Curriculum & Courses

PSYC BC1001 INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY. 3.00 points.

This course is a prerequisite for the Psychology Major, as well as for most other Barnard PSYC courses (be sure to check all course information before enrolling in a course). The following Columbia University courses are considered overlapping and a student cannot receive credit for both the BC course and the equivalent CU course: UN1001 The Science of Psychology; and UN1021 Science of Psychology: Explorations/Applications

PSYC BC1010 INTRO LAB EXPERIMENTAL PSYCH. 2.50 points.

Prerequisites: Note: This introductory lab course is intended for students who have not previously been enrolled in a psychology lab course. It is also highly recommended for First Year and Sophomore students.
Corequisites: PSYC BC1001
Corequisites: PSYC BC1001, or its equivalent, must be completed prior to or concurrently with BC1010. This lab course is intended for students who have not previously been enrolled in a psychology lab course; and a majority of seats are reserved for First Year and Sophomore students. A laboratory-based introduction to experimental methods used in psychological research. Upon successful completion of this course, students will know how to review the primary literature and formulate a hypothesis, design an experiment, analyze data using statistical methods, communicate the results of a scientific study through oral presentation and written manuscript, and carry out research studies under ethical guidelines. Students will be able to apply the acquired knowledge in all disciplines of Psychology and will be prepared to engage in advance research in fields including, but not limited to, Cognition, Learning, Perception, Behavioral Neuroscience, Development, Personality, and Social Psychology

PSYC BC1020 BEHAVIORAL RESEARCH METHODS AND ANALYSIS. 3.00 points.

This course is a prerequisite for all 2000-level PSYC lab courses, and a requirement for the Psychology Major. PSYC BC1001, or its equivalent, must be completed prior to or concurrently with this course. This class will introduce students to the fundamental scientific principles, experimental methods, and analytical approaches involved in the study of human behavior. The initial major topics to be covered include how basic scientific approach can be gainfully and ethically used to study human behavior. The following topics in the course will cover the most prevalent manners of collecting data in behavioral research and the most common types of statistical analyses and tests such data is subjected to. The latter topics in the course will introduce some of the more advanced experimental designs and statistical approaches that are more specific to the social sciences

PSYC BC1088 THE SCIENCE OF LIVING WELL. 4.00 points.

3 points for lecture + 1 point for recitation

What does it mean to live a life well lived? The main mission of this course is to provide an up-to-date understanding of theoretical, empirical, and applied advances in the science of well-being and self-actualization. Consideration will be given to conflicting viewpoints and their respective empirical support, including the benefits of embracing both comfortable and uncomfortable emotions, the measurement and development of different models of well-being, and the implications of deliberately attempting to increase well-being. Throughout the course we will engage in experiential learning and practical exercises which will inform our theoretical and empirical understanding of the latest scientific findings and help you in your own personal journey to satisfy the fundamental needs of human existence and bring out the best in yourself. This course is comprised of a lecture and a discussion section

PSYC BC1099 SCIENCE AND SCIENTISTS. 1.00 point.

Prerequisites: BC1001 or permission of the instructor.
Weekly meetings with researchers from Barnard, Columbia, and other guests to discuss the nature of scientific inquiry in psychology; and intellectual, professional, and personal issues in the work of scientists

PSYC BC1101 STATISTICS LECTURE AND RECITATION. 4.00 points.

Prerequisites: BC1001 and instructor permission. Enrollment limited to 20 students per recitation section.
Prerequisite (or co-requisite): PSYC BC1001. Lecture course and associated recitation section introducing students to statistics and its applications to psychological research. The course covers basic theory, conceptual underpinnings, and common statistics. The following Columbia University courses are considered overlapping and a student cannot receive credit for both the BC course and the equivalent CU course: STAT UN1001 Introduction to Statistical Reasoning; STAT UN1101 Introduction to Statistics; STAT UN1201 Introduction to Statistics

PSYC BC2106 PSYCH OF LEARNING - LAB. 2.50 points.

Prerequisites: PSYC BC1001, BC1020, BC1101. Corequisite: PSYC BC2107 Psychology of Learning Lecture. Students conduct experiments analyzing learning and memory in rats and humans. The following Columbia University course is considered overlapping and a student cannot receive credit for both the BC course and the equivalent CU course: PSYC UN1440 Experimental Psychology: Learning and Motivation (which includes PSYC UN1441 Learning and Motivation Lab)

PSYC BC2107 PSYCHOLOGY OF LEARNING - LEC. 3.00 points.

Prerequisites: BC1001 Introduction of Psychology or permission of the instructor. Enrollment limited to 72 students.
Prerequisites: PSYC BC1001 Introduction to Psychology or COGS UN1001 Introduction to Cognitive Science or permission of the instructor. Lecture course covering the basic methods, results, and theory in the study of how experience affects behavior. The roles of early exposure, habitation, sensitization, conditioning, imitation, and memory in the acquisition and performance of behavior are studied. The following Columbia University course is considered overlapping and a student cannot receive credit for both the BC course and the equivalent CU course: PSYC UN1440 Experimental: Learning and Motivation

PSYC BC2109 PERCEPTION - LAB. 2.50 points.

Prerequisites: PSYC BC1001, BC1020, BC1101. Corequisites: BC2110 Perception Lecture. Laboratory course to accompany BC2110. Students conduct experiments of seeing, hearing, touching, tasting, and smelling, and learn to report their findings. The following Columbia University course is considered overlapping and a student cannot receive credit for both the BC course and the equivalent CU course: PSYC UN1480 Perception and Attention (which includes PSYC UN1481 Perception and Attention Lab); and UN2230 Perception and Sensory Processes

PSYC BC2110 PERCEPTION-LECTURE. 3.00 points.

Prerequisites: PSYC BC1001 Introduction to Psychology or COGS UN1001 Introduction to Cognitive Science or permission of the instructor. Lecture course covering an introduction to problems, methods, and research in perception. Discussion of psychological studies of seeing, hearing, touching, tasting, and smelling. Note that this lecture can be taken without its affiliated lab, PSYC BC2109, however, if a student completes this lecture, she cannot enroll in the lab in a later semester. The following Columbia University course is considered overlapping and a student cannot receive credit for both the BC course and the equivalent CU course: PSYC UN1480 Perception and Attention; and PSYC UN2230 Perception and Sensory Processes

PSYC BC2114 COGNITIVE PSYCHOLOGY - LAB. 2.50 points.

