2014-2015 Undergraduate Catalog/Student Handbook [ARCHIVED CATALOG]
Psychology
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Our Psychology major has been designed to teach students basic psychological theories, principles and concepts and how to apply them to every day life. In completing the major requirements, students receive both depth and breath of exposure to the field of Psychology. Each student works closely with a faculty advisor to plan a course of study within the major that is in line with the student’s interests and goals. A particular strength of the Psychology department is its faculty. Each has a terminal degree, each is committed to teaching and each works with advisees to offer suggestions, deal with problems and provide direction. In addition to classroom instruction, our majors are offered a broad range of experiential learning opportunities that include internships, counseling practica, and independent studies. Internships opportunities have included, but are not limited to such sites as:Mass Mutual Insurance Company, The Carson Center, area grammar and high schools, Noble Hospital, Disney World, DSS in Springfield, Ludlow County Jail and the WSU Human Resource Department.
Psychology as a discipline gives students a framework for understanding human behavior and the world around them. Students learn about the biological bases of behavior, about the nature of personality, how people think, how emotions are expressed, how and why people behave differently in groups and about the differences between normal and abnormal behavior.
With a major in Psychology students develop specific tools to prepare them for a real world environment. Students acquire critical thinking skills so they can present and evaluate arguments. Students acquire methodological and quantitative skills so they can learn how to conduct and evaluate research. Students learn how to acquire information from psychology journals, computer data bases, the internet, questionnaires and systematic observations. Students acquire speaking and writing skills so they can effectively communicate. Students learn interpersonal skills to allow them to interact with and function effectively with others.
Upon graduation students are well equipped to pursue a number of opportunities. Psychology as a liberal arts major positions students to pursue a variety of career paths that can in part be influenced by studying a second major or minor. Psychology students can pursue employment in such fields as Business (human resources, marketing, recruiting, management); human services (career counselor, case worker, crisis intervention counselor, mental health worker); education (administration, admissions, teacher, academic advising); Criminal Justice (corrections officer, parole officer, probation officer, law enforcement officer) and others. In addition to entering the workforce many of our students go on to graduate school studying Psychology or related fields. The Department of Psychology offers a Master’s degree in Psychology with programs in Mental Health and Guidance and a Master’s in Applied Behavior Analysis. For information about the graduate programs, please consult the Graduate Catalog through DGCE.
BIOL 0104 or BIOL 0106 will be required of all new Psychology majors.
Psychology majors must complete a minimum of 21 credits in the Department at Westfield State. ProgramsCoursesPsychology
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