Department of Psychology

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The Department of Psychology offers an undergraduate degree in Psychology that has been designed to provide students with a liberal arts education that emphasizes the biological, individual, social, and cultural aspects of behavior and mental processes. A concentration in biopsychology is also offered. The bachelor’s degree prepares students for graduate and professional studies, as well as careers in various employment settings. To achieve these objectives, students are required to complete the University College Core Curriculum and at least 47 credit hours of course work in Psychology. In addition to the major courses, students have the option to complete a minor or a set of free elective courses. The department also offers an on-line degree completion (ODC) program; a student must first complete all University College Core requirements in order to qualify for the ODC program. Transfer students are eligible to be in the ODC program if their transfer credits fulfill FSU’s University Core requirements. Please see the Department of Psychology website for more information.

Learning Outcomes

1. Scientific Literacy Skills (Empirical and Applied): Students will demonstrate an understanding of the fundamental content, concepts, theory, empirical findings, and historical trends in psychology and identify applications of scientific principles to promote psychological well-being.
2. Inquiry Skills: Students will formulate scientific and logical questions and hypotheses, retrieve relevant academic information and data, explore evidence, and evaluate or conduct research; interpret and report the results of observation and experimentation; they will demonstrate knowledge of empirical approaches used in psychology and/or analyze and evaluate research findings in psychology.
3. Communication Skills (Written and Spoken): Students will demonstrate the ability to effectively express, produce, comprehend, and analyze spoken and written communication related to content, terminology, empirical findings, and theory in psychology and will be able to demonstrate proficiency in APA format writing.
4. Global Literacy Skills (Diversity and Culture): Students will recognize, and respect the complex influence, global diversity, and shared humanity of culture, values and belief systems, gender, ethnicity, and resource disparities and differences.
5. Reasoning Skills: Students will expand their critical, creative thinking, and abstract reasoning skills as they demonstrate the ability to accurately construct, communicate, and evaluate logic and evidence-based assertions, draw conclusions, tolerate ambiguity, employ skepticism, and solve problems related to psychology.
6. Ethics and Civic Engagement (Ethics, Community Involvement, and Self-Discipline): Students will identify, reflect upon, and/or apply APA ethical standards; express commitment and effort to address community or social problems; promote psychological well-being; and employ self-discipline.

Programs

• Psychology, B.S.
• Psychology, Biopsychology Concentration, B.S.

• Psychology Minor

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