Department of Psychology

Sections

News for 2012-2013
Serafin Scholarship
Overview
Career options
About this site

NEWS FOR 2012-2013

New Faculty Join the WSU Psychology Department

The Psychology Department is delighted to welcome the addition of two new regular faculty members: Dr. Rebecca Foster and Dr. Amanda Brouwer.

We also have the unusual good fortune to have Dr. Anthony Risser joining our department for 2012-2013 as a Visiting Associate Professor.

Information about our new faculty member's backgrounds, interests, and courses can be found on their individual web pages on our site.


Psychology Faculty Assume New Roles at WSU

For 2012-2013, Dr. Peter Miene has agreed to serve as the Interim Associate Dean for the WSU College of Liberal Arts. Dr. John Johanson will serve as Interim Chair of our department this year.


Exciting Opportunity Available for 2012-2013!
ARDIS SERAFIN YOUNG SCHOLAR AWARD

A $3000.00 scholarship has been established in recognition of Ardis Serafin's life-long dedication to scholarship in psychology, particularly in human health and well-being. In alternativing academic year, beginning in 2010-2011, the award will be given to a WSU junior or senior Psychology major to support a year-long independent undergraduate research project. The project may involve any area of psychology, though preference is given to research that matches Ms. Serafin's interests in health-related issues (broadly defined).

This endowment has been graciously funded by the philanthropy of Ardis Serafin to recognize students who exhibit a strong commitment to research in psychology.

The scholarship will be available again for the 2012-2013 academic year. Interested students are strongly encouraged to think about this opportunity and discuss ideas with members of our faculty.

Applications will be due early in the Fall 2012 semester.

Details about the application process will be available soon.

OVERVIEW

Psychology is the science of behavior, including mental processes. The department's goal is to foster students' understanding of the many factors that influence behavior, the methods employed by psychologists to identify such factors and the means by which behavior can be modified. Students are attracted to the discipline because they wish to become professional psychologists, they plan to pursue careers in fields that emphasize interpersonal skills, or they want to better understand themselves as well as others.

Those majoring in psychology can choose between Option A and Option B. Option A is attractive because its semester-hour requirement allows students to combine a major in psychology with one or more additional majors or minors.  Option B is available for those preferring to concentrate their studies in psychology for more in-depth experience.

Students must consult with a Psychology Department advisor to plan a major in psychology. All psychology majors are strongly encouraged to take Statistics (PSY 231), Experimental Psychology (PSY 308), and Experimental Psychology Lab (PSY 309) as early as possible in their educational career. The particular elective courses students take, along with their sequencing, depends upon their background, special interests, and goals.

CAREER OPTIONS

Students majoring in psychology who do not plan on graduate study receive a liberal arts education and are qualified for a wide variety of vocations that involve an understanding of human behavior, including careers in human services, technical and/or laboratory work, and business.

Students can prepare for graduate study in psychology by completing either Option A or Option B. An advanced degree in psychology allows the pursuit of many different kinds of careers, including but not limited to the following:  clinical or counseling psychologist, child psychologist, school psychologist, industrial/organizational psychologist, rehabilitation counselor, experimental psychologist, and college professor.

ABOUT THIS WEBSITE

The Academics section of this web site explains the requirements for the psychology major and psychology minor, describes the courses offered by the department, and provides information about other academic requirements and policies.

The Faculty section provides information about each professor's background, interests, and research. This section also includes contact information for each faculty member and current information about when each member of the department has drop-in office hours.

The Students section provides information about the WSU psychology student organizations: the Psychology Club and the WSU chapter of Psi Chi honor society.

The Links section offers easy access to helpful information for both students and faculty. Some of these pages contain material that is often needed but hard to locate. Most of the linked pages are located on the WSU site.

Finally, the Psychology Department Site Map is available in case information on this is ever difficult to locate.