Psychology

This course on the psychology of education is divided into three parts: challenges and objectives for the psychology of education in the 21st century; informal education--family education, new information and communication technologies; formal education including motivation, diversity, and school management.

This course examines intervention and treatment in the fields of social, occupational, and educational psychology. 

The first part of the course introduces the concepts of evolution and adaptation applied to an animal and human behavior and the fundamental principles for the study of development, evolution, and genetics of behavior. Then follows the eco-ethology that deals with the ecology of behavior in natural environments, from territorial, predatory, alimentary, sexual, and social behavior both in animals and in humans. In the third phase, topics of sociobiology are explored. The adaptive value of sociability, sexual behavior, and reproductive strategies (both in animals and humans) is further explored. Wedding strategies such as polygamy, polyandry, and monogamy is investigated. The course compares the underlying genetics to the ecology of animal behavior and introduce evolutionary psychology. The course compares the underlying genetics to the ecology of animal behavior and introduce evolutionary psychology. The course requires students to have basic knowledge of genetics and biology as a prerequisite.

This course explores how social systems, relationships, and individual characteristics affect people's health status and illness-related conduct. It enables students to put their nutritional knowledge into a wider context by providing a foundation in the concept and methods of the human sciences.

The course is designed to equip students with experience, knowledge, and skills for succeeding in globally interdependent and culturally diverse workplaces. During the course, students are challenged to question, reflect upon, and respond thoughtfully to the issues they observe and encounter in the internship setting and local host environment. Professional and personal development skills as defined by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), such as critical thinking, teamwork, and diversity are cultivated. Assignments focus on building a portfolio that highlights those competencies and their application to workplace skills. The hybrid nature of the course allows students to develop their skills in a self-paced environment with face-to-face meetings and check-ins to frame their intercultural internship experience. Students complete 45 hours of in-person and asynchronous online learning activities and 225-300 hours at the internship placement.

In this course, students learn to use neuroscience methods to study the cognitive development of infants, children, and adolescents. The course begins with the various methods used in developmental cognitive neuroscience, such as pediatric and infant MRI, EEG, and fNIRS. In this context, students uncover and discuss the benefits and challenges of each approach and the feasibility of studying different age ranges. The course then examines typical brain development as assessed with in vivo MRI (including trajectories of white & gray matter over the life span). Next, are more specific aspects of cognitive development such as the development of visual processes where students learn how learning to read affects the brain and how regions involved in face processing develop throughout childhood to support important social functions such as face recognition. Topics are approached using a mix of formats including active participation, working in subgroups, presentations, short lectures, and videos.

This course explores the application of psychological principles, theories, and methods of research in studying religious behavior, cognition, and motivation, as well as the role of religion in human life. The course draws on the contributions of other fields of psychology and focuses on the attitudes, values, and experiences of people and their relationship with the supernatural. Topics covered include: the emergence of psychology of religion; approaches to the study of psychology of religion; religious experience; morality; coping and adjustment; and functions of religion in adult life.