Psychology, AS
Introduction
The Associate of Science (AS) in Psychology at Delaware State University is a four-semester undergraduate program that will provide you with a fundamental understanding of psychology and strengthen your skills in communication, technology, and quantitative reasoning. The AS degree also will prepare you for further study at a four-year institution leading to a baccalaureate degree in psychology including a seamless integration into Delaware State University’s Bachelor of Science in Psychology. This program is designed for students who are interested in pursuing a career in psychology, education, social and welfare services, health services, criminal justice or other related fields. If you are interested in understanding human behavior, emotions, and mental processes, and want to help people improve their lives, then a career in psychology is right for you. The program is suitable for students who are interested in pursuing a career in psychology but are not yet ready to commit to a four-year degree program. It is also ideal for students who want to explore the field of psychology before deciding on a specific career path. Students enrolled in the program come from diverse backgrounds and have different goals, but they share a common interest in understanding human behavior and mental processes.
PROFESSIONAL PREPARATION
An Associate of Science in Psychology degree can prepare you for positions in various fields, including social and human services, education, health services, and criminal justice. Some of the job titles that you can pursue with an AS degree in Psychology include social services assistant, psychiatric technician, police officer, market research analyst, and teacher’s aide. Job responsibilities with an AS degree in Psychology depend on the specific job you pursue and because there are so many jobs available to those with this degree, the specific tasks you would perform in the workplace can vary considerably! An Associate of Science in Psychology degree will provide skills transferable to many workplaces. These skills include:
- Communication skills: You will learn how to communicate effectively with clients, coworkers, and supervisors, which is essential in any workplace.
- Critical thinking skills: You will learn how to analyze and interpret data, which is useful in fields such as market research and criminal justice. Interpersonal skills: Students learn how to interact with people from diverse backgrounds, which is important in fields such as social and human services.
- Problem-solving skills: You will learn how to identify problems and develop solutions, which is useful in fields such as education and health services.
- Research skills: You will learn how to conduct research and analyze data, which is essential in fields such as market research and criminal justice.
All of these skills can be applied to various jobs and can help you succeed in your chosen career path.
Because the AS in Psychology degree aligns perfectly with the first two years of the Bachelor’s of Science in Psychology at DSU, students completing the AS will be able to seamlessly complete the Bachelor’s once accepted into the program. In addition, the curriculum of the Associate of Science in Psychology degree was developed with transition to a bachelor’s program in mind and therefore contains course that will be broadly transferable to a wide variety of psychology and related bachelor’s degree programs giving you the best possible start to your 4-year degree.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
- Demonstrate a basic understanding of key concepts and theories in psychology, including areas such as developmental psychology, social psychology, workplace psychology, and personality psychology.
- Apply critical thinking skills to analyze and evaluate psychological research studies and findings.
- Demonstrate an understanding of ethical principles and guidelines in the field of psychology.
- Apply basic research methods and statistical analysis techniques to design and conduct psychological research.
- Recognize and apply psychological principles to real-world situations and everyday life.
After graduation, student will be able to:
- Remember: Students will be able to recall and recognize key concepts, theories, and research findings in psychology.
- Understand: Students will be able to explain and interpret psychological concepts and theories.
- Apply: Students will be able to apply psychological principles and theories to real-world situations and problems.
- Analyze: Students will be able to analyze and evaluate psychological research studies and findings.
- Evaluate: Students will be able to critically evaluate the strengths and limitations of different psychological theories and research methods.
CAREERS
There are many career opportunities when you hold the Associate of Science in Psychology degree. For example, as a psychiatric technician, you may work in a mental health facility and assist patients with their daily activities, such as taking medication and participating in therapy sessions. As a social services assistant, you may provide support to social workers and case managers by helping clients with daily living activities, such as bathing, dressing, and eating. As a market research analyst, you may collect and analyze data to help companies understand consumer behavior and preferences. There are just too many possibilities to list!
The soft skills (e.g., effective written and verbal communication skills, interpersonal skills to interact with people from diverse backgrounds, patience, integrity, and empathy) and hard skills (e.g., knowledge of key psychological concepts, basic research methods and statistical analysis techniques, and understanding of ethical principles) you will gain in the AS in Psychology degree program are transferable to many fields and can be beneficial for pursuing further education or careers.