Psychology and Its Impact on Everyday Life

How can social media cause you stress? What causes disorders like anxiety and depression? Do you feel manipulated by popular culture? How do drugs affect the brain? This course addresses these and other topics like brain injuries, learning disabilities, the psychology of product and web design, and how we process our media environment.

Program Dates

Choose the course length that works for you: 1-week intensives, 2-week sessions, and 4-week sessions

Eligibility

For students ages 13 and up

Fees

$1495

Learn to Think Like a Psychologist

Apply the scientific method to situations in your own life.

Discover how psychologists investigate human behavior and test their methods by creating your own experiment.

Get a primer on neuroscience.

Learn the basics of the brain’s reward system, the effects of drugs on behavior, and the causes and treatments for disorders like anxiety and depression.

Gain insight into learning and memory.

Discover what happens as the brain ages, the science of learning disorders, the importance of sleep, and ways to improve thinking as you learn about memory.

Investigate the neuroscience of design.

Delve into how perception is related to everything from road signs and products to web design and social media.

Your brain on social media.

Identify how your behavior is influenced on social media through praise and punishment. Explore the psychological benefits and drawbacks of social media and online interactions.

Explore college majors and future careers related to psychology.

Topics covered in this course offer a good background for potential college majors related to psychology, such as social work, teaching, psychological testing, and counseling.

How You Will Benefit

  • Learn how the brain works.
  • Apply psychological science to your everyday life. 
  • Identify how mood and behavior are influenced by social media.
  • Understand how drugs and learning disabilities affect the brain.
  • Find out how perception influences everything from product and web design to the way humans interact.
  • Practice creating your own experimental design.
  • Create effective multimedia presentations to communicate your ideas.
  • Explore future college majors and careers related to psychology.
  • Complete a Final Capstone Project to demonstrate what you’ve learned.
  • Earn a Certificate of Completion from Georgetown University.

Student completing Georgetown's psychology course

Three Learning Advantages Designed For You

Final Capstone Project

 Create a brief multimedia presentation, “My Psychological Life". This will involve:

  • Applying psychological science to your life.
  • Showing how topics covered in the course present in your daily life and routines.
  • Including a discussion of how what you learned can help you navigate the world.

Mentoring

You’ll receive guidance from a Georgetown University mentor who will support you and answer questions throughout your learning experience. You can expect:

  • Encouragement and direction on all assignments.
  • Inspiration and motivation to help you succeed.
  • Brainstorming for and feedback on your Final Capstone Project.

Flexible Learning

  • 100% online learning that works with your schedule.
  • 20 to 30 hours of total instruction and coursework, including engaging multimedia simulations, and assignments through dynamic videos featuring Dr. Paul Merritt of Georgetown University. 
  • Interact with fellow students from around the world.

Apply now for the next available course

May 7 - June 4

Psychology: How the Brain Influences Behavior

Length: 4 weeks

Cost: $1495

Application Deadline: Sunday, April 30, 2023

May 21 - June 4

Psychology: How the Brain Influences Behavior

Length: 2 weeks

Cost: $1495

Application Deadline: Sunday, May 14, 2023

June 11 - June 25

Psychology: How the Brain Influences Behavior

Length: 2 weeks

Cost: $1495

Application Deadline: Sunday, June 4, 2023

Course designed by Georgetown University Faculty

Dr. Paul Merritt | Psychology course instructor | Georgetown University

Dr. Paul Merritt, Ph.D.

Adjunct Professor of Psychology

Dr. Merritt earned a doctorate in Cognitive Psychology with a cognitive neuroscience specialization from Colorado State University. He has been teaching online psychology courses in psychopharmacology and cognitive psychology for 10 years. His areas of expertise include visual perception and visual attention, gender, hormones, and cognition, as well as applied cognitive psychology.

Want to Know More?

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Admissions

Our application process is easy. You can expect a prompt decision.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How will you be graded? What are assignments like? How much time do you have to turn around a project? When do you find out if you’re admitted? Find answers to your questions here.

Answers to Your Questions Here

Scholarships

We offer need-based scholarships in each cohort to students exhibiting high potential and an inability to pay full tuition. If you would like to be considered for a scholarship but you:

The University reserves the right to modify the course as may become necessary.