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Course Syllabus

PSY 2010 Psychology as a Science and Career

  • Division: Social and Behavioral Science
  • Department: Behavioral Science
  • Credit/Time Requirement: Credit: 3; Lecture: 3; Lab: 0
  • Prerequisites: PSY 1010
  • Semesters Offered: Fall, Spring
  • Semester Approved: Fall 2024
  • Five-Year Review Semester: Summer 2029
  • End Semester: Summer 2030
  • Optimum Class Size: 30
  • Maximum Class Size: 40

Course Description

This course centers around developing and improving students' scientific and critical inquiry skills. Any student could benefit from this course, but it has emphasis for students who are considering or have declared themselves psychology majors. Students enrolled in the course will gain better understanding of concepts ranging from research design, basic statistics, APA format writing, methods of finding and understanding classic or current social science research, and career options in psychology and related fields.

Justification

This course is designed to give any student basic skills they could use in scientific and critical inquiry throughout their lives. It has particular application for students who are psychology or other social science majors. It will help prepare students for upper division coursework and commonly transfers to four-year institutions in Utah that require a similar course.

Student Learning Outcomes

  1. Draw on the social and behavioral sciences to evaluate contemporary problems using social science research methodology.
  2. Develop and communicate hypothetical explanations for individual human behavior within the large-scale historical or social context.
  3. Explain and use the social-scientific method to test research questions and draw conclusions.
  4. Write effectively within the social science discipline, using correct disciplinary guidelines, to analyze, interpret, and communicate about social science phenomena.
  5. Describe and analytically compare social, political, economic, cultural, geographical, and historical settings and processes other than one’s own.
  6. Demonstrate a broadened understanding of the different elements of the field of psychology, such as research, therapy, careers, and life application/improvement.

Course Content

This course will cover a variety of topics regarding the science of psychology and careers within the discipline. This content may include but is not limited to: research methods, research design,
ethics, basic statistics and analysis suites, quality literature reviews, APA writing style, and careers or education in psychology.