Psychology BS

College of Arts and Sciences
Department Chair Alicia Nordstrom, PhD

Faculty

Kelly B. Filipkowski, Associate Professor of Psychology, BA State University of New York at Oswego; MS Florida State University; MS, PhD Syracuse University

Marnie Hiester, Professor of Psychology, BA Drew University; PhD University of Minnesota

George Hunter, Associate Professor of Psychology, BA Siena College; MS Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute; MA, PhD Princeton University

Alicia Nordstrom, Professor of Psychology, BA University of Rochester; MS Purdue University; PhD Pennsylvania State University

Abbey K. Valvano, Assistant Professor of Psychology, BA Denison University; MS, PhD Marquette University

Mission Statement

The Psychology Department is committed to providing students with an excellent undergraduate education in psychology.  Our curriculum is based on the guidelines and goals for undergraduate education specified by the American Psychological Association, and emphasizes the scientific nature of psychological discovery.  We seek to develop students that have the knowledge and skills that will serve them well in either graduate study or post-graduate employment.  Our faculty is committed to excellence in teaching and mentoring, and we pride ourselves in the close relationships we develop with students, both in and out of the classroom.  We are also committed to providing our students with opportunities for service learning, practicums/internships, research, and extracurricular activities related to psychology.

Program Learning Outcomes and Student Learning Outcomes

The program goals of the psychology major at Misericordia (and the student learning outcomes listed under each goal) are based on those specified by the American Psychological Association for undergraduate psychology programs.

1. Students will demonstrate knowledge of psychological concepts and frameworks and their application.
   1. Students will identify key concepts, principles, and theories in psychology.
   2. Students will apply psychological concepts and theories to real-world situations.
2. Students will develop skills in scientific reasoning and problem solving.
   1. Students will critically evaluate psychological research.
   2. Students will demonstrate psychology information literacy.
   3. Students will design, conduct, and present a psychological research study.
3. Students will develop ethically and socially responsible behaviors in research and applied settings.
   1. Students will apply ethical standards to evaluate psychological research. 
   2. Students will demonstrate ethical standards in applied practice.
4. Students will demonstrate skills in writing and in oral and interpersonal communication skills.
   1. Students will demonstrate effective writing for different purposes.
   2. Students will demonstrate effective presentation skills. 
   3. Students will interact effectively with others. 
5. Students will will develop professional direction for life after graduation.
   1. Students will explore career options for graduates with a degree in psychology. 
   2. Students will generate an academic plan to support their professional goals.   

Admissions Requirements:

Incoming students seeking admission as psychology majors must meet the university’s general admissions requirements as stated in this catalog.

Requirements

In addition to the core curriculum, which includes Introduction to Psychology, students are required to complete at least 43 credits in psychology, three credits in Mathematics (MTH 115 Basic Statistics  ) and three credits in Sociology (SOC 221 Cultural Minorities ). The 43 credits in psychology must include the following courses:

• PSY 101 Introductory Seminar  
• PSY 123 Introduction to Psychology  
• PSY 200 Career Seminar  
• PSY 232 Research Methods  
• PSY 233 Advanced Research Methods  
• PSY 250 Social Psychology  
• PSY 275 Child and Adolescent Psychology  or PSY 277 Adult Development and Aging  
• PSY 290 Psychopathology  or PSY 332 Childhood Psychopathology  
• PSY 301 Cognitive Psychology  
• PSY 303 Biological Psychology  
• PSY 452 Counseling and Psychotherapy  or PSY 455 Child Interventions  
• PSY 475 Practicum in Psychology  or PSY 490 Independent Research  
• PSY 480A , PSY 480B , PSY 480C  or PSY 480D  (Advanced Seminar), one Biological/Cognitive Elective, one Social/Developmental Elective, and one Clinical/Counseling Elective.

To complete their degree students must take a minimum of 25 free elective credits, which allows them to complete courses, minors, and/or certificate programs that are consistent with their interests and career goals.

Note: PSY 101  and/or PSY 200  may be waived for transfer students at the discretion of the Department Chair.

Students must achieve grades of “C-” or above in all courses required for the psychology major, including MTH 115 and SOC 221. If a student earns a “D” or “F” in any required psychology course he/she must repeat that course and earn a “C-” or above.

The psychology department also offers a mental health interventions specialization  (21 credits) for students interested in pursuing mental health careers. Students can choose either a child or adult track, depending on the population with which they are interested in working. Please contact Dr. Alicia Nordstrom for further information.