Syllabus for Psyc 294: Seminar on Careers in Psychology

Fall 2004

Walter vom Saal

SYLLABUS Part I: Requirements and General Information

Course: Psyc 294, Section 01. Seminar on Careers in Psychology. Fall 2004. Dr. vom Saal. CRN #881. 2 credits.

Catalog Description: This is an experimental course offered under the designation Psyc 294 - Special Topics in Psychology. The course has previously been described in announcements that included the following description:

This student-led seminar will explore options for careers in psychology, both for those going on to graduate school and for those looking to seek employment directly after graduation. Participants will investigate ways to find out about careers, prepare for careers, get a job, find graduate schools, prepare for graduate school, apply to graduate school, and other related topics. Prerequisites: Psychology major; Psyc 100 passed with C or better; permission of instructor. 2 credits.

Class meeting times: TuTh 12:00 - 1:15. Students must reserve these times throughout the semester for classes. We will not meet at all these times. Since this is a 2-credit course, we will meet for approximately 2/3 of the available class sessions. Exact dates will depend in part on availability of guests, and will be determined following discussion with the class.

Final examination period: Tuesday, 12/14/04, 2:00 - 4:30 pm.

Required Text: None. There will be readings based on books distributed in class, as well as books available in the library and readings on the internet.

Instructor:

Office hours are posted on the home page of my website.

Course description: This new course is being offered on an experimental basis. The course will be offered in a seminar format. It will include students of different backgrounds and career goals, and students at different points in their college career. The seminar will explore options for careers in psychology, both for those going on to graduate school and for those looking to seek employment directly after graduation. Participants will investigate ways to find out about careers, ways to prepare for careers, issues surrounding getting a job, finding out about graduate school options, preparing for graduate school, and gaining admittance to graduate school, along with other related topics.

Course goals and meta-goals: The primary goal of the course is to offer you the opportunity to learn basic information about research methods in psychology as described above. A secondary but important set of goals are what I term meta-goals, by which I mean goals that go beyond the subject matter of this particular course. My meta-goals for you include learning the following skills: listening, note-taking, reading, and studying; writing well (including correct grammar and spelling); becoming more comfortable with and more proficient with numbers and numerical analysis; thinking critically; challenging assumptions; reading and following instructions; becoming aware of cultural variations; becoming aware of (and sympathetic to) human weaknesses; and increasing your own personal self-awareness. These may be evaluated during quizzes, exams, or by other means and may form part of your grades.

For this course in particular, proficiency in writing; along with knowledge and correct use of spelling and grammar, will be evaluated as part of the course grade. I will offer specific guidelines and assistance in these areas during the course.

Course Requirements and Grading:

Attendance policy: Students are expected to attend all classes. If you miss a class, even if excused, you are responsible for finding out about any class announcements, including those about changed requirements or due dates. If you miss a class, please contact a classmate or the teaching assistant regarding material you missed.

Final examination period: We will meet as a class during the final examination period, and this will be an important class meeting that you will be expected to attend.

Attendance and class participation: Much of the learning in this course will occur in the classroom. Attendance is expected at all classes. A grade for class participation will be assigned, based on attendance along with my judgment regarding the quality and quantity of involvement in class activities and discussions.

Website: You are responsible for checking the course website for announcements and assignments. You should check the website on a regular basis as described in class. To see access the website:
-- go to: http://employees.oneonta.edu/vomsaaw; OR
-- go to Oneonta home page, click Academics, click Faculty Web Pages, scroll down to Psychology, click Walter vom Saal; OR
-- do a Google search for Walter vom Saal (spelled correctly!).

Because this course will include information and assignments presented on my website, you should be prepared to print material from the web, and you should anticipate that there may be expenses associated with that printing.

Group work: Much of the work in this class will be done in pairs or small groups. You should be prepared for group work, and understand that some portion of your grade for the course will depend on the quality of work produced by the group or groups that you work with.

Oral presentations: Student teams will give presentations on various topics as determined by the class and instructor. Criteria for high quality presentations will be developed in class.

Website material: Each student will work as a member of a team to prepare materials suitable for presentation on a general website on career preparation to be developed by the class. Selected students may have additional or alternative assignments that replace or add to this responsibility.

Alternative responsibilities: Selected students may, with approval of the instructor, take on alternative responsibilities in place of or in addition to work on the website or oral presentations. Such alternative assignments may include (a) responsibility for overall development and coordination of the website; (b) responsibility for arranging for guest presenters; and (c) other responsibilities as assigned by the instructor in consultation with the student. Such alternative responsibilities may add to or supplement grades for other work, based on individual agreements with the course instructor.

Portfolio: Throughout the course, students will prepare materials related to careers. These will include both materials about careers in general (such as guidelines for preparing a resume, guidelines for getting letters of recommendation, guidelines for preparing for graduate school, and so on), and materials specific to the individual student (such as a draft resume, a draft letter of application for a position, and so on). Many of the materials will be prepared in a manner analogous to how one might prepare such materials for a job application or for an application to graduate school. Specific assignments regarding such materials will be made throughout the course. Each student will retain all such materials, and submit them in a single, well-organized package at the end of the course. One primary purpose of the student's portfolio is to provide a resource that each student can use in the future.

Attendance at events:  During the semester students are expected to attend two on-campus or off-campus events relevant to the course, such as lectures, presentations, or relevant films (no more than one may be a video or movie).  For each, submit an Event Attendance Report as described on the website, and be prepared to describe the event in class if requested.  One additional event may be attended and reported for extra credit.  Click here for possible on-campus events.

Additional options: Students desiring to replace or supplement the standard course requirements or to submit additional evidence of learning may submit a written proposal before Thursday, November 4, 2004. Proposals will not be accepted past the due date. Approval of proposals will be based on the quality of the written proposal (including quality of presentation, neatness, style, grammar, etc.) and evidence that the student is capable of independent work.

Grading procedure: The grade will be based roughly on the following weightings:

Lateness policy: Except in the case of excused absences, late homework assigned in preparation for specific classes will not be accepted and will receive a failing grade; missed quizzes will receive a failing grade; and all other work will receive a penalty of one letter grade for each calendar day late. In the case of excused absences, homework may be submitted late, quizzes will be omitted, and exams must be made up or replaced with an alternative at the discretion of the instructor.

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL WORK SUBMITTED: All work submitted for this course must be stapled (not paper-clipped!) and must have the following information as high as possible at the top of the first sheet:

Failure to follow this requirement will result in a grade penalty and return of your work for correction and resubmission.

In addition, I will expect you to keep a copy of everything you submit, and also keep all drafts used in preparation for papers or other work submitted. Also be sure to back up your computer files on a regular basis. This is an important habit to develop. Loss of computer files will not be an acceptable justification for failure to complete assignments on time.

PROOFREAD YOUR WORK! Materials submitted should be high in quality. Read the handout on Guidelines for Writing Papers and the handout on Writing and Grammar, and be sure your written work follows those guidelines.

8/7/04