PSYC 3450 — Learning and Motivation
4 semester hoursUndergraduateLectureusually offered: fall, springtypical days: M/WBostonTraditional
Offers an introduction to the basic learning and motivational principles that permit humans and animals to adapt effectively to a changing environment. Emphasizes research and theories of operant and Pavlovian conditioning, with discussions of discriminations and generalization, avoidance and punishment, acquired motivational states (for example, addiction), concept formation, biological constraints on learning and behavior, animal cognition, and other related topics. Relates learning and motivational principles to the understanding and treatment of behavioral, affective, cognitive, and motivational disorders.
Prerequisites
- one of:
- PSYC 1101 (min D-)
- PSYC 101M PSYC 102M
Offering history
| Term | Sections | Enrolled | Capacity | Full | Open seats/section |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 2023 | 1 | 74 | 75 | 99% | 1.0 |
| Spring 2024 | 1 | 71 | 75 | 95% | 4.0 |
| Fall 2024 | 1 | 74 | 75 | 99% | 1.0 |
| Spring 2025 | 1 | 75 | 75 | 100% | 0.0 |
| Spring 2026 | 2 | 150 | 150 | 100% | 0.0 |
Snapshots from scheduled scrapes — not live seat availability. "Full" can exceed 100% when sections over-enroll.
Meeting times
Share of recent sections by weekday: M 50% · T 34% · W 66% · Th 34% · F 34%
Common patterns: MWR (34% of sections), WF (17% of sections), TF (17% of sections), T (17% of sections), MW (16% of sections) — in patterns, R means Thursday
Professors
Fall
- Joanna Weaver (50% of students) · reviews
- Padmaja Nandigama (50% of students) · reviews
Spring
- Joanna Weaver (76% of students) · reviews
- Padmaja Nandigama (24% of students) · reviews
Percentages are each professor's average share of the season's enrolled students in recent terms.
Unlocks
PSYC 4604, PSYC 4678, PSYC 4682
Courses that list PSYC 3450 in their prerequisites.
Links
Official catalog (PSYC course descriptions) · Student reviews on RateMyHusky · All PSYC courses · Plan it at numap.app