General Studies A.A. with Area of Concentration in Psychology

Program Description

The Psychology Concentration is recommended for students planning to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Psychology. General Psychology, Human Growth & Development, and other psychology survey courses and electives in this option provide the foundation for the upper-level psychology classes students will take when they transfer to a four-year college or university. To build an understanding of the social and cultural contexts that propel the scientific study of the human mind and behavior, the option also includes history and sociology courses. Students should consider the program requirements of their desired transfer institution as they make their course selections. Some colleges may require courses in a foreign language.

Program Outcomes

Graduates of the Psychology Concentration will be able to:

• Describe the major concepts, theoretical perspectives, empirical findings, and historical trends in psychology.
• Analyze psychological phenomena through the lens of research design principles in psychology.
• Apply ethical standards to scenarios related to psychological research and practice.
• Apply psychological principles and practices to personal and career decision-making scenarios.
• Collaborate effectively with individuals from varying subpopulations, including those from diverse socioeconomic and/or racial/ethnic backgrounds.

Sequence of Study - Psychology Concentration A.A.

Below are the required courses for your program arranged in a suggested sequence. Please note that the sequence does not include developmental coursework. See Academic Preparation  for the developmental course sequence if applicable to you.

Required Courses (in expected order)

• PAS-1000 First Year Experience Credits: 1 (Institutional Requirement)
• EGL-1010 Composition I: Expository Writing Credits: 3 (English General Education Requirement)
• PSY-1010 General Psychology Credits: 3 (Program Requirement)
• SOC-1010 Introduction to Sociology Credits: 3 (Social Science General Education Requirement)

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• COM-1090 Interpersonal Communication Credits: 3 (Arts/Humanities General Education Elective) or
• COM-1010 Foundations of Communication Credits: 3 (Arts/Humanities General Education Elective)

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• MAT-1140 Introduction to Statistics Credits: 3 (Mathematics General Education Requirement)
• PSY-2070 Human Growth & Development Credits: 3 (Program Requirement; Critical Course)

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• EGL-1100 Composition II: Writing About Issues and Ideas Credits: 3 (English General Education Elective) or
• EGL-1020 Composition II: Writing About Literature Credits: 3 (English General Education Elective)

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• INT-1010 Introduction to Information Technology Credits: 3 (Computer Literacy Institutional Requirement)

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• PSY-2010 Personality and Adjustment Credits: 3 (Program Elective) or
• PSY-2060 Educational Psychology Credits: 3 (Program Elective) or
• PSY-2100 Psychology of Women Credits: 3 (Program Elective)

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• PSY-2030 Child Psychology Credits: 3 (Program Elective) or
• PSY-2040 Adolescent Psychology Credits: 3 (Program Elective)

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• NTR-1010 Introductory Nutrition Credits: 3 (Science No Lab General Education Elective) or
• GEO-1010 Physical Geography
    3 Credits (Science No Lab General Education Elective) or
• BIO-1110 Environmental Biology Credits: 3 (Science No Lab General Education Elective) or
• PSC-1010 Introduction to Astronomy Credits: 3 (Science No Lab General Education Elective)

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• PSY-2080 Abnormal Psychology Credits: 3 (Program Requirement)

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• BIO-1010 General Biology Credits: 4 (Science w/ Lab General Education Elective) or
• BIO-1080 Reproductive Biology Credits: 4 or (Science w/ Lab General Education Elective)
• GEO-1010 Physical Geography Credits: 3 (Science w/ Lab General Education Elective) and
• GEO-1020 Physical Geography Lab Credits: 1 (Science w/ Lab General Education Elective)

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• PSY-2200 Introduction to Sport and Exercise Psychology Credits: 3 (Program Elective) or
• PSY-2130 Forensic Psychology Credits: 3 (Program Elective)

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• HST-1530 History of African Americans since 1877 Credits: 3 (Social Science General Education Elective) or
• POS-1010 American National Government Credits: 3 (Social Science General Education Elective) or
• SOC-2090 Sociology of Minorities Credits: 3 (Social Science General Education Elective)

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• PSY-2110 Psychology and African-Americans Credits: 3 (Program Requirement)
• PSY-2190 Social Psychology Credits: 3 (Program Requirement)

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• PSY-2210 Introduction to Health Psychology Credits: 3 (Program Elective) or
• PSY-2020 Industrial/Organizational Psychology Credits: 3 (Program Elective) or
• SOC-2400 Introduction to Public Health and Health Care Policy Credits: 3 (Program Elective)

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• PHL-1090 Introduction to Logic Credits: 3 (Arts/Humanities General Education Elective) or
• EGL-2140 African-American Literature 1920-Present Credits: 3 (Arts/Humanities General Education Elective) or
• ART-2700 Art Survey I Credits: 3 (Arts/Humanities General Education Elective)

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• BMT-1500 Developing a Professional Image Credits: 1 (Program Requirement)

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Program Total: 60 Credits

Transferability

Credit earned at any public institution in the state shall be transferable to any other institution if the:

• Credit is from a college or university parallel course or program;
• Grades in the block of courses transferred average 2.00 or higher; and
• Acceptance of the credit is consistent with the policies of the receiving institution governing students following the same program. Refer to ARTSYS at artweb.usmd.edu and the receiving institution’s catalog to select transferable courses.

Need Help?

For help selecting an academic program or courses, consider using Career Coach, available at www.pgcc.edu/go/careercoach.