Upon completion of the psychology major, students will be able to:
- Identify and explain key concepts, theoretical perspectives, and scientific findings from major subfields of psychology. Students will learn about major content areas in psychology including the social and biological bases of behavior, with emphasis on development, sensation and perception, language, learning and memory, individual differences, stress and coping, psychopathology, psychological assessment and intervention, and multicultural psychology.
- Demonstrate competence in scientific inquiry, critical thinking, and creative problem-solving. Students will demonstrate knowledge of experimental methods, research design, descriptive and inferential statistics, and ethical principles governing research. They will understand how to apply this knowledge in the face of complex problems and will know how to interpret scientific data.
- Communicate complex ideas clearly, effectively, and succinctly across a wide range of mediums. Students will be versed in professional writing conventions (e.g., grammar, audience awareness, formality). They will be able to write clearly and concisely and will know how to appropriately organize, develop, and share their ideas in writing and while speaking.
- Translate academic skills to the workforce, graduate school, or professional education in service of making positive contributions to local communities. Students will have opportunities to apply what they have learned in the classroom by working in faculty-directed research labs or with community organizations related to their career interests. In these contexts, students will develop a practical skill set that complements their knowledge of psychology and is valued in the workplace and the broader community.
- Articulate the practical value of psychological science in the workplace and to modern society. Students will learn how to identify and describe skills that they have developed in the classroom and in the broader context of their educational experiences at UWM. They will understand the practical value of this skill set and of psychological science as a catalyst for healthy, productive, and positive contributions to society.