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Department of Psychology

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Department of Psychology

The Department of Psychology provides the opportunity for degrees at the BA, MA, and at the PsyD level. The program offers opportunities for students to apply their classroom knowledge to a variety of real-world situations. Hands-on laboratory experiences give students a chance to design and conduct their own experiments. In the psychology major and its associated service offerings, the program strives for currency in the presentation of theoretical approaches, scientific research, and scholarship. Through emphasis on critical thinking and research methods, the Psychology Department seeks to foster a capacity for lifelong learning. By increasing the student's awareness of the human component in various social, industrial, and professional areas, the program serves to instill a responsible orientation to the application of psychological knowledge toward the betterment of the human condition.  

Learn more about each of our programs:

  • BA in Psychology
  • Minor in Psychology
  • MA in Clinical and Counseling Psychology
  • PsyD in Clinical Psychology

BA in Psychology
Individuals with a bachelor's degree in psychology often possess good research and writing skills, are good problem solvers, and have well-developed, higher-level thinking abilities when it comes to analyzing, synthesizing, and evaluating information. Many find jobs in administrative support, public affairs, education, business, sales, service industries, health, the biological sciences, and computer programming. They may also work as employment counselors, correction counselor trainees, interviewers, personnel analysts, probation officers, and writers.

MA in Clinical and Counseling Psychology
Those with a master's degree in psychology often work under the direction of a doctoral psychologist, especially in clinical, counseling, school and testing, and measurement psychology. Some jobs in the industry—for example, in organizational development and survey research—are held by both doctoral- and master's-level graduates. In general, industry and government jobs that focus on compensation, training, data analysis, and general personnel issues are often filled by those with master's degrees in psychology.

PsyD in Clinical Psychology
Individuals with a doctorate in psychology are trained for excellent critical thinking, assessment, analytical, and writing skills. After graduation, clinical psychologists often work at universities, with hospitals or in other human services, outpatient clinics, and primary care offices or community health centers. Additional areas of common employment include government/VA medical center settings, business/nonprofit settings, and independent clinical practices.

Psychology - BA Mission Statement   

The BA program in Psychology is committed to providing students with a broad understanding and appreciation of the field of psychology as a multifaceted discipline with both scientific and humanistic aspects. In addition to the mastery of specific course content, the program seeks to develop the student's ability to think critically about issues in the field.  

Moreover, the program is designed to help students: (1) integrate their knowledge of psychology with concepts and research from related disciplines, and (2) discover opportunities for application of knowledge in psychology to the solution of human problems. The grounding provided by the program serves as preparation for graduate study in psychology as well as graduate study in such areas as law, social work, and public administration.In addition, the program prepares students for entry into bachelor's level careers.  

In addition to lecture courses, the psychology program aims to provide "hands on" laboratory experience in experimental design and conduct. Experiential courses seek to impart first hand understanding of human relations. The curriculum teaches students to think critically about the social, political, and cultural origins of psychological knowledge. The program also aspires to provide field experience to majors in clinical and research settings to supplement and complement classroom instruction.  

The faculty strive to create an atmosphere that encourages research, scholarship and communication of ideas within an ethical context. Such an atmosphere is integral to high quality teaching and professional development among faculty and learning and personal development among students; Faculty also strive to serve as positive role models. The department also works to establish and maintain effective communication with college administration so as to elicit appropriate and sufficient administrative support for the fulfillment of the mission.  

Ancillary foci of the program include provision of service courses for students in other majors such as nursing, other health professions, management and education. In addition, the program contributes several courses of broad interest to the General Education curriculum.  

In the major and the service offerings, the program strives for currency in the presentation of theoretical approaches, scientific research and scholarship. Through emphasis on critical thinking and research methods, the program seeks to foster a capacity for lifelong learning. By increasing the student's awareness of the human component in various social, industrial and professional areas, the program serves to instill a responsible orientation to the application of psychological knowledge toward the betterment of the human condition.  

 

Psychology - BA Goals  

  1. Students will have an understanding of the historical origins of contemporary psychological thought. 
  2. Students will have firm grounding in the essentials of research methodology in the behavioral sciences 
  3. Students will comprehend current approaches to the understanding of human behavior and mental processes. 
  4. Students will have inter-related knowledge and understanding of theory and empirical research in the five main subdisciplines of psychology, i.e., development, cognition, social, personality/clinical and physiological areas. 
  5. The student will be able to communicate effectively in written and oral forms. 
  6. The student should be aware from at least his or her junior year of opportunities to participate in faculty-sponsored research or to do independent studies with faculty. To facilitate this, all psychology majors with 30 or more credits will receive a mailing (a) outlining opportunities for faculty-sponsored research; (b) referring to the procedures for independent study; (c) suggesting some particular areas of independent study; (d) informing students of the Annual Undergraduate Research Conference; (e) informing students of the Psi Chi Honors Society and the Psychology Club. 
  7. The student is aware of the opportunity to gain applied knowledge of psychology in the mental health field, in organizational and consumer behavior, education and in social and political issues. The student will be able to make an informed career decision. 
  8. The student will be aware of the normative nature of human diversity, including the influence of biology, the social environment and culture on abilities, beliefs, attitudes, values and practices. 