Prerequisites: BC1001 Introduction to Psychology lecture, and instructor permission. Enrollment limited to 24 students per section.
Corequisites: PSYC BC2115
Prerequisites: PSYC BC1001, BC1020, BC1101. Corequisites: BC2115 Cognitive Lecture. Students conduct experiments related to selected topics illustrating the methods, findings, and theories of contemporary cognitive psychology. Topics include attention, memory, categorization, perception, and decision making. Special topics include neuropsychology and cognitive neuroscience

PSYC BC2115 COGNITIVE PSYCHOLOGY - LEC. 3.00 points.

Prerequisites: BC1001 or permission of the instructor.
Prerequisites: PSYC BC1001 Introduction to Psychology or COGS UN1001 Introduction to Cognitive Science or permission of the instructor. Lecture covering selected topics illustrating the methods, findings, and theories of contemporary cognitive psychology. Topics include attention, memory, categorization, perception, and decision making. Special topics include neuropsychology and cognitive neuroscience. Note that this lecture can be taken without its affiliated lab, PSYC BC2114, however, if a student completes this lecture, she cannot enroll in the lab in a later semester. The following Columbia University courses are considered overlapping and a student cannot receive credit for both the BC course and the equivalent CU course: PSYC UN2220 Cognition: Memory and Stress; and PSYC UN2210 Cognition: Basic Processes

PSYC BC2118 SYSTEMS ＆ BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE-LAB. 1.50 point.

Prerequisites: BC1001 Introduction to Psychology lecture, and instructor permission. Enrollment limited to 16 students per section.
Corequisites: PSYC BC2119
Prerequisites: BC1001. Enrollment limited to 20 students per section. Corequisites: BC2119 Systems and Behavioral Neuroscience Lecture. Laboratory course to accompany BC2119. Students conduct experiments related to the physiological bases of behavior: development, organization and function of the nervous system; neurochemistry, neurophysiology and synaptic transmission. Topics include: the neural bases of sensory systems; homeostasis; sexual behavior; biological rhythms; emotionality and stress; learning and memory; and psychopathology. A portion of this course uses rats as experimental subjects and involves brain dissections

PSYC BC2119 SYSTEMS ＆ BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE-LEC. 3.00 points.

Prerequisites: BC1001 or permission of the instructor.
Prerequisites: BC1001 or permission of the instructor. Lecture course covering an introduction to the physiological bases of behavior: development, organization and function of the nervous system; neurochemistry, neurophysiology and synaptic transmission. Topics include: the neural bases of sensory systems; homeostasis; sexual behavior; biological rhythms; emotionality and stress; learning and memory; and psychopathology

PSYC BC2124 PSYCH OF PERSONALITY - LAB. 2.50 points.

Prerequisites: PSYC BC1001, BC1020, BC1101. Corequisites: PSYC BC2125 Psychology of Personality Lecture. Laboratory consists of experiments related to the principal approaches to personality and their implications for personality development, psychological adjustment, and everyday behavior. Students will participate in all stages of personality research: conceptualizing a personality construct, designing and administering tests, identifying individual differences, and carrying out a study

PSYC BC2125 PSYCHOLOGY OF PERSONALITY-LEC. 3.00 points.

Prerequisites: BC1001 or permission of the instructor.
Prerequisites: BC1001 or permission of the instructor. Lecture course covering the principal approaches to personality and their implications for personality development, psychological adjustment, and everyday behavior. Note that this lecture can be taken without its affiliated lab, PSYC BC2124, however, if a student completes this lecture, she cannot enroll in the lab in a later semester. The following Columbia University course is considered overlapping and a student cannot receive credit for both the BC course and the equivalent CU course: PSYC UN2610 Introduction to Personality; and PSYC UN2680 Social and Personality Development

PSYC BC2128 DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCH - LAB. 2.50 points.

Prerequisites: PSYC BC1001, BC1020, BC1101. Corequisites: PSYC BC2129 Developmental Psychology Lecture. Laboratory course involving experiments related to cognitive, linguistic, perceptual, motor, social, affective, and personality development from infancy to adolescence. The course offers an opportunity for direct observation of children; major areas of research at each level of development are covered

PSYC BC2129 DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY-LEC. 3.00 points.

Prerequisites: BC1001 or permission of the instructor.
Prerequisites: PSYC BC1001 Introduction to Psychology or COGS UN1001 Introduction to Cognitive Science or permission of the instructor. Lecture course covering cognitive, linguistic, perceptual, motor, social, affective, and personality development from infancy to adolescence. Note that this lecture can be taken without its affiliated lab, PSYC BC2128, however, if a student completes this lecture, she cannot enroll in the lab in a later semester. The following Columbia University course is considered overlapping and a student cannot receive credit for both the BC course and the equivalent CU course: PSYC UN2280 Introduction to Developmental Psychology

PSYC BC2137 SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY - LAB. 2.50 points.

Prerequisites: BC1001 Introduction to Psychology and departmental permission. Enrollment limited to 25 students per section.
Corequisites: PSYC BC2138
Prerequisites: BC1001, BC1020, BC1101. Corequisites: BC2138 Social Psychology Lecture. Laboratory course covering contemporary theory and research on social thought and behavior. Issues such as person perception, attitudes, attraction, aggression, stereotyping, group dynamics, and social exchange will be explored. The application of theory and research to addressing social problems will be discussed

PSYC BC2138 SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY-LEC. 4.00 points.

Prerequisites: BC1001 or permission of the instructor.
Prerequisites: BC1001 or permission of the instructor. Lecture course covering contemporary theory and research on social thought and behavior. Issues such as person perception, attitudes, attraction, aggression, stereotyping, group dynamics, and social exchange will be explored. The application of theory and research to addressing social problems will be discussed. Note that this lecture can be taken without its affiliated lab, PSYC BC2137, however, if a student completes this lecture, she cannot enroll in the lab in a later semester. The following Columbia University course is considered overlapping and a student cannot receive credit for both the BC course and the equivalent CU course: PSYC UN2630 Social Psychology

PSYC BC2141 ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY. 3.00 points.

Prerequisites: BC1001. An introduction to the study of abnormal behavior and various psychological disorders such as depression, schizophrenia, anxiety disorders, eating disorders, and personality disorders. The course broadly reviews scientific and cultural perspectives on abnormal behavior with an emphasis on clinical descriptions and diagnosis, etiology, treatment, and research methods. The following Columbia University course is considered overlapping and a student cannot receive credit for both the BC course and the equivalent CU course: PSYC UN2620 Abnormal Behavior

PSYC BC2151 ORGANIZATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY. 3.00 points.

