Muhlenberg college

1. gain a greater understanding of human beings
• know the models, findings, and theories of psychology
• appreciate psychology's role in a liberal arts education, including psychology's contributions to other disciplines and the contributions of those disciplines to psychology
2. think well and communicate effectively about human beings
• develop sound critical analysis, synthesis, and research skills
• appreciate the contributions of diverse methods of inquiry
• develop effective writing, speaking, and listening skills
3. exhibit intrinsic motivation and a life-long dedication to learning about human beings - including intellectual curiosity and adventurousness, and a willingness to wrestle with difficult issues
   
4. recognize and understand the roles of cultural and individual differences and commonalities (e.g., class, gender, religion, race, ethnicity, & disability);
5. develop intellectually and ethically, appropriately balancing autonomy, interdependence, and responsibility
6. become good citizens, including sharing and applying knowledge of psychology;
7. gain knowledge and skills facilitating excellence in careers and graduate/professional study.

1. Critical thinking skills - including but not limited to the ability to:
• read texts closely, appropriately interpreting texts
• critique the validity of arguments or conclusions, including one's own
• critique the methodological and ethical components of research
• detect and evaluate underlying assumptions or biases
• identify emotional-reasoning and, when appropriate, set one's emotions aside
• avoid oversimplification of topics
• tolerate uncertainty
• make an argument supported by available evidence and reason
• theorize - generate and articulate views about the relationships among a set of concepts that are appropriately novel, creative, logically consistent, faithful to the data, hypothesis-generating, or some combination of the above
2. Communication skills - in both written and oral communication, important skills include, but are not limited to:
• summarizing
• synthesizing
• using sources properly (e.g., avoiding inappropriate paraphrasing)
• mastering APA (American Psychological Association) writing style
• producing clear, grammatically correct, and articulate work
• learning the appropriate use of visual aids
• behaving professionally in communication and self-presentation (e.g., choosing appropriate attire, formality of language
3. Interpersonal skills - including but not limited to the ability to:
   
   • listen to others
   • provide constructive criticism, and make use of such feedback when offered
   • engage in respectful and civil dialogue, even when in disagreement
   • seek out and seek to understand unfamiliar perspectives and/or views that differ from one's own
   • role-play the perspective of others, thus potentially fostering empathy
   • affirm the value of differences (when able to do so with integrity)
4. Research Skills
   
   • ability to review, analyze, and synthesize an existing body of research
   • ability to design and implement ethical empirical research using appropriate method.
   • data analysis skills (quantitative and qualitative), including but not limited to:
     • mastery of basic SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) skills
     • ability to choose and conduct appropriate descriptive & inferential statistical tests
     • ability to reason statistically/quantitatively (e.g., awareness of base rates)
     • ability to locate appropriate sources from the library and/or electronic resources
     • ability to distinguish scholarly from non-scholarly sources & primary from secondary

Adopted April, 2003; Modified May, 2011