Program Description
All of Vermont State University’s Psychological Science programs focus on understanding the mind and behavior including the influence of biology, emotions, society, and culture. Students learn to apply scientific evidence to explain general behavioral phenomena, while appreciating that we are each unique. The program encourages students to understand the value of diversity, to recognize and discourage inequity, and to foster inclusion toward a just society. Students explore personal biases as barriers to understanding self and others and learn how to use psychology to make positive changes in their lives, communities, and in the world.
Vermont State University’s Associate of Arts in Psychological Science program offers students the scientific study of the mind and behavior. Psychologists study the full range of behavior, and VTSU psychology faculty study a wide range of psychological attributes including language, addiction, attention, learning, laughter, grief, and curiosity. Psychology is relevant to every aspect of daily life including social media, parenting, achievement, gender, aggression, love, and mental illness. Psychologists have versatile knowledge and skills which is why they can be found working in therapeutic, educational, hospital, research, and business settings. Psychologists study why people behave the way they do and find answers to difficult personal and societal issues.
Because psychology is so versatile, students have a range of ways to fulfill their associate degree choosing from a menu of course options to ensure that their education fits their interests. This program is available in-person, remotely, and fully online, offering maximum flexibility for students.
Program Outcomes
These goals are adapted from the American Psychological Association’s Guidelines for Undergraduate Programs. We use the same broad learning goals for all Psychological Sciences programs, but they are differentially assessed depending on the program.
For the A.A. in Psychological Science, all goals are assessed at the foundational level rather than baccalaureate level.
Goal 1: Content Knowledge and Applications: Students will demonstrate comprehension of the major concepts, theoretical perspectives, historical trends, and empirical findings to discuss how psychological principles apply to behavior and mental processes.
Goal 2: Scientific Inquiry and Critical Thinking: Students will develop the skills involved in scientific reasoning and investigation including proficiencies in research methods and statistics, knowledge of and sensitivity to diversity-related issues in research design and evaluating the extent to which research findings can be generalized to groups beyond the research sample.
Goal 3: Values in Psychological Science: Students will develop ethical reasoning and practices as well as interpersonal and intercultural responsiveness, including developing self-reflection and accountability. Students will recognize ethical violations and/or the risk for such violations.
Goal 4: Communication, Psychological Literacy, and Technology Skills: Students will build and maintain effective communication skills in processing and expressing information both in their writing and interpersonal communication. Students will develop psychological literacy, including applying research skills necessary to be an informed consumer of research or critic regarding unsupported claims about behavior.
Goal 5: Personal and Professional Development: The skills in this domain refer to abilities that sharpen students’ readiness for the workplace whether the student’s future involves graduate school or a job following the associate or bachelor’s degree.
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