Psychology Undergraduate Program Goals
Alignment with Course-Level Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs)
2012-2013
Course
PSY 200
PSY 250
PSY 258
PSY 309
PSY 310
Goal 1*
Theory
&
Content
I
Goal 2*
Research
Goal 3*
Critical/
Thinking
Goal 4
Application
I
I
I
I
I
Goal 5
Values
Goal 6
Info/Tech
Literacy
Goal 7A
Communication
Goal 7B
Collaboration
Goal 8
Social
Justice
I
I (Written)
I
R
I (Written)
R (Written)
I
I/R
I
I
I
R
I/R
I/R
I (Written)
I/R
I (W and V)
I
PSY 300
PSY 305
PSY 308
I
I
I
PSY 311
PSY 315
I
I
PSY 312
PSY 314
PSY 316
I
I
I
PSY 317
PSY 333
PSY 530
I
I
R
PSY 319
PSY 319S
PSY 405
PSY 406
PSY 490
PSY 590
I
I
I
I
I
I
PSY 400
PSY 401W
PSY 579
R
R
R
R
PSY 349
PSY 402
PSY 403
R
R
R
R
I/R
I
R
Goal 9
Personal
Develop
Goal 10
Career
Planning
I
I
I/R
I
I/R
I/R
I/R
I
I
I
I
I
I/R
R
I/R
R (Written)
R
I/R
I/R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R (Verbal)
I
I
I
R (Verbal)
R (Verbal)
R (W and V)
R (Written)
R
R
R
R
R
R
I/R
I/R
I/R
I
R (W and V)
R (W and V)
R
I
R
R
I/R
R (Written)
I
R
R
I/R
I
Course
PSY 320
PSY 397
PSY 408
PSY 413
PSY 414
PSY 415
PSY 420
PSY 466
PSY 477
PSY 497
PSY 577
PSY 597
PSY 280
PSY 280W
Goal 1
Theory &
Content
Goal 2
Research
I
I
R
R
I
I
Goal 3
Critical/
Thinking
Goal 4
Application
I/R
I/R
R
R
I
R
Goal 5
Values
Goal 6
Info/Tech
Literacy
Goal 7A
Communication
Goal 7B
Collaboration
Goal 8
Social
Justice
Goal 9
Personal
Develop
Goal 10
Career
Planning
I/R
I/R
R (Written)
R (Written)
R
R
R
I
R
R
I
R
I
I
I
I
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
I
I
R
R
R
R
R
R (Written)
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
I(Written)
I
I
I
I
Method and Rationale:
 The curriculum map was generated from common department SLOs.
 I (Introduced) versus R (Reinforced) was based upon the prerequisite requirements for each course. Courses with only PSY 200
as a prerequisite were given an I for each outcome addressed. Courses with PSY 250 as a prerequisite were given an I, R, or
I/R for each outcome addressed. Courses with prerequisites above PSY 250 were given an R.
 Courses that are presenting entirely new content are given an I, even if they have a prereq of PSY 250. In some places, whether
course Theory and Content were an I or an R was a judgment call.
Gaps in curriculum. Values, Information Literacy, Collaboration, and Career Planning
Appendix A
Goals and Sample Student Learning Outcomes
Goal 1: Theory & Content. Students will understand major concepts, theoretical perspectives, empirical findings, and historical trends
in Psychology.
Sample SLOs. (a) Students will comprehend major concepts and empirical findings in social psychology.
(b) Students will understand the major historical trends in psychology from 1800—present.
Goal 2: Research Methods. Students will use critical and creative thinking and skeptical inquiry when thinking about, critiquing, and
applying research methods in Psychology
Sample SLOs. (a) Students will analyze the differences between common-sense, non-scientific approaches versus scientific
approaches to knowledge.
(b) Students will analyze and integrate information from research articles to create research
questions/predictions for future research.
Goal 3: Critical & Creative Thinking. Students will use critical and creative thinking, skeptical inquiry, and, when appropriate, the
scientific approach to solve problems related to behavior and mental processes.
Action verbs suggesting Critical Thinking (Higher-level thinking):
Application. Apply information to new and concrete problems. Analysis.Separate a whole into component parts.
Synthesis or Integration. Put things together. Organize parts into a whole.
Evaluation. Assess the value of information for a given purpose. Creativity. Develop something new.
Sample SLOs. Separate SLOs for critical thinking are not necessary. Instead, use appropriate action verbs in other SLOs to
indicate critical thinking. For example, the following SLOs each addresses more than one goal:
(a) Students will analyze and integrate information from research articles to create research
questions/predictions for future research (addresses goals research methods and critical thinking).
(b) Students will apply the concepts of social psychology to their own lives (application and CT).
(c) Students will analyze information from research articles in Psychology (research and CT).
(d) Students will integrate information from research articles to create research questions/predictions for future
research (research and CT).
(e) Students will evaluate theories in clinical psychology for use in (application) various situations and with
various populations (major concepts/theories and CT).
Goal 4: Application of Psychology. Students will understand and apply psychological principles in many areas of life including
personal, social, and organizational issues.
Sample SLOs. (a) Students will apply Myers’ test-construction theory to develop an original test of a construct assigned to
them by the instructor.
(b) Students will apply the scientific method to create an original experiment.
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.
Sample SLOs. (a) Students will judge whether a study is ethical using APA guidelines.
(b) Students will write a paper that weighs the evidence or reasoning behind two or more conflicting positions on
a topic in psychology.
Goal 6: Information and Technological Literacy. Students will demonstrate information competence and the ability to use technology
for many purposes.
Sample SLOs. (a) Students will be able to determine the nature and extent of information necessary for specific purposes.
(b) Students will demonstrate the ability to use SPSS to analyze data to test various predictions.
Goal 7: Communication & Collaboration: Students will be able to communicate and collaborate effectively.
Sample SLOs. (a) Students will write reports in the style, process, and format required by the discipline.
(b) Students will identify, evaluate, and apply appropriate strategies for working in a team in various situations to
accomplish various group goals.
Goal 8: Social Justice: Students will demonstrate a recognition, understanding, & respect for the complexity of human diversity.
Sample SLOs. (a) Students will identify advantages of working in teams with people who are different from themselves.
(b) Students will demonstrate sensitivity to various client populations by applying appropriate communication
techniques in mock therapy situations.
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.
Sample SLOs. (a) Students will apply Piaget’s theory of cognitive development to explain behavior of children of various ages.
(b) Students will use information in Health Psychology to develop a plan to improve their own health.
Goal 10: Career Planning and Development: Students will pursue realistic ideas about how to implement their psychological
knowledge, skills, and values in occupational pursuits in a variety of settings that meet personal goals and societal needs.
Sample SLOs. (a) Students will identify two career paths that align with their interests and values, as identified by various
exercises in the course.
(b) Students will write a personal statement appropriate for a self-selected graduate program.