Prerequisites: BC1001 or permission of the instructor. Enrollment strictly limited to 45 students; decided upon and finalized first week of classes. Introduction to behavior of individuals and small groups in work organizations. Recent theory and research emphasizing both content and research methodology. Motivation and performance, attitudes and job satisfaction, power, influence, authority, leadership, cooperation and conflict, decision making, and communications. Enrollment limited to 45; and only seniors

PSYC BC2155 CLINICAL LABORATORY. 2.50 points.

Corequisites: PSYC BC2156
Prerequisites: BC1001, BC1020, BC1101. Corequisite: PSYC BC2156 Clinical Psychology lecture. The purpose of the lab is to teach students the research methods involved in creating clinical psychological science. Students gain hands-on practice with clinical psychology research methods. In the first half of the lab students conduct classroom exercises demonstrating concepts such as reliability and validity and research methodologies such as randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and treatment fidelity. In the second half of the class students design and run a research study. Basic methodological issues will be explored in depth, including research ethics, conducting literature reviews and writing up a scientific report in APA style

PSYC BC2156 CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY. 3.00 points.

Prerequisites: PSYC BC1001
Prerequisites: PSYC BC1001 or permission of the instructor. An introduction to the field of clinical psychology aimed at 1) becoming familiar with professional issues in the field and 2) comparing therapeutic approaches for their utility and efficacy. Therapeutic approaches covered include psychodynamic therapies, cognitive behavior therapies, family/child therapies. The course will critically examine a variety of professional issues including ethical dilemmas, clinical assessment and diagnosis, and use of technology in therapy. Note that this lecture can be taken without its affiliated lab, PSYC BC2155, however, if a student completes this lecture, she cannot enroll in the lab in a later semester

PSYC BC2163 Human Learning and Memory. 3 points.

Prerequisites: BC1001 and at least one psychology lab course, or permission of the instructor. Enrollment limited to 20 students.

Survey of contemporary theories and empirical research on human memory. Topics will include sensory, short term and long term memory, levels of processing, organization, forgetting, and encoding specificity. Special topics include eyewitness testimony, amnesia, implicit memory, and false memory.

PSYC BC2165 CHILD PSYCHOPATHOLOGY. 3.00 points.

Prerequisites: PSYC BC1001, BC2129, BC2141, and permission of the instructor.
Prerequisites: PSYC BC1001, BC1129, BC2141, and permission of the instructor. This course is designed to give students an introduction to abnormal child psychology. We will study a variety of disorders typically diagnosed in childhood, including intellectual disabilities, developmental disabilities, emotional and behavioral disorders, and anxiety disorders. Students will explore the DSM 5 diagnostic criteria, current research on the etiology of disorders, and empirically-derived methods of assessment and treatment. Current views of clinical issues in childhood will be examined with an emphasis on the complex interaction between social, cognitive, behavioral and societal factors involved in the development of these disorders

PSYC BC2175 Addictive Behaviors. 3 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

Prerequisites: PSYC BC1001 or PSYC UN1001 or BIOL BC1001 or BIOL BC1002 or BIOL BC1500 or BIOL BC1502

This class will explore the topic of addiction at multiple levels, from how drugs affect neurons to how drugs affect society. The course will also cover addictive behaviors that do not appear to have a pharmacological foundation, including pathological gambling, compulsive buying, hypersexual behavior, food addiction, and internet addiction.

PSYC BC2177 PSYCHOLOGY OF DRUG USE ＆ ABUSE. 3.00 points.

Prerequisites: BC1001 or permission of the instructor. Enrollment limited to 75 students. Examines the biological, psychological, and social factors that lead to drug use and abuse. A biopsychosocial model will be used to examine the behavioral effects of prescription, over the counter, and street drugs. Treatments, therapies, and theories of addictive behaviors will be explored

PSYC BC2178 FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGY. 3.00 points.

Prerequisites: PSYC BC1001 PSYC BC1001 Introduction to Psychology, or its equivalent. Or permission of the instructor.
Every day there are thousands of individuals interacting with the legal system. Are they mentally competent to stand trial? How can a judge decide if it is in the best interests of a child to live with one, or both (or neither) parent(s)? What is the risk of a violent offender repeating the offense? What kinds of information influence juries? Does mediation work to solve disputes? Forensic psychologists apply their knowledge of psychology specifically in legal matters. This semester will focus on the broad area of forensic psychology, exploring important legal cases relevant to forensic psychology, police psychology, what constitutes expert testimony, how assessments are conducted, and working as a psychologist in the correctional system

PSYC BC3152 Psychological Aspects of Human Sexuality. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

Prerequisites: Junior or senior standing, BC1001 and two other psychology courses and permission of the instructor. Enrollment limited to 20 students.

This seminar is a critical examination of research and theory in human sexuality.  The first part of the course is an overview of influential social science research on sexuality during the 20th century.  The second part is a detailed investigation of contemporary research and writing on selected issues in human sexual behavior, including sexual socialization, gender and sexuality, and contemporary approaches to understanding psychosexual disorders.

PSYC BC3153 Psychology and Women. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

Prerequisites: Junior or Senior standing and at least two psychology courses. Permission of the instructor required for majors other than Psychology or Women's Studies. Enrollment limited to 20 students.

Examines how female experience is and has been understood by psychologists. Through an understanding of gender as a social construction and issues raised by the intersections of gender, sexuality, class, and race, the course will analyze assumptions about what causes us to be gendered and about how being gendered affects behavior.

PSYC BC3155 Psychology and Law. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

Prerequisites: BC1001, one other psychology course, and permission of the instructor. Enrollment limited to 20 students.

This class will be taught at The Bedford Hills Correctional Facility for Women, and will be composed of a mix of four Barnard students and a group of Bedford inmates who are working toward a Bachelor’s Degree. Survey of the research in social psychology as it relates to the legal process. Among the topics covered are eyewitness identifications, jury decision making, lie detection, child witnesses, confessions and interrogations, media effects, and capital punishment. Each of these problems will be considered from both a theoretical and an applied perspective.

PSYC BC3156 POLITICAL PSYCHOLOGY. 4.00 points.

Prerequisites: PSYC BC1001 BC1001, at least one psychology lab, and permission of the instructor.
Prerequisites: PSYC BC1001 BC1001, at least one psychology lab, and permission of the instructor. This seminar will explore what psychology can tell us about politics. The focus will be on citizens as active consumers of political information. Topics include ideology and partisanship, attitude formation and change, motivated reasoning, metacognition, persuasion, rationality, intergroup processes, conflict, distrust and conspiracism

PSYC BC3158 Human Motivation. 4 points.

