Psychology - transfer major
Faculty Advisers
Nicole Bragg-Scott: 503-491-7291 | Room AC2666 | Nicole.Bragg@mhcc.edu | Students last name A - M
Jessica Scott: 503-491-7105 | Room AC2679 | Jessica.Scott@mhcc.edu| Students last name N - Z
Nancy Olson: 503-491-7426 | Room AC2688 | Nancy.Olson@mhcc.edu | On sabbatical during the 2024-25 school year
Psychology is the study of people, the human mind, and actions. Students in this major will also study the diverse aspects of “being a person”, including: thoughts, brain function, emotion, personality, and human development.
Students who want to transfer to a four year college to major in psychology should work with their transfer school and an MHCC adviser.
Transfer Outcomes
The primary objective of MHCC's transfer programs is to fulfill general education requirements and prepare students for transferring to bachelor's degree programs. MHCC identifies the following core institutional outcomes as program outcomes for its transfer programs:
- Communication
- Cultural competence
- Quantitative reasoning and analysis
- Information literacy
- Critical thinking and problem solving
- Skills to promote personal wellness
- Civic and social responsibility
Students interested in pursuing the Psychology major can complete the following courses toward the Social Science requirement and/or electives on the ASLA (if pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree), AAOT, AS, or AGS degrees. Students should work with a university transfer adviser to choose the right courses.
Psychology courses that transfer as Psychology and/or Social Science to public Oregon Universities
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PSY201Z | Introduction to Psychology I (Course offered online) | 4 |
| PSY202Z | Introduction to Psychology II (Course offered online) | 4 |
Other Psychology courses
Many of these courses count toward MHCC Social Science requirements, and may transfer to public Oregon Universities as psychology, social science or electives.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PSY101 | Psychology of Human Relations (Course offered online) | 3 |
| PSY151 | Introduction to the Social Sciences | 3 |
| PSY214 | Introduction to Personality (Cultural Literacy course) | 4 |
| PSY216 | Social Psychology | 3 |
| PSY231 | Human Sexuality | 3 |
| PSY232 | Sexuality and Society (Course offered online) (Cultural Literacy course) | 3 |
| PSY235 | Human Development I: Prenatal - Late Childhood | 3 |
| PSY236 | Human Development II: Adolescence - Death | 3 |
| PSY237 | Human Development (Course offered online) | 4 |
| PSY239 | Introduction to Abnormal Psychology (Course offered online) | 4 |
Recommended courses for Psychology majors
Arts and Letters
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PHL201 | Introduction to Philosophy (Course offered online) (Cultural Literacy course) | 4 |
| PHL202 | Fundamental Ethics (Course offered online) (Cultural Literacy course) | 4 |
| COMM114 | Argument and Critical Discourse | 3 |
| ENG104Z | Introduction to Fiction (Course offered online) | 4 |
| R210 | World Religions (Course offered online) (Cultural Literacy course) | 3 |
| ASL201 | Second-year American Sign Language I (Cultural Literacy course) | 4 |
| ASL202 | Second-year American Sign Language II (Cultural Literacy course) | 4 |
| ASL203 | Second-year American Sign Language III (Cultural Literacy course) | 4 |
| JPN201 | Second-year Japanese I (Cultural Literacy course) | 5 |
| JPN202 | Second-year Japanese II (Cultural Literacy course) | 5 |
| JPN203 | Second-year Japanese III (Cultural Literacy course) | 5 |
| SPAN201 | Second-year Spanish I (Cultural Literacy course) | 4 |
| SPAN202 | Second-year Spanish II (Cultural Literacy course) | 4 |
| SPAN203 | Second-year Spanish III (Cultural Literacy course) | 4 |
Social Science
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ANTH101 | Introduction to Biological Anthropology (Course offered online) | 4 |
| ANTH102 | Introduction to Archaeology and World Prehistory (Course offered online) (Cultural Literacy course) | 4 |
| ANTH103 | Introduction to Cultural Anthropology (Cultural Literacy course) | 4 |
| PS200 | Introduction to Political Science (Course offered online) ( or other PS course on AAOT list) | 4 |
| SOC204 | General Sociology: Principles of Sociology (Course offered online) | 3 |
| SOC205 | General Sociology: Social Institutions (Course offered online) | 3 |
| SOC206 | General Sociology: Social Problems (Course offered online) | 3 |
Lab Science
