PSYC4100

Critical Issues and Controversies in Psychology

Faculty of Science and Information Technology School of Psychology

10 Units 4000 Level Course

Available in 2013

Callaghan Campus	Semester 1
Ourimbah	Semester 1

Previously offered in 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005

This course forms part of an Australian Psychological Society accredited sequence.
Psychology as a science has been marked by periods of intense debate regarding key issues. While some issues continue to be debated (eg Nature/Nurture), others have generally reached some workable consensus (eg localization of function). This course examines a number of the pivotal historical periods in psychological science in the 20th century.
Students CANNOT take PSYC4100 with the following courses:
PSYC4110 or PYSC4210.

Objectives

On successful completion of this course students will:

1. Have gained knowledge in the historical critical issues of psychology and an appreciation of the theoretical nature of the discipline;
2. Have further developed their ability to search for relevant and suitable reading material;
3. Be able to interpret this material;
4. Have further developed their ability to critically evaluate the material;
5. Be able to verbally present information in an interesting and comprehensible manner with appropriate interpretation and evaluation;
6. Be able to present information in written format in an interesting and comprehensible manner with appropriate interpretation and evaluation.

Content

Topics will include behaviourism, cognitivism, reductionism and other main paradigms in the discipline of psychology.

Replacing Course(s)

Replaces half of a 20 unit course PSYC 4110.

Transition

Students CANNOT take PSYC4100 with the following courses:
PSYC4110 or PSYC4210

Industrial Experience

Assumed Knowledge

An APS accredited sequence in Psychology (yrs 1-3)

Modes of Delivery

Internal Mode

Teaching Methods

Lecture

Assessment Items

Examination: Formal	An examination based on all lectures and readings.
Presentations - Class	Small group presentations

Contact Hours

Lecture: for 2 hour(s) per Week for Full Term

Compulsory Components

Requisite by Enrolment	This course is only available to students enrolled in the BPsychology, BArts(Hons), BScience(Hons), BSocScience (Hons) and Graduate Diploma in Psychology (Postgraduate).

Timetables