The mission of the Department of Psychological Sciences is to teach you how to think like a psychologist. To accomplish this, the Department of Psychological Sciences has adopted the Curricular Guidelines for Undergraduate Education in Psychology developed by the American Psychological Association:
Ability to describe key concepts, principles, theories, history, and overarching themes in psychology; develop a working knowledge of psychology’s subfields; and apply psychological content to solve problems.
Exercise scientific reasoning to investigate psychological phenomena; interpret, design, and evaluate psychological research; incorporate sociocultural factors in scientific inquiry; and use statistics to evaluate quantitative research.
Employ ethical standards in research, practice, and academic contexts; develop and practice interpersonal and intercultural responsiveness; and apply psychological principles to strengthen community and improve quality of life.
Interact effectively with others; write and present effectively for different purposes; provide evidence of psychological literacy; exhibit appropriate technological skills to improve communication.
Exhibit effective self-regulation; refine project-management skills; display effective judgment in professional interactions; cultivate workforce collaboration skills; demonstrate appropriate workforce technological skills; and develop direction for life after graduation.
Our core programs for the major (Writing-Across-the-Curriculum, Research-Across-the-Curriculum, and Diversity-Across-the-Curriculum) prepare our majors and minors for post-graduate study of psychology and related fields, as well as careers in social services, the arts, education, business, international relations, law, or specific branches of psychology.
By the time they graduate, our students are able to:
While at Whittier, students get involved in the activities of the department through the Psychology Club and Psi Chi, the International Honor Society in Psychology. We encourage students to regularly attend local, regional, and national conventions, and to apply their knowledge in the field through participation in off-campus internships and service learning.
Drop by the office of any Psychological Sciences faculty member to learn more about how you might participate in the psychology program at Whittier College.
