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Graduate Course Proposal Form Submission Detail - SOP6709
Tracking Number - 2687

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Current Status: Approved, Permanent Archive - 2012-02-27
Campus: St Petersburg
Submission Type: New
Course Change Information (for course changes only):
Comments: St. Pete approved. To USF Sys 1/18/12. to SCNS 1/26/12. Appd effective 3/15/12. Was 6266; appd as 6709


Detail Information

  1. Date & Time Submitted: 2011-11-30
  2. Department: Psychology
  3. College: AP
  4. Budget Account Number: 12550
  5. Contact Person: Mark Pezzo
  6. Phone: 7278734020
  7. Email: pezzo@mail.usf.edu
  8. Prefix: SOP
  9. Number: 6709
  10. Full Title: Topics in Social Psychology
  11. Credit Hours: 3
  12. Section Type: C - Class Lecture (Primarily)
  13. Is the course title variable?: N
  14. Is a permit required for registration?: N
  15. Are the credit hours variable?: N
  16. Is this course repeatable?:
  17. If repeatable, how many times?: 0
  18. Abbreviated Title (30 characters maximum): Topics in Social Psychology
  19. Course Online?: C - Face-to-face (0% online)
  20. Percentage Online: 0
  21. Grading Option: R - Regular
  22. Prerequisites:
  23. Corequisites:
  24. Course Description: This course examines theory and research in social psychology. We will cover both “classic” issues in modern social psychology as well as recent trends, emerging perspectives, and cutting edge research (with an emphasis on more recent research). Social ps

  25. Please briefly explain why it is necessary and/or desirable to add this course: Needed for new program/concentration/certificate
  26. What is the need or demand for this course? (Indicate if this course is part of a required sequence in the major.) What other programs would this course service? USFSP graduates hired to work in agencies providing direct clinical support, and case management, and research services, as well as pursuing further graduate education will need an understanding of the dynamics of social influence, social perception and social interaction. This course will enable students to explore in depth the complexities of social behavior through synthesis of recent trends, emerging perspectives, and cutting edge research.
  27. Has this course been offered as Selected Topics/Experimental Topics course? If yes, how many times? No
  28. What qualifications for training and/or experience are necessary to teach this course? (List minimum qualifications for the instructor.)
  29. Objectives: This course examines theory and research in social psychology. We will cover both “classic” issues in modern social psychology as well as recent trends, emerging perspectives, and cutting edge research (with an emphasis on more recent research). Social psychology has grown so large that it is impossible to cover all topics, even when focusing on very recent work. Consequently, the coverage of the course is somewhat selective. Students will examine readings that represent interesting, important, and relevant research.
  30. Learning Outcomes: 1. Discipline Knowledge:

    a. Outcome: Demonstrate sufficient understanding of a particular (focused) area of social psychology to be able to integrate it with research interests to design a new study and present it

    b. Measure: End of the semester research proposal

    c. Target: 80% of the students will receive an 80% on the paper (which means that they met 80% of the criteria).

    2. Critical Thinking:

    a. Outcome: Demonstrate ability to think critically about the experiments described in the reading assignment

    b. Measure: Reaction paper on assigned readings for each class period

    c. Target: 80% of the students will receive an 80% on the paper (which means that they met 80% of the criteria).

    3. Communication:

    a. Outcome: Demonstrate ability to communicate ideas learned in the class to others.

    b. Measure: Each student will lead a discussion of the weekly readings, and fellow students will rate the presenter on a number of dimensions (preparation, oral and visual presentation, interest, clear/concise, etc)

    c. Target: 80% of the students will receive an 80% on the their presentation (which means that they met 80% of the criteria).

  31. Major Topics: The Self; Social Cognition; Social Perception; Attitudes & Persuasion; Social Influence/Social Norms; Interpersonal Attraction; Close Relationships; Stereotyping; Prejudice, Discrimination; Prosocial Behavior; Aggression; Conflict and Cooperation
  32. Textbooks:
  33. Course Readings, Online Resources, and Other Purchases: There will be articles and/or chapters assigned each week. Readings will be placed on electronic reserve through Blackboard.
  34. Student Expectations/Requirements and Grading Policy: COURSE FORMAT

    An essential component of this course is active class participation. The hope is that the students themselves will help shape the content and direction of the class. To this end, it is very important that students complete the assigned weekly readings before class.

    Class Attendance: Being a graduate course, class attendance is expected, but not required. Students who miss class are expected to demonstrate knowledge of the course material covered while absent.

