Mini-Version of Popular “Serial Killers” Class Open to the Public
NOTE: This class is full and registration is no longer available.
For many years, Sal Costa taught one of the most unique courses at the University, a psychology class commonly referred to as “Serial Killers.” Now retired, Costa is working with Truman to provide an abridged version of the class, available for $25 to the general public.
Starting Aug. 20, “Serial Killers and Psychopaths” will be offered for an eight-week session. Classes will take place in-person from 6-8 p.m. every Tuesday. Registration is open to anyone. Participants do not need to be current students or go through the normal application process. Anyone who takes the class – which is offered as a pass/fail option – will receive one hour of college credit.
“This is an opportunity for anyone to sample a class that has become legendary in Truman circles,” said Tyana Lange, vice president of student engagement, enrollment and marketing “Sal has always made this class interesting and engaging. Presenting it this way opens up this course, and Truman, to a whole new audience. My husband and I are looking forward to taking the class together and making it a slightly different type of date night.”
A lecture-based course, Costa will provide new material each week. Topics delve into a multitude of scientific and sociological issues, including biology, personality traits and disorders, abnormal psychology and psychopharmacology. Costa, professor emeritus of psychology, has been teaching a version of class for years. Initially it was a psychology course, but over the years it has grown to reach a wider audience.
“Really, I have very few psych people in there. What I’m doing is teaching psychology along with all of the other aspects of serial killers and the phases of them and what they do,” Costa said. “People are very genuinely interested.”
