大发

B.A. Program

What do our majors do?

The psychological science major prepares students for careers in a variety of psychology-related settings including research laboratories, mental health agencies, hospitals, academic institutions, business, industry, and public organizations. Our students are also well-prepared for graduate training in fields such as experimental, clinical, and counseling psychology, teaching, social work, medicine, law, business and management, and public administration. The structure of our program and the specific experiences, knowledge and skills promoted prepare our students for the tasks and challenges they will face in the broader community.

Program Student Learning Outcomes

Students completing the Bachelor of Arts in Psychological Science will be able to:

• Describe the major concepts theories, empirical findings, historical trends in psychology and their application to behavioral and mental processes.
• Describe (as a way of understanding) the scientific approach to psychology and apply basic research methods in psychology, including research design, quantitative analysis, interpretation and reporting in APA format.
• Apply creative and critical thinking and employ skeptical inquiry to addressing issues and solving problems related to psychological phenomenon.
• Demonstrate the ability to independently locate, identify and critically evaluate scholarly literature in the discipline of psychological science.
• Thoughtfully consider and appraise alternative viewpoints, diverse socio-cultural perspectives and ethical issues related to psychological topics.

The Psychological Science degree has 5 Program Student Learning Outcomes (PSLOs). These are things that you as a psychology student should be able to do by the end of the program. However, it isn鈥檛 always clear how these outcomes are helpful in your future career. To address that that, we have taken a list of job-related competencies/skills from the and reinterpreted the PSLOs highlighting the NACE job skills that are most relevant to each one. Importantly, these are evergreen skills that can apply to ANY job or career, but most critically for careers that have some psychology focus.

Psychological Science PSLO

Interpretation of the PSLO with associated NACE competencies

• PSLO 1: Describe the major concepts theories, empirical findings, historical trends in psychology and their application to behavioral and mental processes.

  Careers in psychology and related fields require that one be able describe major psychological ideas and apply them to behavioral and mental processes as well as the larger world.  This degree will show you how to:

  1. Critically evaluate ideas both from psychology as well as the broader world, weighing how the ideas are applicable to a variety of circumstances.
  2. Communicate information about behavioral and mental processes to others providing clarity and mental processes to others providing clarity and leadership.
  3. Promote equity and inclusion by evaluating the limits of current knowledge and recognizing where psychology needs continue to grow.
• PSLO 2: Describe (as a way of understanding) the scientific approach to psychology and apply basic research methods in psychology, including research design, quantitative analysis, interpretation and reporting in APA format.

  Careers in psychology and related fields require that one be able to think critically and communicate effectively and professionally.  To that end, this degree will show you how to:

  1. Critically think about the science & research; what makes good science and what makes bad science? This process applies to all interactions with data regardless of the career field.
  2. Use technology to critically evaluate research to sort good research from bad research. Knowing the basics of data analysis and interpretation is critical to many careers.
  3. Communicate effectively and professionally. Communication needs to be in a format that people are expecting; effective communication demonstrates competence in the work.
• PSLO 3: Apply creative and critical thinking and employ skeptical inquiry to addressing issues and solving problems related to psychological phenomenon.

  Careers in psychology and related fields require that one be able to carefully consider many pieces of evidence and critically analyze problems to develop solutions. This degree will show you how to:

  1. Critically evaluate data assessing its quality, validity, and relevance to a situation or problem. Data in all fields have context that must be evaluated to understand its utility.
  2. Use teamwork as part of a research collaboration to solve problems as they occur.
  3. Research involves many decisions and thus a psychology student will demonstrate leadership in guiding the decision-making process.
• PSLO 4: Demonstrate the ability to independently locate, identify and critically evaluate scholarly literature in the discipline of psychological science.

  Careers in psychology and related fields require that one be able to find and effectively interpret scientific literature.  Studying psychology will show you how to:

  1. The process of locating and analyzing scholarly literature requires proficiency with technology resources such as academic databases and digital research tools. These skills are useful in any area when seeking information about a field.
  2. Critically think about previous literature and how it applies to new situations. In careers related to psychology is important to have a firm understanding of what is already known to be able to implement new ideas.
  3. Finding and evaluating scholarly sources prepares students for roles in research, teaching, policy analysis, and applied psychology, equipping them with career and self-development goals.
• PSLO 5: Thoughtfully consider and appraise alternative viewpoints, diverse socio-cultural perspectives and ethical issues related to psychological topics.

  Careers in psychology and related fields are built on an understanding of how alternative viewpoints and diverse perspectives.  Studying psychology will show you how to:

  1. Incorporate equity and inclusion into decision making processes in both psychological topics and the wider world.
  2. Thoughtfully communicate psychological issues across different perspectives to articulate ideas clearly and engage in meaningful, respectful dialogue
  3. Articulate diverse perspective of psychological knowledge as a leader to advocate for ethical and inclusive decision-making for roles in human services, program management, and other corporate settings.

Psychology and CHAD graduates are not only knowledgeable about psychological science but also equipped with practical skills that make them valuable in the workforce. By integrating communication, critical thinking, professionalism, and teamwork, they are well-prepared for careers ranging from mental health and education to business, marketing, public policy, and others. Here we list the competencies/skills for career readiness, and we describe how a Psychological Science or CHAD degree can help in honing those skills.

NACE Competency

How Career Readiness is Embedded in PSYC and CHAD programs