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BI101 | General Biology: Cellular Biology (Course offered online) | 4 |
| BI102 | General Biology: Molecular Biology (Course offered online) | 4 |
| BI103 | General Biology: Ecology and Evolution | 4 |
| BI132 | Introduction to Animal Behavior (Course offered online) | 4 |
| BI133 | Northwest Forest Ecology | 4 |
Electives
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ANTH101 | Introduction to Biological Anthropology (Course offered online) | 4 |
| ANTH102 | Introduction to Archaeology and World Prehistory (Course offered online) (Cultural Literacy course) | 4 |
| ANTH103 | Introduction to Cultural Anthropology (Cultural Literacy course) | 4 |
| PS200 | Introduction to Political Science (Course offered online) | 4 |
| PSY101 | Psychology of Human Relations (Course offered online) | 3 |
| PS201 | American Government (Course offered online) | 4 |
| PS203 | State and Local Governments | 4 |
| PS204 | Introduction to Comparative Politics | 4 |
| PS205 | International Relations (Course offered online) (Cultural Literacy course) | 4 |
| PS209 | Problems in American Politics | 4 |
| PS215 | Global Issues | 4 |
| PS217 | Introduction to Public Land Management: The Politics of Recreation | 3 |
| PS225 | Political Ideology: Ideas About Government | 4 |
| PS241 | Introduction to Political Terrorism (Course offered online) | 4 |
| PSY214 | Introduction to Personality (Cultural Literacy course) | 4 |
| PSY216 | Social Psychology | 3 |
| PSY231 | Human Sexuality | 3 |
| PSY232 | Sexuality and Society (Course offered online) (Cultural Literacy course) | 3 |
| PSY237 | Human Development (Course offered online) | 4 |
| PSY239 | Introduction to Abnormal Psychology (Course offered online) | 4 |
| SOC204 | General Sociology: Principles of Sociology (Course offered online) | 3 |
| SOC205 | General Sociology: Social Institutions (Course offered online) | 3 |
| SOC206 | General Sociology: Social Problems (Course offered online) | 3 |
Transfer Schools
The following examples show how a student can complete an AAOT degree while also taking psychology courses. Students should work with their MHCC adviser, and their preferred transfer college, to pick the right classes. Not all courses are offered every term. Click on a course number to see what term(s) the course is typically offered. While students are welcome to start classes at MHCC in any term, many plans in the catalog are meant to start in fall term unless otherwise noted.
- Full time = 12 or more credits per term; takes 6 to 7 terms to complete.
- 3/4 time = 9 to 11 credits per term; takes about 8 to 10 terms to complete.
- Part time = 6 to 8 credits per term; takes about 11 to 13 terms to complete.
Sample Plan (full time)
| First Quarter | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
| PSY201Z | Introduction to Psychology I (Course offered online) | 4 |
| WR121Z | Composition I (Course offered online) | 4 |
| Arts & Letters | 3-4 | |
| Elective / university requirement | 4 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Second Quarter | ||
| PSY202Z | Introduction to Psychology II (Course offered online) | 4 |
| WR122Z or WR227Z |
Composition II (Course offered online) or Technical Writing (Course offered online) |
4 |
| MTH111Z or MTH105Z |
Precalculus I: Functions (Course offered online) (or higher) or Math in Society |
4 |
| Elective / university requirement | 4 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Third Quarter | ||
| Oral Communication | 3-4 | |
| Social Science (other than Psychology) | 3-4 | |
| Psychology elective | 3-4 | |
| Science (may be non-lab) / Math / Computer Science (STAT243Z recommended) | 3-5 | |
| Credits | 16-17 | |
| Fourth Quarter | ||
| Arts & Letters | 3-4 | |
| Lab Science | 3-5 | |
| Psychology elective | 3-4 | |
| Elective / university requirement | 4 | |
| Credits | 15-16 | |
| Fifth Quarter | ||
| Arts & Letters | 3-4 | |
| Lab Science | 3-5 | |
| Psychology electives / university requirements | 6-7 | |
| Credits | 13-14 | |
| Sixth Quarter | ||
| Health & Physical Education | 3 | |
| Lab Science | 3-5 | |
| Psychology electives / university requirements | 6-8 | |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Total Credits | 90-93 | |
Sample Plan of Study (part time)
| First Quarter | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
| PSY201Z | Introduction to Psychology I (Course offered online) | 4 |
| WR121Z | Composition I (Course offered online) | 4 |
| Credits | 8 | |
| Second Quarter | ||
| PSY202Z | Introduction to Psychology II (Course offered online) | 4 |
| WR122Z or WR227Z |
