Department of Psychology

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Mission Statement

The psychology program at Coastal Carolina University is comprised of a group of highly qualified and motivated teacher-scholars dedicated to a comprehensive range of specialty areas within the field of psychology. Our mission is to provide a premier undergraduate psychology education for students from the region, state, nation, and world, by creating and disseminating information about human behavior, thought, and emotion. Consistent with the University’s comprehensive orientation, our curriculum provides students with theoretical knowledge and practical skills necessary to investigate questions important to the human condition from a scientific perspective, emphasizing critical thinking and communication skills in a collaborative environment. In addition, we strive to foster the personal and professional growth of our students by offering extensive and varied opportunities for integrative experiential learning, including faculty/student collaborative research and community-based internships.

Student Learning Outcomes

Students will:

1. Develop an original research proposal, conduct a literature review, design methodology, gather, analyze, and interpret data, prepare a final research paper and present their research to an audience of peers and faculty.
2. Demonstrate knowledge of a specific area of psychology, and the appropriate scientific methods for conducting independent research in that area.
3. Learn to read and critically review psychological research.
4. Demonstrate knowledge of American Psychological Association (APA) writing styles.
5. Apply appropriate statistical analyses to data sets.
6. Describe and/or evaluate research relevant to a selected topic of investigation.
7. Present research and/or research proposals in a public forum.
8. Follow the APA Code of Ethics.
9. Communicate how psychological principles can be applied to explain issues, solve problems, and initiate change.

A major in psychology offers students a thorough foundation in research design/ methodology and statistics. In addition, psychology majors will be exposed to the major content areas in psychology, specifically basic principles of learning and experimental psychology, developmental and social psychology, and areas in clinical assessment. Graduates of the program often seek employment with mental health and social service agencies, or pursue graduate degrees to prepare for careers in teaching, research, counseling, and consulting.

Programs

• Psychology, B.S.
• Psychology: Behavioral Neuroscience Concentration, B.S.
• Psychology: Forensics Concentration, B.S.

• Psychology Minor

• Gerontology Certificate

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