Proposal 75-21

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The University Senate of Michigan Technological University
Proposal 75-21

(Voting Units: Academic)

PROPOSAL TO ESTABLISH A CONCENTRATION IN SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY
within the degree
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN PSYCHOLOGY
(Department of Cognitive and Learning Sciences)

1) Date: March 8, 2021

2) Contact: Kedmon Hungwe, Professor, Cognitive & Learning Sciences (khungwe@mtu.edu); Kelly Steelman, Associate Professor & Interim Department Chair, Cognitive & Learning Sciences (steelman@mtu.edu)

3) Interdisciplinary Program Approval – Not Applicable

4) General Description and Program Characteristics
a) The Department of Cognitive and Learning Sciences at Michigan Technological University proposes Social Psychology as a new concentration of the BS in Psychology degree program. The concentration is one of three that are being introduced to enhance the quality of the program and in response to a program review conducted by faculty. The goal is to provide tailorable but constrained coursework foci for students. The changes leverage existing faculty and resources in Psychology to create a contemporary and robust program of study that will provide Psychology majors with a competitive edge when entering the professional work environment or in preparation for advanced studies at the graduate level.

b) This is one of three proposed concentrations being introduced in separate proposals. The concentrations add to coursework options for students and do not replace the existing Bachelor in Science in Psychology program.

c) Coursework in the Social Psychology concentration focuses on how individuals interact with, and are affected by each other and their environments. Thematic areas include social and intergroup relations; social justice and perception; social influence; attitude and attitude change; motivation; emotion; industrial/organizational psychology; personality; and social cognition. The learning outcomes associated with the concentrations are defined by the American Psychological Association for undergraduate programs in Psychology.

5) Title of Program
Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a Concentration in Social Psychology

6) Rationale
The program in Psychology at Michigan Technological University was first introduced as a minor in 2000. The BS degree in Psychology followed, with approval in 2004. The program offers a great deal of flexibility, both in terms of coursework and career options. The Department seeks to serve undergraduates with a diverse set of goals by providing concentrations that give students an additional identity within psychology if they choose.

Current priorities have focused on recruiting strategies for Psychology majors, increasing program visibility through targeted advertising and recruitment of students, and reviewing course offerings for alignment with guidelines of the American Psychological Association, as well as trends in students’ professional interests. Creating concentrations will enhance the department’s ability to meet these priorities. Some students seek to prepare themselves for graduate or professional school, others plan to apply for jobs in industry, and yet others see coursework in Psychology as interesting and valuable intellectually, but do not base their future vocational plans upon it. The Department seeks to more clearly articulate the available options by formally defining concentrations as an additional option to the current course of study. In choosing a concentration, students take a required set of core courses, leading to a more focused study of a subarea of Psychology that includes advanced coursework in the specialized area of interest.

7) Related Programs
The creation of the areas of concentrations in Psychology has been informed by two main sources: (1) definitions of specializations outlined by the American Psychological Association; and (2) Psychology programs from a range of universities including Northern Michigan University, Harvard University, University of Colorado, Boulder, University of Michigan, and the University of Virginia.

8) Student Enrollment
As of Spring 2021, there were 52 majors enrolled in Psychology (+12 from Fall 2020), and 54 Minors (+4 from Fall 2020). Table 1 indicates the enrollments in Psychology courses for the period Fall 2015 through Fall 2020.

Table 1: Enrollment trends (All courses) Fall 2015 - Fall 2020

  F15 S16 F16 S17 F17 S18 F18 S19 F19 S20 F20
Student count 400 447 433 558 362 502 438 458 374 440 370
Course count 9 11 10 13 8 11 10 11 11 11 10

 

The department has introduced enhanced strategies for student recruitment with positive results. As of 01/25/2021 there were 183 applications, and 143 admits (+83% over 2020).

Eight faculty (6 full-time T/TT faculty, 1 split appointment T/TT faculty, 1 lecturer) currently support a psychology major (N= 52), a psychology minor (N= 54), graduate programs in Applied Cognitive Science and Human Factors (N=26), and courses on the general education list. The proposed concentration does not require new faculty lines.

9) Curriculum Design
Table 2 indicates the current requirements for the Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology. The concentration in Social Psychology will comprise 18 credits of Psychology electives drawn from the 21 Psychology electives in the current program.

