Bachelor of ARTS in Psychology
Do you find yourself wondering about how the mind works and why it works the way it does? Have you ever wondered why people behave the way they do? As the scientific study of behavior and mental processes, psychology can provide you with the knowledge and skills to help you find the answers to your questions. The psychology program at Thomas College provides students with a strong foundation in the core disciplines of the field including developmental, abnormal, physiological, personality and cognitive psychology while preparing students to enter the workforce with a bachelor's degree or pursue graduate education.
Each student comes to Thomas with their own personal educational and career goals. Our psychology faculty recognize that a one-size-fits-all approach to education just isn't going to work so they meet with students to craft a program of study that prepares them to meet their unique goals. Whether the student aspires to enter the work force in human services or forensic psychology or perhaps they want to pursue a graduate education in counseling or experimental psychology, we work with the student to select courses and identify experiences that will prepare them for their future.
The flexibility of the psychology curriculum and our close ties with other programs on campus enable our students to double major in areas such as elementary education, early childhood education and criminal justice. With a bit of planning and some hard work, students can graduate in four years with two bachelors' degrees.
Students in the psychology program at Thomas will find themselves in the center of an active learning environment. From administering psychological inventories in PY348: Psychological Testing to mock counseling in PY425: Counseling Theories and from autobiographical assignments in PY326: Marriage and Family to conducting your own psychological experiments in PY321: Experimental Design & Analysis, students learn by doing. In addition, most students in the psychology program complete an internship with a local organization that provides them with real world experience in their chosen field.
Through their many experiences, graduates of the psychology program at Thomas College possess the skills, experience, and confidence necessary to follow their dreams.
program objectives
Upon completion of the psychology program at Thomas College, students will be able to:
- Demonstrate familiarity with the major concepts, theoretical perspectives, empirical findings, and historical trends in psychology.
- Apply basic research methods in psychology, including research design, data analysis, and interpretation.
- Respect and use critical and creative thinking, skeptical inquiry, and, when possible, the scientific approach to solve problems related to behavior and mental processes.
- Apply psychological principles to personal, social, and organizational issues.
- Weigh evidence, tolerate ambiguity, act ethically, and reflect other values that are the underpinnings of psychology as a discipline.
- Demonstrate information competence and the ability to use computers and other technology for many purposes.
- Communicate effectively in a variety of formats.
- Recognize, understand, and respect the complexity of sociocultural diversity.
- Develop insight into their own and others' behavior and mental processes and apply effective strategies for self-management and self-improvement.
- Emerge from the major with realistic ideas about how to implement their psychological knowledge, skills, and values in occupational pursuits in a variety of settings.
