Recommended upper level Psychology courses

[kiddynamite914]

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Are there any particular upper level psychology classes that anyone has taken that they found extremely interesting or worth taking? I don't have to take any next semester but I am planning on taking a few more. I was thinking Abnormal Psychology... but any inputs?

 

[moemoekyun]

I took Social Psychology. It was pretty easy, I think everyone got an A (do summary of chapter a week, 1 midterm that we took as a class, and final was "what did you like"). It was different from the physics, orgo, calc I had to take freshmen year. Everything was kinda obvious (psychology says hindsight is 20/20). My school also recommended a class "Social Determinants of Health" which was more sociology than psych, but it was more focused on data. It pretty much talked about how being a rich white man is better for your health than a poor immigrant woman, and how genetics/biology can't explain all the health issues today, some (most?) can only be explained with social means.
I don't know what your school offers, but your premed office should have a list of classes worth considering.

 

[kiddynamite914]

They usually offer Social Psychology, Abnormal Psychology, Child Psychology, Cognitive Psychology, Human Emotions, Child Psychopathology, Animal Behavior, Animal behavior (primates), Human Sexuality, Cultural Psychology, and other topic courses (One course was just called Schizophrenia which seemed somewhat interesting). Putting interest aside, which one of these courses, or a psychology course you can think of that is offered even in your school, do you think will be best for a pre med student?

 

[Spinach Dip]

Abnormal Psych is pretty interesting...and may be applicable to your later med school studies.

 

[moemoekyun]

They usually offer Social Psychology, Abnormal Psychology, Child Psychology, Cognitive Psychology, Human Emotions, Child Psychopathology, Animal Behavior, Animal behavior (primates), Human Sexuality, Cultural Psychology, and other topic courses (One course was just called Schizophrenia which seemed somewhat interesting). Putting interest aside, which one of these courses, or a psychology course you can think of that is offered even in your school, do you think will be best for a pre med student?

I'm only premed, applying this cycle, and can only say if I was in your position, I would take what fits my schedule the best (social psych was 1x a week at night, and the other one was online). After that, I would talk to the school's premed office/advisers as they would know more about this. As far as I know, there is no "best" class to take, just whatever interests you. What you should also think about would be getting to know the professor well for a non science rec letter, or get involved in their research (one of my friend's took a psych class, can't remember, and now he TAs the class and is in the professor's research group).

 

[Lawpy]

Are there any particular upper level psychology classes that anyone has taken that they found extremely interesting or worth taking? I don't have to take any next semester but I am planning on taking a few more. I was thinking Abnormal Psychology... but any inputs?

Abnormal psychology is fine. As well as social psychology (good mix of soc and psych) and sensory psychology (i enjoyed that class a lot when i took it)

 

[kiddynamite914]

Abnormal psychology is fine. As well as social psychology (good mix of soc and psych) and sensory psychology (i enjoyed that class a lot when i took it)

Oh Sensory psychology would be equal to Psychology of Perception at my school. Would you still recommend it to someones who has already taken two Neurobiology courses?

Also, another course I am interested in, and my school offered an honors section in it is Behavioral Neuroscience. However, I feel as if it will be very similar to my two neurobiology courses.

Here are the descriptions for the classes provided by the professors of the courses:

Neurobiology 2: An introduction to studies of the human nervous system covering neuroanatomy of the brain, neuronal coding, sensory and motor systems, biological rhythms, arousal, attention, physiological regulation, reward, aversion, learning and memory.

Behavioral Neuroscience: Physiological mechanisms determining reflex action, emotions, locomotion, motor skills, thinking and language, effects of drugs, internal secretions, and neural lesions on behavior.