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Psychology
is the scientific study of behavior, thought, and feeling.
Its subject matter includes biological, cognitive, developmental,
and social perspectives on normal and abnormal behavior.
The Department of Psychology's curriculum prepares students
for graduate work in psychology and for other academic and
career goals for which knowledge of psychology and its methods
are relevant.
Psychology
is an appropriate major for students who wish to pursue
careers in research and teaching or in the delivery of professional
clinical services. Whereas students interested in academic
careers in Psychology must eventually obtain a Ph.D. degree,
doctoral training is not the only avenue for those drawn
to a career in counseling, therapy, social work, and related
helping professions. For such students, Psychology is one
of several appropriate undergraduate majors. Undergraduates
interested in helping professions or careers in applied
areas of psychology are encouraged to obtain field experience
through Winter Term projects and summer jobs.
For
up-to-date information on the major, courses, and the Department,
consult the Psychology page online at http://www.oberlin.edu/psych/
Advanced
Placement. Students who receive a 4 or 5 on the AP Psychology
examination will be exempt from the requirement to take
Psychology 100 - The Study of Behavior - and will receive
3 credit hours at the 100 level toward requirements and
graduation.
Entry-Level
Course Sequence Suggestions. Students intending to major
in psychology should complete Psychology 100 in their first
year. In order to prepare for laboratory courses as well
as other research opportunities, intended majors should
plan to finish Research Methods I and II no later than second
semester of their sophomore year.
Major.
A core of basic courses is required of all majors. Beyond
this core, individuals have considerable leeway in constructing
the major. Students interested in specific applications
or sub-disciplines within psychology should consult early
with their advisors to plan the most appropriate sequence
of courses.
Required
courses for the major include:
1. PSYC
100 The Study of Behavior
2. PSYC
200 Research Methods I and PSYC 300 Research
Methods II
3. NSCI
201 The Brain: An Introduction to Neuroscience or
NSCI 204 Human Neurobiology
4. PSYC
219 Cognitive Psychology or PSYC 220 Cognitive
Neuropsychology
5. At
least two of the following:
PSYC
211 Personality: Theory and Research
PSYC
214 Abnormal Psychology
PSYC
216 Developmental Psychology
PSYC
218 Social Psychology
6. At
least two of the following:
PSYC
301 Laboratory in Personality/Social Psychology
PSYC
302 Developmental Psychology Laboratory
PSYC
303 Laboratory in Cognitive Psychology
PSYC
305 Human Psychophysiology
PSYC
307 Laboratory in Cognitive Neuropsychology
NSCI
211 Laboratory in Neuroscience; or
NSCI
327 Neuropharmacology Laboratory and NSCI
324 Laboratory in Neuroanatomy, which together count as
one laboratory toward this requirement.
The
minimum number of hours for the major is 34. Up to 8 hours
of Neuroscience courses from the following list can count
toward this 34: NSCI 201, 204, 211, 319, 324, 325, 327,
331, 339, 341, and 525. A minimum of 26 hours must be earned
in courses numbered 200 through 499, with at least 19 of
these 26 hours completed at Oberlin. With few exceptions,
Psychology 100 (or an approved equivalent) is a prerequisite
to Psychology courses numbered 200 and above. Any variation
in meeting major requirements must be approved in writing
by the chair of the Department of Psychology.
All
majors who plan on graduate training in psychology are encouraged
to take additional courses in mathematics, computer science,
and the sciences. They should also consider carrying out
independent research during their junior and/or senior years.
Additionally, majors who plan on graduate training in clinical,
counseling, health psychology, or industrial-organizational
psychology should obtain field experience in their area
during Winter Term or in summer jobs. All majors contemplating
graduate training should consult with their advisors and/or
other members of the Department early in their major.
Minor.
The minor in psychology consists of the following:
1. PSYC
100 The Study of Behavior
2. NSCI
201 The Brain: An Introduction to Neuroscience or
NSCI
204 Human Neurobiology
3. One
of the following:
PSYC
119 Colloquium: Applied Psychological Science
PSYC
219 Cognitive Psychology
PSYC
220 Cognitive Neuropsychology
4. At
least one of the following:
PSYC
211 Personality: Theory and Research
PSYC
214 Abnormal Psychology
PSYC
216 Developmental Psychology
PSYC
218 Social Psychology
5. One
of the following:
PSYC
200 Research Methods I
MATH
100 Elementary Statistics
MATH
113 Statistical Methods for the Social and Behavioral
Sciences
MATH
114 Statistical Methods for the Biological Sciences
Honors.
