Psychology
Department Chair: Paula J. Martasian, Ph.D.
Modern Psychology is the science of behavior and mental processes and, as such, will interest anyone intrigued by the "why" of emotions, personal achievements, interpersonal interactions and cultural practices. It is an invaluable resource for anyone planning a career in which success is dependent upon understanding human motivations. Ultimately, the science of behavior and mental processes enables us to take an objective approach to analyzing complex personal and social problems and separate valid ideas from pseudo-psychology.
Psychology informs students to understand themselves better, to grow as a result of the experience, and to gain a healthy respect for others. Psychology also offers students an opportunity to study multifaceted issues that illuminate the total human experience. These issues include emotional and intellectual growth, developmental processes and changes throughout the life cycle, social forces affecting individual and group behavior, deviation from mental health, human cognition, the quantification and measurement of behavior, ways of learning, biological factors, motivational forces, optimal human functioning and what makes humans unique in this world.
Our program seeks to individualize student's education based on the major subareas in current psychology with our student's interests, talents and passions. Coursework is based on the American Psychological Association guidelines and faculty areas of expertise. Motivated and independent learners are encouraged to augment their coursework with independent research and fieldwork. We encourage students to work closely with their advisor to make the most of their education and to reach their fullest potential.
In the courses offered by the department and, perhaps as important, is the personal one-on-one approach we take to our student's education outside of the classroom, we strive to carry on the goals of the University Mission. Our Goal is to nurture the enduring values of honesty, hard work, altruism, compassion, dignity, respect and service necessary for harmonious living in today's global family. The Psychology Department's goal is to assist our students in developing the skills and drive they will need to prepare themselves for the challenge of lifelong learning.
Accelerated Bachelor's/Master's Program Leading to the Master of Science in Behavior Analysis
Salve Regina University is the first in the U.S. to offer an accelerated program of study that leads to both a bachelor's in Psychology and a master's degree in Behavior Analysis in five years and summer work. This program is designed for the University's highly motivated, academically talented and qualified undergraduates with a required grade point average of 3.30, are 6 to 9 credits ahead starting their senior year or permission of the Program Director. Current undergraduates must complete the application process by February 15 of the junior year.
Undergraduate students considered for the accelerated bachelor’s/master’s degree program are conditionally accepted into the master's program and can take up to four graduate courses (12 credits) during their senior year and adjacent summers. Of these 12 credits, three elective credits can be applied to the undergraduate degree. Final program acceptance is contingent upon successful completion of the undergraduate degree and satisfactory academic progress in the graduate courses in the senior year. The total number of credits required to complete the accelerated bachelor’s/master’s degree program is 150, with 12 graduate credits completed during the senior year of undergrad and 24 graduate credits in the fifth year. Undergraduate students may register for no more than two graduate courses per semester and for a total of no more than four graduate courses while having undergraduate status.
Requirements for the Psychology Major or Minor
Students considering the Psychology major or minor should contact the department early in their University career to discuss their long-term goals, suggested sequences for courses, and the departmental requirements, as it is a great advantage to complete certain required courses such as PSY-100 Introduction to Psychology in their freshman year and PSY-325 Statistics and Research Methods I and PSY-326 Statistics and Research Methods II in their sophomore year (see below). Failure to get started early may jeopardize a student's ability to complete the major within the traditional four-year undergraduate career. We highly recommend semester study abroad experiences in the junior year or summer study abroad programs.
Students are encouraged to explore options for studies in another department by adding a minor or double major. For example Psychology majors may pursue a major in Social Work or a minor in Human Services (Click here for Social Work), or may be interested in The Psychology of Crime minor or to double major in Criminal Justice and Criminology (Click here for Criminal Justice and Criminology)
For more information, continue to read about our Psychology Programs and Course Offerings here in the Catalog and visit our Psychology Department website.
Psychology Student Learning Outcomes
The following Program Goals and Student Learning Outcomes are adopted from the APA Guidelines for the Undergraduate Psychology Major, Version 3.0.
At the completion of the program, students will be able to:
Goal 1 Content Knowledge and Applications
SLO 1 Demonstrate comprehensive content knowledge and effectively apply it to real world scenarios and problem-solving situations.
Goal 2 Scientific Inquiry and Critical Thinking
SLO 2 Develop and apply scientific inquiry and critical thinking skills to analyze data, evaluate evidence and draw well supported conclusions.
Goal 3 Values in Psychological Science
SLO 3 Recognize and apply ethical principles and professional values in psychological science.
Goal 4 Communication, Psychological Literacy, and Technology Skills
SLO 4 Demonstrate effective communication apply psychological literacy and utilize technological skills to analyze, interpret and present information.
Goal 5 Personal and Professional Development
SLO 5 Engage in activities that promote personal growth and professional development preparing them for successful careers and lifelong learning.