Prerequisites: BC1001 and permission of the instructor. Enrollment limited to 20 students.

Outlines major theoretical questions and research approaches in human motivation. In particular, it focuses on empirical investigations of motivation in social contexts, emphasizing goal formation, goal conflict, the self, and the influence of nonconscious processes. Motivation for competence, control autonomy, achievement, altruism, and intimacy will also be covered.

PSYC BC3162 INTRO TO CULTURAL PSYCHOLOGY. 4.00 points.

Prerequisites: BC1001 and either BC2124/2125, BC2125, BC2141, or permission of the instructor. Enrollment limited to 20 students; and senior psychology majors.
Prerequisites: BC1001; and either BC1124/1125, BC1125, BC2141, or permission of the instructor. Prioority given to senior psychology majors. Critically investigates the universalizing perspectives of psychology. Drawing on recent theory and research in cultural psychology, examines cultural approaches to psychological topics such as the self, human development, mental health, and racial identity. Also explores potential interdisciplinary collaborations. The following Columbia University course is considered overlapping and a student cannot receive credit for both the BC course and the equivalent CU course: PSYC UN2650 Intro to Cultural Psychology

PSYC BC3164 PERCEPTION AND LANGUAGE. 4.00 points.

Prerequisites: BC 1001 and one of the following: BC2106/2107, BC2109/2110, BC2118/2119, BC2128/2129, or permission of the instructor. Enrollment limited to 20 students

Psychological investigations of spoken communication from a listener's perspective. Topics include perception and sounds of speech and the apprehension of meaning from words and utterances; the perceptual basis for rhyme and rhythm in speech; and the natural history of vocal communication.

PSYC BC3165 THE SOCIAL SELF. 4.00 points.

Review of the classic and contemporary empirical research pertaining to the self, with an emphasis on the self as a socially-based construct. Focus on the social basis of identity, self-concept, and self-regulation

PSYC BC3166 SOCIAL CONFLICT. 4.00 points.

Prerequisites: BC1001 and one additional Psychology course. Or permission of the instructor. Enrollment limited to 20 students.
Review of current literature in social psychology related to social conflict. We will examine factors that lead to conflict between individuals and between groups, as well as consequences of interpersonal conflict and effective strategies for conflict resolution. We will examine conflict in several applied domains, including the workplace and romantic relationships, and between religious, racial, and ethnic groups

PSYC BC3170 Introduction to Psychoanalysis. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

Prerequisites: BC1001 and BC2156 Introduction to Clinical Psychology. Or permission of the instructor. Enrollment limited to 20 students.

Introduces the major contributors to contemporary psychoanalysis. Surveys changes in theory and technique covering Freud, Ego Psychology and Contemporary Freudian views, Object Relations Schools (e.g. Klein, Winnicott), Self Psychology, and Interpersonal and relational approaches. Additional topics may include relevant psychoanalytic research and applications to art, cultural considerations, and current controversies.

PSYC BC3179 CEPHALOPOD COGNITION. 4.00 points.

This seminar is designed to introduce you to the methods used to discern and describe the cognitive repertoire of novel, understudied, animals. The animals which we will specifically examine in the class are octopuses and cuttlefish. Over the course of the semester you will learn how we define cognitive abilities in humans and examine them in various animal species for modeling and comparison purposes. Each week you will examine one specific ability in humans, a traditional animal model, and a cephalopod. In this manner you will come to understand the historical process of understanding animal cognition, the current state of the literature in at least one area of cephalopod cognition and be capable of proposing a novel experiment as a way to extend our knowledge of that area of cephalopod cognition

PSYC BC3195 SEMINAR IN EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY: HUMAN LEARNING AND EDUCATIONAL PRACTICE. 4.00 points.

Prerequisites: PSYC BC1001
This seminar provides an introduction and overview of key contemporary research and professional issues in the field of Educational Psychology. Educational psychology can help students develop well-informed, empirically sound, creative, and ethical judgments about educational goals, policies, and practices. This course examines the theoretical and applied aspects of learning, motivation, human development, assessment and evaluation in the educational setting. Content includes the study of learning theories as well as cognitive, emotional, and social learning theories that underlie education and human development. Emphasis is placed on developing skills to better understand learners to foster improved learning, influence and manage classroom learning, and recognize and consider individual differences

PSYC BC3362 ANXIETY, OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE, AND RELAT. 4.00 points.

Prerequisites: (PSYCH BC2141) and (PSYCH BC1001)
Prerequisites: (PSYCH BC2141) and (PSYCH BC1001) This course presents an in depth investigation of anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and OCD-related disorders, from a primarily psychological perspective. The course will focus on the phenomenology, correlates, and contributing factors of these conditions. Students will also learn about the current psychological treatments for these disorders. Emphasis will be placed on recent empirical research findings

PSYC BC3363 PEDAGOGY HIGHER EDUC:PSYCH. 4.00 points.

Designed to examine the science of psychology and the complexities of teaching to create an environment conducive to involved and active learning. The seminar, especially designed for current and intended Teaching Assistants, covers ethical concerns, strategies for maintaining boundaries, mastery learning, and approaches for leading discussions. Course uses case methods, videotaping, research projects, and scenario analysis. Enrollment limited to 12

PSYC BC3364 PSYCHOLOGY OF LEADERSHIP. 4.00 points.

Prerequisites: Students must have one of the following pre-requisites for this course: PSYC BC1125 Personality Psychology, PSYC BC1138 Social Psychology, or PSYC BC2151 Organizational Psychology, and permission by the instructor. An in-depth examination of the concept of leadership in psychology with an emphasis on womens leadership. Topics include the role of gender, culture, and emotional intelligence as well as an examination of transactional and transformational models. Topics will be discussed with an equal emphasis on theory, research, and application. Students must have prerequisites and permission of the instructor. Enrollment limited to 15

PSYC BC3365 The Psychology Of Conspiracy. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

Prerequisites: Psych BC1001, BC1101/1102, two PSYC laboratory courses, and permission of the instructor. Enrollment limited to 16.

Why do some people believe in ghosts, psychic powers, UFO abductions, astrology, alternative medicine, or conspiracy theories? Does it matter? In this seminar, we will consider potential psychological explanations for a wide range of anomalous beliefs and experiences, and the consequences those beliefs can have.

PSYC BC3366 Eating Disorders. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

Prerequisites: PSYC BC1001, PSYC BC2141

This course presents an in depth investigation of eating disorders including anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating from a primarily psychological perspective. The course will present both the current understandings of causes, correlates, and outcomes of eating pathology as well as the complexity and controversy surrounding these conceptualizations. Enrollment limited to 20 students. Senior psych majors will get first preference.