Junior psychology majors who have met the basic requirements
for honors (i.e., minimum G.P.A. of 3.0 in the major and
at least a B average in Research Methods I and II) are contacted
by mail and invited to consider Honors in Psychology. During
the fall semester, students wishing to pursue honors in
psychology should seek out an interested faculty member
to serve as their primary honors adviser.
Although
not required, students are strongly encouraged to
enroll in a Private Reading (PSYC 995) during the spring
semester of their junior year. As the topic area of the
project is clarified, the student assembles an honors committee
consisting of three interested faculty members (including
the primary adviser). At the end of spring semester, the
candidate submits a 3-5 page proposal to his/her committee.
Once the proposal is approved by the committee, the student
is formally accepted into the Honors Program.
Normally,
the student begins data collection early in fall semester
of the senior year and gives a progress report to his/her
committee at the end of fall semester. If the committee
feels that the student is not making satisfactory progress
toward completing the honors project, his/her participation
in the honors program can be terminated at that time.
Occasionally, students meeting the grade criteria for honors
who complete Independent Research Problems (PSYC 606) during
the first semester of senior year are invited to follow
up their work as an honors project during the second semester.
In either case, all honors candidates must be enrolled in
Honors Research (PSYC 608 or 612, as appropriate) during
the spring of their senior year. Shortly after Spring Break,
honors students present their research to psychology majors,
interested students, and faculty. One week prior to the
oral defense, the student submits a written thesis to his/her
honors committee. After the oral defense is held, the committee
recommends the appropriate level of honors to the Psychology
Department. The Department decides on the level of honors
to be awarded to each student and submits its recommendation
to the Honors at Graduation Committee for final approval.
Transfer
of Credit. All transfer credit must be approved by
the Department chair. Courses taken at other institutions
after enrollment at Oberlin should be approved in advance
to be sure they will count toward Department requirements.
At least 19 of the 26 hours from courses numbered between
200 and 499 must be taken at Oberlin. At least one of
the two required laboratory courses must be taken at Oberlin.
It is the student's responsibility to make sure proper
transfer of credit forms are completed and placed on file
in the Registrar's office.
Winter
Term. The Department strongly encourages majors and
prospective majors to gain field experience in applied
or research psychology during Winter Term. Such experience
complements academic study at Oberlin. Early and careful
planning improves the quality of Winter Term projects.
Because so many school, clinic, and research opportunities
are available, Department faculty can usually give only
general advice. Students are urged to decide early in
the fall semester which experience and location they wish.
Then they will have sufficient time to find specific facilities,
and inquire directly about possible Winter Term assignments.
Once aware of the type and location of desirable facilities,
students should talk to faculty who might be appropriate
sponsors. In most cases a sponsor will ask that a daily
diary or log be kept during the Winter Term. Additional
requirements would depend on the placement.
Students
who remain on campus during Winter Term should engage
in substantial independent research under the sponsorship
of appropriate Department faculty. Often it is possible
to join faculty and senior honors students who are engaged
in research projects. In addition, students interested
in computer applications may design projects involving
computer simulation, computer-assisted instruction, or
computer-based experiments.
The
following list of faculty interests should be a guide
in approaching possible sponsors: Mr. Carrier:
sensation and perception; computer simulation of behavior;
human-computer interface design. Ms. deWinstanley:
cognitive psychology; memory; attention; cognitive development.
Mr. Friedman: developmental psychology; cognitive
development; time concepts in children and adults. Mr.
Mayer: social cognition; prejudice; helping behavior;
resistance. Mr. Porterfield: psychophysiology,
emotion, psychopathology. Mr. Smith: neuropharmacology
of learning. Ms. Sutton: women and mental health;
psychotherapy and cognitive processes; personality and
health. Mr. Tanaka: visual perception; neuropsychology;
computational modeling.
