Department website: https://academics.potomacstatecollege.edu/majors/two-year-programs/psychology
Degrees Offered
- Associate of Arts
- Associate of Science
Nature of the Program
The psychology curriculum prepares students to transfer as psychology majors to the baccalaureate program at West Virginia University and can be adapted to the needs of those planning to transfer to other institutions. In addition, courses in psychology are part of the liberal arts education. They convey principles and methods that are necessary for a better understanding of behavior and personality. Courses in psychology are often of interest and value to students in other social and life sciences, such as sociology, social work, political science, education, nursing, or medicine.
The associate of arts degree is intended to transfer into a bachelor of arts degree, while the associate of science degree is intended to transfer into a bachelor of science degree. At the associate's level, the two degrees primarily vary in the foreign language and math requirements. Students should discuss the differences between the degrees with their academic advisor.
Career Opportunities
A bachelor's degree in psychology qualifies a person to assist professionals in community mental health centers, vocational rehabilitation offices, and correctional programs; to work as research or administrative assistants; and to take jobs as trainees in government or business. Persons with a master's degree in psychology can administer tests as psychological assistants, and, under supervision, can conduct research, perform psychological evaluations, or counsel clients. Psychologists with a doctoral degree qualify for a wide range of teaching, research, clinical, and counseling positions in universities, elementary and secondary schools, private industry, and government.
Faculty
Chair
- Cassandra Pritts - M.A. History (Duquesne University)
Year @ PSC (2011)
Assistant professors
- Molly Alvaro - M.A. Counseling (Marshall University)
Year @ PSC (2020) - Bruce Liller - M.S. Counseling Psychology (Frostburg State University)
Year @ PSC (2018)
Admissions
Entering freshmen are admitted directly into the major.
Benchmark Expectations
Students should have completed PSYC 101, with a C- or better, and MATH 126 by the end of the second semester in the program. PSYC 202, or PSYC 203 and PSYC 204, with a C- in PSYC 203 by the end of the 4th semester. Students must maintain a GPA of at least 2.0 in the major and overall for graduation. All majors must meet with their advisor every semester. Students who fail to meet these benchmarks may be removed from their major.