Applied Psychology

Degree Type

Bachelor of Science

About

Even when your focus is on understanding and learning how to help others, you’ll probably learn more about yourself too.

Introduction

Where sociology studies communities and societies, psychology is the study of the individual. Humans are complex beings, and this field focuses on understanding the characteristics, qualities, and behaviors that make us who we are, and impact how we interact with the world around us. With everything going on in the world, there’s a growing need for psychologists and mental health professionals who can help people process sociopolitical conflicts, economic uncertainty, unpredictable effects of climate change and the struggles of daily life.

Learning about the mind can also expand your own. Students of psychology also have opportunities to explore and conduct research in a wide range of specializations including human development, personality, intelligence, and substance abuse, among many, many others. The skills learned here give students a strong foundation in research, analysis, communication that apply to any role that involves working with or helping people.

You can choose to major or minor in Psychology.

Students studying

750+ Course Options

The Coppin State University Academic Catalog has a wide variety of skill-building courses designed to inspire and prepare you to be in-demand professionals and transformational leaders.

Applied Psychology at Coppin

Students pursuing the Bachelor of Science in Applied Psychology must complete 120 credit hours to graduate. These credit hours split among General Education Requirements (GERs), course prerequisites, and required major courses. Regardless of concentration, students must take 47 credit hours within the Department.

The Applied Psychology major has 2 concentrations:

  • Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counseling
  • Psychological Services

Remember! You must complete all major and prerequisite requirements with a grade of C or better.

Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Concentration

There is a relationship between substance abuse and mental health. This specialization focuses on learning about this relationship, and teaches students how to connect individuals struggling with substance abuse behaviors to help that can save lives. With roughly 20 million U.S. adults reporting struggling with substance abuse, addiction is a national problem that isn’t going away. Students graduate ready for immediate employment and with knowledge of community, state, and federal resources available to assist individuals with substance abuse disorders.

Graduates may also be eligible to apply course credits toward certification by the State of Maryland Board of Professional Counselors and Therapists.

What You'll Learn

Students specializing in Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counseling learn how to:

  • Engage individuals struggling with substance abuse with sensitivity
  • Demonstrate understanding of alcoholism and other addictions
  • Apply knowledge of socioeconomic and environmental factors to understanding of alcohol abuse and other addictions
  • Demonstrate specialized skills in counseling individuals struggling with substance abuse
  • Apply knowledge of psychological development, interviewing, assessment and evaluation, behavior modification, abnormal psychology, and clinical psychology to help individuals struggling with substance abuse
  • Analyze statistical data and prepare psychological reports

Required Courses for the Concentration

Please note: PSYC 201 is a prerequisite for all other PSYC courses.

Course Credits Name
PSYC 207 3 Basic Statistics in Behavioral Sciences*
PSYC 233 3 Psychological and Physiological Aspects of Substance Abuse
PSYC 306 3 Personality
PSYC 335 3 Developmental Psychology
PSYC 341 3 Psychological Assessment and Evaluation
PSYC 342 3 Psychological Report Writing
PSYC 343 3 Psychological Research**
PSYC 352 3 Counseling in Groups
PSYC 411 3 Abnormal Psychology
PSYC 440  3 History and Systems of Psychology
PSYC 347  3 Alcohol Abuse and Other Addictions in the Inner City and Other Communities
PSYC 354 3 Foundations of Effective Alcohol Abuse and Other Addictions Counseling
PSYC 451 3 Field Placement I
PSYC 452 3 Field Placement II

*PSYC 207 requires one of the following prerequisite courses: MATH 110 – College Algebra or MATH 125: Mathematics for Liberal Arts

**PSYC 343 requires PSYC 207 as a prerequisite

Sample Degree Plan

This plan is only for example purposes. Your academic journey may be slightly different from another student’s journey, so be sure to always communicate with your academic advisor before finalizing your course schedule.

Fall Semester

Course name
ENGL 101 English Composition I
PSYC 201 General Psychology
MATH 125 Math for Liberal Arts
ORIE 101 Freshman Seminar
HIST 205 African-American History I
IDIS 102 Music and Dance

Spring Semester

course name
ENGL 102 English Composition II
PHSC 103 Technology and Human Affairs
SPCH 105 Speech
MISY 150 Technology Fluency
HIST 206 African-American History II

Fall Semester

Course name
PHIL 102 Introduction to Logic
PSYC 207 Behavioral Statistics
WLIT 207 World Literature
BIOL 101 Biological Sciences
ANTH 207 Cultural Anthropology

Spring Semester

Course name
PSYC 233 Psychological and Physiological Aspects
PSYC 306 Personality
PSYC 335 Developmental Psychology
PSYC 347 Alcohol Abuse in the Inner City
XXXX xxx General Elective

