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COURSES FOR FALL 2007

PSY 201G: Introduction to Psychology [Syllabus]
PSY 570: Teaching of Psychology
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FREQUENTLY TAUGHT COURSES

Introduction to Psychology (PSY 201G). Team-based learning course in which students work in permanent teams to complete in-class activities that require students to apply their knowledge to complex problems. The course is structured around two puzzles regarding human thought and behavior: 1) why do some people engage in anti-social or maladaptive behavior (e.g., suicide bombing, substance abuse, smoking); and 2) why do some people resist engaging in pro-social or adaptive behavior (e.g., eating right and exercising, helping someone in need)? Topics include motivation and emotion, research methods, attribution, memory, psychological disorders, psychoactive drugs, and biological influences on behavior.

Sexual Behavior (PSY 324). Team-based learning course in which students work in permanent teams to complete in-class activities that require students to apply their knowledge to complex problems. Topics include sexual orientation, sexual behavior, male and female sexual anatomy, communication and relationship skills, contraception, sexually transmitted diseases and atypical sexual behavior. Class activities include two student-led poster presentations (i.e., sexually transmitted infections and contraceptive methods), challenge activities that require students to make and defend an evaluative decision (e.g.,Prostitution does or does not pose the greatest threat to worldwide public health), and completion of nine short papers evaluating methodology used in research studies of sexuality.

Psychology of Women (PSY 359). Team-based learning course in which students work in permanent teams to complete in-class activities that require students to apply their knowledge to complex problems. Topics include women's development across the lifespan, women and work, women's physical and mental health and sexuality, the victimization of women, gender stereotypes, biological, social, and cultural influences on women's behavior. Writing assignments and in-class discussions require students to integrate and critically examine the arguments made in a series of supplement readings.

Teaching of Psychology (PSY 570). Graduate-level course emphasizing skills needed to successfully teach college-level psychology courses. Topic include course design, assessment and evaluation, active learning techniques, and textbook selection. Students practice presenting in both small- and large-group setting. The course culminates in a completed course design and syllabus for an Introduction to Psychology course.

Testing and Measurement (PSY 460). Topics include reliability, validity, and data analysis, as well as existing instruments used in ability testing, personality assessment, and personnel selection (e.g., MMPI, WAIS-R).  Students construct and analyze the psychometric properties of an original measure of the psychological construct of their choice. 

Psychology of Sexual Orientation (PSY 370). Team-taught course with a graduate student.  Topics include the development of sexual orientation, historical views of sexual orientation, differences between individuals with different orientations, progression and change in orientation throughout the lifespan, social/legal policies regarding sexual orientation, media portrayal of sexual orientation, stereotypes and discrimination of individuals with particular orientations, and family and community life for individuals with particular orientations. 

Experimental Methods (PSY 310). Topics include research design, data analysis, and writing research reports in APA format.  Students required to design, conduct, write, and present an original research project.  Weekly labs illustrate major topics in research design and analysis, enabling students to complete their original projects.  Weekly short-answer quizzes assess students’ understanding of class material and ability to apply important concepts to new situations.
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