St. Cloud State University
General Education Goal Area 5
History and the Social & Behavioral Sciences
Academic Affairs Use Only:
Response Date:
Effective Date:
Proposal Number:
1.
Prepared by: M. Bodvarsson; J. Melcher
Phone: 8-2188
Email: mcbodvarsson; jmmelcher
2.
Requesting Unit: Psychology
3.
Department, Course Number, Title: PSY115, Introduction to Psychology
4.
New Course
5.
Will this course be flagged as a diversity course?
Already Designated as Diversity
6.
Will this course also satisfy another General Education Goal Area?
If “Yes” specify which goal area.
Existing Course
No
Diversity Proposal Accompanying This Form
No
Yes
7.
Course bulletin description, including credits and semesters to be offered:
Survey of contemporary scientific psychology. Includes: biological bases of behavior, cognitive
mechanisms, learning/behavioral adaptation, development, social influences, personality, disorders, and
treatment. 3 Cr. F, S, SUM.
8.
Indicate the clientele for whom this course is designed. Is the course for general education only, or
does it fulfill general education and other program needs for this or another department? Obtain
signatures from any affected departments.
General education; is also required for Psychology majors/minors and for Community Psychology
majors.
9.
Indicate any changes that must be made in offerings or resources in your department or other
departments by offering this course.
None
10.
For new courses or courses not yet approved for General Education, indicate any other SCSU departments
or units offering instruction that relates to the content of the proposed course.
NA
11.
Courses designated as General Education are included in the assessment plan for the Goal Area(s)
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for which they are approved. Courses for which assessment is not included in the annual GE
assessment report for two years will be removed from the General Education Program.
The Requesting Unit understands and recognizes the above conditions.
12.
Provide a concise explanation of how the following goal is a “significant focus” of the proposed course.
Goal Area 5: History and the Social & Behavioral Sciences
Develop understanding of human societies and behaviors, and of the concepts, theories, and methods of
history and the social sciences.
Introduction to Psychology provides a broad introduction to the major fields of psychology, one of the core
sciences of human behavior, including social behavior. It introduces students to psychological uses of scientific
methods and provides basic knowledge about the physiological and neurological bases of behavior. These, in
combination with concepts from areas such as animal learning and behavior, cognition, human development, and
social psychology, help students develop multifaceted explanations for behavior that they can apply from the
individual to the societal levels.
13. In order for a course to be designated as fulfilling Goal Area 5, it must address at least 4 of the 5 student learning
outcomes (SLOs) below. Check the SLOs below that are focused on in the proposed general education course.
1. Describe or use the methods and data by which historians, social scientists, or behavioral scientists investigate
human conditions.
2. Analyze human behavior, cultures, and social institutions and processes from the perspectives of history or the
social and behavioral sciences.
3. Develop explanations for and explore solutions to historical or contemporary social problems.
4. Reflect upon themselves in relation to family, communities, society, culture, and/or their histories.
5. Apply and critique alternative explanatory systems or theories about human societies and behaviors.
14.
Discuss how each Student Learning Outcome checked above is achieved in this course. (Note: Although
descriptions of typical assignments or types of assignments may be part of this discussion, it is not
appropriate to submit copies of actual assignments.)
Student achievement of the following course and undergraduate program goals is achieved via
combinations of lectures, textbook readings, videos, in-class activities, online activities, frequent quizzes, peer
reviewed writing assignments, and final examination.
SLO #1: Describe or use the methods and data by which historians, social scientists, or behavioral scientists
investigate human conditions.
Students will understand and apply basic research methods in psychology, including research design, data
analysis, and interpretation. Students will be able to:
a.
Describe the basic characteristics of the science of psychology and identify steps involved in using the
scientific method.
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b.
Explain different research methods used by psychologists and compare and contrast basic research
methods in terms of controllability and causation.
SLO #2: Analyze human behavior, cultures, and social institutions and processes from the perspectives of history
or the social and behavioral sciences.
Students will be able to:
a.
Describe the nature of psychology as a discipline
b.
