Courses


The following is the list of courses comprising the proposed Systems of Human Motivation major. The Individually Designed Major track requires that all courses counting towards fulfillment be drawn from the 100 level or above. Thus, the unit total of the 100 level courses below exceeds 70. However, there are several courses I have taken below the 100 level, namely within the Psychology Department, that I think are still integral to the framework of the major, and I’ve included them within the course list as supplements.

Courses in the 100 level or above are denoted by an *, while courses below 100 but within the major’s framework are not.
Bold course listings signify completed courses.

Each course has been carefully selected within the framework of the ideals behind the Systems of Human Motivation major. For an elaboration of each course’s value within the major simply click the class listing to activate a drop-down function.

Cultural Geography Component

Key to understanding what motivates individuals to certain actions is understanding the cultural contexts in which those actions occur. The enormous influence linguistic, religious, cultural, and political backgrounds and frameworks have on a person’s way of thinking is plain to see. What is not so plain to see is how these factors shape motivation in specific cases. The Global Human Geography series is this major’s tool to add insight into those specifics, by surveying the world’s various regions and delving into the customs, language, history, and socio-economic elements that define them. Knowledge of this diversity, I think, will allow its holder a much more nuanced perspective into factors that influence motivation throughout the world.

I feel this class is as valuable as it is largely because the professor, Martin Lewis, is an incredible wealth of knowledge. Global Human Geography is a two part series, with part A covering Africa and what we call the Asian continent, and part B covering Europe, Russia, and the Americas. Both parts are included in the major.

History 106B is the second half of the two-part Global Human Geography series. See the expansion on part one, 106A, above for an elaboration of its value within the major.

Motivation Through the Lens of History, Politics, Policy & Design

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Communication, Economics, and the Internet

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Psychological and Biological Factors

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Research and Hands-On

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Total Units Proposed: 91

Total Units Proposed (incl. < 100): 110

Total Units Taken: 51

Total Units Taken (incl. < 100): 60