Spring 2025 - PSYC 402 D100
Advanced Topics in History, Quantitative and Theoretical Psychology (4)
Class Number: 5318
Delivery Method: In Person
Overview
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Course Times + Location:
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Tue, 2:30–5:20 p.m.
Burnaby
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Instructor:
Timothy Racine
tracine@sfu.ca
Office: RCB 5245
Office Hours: TBA
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Prerequisites:
PSYC 201, 210, 60 units, and a CGPA of 3.0. Other prerequisites vary by topic offering.
Description
CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:
Course can be repeated for credit. See Psychology department website for course description. Students may not take this course for further credit if similar topics are covered.
COURSE DETAILS:
A history is a way to hold together all of the things that psychologists do in their professional lives. It also helps us consolidate an identity for our academic discipline that distinguishes it from other forms of inquiry. However, academic histories typically contain different theoretical perspectives on the same subject matter and are often told in a manner that privileges one over another. The study of history itself embeds historiographic perspectives that also interact with the ways that we tell our histories. In this seminar, we will critically examine the origins of the discipline of psychology and discuss the merits of various approaches to its historical construction. To help us make sense of how we got here, we will consider psychology from both a natural science and a human science point of view.
Grading
- Participation: 10%
- Presentation and facilitation: 20%
- Reaction papers: 30%
- Term paper: 40%
REQUIREMENTS:
Prerequisites: PSYC 201, 210, PSYC 308, 60 units, and a CGPA of 3.0.
Materials
MATERIALS + SUPPLIES:
Walsh, R. T. G., Teo, T., & Baydala, A. (2014). A critical history and philosophy of psychology: Diversity of context, thought, and practice. New York: Cambridge University Press.
You can purchase a pdf of Walsh et al. (2014) from ebooks.com, or a paper (or Kindle) copy through your favourite retailer. I will upload the first 3 chapters to the course Canvas site to give you enough time to get your personal copy.
REQUIRED READING NOTES:
Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.
Registrar Notes:
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS
SFU’s Academic Integrity website http://www.sfu.ca/students/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating. Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.
Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the university community. Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the university. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the university. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html
RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION
Students with a faith background who may need accommodations during the term are encouraged to assess their needs as soon as possible and review the Multifaith religious accommodations website. The page outlines ways they begin working toward an accommodation and ensure solutions can be reached in a timely fashion.