Grand Theme

Teaching Philosophy of the Undergraduate Psychology Curriculum

• To equip students to become professionals of psychology theories and methods who know how to generate and communicate knowledge to others.

Two General Guiding Principles

1. Generating and Evaluating Knowledge
   1. Our curriculum focuses on training students to acquire a broad and deep knowledge base with a strong theoretical and empirical understanding of psychology theories and methods.
   2. Students are encouraged to develop in-depth knowledge in different concentration areas that include cognitive science, education & human development, social & industrial-organizational, and psychology & health.
   3. Attitudes towards scientific inquiry are developed through experiments and laboratory work that students have to conduct their own first-hand research systematically.
   4. Through independent research projects, students develop an inquisitive mind in evaluating and generating knowledge on their own.
   
   
2. Communicating and Applying Knowledge
   1. A practitioner’s mind set and skill set are developed through practicum courses and various applied course projects.
   2. In various project, class, and conference presentations, students develop skills in communicating knowledge to professionals and lay-people.
   3. Through group projects, students are trained to be both of a good leader and team-players with a strong emphasis on developing good collaboration skills with others.

Ten Specific Learning Outcomes

Adapted from “APA Guidelines for the Undergraduate Psychology Major”, Office of Precollege and Undergraduate Education, Education Directorate, American Psychological Association: (Aug 2006)

Goal 1. Knowledge Base of Psychology

Students will demonstrate familiarity with the major concepts, theoretical perspectives, empirical findings and historical trends in psychology.

1. Characterize the nature of Psychology as a discipline.
2. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding representing appropriate breadth and depth in selected content area of Psychology.
3. Use the concepts, language and major theories of the discipline to account for psychological phenomena.
4. Explain major perspectives of Psychology (e.g. behavioral, biological, cognitive, evolutionary, humanistic, psychodynamic, and sociocultural).

Goal 2. Research Methods in Psychology

Students will understand and apply basic research methods in psychology, including research design, data analysis, and interpretation.

1. Describe the basic characteristics of the science of Psychology.
2. Explain different research methods used by psychologists.
3. Evaluate the appropriateness of conclusions derived from psychological research.
4. Design and conduct basic studies to address psychological questions using appropriate research methods.
5. Follow the APA Codes of Ethics in the treatment of human and nonhuman participants in the design, data collection, interpretation and reporting of psychological research.
6. Generalize research conclusions appropriately based on the parameters of particular research methods.

Goal 3. Critical Thinking Skills in Psychology

Students will respect and use critical and creative thinking, skeptical inquiry, and, when possible, the scientific approach to solve problems related to behavior and mental processes.

1. Use critical thinking effectively.
2. Engage in creative thinking.
3. Use reasoning to recognize, develop, defense and criticize arguments and other persuasive appeals.
4. Approach problems effectively.

Goal 4. Application of Psychology

Students will understand and apply psychological principles to personal, social, and organizational issues.

1. Describe major applied areas of Psychology (e.g. clinical, counseling, industrial/organizational, school, etc) and emerging (e.g. health, forensics, media, military, etc) applied areas of Psychology.
2. Identify appropriate applications of Psychology in solving problems.
3. Articulate how psychological principles can be used to explain social issues and inform public policy.
4. Apply psychological concepts, theories, and research findings as these relate to everyday life.
5. Recognize that ethically complex situations can develop in the application of psychological principles.

Goal 5. Values in Psychology

Students will be able to weigh evidence, tolerate ambiguity, act ethically, and reflect other values that are the underpinnings of psychology as a discipline.

1. Recognize the necessity of ethical behavior in all aspects of the science and practice of Psychology.
2. Demonstrate reasonable skepticism and intellectual curiosity by asking questions about causes of behavior.
3. Seek and evaluate scientific evidence for psychological claims.
4. Tolerate ambiguity and realize that psychological explanations are often complex and tentative.
5. Recognize and respect human diversity.
6. Assess and justify one’s engagement with respect to civic, social and global responsibilities.
7. Understand the limitations of one’s psychological knowledge and skills.