PSYC BC3367 Concepts, Questions, and Controversies in Evolutionary Psychology. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

Prerequisites: BC1001 and permission of the instructor. Enrollment limited to 15 students.

An examination of the major concepts, debates, and research of evolutionary psychology.  Will explore the extent to which the human mind and behavior are shaped by natural selection to solve specific, long-standing problems faced by our species over evolutionary time, such as finding a romantic partner, child-rearing, and gathering food.

PSYC BC3368 PSYCHOLOGY OF CREATIVITY. 4.00 points.

Prerequisites: BC1001 and permission of the instructor. Consideration of classic Psychodynamic (the unconscious/incubation), Psychometric (testing/training), and Personaility (train/motivation) models of creativity. Application of contemporary Process (cognitive/problem-solving) models to art, literature, and independently selected areas of expertise. Process models are involving constraint selection within well-established domains are emphasized

PSYC BC3369 LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT. 4.00 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

Prerequisites: BC1001, one Psychology laboratory course, one of the following: PSYC W2240, BC1128/1129, BC1129, or LIN BC V1101, and permission of the instructor. Enrollment limited to 15 students.
Prerequisites: PSYC BC1001 and one of the following: PSYC W2240, PSYC BC1129, or LING UN1101. Enrollment limited to 15 students. Examines the acquisition of a first language by children, from babbling and first words to complex sentence structure and wider communicative competence. Signed and spoken languages, cross-linguistic variation and universalities, language genesis and change, and acquisition by atypical populations will be discussed

PSYC BC3371 Gender Development. 4 points.

Prerequisites: (PSYC BC1001) and (PSYC BC1129) or (PSYC BC1138) PSYC BC1001 Introductory Psychology or equivalent, PSYC BC1129 Developmental Psychology or PSYC BC1138 Social Psychology, one Psychology laboratory course.

This course examines how individuals develop a concept of gender, across the lifespan. What cues trigger the classification of others, and oneself, by gender? What physiological, cognitive, and sociocultural processes guide this development? We will explore how various theoretical approaches in psychology help us understand this fundamental aspect of development.

PSYC BC3372 Comparative Cognition. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

Prerequisites: BC1001 and one additional course in psychology. Or permission of the instructor. Enrollment limited to 20 students.

Review and critical evaluation of current empirical research investigating cognitive processes in both human and non-human species. Topics include comparisons in episodic memory, metacognition, theory of mind, self-awareness, and language abilities.

PSYC BC3373 HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY. 4.00 points.

Prerequisites: BC1001 and two more psychology courses, and permission of the instructor required. Consideration of research on the interaction of biological, psychological, and social factors related to physical health and illness. Topics include the relationship of stress to illness, primary prevention, mind-body methods of coping with stress and chronic illness (such as meditation), and the relationship between psychological factors and recovery from illness. Enrollment limited to 15

PSYC BC3379 PSYCH OF STEREOTYPING/PREJUDIC. 4.00 points.

Prerequisites: (PSYC BC1001) Permission of the instructor.
Prerequisites: (PSYC BC1001) Permission of the instructor. Review of current literature from experimental social psychology pertaining to stereotyping and prejudice. Topics include: functions and costs of stereotyping, the formation and maintenance of stereotypes, and stereotype change. Recent research concerning the role of cognitive processes in intergroup perception will be emphasized

PSYC BC3380 EXPLORING THE PSYCHOLOGY OF IMAGINATION. 4.00 points.

We spend much of our time in our imaginations: we daydream or immerse ourselves in fiction, children engage in pretend play, and we mentally simulate how our room might look if we rearrange the furniture. Imagination forms a critical link between perception, memory, creativity, and higher-order thinking. This seminar will examine imagination and mental simulation from the perspective of modern psychology. We will consider how imagination is formed in children, how it is used in adults, whether machines might imagine, and how we can study the contents of our imaginations.

PSYC BC3381 Theory of Mind and Intentionality. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

Prerequisites: BC1001 and one other Psychology course, or permission of the instructor. Enrollment limited to 15 students.

Survey and critical analysis of the developmental and neurological research on theory of mind -the attribution of mental states like belief, desire, and knowledge to others- in humans and nonhuman animals. Emphasis on the role of intentionality, stages of acquisition, neurological and genetic bases, and deficits in theory of mind.

PSYC BC3382 ADOLESCENT PSYCHOLOGY. 4.00 points.

Prerequisites: BC1001 and BC1129 Developmental Psychology or permission of the instructor. Enrollment limited to 20 senior majors. Barnard students receive priority. Examines adolescent development in theory and reality. Focuses on individual physiological, sexual, cognitive, and affective development and adolescent experiences in their social context of family, peers, school, and community. Critical perspectives of gender, race and ethnicity, sexuality, and teen culture explored

PSYC BC3384 Social Cognition. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

Prerequisites: BC 1001 and one of the following: BC1138/1137 Social Psychology, BC1115/1114 Cognitive Psychology, or permission of the instructor.

Survey of research from the field of social cognition, exploring cognitive processes involved in social functioning.  Topics include attention, interpretation, evaluation, judgment, attribution, and memory processes.  Both controlled and automatic processes will be considered, and the roles of motives, goals, and affective variables will be discussed.

PSYC BC3388 Imitation and Language. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

Prerequisites: BC1001 and one Psychology Lab course, or permission of the instructor. Enrollment limited to 20 students.

Examines the concept of imitation in behavior through research on animals, human development, and adult language use. Class meetings focus on discussion of reading material to develop a theory of the cognitive mechanisms of imitation that apply to language change in spoken communication.

PSYC BC3389 CURRENT TOPICS IN PERSONALITY. 4.00 points.

PSYC BC3390 CANINE COGNITION. 4.00 points.

Prerequisites: BC1001 and one other Psychology course. Enrollment limited to 15 students. Permission of the instructor is required. An examination of the scientific study of the domestic dog. Emphasis will be on the evolutionary history of the species; the dogs social cognitive skills; canid perceptual and sensory capacities; dog-primate comparative studies; and dog-human interaction

PSYC BC3391 Psychology of Time. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

Prerequisites: BC1001 and additional psychology course, or permission of the instructor.

The seminar will explore how times are perceived, learned, remembered and used to guide decisions and behavior.  The underlying brain mechanisms that create a sense of time and organize action will be discussed.  Students will research how temporal information processing is foundational to core areas of psychology.