Explain how and why psychology uses science to study human behavior.
c.
Identify the primary goals of psychology as a discipline: (i.e., to describe, understand, predict, and
control human behaviors, attitudes, and affective responses).
d.
Use the concepts, language, and major theories of the discipline to account for psychological phenomenon
e.
Describe behavior and thought processes of human beings using empirical support.
f.
Explain major perspectives of psychology (e.g., behavioral, biological, cognitive, evolutionary,
humanistic, psychodynamic, and sociocultural)
g.
Demonstrate understanding of theory and research related to the following content areas of psychology:
1.
Biological bases of behavior
2.
Sensation and perception
3.
Learning and memory
4.
Cognition and Intelligence
5.
Personality
6.
Human development
7.
Psychological disorders, treatments of disorders, and stress
8.
Social behavior
9.
Applied psychology
SLO #3: Develop explanations for and explore solutions to historical or contemporary social problems.
Students will be able to identify appropriate applications of psychology in solving problems, such as:
a.
Identify and use psychological principles of learning and behavior to modify their own or others’
behaviors.
b.
Use coping strategies in stressful situations.
c.
Understand some of the physiological/neurological bases of psychological disorders and other detrimental
behaviors (e.g., risk-taking, overeating).
d.
Identify symptoms and appropriate treatment of psychological disorders.
e.
Understand how expectations, heuristics, and mental sets help or hinder problem solving and decision
making.
f.
Understand methods of testing and measuring psychological constructs.
g.
Apply social psychological concepts to understand and to deal with problems such as stereotyping and
prejudice.
SLO #4: Reflect upon themselves in relation to family, communities, society, culture, and/or their histories.
Students will be able to apply psychological concepts, theories, and research findings as they relate to everyday
life through activities such as:
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a. Explaining how a chosen topic of psychology has impacted the student’s understanding of their own and/or
others’ behavior(s).
b. Explaining how a topic learned in the course can be utilized to beneficially change a particular behavior/attitude
of the student and/or other persons.
c. Explaining how a topic learned in the course can be used to modify behaviors in relation to social problems
such as prejudice, psychological disorders, unsafe behaviors, etc.
15.
List or attach the Course Outline (adequately described and including percentage of time to be allocated
to each topic). Curriculum Committees may request additional information. Topics larger than 20% need
to be broken down further. Indicate in your course outline where the Student Learning Outcomes
checked above are being met.
History of Psych; Psychological Research
Biological Bases of Behavior
Sensation and Perception
Learning and memory
Cognition and Intelligence
Lifespan development
Personality
Psychological disorders, treatments of disorders, and stress
Social behavior
Applied psychology
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(10%)
(10%)
(10%)
(10%)
(10%)
(10%)
(10%)
(15%)
(10%)
(10%)
(SLOs 1 & 2)
(SLOs 1 & 2)
(SLOs 1 & 2)
(SLOs 1 & 4)
(SLOs 1 & 4)
(SLO 4)
(SLO 4 )
(SLOs 2 & 3 )
(SLOs 3 & 4)
(SLOs 3 & 4)
St. Cloud State University
General Education Transmittal Form
Academic Affairs Use Only:
Response Date:
Effective Date:
Proposal Number
Department: Psychology
Course or Course(s): PSY 115 Introduction to Psychology
Leslie Valdes
Department or Unit Chair Signature
2-2-2010
Date
Department forward to Academic Affairs for publication and electronically to Chair of General Education Committee, Chair
of College Curriculum Committee, College Dean
Recommendation of General Education Committee:
Approve
Remarks:
Disapprove
Chairperson
Committee
Signature
Date
Recommendation of University Curriculum Committee:
Approve
Remarks:
Disapprove
Chairperson
Committee
Signature
Date
Recommendation of Faculty Association:
Approve
Remarks:
Disapprove
FA Senate
Signature
Date
Action of Academic Vice President:
Approve
Disapprove
Signature
Entered in Curriculum Data File
12/11/2009
Remarks:
Date