Composition II (Course offered online) or Technical Writing (Course offered online) |
4 |
| Credits | 8 | |
| Third Quarter | ||
| MTH111Z or MTH105Z |
Precalculus I: Functions (Course offered online) (or higher) or Math in Society |
4 |
| Arts & Letters | 3-4 | |
| Credits | 8 | |
| Fourth Quarter | ||
| Oral Communication | 3-4 | |
| Science (can be non-lab) / Math / Computer Science (STAT243Z recommended) | 3-5 | |
| Credits | 8 | |
| Fifth Quarter | ||
| Arts & Letters | 3-4 | |
| Lab Science | 3-5 | |
| Credits | 8 | |
| Sixth Quarter | ||
| Psychology (PSY) elective / university requirement | 4 | |
| Lab Science | 3-5 | |
| Credits | 8 | |
| Seventh Quarter | ||
| Arts & Letters | 3-4 | |
| Lab Science | 3-5 | |
| Credits | 8 | |
| Eighth Quarter | ||
| Social Science (other than Psychology) | 3-4 | |
| Health / PE | 3 | |
| Credits | 7 | |
| Ninth Quarter | ||
| Psychology elective | 3-4 | |
| Elective / university requirement | 4 | |
| Credits | 7-8 | |
| Tenth Quarter | ||
| Psychology elective | 3-4 | |
| Elective / university requirement | 4 | |
| Credits | 7-8 | |
| Eleventh Quarter | ||
| Electives / university requirements | 7 | |
| Credits | 7 | |
| Twelfth Quarter | ||
| Electives, to reach 90 credits | 6 | |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Total Credits | 90-92 | |
PSY101 Psychology of Human Relations (Course offered online)
Credits 3Summer/Fall/Winter/Spring
Registration Requirement: RD090 and WR090, or IECC201R and IECC201W; each with a grade of "C" or better; or placement above stated course levels.
Psychology of Human Relations is the study of psychology from a living or personal point of view with emphasis on practical application. Attention is given to individual and group dynamics with focus on feelings and attitudes in relation to family, work and day-to-day experiences. The course includes an overview of topics including self-concept, perception, self-awareness, personality, values and communications in resolving interpersonal conflicts.
This course fulfills: Human Relations; Social Science
View Course Outcomes:
- Apply basic terminology and concepts of human relations to everyday life and social situations
- Communicate effectively with diverse others in their personal and professional lives
- Demonstrate an enhanced awareness of self and others
- Recognize and evaluate how variables such as gender and culture affect the communication process
- Share personal ideas, attitudes and values regarding human relations, the world of work, family and self
PSY151 Introduction to the Social Sciences
Credits 3Summer/Winter
Registration Requirement: RD090 and WR090, or IECC201R and IECC201W; and MTH020; each with a grade of "C" or better; or placement above stated course levels.
This course offers an overview of the social sciences and specific examination of the key points, issues and concepts of each. It will include an historical development of the modern social sciences, as well as, a current, state-of the art perspective. A general functional description of the modern social scientific method as it is applied to the social sciences will be explored. The social science disciplines included in this course are anthropology, economics, geography, history, political science, psychology, and sociology.
This course fulfills: Human Relations; Social Science
View Course Outcomes:
- Describe the scientific methods and list the steps to the scientific process
- Discuss how the key interweaving feature of the social science, human behavior, is examined, observed and manipulated.
- Discuss the application of the scientific method to the general area of social sciences. Be able to differentiate between the social sciences and the natural sciences.
- Explain how the various social sciences are related, differentiate each social science’s domain and discuss in general how this social science conducts it scientific enterprise.
- List the various areas of study within the social sciences and define and discuss each of these specific areas.
PSY201Z Introduction to Psychology I (Course offered online)
Credits 4Summer/Fall/Winter/Spring
Registration Requirement: RD090 and WR090, or IECC201R and IECC201W; each with a grade of "C" or better; or placement above stated course levels.
Introduction to the science and application of psychology. Emphasis will be placed on psychological concepts, theories, and principles related to: Research Methods, Behavioral Neuroscience, Consciousness, Sensation/Perception, Learning, Memory, Thinking and Intelligence, and related topics.