 

Psychology - BA Student Learning Outcomes

  1. Students will be able to trace the origins of modern psychological schools of thought from the ideas of the Greek philosophers through the rise of psychology as an independent discipline to the evolution of today's major sub-disciplines (development, cognition, social, biological, abnormal/personality). 
  2. Students will be able to understand and apply basic research methods in psychology, including research design, data analysis, interpretation, and research ethics: Students will be able to explain different research methods used by psychologists across a variety of domains. 
  3. Students will be able to understand and apply basic research methods in psychology, including research design, data analysis, interpretation, and research ethics: Students will be able to design and conduct basic studies to address psychological questions using appropriate research methods.  
  4. Students will be able to demonstrate effective writing skills in various formats and for various purposes (e.g., informing, evaluating, defending, explaining, persuading, arguing, teaching) 
  5. Communicate effectively in a variety of formats. Use APA style effectively in empirically based reports, literature reviews, and theoretical papers  
  6. Students will be able to demonstrate effective oral communication skills in various formats (e.g., group discussion, debate, lecture) and for various purposes (e.g., informing, defending, explaining, persuading, arguing, teaching).  
  7. Students will be able to Respect and use critical and creative thinking, skeptical inquiry, and, when possible, the scientific approach to solve problems related to behavior and mental processes. Students will be able to Use reasoning to recognize and criticize arguments and other persuasive appeals.  
  8. Students will be able to Understand and apply psychological principles to personal, social, and organizational issues. 

 

Psychology PsyD Mission Statement  

The mission of the WPU PsyD Program in Clinical Psychology is to prepare students to become competent and highly-skilled in the delivery and evaluation of psychological services. Students are trained to critically evaluate research, contribute to psychological knowledge, and develop innovations in treatment and service delivery. The program is grounded in a practitioner-scholar model that emphasizes evidence-based theories and practice in psychological assessment, interventions, consultation, and supervision. Academic course work, supervised clinical training, and research experience are integrated at each stage of the student’s development within an ethical, culturally sensitive, and supportive context. The program promotes lifelong learning and continual self-improvement. 

 

 PsyD Psychology Goals  

  1. To prepare students with the foundational knowledge and clinical skills necessary to become competent health-service psychologists. 
  2. To train practitioner-scholars who are well prepared to develop and implement innovations in treatment and service delivery. 
  3. To train practitioner-scholars with multicultural, social, ethical and professional competency. 

PsyD Psychology Student Learning Outcomes

  1. Students will acquire knowledge that reflects the depth and breadthof scientificpsychology 
  2. Students will acquire knowledge of a variety of clinical theories and evidence-based 
  3. Students will demonstrate the ability to apply scientific knowledgeand evidence-based approaches in intervention and 
  4. Students will become critical consumers of scientific research so that they can become evidence-basedpractitioners 
  5. Students will become contributors to psychological knowledge through training in research methods and statistics 
  6. Students will develop awareness and knowledge of a wide range of diversity issues—including, but not limited to—race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, social class, age, religion, and 
  7. Students will conduct themselves in a professional manner consistent with the expectations of the profession and APA ethical 
  8. Students will learn to continually improve and re-examine their competency, know their limitations and seek consultation, supervision, or referral as appropriate in the ethical delivery of services 
  9. Students will learn to provide culturally, socially, and ethicallycompetent supervision andconsultation 

Psychology - MA Mission Statement  

The Master’s program in Clinical and Counseling Psychology prepares students for the professional practice of counseling, assessment, and/or mental health research. The curriculum provides a solid grounding in both theories and interventions that can be applied to a wide variety of mental health, academic, and research settings. We emphasize professional competency, ethical responsibility, cultural competency, self-awareness, and current body of knowledge in the scientific, methodological, and theoretical foundations of practice. Our program expects students to become compassionate and caring scientist-practitioners with motivation to continue learning and furthering their development throughout their professional careers. We are committed to social justice work and multiculturalism to better serve disadvantaged or marginalized groups in our society. 

 

Psychology - MA Student Learning Outcomes

  1. Students will demonstrate knowledge and skills to conduct clinical interviews 
  2. Student will apply skills to build rapport and form therapeutic alliances 
  3. Student will apply appropriate therapeutic interventions 
  4. Students will demonstrate knowledge in theories of psychotherapy 
  5. Student will demonstrate knowledge in adult psychopathology and diagnostic classification systems 
  6. Student will demonstrate knowledge in child and adolescent psychopathology and diagnostic classification systems 
  7. Students will demonstrate knowledge in evidence-based and effective treatment modalities 
  8. Student will demonstrate knowledge and skills in psychological testing and measurement 
  9. Student will demonstrate knowledge in theories of career development 
  10. Student will demonstrate knowledge in vocational assessments 
  11. Student will demonstrate knowledge and skills in group interventions 
  12. Students will demonstrate knowledge of scientific methods commonly used in psychology 
  13. Students will demonstrate ability to utilized and synthesize the current body of research literature to inform clinical practice 
  14. Student will develop greater awareness of self as a cultural being 
  15. Student will demonstrate knowledge and skills in working with culturally diverse populations 
  16. Student will demonstrate knowledge in ethical, legal and professional codes of conduct 

Psychology News

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Department Spotlight

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Psychology major, Michelle LeGrand '16 created "Doodles and Dots," a non-profit art program for fourth through sixth graders in Paterson designed to reduce stress and improve interpersonal and team-building skills. She is now pursuing a dual master's in art therapy and mental health counseling.

2020 Graduation

2020 Honors and Awards