Fall Semester

Course name
PSYC 341 Psychology Assessment
PSYC 354 Addiction Counseling
PSYC 351 Counseling Techniques
XXXX xxx General Elective
XXXX xxx General Elective

Spring Semester

Course name
PSYC 343 Psychological Research
PSYC 352 Group Counseling 
PSYC 342 Psychological Report Writing
XXXX xxx General Elective
XXXX xxx General Elective

Fall Semester

Course credits name
PSYC 411 3 Abnormal Psychology
PSYC 451 3 Field Placement I
XXXX xxx 3 General Elective
XXXX xxx 3 General Elective
XXXX xxx 3 General Elective

Spring Semester

Course Credits Name
PSYC 440 3 History and Systems
PSYC 452 3 Field Placement II
XXXX xxx 3 General Elective
XXXX xxx 3 General Elective
XXXX xxx 3 General Elective

Psychological Services Concentration

While there are some entry-level career opportunities for undergraduate psychology majors, more professional opportunities become available after pursuing graduate study. This concentration is both career-focused, and preparation for graduate research and study.

What You'll Learn

Students specializing in Psychological Services learn how to:

  • Apply knowledge and training of interviewing, psychological assessment, abnormal psychology, and research methods to professional opportunities or graduate study
  • Demonstrate understanding of human needs and issues
  • Develop competencies for communicating and reporting psychological data and statistics

Required Courses for the Concentration

Please note: PSYC 201 is a prerequisite for all other PSYC courses.

Course Credits Name
PSYC 207 3 Basic Statistics in Behavioral Sciences*
PSYC 210 3 Applied Psychology
PSYC 306 3 Personality
PSYC 335 3 Developmental Psychology
PSYC 341 3 Psychological Assessment and Evaluation
PSYC 342 3 Psychological Report Writing
PSYC 343 4 Psychological Research**
PSYC 351 4 Counseling Techniques
PSYC 352 3 Counseling in Groups
PSYC 411 3 Abnormal Psychology
PSYC 440  3 History and Systems of Psychology
PSYC 345  3 Behavior Modification
PSYC xxx 3 Psychology Elective
PSYC 451 3 Field Placement I
PSYC 452 3 Field Placement II

*PSYC 207 requires one of the following prerequisite courses: MATH 110 – College Algebra or MATH 125 – Mathematics for Liberal Arts

**PSYC 343 requires PSYC 207 as a prerequisite

Sample Degree Plan

This plan is an example only. Be sure to consult your program advisor about course options before finalizing your schedule.

Fall Semester

Course name
ENGL 101 English Composition I
PSYC 201 General Psychology
MATH 125 Math for Liberal Arts
ORIE 101 Freshman Seminar
HIST 205 African-American History I
IDIS 102 Music and Dance

Spring Semester

course name
ENGL 102 English Composition II
PHSC 103 Technology and Human Affairs
SPCH 105 Speech
MISY 150 Technology Fluency
HIST 206 African-American History II

Fall Semester

Course name
PHIL 102 Introduction to Logic
PSYC 207 Behavioral Statistics
WLIT 207 World Literature
BIOL 101 Biological Sciences
ANTH 207 Cultural Anthropology

Spring Semester

Course name
PSYC 210 Applied Psychology 
PSYC 306 Personality
PSYC 335 Developmental Psychology
PSYC xxx Program Elective
XXXX xxx General Elective

Fall Semester

Course name
PSYC 341 Psychology Assessment
PSYC 345 Behavior Modification
PSYC 351 Counseling Techniques
XXXX xxx General Elective
XXXX xxx General Elective

Spring Semester

Course name
PSYC 343 Psychological Research
PSYC 352 Group Counseling 
PSYC 342 Psychological Report Writing
XXXX xxx General Elective
XXXX xxx General Elective

Fall Semester

Course credits name
PSYC 411 3 Abnormal Psychology
PSYC 451 3 Field Placement I
XXXX xxx 3 General Elective
XXXX xxx 3 General Elective
XXXX xxx 3 General Elective

Spring Semester

Course Credits Name
PSYC 440 3 History and Systems
PSYC 452 3 Field Placement II
XXXX xxx 3 General Elective
XXXX xxx 3 General Elective
XXXX xxx 3 General Elective

Related Behavioral Health Programs

Psychology

Undergraduate

Alcohol and Substance Abuse Counseling

Graduate
MS

Professional Counselor Licensure

Post-Master's
College

Interdisciplinary Studies is in the Department of Applied and Political Sciences in the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences.