Courses and Syllabi
For course syllabi from before 2011, please see our syllabus archive.
The University Catalog is the authoritative source for information on courses. The Schedule of Classes is the authoritative source for information on classes scheduled for this semester. See the Schedule for the most up-to-date information and see Patriot web to register for classes.
Psychology Spring 2021
Undergraduate
100-Level Courses in PSYC
Introduces psychology as scientific discipline. Examines concepts and methods in learning, motivation, development, personality, and measurement. Limited to three attempts.
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4 Sections Currently Scheduled »
200-Level Courses in PSYC
Review of major developmental theories including perspectives of childhood, adolescence, adulthood, and old age. Limited to three attempts.
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6 Sections Currently Scheduled »
Study of human behavior development in a social matrix, including such topics as socialization, cultural behavior, group norms, and attitude formation. Limited to three attempts.
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6 Sections Currently Scheduled »
300-Level Courses in PSYC
Descriptive and inferential statistics in design, analysis, and interpretation of psychological research with practical application using computers in laboratory. Notes: Students are strongly encouraged to take PSYC 301 concurrently. Limited to three attempts.
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18 Sections Currently Scheduled »
General research design in psychology, with an emphasis on experimental design and control. Topics include use of human participants in research, reliability and validity, observational methods, and survey and longitudinal designs. Notes: Students are strongly encouraged to take PSYC 300 concurrently. Laboratory work will include designing and running research studies and writing manuscripts using appropriate style and format. Limited to three attempts.
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18 Sections Currently Scheduled »
Principles of animal learning, including such topics as classical and operant conditioning, discrimination learning, and animal cognition. Notes: Laboratory projects require working with computer simulations. Limited to three attempts.
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9 Sections Currently Scheduled »
Principles of perception, including topics such as psychophysics, perceptual organization, perceptual learning, and perceptual constancies. Notes: Laboratory projects demonstrate and investigate perceptual phenomena. Limited to three attempts.
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3 Sections Currently Scheduled
Enables students to apply psychological principles to the learning process in the classroom context. Examines the theoretical and applied aspects of learning, motivation, human development, personality, assessment, and evaluation in educational settings. Corresponding implications for effective teaching will be discussed. Limited to three attempts.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Study of human psychological development from conception to adolescence including such topics as genetic factors, emotional and intellectual growth, and environmental influences. Limited to three attempts.
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2 Sections Currently Scheduled
Study of the biological and cultural changes accompanying adolescence, including the effect of these changes on emotional, intellectual, and social development. Limited to three attempts.
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2 Sections Currently Scheduled
An in-depth overview of important topics in cognitive psychology, including memory, attention, pattern recognition, problem solving, reasoning, and psycholinguistics. Limited to three attempts.
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6 Sections Currently Scheduled »
Examination and application of principles underlying the theory, interpretation, and administration of psychological tests, including a study of tests of intelligence, achievement, and ability. This course may count for both the Applied Psychology and Experimental Psychology lab requirements or for both the Applied Psychology and Technical Writing requirements. Limited to three attempts.
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3 Sections Currently Scheduled
Examines evidence-based psychological assessment and psychotherapy techniques to understand, prevent, and treat psychological distress and dysfunction and promote well-being. Limited to three attempts.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Examination of experimental principles of human and animal learning within theoretical framework of applied behavior analysis, including design, implementation, and evaluation of operant intervention programs across a wide variety of human situations. Limited to three attempts.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Introduction to classical and contemporary theories of personality, and comparative evaluation of major theories in terms of relevant studies. Limited to three attempts.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Study of development of abnormal behavior patterns, including such topics as methods of diagnosis and prevention of serious mental disorders such as psychosomatic disorders, psychoses, character disorders, and intellectual disability. Limited to three attempts.
