Undergraduate Bulletin - Loyola Marymount University

206 / PSYCHOLOGY
Psychology
Faculty:
Chairperson: Michael J. O’Sullivan
Professors: Ronald K. Barrett, Larry C. Bernard,
Judith G. Foy, Michael R. Foy, Richard L. Gilbert,
Cheryl N. Grills, Ricardo A. Machón,
Michael J. O’Sullivan, Leland C. Swenson,
R. Patricia Walsh
Associate Professors: Jennifer S. Abe-Kim,
Michael E. Mills
Assistant Professors: David J. Hardy,
Joseph W. LaBrie, S.J., Vandana Thadani
Mission:
The Psychology program shares the University’s
commitment to develop ethical leaders for a culturally
diverse world, and contributes to the liberal education of
students. Through a comprehensive education in the
science of psychology, the Psychology Department seeks
to educate the whole person, pursue academic
excellence, advance scholarship, promote service and
justice, and encourage life-long learning.
Description:
The Psychology Department provides a high quality
curriculum emphasizing excellence in teaching and
learning. Students majoring in psychology examine in
depth many aspects of human and animal behavior, along
with the biological, psychological, and sociocultural
aspects of behavior. Students are provided the opportunity
to apply these perspectives to a variety of individual,
family, and community contexts. As students progress
through the curriculum, they have opportunities to assist
faculty with research and engage in their own research
with faculty supervision. The program prepares students
for graduate study in psychology and related fields or
careers in other professions.
Goals and Objectives:
The goals of the Psychology curriculum focus on
educating students in the methodology, content, and
application of psychological science.
Goal 1: Theory and Methodology in Psychology
Students should:
• Understand the role of psychology as a discipline
that uses an empirical approach to knowledge;
and
• Use, respect, and value skeptical inquiry, critical
thinking, and the scientific approach to
understanding behavior.
Knowledge areas students will study/learn:
• Basic research methods and ethics
• History and systems and philosophy of science
• Data analysis and interpretation
• Scientific and critical thinking
• Scientific writing and communication.
Goal 2: Mastery of Content (Discipline Specific
Knowledge)
Students should be familiar with:
• Core theoretical approaches and research findings
that reflect a biopsychosocial understanding of
behavior; and
• More in-depth theoretical approaches and
research findings within at least one subject area
in psychology.
Core knowledge areas students will study/learn:
• Biological foundations of behavior
• Psychological foundations of behavior
• Social and cultural foundations of behavior
• Biopsychosocial development across the lifespan.
Goal 3: Application of Knowledge and Scientific Method
Students should demonstrate the application of
psychological theory, methodology, and findings
to:
• An understanding of the whole person, as an
individual and as a member of a larger
community, society, and culture; and
• The promotion of social justice in these contexts.
Psychology Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the Psychology curriculum, students
will demonstrate knowledge of the history, foundations,
content, and analytical skills of psychology in their ability
to:
• Value the importance of a scientific approach to
understanding human behavior
• Apply critical thinking in their understanding of
psychological principles
• Evaluate critically research both in the social
sciences and as presented in the media
• Locate, understand, and critique relevent
empirical research on a selected topic
• Identify ethical issues in research
• Apply ethical principles in their own research
• Formulate a hypothesis based on past research