PSYC BC3393 Psychological Interventions for Developmental Disabilities. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

Prerequisites: PSYC BC1001, BC2129, BC2156, or permission of the instructor. Seniors Psychology Majors given priority.

This course provides an overview of psychological intervention processes in the field of developmental disabilities.  Course content includes discussions of clinical and ethical issues related to diagnosis and treatment, and in-depth review of procedures used to teach appropriate behavior repertoires to individuals with developmental disabilities such as Autism Spectrum Disorders.

PSYC BC3394 METACOGNITION. 4.00 points.

Prerequisites: BC1001, and one psychology laboratory course; final enrollment determined on the first day of class Metacognition is one of the latest psychological buzzwords, but what exactly is metacognition? Metacognition enables us to be successful learners, problem solvers, and decision makers, and as often been used synonymously with words such as language, awareness, and consciousness. In this seminar, we will examine various components of metacognition, including its role in learning and memory, and its existence in various non-human populations. In addition, we will explore the fragility of metacognition, including illusions of confidence and harmful control strategies that people use. Readings will include classic and important recent papers in the field, looking at metacognition as a higher-level cognitive process, and as knowledge individuals use to guide behavior

PSYC BC3395 Emotion and Self Regulation. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

Prerequisites: BC1001 Introduction to psychology and BC1138 Social Psychology, or permission of the instructor. Enrollment is determined at the first class meeting.

In this course, students will examine neuroscientific and psychological research and scholarly work pertaining to the ability to regulate – to control and manage – thoughts, emotions, behaviors, and social interactions. Research suggests what is possible to change, and by what mechanisms.  Students will explore how evidence can reasonably be interpreted.

PSYC BC3399 HUMAN AND MACHINES. 4.00 points.

Prerequisites: (PSYC BC1001) and Instructor approval
Prerequisites: (PSYC BC1001) and Instructor approval This course will examine the social psychology of Human-Machine interactions, exploring the idea that well-established social psychological processes play critical roles in interactions with non-social objects. The first half of the seminar will examine the social psychology of perception across distinct sensory modalities (shape, motion, voice, touch), whereas the second half will focus on social psychological processes between humans and non-human entities (objects, computers, robots)

PSYC BC3406 SEM IN CLINICAL PSYCH: PSYCHOTIC DISORDERS AND BIPOLAR DISORDERS. 4.00 points.

Prerequisites: Prerequisites: PSYC BC1001 (or the equivalent) and PSYC BC2141 or permission of the instructor. Enrollment limited to 24 students. Final enrollment determined on the first day of class.

This seminar will focus on the schizophrenia-spectrum disorders and bipolar disorders. Topics include historical perspectives, diagnoses and symptoms, neural changes associated with the disorders, and research on effective treatments. Emphasis will be places on the impact of serious mental illness on families and communities as well as cultural differences in diagnosis, treatment and outcomes.

PSYC BC3408 SEMINAR IN CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY. 4.00 points.

This course offers an in-depth examination of depressive disorders, including major depressive disorder, persistant depressive disorder, post-partum depression, premenstrual dysmorphic disorder, and pediatric depression. Topics include historical perspectives, current understanding of diagnoses and symptoms, neural changes associated with the disorders, and research on effective treatments. Emphasis will be placed on the impact of depressive disorders on families and communities, as well as gender and cultural differences in diagnosis, treatment and outcomes. Adolescence is a peak period for the onset of mental disorders and suicidal behaviors. The seminar is designed to enhance understanding of topics including, prevalence, etiology, risk factors, mechanisms, prevention and treatment approaches, and ethical considerations related to clinical research

PSYC BC3409 SOCIAL INTERACTION. 4.00 points.

In this seminar, we will read and discuss current literature in psychology related to social interaction. We will examine fundamental processes involved in social interaction, consider how social interaction varies as a function of people’s social identities (e.g., gender, social class, and race), and discuss how social interaction influences close relationships, intergroup attitudes, and well-being. We will pay close attention to how these topics are studied (e.g., to methods, samples, and researcher identities) and to the broader implications of the research

PSYC BC3465 Field Work ＆ Research Seminar: Toddler Center. 4.00 points.

PSYC BC1129/2129 (with or without lab) as well as permission of the instructor. The Barnard Toddler Center provides the focus for this seminar and research in applied developmental psychology, an amalgam of developmental, educational, and clinical psychology. The seminar integrates theory and research and for AY 20-21 will use daily recordings of the toddler sessions as the centerpiece for understanding early development. The unique context of Covid19 will be used to understand risks in development, especially for vulnerable children and families. Second term students will also conduct research on parenting during the pandemic

PSYC BC3466 FIELD WORK ＆ RESEARCH SEMINAR: TODDLER CENTER. 4.00 points.

PSYC BC1129/2129 (with or without lab) as well as permission of the instructor. The Barnard Toddler Center provides the focus for this seminar and research in applied developmental psychology, an amalgam of developmental, educational, and clinical psychology. The seminar integrates theory and research and for AY 20-21 will use daily recordings of the toddler sessions as the centerpiece for understanding early development. The unique context of Covid19 will be used to understand risks in development, especially for vulnerable children and families. Second term students will also conduct research on parenting during the pandemic

PSYC BC3473 CLINICAL FIELD PRACTICUM. 4.00 points.

Prerequisites: Three psychology courses and permission of the instructor required during program planning the fall semester before the course is offered. Enrollment limited to 12 students; seniors are given priority.
Prerequisites: Three psychology courses and permission of the instructor required during program planning the fall semester before the course is offered. Enrollment limited to 12 students; seniors are given priority. This course introduces students to clinical and counseling work, and to psychodynamic ways of understanding and supporting people in psychological distress. Students secure a clinical placement for the course, and apply readings on psychodynamic notions of parenting, psychopathology, and therapeutic process to their clinical experiences. The course helps students clarify their professional goals, and provides the clinical experience that strengthens applications to social work programs, and that is required for applications to clinical and counseling doctoral programs

PSYC BC3606 INDEPENDENT STUDY. 1.00-4.00 points.

