2024-2025 Catalog

Psychology, Associate of Arts

The Psychology AA curriculum provides a foundation of essential knowledge in core subject areas of psychology as well as basic competency in writing, communication and math skills. Students take a variety of elective courses in Native American Studies, Expressive Arts, Health and Fitness, Math, Science and other subject areas as they explore their educational interests. Completion of the AA program leads to junior-level entry into a four-year degree program.

Associate of Arts Degree Objectives

The curriculum of the Psychology AA is designed to:

  • Provide basic competence in psychology subject areas for students seeking a degree in psychology or mental health field
  • Provide a transfer program with core courses in psychology, math, science and liberal arts for students pursuing a bachelor’s degree at a four-year institution
  • Encourage interest in psychology as a study of basic human experience and as a general background for other majors
  • Increase awareness of the interface of psychology with different cultures and disciplines, such as Native American studies, sociology, anthropology and cross-cultural studies
  • Enable students to apply basic math and research skills to the study of psychology
  • Provide support courses in psychology for other SKC degree programs

Student Learning Outcomes

Through completion of the Psychology A.A. curriculum, students will:

  • Be familiar with the main subject areas in the field of psychology, including core concepts and major theories
  • Be aware of basic types of research methodologies used in psychology and how psychological knowledge in different subject areas is acquired through use of these methods
  • Gain practical experience in the application of psychological principles to everyday life situations, and be able to relate these to classroom materials
  • Gain an understanding of how psychological principles function cross-culturally and be able to apply them to cross-cultural issues, generally and to specific tribal cultures

Requirements

  • A student must earn a “C” or better in all required courses and maintain an overall GPA of 2.0 in order to graduate with the Associate of Arts degree.
  • See Course Descriptions for specific course prerequisites.

Curriculum

Fall (First Year)

ENGL101English Composition I

3

PSYC105Human Potential Seminar

2

PSYC110Introduction to Psychology

5

ELECTIVEOpen 3 cr

3

IDST101SKC Seminar

3

Total Credit Hours:16

PSYC 110 counts as required Social Science General Education Elective.

Winter (First Year)

ENGL202English Composition II

3

OR

ENGL203Technical Writing for STEM Majors

3

ELECTIVEOpen 3 cr

3

NASD101History of Indians in the United States

3

PSYC230Developmental Psychology

5

ELECTIVEOpen 2 cr

2

Total Credit Hours:16

Spring (First Year)

MATH100College Algebra

5

OR

MATH103Contemporary Math

5

PSYC361Abnormal Psychology

5

ELECTIVEHumanities Intro General Education from List

3

ELECTIVENative American Studies General Education Open

3

Total Credit Hours:16

Fall (Second Year)

PSYC210Psychological Literature

3

PSYC341Gender Differences

5

SPCH100Basic Communications

3

PSYC231Biological Psychology

5

Total Credit Hours:16


Winter (Second Year)

PSYC151Career Explorations in Psychology

2

PSYC320Cross-Cultural Issues in Psychology

5

PSYC120Research Methods in Psychology

5

ELECTIVEOpen 2 cr

2

Total Credit Hours:14

SCWK 140 Suicide Awareness: Risk and Resiliency is a recommended open elective course

Spring (Second Year)

PSYC351Introduction to Personality

5

SCLG308Social Psychology

5

ELECTIVEOpen 3 cr

3

ELECTIVEFine Arts Humanities General Education from List

3

Total Credit Hours:16

Total Credit Hours: 94