Academic Departments and Programs

Psychology

The causes and consequences of behavior and the study of mind and experience are at the center of investigations in psychology. Students may choose among several areas of interest within the discipline of psychology.

The Psychology Department offers the student many opportunities for independent study and research in a variety of settings. Recent graduates have participated in community mental health programs, outpatient facilities for the mentally ill, and centers for the elderly and the terminally ill. In addition, psychology majors can pursue research as an assistant to faculty or design and implement their own research under the guidance of the members of the faculty. Formal internships, field studies, part-time jobs and volunteer opportunities exist within the local community.

The Department seeks to provide a course of study consistent with liberal arts ideals. Students are strongly encouraged to become independent producers of original thought in addition to being intelligent consumers of information generated by others.

Majors

Psychology Major

The major in Psychology is designed to prepare students for a variety of career choices including graduate and professional training. Many psychology majors who do not want to become psychologists choose to major in psychology as a chance to acquire many skills valued in today's job market or to just learn about themselves. For example, you learn critical thinking through studying psychology. You will also learn to apply statistics and to do systematic problem solving; skills much in demand in our changing world. Psychology majors must also learn to work independently and on group projects. For example, each student majoring in psychology will be required to design and coordinate a research project, in the lab or in the primary literature of psychology constructing a complete review of one question of interest.

For those not seeking a graduate degree, psychology offers a variety of highly useful skills and an introduction to human behavior that will serve well in a variety of careers. For those wishing to purse graduate or professional training, we recommend that the student consider where they want to go to graduate school, what their ultimate goal is, research vs. application, for example, and what their strengths and weaknesses are. In either case, each student is encouraged to carefully choose his or her advisor as an important first step toward success.

Major Requirements (38 credits):

Core Courses:

Upper Level Courses:

*must be taken in the fall of Senior year.

**must be taken in the winter and spring of Senior year

Student Learning Outcomes:

The psychology major will satisfy the following outcomes:

  • demonstrate familiarity with major concepts, theoretical perspectives, empirical findings and historical trends in psychology
  • understand and apply basic research methods in psychology, including research design, data analysis, and interpretation
  • use critical and creative thinking, skeptical inquiry, and, when possible, the scientific approach to solve problems related to behavior and mental processes
  • understand and apply psychological principles to personal, social and organizational issues
  • be able to weigh evidence, tolerate ambiguity, act ethically, and reflect other values that are the underpinnings of psychology as a discipline
  • demonstrate information competence and the ability to use computers and other technology for many purposes
  • be able to communicate effectively in a variety of formats
  • recognize, understand and respect the complexity of sociocultural and international diversity
  • acquire realistic ideas about how to implement their psychological knowledge, skills, and values in occupational pursuits in a variety of settings

Minors

Psychology Minor

Psychology is a diverse and exciting field which currently grants advanced degrees in more than 50 areas of study. A few examples of skills a minor in psychology will potentially provide students are helping a business owner know how to deal with customer complaints, helping teachers provide classroom experience that maximize learning, training medical personnel to understand ways to help patients' comply with prescriptive advice, providing theater performers tools to improve their performances through understanding the foibles of human (mis)behavior and many others. Those who minor in psychology will learn to understand research findings and report them to others and how to accomplish systematic problem solving. The psychology minor consists of 15 credits, to be approved in consultation with the student's advisor.

Minor Requirements (15 credits):

Student Learning Outcomes 

  • Critical Thinking
  • Analytical Reasoning
  • Problem Solving
  • Written Communication

Associated Minors

Human Services Minor

The Anthropology/Sociology Department offers the Human Services minor in the Professional Enhancement PEAK to help students, along with their major, prepare for a career in the human, or social, services.

The Human Service Minor consists of 15 credits, to be approved in consultation with the Anthropology/Sociology department and the major advisor.

Minor Requirements (15 credits):

Student Learning Outcomes

  • Critical Thinking
  • Analytical Reasoning
  • Problem Solving
  • Written Communication
  • Prepare each student to be an informed, involved citizern and to work successfully with culturally and socially diverse local, regional, national and international groups
    to assist students to prepare for a career, if they so desire, in the human, or social, services