When taking courses towards the Psychology degree, each student has many options in relation to the areas of study to pursue. However, within the degree requirements there are some elements that are consistent regardless of the degree program chosen. Below is some key information related to psychology courses that students should be aware of as they develop their long term plan schedule.
Psych 490 SPRING 2025- Descriptions by Section
Section 001
Rick Gilmore
The Psychology of Data Visualization
If a picture’s worth a thousand words, what exactly does it say? This course will focus on the psychology of data visualization—how to read, critique, and generate meaningful figures that inform but don’t mislead. We’ll take inspiration from recognized classic figures and unpack what makes them exemplary. We’ll critique figures that deliberately or inadvertently mislead or confuse. And we’ll learn how to build our own reproducible figures using Python, R, and JavaScript. No prior programming experience is required.
Section 002
Beth Gerace
Mindfulness and Meaning
The first half of this capstone seminar will explore applications of mindfulness in psychology. This course will explore the metacognitive process of mindfulness and how applications of mindfulness can be used to process negative thoughts and emotions, treat psychological disorders, and enhance social relationships. Topics will include mindfulness-based therapies such as Dialectical Behavior Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, non-attachment, and cognitive reframing.. The second half of this course will explore theories of meaning such as Terror Management Theory and Mindfulness to Meaning Theory and how meaning in life changes across the lifespan. Topics will include developmental theories of adulthood and aging. Students will be asked to read and reflect on scholarly work in these topic areas, work individually and in groups to present ideas/summaries to the class, and hone writing skills.
Section 003
Karen Gasper
Section 004
Nancy Dennis
Section 005
Brian Crosby
The Science of Sleep
it plays in our everyday life.
Section 006
Janet Swim
Psychology and Climate Change
Climate change is caused by human behavior–from individual actions to company decision-making that influence business practices–and impacts the health and well-being of all life on the planet. Moreover, frontline communities, by virtue of their geographic distance and social status, are experiencing and will experience the greatest impacts. The role of behaviors and decision-making means that psychology is central to understanding why we have created this threat and how we can work as individuals and members of communities to alter the direction of the shared path we are traveling. Psychology is relevant because the impacts include mental health, both from generalized anxiety and trauma from acute experiences, and connect to psychologists’ expertise in psychological coping and well-being.
We will also explore how Penn State, local communities, and psychologists across the globe are responding to the challenges. We will attend to summaries of research literature paired with exemplary research studies. We will cover these topics through in-class activities, readings, and discussions. Students’ final projects will be to create a social media presentation about a psychological research study on climate change
Dawn Witherspoon
Youth Development in Context: How Place & Race Jointly Affect Youth
This course is designed to provide an introduction to the theoretical and empirical literature about how characteristics of place (i.e., community, neighborhood, activity space) are associated with development during childhood and adolescence. Further, this course interrogates the intersection of place and race and their joint effects on youth development. Topics to be discussed in this class include attention to cultural variables (i.e., race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, acculturation), exposure to violence, parenting strategies in neighborhoods, and a variety of youth academic, behavioral, and psycho-social outcomes (e.g., academic self- concept, deviance, friendships, substance use, and identity). An important aspect of this course is the attention to multiple forms of data, various methodologies (i.e., quantitative and qualitative), and dissemination of empirical findings (e.g., scholarly reports, newsletters, briefs, etc.) to elucidate a greater understanding of how place and its social characteristics are related to family functioning and youth outcomes. This course is designed for students who have had exposure to developmental psychology and want to learn more about how contexts outside of the family may shape development. The course will be discussion based with lectures to introduce concepts and themes.
Section 009
Louis Castonguay
Principles of Change in Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy has been demonstrated to be an effective form of treatment for a variety of clinical problems. This course is aimed at a deep examination of specific factors that might explain, at least in part, how psychotherapy works. These factors, called principles of change, refer to general strategies of interventions that cut across different theoretical approaches. In particular, the course will focus on two principles: Insight (or the acquisition of a new perspective of self) and corrective experiences (or the unexpected and positive outcome to previously difficult situations). Students will learn how three major approaches (cognitive behavioral, psychodynamic, and humanistic) define and foster these two principles of change.
