Husson College

School of Science and Humanities

Bachelor of Science, Psychology with Leadership and Clinical Concentrations

Rationale

In 1995 the Division of Arts and Sciences, predecessor of the School of Science and Humanities, produced an academic plan centered on reviewing general education, attaining School status for the Division, and the development of a number of undergraduate majors in areas that were career-focused and likely to provide Husson students with study options that would lead to successful careers in professional-level employment.

In accordance with that plan, it is proposed that a Psychology major be developed at Husson that would comport with and strengthen our commitment to general education.It is also intended that the new major be cognizant of employment trends and help prepare undergraduates for graduate degree programs, careers in clinical psychology and entry-level employment in a growing mental health industry in the State of Maine.

Support for such a major is based on the following:

ØPsychology is the second most popular major, second only to business, nationally.

ØHusson students are showing a sustained interest in our psychology minor which we have offered since 1978.

ØKnowledge in human behavior strengthens the effectiveness of other disciplines in making our students more adaptive and marketable.

ØFocusing on Psychology and Leadership skill building can prepare students for successful professional careers.

The field of psychology focuses on the examination of mental processes and behavior and basic behavioral functions such as sensation, perception, learning, thinking, language, motivation, personality, and emotion.Knowledge of psychological principles and of the methods for evaluating theories and research in the social sciences is essential in our rapidly changing society. The program in Psychology will provide students with a background of fundamental subject matter that will equip them for subsequent graduate study in psychology and related fields; assist them in careers in medicine, education, law, business, or other professions involving human services; and provide them with an understanding of behavior useful in everyday personal and community life.

Career Opportunities

According to the American Psychological Association, an undergraduate psychology degree opens up a wide range of career opportunities in areas such as health psychology, consumer psychology, military psychology, school psychology and community psychology.^[1]The growing field of sport and exercise psychology also offers the student an opportunity to look at such areas as cognitive strategies in sport, psychopathology in sport, exercise imagery training in performance, psychosocial interventions, and diversity in sport and athletics.^[2]

One-third of graduates who go into permanent employment as psychologists enter public services such as health service, education, and the civil service/armed forces, and one-third go into industry or commerce.Of the remainder, about one-tenth teach and research in schools, colleges, and universities.Tomorrow’s psychology graduates are likely to be found in such diverse settings as:

ØResearch and teaching in institutions of higher education

ØClinical psychology, working in health care settings

ØEducational psychology in local education authorities, schools and special schools

ØOccupational psychology in management, personnel, training, selection, and career services

ØForensic (or criminological and legal) psychology--working in penal establishments, special hospitals, and with young offenders

ØCounseling psychology in private practice and commercial settings

ØHealth psychology

ØSports psychology.

It has been calculated by the American Psychological Association that 15 to 20 per cent of psychology graduates become professional psychologists.Many more become mental health professionals or work in allied social service branches.

A national analysis of entering freshmen reveals that 3.8% expect to major in Psychology.This figure is greater than the percentage of freshmen interested in majoring in Accounting (3.0%),Finance (1.0%), International Business (1.2%), Marketing (2.0%), Management (2.7%), Nursing (3.5%) and Physical/Occupational Therapy (3.6%).^[3]

According to the Maine Department of Labor, social service jobs (served by a psychology major) will expand by 6,588 by the year 2005.^[4]At the same time, child care workers jobs are expected to increase to 1,350.This latter occupation is listed among Maine’s forty experiencing the largest amount of growth.^[5]Each of these developments will mean the creation of many new opportunities in human services including mental health services for psychology graduates.

