Weekly Opportunities - September 2, 2019
Announcements

Weekly Opportunities Fall 2019

We have officially updated our weekly opportunities for the week of September 2rd and the beginning of the fall semester! 
Here are some opportunities and updates for you:

 

1.Honors & Decals

If you are considering undertaking an Honors project in the Psychology department this year, now's the time to get your paperwork submitted.  Check out the Honors website for more details on the application process, courses to enroll in, and deadlines.
https://psychology.berkeley.edu/students/undergraduate-program/honors

 

DeCals
The Psychology department is proud to sponsor numerous DeCal classes this Fall. 
Search for open DeCal classes on either the DeCal website or on classes.berkeley.edu

 

2.DeCal Spotlight:

 

Course Title: 1:59 Autism Spectrum Disorder
Units: 1 P/NP
No textbooks required.
Course Description
Since the rate of children born with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) has reached 1 in 59 according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), this course aims to develop students' understanding of what Autism means. The class will explore a range of topics that will be enhanced in a mid-term paper as well as a final group project. We will meet once a week for roughly 1.5 hours to openly discuss ASD and listen to presentations from our peers. In order to receive a passing grade you may miss 2 classes.

 

This new high in U.S. Autism rates has inspired disability rights movements and spurred numerous scientific research projects. Biology, so far, does not hold the answers: there is no blood test or brain scan to diagnose autism. The condition has a genetic component, and has been linked to new mutations that distinguish affected individuals even from their parents. But thousands of different combinations of gene variants could contribute to the atypical brain development believed to be at the root of the condition, and the process of cataloging them and understanding their function has just begun.

 

In this DeCal, not only will you learn about possible neurobiological roots of ASD, you will also discover its research beginnings, possible intervention therapies, family dynamics, media portrayals, child and adult life, stigma, public outreach, and public awareness. The primary goal of this course is to stimulate and encourage a deeper understanding about individuals who meet the DSM-5 criteria for ASD and their families.

 

This 1-unit P/NP course is designed to be an introductory seminar that delves into ASD through case studies, current research at the UCSF Mind Institute and UC Berkeley Psychology Department, scientific publications, and news media articles. Documentaries, facilitator and student presentations, and open discussion about weekly topics will be incorporated into the course. Each class will meet weekly for approximately 1.5 hours.