An Innovation in Higher Education: The Penn State Applied Psychology Degree

1
An Innovation in Higher Education The Penn State
Applied Psychology Degree

• Henry O Patterson, Ph.D.

2
Your College Experience?

1. Most classes utilized lecture (sage on stage)
   format.
2. Most class work assignments were done
   individually rather than in groups or project
   teams.
3. Field experiences internships related to your
   major were not expected or required.
4. Few formal opportunities for seniors to integrate
   synthesize college experience.

3
Your College Experience?

1. Few opportunities to provide feedback on the
   effectiveness of your major (No exit interview).
2. Your major department consulted with experts
   outside of the college on curriculum program
   issues.
3. Faculty administration were highly sensitive to
   student needs wishes.
4. There was a sink or swim atmosphere.

4
Current Trends in Higher Education

• Teaching ? Learning
• Teacher-centered ? Student-centered
• Passive learning ? Active learning
• Classroom learning ? Experiential learning
• Disparate curriculum ? Integrated curriculum

5
More Trends in Higher Education

• Low accountability ? High accountability
• Isolation of student ? Integration into community
• Insensitivity to student needs ? Heightened
  sensitivity to student needs
• Sink or swim ? Coaching mentoring

6
A Once-in-a-Lifetime Opportunity --Create a New
Degree

• 1997 Reorganization of Penn State Commonwealth
  Education System
• Berks Lehigh Valley Campuses merge forming B-LV
  College
• 3 Psychology degrees in PSU System all
  traditional
• Psych faculty created new degree B.A. in Applied
  Psychology

7
Traditional Psychology Programs

• Focus on graduate school preparation
• Require lecture courses in basic scientific
  psychology
• Emphasize development of research skills
• Offer little or no assistance with internships
• Provide little career exploration assistance
• Offer few opportunities to network with working
  professionals

8
Needs of Most Psychology Majors

• Employment in social service or business position
  upon graduation
• Preference for applied psychology courses
• Desire for experiential learning--internships
• Assistance securing internships
• Marketable skills
• Help with career choice

9
What Is Applied Psychology?

• Specialty fields in the practice of psychology
  dealing directly with solving human behavioral
  problems improving human welfare and
  performance.
• Excludes areas of psychology that generate basic
  scientific knowledge theories about behavior
  with no application intended.

10
Major Fields of Applied Psychology

• Clinical Counseling Psychology
• Community Psychology
• Forensic Psychology
• Industrial/Organizational Psychology
• Rehabilitation Psychology
• School Psychology

11
Major Fields of Basic Scientific Psychology

• Abnormal
• Cognitive
• Cross-Cultural
• Developmental

• Educational
• Experimental
• Physiological Biological
• Social Personality

12
How Applied Psychology Degree Meets Student Needs

• Prepare grads for either employment grad school
• Focus on applied courses and experiential
  learning
• Emphasize development practice of marketable
  skills
• Assistance securing 12 credits of internship
  experience
• Provide multiple networking opportunities
  career exploration

13
8 Unique Components of Applied Psychology Program

1. Sophomore Field Experience
2. Focus on marketable skill development
3. 12-credit Internship requirement
4. Internship Seminar requirement
5. Program Portfolio requirement
6. Senior Capstone Course requirement
7. Advisory Council of community professionals
8. Ongoing program assessment

14
1. Sophomore Field Experience

• Requires 30 hrs. onsite shadowing mental health
  or human resource professional
• Forces early serious consideration of career
  paths
• Facilitates transition into internship experience
• Attendance at Internship Seminar required
• Networking with advanced interns
• Awareness of workplace politics
• Sensitivity to ethical issues
• Preparation for internship

15
2. Marketable Skill Development

• Oral written communication skills
• Critical thinking skills
• Personal effectiveness skills (professionalism)
• Interpersonal effectiveness skills
• Basic computer skills (Word, PowerPoint, Excel)

16
3. Internship Requirement

• 12 credits (525 hours onsite) required during
  both junior senior years
• Multiple sites encouraged
• Goal Statements, Journals Summary Reports
  required
• Formal oral presentation required at conclusion
  of each experience

17
4. Internship Seminar Requirement

• Attendance required twice per week
• Opportunities for networking, mentoring,
  coaching
• Students give regular updates of onsite work
• Students share successes, problems, and issues
• Emphasis on integration of classroom
  experiential learning

18
5. Program Portfolio Requirement

• Program-based beginning with field experience
• Contents
• Personal/Professional
• Resume
• Personal Mission Statement
• Career Goal Statement
• Self-assessments of interests, personality,
  skills
• Academic records

19
5. Program Portfolio

• Field Experience goals, contract, journals
  summary
• Internship goals, contract, journals summary
• Selected course materials
• Synthesis statement

20
6. Senior Capstone Course

• Part 1
• Overview/synthesis of major areas of applied
  psychology
• Faculty and practicing professionals present
  modules in their specialty

21
6. Senior Capstone Course

• Part 2
• Students make Oral Presentations to faculty,
  peers, guests
• Review, analysis, synthesis of entire college
  experience and Applied Psychology Major
• Presentation critiqued by all attendees
  immediate feedback given

22
6. Senior Capstone Course

• Part 3
• Final Portfolio evaluation occurs
• Psychology faculty conduct Exit Interview
• Students receive anonymous Program Assessment
  Questionnaire

23
7. Advisory Council

• Members are 14 prominent mental health human
  resource professionals
• Give advice and recommendations on all aspects of
  program
• Assist faculty in program evaluation
• Serve as adjunct teaching faculty

24
8. Program Evaluation

• Ongoing evaluation conducted each semester
• Exit interview given all graduating seniors
• Anonymous Program Evaluation Questionnaire given
  all graduating seniors
• Advisory Council reviews Portfolios and videos of
  internship presentations

25
How Is It Working?

• This program prepares you for the real world
• I feel extremely fortunate I ended up here in
  this major
• The program was intimidating at first due to the
  extent of the work internships required, but it
  proved to be very valuable

26
Student Comments

• It is a very challenging majorsurviving it
  really causes you to feel a great sense of
  accomplishment.
• Internship experiences allowed for great deal of
  pride opportunities for personal growth.

27
Student Comments

• Its a great experience you walk away with a
  vast amount of knowledge.
• Its a wonderful program.

28
Future Trends in Higher Education

• Increased accountability assessment of
  students, faculty, programs
• Continued focus on active experiential learning
• Increased attention to student needs
  (consumerism)
• More integration of classroom real world
• More integration of curriculum

29
Thanks for being a good audience!
30
Everyone gets an A !!
31
Questions???
32
(No Transcript)
33
Psychology-related Degrees at Penn State

• B.S. in Human Development Family Studies
  (HDFS)College of Health Human Development
• B.S. in Rehabilitation ServicesCollege of
  Education
• B.A. B.S. in Psychological Social
  Sciences--Abington College
• B.S. in Applied Behavioral ScienceCapital
  College Harrisburg / Schuylkill

34
(No Transcript)