Pitt-Bradford psychology program restructures major

BRADFORD, PA – The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford’s psychology program has restructured its Bachelor of Science major to provide students with both a greater breadth of knowledge in their field and a chance to tailor their studies to their future careers.

Dr. Greg Page, associate professor of psychology and director of the psychology program, explained that the changes were spurred in part by new recommendations issued by the American Psychological Association in 2013.

The new requirements will take effect in January 2015. Students who are currently psychology majors have the choice to continue following the psychology requirements that were in place when they declared their major or to switch to the new requirements. Previously, students were required to take five core courses, plus a minimum of two courses each in cognitive/developmental psychology, social psychology and counseling psychology.

The altered major expands the number of core courses by requiring students to enroll in child development, social psychology, personality theories, abnormal psychology, and professional seminar in psychology. This expansion provides the students a greater breadth of general psychology courses.

Students then choose five additional courses categorized as experimental or applied focus.

“The new psychology curriculum frees up students to select courses that match with their career interests,” Page said. “For instance, if students want to focus on research/academic careers within psychology they can select more courses from the experimental focus courses. Meanwhile, students wanting counseling-related careers can select more applied focus courses.”

To further prepare students for life after their bachelor’s degree, the major will require a new professional seminar class that will teach students about careers at the bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral level; career preparation; and graduate school preparation.