4 What evidence exists of the internal and external demands for the program?

In regards to internal demand, this program serves the educational needs of NIC students beyond those who intend to enter the field of Psychology as a career. Introduction to Psychology is required by eleven other transfer, CTE, and medical programs at NIC. It is considered either optional or is recommended by an additional seven programs. The psychology content area is generally listed as 5th or 6th when comparing Full Time Enrollment by Subject. In addition, the Developmental Psychology course is recommended or optional in two programs and is required in two programs. Abnormal Psychology is listed as either optional or recommended in three programs.  In order to serve students seeking a future degree in Psychology, our program provides a conceptual and educational foundation for participation in a variety of psychology’s subfields.

Regarding external demand, the most recent National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) report indicates that Psychology ranked 4th in the list of Bachelor’s degrees conferred by subject area from 2015 through 2017 (NCES, 2019). According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2022), employment of psychologists nationally is expected to grow by 11% in the next decade (2022 –2032). This is considered “much faster than average”.  Also, clinical fields closely related to psychology such as social workers, family therapists, drug and addictions counselors are expected to grow 7% (social workers), 15% (family therapists), and drug counselors (18%). All of these are listed as career options expected to grow “faster than average” to “much faster than average.” According to Next Steps Idaho (idaho.gov), the demand for clinical and counseling psychologists is “high” with a “bright” outlook designation.  On the same website, Mental Health and Substance Abuse Counselors are identified as a “high demand” profession. Within Idaho, employment outlook for psychologists is expected to grow 15.5% in the next 10 years (Idaho Career Information System, 2019), which is considered “very fast”. The related field of Mental Health Counselor (which would typically involve undergraduate education in Psychology) is expected to grow at 18.6% in Idaho in the next 10 years, with Addictions Counselor growing by 13% (CIS, 2019).  The majority of our transfer students matriculate at the University of Idaho.  Institutional data obtained from the university indicates that more Bachelor’s degrees were conferred in Psychology than any other program during 2016-17, 2017-18, and 2018-19.