This Bachelor of Arts in Psychology program develops the scientific knowledge, analytical skills, communication abilities, and ethical judgment needed to understand behavior in real-world settings. Students examine how people think, learn, develop, communicate, make decisions, form relationships, respond to stress, and function in groups and organizations. The curriculum moves from psychological foundations to applied work in behavioral health, education, social services, human resources, business, government, public relations, and criminal justice. It also provides structured preparation for graduate study in psychology, counseling, social and behavioral sciences, and related fields. Students will build practical competencies in: Evaluating psychological claims using scientific reasoning, research design, and ethical standards. Developing testable hypotheses, interpreting research findings, and writing concise APA-style evidence summaries. Using statistics, spreadsheets, visualizations, and common analytical methods to interpret behavioral data. Explaining biological, cognitive, developmental, social, cultural, and environmental influences on behavior. Applying learning, memory, motivation, communication, and decision-making principles in educational, workplace, and community contexts. Recognizing the scope and limits of entry-level helping roles, practicing foundational communication skills, and making appropriate referrals. Assessing how culture, identity, bias, access barriers, and power affect psychological assessment, services, and professional interactions. Designing basic behavior-change plans, learning interventions, workplace supports, and program evaluation approaches. Preparing professional documents, communicating evidence to varied audiences, and planning next steps for employment or graduate school. Applied areas include: Behavioral health, social services, counseling support, and community mental health. Human resources, employee selection, training, leadership, team communication, and organizational well-being. Education, learner motivation, inclusive learning supports, assessment, and training design. Health behavior, prevention, public policy, community programs, and program evaluation. Forensic and criminal justice settings, including eyewitness memory, victim services, rehabilitation, and behavioral evidence in legal contexts. Consumer behavior, persuasion, public relations, and audience communication. The program concludes with a capstone research or applied psychology project. Students define a feasible problem, review relevant evidence, design an ethical research study or applied plan, analyze findings, develop evidence-informed recommendations, and present a professional portfolio. This program provides academic and career preparation for psychology-related roles but does not independently qualify graduates for professional licensure as psychologists, counselors, or other regulated mental health practitioners.
- Psychology as a Discipline
- History and Major Perspectives
- Scientific Thinking in Everyday Life
- Ethics and Responsible Psychological Practice
- From Questions to Testable Hypotheses
- Experimental Research Designs
- Correlational, Survey, and Observational Methods
- Qualitative and Mixed Methods Research
- Sampling, Measurement, and Research Quality
- Reading and Writing Research Reports
- Describing Psychological Data
- Probability and Inferential Reasoning
- Comparing Groups and Testing Relationships
- Effect Size and Practical Significance
- Using Statistical Software and Spreadsheets
- Avoiding Misleading Data Claims
- Neurons, Neurotransmitters, and Neural Communication
- Brain Structure and Function
- The Nervous and Endocrine Systems
- Genetics, Environment, and Epigenetics
- Sleep, Health, and Psychophysiology
- Sensation and Sensory Systems
- Perception and Interpretation
- Classical and Operant Conditioning
- Observational and Cognitive Learning
- Memory Systems and Processes
- Memory Accuracy in Applied Settings
- Attention and Cognitive Control
- Thinking, Problem-Solving, and Creativity
- Judgment and Decision-Making
- Language and Communication
- Intelligence and Psychological Assessment
- Developmental Theories and Research
- Prenatal Development, Infancy, and Attachment
- Childhood Development and Learning
- Adolescence and Emerging Adulthood
- Adulthood, Aging, and End-of-Life Issues
- Applying Developmental Knowledge
- Psychodynamic and Humanistic Views of Personality
- Trait, Social-Cognitive, and Behavioral Approaches
- Personality Assessment
- Motivation, Goals, and Self-Regulation
- Emotion and Well-Being
- Social Perception and Attribution
- Attitudes, Persuasion, and Behavior Change
- Conformity, Obedience, and Group Processes
- Prejudice, Discrimination, and Intergroup Relations
- Relationships, Conflict, and Prosocial Behavior
- Understanding Psychopathology
- Assessment, Diagnosis, and Classification
- Anxiety, Trauma, and Obsessive-Compulsive Related Disorders
- Mood, Psychotic, and Personality Disorders
- Substance Use, Eating, and Neurodevelopmental Disorders
- Stigma, Recovery, and Community Mental Health
- Professional Roles and Scope of Practice
- Foundational Helping Skills
- Major Approaches to Psychotherapy
- Crisis Awareness and Referral
- Behavior Change Planning
- Culture and Psychological Processes
- Identity, Power, and Intersectionality
- Bias, Privilege, and Cultural Humility
- Culturally Responsive Assessment and Services
- Global and Community Perspectives on Well-Being
- Learning Theories in Educational Settings
- Motivation, Engagement, and Academic Persistence
- Assessment and Evaluation of Learning
- Inclusive Learning Supports
- Applying Psychology in Schools and Training
- Work Behavior and Organizational Systems
- Recruitment, Selection, and Employee Assessment
- Training, Performance, and Feedback
- Leadership, Teams, and Workplace Communication
- Employee Well-Being and Organizational Change
- Consumer Behavior and Public Relations
- Health Behavior and Behavioral Medicine
- Community Psychology and Social Services
- Forensic and Criminal Justice Psychology
- Psychology in Law and Public Policy
- Program Evaluation and Applied Impact
- Psychology Writing and Evidence Communication
- Ethical Digital Communication and Professional Presence
- Career Pathways with a Psychology Degree
- Job Search Materials and Interview Preparation
- Preparing for Graduate Study
- Professional Ethics and Lifelong Development
- Selecting a Research or Applied Problem
- Reviewing Evidence and Designing the Project
- Collecting, Analyzing, and Interpreting Evidence
- Developing an Applied Recommendation
- Presenting a Professional Psychology Portfolio
- Bachelor of Arts in Psychology Comprehensive Course Exam