Coursework

Courses taken within the psychology department:

  • 103 – Introduction to Psychology
  • 201 – Statistical Methods in Psychology
  • 230 – Survey in Abnormal and Clinical Psychology
  • 240 – Survey in Social Psychology
  • 250 – Survey in Biopsychology
  • 301 – Advanced Statistics
  • 310 – Research and Writing in Psychology

At the culmination of this course, each student submits an undergraduate research writing sample that is intended to function as an actual psychological research report. My report sought to identify a link between the consumption of stimulant medication for ADHD and the potential effects it bears on cognition and creativity. Completed in the spring of 2012, a full PDF version of my report is available for download here: Vyvanse, Cognition & Creativity

In addition, Research Writing in Psychology turned out to be by far one of the most impactful classes I’ve taken during my undergraduate career for a number of reasons. Mainly, this course exposed me to the idea of research as being somewhat of a career opportunity, a jumping off point perhaps. Combined with a predisposed interest in helping people, this seemed to be the best route to follow if I were to make some sort of an impact in the world. Most of the knowledge we acquire at any point in time is the byproduct of extensive research, and I feel fortunate to have learned so much as a result of exposure to this massive network of academic research. This course also shaped me heavily as a writer within the discipline of psychology. It exposed me to a new way of writing that is meant to be more palatable and easy to understand. This was another reason why I grew motivated to conduct research; its common goal is to inform the general population by shedding light on new ideas with a highly dedicated commitment to delivering the information properly.

PET imaging studies reveal important information about the effects of drugs – PSY 358: The Addicted Brain

  • 339 – Topics in Clinical Psychology: Fear and Anxiety
  • 345 – Theories of Personality
  • 346 – Health Psychology
  • 355 – Human Brain Function
  • 358 – Topics in Biopsychology: The Addicted Brain
  • 359 – Topics in Biopsychology: Drugs and the Brain
  • 367 – Memory
  • 382 – Research Lab: Social Psychology

Courses taken within the writing department:

  • 102 – Intermediate Writing Workshop A
  • 302 – Critical Writing Seminar: Fiction Writing
  • 302 – Critical Writing Seminar: Writing Memoirs

Being offered for the first time in the spring of 2014, this course is a new upper division writing elective co-taught by decorated author and journalist Carl Bernstein. In this course, we read a number of significant memoirs and autobiographical essays from a wide variety of authors and time periods, even going as far back as the late eighteenth century. As in most critical writing seminars, students work on a sample over the course of the semester, crafting and molding it into a well constructed piece by the end. The class-wide theme of our memoirs was chosen to be centered around our most recent summer vacation. A complete PDF version of my memoir sample is available for download here: Doin’ Time

  • 303 – The Personal Essay

Focusing on narrative nonfiction, this was another highly important writing course in my undergraduate career. Although this is a course that predominantly grants students the opportunity to develop a personal statement for graduate school, they are not however required to do so. I feel that through this course in particular, I grew a lot as a writer, coming across a greater demand to challenge myself and mature on the page. Originally an essay I never wanted to write, my final submission for this course became much more personally endearing than I ever intended it to be, and I am fortunate for this as a result of being encouraged to challenge myself as a writer. A PDF version of my essay is available for download here: Lessons In Drowning

  • 304 – Writing for Your Profession

This past semester, in Writing for the Profession, we completed an assignment entitled “Being (More Than) in My Profession,” or better know as the professional autobiography. Engaging with this assignment in the final semester of my undergraduate career helped me actualize many of the key lessons I’ve learned in college, and how I will use knowledge from this experience to succeed in future endeavors. Included in this blog section are some excerpts from the essay, of which a complete PDF file is available for down here: Being More

Courses taken with a science oriented focus:

  • AMS 315 – Data Analysis
  • BIO 201 – Organisms to Ecosystems
  • BIO 204 – Intro Biology Lab I
  • BIO 208 – Cell, Brain, Mind
  • BIO 351 – Ecology
  • BIO 358 – Biology and Human Social and Sexual Behavior
  • CHE 131 & 133 – General Chemistry I / Lab I
  • CHE 132 & 134 – General Chemistry II / Lab II
  • MAT 125 – Calculus A
  • MAT 126 – Calculus B