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Introductory
and Non-Major Courses
100. The
Study of Behavior 4 hours
2NS,
2SS
First
and Second Semester. The prerequisite course for most
advanced courses in the department. A survey of contemporary
research and theory in the study of behavior. Topics include
social psychology, social perception, behavioral measurement
and individual differences, biological bases of behavior,
motivation, classical and instrumental conditioning, sensory
processes, perception, memory, thinking, language, cognitive
and personality development, psychopathology and psychotherapy.
Enrollment Limit: 160.
Ms.
Sutton, Staff, Mr. Henderson, Staff
106. Visual
Communication 3 hours
3SS
First
Semester. An introductory psychology course examining
visual communication. From the perspective of cognitive
and perceptual psychology, the course will address questions
such as: how is information effectively presented? what
are the principles of good graphic design? Using computer
technology, students will learn how to create visual communications
(2- and 3-dimensional representations of quantitative
and qualitative information) and learn how to evaluate
their effectiveness. The visual communications will take
the form of print publications, web sites, Power Point
presentations, videos, animations, or interactive CDs.
Their evaluation will include the basics of research design
and data analysis.
Mr.
Carrier
108. Psychobiological
Perspectives on the Arts 3 hours
3SS,
QPh
First
Semester. This course examines fundamental biological
and psychological processes involved in the experience
and creation of art. It adopts the perspective of the
natural sciences to address questions such as: What are
the biological and behavioral prerequisites for art? How
and why did they evolve? How are sensory, perceptual,
and cognitive systems organized to acquire and process
information about the environment? How are motivational
and emotional systems organized to direct and influence
artistic behavior? The course examines experimental techniques
used to study human and animal behavior, requires the
mastery of basic quantitative skills, and culminates in
the conduct of an experiment and the analysis of its data.
Mr.
Carrier
122. Educational
Psychology 3 hours
3SS,
WR
Second
Semester. Introduction to principles and issues in educational
psychology. Focuses include: pertinent aspects of child
development, learning theory, learning in the classroom,
educational tests and measurements, and learning styles
and creativity. Applications to diverse student populations
and students with behavioral difficulties will be explored.
Enrollment Limit: 40.
Ms.
deWinstanley, Mr. Friedman
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Courses
Requiring Psychology 100
200. Research
Methods I 4 hours
4NS,
QPf
First
and Second Semester. An introduction to measurement, research
design and analysis in the behavioral and life sciences.
Measurement and design topics include measurement theory,
scales of measurement, validity and reliability, experimental
and non-experimental designs. Analysis topics include
descriptive statistics, sampling distributions, hypothesis
testing, and statistical inference. Students are expected
to become proficient in using SPSS for creating files
and performing data analysis. This course is intended
for psychology and psychology-related majors and prospective
majors. PSYC 300 should be taken in the following semester.
Students must register for one of the lab sessions. Prerequisite:
PSYC 100. Enrollment Limit: 28 (lab sections: 14
each).
Ms.
Miller, Ms. Frantz
205. Psychology
of Close Relationships 3 hours
3SS
First
Semester. A study of cognitive and motivational factors
that influence interpersonal interaction and relationship
satisfaction. The course will emphasize processes of understanding,
feeling, and communication in love relationships and friendships.
It will also examine the content and consequences of expectations
that people carry for their close relationships. Prerequisite:
PSYC 100. Enrollment Limit: 28.
Ms.
Miller
206. Sensory
Processes and Perception 3 hours
3NS
First
Semester. Sensory systems evolved so that the organism
could acquire information about its environment in order
to survive and reproduce. This course explores the structure
and function of sensory systems and includes topics such
as: sensory receptors; transduction; mapping of sensory
magnitude, space and time, movement, and stimulus qualities;
the relationship between sensory processes and perceptual
experience. Class meetings will be interactive, and used
for a variety of exercises, demonstrations, presentations,
and other activities. Prerequisite: PSYC 100.
Mr.
Carrier
211. Personality:
Theory and Research 3 hours
3SS
Second
Semester. A survey of historical theory and current research
in adult personality. We will examine the conceptual origin
and current body of empirical knowledge relevant to personality
processes and individual differences. Topics covered will
include emotionality, introversion-extraversion, the self
system, self-consciousness, self-efficacy, androgyny and
gender identity, personality and health, and interpersonal
behavior. Personality assessment and sociocultural influences
will be considered as applicable. Prerequisite:
PSYC 100. Enrollment Limit: 35. Note: Not
open to students who have received credit for PSYC 210
or 212.
