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

3. Your College Experience? • Few opportunities to provide feedback on the effectiveness of your major (No exit interview). • Your major department consulted with experts outside of the college on curriculum & program issues. • Faculty & administration were highly sensitive to student needs & wishes. • 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. Abnormal Cognitive Cross-Cultural Developmental Educational Experimental Physiological & Biological Social & Personality Major Fields of Basic Scientific Psychology

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 • Sophomore Field Experience • Focus on marketable skill development • 12-credit Internship requirement • Internship Seminar requirement • Program Portfolio requirement • Senior Capstone Course requirement • Advisory Council of community professionals • 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 major—surviving 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 • “It’s a great experience & you walk away with a vast amount of knowledge.” • “It’s 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???

33. Psychology-related Degrees at Penn State • B.S. in Human Development & Family Studies (HDFS)—College of Health & Human Development • B.S. in Rehabilitation Services—College of Education • B.A. & B.S. in Psychological & Social Sciences--Abington College • B.S. in Applied Behavioral Science—Capital College Harrisburg / Schuylkill