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6 Sections Currently Scheduled »
Individual placements in applied psychology settings. Notes: A maximum of 6 credits of PSYC 327, 328, 421, and 422 can be applied to the psychology major. May be repeated within the degree for a maximum 6 credits.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Consists of a one-hour service learning component linked to selected psychology courses. Notes: A maximum of 6 credits of PSYC 327, 328, 421, and 422 can be applied to the psychology major. May be repeated within the degree for a maximum 6 credits.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Examination of application of psychological principles and methods to problems commonly encountered in business and industry. Limited to three attempts.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Creativity and innovation take place in many domains such business, science and the arts. Learn the distinction between creativity and innovation. Apply findings from the scientific literature about the antecedents of creativity and innovation including emotions, cognition, individual differences, and social contexts. Experiment with ways to enhance your creativity and skills for innovation. Limited to three attempts.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Reviews history and current practice of optimal product and system design as a function of psychology. Includes a brief history of human factors psychology, a review of human memory and attentional systems as they relate to product and system design, and an introduction to current methods used to analyze and redesign products and systems for optimal human interaction. Limited to three attempts.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Behavior and attitudes of women; influence of chromosomes and hormones on behavior, influence of culture on sex role differentiation, and theories of sex role development. Limited to three attempts.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Survey of neuroscience, including basic neuroanatomy, neural and synaptic transmission, neural mechanisms underlying normal and abnormal behavior, and biological mechanisms of drug action. Students may earn credit for PSYC 372 and either PSYC 375 or PSYC 376, but they may not earn credit for all three. Limited to three attempts.
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5 Sections Currently Scheduled »
Functional anatomy and physiology of the brain, including dissection of brain and eye, and a demonstration and practice in research methods for studying physiological mechanisms underlying behavior. Limited to three attempts.
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7 Sections Currently Scheduled »
First half of comprehensive survey of neuroscience, including basic neuroanatomy, neural and synaptic transmission, neural mechanisms underlying normal and abnormal behavior, and biological mechanisms of drug action. Notes: Students may earn credit for 372 and either 375 or 376, but they may not earn credit for all three. Limited to three attempts.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Second half of a comprehensive survey of neuroscience, including neural mechanisms underlying normal and abnormal behavior. Notes: Students may earn credit for 372 and either 375 or 376, but they may not earn credit for all three. Limited to three attempts.
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2 Sections Currently Scheduled
A review of important landmarks in cross-cultural research, showing how this research impacts psychology as a discipline. Emphasizes an empirical approach to cross-cultural study and includes topics such as theoretical and empirical developments in cross-cultural psychology, development of coherent schemas to guide cross-cultural research and interventions, comparison of psychology's goals and assumptions in Western and other cultures, and integration of course materials into educational and career goals of students. Limited to three attempts.
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2 Sections Currently Scheduled
Explores the differing, yet varied facets of the field of forensic psychology including landmark legal cases relevant to psychology, potential careers in forensic psychology, police psychology, expert testimony, forensic psychological assessment, psychopathy, homeland security, ethics, correctional psychology, and issues in working in the juvenile justice system. Limited to three attempts.
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2 Sections Currently Scheduled
Examines the frequent intersection of individuals diagnosed with severe mental illness and the criminal justice system. Includes case studies that demonstrate possible judicial, therapeutic, correctional, and post-adjudication outcomes. Limited to three attempts.
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3 Sections Currently Scheduled
Explores short-term and long-term psychological effects of crime on victims through interviews with survivors of childhood abduction, elder abuse, intimate partner violence, and child abuse, among others. Evaluates roles and responsibilities of mental professionals and law enforcement when interacting with crime victims. Limited to three attempts.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Emphasizes development and readiness for a profession in the social sciences through self-assessment and professional skill acquisition. Limited to three attempts.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
400-Level Courses in PSYC
Multidisciplinary approach to taboo topics that fascinate and frighten us. Instructors from disciplines across the arts and sciences bring expertise and diverse perspectives to provocative issues such as cannibalism and serial murder. Students learn to think critically and objectively while examining use in myth, literature, and popular culture. Limited to three attempts.
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6 Sections Currently Scheduled »
Review of the theories, methods, and research dealing with emotional and behavioral disorders of children. Limited to three attempts.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Examination of the sensory, perceptual, intellectual, personality, health, and familial changes that occur as people age and adjust into their later years. Common and more serious adjustment difficulties and developments are discussed with attention to impacts on the individual and the family. Limited to three attempts.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
This course will examine and interpret the latest research in social, personality, and clinical psychology on well-being, character strengths, and personal growth. Emphasis will be placed on the ways in which scientists generate hypotheses regarding the nature of positive psychological traits and processes and the methods by which these ideas are tested. Limited to three attempts.
