Psychology (PSY)

Psychology is the study of mind and behavior. The psychology concentration at UH West O‘ahu integrates practical mental health applications with current theory through an interdisciplinary curriculum. Course offerings represent the subdisciplines of experimental, clinical, and cross-cultural psychology with an emphasis on research and writing skills. The program also encourages and supports partnerships with other social science concentrations, the humanities, and professional studies. Students are prepared for graduate study in psychology and related fields, or for pursuing relevant careers immediately upon graduation.

Concentration requirements:

Students with a concentration in Psychology are required to take 42 credits, including:

    1. SSCI 300    Philosophy of the Social Sciences

    2. SSCI 301    Methods and Techniques in Social Science Research

    3. SSCI 310    Applied Statistics I

    4. HUM 310   Writing Skills or passing score on the Writing Assessment Exam

    5. SSCI 486    Senior Project

    6. Students with a concentration in Psychology are required to take 18 credits in the discipline, including 3 credits from each of the following course clusters. The same course may not be used to satisfy more than one cluster.

    a. Developmental and Social Psychology
        PSY 340   Childhood and Adolescence
        PSY 341   Social Behavior
        PSY 460   Seminar in Personality Theory
        PSY 474   Culture and Mental Illness

    b. Clinical and Applied Psychology
        PSY 371   Abnormal Psychology
        PSY 372   Systems of Psychotherapy
        PSY 412   Psychological Testing
        PSY 474   Culture and Mental Illness

    c. Experimental Psychology
        PSY 322 Learning, Motivation, and Behavior Modification
        PSY 323 Comparative Animal Psychology
        PSY 325 Cognitive Psychology
        PSY 331 Physiological Psychology
        PSY 402 Historical and Philosophical Foundations of Modern Psychology
        PSY 429 Seminar in Experimental Psychology

7. Complementary Area: Nine credits in one additional Social Sciences concentration area.

8. Additional courses in the discipline will be recommended for inclusion in the student’s educational plan based on specific competency goals established by the student. Coursework may be used only once to fulfill cluster, concentration and elective requirements.

    PSY 302    Seminar on Psychology of Women
    PSY 322    Learning, Motivation, and Behavior Modification
    PSY 323    Comparative Animal Psychology
    PSY 324    Psychology of Emotion
    PSY 325    Cognitive Psychology
    PSY 331    Physiological Psychology
    PSY 340    Childhood and Adolescence
    PSY 341    Social Behavior
    PSY 342    Educational Psychology
    PSY 351    Culture, Thought, and Behavior
    PSY 352    Varieties of Sexual Expression
    PSY 353    Conflict Resolution
    PSY 371    Abnormal Psychology
    PSY 372    Systems of Psychotherapy
    PSY 373    Counseling Skills
    PSY 374    Ethics in Counseling & Psychotherapy
    PSY 396    (Alpha) Workshops and Special Seminars in Psychology
    PSY 402    Historical and Philosophical Foundations of Modern Psychology
    PSY 403    Causation and Prevention of Substance Abuse and Addiction
    PSY 404    Social Correlates of Substance Abuse & Addiction
    PSY 405    Biological Correlates of Substance Abuse and Addiction
    PSY 406    Assessment and Treatment of Substance Abuse and Addiction
    PSY 407   (Alpha) Practicum in Psychology (v)
    PSY 407B Psychology Practicum: Interventions Related to Substance Use (v)
    PSY 408   Group Interventions in Substance Abuse and Addiction
    PSY 412    Psychological Testing
    PSY 422    Magic, Witchcraft, and the Supernatural
    PSY 429    Seminar in Experimental Psychology
    PSY 442    Exceptional Child
    PSY 450    Small Groups
    PSY 460    Seminar in Personality Theory
    PSY 474    Culture and Mental Illness
    PSY 475    Psychology of Healing
    PSY 480    Organizational Behavior
    PSY 496    Selected Topics in Psychology (v)
    PSY 499    Directed Reading and Research (v)

9.   Complementary Area: Nine credits in one additional Social Sciences concentration area.

Graduates with a concentration in Psychology from UH West O‘ahu should be able to:

Explain how biology, learning, and culture influence particular motivations and behaviors.
Identify major theoretical perspectives in the field of psychology, and explain their strengths, limitations, and applications.
Demonstrate through oral and written communication the ability to test hypotheses using psychological theories and methods.