Spring 2025: January 28 – May 20
Subject: PSY (Psychology)
Course Level: 100
Number of Credits: 4 U.S. / 8 ECTS
Max Enrollment: 22
Schedule: Tue Thurs 16:10 – 17:30 CET (Berlin) |10:10 – 11:30 EDT (New York)
Distribution Area: Social Analysis
Language of Instruction: English
Course Prerequisites: English B2 / Equivalent or higher

Why do people sometimes make decisions that seem irrational, and why do they challenge us even when we’re confident in our own perspectives? This course unpacks the complexities of human behavior by exploring the cognitive and social forces that shape how we think, decide, and interact.
Drawing from cognitive and social psychology, participants will gain a solid understanding of the human mind, exploring cognitive biases and their profound impact on decision-making. Through discussions and hands-on activities, we’ll uncover how these biases influence our judgments and examine the social dynamics that drive our choices.
The course emphasizes practical applications, helping students recognize and navigate the factors influencing human behavior in real-world contexts. By the end, participants will be equipped with deeper insights into decision-making processes and the tools to approach diverse perspectives with empathy and critical thinking.
This course is a thought-provoking journey into the mechanisms of the human mind, designed to challenge assumptions and expand understanding of the forces that guide our decisions.

Guidelines for the Statement of Purpose:
Craft a reflective statement of purpose explaining your interest in the Smolny Beyond Borders online course. The file should be saved with your name and course title as the filename and uploaded accordingly. Your statement’s clarity and substance will significantly influence our selection. Convey your motivations and aspirations for this course succinctly but thoroughly. Kindly write your statement in the course’s Language of Instruction.

Application Portal Instructions:
1) Use the Latin alphabet for all entries on the portal, including your name. If the Language of Instruction is Russian, you may use Cyrillic only within the Statement of Purpose file, and the title of the file should still be in English.
2) Refrain from using email addresses associated with Russian or Belarusian educational institutions.
3) While completing the “Required Information” section, ensure you fill in the “Province” field for your address.
4) Provide an address outside Russia or Belarus in both the “Required Information” and “Geographic Location Confirmation” sections of the “Online Course Application”. This ensures we can send your transcript.
5) You must press the “Sign” button twice during the application.
6) If you hold a bachelor’s degree, select “4th+” in the “Academic Year (online)” section.
7) Applicants either unaffiliated or affiliated with educational institutions in Russia and Belarus should list ‘Smolny Beyond Borders’ as their educational institution.
8) In the student ID section, enter ‘SBB’.
9) Consider drafting your motivation letter ahead of time. Save it as a separate file with this format: LastName_FirstName_CourseTitle for a smoother application process.