Psychology makes a great elective for any student because psychology covers just about any topic that has to do with humans and their interactions in the world. On a visit to one of our many courses, you might find yourself in a discussion on how humans develop intellectually, emotionally, and socially over the life span; how learning occurs in humans and other animals; or why humans forget and how one can improve his or her memory! A trip to another class may introduce you to the following: attitude formation and change, the effects of drugs and alcohol on behavior, or possibly how to manage your stress. Of course you can also take specific courses dedicated to a single topic. You may wish to take a course dealing with your child or adolescent’s development, improving parenting skills, enhancing athletic performance, or developing effective interpersonal skills.

Either PSY 119 (5 credit hours) or PSY 121 and PSY 122 (6 credit hours total) may be taken to fill the Introductory Psychology credit, necessary to advance to other psychology courses offered by the department. PSY 119 is an accelerated course that should be taken by students who have both the time and discipline to keep up with the quick pace of this course. However, students may substitute PSY 121 + PSY 122 for PSY 119 for any program on campus.

In an effort to provide students with interesting, current topics related to the field of psychology, the Psychology Department offers PSY 297: "Special Topics," which varies from quarter to quarter according to topic and student interest. Topics may include Sports Psychology, Psychology and Law, and Drugs and Behavior, just to mention a few! Be sure to check the course schedule to see which courses are currently being offered.

The Psychology Department has both informal and formal means for students to get involved with other students interested in psychology. Frequently throughout the year we sponsor talks, workshops, and even movie mania days to which all students are welcome! At a more formal level, we offer a chapter of Psi Beta. Psi Beta is a national honor society for two-year colleges. Membership in Psi Beta is restricted to students who meet several minimum requirements. The Psi Beta web site can provide you with the most recent information.

Technically speaking, students cannot earn an associate degree in psychology. Those interested in pursuing psychology as a field will work toward an Associate of Arts (A.A.) or an Associate of Science (A.S.) degree in Liberal Arts and Sciences with an emphasis in Psychology. An area of emphasis allows students to take a multitude of courses in a particular field. A student's academic emphasis in psychology will appear on their degree and may ease transfer to a four-year program. Students seeking this outcome are encouraged to visit the Liberal Arts and Sciences, Psychology Emphasis web site.

A student who obtains either their Associate of Arts or Associate of Science Degree will need to continue his or her education at a four-year college or university to work in the field of psychology. Depending upon the type of work that one wishes to do in psychology, he or she will likely be required to continue their education through graduate study, receiving at least a Master's Degree or a Doctorate in Psychology.

Many of our courses transfer to colleges and universities across the nation without question; however, some do not. Sinclair has “articulation agreements” with several four-year programs. That is, program directors have met and come to an agreement on which courses will transfer and which will not. Therefore, students are strongly encouraged to check with their academic counselor to ensure that all of their course work will transfer.

Most college and public libraries have books which identify both American and International colleges and the programs they offer. An example of one such book is, Barron's Profiles of American Colleges, which contains admission requirements, academic programs, tuition, financial aid information, addresses and web sites. Additionally, the Gourman Report: A Rating of Undergraduate Programs in American and International Universities, rates the thirty best psychology programs in the United States. The programs are rated on criteria that includes the following: well-defined program objectives, faculty salaries, integration of computers into the curriculum, quality administration, and library resources.

According to the Encyclopedia of Careers and Vocational Guidance (2000), the best employment opportunities for those with a Doctorate are in the areas of health, clinical, organizational and industrial psychology. Other promising career areas include quantitative research methods and computer applications. For individuals with a Masters Degree, the job market is more limited. However, opportunities are available in research, counseling in schools, and assisting psychologists in hospitals and community mental health centers. A Masters in psychology will also qualify a person to teach in a two-year college, but these jobs are very competitive and often go to people with Doctorates. With a bachelor's degree in psychology, one may find employment in a mental-health center, vocational rehabilitation, and correctional centers. Other opportunities to those with a bachelor's in psychology include research assistantships, teaching psychology at the high school level, or working in business or government as a trainee (Morris & Maisto, 2002). Community college students who earn an associate's degree in mental health may find work in state hospitals as paraprofessionals, mental-health centers, or other human-services. Screening, evaluation of new patients, record keeping, and providing assistance in consultation are among the responsibilities required by these positions (Morris & Maisto, 2002). Please keep in mind that there are a number of psychology related fields that a person with a psychology degree can enter. For more information regarding careers in psychology you may want to visit the following web sites:

• Psychology Careers for the 21st Century
• Marky Lloyd's Careers in Psychology
• Sinclair Career Planning and Placement Center

Dayton has many local opportunities for you to continue your education in psychology. Wright State University, the University of Dayton, and Central State University all have challenging and excellent psychology departments into which Sinclair students with an Associate Degree may transfer in junior standing. Wright Patterson Air Force Base also offers a unique opportunity for area residents to participate in research as a subject or through internship projects (call Judy Lee at (937) 255-3432 for more information). Students also may benefit from practical volunteer work in clinical psychology, through Twin Valley Behavioral Healthcare-Dayton Campus (call Ann Morrisey at (937) 258-6290 for more information).