Faculty:

• Elizabeth Jacobs, Ph.D.
• Lawrence Jesky, M.A.

The psychology major emphasizes both psychological research and the application of research findings in service, treatment, or educational settings. Students design and implement original research and also practice skills useful in applied settings.

The diversified professional backgrounds of the faculty in social, experimental, and developmental psychology allow each student to pursue special academic and vocational interests.

Practical experience can be gained in a variety of applied settings, such as mental health services, substance abuse treatment, and agencies serving families and children.

A solid emphasis on academic learning prepares students for graduate or professional school or for a career in teaching, judicial services, mental health services, counseling, business, and industry.

Learning Objectives: Psychology

In keeping with the American Psychological Association’s Undergraduate
Psychology Learning Goals and Outcomes, the student who completes this
major will:

1. Demonstrate a knowledge base in psychology
   • Describe key concepts, principles, and overarching themes in psychology
   • Develop a working knowledge of psychology’s content domains
   • Describe applications of psychology
2. Participate in scientific inquiry and critical thinking
   • Use scientific reasoning to interpret the psychological phenomenon
   • Demonstrate psychology information literacy
   • Engage in innovative and integrative thinking and problem-solving
   • Interpret, design, and conduct basic psychological research
   • Incorporate sociocultural factors in scientific inquiry
3. Demonstrate ethical and social responsibility in a diverse world
   • Apply ethical standards to evaluate psychological science and practice
   • Build and enhance interpersonal relationships
   • Adopt values that build community at local, national, and global levels
4. Engage in communication
   • Demonstrate effective writing for different purposes
   • Exhibit effective presentation skills for different purposes
   • Interact effectively with others
5. Explore professional development
   • Apply psychological content and skills to career goals
   • Exhibit self-efficacy and self-regulation
   • Refine project management skills
   • Enhance teamwork capacity
   • Develop meaningful professional direction for life after graduation

All candidates for the Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology must complete the Liberal Arts Curriculum requirements, the required courses for the major, and the capstone assessment requirement.

The capstone assessment consists of the successful completion of a showcase portfolio. The portfolio includes reflective essays and sample assignments to demonstrate that the student has met each of the psychology learning objectives as well as an additional integrative essay discussing the relationship of the major to the University’s liberal arts learning objectives.

A minimum of 120 credits is required.