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Career Area: Transfer Pathways
Program: Psychology Transfer Pathway - AA Degree
Campus(es): Winona/Red Wing

Psychology is the scientific study of how people behave, think, and feel. Begin your education in psychology at MSC Southeast.

Why do people behave in a certain way? What forces drive human relationships? How does the brain process information? If you are curious about questions like these, the study of psychology may be the educational pathway for you.

At Minnesota State College Southeast in Red Wing and Winona, the Psychology Transfer Pathway A.A. degree offers students a powerful option: the opportunity to complete an associate degree designed for direct transfer to designated Psychology bachelor's degree programs at Minnesota State universities.

After graduating with the Psychology Transfer Pathway A.A. degree, you can transfer in as a junior and complete your bachelor's degree by earning 60 additional credits at one of the seven Minnesota State universities (admission requirements, including GPA, apply).

The Psychology Transfer Pathway A.A. degree is the foundation of a well-rounded education with a range of coursework in the liberal arts and sciences, providing the basis for lifelong learning. The insights you gain from this degree will impact your success in any future career, whether in the field of psychology or in business, education, health care, or any other profession.

Apply now for admission to MSC Southeast

Transfer Pathways

The Psychology Transfer Pathway AA offers students a powerful option: the opportunity to complete an Associate of Arts degree with course credits that directly transfer to related bachelor's degree programs at Minnesota State universities.

The curriculum has been specifically designed so that students completing this pathway degree and transferring to one of the seven Minnesota State universities enter the university with junior-year status.

All courses in the Transfer Pathway associate degree will directly transfer and apply to the designated bachelor’s degree programs in a related field.

The Psychology Transfer Pathway (AA) degree transfers to the following 4-year degree programs:

Transfer College4-Year Degree Name
Bemidji State UniversityPsychology, BA, BS
Metropolitan State UniversityPsychology, BA
Minnesota State University MoorheadPsychology, BA
Minnesota State University, MankatoPsychology, BS
Southwest Minnesota State UniversityPsychology, BA
St. Cloud State UniversityPsychology, BA
St. Cloud State UniversityCommunity Psychology, BS
Winona State UniversityPsychology, BA

Download the Program Plan

Courses

Associate of Arts Degree General Requirements for Psychology Transfer Pathway

  1. A minimum of 60 semester credits.  
  2. A minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.0.  
  3. A minimum cumulative MnTC GPA of 2.0.  
  4. A minimum of 20 semester credits applied toward the degree must be taken at Minnesota State College Southeast.

Completion of the specific degree requirements below:  

MnTC REQUIREMENTS

Minnesota Transfer Curriculum (MnTC) Requirements  - A minimum of 40 credits to complete all 10 goal areas.  A MnTC course may satisfy more than one goal area; however, the credits only count once.  

CORE GOAL AREAS: 

Goal 1 Communication (Three courses) - 9 credits 

  • ENGL1215 - College Writing 1 (3 credits)  
  • ENGL2525 - College Writing 2 (3 credits)  
  • COMM1228 Interpersonal Communications 

Goal 2 Critical Thinking (met when 40 MnTC credits satisfying all 10 goal areas have been completed)

Goal 3 Natural Science (Two science courses from at least two different subject areas. One course must have a traditional lab and the other must have a traditional lab or lab-like experience.) - 6-8 credits 

Goal 4 Mathematical/Logical Reasoning (One course) - 3 credits 

  • MATH 1230 Introduction to Statistics (3 credits)

Goal 5 History and the Social and Behavioral Sciences (Three courses from at least two different subject areas) - 9 credits  

  • PSYC 1110  Introduction to Psychology (3 credits) 
  • Additional Goal 5 courses (6 credits)

Goal 6 The Humanities and Fine Arts (3 courses from at least two different subject areas) - 9 credits 

THEME GOAL AREAS:  

