New Special Topics Course for Fall 2025: PSYC 489I Psychology of Stress and Health in the Work Environment

PSYC 489I: Psychology of Stress and Health in the Work Environment

Fall Semester 2025 (TuTh 9:30-10:45am)

Instructor: Dr. Cassandra Phetmisy

Register on TESTUDO

Fulfills a PSYC Theme 3 and a PSYC 400 Level Non-Lab

Did you know that we spend nearly a third of their adult lives working? Given all the time we
invest at work, it is imperative to understand how our jobs (e.g., working conditions, job
demands) may directly contribute to our health and psychological experiences.

This class will cover several ways that the workplace can help (and hurt) individuals’ outcomes.
Specifically, we will learn about (1) workplace and non-workplace stressors that affect
employee wellbeing, (2) workers’ psychological, social, and health outcomes, and (3)
interventions to promote employee wellbeing and reduce injury and stress.

Students will gain important skills from this course, including conducting an in-depth literature
review about threats/risks in a specific occupation, as well as developing practical
recommendations to improve workers’ experiences. 

This class may be especially useful for students interested in pursuing graduate school or a related career particularly in Industrial-Organizational Psychology, Health Psychology, or Social Psychology.