Department of Psychology

College of Behavioral and Health Sciences
Location: Clement, 205
Phone: 931-221-7233
Website: www.apsu.edu/psychology

Psychology is the science of behavior and mental processes. The Psychology Department teaches students the empirical approach to understanding the mind and behavior within an environmental and cultural context. We challenge our undergraduate and graduate students to develop analytical and critical thinking skills necessary to become life-long learners as part of a comprehensive liberal arts education. We encourage our students to apply their knowledge of research and scholarship as ethical and productive members of the community. We serve the University’s overall mission by contributing to a liberal arts education, by providing concentrated programs of study in psychology, and by contributing to the success of other programs of study. The vision of the psychology department is to be recognized throughout the region for the quality of its academic programs.

The Department of Psychology offers both the Bachelor of Science (B.S.) and Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degrees in Psychology. We also offer a Minor in Psychology. In addition, psychology is one of the departments that sponsor the interdisciplinary Occupational Health Psychology minor. The objective of the program is to provide the student with a firm foundation in basic psychological science. This includes knowledge of basic content areas, as well as the skills fundamental to all areas of psychology. The Psychology Department has adopted the APA undergraduate psychology major learning goals and outcomes which cover:

Knowledge base of psychology;
Research methods in psychology;
Critical thinking skills in psychology;
Application of psychology;
Values in psychology;
Information and technological literacy;
Communication skills;
Sociocultural and international awareness;
Personal development and career planning and development.

A student completing the major in psychology should be able to

Conduct a search of psychological literature;
Read and understand journal articles;
Evaluate hypotheses or theories on the basis of empirical data;
Design and conduct a research study; and
Write a paper following APA style.

All students completing the psychology major must take the University Senior Exit Exam and the Psychology Senior Exit Exam during the last semester of study at the University. For August graduation, this would take place during the Spring Semester.