PSYCHOLOGY OF SUICIDE
Provides a theoretical and research framework for understanding suicide, to develop understanding of the experiences of those who are suicidal, and to introduce prevention, assessment, and treatment approaches. Topics will include common myths related to suicide, and research challenging those myths; suicide assessment, intervention, and prevention strategies; suicide bereavement; ethical and legal issues related to suicide; and the experiences of populations disproportionately affected by suicide.
Prerequisites & course information
Requisites: Sophomore standing Course Designation: Core GenEd - Social & Behavioral Science Breadth - Social Science Level - Intermediate L&S Credit - L&S Liberal Arts and Science Repeatable for Credit: No Last Taught: Fall 2026 Learning Outcomes: 1. Apply and integrate knowledge from the course, including theory and research, to explain why people attempt and die from suicide Audience: Undergraduate 2. Use current, precise, and respectful suicide-related terminology Audience: Undergraduate 3. Analyze a scenario to recognize individuals at risk for suicide, and know how to respond appropriately and respectfully Audience: Undergraduate 4. Identify populations disproportionately affected by suicide, and describe some contributing factors Audience: Undergraduate 5. Describe evidence-based suicide prevention and treatment approaches Audience: Undergraduate 6. Evaluate the impact of suicide at the individual/familial, societal, and global levels Audience: Undergraduate 7. Evaluate some of the ethical and legal issues related to suicide and suicide prevention Audience: Undergraduate 8. Critically evaluate and discuss major issues and controversies within the field, and identify gaps in research Audience: Undergraduate Learning Outcomes: 1. Apply and integrate knowledge from the course, including theory and research, to explain why people attempt and die from suicide Audience: Undergraduate 2. Use current, precise, and respectful suicide-related terminology Audience: Undergraduate 3. Analyze a scenario to recognize individuals at risk for suicide, and know how to respond appropriately and respectfully Audience: Undergraduate 4. Identify populations disproportionately affected by suicide, and describe some contributing factors Audience: Undergraduate 5. Describe evidence-based suicide prevention and treatment approaches Audience: Undergraduate 6. Evaluate the impact of suicide at the individual/familial, societal, and global levels Audience: Undergraduate 7. Evaluate some of the ethical and legal issues related to suicide and suicide prevention Audience: Undergraduate 8. Critically evaluate and discuss major issues and controversies within the field, and identify gaps in research Audience: Undergraduate
Sources
- Course catalogue ↗2026-2027