This course fulfills: Human Relations; Social Science
View Course Outcomes:
- Identify psychological, biological, and other factors that influence behavior and mental processes.
- Apply key theories and concepts in psychology.
- Evaluate claims about psychological phenomena and human behavior \\n through the use of empirical evidence and knowledge of the scientific method.
- Demonstrate knowledge about the ways psychological science and practices are contextualized by ethical standards and sociocultural factors.
PSY202Z Introduction to Psychology II (Course offered online)
Credits 4Summer/Fall/Winter/Spring
Registration Requirement: PSY201Z.
Introduction to the science and application of psychology. Emphasis will be placed on psychological concepts, theories, and principles related to: Personality, Social Psychology, Health and Well-Being, Motivation and Emotion, Disorders, Therapies, Lifespan Development, and related topics.
This course fulfills: Human Relations; Social Science
View Course Outcomes:
- Identify psychological, social, cultural, and biological factors that influence behavior and mental processes.
- Apply key theories and concepts in psychology.
- Evaluate claims about psychological phenomena and human behavior through the use of empirical evidence.
- Demonstrate knowledge about the ways psychological science and practices are contextualized by ethical standards and sociocultural factors.
PSY214 Introduction to Personality (Cultural Literacy course)
Credits 4Spring
Registration Requirement: PSY201; or equivalent.
This course consists of an overview of basic personality theories within the framework of the four dominant philosophies of human behavior, i.e., psychoanalysis, humanism and cognitive psychology. Attention is given to the origin and development of personality, particularly as it pertains to healthy adjustment.
This course fulfills: Cultural Literacy; Human Relations; Social Science
View Course Outcomes:
- Apply basic terminology and concepts of each of the major personality theories
- Describe the major forces that shape human personality
- Evaluate the influences of societal, cultural and historical contexts upon the formation of personality theories
- Explain how different personality theories might account for specific personality
PSY216 Social Psychology
Credits 3Spring
Registration Requirement: PSY201.
Social Psychology involves the scientific study of the behavior of the individual within the context of a social setting. The course explores the significant variables that influence the social responses of the individual. Topics include attitude formation and change, social perception, persuasion and social influence, pro-social behavior and group decision-making and other relevant topics.
This course fulfills: Human Relations; Social Science
View Course Outcomes:
- Define and describe the core topical areas of traditional study in social psychology
- Explain the major theories involved in social psychology
- Explain the scientific method as applied to the study of social behavior
- Identify and evaluate the significant variables that influence behavior within a variety of social contexts
PSY231 Human Sexuality
Credits 3Summer/Fall/Winter/Spring
Registration Requirement: PSY201.
The focus of this course is on the psychological and physiological aspects of human sexuality. Study includes male and female sexual physiology and functioning, sexual behavior patterns, sexual dysfunctions and therapy, sexual development, atypical behavior, relational enhancement and a variety of other topics. Information and discussion aims for an open and nonjudgmental level of understanding.
This course fulfills: Human Relations; Social Science
View Course Outcomes:
- Describe human sexual development
- Describe the human sexual response and the various theoretical explanations of this behavior
- Evaluate and describe the processes of gender identification, sexual differentiation and sexual object choice determination
- Identify and describe the various sexual dysfunctions, paraphilias and atypical sexual behavior and describe the current treatment of each
- Identify and evaluate the various aspects of sexual relationships
- Identify the sexual anatomy of both males and females
- Identify the various sexual diseases and the current treatment of each
PSY232 Sexuality and Society (Course offered online) (Cultural Literacy course)
Credits 3Summer/Fall/Winter/Spring
Registration Requirement: PSY201.
The primary emphasis of Sexuality and Society is on the psychosocial interactions involved in our sexual behavior. The formation of social behavior culturally and cross culturally, is examined as they pertain to the psychology of sexuality. Various issues having both a sexual and social basis are examined.
