Psychology

Program Description

Psychology is the science of mental processes and behavior. Within the program, students will learn fundamental principles of psychology, theories of development, learning, cognition, behavior, and more. This program is designed for those who plan to transfer to a four-year institution for a bachelor's degree in psychology or a related field.

Students with advanced degrees in psychology can become Clinical Psychologists who provide psychotherapy and provide psychological testing; Counseling Psychologists helping people with everyday issues and may provide career counseling and vocational testing; Academic Psychologists may teach classes and conduct research; Applied Psychologists solve problems in practical areas like developmental, human factors, industrial/organizational, personality, social, sport, and school.

The Psychology program offers maximum transferability. The 30-credit general education core offers courses that transfer to Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) universities and other local colleges and universities. Students completing the A.A. degree in Psychology will be able to transfer the equivalent of the first two years of a bachelor's degree to any one of the fourteen four-year universities in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education and complete the remainder of their degree program in just two more years of full-time study.

You can read more about this opportunity and view the agreement at:

https://patrac.org/Administrators/StatewideProgramtoProgramProcess/tabid/1967/Default.aspx

Program Objectives

Upon completion of the program, the student will be able to:

1. Demonstrate a basic knowledge of the theories in psychology.
2. Demonstrate a basic knowledge of psychological research geared towards being an informed consumer of social science research.
3. Use critical thinking skills to make psychological arguments.
4. Apply psychological principles to personal, social, and organizational issues.
5. Recognize basic ethical issues in psychological research settings and applied psychological settings.
6. Demonstrate professional communication skills through written, oral and electronic methods according to APA standards.

Obtaining the Degree

To earn the Associate of Arts Degree, the student must:

• Matriculate into the program.
• Satisfactorily complete all degree requirements, including General Education and Major Requirements of the degree.