Psychology

Program Codes: BAPSYCH
Bachelor of Arts

Introduction
Psychology is the scientific study of thoughts, feelings, and behavior. Research psychologists strive to gain an understanding of the processes underlying human behavior by examining influences ranging from the neurobiological to the sociocultural. It is an ever-changing discipline that has broad applicability across many diverse contexts. A detective interviewing a child who witnessed a crime, an engineer designing a cockpit for ease of use, a doctor who designs a treatment plan for a patient, or a marketing executive designing a new ad campaign would all benefit from using psychology. Many of our students enter graduate or professional programs in psychology or in related areas such as law, medicine, social work, government, sports, or business. Other students enter the job market in a variety of applied settings immediately after graduation, most commonly in social services or the helping professions.

Psychology majors can expect rigorous training in scientific literacy, critical thinking, ethics, social responsibility, cultural competency, and communication skills. The American Psychological Association counts career development as one of its five major goals of undergraduate education. This means that students will be taught how to apply psychological findings to their own career skills, including how to exhibit self-efficacy and self-regulation, refine project-management skills, enhancing teamwork capacity, and developing meaningful professional direction for life after graduation.

To accomplish these goals with offering the maximum amount of flexibility for students to pursue their own chosen areas, the Psychology Major at Mercyhurst offers three distinct tracks: a general track which affords students flexibility to double major, an applied track with an emphasis on preparing students for jobs or graduate study in the helping professions, and a research track with an emphasis on scientific research and building an impressive application to graduate school. In addition to these tracks, concentrations such as Neuroscience and Crime and Justice are offered. Students are encouraged to consult with their advisors to help determine the track that is the best fit.

Mission Statement
The Department of Psychology at Mercyhurst University fully adopts  both  the core values at Mercyhurst University and the American Psychological Association’s goals for undergraduate education and seeks to develop students that are:

Socially merciful, in that they are able to build and enhance interpersonal relationships and adopt values that build community at local, national, and global levels.

Globally responsible through their application of ethical standards in their evaluation of psychological science and practice.

Compassionately hospitable through their ability to interact effectively and sensitively with people of diverse abilities, backgrounds, and cultural perspectives.

Intellectually creative with their ability to interpret, design, and conduct basic psychological research and their firm foundation in psychology’s content areas.

Reflectively aware with their ability to apply psychological content and skills to explain behavior and mental processes, including accurate, critical self-assessment of performance and the ability to develop and execute strategies for exceeding performance criteria.

Program Student Learning Outcomes
In accordance with the American Psychological Association’s 2.0 Guidelines for Undergraduate Education in Psychology, Mercyhurst Psychology graduates will be expected to demonstrate:

  • A firm knowledge base in Psychology
  • Scientific and critical thinking
  • Ethical and social responsibility
  • Communication skills
  • Professional development skills
  • Knowledge about the history and progression of the field of Psychology

Psychology Minor - 19 Credits
A Minor in Psychology would be a useful complement to any major area of study. Six courses are required for the Psychology Minor, including:

PSYC 101 Introduction to Psychology 3 credits
PSYC 291/293 Research Design and Statistical Analysis & Lab 4 credits
Four (4) electives in Psychology 12 credits

Interdisciplinary Minors

  • Gender Studies
  • Psychology of Crime and Justice
  • Sports Studies

Gender Studies Minor

Housed in the departments of anthropology, applied sociology, and psychology, the gender studies minor provides students with the opportunity to learn about the impacts of and variation in gender through a multidisciplinary encounter. Although the gender studies minor builds on the university’s special history of empowering women, this is not a women’s studies minor; this minor offers an engendered program of learning and promotes a socially responsible and aware approach to all gendered social interaction through academics and service learning.

Through an appreciation of gender differences, roles and historic interactions in a variety of contexts, students enhance their ability to function in the workplace and at home. Gender is a primary organizing principle in all societies and its study continues to gain popularity across university campuses because those with a better understanding of the complexities of gender are well-rounded citizens and more marketable.

Given its cross-cultural and multidisciplinary nature, a gender studies minor can enhance employment opportunities. Individuals with this minor find employment in a variety of occupations within governmental and non-governmental organizations, the private sector and helping professions.

Working closely with their minor advisor, students will construct their seven course-minor by taking two required courses and then choose from a flexible list of electives in the departments of anthropology, criminal justice, English and world languages, history, psychology, and religious studies. Note that no more than two electives may be taken from any one department.

