Psychology

www.laguardia.edu/psychology/

The Social Science Department administers the Psychology Program, which leads to an Associate in Arts (AA) degree. Students selecting this degree will be prepared to transfer into psychology programs at four-year institutions with a solid foundation in the discipline. In particular, York College will accept all the credits of our AA degree towards their Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree program in psychology. Students who receive their AA in psychology will be exposed to an extraordinarily diverse field. The Program has full time faculty members specializing in many diverse fields, among them, clinical, developmental, social and experimental psychology; they teach, advise and mentor the students majoring in psychology.

Psychology is a science that is deeply rooted in both basic and applied research; it also has many clinical and educational applications. From delivering mental health care to individuals, to providing consultation to various communities and organizations, psychology as a discipline revolves around understanding mechanisms that shape behavior and mental processes. This understanding can be used towards improving human relations. Psychology students develop valuable skills ranging from collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data, to working with statistics and experimental designs. Psychology offers rigorous training in the scientific method, exposure to thorough, objective research, the analysis of data, and the reporting of findings with clarity that prepares psychology majors for future careers. These skills can be used in a wide variety of work settings, from human services to business, criminal justice, health and recreation. The study of psychology, with its emphasis on evidence-based critical thinking, helps one become a better student of other subjects. The additional insight gained from psychology courses and a required internship helps students in general, whether they are functioning as parents at home, managers on the job, or professionals in other fields, to understand their own motivation and behavior in a more comprehensive way.

Studying psychology will help develop people skills (communicating with and relating to individuals from diverse backgrounds), analytical skills (for example, figuring out why a certain problem occurs and how to minimize or eliminate it), writing skills (for example, writing a logically developed report), and research skills (for example, using statistics, tables, and graphs to analyze problems and communicate relevant findings). Many of these skills are aspects of LaGuardia Community College’s core competencies and studying psychology will enhance students’ proficiencies in these areas