Department of Psychology

Equipping Students to Help Others

Azusa Pacific’s Department of Psychology is an energetic community of scholars equipping students to understand the field of psychology through academically rigorous coursework, hands-on laboratory research, internships with community agencies, and individual research projects—experiences that prepare students to be competitive in today’s top graduate school programs. Students also benefit from the expertise and diversity of the faculty, who provide them with a well-rounded experience to serve and make a global impact. The faculty also seize every opportunity to foster the spiritual development of every student through intentional faith integration and pastoral care.

A bachelor’s degree in psychology qualifies graduates for entry-level positions in mental health and community service agencies or human resources. More advanced work may require a minimum of a master’s degree, such as the department’s Master of Science in Child Life, Master of Science in Counseling Psychology with Specialization in Children and Adolescents, or Master of Science in Research Psychology and Data Analysis. The department also offers a psychology minor, an alcohol and drug counseling minor, a bachelor’s completion degree in psychology, and bachelor’s completion minors in psychology and alcohol and drug counseling.

Azusa Pacific also offers graduate programs in marriage and family therapy and clinical psychology.

Meet the Faculty: Brian Collisson, PhD

Learning Outcomes

Students who successfully complete the programs in the Department of Psychology are able to demonstrate the following:

1. Disciplinary Knowledge: Students demonstrate a working knowledge of psychology’s content domains, key theories, concepts, principles, themes, and applications of psychology in society.
2. Critical Thinking, Scientific Inquiry, and Effective Communication: Students demonstrate effective expression of critical thought and scientific inquiry in their (a) engagement with psychology literature, (b) conduct of psychological research, and (c) written, (d) oral, and (e) interpersonal communication.
3. Values and Ethics: Students (a) demonstrate knowledge of the APA ethical (a.1) and multicultural ethical (a.2) standards for the practice of psychology and are able to utilize those standards in decision making and actions in scientific inquiry (a.3), sociocultural (a.4), and interpersonal (a.5) contexts. Students (b) articulate and behaviorally express values that build and enhance interpersonal relationships and community engagement at local, multicultural, and cross-cultural levels.
4. Application to Vocation: Students demonstrate the ability to utilize and apply psychological knowledge and professional skills to (a) develop vocational postbaccalaureate goals, (b) work collaboratively with diverse others, (c) serve others’ needs, (d) self-regulate and manage projects successfully, and (e) solve increasingly complex problems.
5. Faith Integration: Students demonstrate skill in the integration of Christian faith and theology with the science of psychology as it relates to the nature and content of humanity (F1), knowledge (F2), values and ethics (F3), and vocational and spiritual formation (F4).

Note: This information is current for the 2024-25 academic year; however, all stated academic information is subject to change. Refer to the current Academic Catalog for more information.