Coordinator - Dr. Emily Pica

Program Mission: 

The undergraduate program in psychological science offers a dynamic education to students of human behavior, providing them with exposure to basic psychological principles as well as the tools for making their own systematic observations of human thought, emotion, and behavior. The Mission of the program is to equip graduates with the ability to interpret the human experience through various levels of observation, taking into account such factors as neurobiology, cognitive processing, social influences, and cross-cultural differences. In striving to support this mission, the program faculty aim to:

• Provide students a strong foundation in the basic science of psychology, from experimental design and statistical analysis to the written and oral presentation of results; 
• Impart a deep understanding and appreciation for human diversity at all levels -- regional, ethnic, cross-cultural, gender, and spiritual – along with a basic understanding of the nuanced contributors to psychological disorders and mental health;  
• Provide students with individualized guidance and mentoring in the realms of academic advising, supervised research laboratory experiences, support of student organizations and extra-curricular activities, and facilitation of field experiences in the Clarksville community;
• Encourage and support the development of students’ communication abilities, not only for the purpose of expressing their ideas with clarity to others in an academic or professional setting, but also for the purpose of communicating effectively on an interpersonal level in order to facilitate constructive interactions with clients and coworkers in a postgraduate academic or career setting;
• Prepare students for life after graduation via systematic guidance in the exploration of postgraduate options; taking into account their particular academic interests and abilities and practice with analytical abilities and problem-solving.

A student completing the major in psychology should be able to

• Conduct a search of psychological literature;
• Read and understand journal articles;
• Evaluate hypotheses or theories on the basis of empirical data;
• Design and conduct a research study; and
• Write a paper following APA style.

A variety of online resources are available to help students navigate the major:

Handbook for APSU Psychological Science Majors

Careers

• How to Get Involved in the Department of Psychological Science and Counseling
• Careers in Psychology
• Thinking about graduate school? Use our Course Planning Guide.pdf to help prepare for your chosen sub field of psychology!

E-tuition rate cuts costs in half for out-of-state online students. Click here for details.