Psychology is a broad discipline. Its focus of study ranges from looking at biology to that of social psychology. As a scientific discipline, it uses a variety of research methods including experiments to study human behavior and thought. Many times human behavior is compared to animal behavior. When one first begins their study of psychology it is not unusual to believe psychological disorders and clinical therapy are the main topics for discussion, but one soon discovers it is only one of many areas of psychology. Research psychologists seek to test hypotheses on learning, memory, thinking, social influences, brain and consciousness and much more. They test the big questions on the body-mind relationship including the role of culture on thought and behavior.

The JCCC psychology department teaches a wide spectrum of courses. There are many sections of Introduction to Psychology taught either F-2-F or online. Others courses include child and human development, social psychology, health psychology, personality, educational psychology, applied psychology,  environmental psychology, research methods, and of course, human sexuality. Freud would be so happy!

Psychology is a great discipline to help you to expand your understanding of people and to develop the systematic thinking necessary for many careers for the twenty-first century. To learn more about psychology as a career, read Conversations with Faculty.