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Michael J. Stevens, PhD, DHC

Illinois State University, Normal, IL, USA

The Lucian Blaga University, Sibiu, România

In K. C. Elliott (Chair), Internationalizing the undergraduate psychology curriculum: Lessons leaned and new opportunities. Symposium conducted at the International Conference on the Teaching of Psychology, St. Petersburg, Russia, July 2008.

A REVIEW OF HISTORICALAND CURRENT

ORGANIZATIONAL INITIATIVES

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Background

Psychology: International in origins; arose in diverse countries during the late 19th and early 20th centuries

Dominance of U.S. psychology:Increased insularity; dismissive of non-Western

“alternative” psychologies

Globalization: Challenging the current ethnocentrism and parochialism of U.S. psychology

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Challenge to U.S. Psychology

“Th[e] globalization of psychology…has led to outcomes that might conceivably reshape the way in which we understand our discipline, including…how we teach the discipline and its applications to the next generation of students.”

From “The Globalization of Psychology: What Does It Mean,” by P. D. Nelson, 2007, The Educator, 5(Spring/Summer), p. 3.

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Challenge to the U.S. Curriculum

“…it is clear that education and training in [U.S.] psychology may need to adjust its curricula, practica, and research and training contexts…it is necessary that we respond in new and imaginative ways.”

Anthony J. Marsella

From “Understanding the Importance of Internationalization in Psychology: An Interview with Anthony J. Marsella,” by M. Boneau, 2007, The Educator, 5(Spring/Summer), p. 6.

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Marsella’s Recommendations Curricular Premises

MulticulturalMultidisciplinaryMultisectoral

Curricular MethodsDiverse coursework and readingDistance learningField researchNontraditional internshipsForeign languageStudy abroad

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Stevens’ & Wedding’s Recommendations

Offer multidisciplinary perspectives Bridge the gap between science and practice Provide training in overlooked specialties Prepare for policy development and advocacy Require competency in a foreign language Encourage study abroad

From Handbook of International Psychology, by M. J. Stevens & W.Wedding, 2004.

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2001 APA Education Leadership Conference

Recognition that U.S. psychology must remain current or become marginalized

13 recommendations - 4 curriculum-relatedInternationalize the curriculum

Promote international exchange programs

Reconsider the language requirement

Facilitate faculty development

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2002 APA Working Group Competencies for the U.S. Psychology Major

Prepare students to understand human functioning situated outside of U.S. borders and Western culture

10 learning goals and suggested outcomese.g., critical thinking, international awareness

Pedagogiese.g., assessing level of social responsibility

Guidelines published in 2007(www.apa.org/ed/resources.html)

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2004 APA Working Group

Internationalizing the U.S. Undergraduate Psychology Curriculum

Carnegie Corporation grant awarded to the American Council on Education to coordinate a multidisciplinary project to internationalize teaching and learning in U.S. higher education

Prepare students to understand psychological science and practice around the world and how psychologists address phenomena that vary internationally

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2004 APA Working Group Five learning goals

e.g., understand research methods and skills needed for international research competence

Associated outcomese.g., appreciation of methodologies used

elsewhere (ethnography)

Report completed in 2005 (www.apa.org/edu/pcue/International.pdf). APA’s BEA and CIRP are reviewing and updating goals and outcomes before seeking input from APA boards, committees, and divisions. Future plans include a central web-based resource clearinghouse (e.g., sample curricula).

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Resources - Office of Teaching Resources in Psychology (Div 2)

OTRP develops and distributes instructional materials and provides services to psychology instructors (http://www.teachpsych.org/otrp/index.php)

International Psychology: A Compendium of Textbooks for Selected Courses Evaluated for International Content (L. M. Woolf et al., 2002)

Textbooks in introductory psychology, social psychology, and life-span development evaluated for international content

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Resources - OTRP

International Psychology: Annotated Bibliography,

Relevant Organizations, and Course Suggestions

(L. M. Woolf et al., 2002)

Resources for incorporating international content into existing courses and for developing courses on international psychology (e.g., syllabi, annotated bibliographies, videos)

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Resources - Database (Div 52)

National Speakers Bureau

The National Speakers Bureau is a zipcode database of contact information on expert international psychologists willing to speak at nearby high schools, community colleges, and universities about their international teaching, research, practice, and public service.

The National Speakers Bureau will be publicized on the websites of Psi Beta, Psi Chi, and TOPSS as well as by correspondence with psychology departments throughout the U.S.

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Resources - PowerPoint (Div 52)Teachers of Psychology in Secondary Schools (http://www.apa.org/ed/topss/topss_demos.html)

The mission of TOPSS is to promote scientific psychology in the secondary school curriculum and to meet the curricular needs of secondary school teachers. APA’s Division 52 created a PowerPoint presentation on international psychology for high school teachers. Slides describe the field of international psychology, key concepts, its history, promising careers, and resources for students. Slides can be downloaded for classroom use.

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International Council of Psychologists (ICP)

International Conference on the Teaching of Psychology Education (formerly ICOPE)

2002 Conference (St. Petersburg)

Evolved from APA’s Partnerships Program (P3: Teaching a Global Psychology: InternationalDialogue)

Karandashev, V., & McCarthy, S. (Eds.). (2006). International practices in the teaching of psychology. International Journal of Psychology, 41(1).

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ICP

International Conference on the Teaching of Psychology Education (formerly ICOPE)

2005 Conference (Foz de Iguacu)

ICP support for conference

McCarthy, S., Newstead, S., Karandashev, V., Prandini, C., Hutz,C., & Gomes, W. (Eds.). (2007). Teaching psychology around the world. Newcastle upon Tyne, UK: Cambridge Scholars Publishing.

ICP

International Conference on the Teaching of Psychology Education (formerly ICOPE)

2008 Conference (St. Petersburg)

ICP support for conference

Joint ICP / APA programming evolved from networking at the 2007 ICP conference and a commitment by ICP and APA’s Division 52 to partner on internationalizing curriculum and training

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Webster University - One Model Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences(http://www.webster.edu/depts/artsci/d_behavioral.htm)

The Department consists of a diverse group of disciplines, all of which emphasize understanding the behavioral, social, and cultural forces that shape our global society. Psychology majors may pursue an international curriculum, such as the International Studies Certificate, in addition to their major. They can count internationalized courses from their psychology major as part of the Certificate (e.g., Genocide and Holocaust, Prejudice and Discrimination).

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The Task Ahead for U.S. Psychology Broad, sustained, and systematic effort needed to:

Conceptualize, develop, and overcome resistance to a model core curriculum of required and elective coursework, supervised field experience, and extracurricular opportunities

Intradisciplinary utilizationExtradisciplinary borrowingInnovative additionsInfusion of international contentNontraditional pedagogies

Design and apply methodologies to evaluate goals and outcomes of an internationalized psychology curriculum

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Discussion

How should international psychology organizations support the internationalizing of the (U.S.) psychology curriculum?