Psych Scoop, 11/24/20

November 24th, 2020

The Psych Scoop is sent to all Psychology Undergraduate students and alumni every Tuesday throughout the academic school year. 

Share your news with psyadvis@umn.edu!

Psychology Advising Announcements

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1. Peer Chatroom - Tuesday, December 1st

Tuesday, December 1, 2020, 12:30 pm- 1:30 pm CST
Cost: Free
Location: Online, Zoom Link

With finals around the corner, Psychology Advising invites you to attend the Peer Chatroom hosted by our Peer Advisor, Rucha. As undergraduate peer advisors and fellow majors, we realize that the semester has been very different and it can be overwhelming at times. Making connections and talking to peers can help ease stress. We want to offer this space for students to de-stress and chat. Come de-stress before finals; you might even see Pretzel, Rucha’s cat.

2. Get to Know Your Faculty Recap and Recording

Dr. Iris Vilares from our Cognitive and Brain Sciences area recently joined us for a Get to Know Your Faculty event. A big thank you to her for sharing her journey and answering questions from students. Dr. Vilares’ research focuses on decision making in people with psychiatric and neurological diseases. If you missed the event, you can watch it here. Find out whether Dr. Vilares worked as a) barista, b) zoo guide, or c) receptionist during her undergrad!

3. PsyAdvis Hours for Thanksgiving Break

This week, our office will be closed on Thursday, November 26th, and Friday, November 27th for the official University break. If you have questions during that time, please email us and we will get back to you as soon as we can. Keep in mind, this does mean that drop-ins are canceled for Thursday, November 26th. We hope everyone has a safe and happy break!

Events

4. The Evolution of Employment: Job Searching During COVID-19

Tuesday, December 1st, 2020, 4:00 pm- 5:00 pm CST
Cost: Free
Location: Online

Join career expert and GoinGlobal founder Mary Anne Thompson as she explores proven strategies and tactics for helping job seekers achieve their career objectives in an employment market transformed by the Covid-19 Pandemic. During this informative, one-hour presentation, Mary Anne will share insights gathered by her global team of in-country career experts and provide practical advice related to virtual work. Please note: attendance is limited, so be sure to register today to guarantee your place.

5. Impact Leaders: A candid conversation with President Joan Gabel and Dr. Michael Osterholm about life amid COVID-19

Wednesday, December 2nd, 2020, 11:00 am- 12:00 pm CST
Cost: Free
Location: Online

Join fellow University of Minnesota community members for a virtual conversation between President Joan Gabel and U of M COVID-19 expert Dr. Michael Osterholm as they reflect on the challenges, triumphs, and critical ongoing work related to the pandemic. How has COVID-19 impacted these two leaders? What stories of success make them proud of the U? What do they think the future looks like? What makes them hopeful? Register for the event and if you have further questions, contact umfevent@umn.edu.

6. Personal Statement Review Event

Friday, December 4th, 2020
Cost: Free
Location: Online

Personal Statement writing season is here! Are you looking to get feedback on your personal statement? Make a quick 30-minute virtual appointment with a staff member from the CLA Career Services office to receive feedback and pointers. Don’t have a fully written draft yet? That is okay! You are still welcome to make an appointment to get feedback and tips on how to get started or any questions you may have about personal statements. This event is being offered to all CLA students. To register for a timeslot, log into GoldPASS, click on "Events" and then "On-Campus Interviews," enter in Personal Statement Review - CLA, click on "Apply" to submit your application and click the "Take Slot" button on the right side of the screen to select a time. If you don't see the "Take Slot" option, the schedule may be full. You can still receive personal statement feedback by setting up a career counseling appointment. Questions? Please email Emily at oconn783@umn.edu or Taryn at hersc021@umn.edu. We look forward to working with you!

7. Department of Psychology Colloquium Series: Socioeconomic Disparities in Health- Costs of Upward Mobility

Monday, December 14, 2020, 3:00 pm- 4:30 pm CST
Cost: Free
Location: Online

Health disparities by socioeconomic status (SES) have been extensively documented, but less is known about the physical health implications of achieving upward mobility. This talk will address the effects of upward mobility on health in youth, including the conditions under which mobility can come at a cost. The talk will also discuss several potential psychosocial explanations and the behavioral and physiological pathways by which upward mobility may come to impact physical health. RSVP today.

