Psychology Department Program Objectives


-- Discipline Specific Knowledge Base

a) an integrated overview of modern psychology including major discipline
subdivisions and their interrelations
b) knowlege of the major ideas and scholars within and between the various
subfields of the discipline
c) knowledge of, and appreciation for, a variety of psychological perspectives used
to understand and predict behavior
d) an understanding of psychology as a science, the research methods
utilized to investigate behavior, and the interdependence of theory and
research
e) knowledge of, and appreciation for, a variety of major basic and applied content
areas in the discipline
f) an awareness and understanding of relevant ethical issues in the conduct of
behavioral research and the practice of psychology as a profession
g) an awareness of the diversity of career opportunities in education, research, business,
and clinical settings for individuals with training in psychology

-- Critical/Analytical Thinking & Problem Solving Skills

a) an understanding of descriptive and inferential statistics as they apply to psychological
data specifically and scientific reasoning more broadly
b) an understanding of the links between psychological knowledge and the research
methods used to generate it
c) the ability to access and effectively utilize the primary literature of a research
topic in psychology
d) the ability to critically evaluate research designs, results, and interpretations
e) the ability to formulate testable hypotheses, collect and analyze relevant
data,and draw appropriate conclusions
f) an awareness of potential practical applications of research knowledge

-- Oral/Written Communication Skills

a) knowledge of discipline appropriate standards for written communication
(e.g., APA style)
b) an ability to provide a clearly written summary of primary research
litererature in psychology
c) the ability to clearly communicate research findings in both oral and written
form

-- Technological Competencies

a) familiarity with computer technology in psychology including the use of word
processing software
b) the knowledge and skill to utilize statistical software in the analyses of
empirical data
b) the ability to effectively utilize technological resources in the conduct of a
topical literature review in psychology (e.g., Internet and CD based indexes).