This course fulfills: Cultural Literacy; Human Relations; Social Science
View Course Outcomes:
- Describe and evaluate attitudes formation, attributation and cognitive balance theories
- Describe and evaluate Freudian theory, Erickson's developmental theory and other contemporary theories of sexualdevelopment
- Describe and evaluate the social issue of abortion, homosexuality, prostitution, pornography and child sexual abuse
- Describe the development of gender identity and gender roles and discuss the variations from the normaldevelopment
- Describe the psychological and sociological aspects of sexual behavior with emphasis on cultural and cross-culturalbehavior
- Identify and describe the legal variations of sexual and moral laws from a historical and current perspective (focusingprimarily on the U.S. society)
- Identify the variety of contemporary sexual attitudes and behavioral practices from a historical and current perspective within U.S. society
PSY235 Human Development I: Prenatal - Late Childhood
Credits 3Fall
Registration Requirement: This course is limited to students in the Mental Health, Social Service and Addiction Counseling major.
This course identifies major theories of physical, cognitive and socio-emotional human development from conception through late childhood. Characteristics of each developmental stage are emphasized. Major research issues relating to developmental stages are discussed.
This course fulfills: Human Relations; Social Science
View Course Outcomes:
- Critically evaluate the value of various theories as they related to appropriate educational and/or human service outcomes
- Demonstrate familiarity with individual physical, cognitive and socio-emotional developmental abilities
- Describe characteristic behaviors of each major developmental stage and their relevance for human service work
- Describe the developmental stages from conception through late childhood in biological, cognitive, and socio-emotional domains
- Identify major contemporary theories which related to developmental stages in prenatal, early childhood and late childhood growth
- Identify major research issues which relate to infant, early childhood and late childhood issues
PSY236 Human Development II: Adolescence - Death
Credits 3Winter
Registration Requirement: This course is limited to students in the Mental Health, Social Service and Addiction Counseling major.
Second term of a two-term sequence, this course identifies major theories of physical, cognitive and socio-emotional human development from adolescence through death. Characteristics of each developmental stage are emphasized. Major research issues relating to developmental stages are discussed.
This course fulfills: Human Relations; Social Science
View Course Outcomes:
- Critically evaluate the value of various theories as they relate to appropriate educational and/or human service outcomes
- Demonstrate familiarity with individual physical, cognitive and socio-emotional developmental abilities
- Describe characteristic behaviors of each major developmental stage and their relevance for human service work
- Describe the developmental stages from adolescence through late adulthood in biological, cognitive and socio-emotional
- Identify major contemporary theories which relate to developmental stages in adolescence, early adulthood, middle adulthood and late adulthood
- Identify major research issues which relate to developmental stages in adolescence, early adulthood, middle adulthood and late adulthood
PSY237 Human Development (Course offered online)
Credits 4Summer/Fall/Winter/Spring
Registration Requirement: PSY201.
This course is a descriptive and theoretical examination of the developmental process of human life from conception to death. Emphasis is placed on integrating the variables of influence that contribute and direct the sequential aspects of development. Classic to contemporary developmental approaches are presented and studied. It is required upon beginning this class that the student have a thorough understanding of the concepts and theories presented in PSY201 General Psychology.
This course fulfills: Human Relations; Social Science
View Course Outcomes:
- Describe and evaluate the nature and procedures of developmental research, with an appreciation of the ethicalstandards
- Describe and explain the classic processes of the observation method, the clinical method and the experimentalmethod
- Describe the biological foundations of development including the genetic concepts, environmental influences andresultant interaction of these two major classes of variables
- Describe the major aspects of development from conception to death with a comprehension of the significantnegative and positive influences and outcomes
- Explain and describe the classic theoretical approaches to development, including behavioral, humanistic, cognitive,ethnological and psychoanalytic. Apply the interactive perspective to the various key issues in development.
PSY239 Introduction to Abnormal Psychology (Course offered online)
Credits 4Summer/Fall/Winter/Spring
Registration Requirement: PSY201.
This is an introduction to mental disorders and diagnosis with an overview of major treatment strategies. Subjects covered include a historical overview of mental disturbance, community psychology, the current Diagnostic and Statistics Manual (DSM) and the social impact of mental disorder on modern society. Specific disorders include anxiety disorders, personality disorders, dissociative disorders, affective disorders, substance use disorders, suicide, schizophrenia and organic brain disorder.
This course fulfills: Human Relations; Social Science
View Course Outcomes:
- Demonstrate knowledge of the basic terminology and concepts of each of the major theories of the cause of mentaldisorders
- Describe the main features of the prominent therapies and treatments for various disorders
- Discuss the controversies surrounding medication, institutionalization, community services, diagnosis and legalissues to the field
- Identify and recognize the primary symptoms of the major mental disorders
Online option regularly offered
Cultural Literacy course