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COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS & SCIENCES

Program

The instruction offered by the Department of Psychology is designed to acquaint the
student with Psychology as a biological science and as a social science. The department
offers courses that introduce the student to psychological theory, methodology, research
findings and applications of psychological principles.
Students in psychology have the opportunity to work closely with faculty members
conducting research. Some students serve research apprenticeships in which they
participate in the faculty members’ ongoing research. Psychology faculty conduct
research in a variety of areas including children’s cognitive and emotional development,
interpersonal attraction, psychological approaches to understanding mental health
conditions and many others. There are opportunities for advanced students to conduct
independent research projects.
Psychology students have participated in internships as part of their educational training at MAINE. A sample of positions held in the past are: Judicial Aide, Bangor Sheriff’s Office; Child Care Assistant, Hilltop Day Care Center; Program Assistant, Elizabeth Levinson Center; Blindness Services Intern, Bureau of Human Services; Mental Health Aide, Acadia Hospital.

Career Opportunities

The knowledge gained as a Psychology major can be put to work in a variety of employment settings and makes it possible for the graduate to work more effectively with people. Some of our graduates have entered positions as follows: Children’s Librarian, Cambridge Public Library; Educator, Bancroft School; Research Aide, Human Services Department; Psychiatric Technician, Jackson Brook Institute; Newspaper Reporter, Sanford News; Youth Counselor, New Hampshire Hospital; Teacher/Child Care Worker, New England Center for Autism; Resident Case Worker, Catahr; Supervisor Waiver Foster, Elmhurst Association for Retired Citizens; Case Manager, Training and Development Corporation; Family Worker II, St. Michael’s Center; Special Needs Instructor, Lincoln Primary Elementary.

Entrance Requirements in Years (as established by the college) A high school diploma with the following specific courses:

4 English
2 Algebra I & II
1 Geometry
2 Lab Science (including biology)
2 History/Social Studies
2 Foreign Language (same language or two
years of American Sign Language-ASL)
Academic electives (to equal at least 17
total credits)
To ensure current mathematical skills students should take a mathematics course during their senior year of high school.

Major Requirements

34 total credits Psychology 3 credits Research Methods 4 credits Statistics 3 credits Biological Psychology 3 credits Cognitive Psychology 3 credits Personality or Social Psychology 3 credits Abnormal or Developmental
Psychology
3 credits History of Psychology
3 credits Capstone in Psychology
9 credits Any Psychology
4 credits Biology
120 Minimum total credit hours required for graduation

General Education Requirements*

ENG101 College Composition
18 credits Human Values & Social Context area (a single course may satisfy more
than 1 sub-category, but a total of 18 credits must be completed)
Western Cultural Tradition
Social Context & Institutions
Cultural Diversity & International Perspectives
Population & the Environment Artistic & Creative Expression
2 courses Designated Writing Intensive (1 must be within the major)
2 courses Biological or Physical Sciences (must include at least 1 laboratory course)
1 course Ethics (emphasis on discussion of ethical issues in 1 course or series of courses)
6 credits Mathematics (including statistics & some computer science, only 3 credits in computer science can count toward this requirement)
1 capstone An approved experience in which the student integrates the components of his or her undergraduate training to perform at a professional level. The capstone experience is usually completed during the senior year in consultation with the student’s academic advisor.

*All UMaine students must complete these general education requirements, which are counted in the total credit hours required for graduation and may be contained in the Major Requirements previously listed.

A Member of the University of Maine System

Specialized Information

The department offers a minor in Psychology. The minor is open to all undergraduate, degree-seeking University of Maine students and requires the completion of 18 credit hours in Psychology courses.

Graduate Study

The Psychology Department offers graduate study in several areas at the Master of Arts degree and Doctor of Philosophy degree levels.

Master of Arts: Opportunities exist for obtaining a Master of Arts degree in cognitive-biological, developmental, and social psychology areas. Students develop research skills and conduct research in one of these specialty areas. Students also become familiar with areas of general psychology, statistics and experimental design. With the completion of a Master’s Thesis research project and defense, students are awarded the Master of Arts degree by the Graduate School.
Doctor of Philosophy: Students can be directly admitted into a doctoral program in the areas of cognitive-biological, developmental, and social psychology. The goals of the doctoral programs in these areas are to prepare students for careers in college teaching and research.
Students are admitted directly into the doctoral program in Clinical Psychology. The clinical program does not offer a Master of Arts degree. The doctoral degree in clinical prepares students for careers combining research and clinical practice. This program is accredited by the American Psychological Association and adheres to the scientist-practitioner model of clinical training.

There are two tracks within the Clinical Program: General Clinical and Developmental-Clinical. Students within the Developmental-Clinical Track take core courses in clinical and developmental psychology as well as comprehensive examinations in both areas. Students in the General Clinical Track receive clinical experiences that focus on both child and adult populations.
Doctoral training in the Clinical Program culminates with the doctoral dissertation defense and the completion of a full-year internship in an American Psychological Association approved setting.