Ms.
Sutton
214. Abnormal
Psychology 3 hours
3NS
Second
Semester. A survey of the field of adult psychopathology,
beginning with conceptual and methodological foundations
of the study of disordered behavior, followed by an examination
of the major categories of mental disorder. A scientific
perspective will be emphasized throughout the course,
although a variety of philosophical, sociocultural, and
legal controversies will be considered as well. Prerequisite:
PSYC 100. Enrollment Limit: 35.
Mr.
Porterfield
216. Developmental
Psychology 3 hours
3SS,
WR
First
and Second Semester. Research, issues, and theories
of human development. Psychological topic areas, such
as cognition, personality, and social behavior, will
be related to the different age periods from infancy
to adolescence, with a brief consideration of adulthood.
The final part of the course will be devoted to social
policy concerns and childhood psychopathology. An optional
laboratory, PSYC 302, may be taken with or after this
course. Prerequisite: PSYC 100.
Mr.
Friedman
218. Social
Psychology 3 hours
3SS
Second
Semester. This course surveys major theories and research
traditions in social psychology. Topics covered will
include interpersonal attraction, stereotyping, prejudice,
discrimination, and helping behavior. Assignments are
designed to encourage students to apply the ideas of
social psychology to their own and others' behavior.
Research methodologies in social psychology will also
be covered. Prerequisite: PSYC 100. Enrollment
Limit: 40.
Mr.
Mayer
219. Cognitive
Psychology 3 hours
3NS
Second
Semester. This course covers a variety of topics that
deal with the scientific study of human cognition. Topics
may include perception, memory, learning, thinking,
problem solving, language, and reasoning. Historical
as well as contemporary perspectives will be discussed.
An optional laboratory, PSYC 303, may be taken with
or after this course. Prerequisite: PSYC 100,
PSYC 119, NSCI 201, or NSCI 204. Recommended Preparation:
PSYC 200, or MATH 100, 113, or 114. Note:
Not open to students who have received credit for PSYC
220. Enrollment Limit: 35.
Ms.
deWinstanley
220. Cognitive
Neuropsychology 3 hours
3NS
First
Semester. This course will examine the connections that
link the psychological and neuropsychological approaches
to the study of the mind. In this course, the processes
of human cognition will be examined in regard to their
underlying neural substrates by considering evidence
from cognitive psychology experiments, neuroimaging
and electrophysiological investigations and studies
of brain-damaged individuals. Main topic areas will
include discussions of perception and attention, object
recognition, memory, problem solving, decision-making
and language. Prerequisite: PSYC 100, PSYC 119,
NSCI 201, or NSCI 204. Recommended Preparation: PSYC
200, or MATH 100, 113, or 114. Note: Not open
to students who have received credit for PSYC 219. Enrollment
Limit: 35.
Mr.
Tanaka
222. Psychobiology
of Emotion 3 hours
3NS
Second
Semester. A survey of theory and research pertaining
to the origins, experience, expression, and influence
of the cardinal human emotions. Material will be drawn
from a variety of sources, but particular emphasis will
be placed on findings from the emerging field of affective
neuroscience. Prerequisite: PSYC 100, NSCI 201,
or NSCI 204 (an introductory NSCI course is strongly
recommended). Enrollment Limit: 25.
Mr.
Porterfield
224. Psychology
of Gender 3 hours
3SS,
CD
First
Semester. A survey of research and theory regarding
gender differences in psychological and social functioning
and their origins. Topics will include differences
in cognitive abilities, personality, values, and social
behavior, with special emphasis on their development
in sex-role socialization. Consequences of sex roles
for the aspirations and mental health of women and
men will also be discussed. Prerequisite: PSYC
100. Enrollment Limit: 28.
Ms.
Miller
230. Health
Psychology 3 hours
3SS
First
Semester. An examination of psychological research
relevant to the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment
of disease and illness. Topics will include stress
and illness; personality and health; psychoimmunology;
psychological factors in health maintenance; pain
and stress management; health and gender, ethnicity,
and race; treatment compliance and communication.
