Psychology Department
Mission Statement
North Central University's Psychology Department exists:
- To provide a broad, theologically enlightened educational foundation for students entering the behavioral sciences
- To prepare department graduates for further educational training and/or immediate employment in the field
- To serve as a resource to the NCU community in relation to the field, and
- To facilitate the development of students as they grow into the calling of Christ for their lives.
Goals
The Psychology Department has adopted the following goals and outcomes that are intended to result from participation in the Psychology program. These goals and outcomes represent the knowledge, skills, and values consistent with the science and application of psychology in Christian higher education.
Goal 1: Theory and Content of Psychology
Students will demonstrate familiarity with the major concepts, theoretical perspectives, empirical findings, and historical trends in psychology.
Goal 2: Research Methods in Psychology
Students will understand and apply basic research methods in psychology, including research design, data analysis, and interpretation.
Goal 3: Critical Thinking Skills in Psychology
Students will respect and use critical and creative thinking, skeptical inquiry, and, when possible, the scientific approach to solve problems related to behavior and mental processes.
Goal 4: Application of Psychology
Students will understand and apply psychological principles to personal, social, and organizational issues.
Goal 5: Values in Psychology
Students will be able to weigh evidence, tolerate ambiguity, act ethically, and reflect other values that are the underpinnings of psychology as a discipline; and be able to recognize the influence of Christian values on the field of psychology.
Goal 6: Information and Technological Literacy
Students will demonstrate information competence and the ability to use computers and other technology for many purposes.
Goal 7: Communication Skills
Students will be able to communicate effectively in a variety of formats.
Goal 8: Sociocultural and International Awareness
Students will recognize, understand, and, and respect the complexity of sociocultural and international diversity.
Goal 9: Personal Development
Students will develop insight into their own and others' behavior and mental processes and apply effective strategies for self-management and self-improvement.
Goal 10: Career Planning and Development
Students will emerge from the Psychology major with realistic ideas about how to implement their psychological knowledge, skills, and values in occupational and educational pursuits in a variety of settings, and will be able to conceptualize God's calling for their personal and professional life.
Goal 11: Integration of Psychology and Theology
Students will be aware of different approaches to integrating psychology and theology, will develop and articulate a Christian worldview, will be able to critique issues in psychology from a theologically-informed perspective, and will continue to develop a firm commitment to psychology as ministry.
To understand how NCU's Psychology program compares to that of other institutions, read our "Curricular Similarities and Distinctives".