3.00 Credits
This seminar-style course serves as an in-depth examination of the current nature of psychology as a discipline, a scholarly pursuit, and as a potential area for the focus of a career. An emphasis will be placed on conveying an understanding of the processes that psychologists have used to expand and develop understanding within the domain of psychology, and how these are changing. This will include an examination of (1) critical thinking, (2) research methodology, and (3) current attempts to strengthen the credibility of psychological science by, for example, requiring research projects to be pre-registered, and requiring date to be made publicly available. Within this context, this course will also equip students with conceptual tools that will help them meaningfully address the personal questions of (1) whether psychology is the right field of concentration (major) for them as an undergraduate and (2) whether a career in the field of psychology could eventually be a fulfilling career choice after graduation. In this connection, the possibilities and practical aspects of launching oneself on a course of graduate training within psychology and/or on career path within psychology will be reviewed. If a student elects to take this course, then it would be best to take it immediately after having had general psychology or upon transferring into the major.