Courses of Interest

8. PSY 3896: Internship in Psychology - 1-4 Credits

Make your internship experience count toward your PSY Major! The class credits (1-4 credits) are based on the number of hours that you work at your internship during the Spring 2021 semester. The online course assignments are a complement to your learning in your internship setting. Example sites from the past include Minneapolis Public Schools, People Serving People, Sexual Violence Center, Tubman, and the Walk-In Counseling Center. Look for more opportunities in the Psych Scoop and even more on GoldPass. You have time! Late registration is allowed through the end of the 2nd week of the Spring semester. Steps to register for PSY 3896:
1.) Student secures an internship with a site
2.) Submit a "Request an Experience" form on GoldPASS and receive approval
3.) Permission number to register for the course will then be emailed to you
PSY 3896 coursework is online (asynchronous); sites requiring in-person work will need to be approved by the College Internship staff

PSY 3896 is completely online

Instructor: Michael Houlahan

Note: this course counts as elective credit for the Psychology majors only.

9. PSY 4960 - 001: Interventions for Health and Wellness - 3 Credits

This is an advanced topics course for undergraduate students interested in learning about empirically-tested psychological interventions to increase health and happiness. In the first half of the course, the focus will be on interventions for wellbeing, and students will test different strategies on themselves each week (as well as read the research literature on the strategies) as they attempt to increase their happiness levels. In the second half of the course, the focus will be on interventions to change health behavior, and students will again test different strategies on themselves each week as they attempt to maintain a new health goal. A group project will involve creating an intervention to increase happiness on campus. The course consists of lecture, discussion, data collection, etc. Limited to 45 students.

PSY 4960 - 001 will meet online, Wednesdays from 9:00 am- 11:30 am CST

Instructor: Traci Mann

Note: this course counts as elective credit for the Psychology majors. If you are a minor, please email psyadvis@umn.edu about the course.

10. PSY 4960 - 002: Positive Psychology - 3 Credits

Students will learn about the history of positive psychology along with its applications to several life domains, including relationships, career development, and personal growth. The course will also cover common critiques and misconceptions about positive psychology. Throughout the semester, students will practice implementing interventions designed to enhance well-being in daily life. The class will be completely online and will consist of a mixture of lecture and student-led discussion. Completion of PSY 3001W (Introduction to Research Methods) is strongly recommended prior to taking this course.

PSY 4960 - 002 will meet online, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2:30 pm- 3:45 pm CST

Instructor: Richard Douglass

Note: this course counts as elective credit for the Psychology majors. If you are a minor, please email psyadvis@umn.edu about the course.

11. PSY 4960 - 003: Ethnic and Racial Minority Mental Health - 3 Credits

This is an advanced topics course for undergraduate students interested in research, theory, history, and practice related to the well-being and mental health of ethnic and racial minority populations. There will be a particular focus on culture-specific risk and protective factors associated with well-being and mental health, ethnic and racial disparities in mental health, and culturally responsive approaches to preventing and treating mental health problems. Students will learn how to adopt a scientific, analytic perspective on current issues and debates related to minority mental health. This course will consist of lectures, discussions, and hands-on activities. Prior or concurrent enrollment in PSY 3301, Introduction to Cultural Psychology, is suggested but not required.

PSY 4960 - 003 is online, meets Tuesdays 1:00 pm- 3:00 pm CST

Instructor: Rich Lee

Note: this course counts as elective credit for the Psychology majors. If you are a minor, please email psyadvis@umn.edu about the course.

