Psychology Summer Courses

PSYC 1

Session 1

Introduces prospective majors to the scientific study of behavior and mental processes and also provides an overview for non-majors. Emphasizes social, cognitive, developmental, and personality psychology and their interrelations. (General Education Code(s): PE-H, IS.)

PSYC 2

Prerequisites lifted in summer for visiting students.

Session 2

An introduction to elementary statistical principles and techniques relevant to psychological research. Topics covered include basic parametric and nonparametric statistics, analysis of variance, and simple factorial designs. This course is prerequisite to course 181. Prerequisite(s): course 1 or 20, and Applied Mathematics and Statistics 3 or 6 or Mathematics 3 or 4 or 11A or satisfactory placement score on math placement exam or CEEB Advanced Placement Calculus AB exam. (General Education Code(s): SR, Q.) 

PSYC 10

Session 2

Prerequisites lifted in summer for visiting students.

Addresses psychological development from conception to adolescence. Provides an overview of developmental psychology. Prerequisite(s): course 1; Applied Mathematics and Statistics 3 or 6, or Math 3 or higher Mathematics courses; and course 2 or Applied Mathematics and Statistics 5 or 7/7L. 

PSYC 20A

Session 1

Introduces basic concepts in cognitive psychology with a focus on theoretical explanations of cognitive functioning. Topics include perception, attention, memory, concepts, language, visual cognition, executive functions, and reasoning processes. (Formerly course 20, Introduction to Cognitive Psychology.)

PSYC 100

New UCSC students and visiting students may request permission to enroll from the department. Send an email to psyadv@ucsc.edu. 

Session 2 

An introduction to research methods used to investigate human psychology. Course emphasizes critical thinking, designing and conducting research, analyzing and interpreting data, and writing a professional research report. (Formerly course 3.) Prerequisite(s): Entry Level Writing and Composition requirements; Applied Mathematics and Statistics 2 or 3 or 6, or Mathematics 3 or higher level Mathematics course; and course 2 or Applied Mathematics and Statistics 5 or 7/7L.

PSYC 102

Session 2

Focuses on individual and relational development from early adolescence into emerging adulthood. Emphasis on the mutual influences of family relationships and adolescent development, and on the interface of family, peer group, and school experience in cultural contexts. Prerequisite(s): courses 10 and 100. 

PSYC 105

Prerequisites lifted in summer for visiting students.

Session 1

Cognition in children from infancy through adolescence. Basic and current research on children's understanding of the social and physical world. Focus on major theoretical perspectives: especially Piaget's constructivist approach and sociocultural approach. Prerequisite(s): courses 10 and 100. Enrollment is restricted to psychology and cognitive science majors and minors.

PSYC 125

Prerequisites lifted in summer for visiting students.

Session 2

An analysis of human communication as a function of psychological, linguistic, and social factors. Focuses on language comprehension and production, including the processing of sounds, words, syntax, semantics, pragmatics, and dialogue. Prerequisite(s): course 100. Enrollment is restricted to psychology and cognitive science majors and minors.

PSYC 129

Session 1

Examines basic theories, models, methods, and research findings in human memory. Both traditional and nontraditional topics are covered. Prerequisite(s): course 100. Enrollment is restricted to psychology and cognitive science majors and minors.

PSYC 139J

Session 1

Explores forgetting as an essential and adaptive process in human memory. Topics include: intentional and unintentional forms of forgetting; the (re)constructive nature of memory; and cases of extreme remembering. Satisfies the senior seminar requirement. Satisfies the senior comprehensive requirement. Prerequisite(s): satisfaction of Entry Level Writing and Composition requirements and course 3 or 100. Enrollment is restricted to senior psychology and cognitive science majors. Enrollment limited to 20. 

PSYC 140T

Session 2

Overview of psychological theory and research on trauma and traumatic stress, including responses to childhood trauma (especially sexual abuse), combat, and natural disasters. Variety of theoretical frameworks presented, including developmental, cognitive, neuropsychological, clinical, and social/contextual. Prerequisite(s):course 100 or permission of instructor. 

PSYC 147A

Session 1

Current and future relationships between law and psychology, paying special attention to gaps between legal fictions and psychological realities in the legal system. Topics include an introduction to social science and law, the nature of legal and criminal responsibility, the relationship between the social and legal concepts of discrimination, and the nature of legal punishment. (Also offered as Legal Studies 147A. Students cannot receive credit for both courses.) Prerequisite(s): courses 3 or 100; and course 40 is highly recommended prior to taking this course. Enrollment is restricted to psychology, pre-psychology, and legal studies majors. 

PSYC 149

Session 2

Introduces community psychology, a discipline that blends social psychology, sociology, and anthropology. Topics include levels of analysis, ecologies, prevention, intervention, feminisms, empowerment, sense of community, coalition building, and social justice and action. Prerequisite(s): course 3 or 100. Enrollment is restricted to juniors and seniors.

PSYC 159D

Session 1

An overview of psychological theory and research related to sexual aggression, focusing on both perpetration and victimization. Includes a discussion of the social construction of masculinity and femininity, media representations of sexual violence, and alternative (non-aggressive) visions of sexuality. Satisfies the senior seminar requirement. Satisfies the senior comprehensive requirement. Prerequisite(s): Entry Level Writing and Composition requirements; and course 3 or 100. Enrollment is restricted to senior psychology or feminist studies majors or permission of instructor. Enrollment limited to 20. 

PSYC 171

Session 2

A critical and intensive exploration of a wide variety of specific disorders within their biological, developmental, and social contexts. Concepts of psychopathology in childhood, major and minor diagnostic systems, and a variety of theories of etiology are explored. General intervention strategies and a wide range of specific psychotherapy systems for treatment are closely examined and demonstrated. Prerequisite(s): courses 3 or 100; and course 10. Course 170 strongly recommended. 

PSYC 183

Session 1

An overview of the history of psychology. Examines issues of paradigm and philosophy of science. Reviews central paradigms in the history of the discipline. Assumes a critical-historical approach, linking scientific knowledge produced to prevailing societal beliefs about mind and behavior. (Formerly course 180) Prerequisite(s): course 3 or 100.