Academic Credit Program | Academic Credit Program Index | Psychology

Option to Liberal Arts, (AA.PSY)

Psychology, as a liberal arts is concerned with providing the student with understanding how the behavior of the individual depends on biological, development, cognitive and social processes. This should be of interest to many students since it offers them a scientific framework for understanding their own feelings, thoughts and behaviors and to some extent the behavior of their fellow humans. In addition it may have value as it helps some students to deal with their personal lives more effectively.

Courses offered in the Psychology program are designed to give undergraduate students a broad knowledge of numerous topics in psychology as well as examine several areas in more depth. Students earning an AA degree in Psychology will have an opportunity to study the following areas of Psychology:

History and methods of Psychology
Biopsychology
Developmental Psychology
Cognitive/behavior
Psychocultural (abnormal/normal)

Upon completion of the Psychology major the graduate is expected to have mastered the following program objectives. These objectives are in line with APA guidelines and are comparable to the goals of most undergraduate Psychology programs

• Know the body of material that constitutes modern psychology including various Theoretical approaches and their historical roots
• Use oral/written communication related to psychology
• Use critical thinking, analysis and synthesis to develop and defend position
• Know current methodological procedures that characterize contemporary psychology such as statistics and computer technology
• Apply the perspective of psychology to contemporary social issues
• Be prepared for entry into transfer program in psychology

Psychology is of direct vocational use in many career areas such as education, social work, medicine and industry and is a requirement in many professional and paraprofessional fields. Students wishing to transfer to a baccalaureate program will bring a strong base of knowledge to their furthered studies but should consult with the receiving institution to select courses wisely. There are many transfer and articulation opportunities with this program.

General Education Courses	Credits
Written Communications	6
Arts and Humanities
Group A	6
Group B	3
Group C	3
Social Science (PSY 101 required and SOC 101 recommended)	6
Mathematics (MTH 107 recommended)	3
Natural Science (BIO 103 & 104, 107 & 108 recommended)	8
Computer Science	3
Additional General Education Requirements (PSY 102 required)	9
Total	47
Program Courses	Credits
Select twelve credit hours from the following:
PSY 203 Human Sexuality	3
PSY 250 Educational Psychology	3
PSY 251 Child & Adolescent Psychology	3
PSY 253 Adult Development and Aging	3
PSY 255 Abnormal Psychology	3
PSY 256 Developmental Psychology	3
PSY 257 Psychology of Adjustment	3
PSY 258 Psychology of Personality	3
PSY 259 Social Psychology	3
Total	12
Electives	5
Total Required for Degree	64

Contact Liberal Arts Division ext. 1601
For more information on Psychology Studies at BCC
For more information on Service Learning opportunities open to BCC psychology students
Psychology Department Faculty Homepgaes:
Donna Vandergrift
Patricia Kalata
Wendy Aita