Psychology, A.A.

Program Description

This program is also available completely online. 

The Psychology, A.A. program is designed to prepare graduates to transfer to psychology and social sciences-related programs at the bachelor’s degree level. The coursework within the program helps students describe the major concepts, theoretical perspectives, empirical findings, and historical trends in psychology.  Additionally, students analyze psychological phenomena through the lens of research design principles in psychology.  Furthermore, throughout the curriculum, students apply psychological principles and practices to personal and career decision-making scenarios and apply ethical standards to scenarios related to psychological research and practice.

Program Outcomes

Graduates of the Psychology, A.A. will be able to:

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

Required Courses (in expected order)

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

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• COM-1090 Interpersonal Communication Credits: 3 (Arts/Humanities Gen. Ed. Elective)  or
• COM-1010 Foundations of Communication Credits: 3 (Arts/Humanities Gen. Ed. Elective) 

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• MAT-1140 Introduction to Statistics Credits: 3 (Math Gen. Ed. Requirement)
• PSY-2070 Human Growth & Development Credits: 3 (Program Requirement) (Program Requirement; Critical Course)

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• EGL-1020 Composition II: Writing About Literature Credits: 3 (English Gen. Ed. Elective) or
• EGL-1100 Composition II: Writing About Issues and Ideas Credits: 3 (English Gen. Ed. 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 Gen. Ed. Elective) or
• GEO-1010 Physical Geography Credits: 3 (Science No Lab Gen. Ed. Elective) or
• BIO-1110 Environmental Biology Credits: 3 (Science No Lab Gen. Ed. Elective) or
• PSC-1010 Introduction to Astronomy Credits: 3 (Science No Lab Gen. Ed. 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 Gen. Ed. Elective)  or
• BIO-1080 Reproductive Biology Credits: 4 (Science w/ Lab Gen. Ed. Elective)  or
• GEO-1010 Physical Geography  Credits: 3 (Science w/Lab Gen. Ed. Elective) AND 
• GEO-1020 Physical Geography Lab Credits: 1 (Science w/ Lab Gen. Ed. 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 Gen. Ed. Requirement) or
• POS-1010 American National Government Credits: 3 (Social Science Gen. Ed. Requirement) or
• SOC-2090 Sociology of Minorities Credits: 3 (Social Science Gen. Ed. Requirement)

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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 Gen. Ed. Elective)  or
• EGL-2140 African-American Literature 1920-Present Credits: 3 (Arts/Humanities Gen. Ed. Elective)  or
• ART-2700 Art Survey I Credits: 3 (Arts/Humanities Gen. Ed. Elective) 

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

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?

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