Common Course Outline

Course discipline/number/title PSYC 2620: Introduction to Cultural Psychology

Catalog Description

Credits 3
Hours/Week 3
Prerequisites (Course discipline/number) None
Other requirements None
MnTC Goals (if any) Goal 5/History and the Social and Behavioral Sciences, Goal 8/Global Perspectives

Course Description

This course studies how cultural traditions and social practices regulate, express, and transform the human psyche, the influences of cultural processes and environments on a wide range of psychological topics, such as cognition, emotion, motivation, moral reasoning and mental disorders.

Date Last Revised (Month, year)

March, 2024

Outline of Major Content Areas

  1. Empirical findings in cultural psychology
  2. Research methods in cultural psychology
  3. Enculturation, ethnocentrism, stereotypes, and prejudice
  4. Culture and psychological processes

Learning Outcomes (General)

The student will be able to:

  1. Demonstrate familiarity with major concepts and empirical findings in cultural psychology.
  2. Demonstrate an understanding of basic research methods in cultural psychology.
  3. Recognize and identify examples of ethnocentrism, prejudice, and stereotypes, as well as options for addressing these issues.
  4. Explain how thinking and behavior are influenced by culture.
  5. Apply cultural psychology concepts to their own life.

Learning Outcomes (MnTC)

Goal 5/History and the Social and Behavioral Sciences

The student will be able to:

  1. Employ the methods and data that historians and social and behavioral scientists use to investigate the human condition.
  2. Use and critique alternative explanatory systems or theories.
  3. Develop and communicate alternative explanations or solutions for contemporary social issues.
Goal 8/Global Perspectives

The student will be able to:

  1. Demonstrate knowledge of cultural, social, religious and linguistic differences.
  2. Analyze specific international problems, illustrating the cultural, economic, and political differences that affect their solution.
  3. Understand the role of a world citizen and the responsibility world citizen’s share for their common global future.

Methods for Evaluation of Student Learning

Methods may include but are not limited to:

RCTC Core Outcome(s)

This course contributes to meeting the following RCTC Core Outcome(s):

Global Awareness and Diversity
Students will demonstrate an understanding of and respect for human diversity through their words and actions.

Special Information (if any)

None