Overview

What is Psychology? 

Psychology is the science concerned with behavior, both human and nonhuman—animal, and is only about 125 years old. It is a broad discipline, essentially spanning subject matter from biology to sociology. Psychology studies the intersection of two critical relationships: one between brain function and behavior, and one between the environment and behavior. As a science, psychology follows scientific methods, using careful observation, experimentation, and analysis.

Psychology is the study of mental processes, cognition, and behavior. Psychologist are concerned with how the brain and nervous system function, how perception evolves from sensation, how we learn and know, and what it is that motivates us. Psychology covers the total life span to learn more about how individuals function in family, community, and society. Psychologists want to learn what can go wrong in development, how it can be changed, and how to resolve organizational, personal, interpersonal, and family conflict. It is a dynamic field in which new knowledge leads to new understandings that grow out of a base in research. It is both a theoretical and applied science.

If I major in Psychology, what kind of job can I get?

Career opportunities in psychology continue to grow for employment in health care especially outpatient mental health and substance abuse treatment clinics. Numerous job opportunities are in schools, public and private social service agencies, and management consulting services. Graduates in Psychology can expect to find a wide range of positions in personnel management, psychiatric aides, probation officers, mental health workers, drug abuse counselors, and researcher assistants. Advanced degrees lead to opportunities for basic research, licensing as clinical psychologists or marriage and family therapist, and as college and university faculty. Psychologists also work as consultants in government and industry.

If I receive an AA degree in Psychology, can I transfer to a four-year college?

Yes!  Cañada College offers everything you need to finish an AA degree in psychology as well as to transfer to a four-year college or university.  

Program Learning Outcomes:

Students completing this program will be able to:

• Analyze social science concepts and theories.
• Evaluate diverse viewpoints related to the human experience.
• Produce evidence-based arguments.