Category: Academic

I have selected and been confirmed for two of my research topics for this Fall.
Theories of Learning (PSYC 320): Topic 20: Behavior modification and insomnia
Developmental Psychology (PSYC 331): Topic 21: The development of gender identity in children raised by homosexual couples
I hope I have selected topics that will be able to be worked on in a logical way. I did not intentionally select sequential topic numbers, just sort of happened.

Five years ago, on August 23, 2004 I began my undergraduate academic career. At the time I was planning an academic adventure that would last at most 4 years, but was suspected to be closer to 3 years. I had credits ready to go and was almost a sophomore, and I had not been to a university before. At the time 120 credit hours seemed like a lot, like it would take forever to earn. Here I am, a senior, so far from where I began. I have been a senior for quite some time now, over a year actually, but without an appropriate plan, being a senior does not mean anything. Today, it means something. I consider myself to be a terminal senior this year, as I will progress beyond the confines of an undergraduate education. In a lot of ways, I am just as scared as I was 5 years ago, maybe more so, since a lot of the variables of the situation have changed. Things seemed certain back then. I knew what I wanted to do, or at least, I thought I did, I wanted to be involved in computer science and programming and all that is technical. With meeting of people, taking a variety of classes and ultimately deciding that technology is cold and unemotional, I have set out on a new course, one which is more compatible with my goals. I suppose with the way I leaned toward social sciences more than tech courses for things, I should have known that there was more to me than computer science could ever cover. These five years have been an interesting journey that I believe has allowed me to better understand myself than taking the “express route” to a degree ever would have. By allowing myself to explore the arts and begin to develop new interests I have moved far beyond the person I was in high school. I feel as though my eventual career will not be directly related to my degree, but that my degree will determine my success in my career. At this point in a person’s academic career, it is expected that the person be ecstatic about reaching the natural conclusion to such an academic career. I do not have that feeling. I am excited, but at the same time, I am saddened that the predetermined path (the degree outline, or curriculum) is ending and as a result, my ability for free exploration of the academic realm is also ending. It has been quite a surprise to me how much I have learned about myself through this experience, things I would have not otherwise known.

Today I begin the penultimate semester of my undergraduate career with this schedule:

What comes after I have completed this academic year I have no clue. I do feel as though I am ready to move beyond academics, but at the same time, not completely abandon it. I want to go to graduate school to obtain a higher degree in psychology, but I would also like to explore a 2^nd degree option for obtaining a BFA and obtaining a degree which explores my other major interest (photography). I do not foresee a need to close this blog, or even to supplement it at the conclusion of the year, but then again, that is 9 months away.

In the past five years I have matured a lot intellectually as well as emotionally. Most importantly, I have learned that there is not some pre-defined plan that everyone must follow in order to have a happy and successful life. I have learned that everything is different for everyone. My “scenic route” to a degree is not necessarily a bad thing, it is just different from the way most people would choose to work at a degree. I never really built many interests as a kid, and my academic pursuits have allowed me cover some missed ground and become more able to know myself. Although, it was a very tiring and frustrating thing to attempt to reinvent myself every time I found a new interest. I had not known before that a person can have many interests and pursue them all without necessarily having to lose any of the previous interests to make room for it.

Its hard to say what I might discover about myself in these next 16 credit hours, or what impact it may have on my life, but I am prepared for whatever happens.

For the next little while, this form and I will become very good friends as I work towards filling in all of the holes and completing all of the courses that are indicated for semester “200960” (Fall 2009). I have filled in some spaces with courses, but I have not indicated a semester yet. I would love to indicate “201020” (Spring 2010), but I must not, for fear that some academic superstition will fall upon me and see to it that I never complete this thing. It is a strange feeling seeing this form so full. When I first enrolled last fall (for this spring), the form was much more empty and I felt like I would never manage to focus in to complete this thing. I worried that I would find too many other courses to divert me, but I have managed to stay on track this time.

My personal flow chart is a little more direct about things and presents things more cleanly. All that will remain after this fall is that little group of three courses up in the top right corner. History and Systems of Psychology (PSYC 400), Senior Seminar (PSYC 430) and an elective (PSYC 380, Behavior Modification).

Below is a list of textbooks that I have to have for the Fall 2009 semester. This is only for 6 classes, and the total is $983.20, plus shipping, which would likely be about $20. I am so glad that my textbooks are covered by the textbook rental plan, all of these only cost me $140 for the semester.

I have filed my petition for graduation at Fayetteville to receive my Bachelor of Science in Psychology during the Spring 2010 semester.

I have finished all of my course work for Statistics and Biopsychology at FSU, and now I am left with nothing to do. I have decided, in this academic dry period to register for PHYS 103 as a self-paced course. It is titled “General Physics II”. It is pretty much the standard 2nd semester physics course. I took the first semester in Fall 2004, and I enjoyed it, but never got around to take the other course, since it was not required. The way this course works is pretty cool. I have a minimum of 12 weeks and a maximum of 9 months to complete the course. I complete the homework, email it to the instructor, and then get grades back through email. When I am ready for an exam, I transmit my request and the exam comes to me. All of this is on my schedule. The course is offered by UNC-Chapel Hill, and while I never have to go on campus for anything, I do have to make arrangements with another school to take my final exam somewhere local under supervision.  I decided to finally take this course because I am very interested in optics and the properties of light, partially because of other hobbies. Other topics in the course include electricity, magnetism and quantum physics, all of which interest me at least a little. 

The Department of Psychology at Fayetteville State University has finalized its course options for the Fall 2009 semester. As a result, I have altered my schedule accordingly and added courses that I need to my schedule. I did not get all of the courses I want, but I can’t really complain, since I have a full schedule and am still on track for graduation. My only complaint would be that PSYC 320 is not available, so I will NOT be able to take PSYC 380 in the spring (its on there for now until I find another elective).

Also, please note the new coloring for GITI’s Academic Course Listing, goldenrod is now the color used for courses that are officially registered, and purple will remain as the color for “planned” courses… And not that it matters, but red is the color used for “active” courses, and finally, green is used for courses that have been finished and closed. All other course statuses take the color of their parent status (“closed, waiting for grade” is green, because the course is closed, etc).