<p>I'm thinking about adding this course. Any impressions? How difficult/how much reading? Thanks for any help!</p>
<p>also curious.</p>
<p>I took PSYCH 2610 in Fall 2009, and it was definitely a good course. The grade for the course was based on three prelims, a final, one 8-page research paper, and discussion section (attendance, participation, and reaction responses). Each prelim was comprised of 50 multiple choice questions. The final was compromised of 100 multiple choice questions. To do well on the exams you have to review the lecture slides and have a basic understanding of the discussion section readings. The textbook readings weren’t necessary because the relevant information was covered in class. The weekly reaction responses had to be about 200-250 words and were usually written in response to two research articles relevant to class. You’ll find the course material interesting if you enjoy learning about how people develop emotions, morals, a sense of self, aggression, attachment, sex roles, and gender identity. He showed some really good video clips to supplement his lectures. It was a very laid back course (the professor was very friendly, brought in cake and cookies occasionally, had a “DJ TA” that played music as we came into class and left class, and added extra points onto exams if he judged the mean to be too low-- mid 80s was too low for his taste). You can also earn extra credit by signing up to be in psych studies. The course was definitely very manageable, fun, and interesting. Unfortunately, the professor that taught the class last Fall (Dr. Joseph Mikels) is not teaching it this upcoming semester, so things might be much different this Fall and everything I just typed may no longer apply. 
Good luck.</p>
<p>man trv, you had me all excited and then you dropped the “jk he’s not teaching it” bomb :(</p>
<p>thanks so much for the detailed info, trv!</p>