Psychological Sciences

• Mission Statement

  Mission Statement
  The mission of the Psychological Science Department at Weber State University is to enhance student knowledge and application of the science of psychology. The department is committed to student-centered teaching and high-impact educational opportunities that foster critical thinking, career readiness, and social responsibility. Faculty promote inclusivity and diversity and apply psychological science to serve and enhance the university and greater community.
  
  Vision Statement
  The Department of Psychological Science at Weber State University aspires to be a recognized leader in undergraduate education. The department will work to enhance the field of psychology by empowering students to achieve their personal, academic, and career goals and to produce professionals who serve the local and greater communities. We will achieve this goal by continuing to engage in student-centered high impact teaching, mentoring, and scholarship.

• Student Learning Outcomes
  • Certificates (Not Applicable)

     

  • Associate Degrees (Not Applicable)

    At the end of their study at WSU, students completing an AS in Psychological Science will meet the following goals:

    Goal 1: Content Knowledge and Application: Students demonstrate comprehension of the major concepts, theoretical perspectives, historical trends, and empirical or evidence-based findings to discuss how psychological principles apply to behavior and mental processes.

    Goal 2: Scientific Inquiry and Critical Thinking: Students will develop scientific reasoning and investigation skills, including developing proficiencies in research methods and statistics.

    Goal 3: Values in Psychological Science: Students will share key beliefs, attitudes, and values adopted by scientific psychologists including ethical and social responsibility.

    Goal 4: Communication: Students will demonstrate the skills necessary to build and maintain effective communication in processing and expressing information.

    Goal 5: Personal and Professional Development: Students will demonstrate the skills associated with workplace readiness whether that involves graduate school or a job following graduation.

  • Bachelor Degrees

    At the end of their study at WSU, students completing a BS in Psychological Science or BS in Psychological Science Teaching will meet the following goals:

    Goal 1: Content Knowledge and Application: Students demonstrate comprehension of the major concepts, theoretical perspectives, historical trends, and empirical or evidence-based findings to discuss how psychological principles apply to behavior and mental processes.

    Goal 2: Scientific Inquiry and Critical Thinking: Students will develop scientific reasoning and investigation skills, including developing proficiencies in research methods and statistics.

    Goal 3: Values in Psychological Science: Students will share key beliefs, attitudes, and values adopted by scientific psychologists including ethical and social responsibility.

    Goal 4: Communication: Students will demonstrate the skills necessary to build and maintain effective communication in processing and expressing information.

    Goal 5: Personal and Professional Development: Students will demonstrate the skills associated with workplace readiness whether that involves graduate school or a job following graduation.

• Curriculum Grid

   

• Program and Contact Information

  The Psychology department is committed to excellence in undergraduate training in the science of psychology. We do so by offering students not only the highest caliber of classroom instruction but also extensive opportunities for professionally-authentic experiences in research (see list of 2013-2014 conference presentations by WSU Psychology students) and community engagement.  We are dedicated to training students to be psychologically literate citizens who can engage in scientifically- and ethically- informed judgments, decision-making, and actions.  As such, our curriculum emphasizes students acquiring knowledge about the discipline, applying that knowledge to real world situations, adopting scientific and ethical values, attitudes, and beliefs, and gaining interpersonal and communication skills.  

  Students report having very positive experiences in their classes, and psychology majors report being extremely satisfied with the quality and breadth of their instruction. WSU psychology student have had next step success in graduate school in the discipline (with recent acceptances to graduate programs at Harvard, Michigan, Texas A&M, University of Kentucky, University of Utah, and Utah State University, among many others), related disciplines (Social Work, Education, Marriage and Family Studies, and Criminal Justice) and other professional schools (Medicine, Law, Business, and Pharmacy).  Psychology students are hired in a wide range of employment positions and do so at rate above the employment rate for the state.  

  Psychology faculty members are actively engaged in the discipline, the community, the university, and the department. Counted among them are a number award-winning teachers and researchers. They were early adopters and continue to be leaders of the university initiative for undergraduate research and community-based scholarship. They are also involved in a variety of interdisciplinary initiatives on campus, including Neuroscience, Linguistics, and Women’s Studies. The faculty members are excellent campus and community citizens serving in leadership positions both on campus and off.  The recent reviews of the department by outside experts have been extremely positive and department members continue to aspire to become a model for the university and the discipline of innovative and effective undergraduate training in psychology.

   

  Contact Information:

  Deparment of Psychological Science	LH 379	psychologydept@weber.edu
  Aaron Ashley (Chair)	LH 378	AaronAshley@weber.edu	(801) 686-8743
  Mickey Cole (Administrative Assistant)	LH 379	MickeyCole@weber.edu	(801) 626-6247

  Psychology Department Website

• Assessment Plan

  The department uses a comprehensive assessment plan with a sampling of sections from all courses taught being assessed each year as well as utilizing an outcome-based approach via our Capstone Experience course (PSY 4950). We feel that this comprehensive approach lets us track how learning outcomes are being addressed and met in each course, allowing us to monitor whether we are adequately scaffolding students to meet our learning outcomes at a baccalaureate level by the time they reach their capstone course. So, this approach provides for the assessment of the overall effectiveness our curriculum in meeting graduate outcome goals, but it also allows so to better identify and correct any curricular deficiencies.

• Assessment Report Submissions
  2021-22
  2019-20 - No report submitted
  2017
  2016 - Conducted Program Review
  2015

• Program Review

  2023-24

  2016-17
   

This information is part of the cyclical program review process. Details such as mission statements, learning outcomes, etc., are updated as part of the biennial assessment reporting process, an integral component of program review.