Prerequisites: Open to majors and non-majors with written permission of the department member who will supervise the project.
This course can be worth 1 to 4 credits (each credit is equivalent to approximately three hours of work per week), and requires a Barnard faculty as a mentor. The course will be taken for a letter grade, regardless of whether the student chooses 1, 2, 3, or 4 credits. The expectations for each of these options are as follows: 1 credit, 3h/week commitment, 5-10 page "Research Report" at the end of the term; 2 credits, 6h/week commitment, 5-10 page "Research Report" at the end of the term; 3 credits, 9h/week commitment, 15-20 page "Research Report" at the end of the term; 4 credits, 12h/week commitment, 15-20 page "Research Report" at the end of the term. "Research Report" is a document submitted to the person grading the student, the instructor of record for the section in which the student has enrolled. If a student is working off-site, then input from the off-site research mentor will inform the grading. The "Research Report" can take a variety of forms: progress reports on data collected, training received, papers read, skills learned, etc.; or organized notes for lab notebooks, lab meetings, etc.; or manuscript-like papers with Intro, Methods, Results, Discussion; or some combination thereof, depending on the maturity of the project. Ultimately, this will take different forms for different students/labs

PSYC BC3617 SENIOR RESEARCH THESIS. 1.00 point.

Prerequisites: BC1001, BC1101, a minimum of five other completed psychology courses, and permission of the instructor. This is a year-long course. Open to senior psychology majors who submit a research proposal which has been approved by the course instructor and the project supervisor.
Discussions of the student's Independent Research project during the fall and spring terms that culminate in a written and oral senior thesis. Each project must be supervised by a scientist working at Barnard or at another local institution

PSYC BC3618 SENIOR RESEARCH THESIS. 1.00 point.

Prerequisites: BC1001, BC1101, a minimum of five other completed psychology courses, and permission of the instructor. This is a year-long course. Open to senior psychology majors who submit a research proposal which has been approved by the course instructor and the project supervisor.
Discussions of the student's Independent Research project during the fall and spring terms that culminate in a written and oral senior thesis. Each project must be supervised by a scientist working at Barnard or at another local institution

NSBV BC1001 INTRODUCTION TO NEUROSCIENCE. 3.00 points.

This course is required for all the other courses offered in Neuroscience and Behavior. The course introduces students to the anatomy and physiology of the nervous system. The topics include the biological structure of the nervous system and its different cell types, the basis of the action potential, principles of neurotransmission, neuronal basis of behavior, sleep/wake cycles, and basic aspects of clinical neuroscience

NSBV BC2154 HORMONES AND BEHAVIOR. 3.00 points.

Prerequisites: BC1001 or BIOL BC1101, BC1102, or permission of the instructor. Enrollment limited to 45 students.
Prerequisites: BC1001 or BIOL BC1101, BC1102, or permission of the instructor. Enrollment limited to 45 students. This class explores the complex interactions among genetics, hormones, environment, experience, and behavior. Topics covered include the endocrine system, sexual development, reproductive behavior, and social interactions such as affiliation, aggression, parenting, as well as homeostasis, biological rhythms, stress, memory, and mood

NSBV BC2180 Neurodevelopmental Processes and Cognitive/Behavioral Disorders. 3 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

Prerequisites: BC1118/1119, BC3177, BC3380, or BIOL BC3362. Enrollment limited to 30 students.

Explores the evolution of disorders affecting children due to some impairment in the brain or nervous system. Constitutional vulnerabilities demonstrate that nervous system injury varies as a function of neurodevelopmental stage. Disorders to be studied include those impacting language, hearing, vision, movement, mood and emotion, and learning.

NSBV BC3367 Transformative Landmarks in Neuroscience. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

Modern neuroscience incorporates topics from molecular neurobiology to cognition. Cognate disciplines include psychology, biology, biochemistry, chemistry, neuropharmacology, neurology and psychiatry, physics, computational science. We review neuroscience landmarks through readings of scientific publications, news reports, and controversies surrounding apparently transformative research, and contemplate contemporary viewpoints that have the benefit of hindsight.

NSBV BC3376 PSYCHOBIOLOGY OF INFANT DEVELOPMENT. 4.00 points.

Prerequisites: BC1001 and BC1128/1129 Developmental (lab and lecture taken together) or BC1129 (only lecture). Or permission of the instructor. Enrollment limited to 15 students.
Prerequisites: BC1001 and BC1128/1129 Developmental (lab and lecture taken together) or BC1129 (only lecture). Or permission of the instructor. Enrollment limited to 15 students. Analysis of human development during the fetal period and early infancy. Review of effects of environmental factors on perinatal perceptual, cognitive, sensory-motor, and neurobehavioral capacities, with emphasis on critical conditions involved in both normal and abnormal brain development. Other topics include acute and long term effects of toxic exposures (stress, smoking, and alcohol) during pregnancy, and interaction of genes and the environment in shaping the developing brain of high-risk infants, including premature infants and those at risk for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome

NSBV BC3377 Adolescent Neurobehavioral Development. 4 points.

Prerequisites: PSYC BC1001 Introduction to Psychology, or its equivalent; and permission of the instructor.

This seminar will explore neurobehavioral development throughout pubertal and adolescent stages of development. Specifically, topics will include how neuroendocrine changes induce pubertal onset, structural and functional changes in the adolescent brain, and how these developmental changes influence normal and abnormal psychophysiological processes. Students who complete this seminar will learn to: 1) demonstrate experimental methods used in developmental psychobiological research; 2) demonstrate the impact of structural and functional changes in the nervous system on the physiology and behavior of an individual; 3) critically read and interpret the primary research literature and discuss the strengths and weaknesses of experimental results; 4) conduct literature searches and synthesize these searches in to a comprehensive literature review; and 5) write a scientific literature review.

NSBV BC3380 Cognitive Neuroscience. 4 points.

Prerequisites: BC1001 and permission of the instructor. Enrollment limited to 20 students.

Exposition of research and theory in neuroscience with an emphasis on the use of neural imaging techniques (EEG, evoked potentials, MEG, PET, fMRI) for exploring sensation, perception, and cognition in the healthy, intact brain.

NSBV BC3381 Visual Neuroscience: From the Eyeball to the Mind's Eye. 4.00 points.

By absorbing electromagnetic radiation through their eyes, people are able to catch frisbees, recognize faces, and judge the beauty of art. For most of us, seeing feels effortless. That feeling is misleading. Seeing requires not only precise optics to focus images on the retina, but also the concerted action of millions of nerve cells in the brain. This intricate circuitry infers the likely causes of incoming patterns of light and transforms that information into feelings, thoughts, and actions. In this course we will study how light evokes electrical activity in a hierarchy of specialized neural networks that accomplish many unique aspects of seeing. Students will have the opportunity to focus their study on particular aspects, such as color, motion, object recognition, learning, attention, awareness, and how sight can be lost and recovered. Throughout the course we will discuss principles of neural information coding (e.g., receptive field tuning, adaptation, normalization, etc.) that are relevant to other areas of neuroscience, as well as medicine, engineering, art and design

NSBV BC3383 Neuropharmacology and Behavior. 4 points.

