Psychology

This course introduces the recently emerging fields of decision-making neuroscience and neuroeconomics. Topics include the core elements of the brain mechanism related to decision-making, such as dopamine function, approach and avoidance circuits, value calculation, and the dilemma of stability versus flexibility. In addition, this course covers the neuroscientific model of decision-making and how to understand and apply it to various choices in everyday life. 

This course is intended for advanced-level undergraduate students who have completed an introductory psychology course and are familiar with basic terms in neuroscience and elementary statistics. 

This course examines the theoretical and practical understanding of the psychology of communication skills and their application in everyday life, conflict management, dating, the workplace, intergroup situations, and even in how you talk to yourself. The course is designed to give you an exciting scientific overview of, and basic working competence in, communication skills. It covers communication and social skills; listening and the difficulty of doing so; conflict escalation and resolution; mating, dating, and relationships; communication across group boundaries; trolling and romance scamming; persuasion; cross-cultural communication norms; sex and/or gender differences in communication patterns; public speaking; organizational communication and leadership; and self-communication.

This course examines fundamental concepts of nervous system organization and function. Anatomy of the brain and spinal cord is studied using models to understand the cortical and subcortical pathways as well as integrating centers that control movements and posture. The physiology component introduces students to mechanisms of signal generation and transmission, basic mechanisms of spinal reflexes, the function of the sensory systems and autonomic nervous system and motor pathways. 

CIEE supports qualified students who wish to pursue an academically rigorous independent research project while abroad. In order to enroll, students must submit a research proposal including a clearly defined research topic,
explanation of research plans, description of preparation in the planned area of study, list of resources, tentative outline of a final paper, and suggested schedule of progress. Students complete a total of 100-120 hours of
research and meet regularly with an advisor to complete an academically rigorous, ethically sound, and culturally appropriate research project and final research paper. Approval for participation in Directed Independent Research
must be obtained from CIEE and the student's home institution prior to arrival on the program.

This is an independent research course with research arranged between the student and faculty member. The specific research topics vary each term and are described on a special project form for each student. A substantial paper is required. The number of units varies with the student’s project, contact hours, and method of assessment, as defined on the student’s special study project form.

This course examines normal cognition and the cognitive neuropsychological approach to brain-behavior relationships and cognitive processes and the cognitive and behavioral consequences of brain damage and models of cognitive rehabilitation.

We all prepare food, play cooperative games, romance each other etc. But how we do so depends on our cultural background–we are, by far, the world’s most ‘cultural animal’. So what was the “X-factor”, the magic ingredient of culture that took humans out of the general run of mammals and other highly social organisms? By emphasizing research in developmental psychology and integrating perspectives from comparative, social and evolutionary psychology this course explores contemporary answers to this question. We will be focusing on how an understanding of social and observational learning is critical to any answer, and to do so we will study the following populations: (a) typically developing infants and children; (b) children with autism; (c) adults; (d) non-human primates; and (e) other animals.

This course examines behavior from a modern evolutionary perspective, considering its adaptive nature, through active methodologies and systematic observation work in the field and/or audiovisual material. Topics include: biological basis of behavior; evolution and behavior; genetics of behavior; neuroethology and comparative physiology.

The course provides students with an understanding of organizational change as a multifaceted phenomenon and equips them with skills to adopt a reflective, multi-dimensional approach when managing change in their future careers. In their everyday jobs, managers need to identify when change is needed, manage its implementation or guide others through it. In this course students learn about theories, strategies, skills, and techniques for leading successful change.

A supervised program of study approved by the Head of School.