Prerequisite: PSYC 100. PSYC 200 or an equivalent
is recommended. Enrollment Limit: 36.
Ms.
Sutton
240.
Environmental Psychology 3 hours
3SS,
QPh
First
Semester. A survey course designed to introduce students
to the major issues, theories, and research in this
interdisciplinary field of study. Topics covered will
include how cultural values are related to cultures
of consumption, the psychological consequences of
living in urban versus rural settings, how self-definitions
are related to environmentally relevant behavior,
how people cope with environmental problems, and how
architectural design impacts psychological well being.
Students will also engage in survey research designed
to address several of these topics in an empirical
manner. Prerequisite: PSYC 100. Enrollment
Limit: 35.
Mr.
Mayer
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Courses
with Prerequisites Beyond Psychology 100
300. Research
Methods II 4 hours
4NS,
QPf
First
and Second Semester. A continuation of PSYC 200, including
advanced experimental and correlational designs, quasi-experimental
and developmental designs, construction of measuring instruments,
classical reliability theory and latent variables. Analysis
topics include one-way, factorial and repeated measurement
analysis of variance, partial and multiple correlation and
regression, and an introduction to multivariate analysis
of variance, factor analysis and structural equation modeling.
Students are expected to complete complex data analysis
projects using advanced SPSS statistical procedures. This
course is intended for psychology and psychology-related
majors and prospective majors. It should be taken in the
semester following PSYC 200. Prerequisites: PSYC
200; or MATH 113 or 114 and consent of instructor.
Mr.
Henderson, Ms. Frantz
301. Personality/Social
Psychology Laboratory 3 hours
3NS
Second
Semester. Projects designed to parallel closely the process
of professional research in personality and social psychology.
Students will conduct their own research in groups, thus
gaining experience in the activities common to all psychological
research: hypothesis generation; research design; data collection,
analysis, and interpretation; and report writing. The lab
group will also engage in the use of computerized statistical
analysis. Prerequisite: PSYC 200. Prerequisite
or corequisite: PSYC 211 or PSYC 218. Enrollment
Limit: 12.
Mr.
Mayer
302. Developmental
Psychology Laboratory 1-3 hours
1-3SS
First
and Second Semester. Experimental and naturalistic methods
used to study children from infancy through adolescence.
Content areas include infant perception, attachment behavior,
intelligence, cognitive development, moral development,
and social interaction. Students will collect data, use
computer routines to describe related data sets, and prepare
laboratory reports. The one-hour section requires the submission
of four of the 11 written assignments and participation
in each laboratory unit. The two-hour section requires submission
of seven of the 11 written assignments and participation
in each laboratory unit. Prerequisites: To be taken
in conjunction with or subsequent to PSYC 216 and 300. Enrollment
Limit: 8 per section.
Mr.
Friedman
303. Laboratory
in Cognitive Psychology 3 hours
3NS,
WR
First
and Second Semester. This lab will introduce students to
experimental methods used in cognitive psychology. Students
will participate in experiments, collect data, and report
research in the style and format of the American Psychological
Association. Prerequisites: PSYC 219 or 220 and PSYC
200. Enrollment Limit: 10.
Mr.
Tanaka
305. Human
Psychophysiology 3 hours
3NS
First
Semester. Combination lecture-laboratory introduction to
the study of the relation of psychological states and processes
to physiological responses. Students will study the form
and function of underlying physiological systems and gain
laboratory experience with the measurement, analysis, and
interpretation of psychophysiological responses including
heart rate, blood pressure, skin conductance, EMG, EEG,
and event-related brain potentials. Prerequisites: PSYC
200 and basic familiarity with Microsoft Excel. Enrollment
Limit: 12.
Mr.
Porterfield
307. Laboratory
in Cognitive Neuropsychology 2 hours
2NS
Next
offered 2003-2004.
314. Psychotherapy:
Theory, Practice, and Research 3 hours
3SS
First
Semester. An examination of theories, assumptions, and clinical
procedures associated with the major approaches to individual
adult psychotherapy (psychoanalysis, existential analysis,
client-centered therapy, Gestalt therapy, cognitive therapy,
and behavioral therapy). The scientific evaluation of therapeutic
effectiveness, the role of universal factors in psychotherapy,
and ethical and philosophical controversies will also be
considered. Prerequisite: PSYC 211 or 212. PSYC 214
is strongly recommended. Enrollment Limit: 25.
