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The Bachelor of Science degree in psychology at the University of Mount Union will help prepare students for a fulfilling career in psychology, one of the top ten in-demand careers. The program prepares students to further their studies at graduate school to become a professional psychologist, counselor, or to pursue other careers in the field of psychology including teaching, research, and other human services jobs. 

While fulfilling the degree requirements for Mount Union’s psychology program, students will gain invaluable experience through basic psychological science courses, research experience courses, and be presented with the opportunity to choose between numerous applied and clinical courses. Students can pair this social science major with any number of complementary disciplines for an education that uniquely meets their future goals. 

Psychology Major Quick Facts

Mount Union’s psychology curriculum consists of 44 disciplinary credit hours out of a total of 128 hours, which also includes the University’s requirements for its general education program, the Integrative Core. Psychology majors at the University will take a variety of courses in the field and the program offers several other unique features, including: 

  • Assisting Mount Union faculty with both human and animal-based laboratory research
  • Hands-on learning opportunities through service learning, student organizations and internships including ones with local hospitals, equestrian therapy, advocacy organizations, and clinical psychology sites
  • Access to dedicated departmental facilities wired for audio and video recording for students and faculty to simulate real counseling offices and a three major laboratory areas housing the Cognition and Humor Laboratory, the Canine Cognition Laboratory, and the Physiological and Neuropsychological Laboratory
  • Offers a unique, educational opportunity to get an in-depth, first-hand experience in autism advocacy and internship training with the Spectrum Education Center. The Spectrum program also offers a peer mentorship program and a Registered Behavioral Technician training program.

Mount Union’s psychology program was ranked #5 in Ohio and #37 in the Great Lakes region as a best value program in College Factual's 2021 rankings.

Learning Objectives

With a broad-base of knowledge regarding behavior and mental processes, a major in psychology at the University of Mount Union will prepare you for advanced study in graduate and professional schools in several different areas including:

  • Developmental, Social, and Personality psychology
  • Neuroscience, Cognitive and Behavioral psychology
  • Applied psychology

With a combination of classroom theory and practical experience, students will be prepared for a rewarding future in whatever field you choose. The major does focus on preparing students for the research work in graduate and professional schools along with the practical experience for immediate employment in the social sciences fields.

DEPARTMENTAL MISSION

The mission of the Department of Psychology, Neuroscience, and Human Development is to develop and maintain an academic curriculum and co-curricular activities that help students acquire a broad base of knowledge in the field, acquire the intellectual and communication skills necessary to participate in these fields as scientists and practitioners, and develop characteristics that encourage personal fulfillment, meaningful work and responsible citizenship.

DEPARTMENTAL GOALS

 

Knowledge Base

  • The Department of Psychology, Neuroscience, and Human Development provides courses, programs, and experiences that foster the acquisition of fundamental knowledge and comprehension of the major concepts, theoretical perspectives, historical trends, and empirical findings to discuss how psychological principles apply to behavioral problems. Students completing foundation courses should demonstrate breadth of their knowledge and application of psychological ideas to simple problems; students completing a baccalaureate degree should show depth in their knowledge and application of psychological concepts and frameworks to problems of greater complexity.


Scientific Inquiry and Critical Thinking

  • The Department of Psychology, Neuroscience, and Human Development provides courses, programs, and experiences that enable students to develop the skills in this domain that involve the development of scientific reasoning and problem solving, including effective research methods. Students completing foundation-level courses should learn basic skills and concepts in interpreting behavior, studying research, and applying research design principles to drawing conclusions about psychological phenomena; students completing a baccalaureate degree should focus on theory use as well as designing and executing research plans.


Ethical and Social Responsibility in a Diverse World

  • The Department of Psychology, Neuroscience, and Human Development provides courses, programs, and experiences that enable students to develop the skills in this domain including the development of ethically and socially responsible behaviors for professional and personal settings in a landscape that involves increasing diversity. Students completing foundation-level courses should become familiar with the formal regulations that govern professional ethics in psychology and begin to embrace the values that will contribute to positive outcomes in work settings and in building a society responsive to multicultural and global concerns. Students completing a baccalaureate degree should have more direct opportunities to demonstrate adherence to professional values that will help them optimize their contributions and work effectively, even with those who do not share their heritage and traditions. This learning goal also promotes the adoption of personal and professional values that can strengthen community relationships and contributions.


Communication

  • The Department of Psychology, Neuroscience, and Human Development provides courses, programs, and experiences that foster the acquisition of competence in writing and in oral and interpersonal communication skills. Students completing foundation-level courses should write a cogent scientific argument, present information using a scientific approach, engage in discussion of psychological concepts, explain the ideas of others, and express their own ideas with clarity. Students completing a baccalaureate degree should produce a research study or other psychological project, explain scientific results, and present information to a professional audience. They should also develop flexible interpersonal approaches that optimize information exchange and relationship development.


Professional Development

  • The Department of Psychology, Neuroscience, and Human Development provides courses, programs, and experiences that emphasize an application of psychology-specific content and skills, effective self-reflection, project-management skills, teamwork skills, and career preparation. Foundation-level outcomes concentrate on the development of work habits and ethics to succeed in academic settings. The skills in this goal at the baccalaureate level refer to abilities that sharpen student readiness for postbaccalaureate employment, graduate school, or professional school. These skills can be developed and refined both in traditional academic settings and in extracurricular involvement. In addition, career professionals can be enlisted to support occupational planning and pursuit.

 

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