Forensic Psychology

This course is an examination of the interaction between fields of psychology, law, and the criminal justice system. It examines the aspects of human behavior directly related to the legal process such as eyewitness memory and testimony, jury decision making, and theories of criminal behavior. There is a strong focus on the ethical and moral tensions that inform the law.

Instructor: Joshua Feinberg

Joshua Feinberg received his Ph.D. in Social Psychology from Rutgers University. He is an Associate Professor of Psychology at Saint Peter's University and has also taught several courses at both Barnard College and Columbia University. Previous courses he has taught include: forensic psychology, social psychology, industrial-organizational psychology, statistics, sports psychology, and research methods. He currently conducts research on how social factors affect moral decision making. He has previously published studies focusing on both applied and theoretical topics such as social facilitation, sports psychology, academic cheating, and implicit stereotyping.

Chemical Connections and Happenings

Transferring electrons. Making and breaking chemical bonds. These are among the atomic and molecular-scale happenings that we will explore in this course, combining discussions of chemical principles with hands-on laboratory experiments. We will also take field trips to New York City science landmarks such as the American Museum of Natural History in Manhattan, the New York Hall of Science in Queens, and the location in Brooklyn where large-scale production of penicillin was first achieved. We will use a technique called NMR spectroscopy—related to the MRI imaging used in medicine—to detect the hydrogen and carbon nuclei in a variety of organic compounds and correlate this data with the atom-by-atom structure of those molecules. We will also use hand-held models and computer software to visualize three-dimensional molecular structures and to calculate the distribution of electrons within molecules. Finally, we will consider connections of chemistry to philosophical, artistic, and literary questions, such as levels of “truth” in scientific theories. We will read and discuss selections from the chemistry-influenced literary memoirs of Primo Levi (The Periodic Table) and Oliver Sacks (Uncle Tungsten). Our explorations will also include museum trips in New York City to see paintings and drawings that reveal the ambiguity of visual representation (for example, art by René Magritte and MC Escher). Curiosity and interest in chemistry are prerequisites, but no special chemistry knowledge or background is required.

Instructor: Christian Rojas

Christian M. Rojas, Professor of Chemistry, teaches mainly introductory- and advanced-level organic chemistry courses. He is a synthetic organic chemist who conducts research to develop new methods for incorporating nitrogen atoms into organic molecules and applies those methods to the synthesis of amino sugars. Barnard undergraduate student researchers from the Rojas research group have gone on to careers in science, teaching, and medicine, including positions in the pharmaceutical industry, academia, public-school teaching, public health, and government. In addition to publishing research articles with his students, Christian was editor of the 2016 book Molecular Rearrangements in Organic Synthesis. Christian joined the Barnard faculty in 1997 after completing a National Institutes of Health Postdoctoral Fellowship at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the Scripps Research Institute. He earned a PhD from Indiana University and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Virginia.

Research and Professional Skills in STEM

This course introduces students to concepts and methods that support developing a research voice, navigating the virtual research landscape, and creating an online professional presence. In the first part of the course, students will explore how lived experience shapes research questions, draft personal research voice statements for future applications, and discuss how building a research voice can help address imposter syndrome. In the second part, students will learn research methods, practice using digital tools to conduct and organize research, and refine their writing process with reference managers. Visits to the Museum of Illusions, the American Museum of Natural History, and the Central Park Zoo will connect classroom learning to real-world inquiry.

Instructor: Jazlyn Nketia

Dr. Jazlyn Nketia is a cognitive scientist, public scholar, and the Founder and CEO of Cognitive Horizons, LLC. Her work bridges science, policy, and culture to make research on the mind and behavior more accessible and relevant to everyday life. Through her digital content, she translates complex ideas from cognitive science, neuroscience, and psychology into engaging discussions about decision-making, education, and social understanding.
 

The Social Mind

Why do people think, feel, and act the way they do in social settings? This course introduces contemporary theory and research on how individuals perceive and influence one another. Topics include person perception, attitudes, attraction, aggression, stereotyping, group dynamics, and social exchange. You will also consider how social psychology can be applied to address real-world challenges such as prejudice, conflict, and cooperation. Throughout the session, explorations of New York City will connect classroom learning to the diverse social dynamics that shape urban life.

Instructor: Joshua Feinberg

Joshua Feinberg received his Ph.D. in Social Psychology from Rutgers University. He is an Associate Professor of Psychology at Saint Peter's University and has also taught several courses at both Barnard College and Columbia University. Previous courses he has taught include: forensic psychology, social psychology, industrial-organizational psychology, statistics, sports psychology, and research methods. He currently conducts research on how social factors affect moral decision making. He has previously published studies focusing on both applied and theoretical topics such as social facilitation, sports psychology, academic cheating, and implicit stereotyping.