Access and Use Knowledge: Students will be able to access and use relevant psychological knowledge to solve comprehensive problems in different domains of the discipline.
Measures: A local exit exam composed of 100 questions will be administered to students after they have completed major course requirements. The exam for undergraduates will cover 10 foundational areas in the discipline. The exam questions have been utilized for several years. Research substantiates their validity in discerning students’ mastery levels — scores are highly correlated with GPA in the major and scores in the “research methods” section are higher for students who take additional advanced courses in research methods
Communication: PSY Students will be able to communicate effectively in a variety of formats.
Measures: PSY students constructed a three-page written report that was divided into five parts. The communication was graded according to the clarity within each part, the smoothness of the transitions from one part to the next, and the coherence of the whole product.
Integrative thinking: Students will use information from the different branches of psychology to analyze and improve human functioning in a variety of social contexts.
Measures: PSY Students write an essay in which they discuss the influence of culture on psychological disorders. The topic requires them to think about concepts within multiple branches of psychology and organize them into a coherent discussion. The essays are graded for clarity of presentation, breadth of knowledge, use of illustrative examples, and plausibility.
B.S. in Psychology Program
Access and Use of Knowledge: Students will be able to access and use relevant psychological knowledge to solve comprehensive problems in different domains of the discipline.
Measures: A local exit exam composed of 100 questions will be administered to students after they have completed major course requirements. The exam for undergraduates will cover 10 foundational areas in the discipline. The exam questions have been utilized for several years. Research substantiates their validity in discerning students’ mastery levels — scores are highly correlated with GPA in the major and scores in the “research methods” section are higher for students who take additional advanced courses in research methods.
Communication: Students will communicate effectively in a variety of formats.
Measures: PSY students construct and deliver a professional presentation, including PowerPoint slides. The presentation is a summary of their semester-long research project and includes four parts: introduction, method, results, and discussion. The presentation is scored for clarity, organization, thoroughness, and accuracy.
Scientific Thinking: Students will use critical and creative thinking, skeptical inquiry, and, when possible, the scientific approach to solve problems related to behavior and mental processes.
Measures: Students will write a research report that summarizes their semester-long investigation of a question about human behavior and/or mental processes. The report will be graded for clarity, organization, accuracy, and scientific rigor.
