Program Learning Objectives

Modeled after the American Psychological Association's (APA) guidelines for undergraduate training, our individual courses and the overall program curriculum are designed to prepare you as a well-rounded scholar with marketable, professional skills.  Students who successfully complete their coursework and engage in experiential learning will be able to:

1. Knowledge base in psychology

  • Describe key concepts, principles, and overarching themes in psychology
  • Demonstrate the ability to integrate multicultural concepts in psychological research, theory, practice, and service to others
  • Describe applications of psychological research and theories
  • Articulate the contributions of historically excluded scholars to theory, research, and practice in psychology
  • Describe the historical role of the field of psychology in creating and maintaining systems of oppression, and identify opportunities for the field to advance equity and justice

2. Scientific inquiry and critical thinking

  • Use scientific reasoning to understand and interpret psychological phenomena
  • Engage in innovative and integrative thinking and problem solving
  • Interpret, design, conduct, and critique psychological research while integrating relevant cultural and sociopolitical variables

3. Ethical and Social Responsibility

  • Apply ethical standards to conduct and evaluate psychological science and practice
  • Use psychological principles to understand local, regional, national and international issues
  • Apply psychological principles and theories to serve and improve one’s community

4. Structural Inequalities

  • Understand the impact of racism, sexism, heterosexism, transphobia, ableism, and other structures of inequality and their intersections on individual and group identity, thoughts, feelings, and behavior
  • Demonstrate critical awareness of one's worldview, values, and biases and their influence on one's approach to psychological science and practice
  • Apply knowledge of structural inequalities to promote human welfare

5. Communication

  • Demonstrate effective writing and presentation skills
  • Demonstrate respectful written and oral communication with individuals from varied cultural, social, and historical backgrounds

6. Professional development

  • Apply psychological concepts and skills to career goals
  • Refine project management skills
  • Exhibit the ability to work respectfully and constructively with individuals of different backgrounds, values, and experiences
  • Exhibit effective collaborative and teamwork skills
  • Develop meaningful professional direction for life after graduation