Course Information

The Department of Psychology provides relevant courses for many undergraduate students. Students in a variety of majors elect to complement their education, and improve the understanding of self and others, by completing course work in Psychology. Students who major in Psychology should expect to receive a general/liberal education. Psychology students take the introductory course, sample basic sub-disciplinary courses, and receive training in methods and data analysis. The specific Psychology degree requirements can be found in the Psychology Handbook.

 

• Class Search

  To locate when and where courses are offered, the Student Information System is very helpful. This is the system students use to sign up for their courses. Remember to click on the class search tile. 

• Psychology Online Course Information

   Register for Undergraduate Online Courses

  In order to take an Online course, you must either be an Undergraduate at Michigan State University or you must take the course through Lifelong Education.  Below are links to the relevant sites to register.  If you are not currently an MSU student, registration will get you an MSU ID that you will need to access the D2L websites described below which are associated with the Online courses.

  Registration for current MSU students

  Registration if you are not an MSU student     Once at this site click on "https://admissions.msu.edu/application/app.asp?AL=L". to confirm you have completed your application as a Lifelong Student. If completed you will be able to enroll using the enrollment system during the designated enrollment periods. In order to enroll you must have initiated your MSUNet ID and password.

  Class Search      This includes information about the courses offered and the sessions in which they are offered.  Make sure you are selecting the correct term you are looking for when searching for classes. 

  Get Ready for Your Online Courses - Steps to Follow

  In a traditional course, the class usually begins when students go to a local bookstore to buy their textbooks and then to a classroom on the first scheduled day of class and receive a syllabus, an introduction to the course by the instructor, etc.  The "electronic classroom" for an Online course at Michigan State University is a website in a course management system called Desire2Learn.  Psychology courses will be taught through D2L. To enter the D2L website you will have to have an MSU ID.  Once you have your MSU ID and can enter the D2L website you will have access to your online courses.   Book information can be found on the class search section of the new system. Click the section number of the course you have enrolled in and click on textbooks, It will help you identify needed books beyond what is in your syllabi

  1)    Get an MSU NetID. Current MSU students have them already.  The NetID is used by MSU to provide access to the central email system and many other services on campus.  An MSU NetID is a unique, alphanumeric identifier of two to eight characters and is generated automatically from the user's name (and is the portion of your e-mail address before the @).  To learn more about how to get your MSU NetID or how to use it go to:https://netid.msu.edu/. 2) Log into D2L - Have your MSU Net ID and password.   If you have forgotten your MSU NetID password, please go to:https://netid.msu.edu/.  If you are a registered student and have a problem accessing D2L, please contact the help desk at 1 -844-678-6200 (North America and Hawaii) Local: 1-517-432-6200. To log into D2L go to: http://d2l.msu.edu

  2)In order to enter your Desire2Learn course, log in to D2L. Once you log in you will be at "My Home" page. This shows all your D2L Courses. Navigate to your summer online course by clicking the name of the course offering. Courses are shown by semester in reverse chronological order. There is a "pin" function to keep any courses that you want on the top of the list. These courses will have an orientation that will be completed in order to view the course content. 

   

• Psychology Course Syllabi

  The Psychology Department posts all of the course syllabi online at the beginning of each semester.  Syllabi from previous semesters can also be found here. If you are unable to locate prior years syllabi please reach out to undergraduate advising staff with your question.

   

• Course Overrides

  On occasion, overrides are given to students needing a course that is full. Every department on campus takes care of their own overrides, so the Psychology Department cannot give overrides for courses outside of Psychology. Students requesting an override will need to fill out the Psychology Override Form please reach out to Kim Brown or Audra Jeffrey with any questions regarding the form.

• Psychology Transfer Credit Request

  This form is for students who plan to take a Psychology course at another institution AND the course is not listed on the MSU Transfer credit system (https://transfer.msu.edu/). This is not for courses taken prior to MSU. The transfer evaluation office can assist you with this type of request (traneval@msu.edu).

• PSY 493 Expanded Descriptions

  Each section of PSY 493 covers a different topic.  Students should read descriptions of all 400 level writing courses.  Most of these courses do have prerequisites and are offered in varying semesters.

  Fall 2026 : 493 Descriptions

  Sec 001: Feminist Research in Psychology

  This course explores the historic emergence of the discipline of feminist psychology through to the present day, and provides opportunities to develop practical, applied research skills through completion of an independent qualitative research project.

  Sec 002:  Neuroscience of Child Development

  This course will examine brain and mind development during the first five years of a child’s life, including in-utero. It will focus primarily on prenatal influences on brain development, and postnatal brain development as it corresponds to sensory and mental function. For ease of organization and class discussion of topics, it is organized into four modules – Nature and Nurture (Life in the womb); The senses (Pre- and post-natal development); Cognitive functions (The magic of age 4); When development gets disordered. Topics we will cover include: development of each of the senses and perception, learning and memory; temporal, numerical and spatial processing; emotion; theory of mind; language; attention; motor programs; and developmental disabilities.