Psychology also ranks among the forty fastest growing occupations in Maine and it is anticipated that the number of psychologists in Maine will increase by 48% by 2005.^[6]

Nationally, it is projected that employment of psychologists will grow faster than the average of all occupations through the year 2005.Jobs will cluster in health care institutions and organizations, nursing homes, and substance abuse clinics.Psychology-related job opportunities will also increase in businesses, non-profit organizations, and in research organizations.^[7]

In Maine, the Augusta Mental Health Institute (AMHI) Consent Decree has led to a plan for the de-institutionalization of clients at both the Augusta and the Bangor Mental Health Institutes.Increasingly, the focus of mental health planning will be on the development of community-based mental health services.It is anticipated that this will lead to the further expansion of community programs and the creation of new mental health and social services jobs at all levels.

Maine Sunday Telegram and Bangor Daily News job openings in Psychology and related fields were compiled for the weekend of January 24-25.They are reported as follows:

- Community Support WorkerLewistonMHRT certification required

- Full-Time Counselors (3) Central MaineMHRT certification required

- Residential Service WorkerLewistonBS

- Family Support Workers (2)So. Portland

- Social WorkerFarmingtonLCSW

- Clinical Social WorkerSaco

- School Based Clinical Social WorkerThomastonLMSC or LCPC

- School Based CounselorMid CoastLCSW or LCPC

- Child Health Case WorkerNorwayBS

- Big Brother/Big Sister Case WorkerNorwayBS

- Mental Health Therapist (2)BangorLMSU II, LCPC

- Human Resource CoordinatorBiddefordBS

- Family TherapistSkowheganLCSW

- Human Resource ManagerFort KentBS

- Social WorkerMexicoLCSW/LCPC

- Social WorkerAuburnLMSW/LCPC

- School Clinician/CounselorLewistonLMSW/LCPC

- Director of Human ResourcesPittsfieldExperience

- Employment SpecialistPortlandCareer Counseling

- Licensed Clinical Social WorkerSacoLCSW

- School CounselorYork

- Substance Abuse CounselorYork

- School Based CounselorRocklandLCSW/LCPC

- Big Brothers/Big Sisters CoordinatorEllsworthBA/BS

- Dual Diagnosis ClinicianBangorExperience

The Husson major program, combining Psychology and Leadership skills offers today’s student a strong program that is career and employment market-focused, permits advanced study in more than one disciplinary area, prepares the student for management-level work in the growing field of mental health, and expands employment options in a variety of peripheral disciplines.

The formulation of this curriculum is guided by the Principles for Quality Undergraduate Psychology Programs adopted by the American Psychological Association.^[8]To this extent, the program is designed to encourage students to think scientifically about behavior and the mental processes and to pursue a variety of postbaccalaureate alternatives including employment and graduate or professional school.

Helping psychology majors develop leadership skills is a worthwhile goal.In today’s professional world, competencies including management, critical thinking, and human resource tools are an important part of a college graduate’s portfolio, for as clinical and pre-clinical jobs are growing in the mental health field, so too are management and accounting positions in community-based care/activity centers.

A Psychology program supported with Management courses will provide excellent preparation for the field of human resource management.According to the U.S. and State of Maine labor publications cited above, a 25% growth rate is anticipated in this field between now and 2005, and the national average salary is $46,800.At present there are 819 human resource managers employed in Maine with a projected growth rate of 18% between now and 2005.

Program Concentrations

Under the proposed concentrations, clinical and leadership, Husson psychology majors will have the opportunity to pursue graduate study or careers in Psychology or related fields such as guidance and counseling, social work, rehabilitation, gerontology and the helping professions.In addition, majors may concentrate in leadership roles in organizations, businesses, and industry.Such preparation might lead to careers in human resource management, employee assistance programs, advertising, educational administration, etc.

The following additional new courses have been added to the Husson curriculum for the Psychology program:

- Physiological Psychology

- Social Psychology

- Gerontology

- Child Psychology

- Therapeutic Psychology

- Research Methods

- Tests and Measurements

- Seminar in Psychology

- Psychology of Health, Immunity, and Disease

- Introduction to Rehabilitation

- Leadership Development

- Cognitive Psychology

- Conflict Resolution

- Interviewing

- Adolescent Psychology

- Mental Retardation