Psychology Option, Arts and Science, A.A.

CONTACT

Michelle Williams, 413.552.2334, mwilliams@hcc.edu

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

The Psychology Option is designed primarily to prepare students to transfer and achieve academic success at four-year colleges and universities. The program addresses the student learning goals and outcomes developed by the Psychology Department in accordance with the American Psychological Association’s Guidelines for the Undergraduate Psychology Major (Version 3.0, 2023).

PROGRAM OUTCOMES

Upon completion of this program, students will achieve these 5 goals:

Goal 1: Content Knowledge and Applications
- Students will demonstrate comprehension of the major concepts, theoretical perspectives, historical trends, and empirical or evidence-based findings to discuss how psychological principles apply to behavior and mental processes.
Goal 2: Scientific Inquiry and Critical Thinking
- Students will develop scientific reasoning and investigation skills, including proficiencies in research methods and statistics.
Goal 3: Values in Psychological Science
- Students will demonstrate ethically and socially responsible behaviors in personal, professional, organizational, and institutional settings, consistent with the core values of psychological science.
Goal 4: Communication, Psychological Literacy, and Technology Skills
- Students will interact effectively with others, write and present effectively for different purposes, provide evidence of psychological literacy, and utilize technology to improve communication.
Goal 5: Personal and Professional Development
- Students will demonstrate effective self-regulation, project management, and workforce collaboration and technological skills, effective judgment in professional interactions, and direction for life after graduation.

GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS: 37 CREDITS

ENG 101(A) - Composition I Credit(s): 3
ENG 102(A) - Composition II Credit(s): 3
PSY 110(B) - Introduction to Psychology Credit(s): 3
PSY 222(B) - Research Methods in Psychology Credit(s): 4
Social Science Elective (B) Credit(s): 3
Humanities Elective (C) Credit(s): 3
Humanities Elective (C) Credit(s): 3
Humanities Elective (C) Credit(s): 3
PSY 142(D) - Statistics for Psychology Credit(s): 4
BIO 101(E) - General Biology for Non-Majors: The Processes of Life Credit(s): 4
or
BIO 107(E) - General Biology I: Introduction to Cell Functions Credit(s): 4
or
BIO 111(E) - Human Biology Credit(s): 4
Laboratory Science Elective (E) Credit(s): 4

PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS: 12-15 CREDITS

PSY 200(B) - Information Literacy in Psychology Credit(s): 3
select 1 of the following:
PSY 215(B) - Child Psychology Credit(s): 3
PSY 216(B) - Human Development Credit(s): 3
PSY 218(B) - Adolescent Psychology Credit(s): 3
select 1-3 of the following:¹
PSY 210(B) - Social Psychology Credit(s): 3
PSY 217(B) - Abnormal Psychology Credit(s): 3
PSY 260(B) - Personality Credit(s): 3
PSY 265(B) - Cognitive Psychology Credit(s): 3
select 0-2 of the following:¹
PSY 202(B) - Ecopsychology Credit(s): 3
PSY 203(B) - Human Sexuality Credit(s): 3
PSY 224(B) - Psychology of Women Credit(s): 3
PSY 226(B) - Health Psychology Credit(s): 3
PSY 230(B) - Topics in Psychology Credit(s): 3
PSY 240(B) - Forensic Psychology Credit(s): 3

PROGRAM ELECTIVES: 3-6 CREDITS

must be an Arts and Science-designated course; it is suggested that students choose courses other than PSY-designated courses to meet this requirement

GENERAL ELECTIVES: 5 CREDITS

Sufficient to complete 60 credit graduation requirement; any course listed in the catalog is allowed; it is suggested that students choose non PSY-designated courses

TOTAL: 60 CREDITS

NOTES

¹Student must take a minimum of 6 credits and a maximum of 9 credits from these two categories

Only 6 non-Arts and Science credits may be taken towards an A.A. degree.

Program Requirements: It is recommended that students do not take more psychology courses than required by the psychology program. Most four-year colleges and universities limit the number of psychology course credits accepted from institutions prior to transfer in order to ensure that students complete a sufficient number of psychology credits after transfer.

Students transferring to UMASS Amherst should note The College of Natural Science foreign language requirement:

Satisfactory completion in high school or college of either a fourth-level foreign language course, or of a third-level course in one language and a second-level course in another language.

This program qualifies for MassTransfer, which guarantees credit transfer to Massachusetts state colleges and universities. MassTransfer will also grant students automatic acceptance to certain state colleges and universities by achieving the minimum grade point average and the HCC degree.

Depending on course selection, 80% of this program can be completed online. Go to Online Learning for more information.

(H060)