Program Description
The undergraduate program in Psychological Sciences is made up of a structured curriculum in which students develop a thorough understanding of concepts and principles that attempt to explain human behavior and mental processes. This program leads to a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), which prepares students to (1) begin work as a non-professional in a variety of settings where a liberal arts background plus interpersonal skills are needed and (2) obtain entrance into graduate programs in any field of Psychology. All students must fulfill the General Education requirements and regularly meet with their advisors. After completing General Education courses, student will begin to more rigorously pursue the major requirements for Psychology.
Program Mission
The Department of Psychological Sciences provides a culture of learning within a liberal educational context. We challenge undergraduates to apply a scientific approach to understanding the dynamic processes of human behavior and thinking in a global context. This is achieved through a variety of courses that emphasize (a) the interplay between biological, cognitive and social-level factors, (b) active engagement in experiential learning, oral and written communication, research and field-related experiences, and (c) the important role of diversity and cultural understanding. We develop solution-oriented graduates who can transition into professional studies or the workforce.
Discipline Goals
Goal 1: To instruct students in a general knowledge base in psychology
Goal 2: To engage students in scientific inquiry and critical thinking across the departmental curriculum
Goal 3: To inform students about their ethical and social responsibility in a diverse world
Goal 4: To advance students’ skills in communication
Goal 5: To contribute to students’ overall professional development
Student Learning Outcomes
The core curriculum outlined below includes courses in which university-wide student learning outcomes are integrated within the goals and content of the program. Elements of several skills are included in these courses, but the University-wide student learning outcomes are specifically examined as follows:
Information Literacy: Identity, locate, evaluate, and use information effectively and responsibility to increase understanding (PSY 2340 - The Language of Psychology: APA Style , PSY 2316 - Drugs, Addiction, and Behavior ).
Written Communication: Use of appropriate language, conventions, organization, supporting evidence, and content to effectively communicate in writing, for the purpose and audience (PPSY 2340 - The Language of Psychology: APA Style and upper level psychology courses).
Critical Reading: Interacting with written language to construct and reflect on meaning while evaluating and questioning in relation to contextual information (ALL Foundation and Elective Psychology Courses).
Scientific Literacy: Exhibit knowledge of scientific concepts and processes and ability to engage the scientific method towards informing decision making and participation in civic, social, cultural, and economic affairs (ALL Psychology courses).
Quantitative Literacy: Understand and create arguments that are supported by empirical evidence and clearly communicate those arguments in a variety of formats such as using words, tables, graphs, and mathematical equations, as appropriate (PSY 2440 - Research Methods and Statistics , PSY 3402 - Advanced Research Methods and Statistics in Psychology ).
Critical Thinking: Analyze, synthesize or deconstruct, interpret and evaluate information and concepts to solve problems (ALL Psychology Courses).
Oral Communication: Use appropriate language, conventions, elocution, poise, organization, supporting evidence, and content to effectively communicate through the spoken word for the purpose and audience (PSY 4440 - Senior Seminar in Psychology ).
Depth Track: Honors Track_ (18 credit hours)
This track focuses on students with a research and scholarly orientation towards psychology. Students receive advanced research training with faculty mentors on original empirical research and to sharpen their analytical and communication skills. Students successfully completing the curriculum will graduate with Honors in Psychology.
Requirements for acceptance into the Honors Track:
- Application for admission to the honors curriculum should occur in the first semester of the junior year (see website for dates each term). Admission to the honors curriculum is restricted to students who meet the following criteria.
- Successful completion of PSY 2430 and PSY 2440 course
- A GPA of 3.3 within the major
- A cumulative GPA of 3.3
- No grade lower than a B in any PSY courses (possible one exception with a strong recommendation by a faculty member)
- Identification of a faculty mentor and a potential area of research
- Recommendation by the Psychological Sciences Honors committee, who will evaluate each applicant on academic performance and professional goals
The honors curriculum is entered in the second semester of the junior year after the student has completed the breadth requirements of the program. The research-intensive honors curriculum consists of a series of three semesters of research with a faculty mentor that results in a written thesis and an oral presentation before graduation. They begin the sequence with the 4-hour seminar (PSY 3493 - Psychological Investigation and Research I ) in that spring semester of the junior year which substitutes for the Topics Seminar requirement (see above tracks). They also take two courses in guided research with their faculty mentor that substitute for depth electives, and complete the senior seminar required of all majors.
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