Goal 6. Information and Technological Literacy

Students will demonstrate information competence and the ability to use computers and other technology for many purposes.

1. Demonstrate information competence at each stage in the following process:
1. Formulate a researchable topic that can be supported by database search strategies.
2. Locate and choose relevant sources from appropriate media, which may include data and perspectives outside traditional Psychology and Western boundaries.
3. Use selected sources after evaluating their suitability based on:
1. Appropriateness, accuracy quality and value of the source.
2. Potential bias of the source.
3. The relative value of primary versus secondary sources, empirical versus nonempirical sources, and peer-reviewed versus non peer-reviewed sources.
4. Read and accurately summarize the general scientific literature of Psychology.
2. Use appropriate software to produce understandable reports of the psychological literature, methods and statistical and qualitative analyses in APA or other appropriate styles, including graphic representations of data.
3. Use information and technology ethically and responsibly.
1. Quote, paraphrase, and cite correctly from a variety of media sources.
2. Define and avoid plagiarism.
3. Avoid distorting statistical results.
4. Honor commercial and intellectual copyrights.
4. Demonstrate theses computer skills:
1. Use basic word processing, database, e-mail, spreadsheet, and data analysis programs.
2. Search the Web for high-quality information.
3. Use proper etiquette and security safeguards when communicating through e-mail.

Goal 7. Communication Skills

Students will be able to communicate effectively in a variety of formats:

1. Demonstrate effective writing skills in various formats (e.g. essays, correspondences, technical papers, note taking) and for various purposes (e.g. informing, defending, explaining, persuading, arguing, teaching).
2. Demonstrate effective oral communication skills in various formats (e.g. group discussion, debate, lecture) and for various purposes (e.g. informing, defending, explaining, persuading, arguing, teaching).
3. Exhibit quantitative literacy.
4. Demonstrate effective interpersonal communication skills.
5. Exhibit the ability to collaborate effectively.

Goal 8. Sociocultural and International Awareness

Students will recognize, understand, and respect the complexity of sociocultural and international diversity.

1. Interact effectively and sensitively with people from diverse abilities, backgrounds and cultural perspectives.
2. Examine the sociocultural and international contexts that influence individual differences.
3. Explain how individual differences influence, beliefs, values, and interactions with others and vice versa.
4. Understand how privilege, power and oppression may affect prejudice, discrimination and inequality.
5. Recognize prejudical attitudes and discriminatory behaviors that might exist in themselves and others.
6. Predict how interaction among diverse people can challenge conventional understanding of psychological processes and behavior.

Goal 9. Personal Development

Students will develop insight into their own and others’ behavior and mental processes and apply effective strategies for self-management and self-improvement:

1. Reflect on one’s experiences and find meaning to them.
2. Apply psychological principles to promote personal development.
3. Enact self-management strategies that maximize healthy outcomes.
4. Display high level of personal integrity with others.
5. Seek diverse input and experiences with diverse people to enhance quality of solutions.

Goal 10. Career Planning and Development

Students will emerge from the major with realistic ideas about how to implement their psychological knowledge, skills, and values in occupational pursuits in a variety of settings.

1. Apply knowledge of Psychology (e.g. decision strategies, life span processes. Psychological assessment, types of psychological careers) in formulating career choices.
2. Identify the type of academic experience and performance in Psychology and the liberal arts that will facilitate entry into the workforce, post-baccalaureate education or both.
3. Describe preferred career paths based on accurate self-assessment of abilities, achievements, motivations, and work habits.
4. Identify and develop skills and experiences relevant to achieving selected career goals.
5. Articulate how changing societal needs can influence career opportunities and foster flexibility about managing changing conditions.
6. Demonstrate an understanding of the importance of life-long learning and personal flexibility to sustain personal and professional development as the nature of work evolves.