Psychology at Sweet Briar

 

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SENIOR SEMINAR IN PSYCHOLOGY

THE PSYCHOLOGY DEPARTMENT'S CAPSTONE COURSE

Students locate and critically review literature in specific areas of psychology. Emphasis is placed on the integration, analysis, evaluation, and application of empirical and theoretical material, as well as proficient written and verbal communication. A major project or term paper in the student’s area of interest is prepared and presented during the semester.

Senior Seminar in Psychology is the Department's capstone course. It is the course to which all other psychology courses lead and is based upon the foundation of knowledge and skills acquired in all previous courses. It allows senior psychology majors the opportunity to demonstrate the value of the liberal arts education that they have obtained at

Sweet Briar College. This seminar provides the opportunity for senior psychology majors to demonstrate and strengthen seven essential skills by the following methods:

• Critical Thinking - by comprehending, analyzing, integrating, criticizing, applying, challenging, and defending information derived from psychological literature.

• Professional Writing - by preparing APA style reports on selected samples of psychological literature.

• Public Speaking - by presenting oral reports and facilitating discussion

• Constructive Discussing - by participating in spirited and constructive discussions of psychology's theoretical, empirical, methodological, and ethical issues.

• Active Listening - by serving as an attentive, critical, and supportive audience during the oral presentations of fellow classmates.

• Library Skills - by using both traditional and computerized bibliographic search techniques and becoming increasingly aware of sources of psychological literature.

• Computer Use - by employing computerized bibliographic search techniques and using a word-processing program to compose, edit, and print written reports.

These skills, and the conceptual knowledge gained during the course, are crucial to successful performance in graduate school and are also highly valued by potential employers who hire baccalaureate psychology majors directly after graduation.

A Developmental Approach

The Psychology Department's curriculum offers its majors a balance between academic contents and processes. The primary goal of our introductory courses is to expose students to the vocabulary, principles, theories, and methods of psychology. As students progress through the curriculum, the teaching emphasis changes steadily from a content- to a process-oriented approach as an increasing amount of responsibility for learning is placed on students. This shift in responsibility culminates in the department's capstone course, Senior Seminar in Psychology, in which the instructors serve as facilitators of students' intellectual development. By the end of their four years, students have improved their library, writing, computer, speaking, listening, and critical thinking skills to the extent that they are prepared to enter graduate school or begin a professional career.