The Department of Psychology has adopted the learning objectives recommended by the American Psychological Association for students who complete the JMU psychology major program and other coursework required for their bachelor’s degree program.

The APA version 3.0 (2023) differentiates the following five goals:

• Goal 1: Content Knowledge and Applications
• Goal 2: Scientific Inquiry and Critical Thinking
• Goal 3: Values in Psychological Science
• Goal 4: Communication, Psychological Literacy, and Technology Skills
• Goal 5: Personal and Professional Development

Students who complete the undergraduate psychology major will achieve each of the following 25 objectives through various components of the curriculum.

After taking General Psychology (PSYC 101), students will be able to:

• summarize basic theories, concepts and principles of the field of psychology, and how they are influenced by various factors, such as biological, cognitive, developmental, environmental, and social processes.
• describe the empirical nature of scientific inquiry, and summarize basic research procedures used within the field of psychology.
• summarize key ethical issues encountered in conducting research and making use of research findings.
• recognize the key components of critical thinking, and apply critical thinking skills to scholarly and popular media.
• recognize the historical and cultural influences on basic psychological processes, research findings, and psychological theories.
• describe the relevance and practical application of psychological knowledge to their everyday lives.

After taking Methodology Sequence courses, students will be able to:

• demonstrate basic research skills in psychology, including research design, data analysis and interpretation, analysis of ethical issues and application of ethical principles related to psychological research.
• use critical thinking, skeptical inquiry, and when possible a scientific approach to solve problems related to psychological phenomena.
• demonstrate information competence and the ability to use computers and other technology for research purposes.       
• effectively report empirical research in written form using APA style and in an oral presentation format.

After taking Natural and Social Science Core Content courses, students will be able to:

• explain major concepts, theoretical perspectives, empirical findings and historical trends in a subset of subfields in psychology.
• describe how basic research methods in psychology, including research design, data analysis, and interpretation are applied in various subfields of psychology.
• use critical and creative thinking, skeptical inquiry, and when possible the scientific approach to solve problems related to behavior and mental processes.
• recognize, understand, and respect the complexity of sociocultural and international diversity and their impact on behavior and mental processes.
• describe key terms and concepts and summarize important issues in the area of specialization.

After taking upper-level specialty content courses, students will be able to:

• summarize how the concepts and issues from the area of specialization relate to content in core methodology and content courses.
• demonstrate critical thinking about specific issues related to the area of specialization for the specific course.
• to apply psychological principles to critical issues within the area of specialization for the specific course.

After taking their capstone course, students will be able to:

• analyze, synthesize, and evaluate information from primary sources to address psychologically relevant issues.
• demonstrate effective written communication skills using APA style to prepare empirically based reports, literature reviews, theoretical papers, and/or program evaluations.
• demonstrate effective oral communication skills at the individual level using one or more professional formats (e.g., individual paper/proposal presentation, participate as a member of a symposium, etc.); participation in class discussion alone is not sufficient.

After taking Sociocultural Awareness courses, students will be able to:

• describe the sociocultural contexts that influence individual differences.
• explain how individual differences influence beliefs, values, and interactions with others and vice versa.
• explain how privilege, power, and oppression may affect prejudice, discrimination, and inequity.
• recognize prejudicial attitudes and discriminatory behaviors that might exist in themselves and others.