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Accounting & Economics ►Psychology Certificate Program with Externship


Program includes National Certification & an Externship Opportunity



The Psychology Profession

The study of psychology offers students a comprehensive look inside human thought and behavior. Psychology is a broad field that examines hundreds of different areas including the central nervous system, perception, learning and memory, personality, motivation, developmental and clinical psychology. Professionals who work in this field have a deep curiosity for human behavior and an acute desire to help people in need of psychological treatment. Students considering a course of study in psychology, or perhaps entering this profession, have the opportunity to contribute to a wide variety of fields including healthcare, social work, corrections and even criminology.


The Psychology Program

The Psychology Program course takes students through the basic concepts, theories, research methods, and contributions to the understanding of human behavior taking students through the various complexities of human development, the motivations for our thoughts, feelings and behavior as well as the role of sexuality, gender, heredity and genetics as applied to human behavior overall. Students will have the opportunity to analyze various psychological disorders, “normal” behaviors and the basis of the psychology behind learning, memory and experience. Students who complete this course will have firm understanding of the theories and concepts of psychology including the scope of psychology, biological foundations and the brain, sensation, perception, motivation, personality, learning/memory, emotion, states of consciousness, personality theories, cognition, life-span development, and applied psychology.


Program Objectives

At the conclusion of this program, students will be able to:

  • Examine the field of psychology in terms of history, key perspectives and issues, current trends, scientific and research methods
  • Explain the anatomical structures and physiological functions related to psychology
  • Examine sensation, perception, heredity, and genetics
  • Analyze consciousness, sleep, sleep disorders, and hypnosis as related to psychology
  • Analyze the underlying principles and basis of the psychology behind learning, memory, and experience
  • Explain cognitive abilities and intelligence from a psychological perspective
  • Examine the different phases and stages in human development
  • Examine the different motivation theories and the psychological basis of emotions
  • Explain sexuality and gender in relation to psychology
  • Examine psychoanalytic approaches and humanistic theories to explain behaviors and traits in personalities
  • Evaluate health psychology and approaches to health management
  • Investigate different mental disorders as related to psychology
  • Analyze psychotherapy, the different methods, and their effectiveness
  • Investigate the importance of thoughts, trends in social behavior, and impact of social influences
  • Use Microsoft Office

THE FIELD OF PSYCHOLOGY

  • Define psychology
  • Discuss the origins of psychology
  • Discuss key issues and perspectives regarding the field of psychology

BIOLOGICAL BASIS OF BEHAVIOR, SENSATION, AND PERCEPTION

  • Define and list the functions of the different parts of the nervous system and their role in behavior
  • List the functions of the eyes, ears, and skin and their role in behavior
  • Discuss sensation and perception and their role in everyday life

CONSCIOUSNESS

  • Describe the nature of sleep, sleep disorders, and their treatment
  • Examine the methods and practice of hypnosis and the different views about the practice
  • Discuss the role of drugs in hypnosis and altering consciousness

LEARNING WITH CHANGE, EXPERIENCE, AND MEMORY

  • Describe the nature, principles, process, and neural basis of behavioral learning
  • Define classical conditioning
  • Define operant conditioning
  • Describe the nature, principles, process, and neural basis of classical conditioning
  • Describe the nature, principles, process, and neural basis of operant conditioning
  • Define memory and the different types of memory
  • Discuss the role of the different memory systems
  • Discuss forgetting and some of the views related to it
  • Identify the methods of construction of schemas and their use

COGNITION AND INTELLIGENCE

  • Define the processes of thinking and reasoning
  • Identify strategies and rules for decision making
  • Identify the different methods of problem solving
  • Examine language as a communication tool
  • Describe human intelligence and the different methods of defining and measuring intelligence

HUMAN DEVELOPMENT

  • Describe the changes, characteristics, and challenges related to each developmental phase
  • Discuss the various theories related to each developmental phase

MOTIVATION AND EMOTION

  • Describe emotions: The biological basis and their expression
  • Describe the theories and perspectives on motivation
  • Discuss the causes and effects of personal happiness and individual differences in perspectives on emotions
  • Identify the different types of motivation and their nature

SEXUALITY AND GENDER

  • Analyze human sexual behavior
  • Describe the psychological side of human sexuality
  • Discuss sexual dysfunctions and sexually transmitted diseases

PERSONALITY AND BEHAVIORAL PATTERNS

  • Discuss the various humanistic approaches to personality
  • Discuss psychoanalytic approaches to personality and behavior
  • Identify the different personality traits and research methods

HEALTH, STRESS, AND ITS MANAGEMENT

  • Identify the causes and effects of stress, and methods of stress control Analyze methods to promote wellness

MENTAL DISORDERS: CAUSES, NATURE, AND TREATMENT

  • Describe group therapies and the processes involved
  • Identify the different assessment and diagnostic methods related to mental disorders
  • Define psychotherapy as a psychological approach to treating mental disorders
  • Discuss the different psychotherapeutic methods for mental disorders
  • Discuss anxiety and the different types of disorders—dissociate, sexual, gender sexuality, personality, and substance disorders, their causes, and effects

SOCIAL THOUGHT AND BEHAVIOR

  • Discuss social behavior and factors that influence interactions with others
  • Discuss social influences, conformity, compliance, and obedience
  • Describe aggression and prosocial behavior

Note: This program can be completed in 6 months. However, students will have online access to this program for a 24-month period.

Education and National Certifications

  • Students should have or be pursuing a high school diploma or GED.
  • There are no state approval and/or state requirements associated with this program.
  • There is a National Certification exam available to students who successfully complete this program:
    • Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) Certification Exam.

National Certification

Upon successful completion of this program, students would be eligible to sit for the Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) exam. Although there are no state approval, state registration or other state requirements for this program, students who complete this program  will be prepared and are eligible to sit for this national certification exam. Students who complete this program are encouraged to complete the externship option with their program. Students who complete this program can and do sit for the MOS national certification exams and are qualified, eligible and prepared to do so. works with each student to complete the exam application and register the student to take their national certification exam.

Externship / Hands on Training / Practicum

Although not a requirement, once students complete the program, they have the ability to participate in an externship and/or hands on practicum so as to practice the skills necessary to perform the job requirements of a professional in this field. Students will be assisted with completing a resume and/or other requirements necessary to work in this field. All students who complete this program are eligible to participate in an externship and will be placed with a participating organization near their location. works with national organizations and has the ability to place students in externship opportunities nationwide.

Note: No refunds can be issued after the start date published in your Financial Award document.