbhai

Liberal Arts & Sciences - Electives Undergraduate
Fall 2022

On Eating Others (PORT-UA 403)

The notion of cannibalism is a recurring concern in the history of ideas regarding the primitive, the animalistic, the monstrous, or any of the other classifications frequently invoked to mark others, regardless of their actual culinary preferences. Reflection upon cannibalism as an intellectual phenomenon suggests how people eating people, or at least the possibility of it, says a great deal about those that do not. In some regions of the Caribbean and Brazil, ideas regarding cannibalism have made an important turn, such that the cannibal has become a provocative affirmation of self. The aim of this course is to think about cannibalism, not, as it often is, as a theme for anthropologists and ethnographers, but rather as an intellectual problem that has enjoyed a very long life in the history of ideas about self. In this course, we shall revisit a selection of texts regarding cannibalism from Columbus’ diaries to the present, and including works by, Montaigne, Shakespeare, Oswald de Andrade, Nelson Pereira dos Santos, and Suely Rolnik, in the company of some key notions involving postcolonial theory. Readings will be made available in Portuguese, Spanish, and English, and course papers may be carried out in any of the three languages according to student interest and ability.

Portuguese (Undergraduate)
4 credits – 15 Weeks

Sections (Fall 2022)

PORT-UA 403-000 (22046)09/01/2022 – 12/14/2022 Tue2:00 PM – 4:00 PM (Early afternoon)at Washington SquareInstructed by Robbins, Dylon

Liberal Arts & Sciences - Electives Societies & the Social Sciences Undergraduate
Spring 2022

Intermed Portuguese II (PORT-UA 4)

Portuguese language courses PORT-UA 10, PORT-UA 3, and PORT-UA 4 are oriented toward achieving oral proficiency and are taught in the native language. The elementary-level course stresses the structures and patterns that permit meaningful communication and encourages spontaneous and practical proficiency outside the classroom. The intermediate-level courses aim to promote fluency in speaking, as well as proficiency in reading and writing. They include readings and discussions on contemporary Portuguese and Brazilian texts.

Portuguese (Undergraduate)
4 credits – 15 Weeks

Sections (Spring 2022)

PORT-UA 4-000 (9058)01/24/2022 – 05/09/2022 Tue,Thu,Fri12:00 AM – 1:00 PM (Early afternoon)at Washington SquareInstructed by Kettner, Michele

Liberal Arts & Sciences - Electives Undergraduate
Fall 2019

Socialist Theory (POL-UA 140)

Concentrates on those socialist schools?Christian socialism, utopian socialism, Marxism, Fabianism, and anarchism?that have proved to be the most successful. Presents their major theories and examines the usefulness of such theories in helping us to understand and, in some cases, alter the world in which we live.

Politics (Undergraduate)
4 credits – 14 Weeks

Sections (Fall 2019)

POL-UA 140-000 (10065)09/03/2019 – 12/13/2019 Mon,Wed9:00 AM – 10:00 AM (Morning)at Washington SquareInstructed by Ollman, Bertell

Liberal Arts & Sciences - Electives Societies & the Social Sciences Undergraduate
Fall 2020

Contemporary African Politics (POL-UA 584)

This course offers an introduction to contemporary African politics. Our goal is to introduce students to the most pressing problems African countries have faced since independence. Questions motivating the course include: (1) Why state institutions weaker in African than in other developing regions? (2) What explains Africa’s slow economic growth? (3) What can be done to improve political accountability on the continent? (4) Why have some African countries been plagued by high levels of political violence while others have not? (5) Can or should the West attempt to “save” Africa?

Politics (Undergraduate)
4 credits – 15 Weeks

Liberal Arts & Sciences - Electives Societies & the Social Sciences Undergraduate