Students develop an understanding of the broad field of
psychology and learn to communicate through writing, speech, and
quantitative methods. Majors demonstrate an understanding of the
knowledge base of psychology, research methods in psychology,
critical thinking skills, and sociocultural and international
awareness. In addition, they learn to apply this knowledge to
the practical psychological issues confronting contemporary
society.
The program will prepare graduates to:
Demonstrate a knowledge base in
psychology.
- Characterize nature of psych as a discipline.
- Demonstrate knowledge and understanding representing
appropriate breadth and depth in selected content areas of
psychology.
- Use the concepts, language, and major theories of the
discipline to account for psychological phenomena.
- Explain major perspectives of psychology.
Demonstrate understanding of research
methods in psychology.
- Describe the basic characteristics of the science of
psychology
- Explain different research methods used by psychologists
- Evaluate the appropriateness of conclusions derived from
psychological research
- Design and conduct basic studies to address psychological
questions using appropriate research methods
- Follow the APA Code of Ethics in the treatment of human and
nonhuman participants in the design, data collection,
interpretation, and reporting of psychological research.
- Generalize research conclusions appropriately based on
parameters of particular research methods.
Demonstrate critical thinking skills in
psychology.
- Use critical thinking effectively
- Engage in creative thinking
- Use reasoning to recognize, develop, defend, and criticize
arguments and other persuasive appeals.
- Approach problems effectively.
Demonstrate effective application of
psychology.
- Describe major applied areas of psychology (e.g. clinical,
counseling, industrial/organizational, school, health)
- Identify appropriate applications of psychology in solving
problems and articulate how psychological principles can be used to
explain social issues and inform public policy
- Apply psychological concepts, theories and research findings as
these relate to everyday life
Demonstrate effective communication
skills.
- Demonstrate effective writing skills in various formats (e.g.
essays, correspondence, technical papers, note taking) and for
various purposes (e.g. informing, defending, explaining,
persuading, arguing, teaching)
- Demonstrate effective oral communication skills in various
formats (e.g. group discussion, debate, lecture) and for various
purposes (e.g. informing, defending, explaining, persuading,
arguing, teaching)
- Exhibit quantitative literacy
Demonstrate sociocultural and
international awareness.
- Examine the sociocultural and international contexts that
influence individual differences
- Explain how individual differences influence beliefs, values,
and interactions with others and vice versa
- Understand how privilege, power and oppression may affect
prejudice, discrimination and inequity