Senate Document Number 3104S

Date of Senate Approval 03/25/04

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Statement of Faculty Senate Action:

APC Document 12:         Adding New Course in Psychology, 344.

Effective Date: Fall 2004

Add: On page 195, new title and course description:

344 Community Psychology (3)

An advanced introduction to community psychology, which seeks to enhance the quality of life of communities and people, particularly those considered disenfranchised or disadvantaged. Course topics include human diversity, empowerment, social change and preventive approaches to mental disorders. Prerequisites: PSYC 102, 200. See department chair.

Impact: None.

Rationale: Community psychology is a vital subfield within the psychological discipline that emphasizes empowerment of disenfranchised groups, the importance of human diversity in behavior, and preventive approaches to mental disorders. However, UNCA has not offered a regular course in this subfield in many years. This course will become a prerequisite for a future course in community psychology in which students will participate in an action research project on campus or the Asheville community. Hence the course strengthens the psychology and UNCA curricula by, among other things, reintroducing a subject area, emphasizing diversity, and preparing students for future research. It can be used as an upper level elective for both the major and minor.