Ms.
Sutton
326. Multivariate
Statistics Laboratory 1 hour
1SS
Second
Semester. First Module. Use of advanced SPSS multivariate
statistics to analyze selected data sets in psychology.
Prerequisite: PSYC 300. Note: CR/NE grading.
Mr.
Henderson
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Seminars
and Practicum
410. Seminar
in Sociocultural Psychology 3 hours
3SS,
WR
Next
offered 2003-2004.
420. Seminar:
Explorations in Cognitive Neuropsychology 3 hours
3NS,
WR
Next
offered 2003-2004.
430. Seminar
in Social Conflict 3 hours
3SS
First
Semester. Through an investigation of research and theory
from the fields of social, cognitive and political psychology,
this course explores the psychological processes that
lead to and exacerbate conflict. It also examines biases
in perceiving the "other," the role of pride and face-saving,
the influence of social identity, and shortcomings in
decision-making. We will also explore methods of de-escalating
conflict, negotiation as problem-solving, the process
of mediation and the role of gender and culture in negotiation.
Prerequisite: PSYC 218. Enrollment Limit:
14.
Ms.
Frantz
Practica
500. Teaching
Assistant 1 hour
1SS
First
and Second Semester. Advanced majors may serve as teaching
assistants in a lower-level course by invitation of the
faculty member involved. Note: CR/NE grading. Consent
of instructor required.
502. Practicum
in Community Psychology 2 hours
2SS
Second
Semester. This course provides a supervised placement
in a community social service agency. Students develop
an on-going role within the agency and receive supervision
from agency personnel. Weekly class meetings will address
issues related to working as a therapeutic agent providing
direct service. Note: CR/NE grading. Enrollment
Limit: 18. Junior or senior psychology majors.
Ms.
Sutton
503. Practicum
in Educational Psychology 3 hours
3SS
First
and Second Semester. Students will be trained to implement
a program at the elementary school level designed to teach
social-emotional skills to young children. Students will
spend three hours in an elementary school classroom and
one hour in a seminar-type class meeting each week. In
addition to class time, students will be responsible for
reading the literature on early childhood intervention
programs, constructing teaching materials, and making
lesson plans. Prerequisite: PSYC 122 or PSYC 216.
Consent of instructor required. Note: CR/NE grading.
Enrollment Limit: 4.
Ms.
deWinstanley
504. Research
Assistant 1-2 hours
1-2SS
Students
may serve as research assistants in faculty or Senior
Honors research projects by invitation of the faculty
sponsor involved. Note: CR/NE grading. Consent
of instructor required.
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Independent
Work
A
variety of opportunities for students to pursue independent
work are available at all levels in the curriculum. Both
laboratory and non-laboratory research courses are available
at junior, senior, and Honors levels. Registration for any
of the Independent Work courses requires prior approval
of the proposed work by the staff member who will supervise
it.
604. Problems
for Investigation 1-4 hours
1-4SS
Designed
for the student who wishes to pursue independent work on
a topic not usually covered by formal offerings. Normally,
a bibliographic or theoretical research paper will be part
of the course requirement. Prerequisite: PSYC 100.
Consent of instructor required.
606. Independent
Research Problems 1-4 hours
1-4SS
Students
may select an empirical research problem for individual
investigation. Prerequisite: PSYC 200 or equivalent.
Consent of instructor required.
608. Empirical
Honors Research 1-4 hours
1-4SS
Prerequisite:
Admission to the Honors Program. Note: Not more than
7 hours may be taken in PSYC 608. Consent of chair required.
612. Theoretical
or Bibliographic Honors Research 2-4 hours
2-4SS
Senior
Honors Research. Prerequisite: Admission to the Honors
Program. Note: Not more than 6 hours may be taken
in PSYC 612. Consent of Department chair required.
995. Private
Reading 1-3 hours
1-3SS
Independent
study of a subject beyond the range of catalog course offerings.
Prerequisites: Completion of basic coursework in
the selected topic area. Available to junior and senior
majors. Consent of instructor required.
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