Stories We Tell Course Pairing
Introductory Psychology: A Bio-psycho-social Story of Human Behavior (PY 101D)
How do we make sense of human thought, emotion, and behavior? The stories we tell, about who we are and why we do what we do, form the basis for this course's exploration of psychology. Using research to challenge our assumptions, we ask such questions as, "Is personality an outcome of nature or nurture?," "Are memories accurate or stories we create?" and "If we revise our internal narratives about stressful events can we improve our physical and mental health?" This course draws on numerous theoretical perspectives to introduce the key theories, principles, and findings in contemporary psychology. As a diversity-core course, this course also emphasizes the different social and structural biases that have (and continue to) shape the the field of psychology. By taking this course, you will develop a strong foundation in psychology fundamentals, including recognition of the methods used to ask and answer questions in psychology and the primary themes that link the many sub-fields of psychology. This class will help you see the "stories you tell" about yourself through a new scientific lens, while highlighting the diversity and complexity of the human experience.
Faculty biography
Dr. Theresa DiDonato is a professor in Loyola's Psychology Department and a social psychologist who studies romantic relationships, with emphasis on romantic attraction and authenticity. She teaches Introductory Psychology, Social Psychology, and Research Methods, as well as upper-level courses on relationships. She is the author of "Meet, Catch, and Keep," a blog for Psychology Today.
Encountering the Past: The Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade & Slavery in Africa (HS 100)
In this course, students will develop the skills necessary for understanding and producing histories, which include the critical evaluation of sources and the ability to write cogently and persuasively about events in the past. It also asks students to think about why the study of history is important to our lives today. We will engage these topics and questions by exploring the trans-Atlantic slave trade and slavery as a practice and institution in Africa. The development of this economic system was critical to the making of the modern world. We will explore the conditions that led to its development, consider the humanistic contradictions inherent in its evolution, the debates over abolition, and its legacy on our modern world.
Faculty biography
Dr. Oghenetoja Okoh is an Assistant Professor of African History at Loyola. Her research specialties include colonial and post-colonial African political history, the development of minority identities, and gender relations. She teaches courses that focus both on modern African history and the history of the African Diaspora. She spent her first ten years living in Nigeria and otherwise hails from Minnesota. She lives in Baltimore with her twins, who keep her sharp and on her toes! She and the twins love exploring Baltimore, especially the museums: the Walters Museum, the American Visionary Art Museum and of course, the Baltimore Museum of Art.
Mentor biography
Dennis Velez currently serves as the Associate Director of ALANA (African, Latinx, Asian, Native American) Services at Loyola University Maryland. A Connecticut native, Dennis has a BA in Political Science and an MA in Sociology with a concentration in diversity and inequality. He now resides in downtown Baltimore and enjoys working with students. Go Greyhounds!
Mentor biography
Erin Misiorek is the Program Assistant for the Office of Student Engagement, working with programming related to orientation, leadership, discernment, and student involvement. She graduated from Loyola in 2020 with a Bachelor’s degree in Management and is a current MBA candidate in Loyola's Professionals MBA program.
Virtual Advisor
HS 100 satisfies a core requirement for all students. For students considering a major in the Sellinger School of Business, Psychology will count as an elective since Sellinger School of Business students will take Microeconomics Principles and Macroeconomic Principles as their two, core social science courses. Additionally, PY 101D would count as an elective for students considering a major in Global Studies or another social science (Sociology, Political Science, Economics). PY 101D also fulfills the diversity core requirement for all students.
