This major is tailored to students interested in pursuing any of the many careers in psychology, including clinical psychology, counseling, school psychology, or experimental psychology. It is designed to prepare students for application to both Masters and PhD programs in these areas. In addition, it prepares interested students to begin practicing in the mental health field immediately following graduation. This major combines coursework dedicated to understanding and practicing psychological science with opportunities to gain hands-on experience with psychological practitioners and researchers.
Graduates of the Bachelor of Science program in Psychological Science will be able to meet the following learning goals, which are a combination of field-specific knowledge and application as well as "soft skills" that develop through a strong liberal arts program. These goals are adapted from the American Psychological Association recommendations for undergraduate study in psychology.
Goal 1: Knowledge Base in Psychology
1.1 Describe key concepts, principles, and overarching themes in psychology
1.2 Use and evaluate theories to explain and predict behavior, including advantages and limitations in the selected frameworks
1.3 Compare, contrast, and critique psychology's major subdisciplines
1.4 Summarize important aspects of the history of psychology, including key figures, central concerns, and theoretical conflicts
Goal 2: Scientific Inquiry & Critical Thinking
2.1 Read and summarize complex ideas, including future directions, from psychological sources and research accurately
2.2 Identify and develop a comprehensive strategy for locating and using relevant scholarship (e.g. databases, credible journals) to address psychological questions
2.3 Design and conduct complex studies to test a hypothesis based on operational definitions
2.4 Apply knowledge of research skills necessary to be an informed consumer of research or critic regarding unsupported claims about behavior
2.5 Evaluate the effectiveness of research methods in addressing a research question
Goal 3: Ethical and Social Responsibility in a Diverse World
3.1 Apply ethical standards to evaluate psychological science and practice
3.2 Develop psychology-based strategies to facilitate social change to diminish discriminatory practices
3.3 Pursue personal opportunities to promote civic, social, and global outcomes that benefit the community
3.4 Articulate psychology's role in developing, designing, and disseminating public policy
3.5 Seek opportunity to serve others through volunteer service, practica, and apprenticeship experiences
Goal 4: Communication
4.1 Craft clear and concise written communications to address specific audiences (e.g. lay, peer, professional)
4.2 Use grammar appropriate to professional standards and conventions (e.g. APA writing style)
4.3 Create coherent and integrated oral arguments based on a review of the pertinent psychological literature
4.4 Deliver complex presentations within appropriate constraints
4.5 Interact sensitively with people of diverse abilities, backgrounds and cultural perspectives
Goal 5: Professional Development
5.1 Recognize the value and application of research and problem-solving skills in providing evidence beyond personal opinion to support proposed solutions
5.2 Accurately self-assess performance quality by melding external standards and expectations with their own performance criteria
5.3 Incorporate feedback from educators, mentors, supervisors, and experts to improve performance
5.4 Collaborate successfully on complex group projects
5.5 Formulate career plan contingencies based on accurate self-assessment of abilities, achievement, motivation, and work habits
All required psychology courses must be completed with a grade of 2.0 or better.
| Code | Course | Credits |
|---|---|---|
PSY 1012 |
Introduction to Psychological ScienceA survey of a wide variety of topics studied by psychological scientists. The course objective is to introduce students to the terms, concepts and methods of psychological science. Restrictions This course is equivalent to Introduction to Psychology; students will not receive credit for both courses. This course fulfills a Social Science general education requirement. Every semester |
3 |
PSY 1050 |
Human Growth and DevelopmentA survey of human developmental psychology from the prenatal period to late adulthood. The major focus is on theoretical and practical implications of developmental research for cognitive, personality and social development. Special attention will be given to interactions between maturation and experience. This course fulfills a Social Science general education requirement. Every semester |
3 |
PSY 3010 |
Theories of PersonalityExamination of individual differences in human behavior. Heavy emphasis is placed on research findings pertaining to the learning, experiential and cognitive factors contributing to personality development. Prerequisite: Any psychology course or instructor approval Spring only |
3 |
PSY 3040 |
Cognitive PsychologyExamines research on topics central to cognitive science: perception, attention, memory, thought and language. A cognitive lab will provide hands-on demonstrations of important experiments in cognitive psychology. Prerequisite: Any psychology course or instructor approval Fall |
4 |
PSY 3070 |
Abnormal PsychologyThe description and classification of deviant behaviors. The continuity between normal and varying degrees of maladjustment is stressed. Prerequisite: Any psychology course or permission of instructor Fall |
3 |
PSY 3151 |
Psychological Research IIntroduction to the scientific method as applied to behavior. Emphasis is on the development of scientific attitudes as well as the development of the basic research skills of data collection, analysis and interpretation. This course fulfills the Digital and Computing Literacy general education requirement. Prerequisite: PSY 3040 or PSY 3410 or instructor permission Fall |
4 |
PSY 3152 |
Psychological Research IIFosters further development of scientific attitudes and research skills. Student research conducted in PSY 3151 Psychological Research I is refined and prepared for publication. Includes a statistics lab using SPSS. Prerequisite: PSY 3151 Spring |
4 |
PSY 3410 |
BiopsychologyThis course focuses on the brain and nervous system, with an eye towards the neural mechanisms of behavior. Topics include the cellular and anatomical divisions of the nervous system, molecular mechanisms of neurotransmission, sensory and motor systems, neurodevelopment, plasticity, and emotion. The lab portion of this course covers basic neuroanatomy, electrophysiology, and other techniques for the study of the brain and behavior. Prerequisite: Any psychology course or instructor permission Fee Fee $50 Spring |
4 |
PSY 4240 |
Psychology ProseminarIn this course students will hear presentations about their work from visiting psychologists. It will provide an opportunity to interact with professionals in the field and view the breadth of their work. This course will also provide instruction on writing a resume and applying to jobs or graduate programs. Prerequisite: Any 3000 level psychology course or instructor permission spring |
1 |
| Code | Course | Credits |
|---|---|---|
MAT 2021 |
Statistics IThis course prepares students for quantitative methods in their respective fields. Descriptive and inferential statistics, including estimation, hypothesis testing, linear regression and correlation are covered. Basic tools of descriptive statistics, discrete probability, binomial distribution, normal distribution, t-distribution, estimates and sample sizes, hypothesis testing, elementary correlation and regression, contingency tables are explored. Students utilize graphing calculators and spreadsheet software on a regular basis. This course fulfills a Mathematics general education requirement. Every semester |
3 |
PSY 3420 |
Ethics and DiversityThis course will introduce students to ethics and issues of diversity in psychology. Students will train to identify ethical issues and sociocultural factors that may influence them, and learn the importance of ethical conduct in the practice of psychology. Prerequisite: Any psychology course or instructor approval Spring |
3 |
PSY 4320 |
Advanced Research
This course is designed for students who would like to conduct an intensive research project under the close supervision and guidance of the psychology faculty. Students will be responsible for data collection, analysis, interpretation, and oral presentation at a national or regional research conference. Prerequisite: PSY 3151 or instructor pemission Periodically |
3 |