To teach the student analytical skills necessary to formulate scientific questions pertaining to the process of exploring behavior and mental processes. To teach the student the critical thinking skills necessary to answer scientific questions using a variety of methodologies used by psychologists. To familiarize the student with the most contemporary scientific research techniques employed by psychologists. To instill an appreciation of psychology's role within the liberal arts. To know specialized language of psychology, to understand basic concepts, and to grasp the complex interactions that underlie behavior.
Social analysis is the systematic study of individual and social behavior.
It draws upon a variety of approaches, both theoretical and empirical, in order to discern patterns of meaning in behavior. In establishing social analysis as a required field of study, the faculty decided that the focus of courses in this area must be on human behavior in particular. They also want these courses to familiarize students with a variety of theories and methods of analysis. Your approximate standing in this course based on points earned to date will be posted periodically through the web page for this course under Course Tools and Resources. Each of the nine themes has a set of assigned readings from the textbook.