Community Psychology

Community psychology explores person-environment interactions in order to better understand the ways in which society affects individuals, as well as the ways in which individuals impact society.  Understanding these relationships then enables us to develop interventions and strategies that empower individuals, facilitate collaboration within communities, and promote constructive social change.  The ultimate purpose of community psychology is to optimize the well-being of both individuals and communities.

Mission Statement 

The Community Psychology program engages students in civic and social interests, developing the knowledge, skills, and dispositions required for professional careers of public service, guiding social systems, facilitating constructive change, and optimizing the well-being of individuals and communities. 

Learning Outcomes for Community Psychology, BA 

Upon completion of this program, students will be able to: 

-Apply foundational principles of psychology and sociology to analyze and explain the dynamics of mental processes and behaviors, from individual to communal settings, across cultural contexts;

-Apply foundational principles of communication studies to analyze and explain the dynamics of verbal, written, and nonverbal exchanges, from dyadic to mass communication, across cultural contexts;

-Apply foundational principles of civics and political science to analyze and explain the dynamics of the public, private, and nonprofit sectors in a democratic society with a mixed economy;

-Apply foundational principles of systems theory to analyze and explain the structure and processes of communities;

-Apply foundational principles of leadership studies to analyze and explain the dynamics of leader-follower interactions, exchanges, and relationships; and,

-Apply foundational principles of change theory to plan, implement, and evaluate the collaborative and constructive transformation of communities.

Learning Outcomes for Community Leadership, Minor 

Upon completion of this program, students will be able to: 

-Apply foundational principles of civics and political science to analyze and explain the dynamics of the public, private, and nonprofit sectors in a democratic society with a mixed economy;

-Apply foundational principles of systems theory to analyze and explain the structure and processes of communities;

-Apply foundational principles of leadership studies to analyze and explain the dynamics of leader-follower interactions, exchanges, and relationships; and,

-Apply foundational principles of change theory to plan, implement, and evaluate the collaborative and constructive transformation of communities.

Mission Statement 

The Community Psychology program engages students in civic and social interests, developing the knowledge, skills, and dispositions required for professional careers of public service, guiding social systems, facilitating constructive change, and optimizing the well-being of individuals and communities. 

Learning Outcomes for Community Psychology, BA 

Upon completion of this program, students will be able to: 

-Apply foundational principles of psychology and sociology to analyze and explain the dynamics of mental processes and behaviors, from individual to communal settings, across cultural contexts;

-Apply foundational principles of communication studies to analyze and explain the dynamics of verbal, written, and nonverbal exchanges, from dyadic to mass communication, across cultural contexts;

-Apply foundational principles of civics and political science to analyze and explain the dynamics of the public, private, and nonprofit sectors in a democratic society with a mixed economy;

-Apply foundational principles of systems theory to analyze and explain the structure and processes of communities;

-Apply foundational principles of leadership studies to analyze and explain the dynamics of leader-follower interactions, exchanges, and relationships; and,

-Apply foundational principles of change theory to plan, implement, and evaluate the collaborative and constructive transformation of communities.

Learning Outcomes for Community Leadership, Minor 

Upon completion of this program, students will be able to: 

-Apply foundational principles of civics and political science to analyze and explain the dynamics of the public, private, and nonprofit sectors in a democratic society with a mixed economy;

-Apply foundational principles of systems theory to analyze and explain the structure and processes of communities;

-Apply foundational principles of leadership studies to analyze and explain the dynamics of leader-follower interactions, exchanges, and relationships; and,

-Apply foundational principles of change theory to plan, implement, and evaluate the collaborative and constructive transformation of communities.

Bachelor of Arts in Community Psychology - Minor Required

General Education Core33
Required Courses
CMLD 101Intro to Community Leadership3
CMLD 260Fndtns of Civic Engagement3
CMLD 301Concepts in Comm Leadership3
COMX 412Communication and Conflict3
CMLD 355Dsgn Comm Based Programs3
CMLD 360Evaluation Comm Base Prog3
CMLD 401Seminar in Comm Leadership3
PSYX 100Intro to Psychology3
SOCI 101Introduction to Sociology3
COMX 212Intro to Intercultural Comm3
or SOCI 315 Race, Gndr, & Ethnic Relations
PHIL 210Ethics3
COMX 210Communication in Small Groups3
COMX 320Prin of Organizational Comm3
WRIT 338Public Relations Writing3
WRIT 328Media Literacy3
PSYX 217Community Psychology3
PSYX 360Social Psychology3
PSYX 361Industrial Organizational Psyx3
PSYX 362Multicultural Psychology3
PSYX 305Ecological Psychology3
Total minimum credits required for degree/minor120

Community Leadership Minor

Community Leadership 

Required Courses
CMLD 101Intro to Community Leadership (CAT IV)3
CMLD 260Fndtns of Non Profit Service3
CMLD 301Concepts in Comm Leadership3
CMLD 355Assmnt & Dsgn Comm Programs3
CMLD 360Eval of Comm-Based Programs3
CMLD 401Seminar in Comm Leadership3
Select one of the following combinations of courses for an additional 6 credits:6
Option 1
Fin Man Nonprofit Org
HR Mgmt Nonprofit Orgs
Option 2
Public Relations Writing
Media Literacy
Option 3
Nonprofit Grant Writing
Nonprofit Fundraising
Option 4
Intro to American Government
Intro to State and Local Govt
Option 5
Principles of Microeconomics
Principles of Macroeconomics
Option 6
Communication in Small Groups
Prin of Organizational Comm
Total minimum credits required for minor24

Nonprofit Management Minor

CMLD 101Intro to Community Leadership3
BGEN 235Business Law3
PSCI 227Fin Man Nonprofit Org3
BMGT 329Human Resource Management3
PSCI 307HR Mgmt Nonprofit Orgs3
CMLD 355Assmnt & Dsgn Comm Programs3
CMLD 360Eval of Comm-Based Programs3
PSCI 411Nonprofit Grant Writing3
PSCI 412Nonprofit Fundraising3
Total24