12. PSY 5960 - 001: Psychology, Pandemics, and Climate Change - 3 credits

This is an advanced undergrad or graduate class. In this class, we will discuss some of the biggest challenges the world is facing nowadays (Climate change; pandemics) and what Psychology can do to help. We will address underlying reasons why people behave the way they do and discuss ways of constructing environments and incentives such as to promote behavior that addresses the common good. We will also discuss how psychology, climate change, and pandemics influence and are influenced by each other. This class will be interdisciplinary and combine decision-making and game theory with Biology, Economics, and Social and Cognitive Psychology. At the end of the class, students should be able to understand the crucial role of psychology in addressing major world challenges and be equipped with scientifically principled tools to help solve them. This class will consist of lectures (including several guest lectures), discussion, and group work. Completion of PSY 3001W is strongly recommended.

PSY 5960 - 001 is online, meets Fridays from 10:10 am- 12:40 pm CST

Instructor: Iris Vilares

Note: this course counts as elective credit for the Psychology majors. If you are a minor, please email psyadvis@umn.edu about the course.

13. GCC 5022: The Human Experience of Sensory Loss: Seeking Equitable and Effective Solutions - 3 credits

Interdisciplinary perspectives on sensory disabilities, especially vision impairment and hearing impairment. Visiting presenters including those with disabilities. Term project and weekly written reflection questions, but no exams. Open to both grad and undergrads. We especially encourage Psychology undergrads to register, especially those with interests in health or counseling professions. A psychology major who took the course wrote "This might be the best chance for any student to acquire concrete knowledge about the experience of living with sensory loss. You would also be able to learn from all perspectives involved in the subject.

GCC 5022 is online, meets Thursdays from 3:00 pm- 5:40 pm CST

Instructors: Gordon Legge and Andrew Oxenham (Psychology); Peggy Nelson (Speech, Language and Hearing Science), Meredith Adams (Medical School)

Note: this course does not count as an elective for Psychology majors or minors.

14. EPSY 1281: Psychological Science Applied - 4 credits

This course introduces students to applied psychology as a discipline and reviews fundamental principles of psychology through the lenses of applied and professional areas. The course serves as a foundation for future coursework in education, health sciences, and psychology.

EPSY 1281 is online. Lecture meets Mondays and Wednesdays, 9:05 am- 9:55 am CST (lectures are recorded), online lab attendance is required

Instructors: Martin Van Boekel (vanbo024@umn.edu)

Note: this course does not count for Psychology majors or minors.

Research

15. *Credit or Volunteer* Psychology of Environmental Sustainability Research Program

Professor Deniz Ones’ Organizational Environmental Sustainability “Green” research lab, headed by Yagizhan Yazar & Yilei Wang, will be conducting an online research program. The program can be taken in exchange for PSY 5993 (3 credits) for the spring semester [can be combined with the Capstone project] or by volunteering. During this program, the participants will 1) Gain experience in research on organizational environmental sustainability, 2) assist in data collection, data entry, and statistical analysis, 3) receive instruction in introductory statistical analysis in R, introduction to modern machine learning, and natural language processing techniques, and 4) learn about cutting-edge research in environmental sustainability in and of organizations and other I-O related topics. Tips and suggestions for pursuing advanced degrees in I-O psychology will be shared. This program will have two tracks. One will be a boot camp conducted in January and the other one will be an extensive research program from 1/4 to 3/7. For both tracks, intensive onboarding training will take place from 1/4 to 1/8. The number of participants for both research experiences is limited to 12. Please see the detailed schedule for the boot camp via this link, and for the extensive research program here. The application is open until November 29th and may be accessed through this link. Questions may be e-mailed to Yilei Wang at wang6568@umn.edu and Yagizhan Yazar at yazar001@umn.edu.

Resources

16. Looking for a Different Type of Spring 2021 Academic Experience?

HECUA may be for you. All HECUA programs are 16 upper-division University of Minnesota credits. This spring, we are offering four community-based off-campus programs in the Twin Cities: Making Media, Making Change, Inequality in America, Art for Social Change, Environmental Sustainability. In addition to academic courses, each program includes a 12-15 hour/week internship where you will develop skills and make connections that you can list on a resume. HECUA programs are community-based and experiential. Through an internship with a local organization like Twin Cities Public Television, HOME Line, MN 350, or Pangea World Theatre, you will have opportunities to meaningfully engage in the larger Twin Cities community. You will learn about social issues impacting the Twin Cities and develop skills to work at creating positive social change. Through an internship, field visits to local sites, and guest lectures from local activists, organizers, and community leaders, you will get to know the Twin Cities in a whole new way, while engaging with your cohort peers and faculty in deep discussions. This spring, all programs will be delivered in a hybrid format, combining socially distant in-person experiences with remote instruction. Online alternatives will be available for students who prefer not to participate in-person. To ApplyScholarships Available. Check out CCEL's YouTube Video of U of MN HECUA Alums.

