Senior Capstone: History, Philosophy, and Systems of Psychology

Catalog description

At first glance, psychology appears to be a highly disjointed discipline. However, psychology is unified through its historical traditions and systems of thought. This course will explore the roots of modern psychological thought and methodology. We will trace these roots from their origins in philosophy and the natural sciences through the early schools of psychology and on into its current form. In addition to learning about the major schools and systems of psychology (e.g., Functionalism, Structuralism, Gestalt, etc.), we will explore how cultural and political forces shaped the development of various psychological theories. We will also examine the lives and works of the men and women whose work created psychology's foundation. Prerequisites: PSYC 1100, PSYC 2825, and 18 credit hours of psychology; or permission of the instructor.