Required Courses:

  • ANTH 125 Introduction to Gender Studies 3 credits
  • PSYC 265 Psychology of Gender 3 credts

Choose any 5 courses from the following list:

  • ANTH 346 Anthropology of Gender 3 credits
  • ANTH 349 Anthropology of the Family 3 credits
  • CRJS 335 Seminar: Women in Crime 3 credits
  • ENG 374 Women and Literature 3 credits
  • FREN 135 Topics in French Literature: Gender 3 credits
  • FREN 305 Seminar: Gender 3 credits
  • HIS 280 Gendering World History I 3 credits
  • HIS 281 Gendering World History II 3 credits
  • HIS 283 Sex in Modern History 3 credits
  • POLI 363 Politics and Gender 3 credits
  • PSYC 234 Relationship Psychology 3 credits
  • PUBH 300 Sexual and Reproductive Health 3 credits
  • RLST 255 Religious Perspectives on Human Relationships 3 credits
  • RLST 270 Women in Scripture 3 credits
  • SOC 204 Diversity in Society 3 credits
  • SPAN 305 Women in Hispanic Civilization 3 credits

 

Psychology of Crime and Justice Minor

The Departments of Psychology and Criminal Justice have developed a sequence of study to provide students with an interdisciplinary focus in the psychology of crime and justice. The minor is designed to complement undergraduate degrees in psychology, criminal justice, and other social and behavioral sciences.

Required courses:

  • CRJS 101 Justice in America 3 credits
  • CRJS 230 Criminology 3 credits
  • PSYC 100 Introduction to Psychology 3 credits
  • PSYC 240 Psychology and the Law 3 credits

Choose any 3 courses from the following list:

  • CRJS 104 Introduction to Corrections 3 credits
  • CRJS 220 Drugs, Crime, and Criminal Justice 3 credits
  • CRJS 240 Victimology 3 credits
  • CRJS 310 Constitutional Law and Criminal Procedure 3 credits
  • CRJS 338 Race, Crime, and Justice 3 credits
  • PSYC 201 Personality Psychology 3 credits
  • PSYC 211 Abnormal Psychology 3 credits
  • PSYC 253 Drugs and Human Behavior 3 credits
  • PSYC 231 Social Psychology 3 credits
  • PSYC 350 Antecedents of Aggression 3 credits

If you are a Criminal Justice or Psychology major and your required major courses are listed above, you will need to select courses from this listing from the other discipline to reach your 21 credits and at least 4 unique courses. Please work closely with your advisor to monitor your progress toward the minor. Criminal Justice majors who seek the Interdisciplinary Minor in the Psychology of Crime and Justice must maintain a 2.5 GPA in order to earn the minor.

Sports Studies Minor

Mission Statement

Industry experts contend that sport is an influencing factor in our interpersonal relationships, our health and wellbeing, and even the choices we make as consumers. The interdisciplinary minor in Sport Studies is a 7-course, 21 credit minor that uniquely complements nearly every major at Mercyhurst. Students take a broad array of courses centered on sport, health and exercise from a variety of relevant fields. Offered by the departments of Psychology, Sports Medicine and Business. The minor is open to all students pursuing any major.

Program Student Learning Outcomes 

  • To understand how sports impact a wide range of fields and disciplines.
  • To become acquainted with the value of and contributions of sport in these fields, as well as in everyday life.
  • To broaden the scope of one’s thinking through exposure to other disciplines.

Required Courses:

  • PSYC 235 Sport Psychology 3 credits
  • SMB 100 Introduction to Sport Industry 3 credits
  • SMB 410 Sport in Society 3 credits
  • SOC 108 Human Growth and Development 3 credits

Choose any 3 courses from the following list:

  • FNUT 131 Introduction to Nutrition 3 credits
  • HIS 233 History of Sports in America 3 credits
  • PSYC 223 Counseling Skills and Theory 3 credits
  • PSYC 225 Health Psychology 3 credits
  • PSYC 231 Social Psychology 3 credits
  • PSYC 236 Learning and Motivation 3 credits
  • PSYC 281 Behavior Modification 3 credits
  • PUBH 101 Foundations of Public Health 3 credits
  • PUBH 109 Health Education 3 credits
  • SMB 210 Legal and Ethical Issues 3 credits
  • SPMD 155 Personal Health Science 3 credits
  • SPMD 263 Nutrition for Health Professionals 3 credits

Psychology Major Degree Requirements Bachelor of Arts - 39 Credits

Psychology Majors must take the following courses and earn a C or higher:

Additionally, students must take one course from each cluster below:

Cluster 1: Social and Personality

Cluster 2: Developmental and Cognitive

Cluster 3: Applied and Clinical

Cluster 4: Biological and Health

General Psychology Track

Students opting for the General Track in the Psychology Major must have a major GPA of 2.25 or higher.

Students in this track must also take:

One advanced-level (300 - 400) Psychology course (3 credits)
Three additional Psychology electives (9 credits)

Degrees & Certificates
Course Descriptions