Psychology

Completion of an Associate of Arts Liberal Arts Degree with an emphasis in Psychology provides a solid foundation to pursue a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology or a related degree program. The psychology pathway follows the Texas Transfer Framework's Field of Study Curriculum, which includes discipline-relevant Texas Core Curriculum courses, Discipline Foundation courses, and Directed Elective courses that transfer and apply to the specific degree program.

Potential career paths for students pursuing a Psychology degree can be in the research, medical, business, or education areas.

Psychology AA Degree, Liberal Arts Major

PSYC-1300. Learning Frameworks. (3 Credits)

(3-3-0) Core Area 090 This course is taken for academic credit. Students will earn an A, B, C, D, F, or W. A study of the (1) research and theory in the psychology of learning, cognition and motivation, (2) factors that impact learning, and (3) application of learning strategies. Theoretical models of strategic learning, cognition and motivation serve as the conceptual basis for the introduction of college-level student academic strategies. Students use assessment instruments (e.g., learning inventories) to help them identify their own strengths and weaknesses as strategic learners. Students are ultimately expected to integrate and apply the learning skills discussed across their own academic programs and become effective and efficient learners. Students developing these skills should be able to continually draw from the theoretical models they have learned.

PSYC-2289. Academic Coop. (2 Credits)

(2-1-4) This course is taken for academic credit. Students will earn an A, B, C, D, F, or W. An instructional program designed to integrate on-campus study with practical hands-on experience in psychology. In conjunction with class seminars, the individual student will set specific goals and objectives in the study of human social behavior and/or social institutions.

PSYC-2301. General Psychology. (3 Credits)

(3-3-0) Core Area 080 This course is taken for academic credit. Students will earn an A, B, C, D, F, or W. General Psychology is a survey of the major psychological topics, theories, and approaches to the scientific study of behavior and mental processes. PSYC 2301 is a designated core course in the Psychology Field of Study Curriculum.

PSYC-2306. Human Sexuality. (3 Credits)

(3-3-0) This course is taken for academic credit. Students will earn an A, B, C, D, F, or W. This course will provide an overview of the broad field of human sexuality. Topics will be covered from various perspectives - biological, sociological, anthropological, etc., but will focus primarily on the psychological perspective. The goal is for each student to learn factual, scientifically based information that will provoke thought and contribute to his/her own decision-making on sexual issues outside of the classroom. PSYC 2306 is a directed elective course in the Psychology Field of Study Curriculum reported as accepted by several Texas general academic institutions. Please see advisor for more information. (Cross-listed as SOCI 2306)

PSYC-2308. Child Psychology. (3 Credits)

This course is taken for academic credit. Students will earn an A, B, C, D, F, or W. This course will address psychological development from conception through middle childhood with references to physical, cognitive, social, and personality changes. Students will examine the interplay of biological factors, human interaction, social structures, and cultural forces in development. PSYC 2308 is a directed elective course in the Psychology Field of Study Curriculum reported as accepted by several Texas general academic institutions. Please see an advisor for more information.

PSYC-2314. Lifespan Growth and Development. (3 Credits)

(3-3-0) Core Area 080. This course is taken for academic credit. Students will earn an A, B, C, D, F, or W. Life-span growth and Development is a study of social, emotional, cognitive, and physical factors and influences of a developing human from conception to death. PSYC 2314 is a discipline foundation course in the Psychology Field of Study Curriculum.

PSYC-2315. Psychology of Adjustment. (3 Credits)

(3-3-0) This course is taken for academic credit. Students will earn an A, B, C, D, F, or W. Study of the processes involved in adjustment of individuals to their personal and social environments. PSYC 2315 is a directed elective course in the Psychology Field of Study Curriculum reported as accepted by several Texas general academic institutions. Please see an advisor for more information.

PSYC-2317. Statistical Methods in Psychology. (3 Credits)

(3-3-0) This course is taken for academic credit. Students will earn an A, B, C, D, F, or W. This course covers descriptive and inferential statistics used in psychological research and assessment. It includes measurement, characteristics of distributions, measures of central tendency and variability, transformed scores, correlation and regression, probability theory, and hypotheses testing and inference. PSYC 2317 is a discipline foundation course in the Psychology Field of Study Curriculum.

PSYC-2319. Social Psychology. (3 Credits)

(3-3-0) This course is taken for academic credit. Students will earn an A, B, C, D, F, or W. Study of individual behavior within the social environment. Topics may include sociopsychological processes, attitude formation and change, interpersonal relations, group processes, self, social cognition, and research methods. PSYC 2319 is a discipline foundation course in the Psychology Field of Study Curriculum. This course is cross-listed as SOCI 2326. The student may register for either PSYC 2319 or SOCI 2326 but may receive credit for only one of the two.

PSYC-2320. Abnormal Psychology. (3 Credits)

(3-3-0) This course is taken for academic credit. Students will earn an A, B, C, D, F, or W. This course provides an introduction to the psychological, biological, and socio-cultural factors involved in the development, diagnosis, and treatment of psychological disorders. It includes a review of the historical understanding of abnormal behavior and the development of modern diagnostic systems. It includes discussions of psychological research and practice as it relates to mental health and psychological functioning, as well as legal and ethical issues. PSYC 2320 is a directed elective course in the Psychology Field of Study Curriculum reported as accepted by several Texas general academic institutions. Please see an advisor for more information.

PSYC-2330. Biological Psychology. (3 Credits)

(3-3-0) This course is taken for academic credit. Students will earn an A, B, C, D, F, or W. An introduction to the biological bases of behavior. Topics include evolution, genetics, research methods in behavioral neuroscience, motivation and emotion, sensation and perception, learning and memory, lifespan development, cognition, psychological disorders, and other complex behaviors. PSYC 2330 is a directed elective course in the Psychology Field of Study Curriculum reported as accepted by several Texas general academic institutions. Please see an advisor for more information.

Some careers in this field will require a bachelor's degree.

TVCC's AA degrees are fully transferable to public universities in Texas. See an academic advisor or TVCC's university transfer webpage for more information on this transfer opportunity.
Many of TVCC's AAS degrees lead to an online Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences (BAAS) degree with participating universities. See an academic advisor or the BAAS transfer website for more information on this transfer opportunity.