Table 2: Requirements for the Bachelor of Science in Psychology

Major Requirements (68 credits) Credits
1. Required Psychology Courses 29
2. Psychology Electives 21
3. Computing Requirement 3
4. STEM Requirement 15
Free Electives (30 credits)**  
General Education Requirement (24 credits) Credits
1. Core 12
2. HASS 12
Total 122

**The number of free electives will be reduced to 28 via the binder process.

Concentration in Social Psychology (Minimum =18 credits selected as indicated in tables 3 and 4)

Table 3: Maximum of 6 credits at 2000-level

PSY 2110 Educational Psychology 3 credits
PSY 2400 Health Psychology 3 credits
PSY 2600 Death & Dying 3 credits
PSY2080 Special Topics in Psychology 3 credits with dept approval

 

Table 4: Minimum of 12 credits at 3000 level and above

PSY 3700 Industrial Org Psychology 3 credits
PSY3040 History/Systems of Psychology 3 credits
PSY 3800 Environmental Psychology 3 credits
*PSY 3870 Psychology of Social Media OR HU3800 Media & Society 3 credits
PSY 3340 Psychology of Race 3 credits
PSY 4080 Topics in Psychology 3 credits with dept approval
PSY4720 Advanced Social Psychology 3 credits
PSY 4750 Judgment and Decision Making 3 credits
PSY 4340 Culture & Cognition 3 credits
PSY 4400 Tests & Measurements 3 credits

*New course

10) New Courses
PSY 3870 Psychology of Social Media
The course focuses on the application of theories of psychology and communication to understand the interaction between media use, message content, and the effects on users. Students will explore issues of new media through the lens of theories such as social cognitive theory, social networks, identity, curated selves, and commodified selves.

11) Schedule
Students will be able to schedule coursework to complete the degree program on a 4-year course of study. The proposed schedule is indicated in the appendix.

12) Library/Other Resources
No additional library resources required.

13) Needed Equipment
There are no additional equipment needs required to implement this concentration.

14) Program Costs
No additional costs are required to implement this concentration.

15) Accreditation Requirements
The curriculum changes align with the American Psychological Association goals for the undergraduate degree in Psychology.

16) Planned Implementation
Fall, 2021

Appendix 1: Bachelor of Science in Psychology
The suggested plan with concentrations will be available to students entering in the Academic Year 2021-2022.

Fall Year 1   Spring Year 1  
PSY2000 Introduction to Psychology 3 PSY2800 Critical Thinking 3
PSY 2501 Intro to the Psychology Major 1 PSY 2300 Developmental Psychology 3
UN 1015 Composition 3 UN1025 Global Issues 3
BL 2010/2011 - Anat/Phys 4 HASS Humanities & Fine Arts 3
MA 1030 and MA 1031 or MA 1032 or higher 4-6 Free Elective (variable credit)  
Total 15-17 Total variable
Fall Year 2   Spring Year 2  
PSY 3030 Abnormal Psychology 3 PSY 2720 Statistics 4
PSY Concentration Course 3 PSY 3720 Social Psychology 3
Gen Ed Core Critical & Creative Thinking 3 PSY Concentration Course 3
HASS Communication/Composition 3 Computing Elective 3
Free Elective 3 Free Elective (variable credit)  
Total 15 Total variable
Fall Year 3   Spring Year 3  
PSY 3000 Research Methods and Stats 3 PSY 3001 Research Methods and Stats 3
PSY 4010 Cognitive Psychology 3 PSY 4500 Senior Seminar 1
PSY Concentration Course 3 PSY 3060 Brain and Behavior 3
Free Elective (variable credit) 3 PSY Concentration Course 3
Gen Ed Core Soc Resp. & Ethical Reasoning 3 HASS Social & Behavioral Sciences 3
    Free Elective (variable credit)  
Total variable Total variable
Fall Year 4   Spring Year 4  
PSY Concentration Course 3 PSY Concentration Course 3
PSY Elective 3* Free Elective (variable credit)  
HASS (any) 3 Free Elective (variable credit)  
STEM non-Biological Science 3 Free Elective (variable credit)  
Free Elective (variable credit)   Free Elective (variable credit)  
Total variable Total variable

Total PSY Concentration = 18 credits.
Total free electives = 30 credits as in Table 2, or as amended through binder process.
*May be taken as variable and/or repeated credit.

 

*Course Add Proposal sheet in PDF linked above