Program Goals and Objectives

  • Goal 1: Demonstrates familiarity with the major concepts, theoretical perspectives, empirical findings, and historical trends in psychology.
    • Objective 1.1: The ability to characterize the nature of psychology as a discipline.
    • Objective 1.2: Understand selected content areas of psychology          
  • Goal 2: Understand basic research methods in psychology, including research design, data analysis, and interpretation.
    • Objective 2.1: An ability to apply research skills applicable in psychology
  • Goal 3: Respect and utilize critical and creative thinking skills.
    • Objective 3.1: Be able to approach problems effectively integrating both creativity and critical thinking.
  • Goal 4: Understand and apply psychological principles to personal, social, and organizational issues.
    • Objective 4.1: Have the ability to describe major applied areas (e.g., clinical, counseling, industrial/organizational, school, etc.) and emerging (e.g., health, forensics, media, military, etc.) applied areas of psychology
    • Objective 4.2: Are able to identify appropriate applications of psychology in solving problems.
    • Objective 4.3: Have the ability to articulate how psychological principles can be used to explain social issues and inform public policy.
    • Objective 4.4: Has the ability to apply psychological concepts, theories, and research findings as these relate to everyday life.
  • Goal 5: Value empirical evidence, tolerate ambiguity, act ethically, and reflect other values that are the underpinnings of psychology as a science.
    • Objective 5.1: Recognize the necessity of ethical behavior in all aspects of the science and practice of psychology and recognize ethically complex situations.
    • Objective 5.2: Be able to analyze causes of behavior.
    • Objective 5.3: Be able to recognize ambiguity and determine the complexity and tentative nature of psychological explanations
    • Objective 5.4: Be able to recognize and respect human diversity.
    • Objective 5.5: Assess and justify their engagement with respect to civic, social, and global responsibilities.
    • Objective 5.6: Be able to understand the limitations of psychological knowledge and skills.