Program Description
Vermont State University’s Bachelor of Science 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 currently study a wide range of psychological attributes including language, addiction, attention, learning, laughter, grief, curiosity, and even how the brain responds to nature. Psychology is relevant to every aspect of daily lives 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 BS in Psychological Science choosing from a menu of course options to ensure that their education fits their interests. Students may apply and develop their knowledge of psychology through internship and field experiences working with at-risk children, in mental health or crisis clinics, within the criminal justice system, in schools or camps, with shelter or therapeutic animals, or doing wilderness therapy, for example. Additionally, they may decide to work alongside a faculty member as an assistant in their psychology laboratory, or to pursue their own research questions, presenting their findings at regional and national conferences. In addition, with careful planning, a VTSU psychology degree can be completed in 3 or 3½ years.
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 are differentially assessed at the introductory, reinforced/practiced, and mastery level for A.S. and B.S. students.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
