Applied Psychology

Alishia Huntoon, Program Director, Klamath Falls and Online
MariaLynn Kessler, Program Director, Portland-Metro
Alishia Huntoon, Externship Coordinator
Trevor Petersen, Advising Coordinator
Participating Faculty: J. Borgen, A. Huntoon, M. Kessler, K. Konkel, T. Petersen

Degree Offered

Bachelor of Science in Applied Psychology

The Bachelor of Science in Applied Psychology prepares students for careers that apply the principles of psychology in diverse settings. The program provides a strong core curriculum in order for students to understand the foundations, theories, and principles of each area of psychology. As an applied program, both core and elective courses have a skills-based focus, allowing students to identify personal strengths, apply knowledge to real-world situations, create and implement new ideas, and ultimately be prepared to enter the workforce or continue on to graduate programs. A diverse offering of elective courses allows for students to focus on one or many areas of psychology, creating a unique opportunity for students to have an in-depth and personalized psychology degree. Students should consult with their advisor about specific interests for guidance in regards to elective offerings. The Applied Psychology program also offers Capstone in Applied Psychology (CAP) courses. These CAP courses vary by term and give senior students the opportunity to synthesize knowledge learned throughout the degree program and apply core principles and theories of psychology to a selected topic. Through an Applied Experience, students have the opportunity to participate in externships, advanced research courses, or community work to prepare themselves for exciting and rewarding careers in psychology or for additional course work in graduate programs.

Mission Statement

The mission of the Applied Psychology Program is to enable students to apply core principles and theories of psychology and in-depth knowledge and skills in specific areas of psychology to communicate effectively, think critically, behave ethically and with cultural awareness, and work inter-personally with people from a wide variety of backgrounds.

Career Opportunities

Nationwide, college graduates with a bachelor’s in psychology perform a wide variety of jobs or attend a wide variety of graduate programs. Graduates may work in counseling, education, social service, management, public relations, public health, and other fields. All of these jobs are potentially available to graduates of Oregon Tech’s Applied Psychology Program. Many of Oregon Tech’s Applied Psychology graduates have found jobs in Oregon and beyond. Human service employers include county and state agencies, as well as a wide range of private and non-profit agencies. Graduates of Oregon Tech’s Applied Psychology Program benefit from the emphasis of hands-on training and applied experiences. Graduates have also completed a Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) and pursue careers in education, such as teaching, school counseling, and special education. Graduates have also been employed in industry and are following management training programs. Finally, graduates have pursued various Master’s and doctoral programs in psychology and related fields.

Programs

Major

Applied Psychology, BS