Psychology is the scientific discipline concerned with the study of the mind. It is a natural and a social science concerned with the study of human behavior. As such, it is a broad discipline which involves both pure science and practical application of science to matters of everyday living.

The Psychology program offers two associate degrees: The AA degree (associate degree in psychology) and the AA-T degree (associate degree in psychology for transfer). The AA degree requires calculus along with more psychology courses (as opposed to the AA-T degree), and is recommended for students wishing to transfer to a University of California (UC) campus. The AA-T provides a clearly articulated curriculum for students who wish to transfer to a California State University (CSU) campus. All students should meet with a counselor to determine which program would be most beneficial for their goals and to determine which courses are required for them to transfer to their desired university.

The program provides students with a basic understanding of motivation and behavior that is valuable to many careers in business, government, education, and health care. Becoming a “psychologist,” however, requires graduate level training. Psychologists with graduate degrees and professional certificates have a broad range of employment opportunities including clinical practice, research, and teaching. Hartnell College offers lower division transfer courses to meet the requirements for most baccalaureate majors offered by accredited colleges and universities. Psychology and counseling faculty are excellent resources for additional career information.

Program Outcomes:

Upon successful completion of this program a student will be able to:

🗸 Compare and contrast the major concepts, theoretical perspectives, empirical findings, and historical trends in psychology.

🗸 Evaluate basic research methods in psychology, including research design, data analysis, and interpretation.

🗸 Demonstrate critical thinking and skeptical inquiry, and use the scientific approach to solving problems related to behavior and mental processes.

🗸 Apply psychological principles to personal, social, and organizational issues.

Career Opportunities:

🗸 Academic Counselor

🗸 Alcohol/Drug Counselor

🗸 Career Counselor

🗸 Child Psychologist

🗸 Community Relations Director

🗸 Corrections Officer

🗸 Health Educator

🗸 Mental Health Coordinator

🗸 Nonprofit Director

🗸 Psychiatrist

🗸 Social Worker

🗸 Student Affairs Administrator

🗸 Teacher