BACHELOR OF ARTS IN PSYCHOLOGY

Program Requirements

In keeping with the graduation requirements of UWest, the Bachelor of Arts in Psychology requires the completion of 120 semester units of coursework, with a minimum grade-point average of 2.0. The 120 units include a minimum of 48 units in General Education, of which 9 units must be upper division courses, and 30 units of electives. Forty-two (42) units must be taken in Psychology, of which 36 must be upper division courses. Furthermore, 30 semester units must be completed at the UWest, of which 24 must be upper division courses.

Program Requirements

1) Psychology Major Prerequisites (6 units)

• PSYCH 100 Introduction to Western Psychology (3)
• MATH 205 Descriptive and Inferential Statistics (3)

2) General Education Requirements (48 units): For details, please refer to General Education Requirements

3) Psychology Major Requirements (42 units)

Lower Division Courses (6 units)

Goals and Objectives: Coursework for the psychology major is divided into lower and upper division courses. Students who have completed the lower division courses will be able to demonstrate a breadth of familiarity with psychological terms, concepts, theories, and major debates within the field. They will also gain increased awareness of their own cultural identity and related values and beliefs.

• PSYCH 210 Eastern and Western Perspectives on Cognitive Psychology (3)
• PSYCH 220 Eastern and Western Perspectives on Affective Psychology (3)

Upper Division Courses (36 units)

Goals and Objectives: Upper division coursework will result in students’ ability to demonstrate real life applications of psychological terms, concepts, theories, and major debates within the field of psychology.

Students will also have a more sophisticated awareness of their cultural identities and be able to transfer this self awareness into an awareness of the pervasive influence of culture. Cultural awareness includes, but is not limited to, cultural distinctions in values and beliefs, as well as issues of power, privilege, discrimination, and bias. Furthermore, students having completed upper division courses will demonstrate depth in select topic areas of coursework completed.

Core Courses (18 units)

• PSYCH 300 Research Design and Data Analysis in Psychology (3)
• PSYCH 310 Physiological Psychology (3)
• PSYCH 320 Psychology of Learning (3)
• PSYCH 330 Developmental Psychology (3)
• PSYCH 340 Psychology of Personality (3)
• PSYCH 350 Social Psychology (3)

Electives (15 units – select at least 2 courses from each of the following sections)

Section A

• PSYCH 404 Introduction to Child and Adolescent Theory and Intervention (3)
• PSYCH 410 Introduction to Western Psychotherapy (3)
• PSYCH 415 Psychological Disorders (3)
• PSYCH 418 Psychological Tests and Measurements (3)
• PSYCH 420 Cross Cultural Psychology (3)
• PSYCH 425 Psychology and Education (3)
• PSYCH 430 Industrial-Organizational Psychology (3)

Section B

• PSYCH 440 Psychology of Religion (3)
• PSYCH 450 Buddhist Psychology (3)
• PSYCH 455 Buddhist and Scientific Approaches to Mind (3)
• PSYCH 465 Buddhist Practices and Mental Health (3)
• PSYCH 470 Integrative Psychology of Living and Dying (3)

Capstone Course (3 units)

• PSYCH 495 Eastern and Western Perspectives on Contemporary Issues in Psychology and Counseling (3)

Learning Outcomes

The learning outcomes for the B.A. Psychology degree are informed by the American Psychological
Association’s Guidelines for the Undergraduate Psychology Major as well as the Institutional Learning
Outcomes of UWest. These outcomes reflect the knowledge and skills undergraduates are expected to
acquire during their studies at UWest as a psychology major.

Learning Outcomes

1. Wisdom and Skillful Means: Students are thoroughly prepared for academic and professional success. A prepared student acquires the following:

Knowledge

• Students will demonstrate familiarity with the major concepts, theoretical perspectives, empirical findings, and historical trends in psychology.
• Students will be able to describe how psychology uses the scientific method, research design, and data analysis.
• Students will demonstrate information competency (i.e. they can explain how technology is used in the field of psychology).
• Students will be able to express realistic ideas on how to implement their psychological knowledge, skills and occupational pursuits in a variety of settings.

Praxis

• Students will be able to apply psychological principles to personal, social and organizational issues.

Ethics

• Students will be able to weigh evidence, tolerate ambiguity, act ethically, and reflect the values that are the underpinning of the discipline of psychology.

• Students will maintain their academic integrity.

Critical Thinking

• Students will be able to use critical and creative thinking, skeptical inquiry and, when possible, the scientific method to discern, evaluate and criticize specific issues in psychology.

Communication

• Students will be able to clearly articulate their study of psychology in speech and writing.

2. Self-Awareness: Students are prepared to engage in an on-going process of self-understanding that enables them to lead happy, purposeful lives characterized by healthy relationships to self and others. This enatails the following:

Character

• Students will be able to relate their training in psychology to their own self-exploration and character development.

• Students will be able to demonstrate effective leadership skills.

Expression

• Students will be able to use their knowledge of psychology to explore and express ideas about themselves.

Relationship

• Students will demonstrate effective teamwork skills.

3. Liberation: Students recognize the diversity and dignity of all beings and understand their own role in the pursuit of social justice.

Pluralism

• Students will be able to recognize, understand and respect sociocultural and international diversity, especially in regard to its impact on psychology.

Liberation from Suffering

• Students will be able to relate issues in psychology to social, economic and environmental issues.

4. Interdependence: Students possess a holistic understanding of global interdependence in order to cultivate compassionate thought, speech, and action in service to themselves, others, and the environment.

Service

• Students will recognize their ability to increase wellness and reduce suffering of self and others through service-oriented activities.

Culture

• Students will demonstrate an understanding and respect for diverse contributions to Western Psychology theory, research, and practice.

Interconnectedness

• Students will demonstrate compassionate sensitivity toward themselves and others.