MiddCORE 2024 MiddCORE’s mentor-driven leadership and innovation immersion program builds skills and confidence through collaborative, experiential, and impact-focused learning.  Through daily, weekly, and month-long challenges, students gain experience in leadership, strategic thinking, idea creation, collaboration, persuasive communication, ethical decision-making, cross-cultural understanding, conflict resolution, empathy, and crisis management.  Acceptance into MiddCORE is by approval only. To learn more about this January's MiddCORE curriculum and to apply to the program, please visit go/MiddCOREwinter.

Prepared for a Life of Meaning In this course we will explore psychology, education and sociological literature detailing the promise of higher education and opportunities to create a life of meaning. Students will contemplate the relation between the social and economic promises of higher education and corresponding ideals of a life of meaning. Students will formulate their own definitions and goals for a meaningful life. Using multidisciplinary frameworks, students will develop skills that enhance the likelihood of leading meaningful lives for themselves and their communities.

Research Methods in Psychology This course will provide students with an understanding of the research methodology used by psychologists. Students will learn to read psychological studies and other related research as informed consumers. Students will collect, analyze, and interpret data during lab assignments. They will also design an empirical study, review the related literature, and write a formal APA-style research proposal. (PSYC 0105 and PSYC 0201 or MATH 0116 or ECON 0111 (formerly ECON 0210); not open to first-year students; open to psychology and neuroscience majors)

Compass: Foundations for the Road Ahead The transition to college coincides with a range of increased developmental expectations and challenges. Some essential developmental tasks are exploring interests, building relationships, solidifying identities, and creating pathways to a life of meaning. In addition, mastering the college experience includes gaining and applying new skills to increasingly complex contexts. Utilizing literature from Psychology and Education, we will explore critical developmental tasks and associated skills that drive healthy outcomes for college-age students. We will then work collaboratively to begin honing essential skills and practice applying them over the semester.  Through written assignments, projects, and presentations, students will leave the course prepared to experience their liberal arts education with greater intention and be better prepared to live engaged, consequential, and creative lives.

Adolescence This course is designed to provide an overview of adolescent development, including the biological, cognitive, and social transitions of individuals during this period of life. Development also takes place in context, and we will pay particular attention to the role of family, peer group, school, work, and culture. Students will read research literature, as well as cases, in order to examine the central psychological issues of this developmental period, including identity, autonomy, intimacy, sexuality, and achievement.

Social and Emotional Development In this course students will explore current research and theory on the interrelated domains of social and emotional development from infancy through adulthood. Families and peers serve as the primary relationships for children’s and adolescents’ socialization, and relationships will be explored to further understand how they influence emotion regulation, adaptation to stressful life events, and intrapersonal conflicts. Emphasis will be placed on the role of context and culture in the formation of social and emotional competencies and experiences.  We will explore the theory and practice of Social Emotional Learning (SEL) curricula to enhance individuals’ social and emotional skills. (PSYC 0105; PSYC 0216 or PSYC 0225; not open to first-year students; open to Psychology majors, others by waiver).

Introduction to Psychology  This course will provide a general introduction to the field of psychology. The most central and important theories, concepts, findings, controversies, and applications in the following areas will be considered: biological bases of behavior, learning, perception, thinking, development, personality, psychological disorders, and social behavior. (Open to Juniors and Seniors by waiver only) 3 hrs lect./1 hr. disc.

Robert Moeller

Reviews and ratings for Robert Moeller at Middlebury College.Robert Moeller teaches MiddCORE 2024 MiddCORE 2025, Life of Meaning, Research Methods in Psychology and more.  Explore top rated instructors and find the best for you.Is Robert Moeller good ? Find out on MiddCourses.

I really enjoyed being this course even though I have zero interest in pursuing a finance/economic field of study. I felt that we learned a lot of networking skills that I could take with me to any field of study. We had dinners where we would meet with mentors, which was very nice. The professor did assign readings that were a bit interesting but had information that was common sense for the most part so you could get a away with skimming through for class. Overall, glad I did the application to do this course.

I took this class with Professor Moeller, and he is a good professor, but he doesn't meet the student's needs. He lets go of your hand in this part of psychology and lets you do everything on your own. The class was very interested, and I learned so much material. I heard the other class with Seehuss was extremely easier to manage. 

This course was one of the most courses I've taken at Middlebury! Ernie and Rob are hilarious in class and I looked forward to class every week. The homework is very helpful -- typically 1-2 pages of written reflection a week. The reflection on personal and professional goals, personal finance skills, and car skills were all invaluable lessons. 