An Innovation in Higher
Education: The Penn
State Applied
Psychology Degree
Henry O Patterson, Ph.D.
Your College Experience?
1.
2.
3.
4.
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.
Your College Experience?
5.
6.
7.
8.
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.
Current Trends in Higher
Education
Teaching  Learning
 Teacher-centered  Student-centered
 Passive learning  Active learning
 Classroom learning  Experiential learning
 Disparate curriculum  Integrated
curriculum

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

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
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
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
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.
Major Fields of Applied
Psychology

Clinical & Counseling Psychology
 Community Psychology
 Forensic Psychology
 Industrial/Organizational Psychology
 Rehabilitation Psychology
 School Psychology
Major Fields of Basic Scientific
Psychology

Abnormal
 Cognitive
 Cross-Cultural
 Developmental

Educational
 Experimental
 Physiological &
Biological
 Social &
Personality
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
8 Unique Components of
Applied Psychology Program
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
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
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
2. Marketable Skill
Development

Oral & written communication skills
 Critical thinking skills
 Personal effectiveness skills
(professionalism)
 Interpersonal effectiveness skills
 Basic computer skills (Word, PowerPoint,
Excel)
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
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
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
5. Program Portfolio
– Field Experience goals, contract, journals &
summary
– Internship goals, contract, journals & summary
– Selected course materials
– Synthesis statement
6. Senior Capstone Course

Part 1
– Overview/synthesis of major areas of applied
psychology
– Faculty and practicing professionals present
modules in their specialty
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
6. Senior Capstone Course

Part 3
– Final Portfolio evaluation occurs
– Psychology faculty conduct Exit Interview
– Students receive anonymous Program
Assessment Questionnaire
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
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
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”

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.”

Student Comments
“It’s a great experience & you walk away
with a vast amount of knowledge.”
 “It’s a wonderful program.”

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
Thanks for being a good
audience!
Everyone gets an “A” !!
Questions???
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