Jobs/Internship Opportunities

IMPORTANT: Organizations listed below are not necessarily affiliated with or endorsed by the Department of Psychology or Psychology Undergraduate Advising. Please exercise the same discretion you would in viewing any other source.

17. Behavior Technician and Behavior Therapist

Behavioral Dimensions, a private company based out of St. Louis Park, Minnesota, provides intensive services to children with autism and related conditions. We are currently hiring undergraduate, college graduates, and graduate students from colleges and universities studying in a wide variety of human services fields. We at Behavioral Dimensions believe that the experiences we can offer students give them excellent opportunities to apply what they are learning in the classroom to real-life situations. Students will learn how to implement research-based behavioral techniques to teach young children a wide variety of skills as well as how to prevent and respond to challenging situations. Students receive many hours of training and support from professionals from several different disciplines, all with experience and training in Applied Behavior Analysis. Many jobs in the human services field require a degree, internship, and experience in order to be hired. We can assist in providing the required hours of experience and the internship while students are completing their degrees. Contact Amy Lundquist at alundquist@behavioraldimensions.com with questions.

18. Client Support Specialist/Psychometrist

Martin-McAllister Consulting Psychologists, Inc., an organizational consulting firm in Edina, is seeking a Client Support Specialist/Psychometrist. Responsibilities would include the administration of psychological tests, scheduling, client support services, front desk support, and some filing and typing. Requires excellent written and oral communication skills, strong interpersonal skills, and consistent attention to detail. If interested, please submit a resume and a brief statement of interest to Laura Pendergrass at lpendergrass@martinmcallister.com.

19. TRIO Upward Bound is Hiring!

TRIO Upward Bound is an educational opportunity program. TRIO UB is a college preparatory program for high school students who come from low-income and are working to be the first person in their family who attends college. TRIO UB works with students, parents, schools, and communities, on a long-term and intensive basis to help generate both individual and systemic change. Services are designed to help participants build the skills needed to succeed in postsecondary education. TRIO Upward Bound annually serves 118 Minneapolis Public High School students; this federal grant project has received continuous funding since 1966. Multiple positions are available including office assistant (job ID: 338095), teaching assistants (job ID: 338098), and tutors (job ID: 338096). Search for these positions on the UMN Job Search site under "Students" and use the corresponding job ID. If you would like to volunteer to tutor, please send Max an email at mhollenb@umn.edu your resume and a cover that address which day(s) you are available and which subjects you are interested in tutoring.

20. Educational Services Support - Office of Measurement Services (OMS)

The student support staff member will be responsible for supporting K-12 homeschool testing services within OMS. Initially, the staff member’s primary responsibility will be to help OMS prepare for the launch of a new service (online standardized tests with remote proctoring), with tasks including but not limited to: helping develop and document the proctoring process; gathering information (mostly online, some telephone) that will help us market our services. Depending on the staff member’s interest and experience, responsibilities may also include marketing and social media activities. The new service will launch during the spring term. At that time, the student support staff’s primary responsibility will be to administer tests with remote proctoring, with tasks including but not limited to: Zoom session setup; monitoring multiple students throughout test sessions that last 2-3 hours; basic troubleshooting (e.g., for homeschools having trouble logging in for testing); watching for and documenting anything concerning that is observed during the testing session (e.g., behavior that suggests a student is cheating). Additional responsibilities will be assigned as needed. These tasks will not be limited to the K-12 unit within OMS. Tasks may include helping prepare a roadmap for expansion of OMS offerings, marketing, and social media communications and effectiveness tracking, quality assurance, and clerical tasks. Apply on the UMN Jobs site. Click "Students" search for Job ID 338148

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