The Program
In this course, we will explore the psychology of urban life. For much of our species’ evolutionary history, we humans lived mainly within small kinship groups in rural environments subsisting through hunting and gathering. These social relationships and agronomic practices required the evolution and development of certain psychological competencies, or mental skills, that helped navigate life and facilitate survival. With the advent of modern agriculture and pasturage, along with economic systems and technological advances, humans began settling into increasingly larger communities. Today, over 8o% of the world’s population live in urban areas, and that number is increasing, presenting a new set of opportunities and challenges especially in the face of climate change and resource depletion.
In this course we will consider both Philadelphia and Paris as urban environments for exploring issues at the interface of psychology, urban studies, sociology, and neuroscience. Some of the topics addressed in this interdisciplinary course include the psychological, social, and neural impacts of natural and built settings, the environmental psychology of personal and public space; the social psychology of intergroup relations particularly in regard to neighborhoods, race, and class; the neuropsychology of the brain regions that govern spatial understanding and wayfinding; the social neuroscience governing interpersonal interactions, the sociology of “third spaces” where information and knowledge is exchanged, and the economic history of urban practices and spaces such as markets, restaurants, museums, and other urban realms. This course aims to show that psychology can help us better understand how individuals and groups coalesce into larger communities and how our brains allow us to form social bonds, shape cultural practices, and build physical environments that help make modern life enriching, meaningful, and fulfilling.
Program Location(s)
Paris, France
Academics
Faculty Leader: Sean Duffy
Course Number: 50:830:454
Course Dates & Times
TBD
Program Travel Dates
05/23/25 – 06/02/2025
Application Deadline
12/01/25
Program Cost
TBD
Program Cost Includes:
Airfare
Housing
International health insurance
Some meals and all excursions
Program Cost Does Not Include:
Passport, visa, or airport entrance or exit fees (if applicable)
Vaccinations
Remaining meals
Application Process
*Please complete all components of the application, including passport number and expiration date.
*Upon completion of this application, the Office of International Students & Global Programs will register you in the course.
*Program cost is in addition to tuition, is approximate, and is subject to change.
*To withdraw, contact the Office of International Students & Global Programs at learning.abroad@camden.rutgers.edu. Remember: once you sign the Camden Financial Responsibility Statement, you may be responsible for paying the entire cost of the program.