The formal study of human behavior has been around for less than 200 years. In this relatively brief time, the purview of psychology has become almost unmanageably vast. To make matters worse, dozens of "fields" and phenomena have emerged that are popularly and erroneously believed to be related to the science of psychology (e.g., dowsing, mind reading, astrology, biorhythms, spoon bending, channeling, subliminal self-help, psychic surgery, etc.) This course will equip students with the tools to evaluate scientific assertions as well as to distinguish pseudo- or non-scientific claims from scientific claims.

Prerequisite: PSYC1010 and COSK2220 or COSK2225