2024-2025 Student Catalog 
    
    Dec 03, 2024  
2024-2025 Student Catalog

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Psychology, AS



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Contact Information

Program Requirements

Typical Program

Degree/Certificate:  Associate in Science
HEGIS Code:           5620
SUNY Code:            17222
Major Code:            PSY

The Career

Graduates from the Psychology program will be able to use their knowledge and skills in a variety of career opportunities such as Advertising Agent, Career Counselor, Case Manager, Child Care Worker, Guidance Counselor, Human Resource Specialist, Journalist, Laboratory Assistant, Market Researcher, Marriage and Family Therapist, Mental Health Counselor, Psychologist, Psychotherapist, Public Relations Specialist, Researcher, School Counselor, Social Service Specialist, Substance Abuse Counselor, Teacher, and Victim Advocate.**

**Some careers may require more specialized education and advanced degrees.

According to the most recent report from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (2019), the employment of psychologists is expected to grow by 14% by the year 2028, which is faster than the average for all other occupations.  Job prospects are best for those who have a doctoral degree in certain specialties within psychology.  In addition, a New York State Department of Labor report, “Long-Term Occupational Employment Projections, 2016-2026”, indicates that employment will increase by 18.2% for psychologists and 15.6% for school psychologists by 2026.

The SUNY Niagara Approach

The Psychology A.S. degree program prepares students for transfer to a four-year college or university to earn a Baccalaureate degree in psychology or a related area by providing foundational courses that parallel the first two years in a four-year institution.  Courses in Introductory Psychology, Statistics, and Methods of Scientific Inquiry lay the foundation for intensive study in areas such as developmental, social, and abnormal psychology.  Students will broaden their education by taking additional courses in psychology and other social sciences, writing, humanities, and natural sciences.  Students who transfer to a SUNY four-year institution will have met or be close to meeting the requirements for junior status as a psychology major.

Admission

Students admitted in fall, spring, and summer.

Psychology is offered as a full-time or part-time day program, full-time or part-time evening program, and in an online format. Because of sequencing of courses, it may take longer than four semesters to complete the full-time day program if a student begins in a spring semester.

Dual Admissions

Buffalo State University
Canisius College
Niagara University

Articulation Agreements

Buffalo State University
SUNY Canton
Niagara University

Program Goals and Objectives

  • To develop a student’s verbal and written communication skills
  • To enhance critical thinking skills
  • To prepare students for successful transfer to upper-level institutions in Psychology
  • To assist students in meeting a minimum number of SUNY General Education requirements

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will be able to:

  • Identify and analyze the strengths and limitations of the scientific research methods used by psychologists
  • Compare and contrast the contemporary theoretical perspectives by which behavior and mental processes are influenced
  • Differentiate among the various factors that shape and influence behavior and mental processes
  • Identify the ethical issues in the study and practice of psychology

Program Requirements (PSY)


  1. A total of at least 62-credit hours with a minimum curriculum grade-point average of 2.0 Academic Foundations courses do not count toward the degree.
  2. Psychology:  A minimum of 12-credit hours to include:
    PSY 110 - Introduction to Psychology 
    PSY 255 - Methods of Scientific Inquiry   AND
    Two of the following courses: 
    PSY 210 - Lifespan Developmental Psychology + OR
    PSY 220 - Child Development  +
    PSY 240 - Social Psychology  
    PSY 250 - Abnormal Psychology  
  3. Humanities and Social Sciences:  A minimum of 21-credit hours to include:
    ENG 101 - Writing I  
    ENG 102 - Writing II & Introduction to Literature  OR
    ENG 103 - Writing for STEM  
    ANT 102 - Introduction to Cultural Anthropology  
    LIT  ___ - Humanities (HUMN) General Education elective with LIT prefix
    HIS ___ - US History & Civic Engagement (USCV) or World History & Global Awareness (GLBL) with HIS prefix
    ___ ___ - Social Science OR Humanities elective
    ___ ___ - Social Science OR Humanities elective 
  4. Diversity: Equity, Inclusion & Social Justice: A minimum of 3-credit hours to include:
    SOC 101 - Introduction to Sociology  
  5. Communications - Written and Oral: A minimum of 3-credit hours to include:
    SPE 101 - Speech Communication  OR
    SPE 102 - Public Speaking  OR
    SPE 103 - Interpersonal Communication  OR
    HUS 123 - The Helping Process  
  6. Mathematics & Quantitative Reasoning: A minimum of 3-credit hours to include:
    MAT 164 - Introduction to Statistics  
  7. Natural Sciences:  A minimum of 3-credit hours to include:
    BIO ___ - Natural Science & Scientific Reasoning (NSCI) General Education elective
  8. Computer Technology:  A minimum of 3-credit hours to include:
    CIS ___ - Computer Information Systems elective
  9. General Education elective to satisfy an area that has not already been met:  A minimum of 3-credit hours to include:
    ___  ___  US History & Civic Engagement (USCV) General Education elective OR
    ___  ___  World Language (WLNG) General Education elective 
  10. Health/Physical Education:  A minimum of 2-credit hours
  11. Free Electives:  A minimum of 9-credit hours

Typical Program


Total Credit Hours: 15


Second Semester


Total Credit Hours: 15


Third Semester


Total Credit Hours: 16


Fourth Semester


  • 3 Cr.
  • Social Science/Humanities elective 3 Cr.
  • General Education  elective selected from one of the following categories that has not been met:  US History & Civic Engagement (USCV), or World Language (WLNG) 3 Cr.
  • Free elective 3 Cr.
  • Free elective 3 Cr.
  • Health/Physical education elective 1 Cr.
  •  

Total Credit Hours: 16


Scholarship Opportunities


There are several scholarships available to SUNY Niagara students. Scholarship deadline dates vary each semester.  For more information, please visit the scholarship webpage at www.niagaracc.suny.edu/scholarships. The SUNY Niagara Foundation/Scholarship Office is located within the Foundation Office, A-265 or by phone (716) 614-5910.

Note:


* Dependent upon the fulfillment of Academic Foundations requirements.
+ You may take either PSY 210 or PSY 220 as one of the PSY electives, but not both.

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