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The Department of Psychology’s
mission is to encourage students to become
independent thinkers who read critically, who can
make sensitive observations and who can generate
original ideas, making use of current theoretical
constructs and relevant empirical data. The
department attempts to stimulate students:
to think systematically about psychological phenomena from
multiple disciplinary perspectives and methodologies;
to evaluate and employ recent as well as time tested theories to
elucidate psychological processes in their social and cultural
contexts;
to write clearly and coherently, developing sound arguments on
the basis of appropriate sources and pertinent observations;
to heighten their personal awareness of themselves as
participant observers and of others both in the laboratory and
in the natural setting. The department endeavors to foster
students’ capacity to take responsibility for their own learning
with, as its end goal, their eventual contribution to the
advancement of psychology as a multifaceted discipline, both
scientific and humanistic.
Program
Goals
Psychology at AUP provides
students with a solid background in the central
theories, approaches and controversies in
contemporary psychology and an understanding of
their historical underpinnings. The department is
especially interested in how culture and social
context influence basic aspects of psychology:
identity, human development and the life course;
motivation, cognition and perception; gender and
sexuality; conscious and unconscious processes;
interpersonal relationships and social
representations; health, pathology and the concept
of normality. Courses consider human psychology from
a variety of analytical frameworks
(neuropsychological, psychodynamic, cognitive,
cultural, developmental, social, etc.) with the goal
of giving students insight into the complexity of
human beings, their social positions and
relationships. Challenging the validity of any
single framework, the program aims to foster
dialogue and debate between different orientations
on psychology.
The program prepares students
for entry into professional life or for graduate
studies in diverse programs of study, including
clinical, neuroscience, developmental, social and
cultural psychology. Psychology majors work in a
variety of fields, where knowledge of human
motivation, critical thinking skills, and
sensitivity are valued. To become a practicing
psychologist, students must pursue a degree at the
Masters or Doctorate level.
Student
Learning Outcomes
Students in psychology will:
Conceptualize the complex factors (biological,
genetic, developmental, intrapersonal,
socioeconomic, relational, historical, cultural,
etc.) that influence psychology and comprehend the
interplay between these forces;
Understand how culture and society influence basic
psychological phenomena such as behavior, child
development, interpersonal relationships, thought,
identity, memory and emotion;
Develop an informed, critical stance toward
psychological theory and research;
Write and speak effectively;
Be able to construct meaningful and sound arguments;
Be able to conceptualize psychology from multiple
disciplinary perspectives;
Develop empathy, insight and intuition;
Be able to locate relevant research, theory and
information necessary to plan, conduct and interpret
quantitative and qualitative research;
Demonstrate knowledge of different research
methodologies employed by psychologists and their
advantages and limitations in addressing different
research problems;
Become aware of and encouraged to question their
implicit assumptions. |