Prerequisites: BC1001 and one of the following: BC1115, BC1119, or BIOL BC3280. Permission of the instructor is required. Enrollment limited to 20 students.

Basic principles of the study of drugs that influence the neural systems and induce changes in behavior. Molecular, biochemical and behavioral characterization of psychotropic drugs: stimulants, sedative-hypnotics, anxiolytics, alcohol, hallucinogens, and opiates. Etiology and treatment of psychological and neurological disorders.

NSBV BC3387 TOPICS IN NEUROETHICS. 4.00 points.

Prerequisites: BC1001 and one of the following: Neurobiology, Behavioral Neuroscience, Fundamentals of Neuropsychology, or permission of the instructor. Enrollment limited to 20 students.
Prerequisites: BC1001 and one of the following: Neurobiology, Behavioral Neuroscience, Fundamentals of Neuropsychology, or permission of the instructor. Enrollment limited to 20 students. Recent advancements in neuroscience raise profound ethical questions. Neuroethics integrates neuroscience, philosophy, and ethics in an attempt to address these issues. Reviews current debated topics relevant to the brain, cognition, and behavior. Bioethical and philosophical principles will be applied allowing students to develop skill in ethical analysis

NSBV BC3392 PSYCHOBIOLOGY OF STRESS. 4.00 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

Prerequisites: BC1001 and one of the following: BC1117, BC1119, BC3362, or permission of the instructor. Enrollment limited to 15 students.

This seminar will explore factors that modulate stress reactivity and the impact of stress on the structure and function of the nervous system and behavior.  Topics will include how developmental stage, sex/gender, time of day, and experience influence how an organism responds to stress at endocrinological, neurobiological, and behavioral levels  

NSBV BC3394 Neurobiology of Social Behaviors . 4 points.

Prerequisites: (PSYC BC2119) or (PSYC BC3362)

This course explores behavioral neuroscience through a guided reading and discussion of recent scientific literature involving research in two “opposite” behaviors, sexual courtship and aggression. These are complex social behaviors that are highly conserved across species. Although some of their features are species-specific, there are broad similarities throughout the animal kingdom. Complex interactions between genes, environmental signals, and hormones influence the development and manifestation of these behaviors, but the core circuitries involved appear to be pre-wired in the nervous system, as animals with no previous social experience can engage in normal encounters that are characterized by stereotyped behavioral patterns. The study of innate social behaviors in genetically tractable organisms offers unique opportunities to identify underlying neuronal circuitry, understand how this circuitry is genetically specified and elucidate the contributions of neuronal sexual dimorphism.

NSBV BC3396 Topics in Systems Neuroscience: The Receptive Field. 4 points.

Prerequisites: (PSYC BC1119) or (BIOL BC3362)

How should we think about the brain? How can we simplify and interpret its dizzying complexities? And specifically, what conceptual frameworks are useful in constraining our interpretations of neuronal activity? This seminar – Topics in Systems Neuroscience – is aimed at defining and dissecting the ideas and models that guide our thinking about the brain. This semester the focus will be on the concept of the receptive field. We will examine how this idea has been applied across brain regions and sensory modalities  and has been examined with experimental/computational approaches. Attention will be paid to both the historical background and contemporary views. The receptive field has provided a useful conceptual framework since the early 20^th century. After developing the traditional concept of a sensory receptive field, we will critically examine the limits of this concept. This potentially simplifying concept underlying brain function also contains open questions regarding perception, cognition and behavior. By the end of the course we will develop a richer understanding of how conceptual frameworks, in general, can help (and hurt!) but ultimately hone our thinking. 

NSBV BC3397 Neural Modulation. 4 points.

Prerequisites: BC1001 and permission of the instructor. Enrollment determined at first class meeting.

Excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmission is often influenced and altered by neuromodulators such as dopamine, acetylcholine, and serotonin. Imbalances in neuromodulation are implicated in many psychiatric disorders. This course will assess the role of neuromodulation under normal circumstances and how dysfunction in neuromodulation can lead to psychiatric disorders. This course will draw from ground breaking primary literature and review articles published in the field of neuroscience. 

NSBV BC3398 PSYCHOBIOLOGY OF SLEEP. 4.00 points.

Prerequisites: PSYC BC 1001, or equivalent, and permission of instructor. Enrollment limited to 20 students.
This seminar will explore sleep and circadian rhythms, emphasizing how these factors and their disruption influence human health, disease, function, and well-being. Topics will include the physiologic and neurobiological generation of sleep and circadian rhythms, and the interaction between these systems with cognitive, behavioral, endocrine, metabolic, and mood/psychiatric variables in humans, as well as sleep disorders and their treatment. NOTE: The course description is the same for the fall/spring course and the summer course

NSBV BC3405 NEUROSCIENCE OF TRAUMA. 4.00 points.

Prerequisites: PSYBC1119
This course provides a comprehensive overview of theoretical models and research relevant to the neurobiology, neurophysiology, neuroanatomy and neurodevelopmental processes underlying psychological trauma. Cognitive, emotional and behavioral symptoms associated with post traumatic experience are examined from a neuroscience perspective. Neurotherapeutic treatment interventions are reviewed and critiqued as models of applied clinical neuroscience

NSBV BC3593 RSRCH/SEM-NEUROSCNCE＆BEHAVIOR. 4.00 points.

Prerequisites: Open to senior Neuroscience and Behavior majors. Permission of the instructor. This is a year-long course. By the end of the spring semester program planning period during junior year, majors should identify the lab they will be working in during their senior year.
Prerequisites: Open to senior Neuroscience and Behavior majors. Permission of the instructor. This is a year-long course. By the end of the spring semester program planning period during junior year, majors should identify the lab they will be working in during their senior year. Discussion and conferences on a research project culminate in a written and oral senior thesis. Each project must be supervised by a scientist working at Barnard or at another local institution. Successful completion of the seminar substitutes for the major examination

NSBV BC3594 RSRCH/SEM-NEUROSCNC＆BEHAVIOR. 4.00 points.

Prerequisites: Open to senior Neuroscience and Behavior majors. Permission of the instructor. This is a year-long course. By the end of the spring semester program planning period during junior year, majors should identify the lab they will be working in during their senior year.
Prerequisites: Open to senior Neuroscience and Behavior majors. Permission of the instructor. This is a year-long course. By the end of the spring semester program planning period during junior year, majors should identify the lab they will be working in during their senior year. Discussion and conferences on a research project culminate in a written and oral senior thesis. Each project must be supervised by a scientist working at Barnard or at another local institution. Successful completion of the seminar substitutes for the major examination