Introduction to Psychology
Independently designed and taught.
Taught Spring 2018 at Palomar College
Offered as a required course, a pre-requisite for upper-level courses, fulfilling requirements of Psychology majors.
Course Description
What is this course? Psychology is the science of behavior and mental processes. Introduction to Psychology is a course which will provide an overview of the historical and scientific roots of psychology, the biological foundations of behavior, motivation, development, learning, memory, personality, psychopathology, and social psychology. This course will survey the broad field of psychology and examine how the many areas of psychology are similar and different in their study of people’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.
At the end of this course, you should be able to provide accurate and intelligent responses to two questions:
What do psychologists do? As we are learning about the various areas of psychology, we will examine how psychologists come to their conclusions. We will see the various techniques scientists use (experiments, surveys, observation) to study psychology, and we will develop a critical eye about inaccurate, biased, and over-generalized conclusions.
How is psychology a part of my life? Psychology is ultimately the study of people, so it’s important for everyone to see how the topics covered in this course apply to the real world of everyday life. We will see that there are some basic psychological processes (biological, perceptual, and emotional) that apply to everyone and other aspects of psychology that vary across different people. In the end, you should be able to incorporate psychology into your life on many different levels.
Independently designed and taught.
Taught Spring 2018 at Palomar College
Offered as a required course, a pre-requisite for upper-level courses, fulfilling requirements of Psychology majors.
Course Description
What is this course? Psychology is the science of behavior and mental processes. Introduction to Psychology is a course which will provide an overview of the historical and scientific roots of psychology, the biological foundations of behavior, motivation, development, learning, memory, personality, psychopathology, and social psychology. This course will survey the broad field of psychology and examine how the many areas of psychology are similar and different in their study of people’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.
At the end of this course, you should be able to provide accurate and intelligent responses to two questions:
What do psychologists do? As we are learning about the various areas of psychology, we will examine how psychologists come to their conclusions. We will see the various techniques scientists use (experiments, surveys, observation) to study psychology, and we will develop a critical eye about inaccurate, biased, and over-generalized conclusions.
How is psychology a part of my life? Psychology is ultimately the study of people, so it’s important for everyone to see how the topics covered in this course apply to the real world of everyday life. We will see that there are some basic psychological processes (biological, perceptual, and emotional) that apply to everyone and other aspects of psychology that vary across different people. In the end, you should be able to incorporate psychology into your life on many different levels.
Physiological Psychology (Psychobiology / Brain and Behavior / Biological Psychology)
Independently designed and taught.
Taught Spring 2017 at Coastline Community College
Taught Summer 2017 at University of California, Irvine
Taught Fall 2017, Spring 2018 at Cerritos College
Taught Spring 2018, Summer 2018 at Vanguard University
Taught Fall 2018 at The American Women's College of Bay Path University
Offered as an elective course, fulfilling requirements for Psychology / Neuroscience and Biological Science majors.
Course Description
This course will provide an introduction to how the brain and nervous system influence our thinking and behavior. Students will examine neuroanatomy of the brain, the neuron, the peripheral and central nervous systems, and the endocrine system. Students will study the five major senses, perception, and higher cognitive processes. Students will understand how these nervous system components contribute to basic biological functions (e.g., sleep, wakefulness, and drive states), emotion, memory, movement, language, cognition, and behavioral actions.
Independently designed and taught.
Taught Spring 2017 at Coastline Community College
Taught Summer 2017 at University of California, Irvine
Taught Fall 2017, Spring 2018 at Cerritos College
Taught Spring 2018, Summer 2018 at Vanguard University
Taught Fall 2018 at The American Women's College of Bay Path University
Offered as an elective course, fulfilling requirements for Psychology / Neuroscience and Biological Science majors.
Course Description
This course will provide an introduction to how the brain and nervous system influence our thinking and behavior. Students will examine neuroanatomy of the brain, the neuron, the peripheral and central nervous systems, and the endocrine system. Students will study the five major senses, perception, and higher cognitive processes. Students will understand how these nervous system components contribute to basic biological functions (e.g., sleep, wakefulness, and drive states), emotion, memory, movement, language, cognition, and behavioral actions.
Episodic Memory in Human and Nonhuman Animals
Independently designed and taught, following a written and defended proposal to add the course to the curriculum.
Taught Fall 2014 at Johns Hopkins University
Offered as an elective course, fulfilling requirements of Cognitive Science, Behavioral Biology, Neuroscience, and Psychology majors.
Course Description
Episodic memory, or autobiographical memory, has been said to be a capacity that is uniquely human. Consisting of the what, when, and where components of our experiences, episodic memory is what makes each of us who we are. This course will explore each of these components individually—the psychology and neural underpinnings—before discussing them in combination. Additionally, we will visit one of the greatest ongoing debates in the memory literature: whether or not this ability is truly “uniquely human” or if our nonhuman animal counterparts also have this capacity. Throughout the course, we will draw on empirical evidence from a variety of species including rodents, primates, and birds.
Independently designed and taught, following a written and defended proposal to add the course to the curriculum.
Taught Fall 2014 at Johns Hopkins University
Offered as an elective course, fulfilling requirements of Cognitive Science, Behavioral Biology, Neuroscience, and Psychology majors.
Course Description
Episodic memory, or autobiographical memory, has been said to be a capacity that is uniquely human. Consisting of the what, when, and where components of our experiences, episodic memory is what makes each of us who we are. This course will explore each of these components individually—the psychology and neural underpinnings—before discussing them in combination. Additionally, we will visit one of the greatest ongoing debates in the memory literature: whether or not this ability is truly “uniquely human” or if our nonhuman animal counterparts also have this capacity. Throughout the course, we will draw on empirical evidence from a variety of species including rodents, primates, and birds.
Your Lifestyle, Your Memory
Independently designed and taught, following a written and defended proposal to add the course to the curriculum.
Taught Intersession 2013, 2014, 2015 at Johns Hopkins University
Offered as an elective course during the 3-week optional period between Fall and Spring semesters.
Course Description
Variables affecting bodily function also affect brain function—one of the most critical being memory. The ability to form, store, and recall past events plays a critical role in guiding behavior in a complex, dynamic environment. Lifestyle choices involving diet, exercise, caffeine, stress, and sleep affect brain processing related to memory function. This course will explore how these types of decisions affect the brain physiologically and the mind psychologically, specifically in regards to memory performance.
Independently designed and taught, following a written and defended proposal to add the course to the curriculum.
Taught Intersession 2013, 2014, 2015 at Johns Hopkins University
Offered as an elective course during the 3-week optional period between Fall and Spring semesters.
Course Description
Variables affecting bodily function also affect brain function—one of the most critical being memory. The ability to form, store, and recall past events plays a critical role in guiding behavior in a complex, dynamic environment. Lifestyle choices involving diet, exercise, caffeine, stress, and sleep affect brain processing related to memory function. This course will explore how these types of decisions affect the brain physiologically and the mind psychologically, specifically in regards to memory performance.
Abnormal Psychology
Independently taught.
Taught Spring 2018 at Coastline Community College
Course Description
Please check back for the full course description and syllabus.
Independently taught.
Taught Spring 2018 at Coastline Community College
Course Description
Please check back for the full course description and syllabus.
Development across the Life Span
Independently taught.
Taught Spring 2018 at Coastline Community College
Course Description
Please check back for the full course description and syllabus.
Independently taught.
Taught Spring 2018 at Coastline Community College
Course Description
Please check back for the full course description and syllabus.