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2 Sections Currently Scheduled
Advanced survey of processes of grieving and their relationship to death and dying. Topics include ways of dying, effects of death on loved ones, and care for the terminally ill. Equivalent to PSYC 518.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Review of theory and methods of group therapy with emphasis on humanistic and interpersonal approaches, including applications to family therapy, alcoholism, and drug abuse. Limited to three attempts.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Gain professional experience in a clinical setting. This course takes place at the GMU Center for Psychological Services, a mental health training center that serves the community. Enrolled students provide reception room service to clients at the center, learning aspects of the center administration and acquiring relevant skills in the field. This course may count for both Applied Psychology and Professional Development requirements. May be repeated within the degree for a maximum 6 credits.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Provides a critical, evidenced-based, examination of common psychological practices and constructs in the field of forensic psychology including psychological assessments, expert testimony, risk assessment, hypnosis, criminal profiling, polygraph examination, and methods of interrogation. Limited to three attempts.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Considers the psychological factors and structural and functional neurological differences that influence criminal behaviors including murder, sexual assault, fraud, intimate partner violence, and arson. The predictive and explanatory abilities of neuroimaging with respect to the criminal acts in question, as well as the role of neuroimaging in the judicial system, will also be explored. Limited to three attempts.
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2 Sections Currently Scheduled
Selected topics reflecting interest in specialized areas. Notes: Topic announced in advance. May be repeated when topic is different. May be repeated within the term.
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4 Sections Currently Scheduled »
Advanced survey of theories and research related to intimate relationships, including romantic relations and those among family members and friends in diverse cultural and relationship contexts. Limited to three attempts.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Teaches knowledge and the skills to meet communication, interpersonal, and task-related challenges that arise when functioning in work teams. Through readings, classroom activities, and applied problem-solving exercises, students acquire or refine team-related competencies. Students study theory of group and team processes while gaining insight from feedback on their behavior in exercises to become more effective team members. Limited to three attempts.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
A survey of the causes, symptoms, drug treatments, risk factors and preventative measures associated with Alzheimer's disease. Limited to three attempts.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Review of topics and issues in psychology, including historical overview, theory and supporting data, and influences on behavior. Notes: Topics vary. Limited to three attempts.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Completion of final honors project or thesis. Students must complete project or thesis, and present oral defense to committee and poster to class. Students also expected to prepare proposal to present project or thesis at regional or national conference, or prepare manuscript for publication in appropriate journal. Limited to three attempts.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Topics in PSYC
Selected topics reflecting interest in specialized areas. Notes: Topic announced in advance. May be repeated when topic is different. May be repeated within the term.
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4 Sections Currently Scheduled »
Graduate
500-Level Courses in PSYC
Advanced survey of processes of grieving and their relationship to death and dying. Topics include ways of dying, effects of death on loved ones, and care for the terminally ill. Equivalent to PSYC 418.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Functional anatomy of brains of mammals, with emphasis on regional and systems neuroanatomy of humans. Anatomy correlated with material from clinical neurology where possible. Laboratory component includes brain dissections and clinical correlations. Equivalent to BIOL 516.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Neurochemistry and neuroendocrinology, including neurotransmitter synthesis, genetic aspects of neural functioning, mechanisms of action of neurotransmitters and second messenger systems, regulation of neuroendocrine systems, neuroendocrine effects on behavior, and neuroimmunology. May not be repeated for credit.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Special topics reflecting interests in specialized areas. Notes: Topic announced in advance. May be repeated when topic is different. May be repeated within the term for a maximum 9 credits.
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6 Sections Currently Scheduled »
600-Level Courses in PSYC
Covers principles and strategies for facilitating effective organizational change and growth. Topics include principles of organizational growth, organizational diagnosis, the design of effective organizational interventions, leading and managing organizational change, and strategies for evaluating and calibrating organizational change. Limited to three attempts.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Study of administration, scoring, and interpretation of standard tests used by industry for selection and assessment of personnel. May not be repeated for credit.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Examines research techniques specifically designed to evaluate human effectiveness of organizations and mental health programs. May not be repeated for credit.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Examines issues in basic and applied social science methodology including internal validity, causal generalization, and construct validity. May not be repeated for credit.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Hands-on approach to selected current or classical human factors/applied cognition research methods; exact methods announced in advance. Potential methods include cognitive task analysis, usability evaluation methods, critical incident analysis, reliability analysis, workload measures, verbal protocol analysis, and engineering models of human performance. May not be repeated for credit.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Basic concepts in experimental design, fundamental assumptions in analysis of variance, and analysis of variance and covariance designs. Reviews multiple comparison tests. May not be repeated for credit.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Surveys theory and research relevant to development of social relationships, emotional expressiveness and regulation, aggressive and altruistic behaviors, sex roles, and morality. Emphasizes influences on such development, including parents, other adults, peers, siblings, and broader culture. May not be repeated for credit.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
700-Level Courses in PSYC
Surveys concepts in learning, cognitive, and affective processes, including theories and supporting data and their influences on behavior. Notes: Open only to degree students. May not be repeated for credit.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Emphasizes current research and application of human factors, ergonomics, applied cognition, and applied perception. Notes: May be repeated when topic is different. May be repeated within the term for a maximum 9 credits.
