2021-2022 Pierce College Catalog 
    
    Mar 28, 2024  
2021-2022 Pierce College Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Psychology (AA-DTA) Course Map


Created by Pierce faculty, this map outlines the initial coursework for this career field and for transfer to a four-year institution. It provides you a clear path to complete your degree by listing a specific set of courses relevant to your program and career. The map is designed with the appropriate number of credits and meets degree requirements. Courses are organized in a recommended sequence; please schedule accordingly. If a course is unavailable, select the next appropriate course within the sequence. If you want to change a course on this map you must speak with an advisor to assure you meet all degree requirements. For each course, a purpose statement explains how the content relates to your career field. On this map, there may be instances when you will be required to select a course from several options. Use these purpose statements and notes to choose the course that best aligns with your interests and needs. You will also find action items to complete to assure you progress and graduate on time. While this map is a great guide to courses required to complete an Associate in Arts - Direct Transfer Agreement (AA-DTA) Degree Requirements  Degree, you are responsible for fulfilling all degree requirements. Questions? Your Success Network is ready to help you!

Important note about transfer: colleges and universities may change their requirements at any time, so this map is not a guarantee of transfer. You will need to check transfer requirements with your intended four-year school. 

1. College Success


  • Course purpose: A foundational course to explore and affirm a career choice and build upon the skills, knowledge, and resources that will support you at Pierce College and beyond.

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  • Note: The College Success course you select will depend on the Career Pathway Map you are following. Your advisor will assist you in selecting either the 3- or 5- credit version of the course. Should you choose to repeat a College Success course you must enroll in a College Success course with the same credit amount as the original course; a COLLG 110 course grade can only be replaced with a grade from another COLLG 110 course and a COLLG 115 course grade can only be replaced with a grade from another COLLG 115 course. 

2. Research Essentials


3. English Composition I


  • Course purpose: Career pathways in Psychology require you to develop skills in reading, writing, and communication. This course will provide the foundational skills in these areas.

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  • Note: Your advisor will assist you in reviewing your Guided Self Placement and selecting either the 5-credit or the 7-credit co-requisite ENGL& 101 + ENGLC 101 course. 

Action Item: Meet with Advisor


Use your Success Network! In your first quarter, meet with your advisor to revisit your career and transfer path, make adjustments to your goals as needed, and plan for your next steps.

4. General Psychology


5. Math Course Recommendation


The math course you select will depend on the transfer institution you plan to attend and your math placement.  Your advisor will assist you in selecting the appropriate course(s).

Mathematics Course Distribution List   

6. English Composition Course Recommendation


Choose one

  • Course purpose: Psychologists need to be able to research best practices and be able to write and communicate in argumentative discourse.  This course also reinforces APA and MLA style of documentation and provides you with research tools. This course is strongly recommended for those who pursue the basic research-focused path.

  • Course purpose: Psychologists need to be able to understand the inner workings and motives of human beings.  This course also reinforces APA and MLA style of documentation and provides you with research tools.

7. Psychology Course Recommendation


Choose one

  • Course purpose: Social Psychology and Personality Psychology are courses where you are introduced to core areas of the major, and where the focus on psychology as a major is woven into the content and presentation of the course. PSYC& 200 and PSYC& 220 would work as well and are required or recommended for Allied Health and other pro-tech degrees.

8. English Course Recommendation


Choose one

9. Natural Science Course Recommendation


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  • Course purpose: Psychologists need an understanding of physiological concepts and issues.  This course covers concepts in cellular function that are related to neuroscience research and understanding actions of psychotropic prescriptions. Neuroscience is the largest growing area of psychology.

  • Course purpose: Psychologists need an understanding of epidemiology and the role of human health.  This course examines human health with respect to essential nutrients, factors that affect eating habits, food advertising, and disease.  The course may offer background to psychology of health and medicine.

  • Course purpose: If you chose MATH& 107 in step 4, you are encouraged to take MATH& 146 to prepare for entrance to Psychology major.

10. Sociology Course Recommendation


Choose one

Action Item: Apply for Graduation


Way to go! It is time to apply for graduation. Visit the Pierce College Graduation website for details. https://www.pierce.ctc.edu/graduation

11. Social Science Course Recommendation


Choose one

Action Item: Pathway Discussion


Recommitment/Reaffirmation to pathway. Want to be a Social Science major? Want to be Psychology major more than another Social Science major? Talk about majors and minors. Talk about distinguishing one’s self as a Psychology or Social Science major from others with high impact practices like research or internship.

12. Psychology Course Recommendation


Choose one

  • Course purpose: Social Psychology and Personality Psychology are courses where you are introduced to core areas of the major, and where the focus on psychology as a major is woven into the content and presentation of the course. PSYC& 200 and PSYC& 220 would work as well and are required or recommended for Allied Health and other pro-tech degrees.

Action Item: Disciplines


Take at least three classes in your discipline in the first year.

13. Humanities Course Recommendation


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14. Biology Course Recommendation


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  • Course purpose: If you have a specific interest in Neuropsych, you will need separate advising and should consider being a biochemistry major with a minor in psychology. Both courses provide the kind of background that will help you understand neuroscience that is presented in psychology courses that are not neuroscience, and meet the lab requirement.

15. Psychology/World Language Course Recommendation


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16. Biology Course Recommendation


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17. Psychology Course Recommendation


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18. Humanities Course Recommendation


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  • Course purpose: This course offers the psychology student different ways of looking at the world from the eye of the camera and narrator. It also offers you a way to develop empathy along with critical thinking since typically the documentary presents a unique perspective.

  • Course purpose: This course offers the psychology student the opportunity to develop empathy by creating nuanced experiences of others. It also helps them develop writing skills that are needed in the field of psychology for research and report writing.

  • Course purpose: This course provides the psychology student a way to apply critical thinking to the world they occupy. It allows them to understand ways of being in the world – growth-oriented and psychopathology - from the perspective of cultural impact on the individual and group psyche.

19. Humanities Course Recommendation


Choose one

· Performance Skills Course


Choose a performance skills course such as art, music, or theatre that total 5 credits.

Total Credits: 90