Psychology area of concentration

Psychology is the scientific study and application of knowledge related to the behavioral and cognitive processes of humans and other animals. Students in the NCF psychology program will develop familiarity with existing knowledge of at least four broad subfields within psychology, as well as develop depth of knowledge in an area of their choosing. Classes will provide students with a critical and methodological framework to evaluate this body of existing knowledge, and the statistics, methods, and lab courses will provide multiple opportunities for them to acquire and practice the skills they need to create new knowledge in the field.

The program is designed to give students the tools needed to think critically about psychological concepts, whether as careful consumers of scientific information in everyday life, or as researchers creating new knowledge in a lab. The ability of our graduates to apply their knowledge and skills in these ways will serve to foster greater insight into individual and group behavior.

The Area of Concentration in psychology is designed both for students wishing to pursue graduate work in the field and for students who need to gain skills appropriate for meaningful work. The program includes courses often listed as prerequisites for graduate schools in the discipline as well as an emphasis on critical thinking, clear speaking and writing, project management, data analysis, and fruitful collaboration. The major also provides the breadth characteristic of a liberal arts education.