David and others,
Great question about applied courses. My reaction is this: be careful
how you and your institution are defining what is "applied course". The
examples you provided really involve applying core areas in psych
(learning, memory, social, developmental) to specialized topics (health
psych, gender, cross-cultural). These are VERY appropriate at liberal
arts institutions.
In contrast, if one defines "applied" as "how-to" -- how to improve your
close relationships, how to manage stress, etc. -- then that is
inappropriate. Note that there may be small elements of "how to" in
Cross-Cultural, Health Psych, and so forth. There is nothing wrong with
that, assuming the instructor is adhering to ethical and professional
responsibilities (e.g., no implied promises, "do this and your problems
will be solved"), and assuming that the focus remains on theories and
research.
Dr. Barbara Watters
Mercyhurst College
501 E. 38th St.
Erie, PA 16546
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
> Tipsters,
> We are discussing as a department the benefits and costs of adding
> several applied courses (including Close Relationships, Addictive
> Disorders, Cross-Cultural Psychology, Gender Studies, Forensic
> Psychology, Health Psychology, and Applied Assessment) to our
> curriculum. We currently offer a standard tiered curriculum of courses
> (introductory; methods and statistics; standard disciplinary courses
> such as developmental, social, memory and cognition etc.; and a capstone
> [senior thesis or senior seminar]). The major questions with which we
> are wrestling are: 1) Do such applied courses fit in the curriculum of
> an undergraduate psychology major and 2) Do such applied courses fit
> into the mission of a liberal arts education?
>
> We have our own ideas as to the relative benefits and costs of these
> proposed courses, but I would invite your opinions as to the place of
> applied courses such as these in a psychology major in a liberal arts
> context.
>
> Thanks for your help,
>
> David
>
> ***************************
> David K. Jones
> Assistant Professor of Psychology
> Westminster College
> Fulton, MO 65251
> (573) 592-5310
> [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> ***************************