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2 Sections Currently Scheduled
Reviews psychological applications of regression techniques in variety of contexts including experimental, field, and survey settings. May not be repeated for credit.
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9 Sections Currently Scheduled »
Surveys multivariate statistical techniques as applied to psychological research. Emphasizes analysis of complex designs and interpretation of multivariate data analyses resulting from computer processing. May not be repeated for credit.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Emphasizes current research in cognitive science. Topics may include computational cognitive models, nature of expertise, diagrammatic reasoning, display-based problem solving, visual attention, decision making, goal-based versus event-based cognition, and situated action. Notes: May be repeated when topic is different. May be repeated within the term for a maximum 12 credits.
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2 Sections Currently Scheduled
Supervised experience working in applied, school, or agency settings. May be repeated within the degree for a maximum 6 credits.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
800-Level Courses in PSYC
Second of required two-course sequence that provides comprehensive coverage of principles, strategies, and techniques of psychological assessment. Emphasizes empirically supported methods. Notes: Open to clinical psychology PhD students, or other students with permission of instructor. May not be repeated for credit.
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2 Sections Currently Scheduled
Teaches the selection, evaluation, and application of empirically supported interventions for children and adolescents with a focus on cognitive-behavioral interventions. Instruction in evidence based assessments, cognitive-behavioral case conceptualization, outcome evaluation, and consultation. Supervision of cognitive-behavioral therapy with youth. May be repeated within the degree for a maximum 6 credits.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Teaches the principles of cognitive-behavioral theory, conceptualization and psychotherapy techniques for psychological problems with adults. Supervision of cognitive-behavioral therapy with adults. May be repeated within the degree for a maximum 6 credits.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Supervised clinical work in a professional psychological services setting. Usually includes practice in psychological assessment and clinical interventions, but can also include supervision, consultation, and program evaluation. May be repeated within the term for a maximum 21 credits.
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2 Sections Currently Scheduled
Examines ethical principles and professional guidelines to help develop ethical decision-making and behavior to meet the appropriate standards of care in providing clinical services. Notes: Open to clinical psychology PhD students, or other students with permission of instructor. May not be repeated for credit.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Individual placements in psychological assessment or psychotherapy service settings. Notes: Open only to clinical psychology PhD students in the third year or more of training. May be repeated within the degree.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Each section limited to students in one concentration of MA or PhD program. See area coordinator for requirements for section in each track. May be repeated within the term for a maximum 3 credits.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Selected topics reflecting specialized areas in psychology. Notes: Open only to PhD students. Content varies. May be repeated when topic is different. May be repeated within the term for a maximum 17 credits.
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6 Sections Currently Scheduled »
900-Level Courses in PSYC
Work on research proposal that forms basis for doctoral dissertation. Notes: No more than 24 credits of PSYC 998 and 999 may be applied to doctoral degree requirements. May be repeated within the degree.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Research on approved dissertation topic under direction of dissertation committee. Notes: Students must complete a minimum of 3 credits of 999. No more than 12 credits of PSYC 998 and 999 may be applied to doctoral degree requirements. May be repeated within the degree.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Topics in PSYC
Special topics reflecting interests in specialized areas. Notes: Topic announced in advance. May be repeated when topic is different. May be repeated within the term for a maximum 9 credits.
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6 Sections Currently Scheduled »
Emphasizes current research and application of human factors, ergonomics, applied cognition, and applied perception. Notes: May be repeated when topic is different. May be repeated within the term for a maximum 9 credits.
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2 Sections Currently Scheduled
Selected topics reflecting specialized areas in psychology. Notes: Open only to PhD students. Content varies. May be repeated when topic is different. May be repeated within the term for a maximum 17 credits.
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6 Sections Currently Scheduled »
