PSYC 210 Social Psychology (5 credits)

1. Describe concepts in social psychology (e.g. attributions, obedience, conformity, institution.) (research projects/papers, essays, objective exams, in-class presentations, class presentations, class discussions, group activities, program proposals)

2. Explain main findings on topics in social psychology (e.g. classic studies such as Milgram’s obedience study, Rosenthal & Jacobson’s sex role studies). (research projects/papers, essays, objective exams, in-class presentations, class discussions, group activities, program proposals)

3. Describe the influences group structure has on social interaction. (research projects/papers, essays, objective exams, in-class presentations, class discussions, group activities, program proposals)

4. Apply concepts in social psychology to everyday behavior of self, others and current events. (essays, objective exams, in-class presentations, class discussions, group activities, journals/reflective essays, program proposals)

5. Evaluate results of research in social psychology based on its methodology, relevance to theory, and relevance to social issues. (research projects/papers, essays, objective exams, in-class presentations, class discussions, group activities, program proposals)

6. Identify judgments made in creating knowledge in social psychology and evaluate the impact of those judgments. (research projects/papers, essays, objective exams, in-class presentations, class discussion, group activities, journals/reflective essays, program proposals, white papers-policy statement)

7. Evaluate research designs used to study social psychological topics at a basic level (e.g. the ability to achieve appropriate information). (research projects/papers, essays, objective exams, in-class presentations, class discussion, group activities, journals/reflective essays, program proposals, white papers-policy statement)

8. Conduct informed observations of human behavior with awareness of the cultural context in which human behavior occurs. (research projects/papers, essays, objective exams, in-class presentations, class discussion, group activities, journals/reflective essays, program proposals, white papers-policy statement)

9. Discuss personal experience that formed opinions and attitudes on class topics. (research projects/papers, essays in-class presentations, class discussions, group activities, journals/reflective essays, program proposals)

10. Generate potential social contexts that would provide a broader base for one’s opinions and behavioral tendencies (i.e. different past experiences and future opportunities) (essays, in-class presentations, class discussions, group activities, journals/reflective essays)

11. Identify the cultural and historical forces which can be attributed to shaping social psychological concepts and (research projects/papers, essays, objective exams, in-class presentations, class discussion, group activities, journals/reflective essays, program proposals, white papers-policy statement)

12. Describe the main issues and ideas behind them that shaped the field of social psychology (e.g. the person-situation debate, lab/field methodologies). (research projects/papers, essays, objective exams, in-class presentations, class discussions, group activities, program proposals)

13. Appreciate and apprehend the complexity of human experience; practice thinking about the many factors that go into each person’s life. (journals/reflective essays)

Degree Outcomes
Social Sciences: Graduates analyze and interpret social phenomenon using social science theories and methods.

Critical, Creative, and Reflective Thinking: Graduates will evaluate, analyze, synthesize, and generate ideas; construct informed, meaningful, and justifiable conclusions; and process feelings, beliefs, biases, strengths, and weaknesses as they relate to their thinking, decisions, and creations.

Lecture Contact Hours 50
Lab Contact Hours 0
Clinical Contact Hours 0
Total Contact Hours 50

Potential Methods
A. Research projects / papers
B. Essays
C. Objective exams
D. In-class presentations
E. Class discussions
F. Group activities
G. Journals / reflective essays
H. Program proposals – interventions to change some attitude or behavior based on social psychological principles
I. White papers – policy statements