Section 010
Suzanne Scherf
Debunking Myths of the Brain:
The brain is a mysterious organ. Overwhelmingly people embrace beliefs about the brain and how it works that are complete myths! In this class, we will examine these myths, debunk them, and think about the socio-cultural factors that lead people to endorse the myths. To do so we will read popular press materials and watch movies that feature or defend these myths. We will use empirical evidence to debunk the myths. Your final project will be to create a public service announcement debunking a myth about the brain based on the science we discuss.
Table of Contents
Subject Pool Information (for PSYCH 100 and PSYCH 105 Students)
The Subject Pool is an Experiment Management System. As part of the requirements for PSYCH 100 and PSYCH 105, you will be required to participate in research being conducted within the Psychology Department. For those who object or are minors, you will have assignments to complete to meet the required number of experiment hours. Below you will find links to the Subject Pool and relevant information as you get started.
Psych 105 - Psychology as a Science and Profession
PSYCH 105 explores the development of modern psychology, the role of science in that development, and career paths related to scientific psychology. The course will help you explore career options and help you decided if Psychology is right for you. You can find a brief description of PSYCH 105 in the University Bulletin or review the course syllabus. Remember PSYCH 100 is a prerequisite to PSYCH 105, and this prerequisite is strictly enforced..
PSYCH 105 is NOT available at very many other campus locations. It is strictly a University Park Degree requirement. This course should be completed by the end of the 4th semester if you are a University Park student, and by the end of the 5th semester if you are a Change of Location student or a Transfer student. This course is controlled to 3rd and 4th semester standing students. If you are a Change of Location or Transfer student and are looking to enroll into PSYCH 105 for your first semester at UP, please make an appointment with an academic adviser.
Reminder: Currently there are NO substitutions for PSYCH 490 or PSYCH 105
Psych 490 - Senior Seminar in Psychology
PSYCH 490 can be viewed as your final destination within the Psychology degree program. It is an all encompassing course that integrates your years of gained knowledge from your coursework and allows you to apply your knowledge in a small more intimate classroom setting. You can find a brief course description for PSYCH 490 in the University Bulletin. In this class you will review research literature around a specific topic of study. Each semester the topics available will change. Although it may be tempting to choose a section based on time, be sure to choose a topic most interesting to you.
Some example titles of previously held sections of PSYCH 490 include but are not limited to:
- “Creativity and Innovation”
- “Neuroethology: How Animal Brains Make Animal Behavior”
- “Psychological Science in the Media”
- ” Developmental Psychopathology”
- “Assessment Centers: Research and Practice”
- “Art, Language, and Creativity in Children”
- “RJP in Managing Work-life Interfaces”
To view current topic descriptions of PSYCH 490 see above or look in the section notes on LionPath.
When the time has come for scheduling PSYCH 490 keep in mind you must have successfully completed PSYCH 301W and it is recommended that you have had 6.0 credits of PSYCH at the 400 level. Psych 301W is a strict prerequisite to which no exceptions will be made (ie. You CANNOT take the prerequisites concurrently, they must be completed prior to 490).
Course Sequencing
Many students are not aware that there is a course sequence within the major degree requirements. This can tend to cause students problems when they had not planned for it when studying abroad or taking a semester off for an internship. It is vital for students to understand prerequisites to courses and to plan for them in their long term plan schedule. Lack of planning can delay graduation especially since such courses as PSYCH 105 and PSYCH 490 are only offered during the fall and spring semesters.
Examples
Prerequisite(s) | Course(s) |
|---|---|
PSYCH 100 | PSYCH 105 |
PSYCH 100 | PSYCH 200-level courses |
PSYCH/STAT 200 AND PSYCH 100 | PSYCH 301W |
PSYCH 301W | PSYCH 490 |
Enrollment Controls
Most of our 400 level PSYCH courses are initially controlled for majors only, controls are lifted for select classes once lowerclassmen start scheduling. See the notes section in the course offering for details. Once controls are lifted minors and other non-majors can schedule these classes.
NOTE: Controls are never released for PSYCH 301 or PSYCH 490.
To inquire about course controls email ugpsychupwc@psu.edu.
Psychology Course Scheduling and Descriptions
- Psychology Course Descriptions in the University Bulletin
- New Psychology Course Designations as of Spring 2007 (New to Old OR Old to New)
- Schedule of Courses (search “PSYCH” for undergraduate courses)