  Sec 003: Survey Research Methods

  The survey is a widely used method for answering social science research questions about people’s opinions, attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors. In this course students learn foundational concepts and methods of survey research, including questionnaire design, modes of data collection, sampling and recruitment, data management and cleaning, data analysis techniques, and interpreting results and reporting findings. Students will have the opportunity to apply these concepts by designing and conducting a team-based survey research project.

  Sec 004: Critical Psychology

  This course provides an introduction to the international movement of critical psychology, which developed in the context of challenging mainstream psychology’s ontological, epistemological, ethical, and political assumptions in order to provide more comprehensive theories, methods, and interventions. The course is guided by several overarching critiques of mainstream psychology – the traditionally limited level of analysis, how our ideology upholds the status quo, and the tendency to claim scientific objectivity and political neutrality. Students will develop their skills through individual and collaborative writing, and peer review.

  Sec 005: Close Relationships

  This course, we will use a social psychological framework to examine our relationships with others, with a focus on romantic relationships. We will study relationships using a variety of theoretical perspectives, including interdependence theory, attachment theory, and evolutionary theory. Students will gain an appreciation for how relationship science differs from other perspectives and be able to evaluate claims and relationship advice, using research evidence. Topics covered will include attraction, relationship cognitions, conflict and violence, relationship satisfaction, social support, relationship dissolution, and relationship maintenance strategies.

  Sec 006: Health Disparities

  This course focuses on theories, methods, and applications of health disparities research and practice. Using a multicultural perspective, we will examine the historical, ethical, and legal issues that influence health disparities and health equity. Analyses of primary literature will be integrated throughout the course to facilitate discussion and provide examples of methodologies in the field.

  Sec 007: Cyberpsychology

  This course introduces the contemporary and evolving subdiscipline of cyberpsychology. This discipline is concerned with understanding the interaction between digital technologies and psychology, and how these technologies shape our psychological lives. Students will explore a broad range of topics and debates within this growing discipline, with a special focus on contemporary theoretical concerns and practical applications. In addition, students will develop a critical understanding of key methodological and ethical issues arising from internet-mediated psychological research.

  Sec 008: Child and Adolescent Peer Relations

  This course will examine theories and research related to child and adolescent peer relations such as friendship and romantic relationships.

  Spring 2026: 493 Descriptions

  Sec 001: The Social Psychology of the Internet 

  We will explore theory and research on the psychological processes that drive social interaction on the Internet, as well as the psychological effects of this type of Internet use. We will discuss multiple forms of online social interaction, including anonymous online venues, dating websites/apps and social media. We will discuss intrapersonal dynamics (e.g., online self-expression), interpersonal interactions (e.g., deception, online dating), the effects of Internet us on psychological wellbeing, and the wider societal impact of online behavior (e.g., political polarization, moral outrage

  Sec 002: Final Conversation: Psycho, socio, cultural perspectives on death, dying and bereavement.

  Examines psychological theories, concepts, and research that pertain to the study of death and personal death awareness. Description: Topics include cross-cultural and historical perspectives, medical ethics, grief/loss issues, funerals and body disposition, legal(wills, obituaries, estates, dpoa, mpoa) and social issues, death in modern society, suicide and beliefs about life after death

  Sec 003: Neuroscience of Psychopathologies

  The course provides an overview of the neurobiological mechanisms underlying developmental and adult psychopathologies including depression, anxiety disorders, violence, personality disorders, autism, and schizophrenia.

  Sec 004:  Close Relationships across the Lifespan

  This course will provide an advanced introduction to close relationships, particularly in the context of lifespan development. By the end of this course, you will be knowledgeable about relationship dynamics at each point of the lifespan. Topics covering both biological and sociocultural influences are designed to give you a more holistic view of close relationships.

  Sec 005: Evaluating Social Programs

  In this course students learn how to use social science research methods to answer questions about how well social programs operate and how they can be improved. The course is designed to introduce students to the field of program evaluation and prepare them with foundational knowledge and skills needed to engage in evaluation activities at a bachelor’s degree level.

  Sec 006: Moral Development

  This course will explore moral development at the proximate (short-term changes such as lifespan development) and ultimate levels (long-term changes such as the evolution of culture). We will ask and attempt to answer some of the important questions in moral psychology: What makes us moral? Are children born to be moral? Why do people find it easier to break some rules over others? Could emotions be involved in our moral decisions?

  Sec 007: Introduction to Feminist Psychological Research: Theory, Methods, and Practice

  This course explores the historic emergence of the discipline of feminist psychology through to the present day, and provides opportunities to develop practical, applied research skills through completion of an independent qualitative research project.

  Sec 008: Cyberpsychology: Digital Technologies and our Psychological Lives 

  This course introduces the contemporary and evolving subdiscipline of cyberpsychology. This discipline is concerned with understanding the interaction between digital technologies and psychology, and how these technologies shape our psychological lives. Students will explore a broad range of topics and debates within this growing discipline, with a special focus on contemporary theoretical concerns and practical applications. In addition, students will develop a critical understanding of key methodological and ethical issues arising from internet-mediated psychological research.

   

   

• Description of Courses

  Psychology and MSU campus-wide course descriptions are available in the Description of Courses Catalog. PSY 493 expanded descriptions and prerequisites are available on the psychology undergraduate website and from the course listing on student.msu.edu 

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