To assist with developing student learning outcomes, refer to the Learning Goals and Objectives below.

For more information, visit GSU's Online Guide to Developing and Assessing Learning Outcomes. The online guide is designed "to assist faculty to work through the process of deciding on the knowledge, skills and attitudes that students should have when successfully completing the requirements of a course, program major, and degree."

LEARNING GOALS (shaded) & OBJECTIVES (below GOALS)

Theory and Content: Demonstrate familiarity with major concepts, theoretical perspectives, empirical findings, and historical trends

Students learn the historical development of the discipline, its contemporary context (including social and political contexts, organizational and self-governance), and interaction with other disciplines. Students learn key psychological theories and concepts (e.g. biological, psychological, and social bases of affect, behavior, and cognition) and the nature and scope of supporting data

Research Methods: Understand and apply basic research methods including research design, data analysis, and interpretation.

Students develop testsble hypotheses, differentiate research design and/or statistics, evaluate aptness of research conclusions, and generalize them appropriately. Students design and conduct quantitative or qualitative research studies in laboratory or field settings. Students adhere to ethical guidelines for collection, storage, and use of data from human or non-human participants. Students use print and electronic library resources effectively and appropriately.

Application: Understand and apply psychological principles in personal, social, and organizational matters.

Students identify psychology’s major applications in laboratory and field settings (e.g. clinical, industry, education). Students articulate how psychology can further social understanding and public policy.

Communication and Collaboration skills: Communicate and work in groups effectively

Students demonstrate effective written communication skills and use discipline specific writing conventions and formats. Students demonstrate effective oral communication skills. Students work effectively within groups or teams.

Critical thinking skills: Respect and use critical and creative thinking, skeptical inquiry and the scientific approach.

Students use research data to formulate or evaluate new research questions, using reason and persuasion in a logical argument. Students summarize and evaluate a body of research including primary literature, and can compare psychology’s methods with other disciplines’ methods. Students analyze phenomena at multiple levels of analysis including the biological, individual, family, community, & society.

Personal development: Shows insight into one’s own and others’ behavior and mental processes and apply effective strategies for self-management and self-improvement.

Students apply psychology to personal and professional development. Students are aware of their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Students define personal and professional integrity.

Information and Technological Literacy: Demonstrate information competence and the ability to use computers and other technology for many purposes

Students demonstrate competent, ethical, and responsible use of information in academic work. Students apply software in research reports (e.g statistical) Students master computer basics such as Internet navigation, document and spreadsheet generation. Students assess web-based sources of information, popular presentations of psychological research, as well as pseudoscience.

Values in Psychology: Weigh evidence, tolerate ambiguity, act ethically, and reflect other values underpinning psychology

Students understand the need to behave ethically in personal and professional domains, and appreciate the need to tolerate ambiguity. Students demonstrate skepticism and intellectual curiosity, attunement to scientific evidence, civic responsibility, and respect for human diversity.

Sociocultural and International Awareness

Students respect individual differences. Students define diversity and its role in psychological theory and research. Students consider and explain the role of cultural, racial, ethnic and economic factors, privilege, and discrimination, in affect, behavior, and cognition.

Career Planning and Development: Emerge from the major with realistic ideas about how to use psychological knowledge, skills, and values in various occupations, and in graduate or occupational schools.

Students apply psychological principles to career decision-making. Students identify and pursue realistic career paths. Students identify realistic graduate education pathways. Students take practical career steps. Students value lifelong learning and ongoing professional development.