PSY Programmatic Themes
Psychology is more than just one course you are taking in college. Psychology is everywhere! It’s a tool
that can help you live a better life, make a bigger impact on the world, and build stronger relationships.
As you complete coursework throughout your degree program, you’ll discover and rediscover five key
themes. Each one illustrates a way to apply psychology in your life both personally and professionally., By
the end of your program you’ll have the tools to understand yourself more fully improve your personal
and professional connections and effect positive change in the world.,
Self-care: When you hear the term self-care you may think of things like bubble baths and dark
chocolate., But self-care is about more than just pampering yourself., Engaging in self-care means
taking time for personal reflection and developing skills to improve your well-being., You can also
take care of yourself by increasing your resilience and self-regulation.,
Social justice: Everyone deserves the same rights and access to opportunities., When you apply
psychology ethically and empathetically you’re supporting social justice., As you work through
this program, you’ll see that psychology can do more than just improve your own life—it can
help you enhance the lives of others and promote social justice for society as a whole.
Emotional intelligence (EI): Emotional intelligence is defined as the practice of self-control and
the ability to accurately perceive the emotions of self and others, appropriately adapt emotions
and actions in daily interactions, and consistently understand and express interest in the wellbeing of self and others. In short, it’s how you understand and respond to emotions in yourself
and the people around you. Emotional intelligence is not just an abstract concept. It’s a set of
skills, including self-awareness, self-regulation, ethical judgment, empathy, social awareness,
and conflict resolution.
Career connections: Even if you don’t become a psychologist, studying psychology can help
advance your career. Psychology helps explain why people behave in certain ways and how you
can work with them more effectively. Whether you major in psychology or use this course as a
stepping-stone to other opportunities, the study of psychology can improve your daily life and
job prospects.
Ethics: Modern psychology is guided by ethical principles. While formal ethics are set by
governing bodies such as the American Psychological Association, you also have your own set of
values and morals that influence your personal ethics. Throughout your coursework, you will
apply ethics by citing your sources.