Psychology: How the Brain Influences Behavior

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. Whether you’re looking to receive college credit or just immerse yourself in the world of psychology before college, we have an option for you.

Program Dates

Multi-length courses available throughout the year

Enrichment Course Fees

$1,795

Eligibility

For students ages 13 and up

College Credit Course Fees

$3,995

What's the Difference Between Our College Credit and Enrichment Courses?

While both options include dynamic video lessons by renowned Georgetown faculty and access to support, the college credit courses contain additional coursework hours and allow you to earn college credit upon completion. We recommend selecting either the college credit or the enrichment option as some content overlaps between the two modalities.

Psychology College Credit Course
$3,995

Length of Course: 6-, 8-, or 12-weeks

Instruction & Activities: 128 hours

Grading: Letter grade

On Your Own Schedule: ✔️

Academic Support: ✔️

Final Project: ✔️

College Credit Hours: ✔️

Certificate of Completion: Georgetown Transcript

Psychology Enrichment Course
$1,795

Length of Course: 1-, 2, or 4-weeks

Instruction & Activities: 20-30 hours

Grading: Pass/Fail

On Your Own Schedule: ✔️

Academic Support: ✔️

Final Project: ✔️

College Credit Hours:

Certificate of Completion:✔️

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.
  • Practice creating your own experimental design.
  • 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 or College Credit 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 mentor or TA 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 (enrichment) or 128 hours (college credit) 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

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 taught online psychology courses in psychopharmacology and cognitive psychology for 10 over years. His expertise included visual perception and visual attention, gender, hormones, and cognition, as well as applied cognitive psychology.

Meet Your Mentors and TAs

Madison | Georgetown Psychology Course Mentor

Madison

Received a B.S. in Biology of Global Health and a minor in Psychology from Georgetown University.

Marcus | Georgetown Psychology Course Mentor

Marcus

Currently a graduate student in Experimental Psychology and a Neuroscience researcher, Marcus previously worked as a statistics tutor and teaching assistant.

Alex | Georgetown Psychology Course Mentor

Alex

Holds an M.A. in Psychology and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology with an interest in gambling addiction.

Brittany | Georgetown Psychology Course Mentor

Brittany

Hold a master's degree in counseling and a bachelor's degree in psychology. Currently working as an academic advisor.

Want to Know More?

Sign up for more information and we’ll be in touch.

Admissions

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

Start Application

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 for participating students who exhibit high potential and an inability to pay the full tuition. 

  • If you haven’t applied to the program, apply here. After submitting your application, click “Apply for a need-based scholarship” on the confirmation page to request a scholarship.  
  • If you’ve already applied to the program, sign in to your profile to check your scholarship status. If we don’t have a scholarship request on file, click “Apply for a need-based scholarship” to request a scholarship.

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