    Each class will explore a different broad theme in social psychology. The intention (and because this is the first time the faculty member has taught the course, the intentions may change) is to spend the first hour or so of each class presenting a brief lecture on relevant theory and research on the day’s topic. Then, in the remaining time, the class will discuss the readings – their strengths and weaknesses, persuasiveness, gaps in the literature, implications, and so on. The hope is that class discussions will be loose, open, and lively. Students should all feel free to stray from the specific material to discuss broader related issues and are expected to take a very active role in leading discussions.

    This means coming to class prepared (e.g., reading the assigned chapter and articles,

    jotting down discussion questions and topics). To encourage class discussion everyone

    is required to write 3-10 sentences of thoughts or questions on the readings for each

    class (you’ll get two free passes).

    GRADING

    Your final grade will be derived in equal proportions from your performance in the

    following three areas: Midterm (1/3), Final (1/3), Class Participation (1/3). Grades

    will be made on the plus/minus scale.

  35. Assignments, Exams and Tests: CLASS PARTICIPATION

    Class participation is an essential part of this course. A good portion of each class will be spent in discussion, and you are expected to contribute. Try to come to class prepared with ideas, comments, and questions based on the readings of the week. There are three components of class participation on which the participation grade will be based: general participation, discussion leading, and weekly thought papers.

    Discussion Leading:

    In addition to expected informal weekly class participation, you will also be assigned to lead one class discussion during the semester (with 1 or 2 others, depending on the size of the class). Each week, there are assigned readings (one or two per week) in addition to the chapter from the Fiske text. Most of these readings are empirical journal articles, some are chapters, and a few are readings from the popular press. Each week, a student will lead about one hour of the classroom session focused on the article(s) for that week. The assignment of discussion leaders will be divided during the first class session. In their presentation, students will be required to supply any handouts; they may also wish to prepare audio-visual aids. Students may be as creative as they like and may even wish to bring in outside material to further the discussion.

    Thought Papers:

    A portion of your participation grade will come from weekly thought papers. To encourage class discussion, everyone is required to write 3-10 sentences of thoughts or questions on the readings for each class (individuals will get two free passes). These will be due at the end of each class period (no exceptions). Content: There are few constraints on how individuals can approach the thought papers. The primary purpose of these commentaries is to prepare for class discussion. So, included in the commentaries may be interesting questions sparked by the readings, methodological issues, holes in the literature, implications of the research, links to other areas of psychology, etc. Basically, anything that will spur engaging class discussion is welcomed.

    EXAMS

    There will be two equally-weighted three hour essay examinations. The first exam (Oct. 13) will cover material from the first half of the course, and the second exam will occur during finals week and will cover the second half of the course (non-cumulative).

  36. Attendance Policy: Course Attendance at First Class Meeting – Policy for Graduate Students: For structured courses, 6000 and above, the College/Campus Dean will set the first-day class attendance requirement. Check with the College for specific information. This policy is not applicable to courses in the following categories: Educational Outreach, Open University (TV), FEEDS Program, Community Experiential Learning (CEL), Cooperative Education Training, and courses that do not have regularly scheduled meeting days/times (such as, directed reading/research or study, individual research, thesis, dissertation, internship, practica, etc.). Students are responsible for dropping undesired courses in these categories by the 5th day of classes to avoid fee liability and academic penalty. (See USF Regulation – Registration - 4.0101,

    http://usfweb2.usf.edu/usfgc/ogc%20web/currentreg.htm)

    Attendance Policy for the Observance of Religious Days by Students: In accordance with Sections 1006.53 and 1001.74(10)(g) Florida Statutes and Board of Governors Regulation 6C-6.0115, the University of South Florida (University/USF) has established the following policy regarding religious observances: (http://usfweb2.usf.edu/usfgc/gc_pp/acadaf/gc10-045.htm)

    In the event of an emergency, it may be necessary for USF to suspend normal operations. During this time, USF may opt to continue delivery of instruction through methods that include but are not limited to: Blackboard, Elluminate, Skype, and email messaging and/or an alternate schedule. It’s the responsibility of the student to monitor Blackboard site for each class for course specific communication, and the main USF, College, and department websites, emails, and MoBull messages for important general information.

  37. Policy on Make-up Work: Being a graduate course, class attendance is expected, but not required. Students are responsible for demonstrating knowledge about material covered in the missed class.
  38. Program This Course Supports: Psychology, USFSP
  39. Course Concurrence Information:


- if you have questions about any of these fields, please contact chinescobb@grad.usf.edu or joe@grad.usf.edu.