Goal 7 Human Diversity (One course/Satisfied by PSYC 1110) - 3 credits 

Goal 8 Global Perspective (One course) - 3 credits 

Goal 9 Ethical and Civic Responsibility (One course) - 3 credits 

Goal 10 People and the Environment (One course) -3 credits

Other MnTC courses to complete the 40-credit MnTC

Total minimum credits to complete the MnTC ten goal areas: 40 credits 

  • Health and Wellness Requirement - 2 credits
  • Technology/Digital Literacy Requirement - 2 credits

In addition to completing the above, the remaining 16 credits will include:

Required Psychology Core (9 credits)

  • PSYC 1115 Lifespan Psychology (3 credits)
  • PSYC 2526 Abnormal Psychology (3 credits)
  • PSYC 2531 Social Psychology (3 credits)

Career Focus Course (1 technical credit)

  • INSP 1525 Career and Educational Planning (1 credit)

Restricted Electives (Choose two of the following - 6 credits)

  • PSYC 1223 Psychology of Death and Dying (3 credits)
  • PSYC 2520 Psychology of Human Sexuality (3 credits)
  • PSYC 2522 Positive Psychology (3 credits)

Estimated Costs for this Major

Approximate Tuition/Fees:$12,414
Minimum Tool Cost:N/A
Books/Supplies:$800
Estimated Total:$13,214
 

 

Career Opportunities

Many occupations within the field of psychology require a graduate degree either at the master or doctoral level. These include:

  • Clinical/counseling psychologist
  • Marriage and family therapist
  • Counselor
  • Psychometrist
  • School psychologist
  • Organizational consultant
  • Academic researcher
  • College professor

Completing the A.A. and bachelor's degree is the first step in this educational process.

Career Information

Use the MN DEED Career and Education Explorer Data Tool to learn about wages, job growth, and much more in this career field.

Outcomes

Program graduates will be able to:

  • Describe key concepts and overarching themes in the field of psychology
  • Apply psychological concepts to real and hypothetical scenarios
  • Utilize scientific inquiry to evaluate and interpret basic psychological research
  • Describe the roles of ethics and personal values in the field of psychology
  • Analyze how psychological principles apply to diverse populations
  • Communicate knowledge of psychological principles through various methods, such as verbally, in writing, or through formal presentations

Important Documents
Psychology Transfer Pathway Planning Worksheet (PDF)

Highlights

  • The MSC Southeast Psychology Department offers a wide range of courses that focus on psychology as a scientific discipline. Courses include: introduction to psychology, abnormal psychology, lifespan development, social psychology, positive psychology, statistics, psychology of human sexuality, and more.
  • Our courses focus on studying human behavior and development in the context of a diverse and rapidly changing world. We use a mix of lecture, discussion, and hands-on activities to encourage students to apply the science of psychology to real-life situations.

Instructors

Angel Mytas

B.S., Psychology and Human Development, University of Wisconsin-Green Bay
M.A.E., Educational Psychology, University of Northern Iowa

Angel Mytas has been teaching psychology since 2004. She loves all areas of psychology but has special interests in the areas of Health Psychology, Positive Psychology and Lifespan Psychology. She lives in Cashton, Wisconsin and spends most of her free time with her two sons Quinn and Isaiah and her daughter Eliza as well as her partner Vince and their boisterous labradoodle. She enjoys camping, swimming and reading dystopian fiction.

Amy Whitcomb
M.S., Psychology, Western Illinois University
B.A., Psychology, Iowa Wesleyan College
A.A., Southeastern Community College, West Burlington, Iowa
An Iowa native, Amy Whitcomb has been teaching psychology since 1999, and began teaching at MSC Southeast in the fall of 2010. In the past, she has done counseling and social work, but decided she loved teaching far more than trying to save the world. While she is interested in most areas of psychology and criminal justice, social psychology and criminology are her favorites. In her spare time, she likes reading true crime accounts, watching true crime shows, listening to opera and classic rock, and spending time with her children. She has become an excellent cook, but remains unfulfilled by it.