Psychology

Acting Department Chair: Peer

Professors: Brumley, Lawyer, Lynch, Rasmussen, Swift, Turley-Ames, Wong, Xu

Associate Professors: Fulton, Peer, Rieske

Assistant Professor: Behmer, Emert

Associate Lecturer: McDonald, Anderson

Adjunct Faculty: Hendrickson, Landers, Pongratz, Wood Roberts

Emeritus:  Enloe, Hatzenbuehler, Joe, Mathews, Roberts

Doctor of Philosophy in Clinical PsychologyDegreePh.D.
Doctor of Philosophy in Experimental PsychologyDegreePh.D.
Master of Science in PsychologyDegreeM.S.

Doctor of Philosophy in Clinical Psychology

Doctoral training in clinical psychology is accredited by the American Psychological Association.  It is the goal of the doctoral training program to produce clinical psychologists who are well trained in the science of human behavior and its application to diverse clinical populations. All students are required to participate in course work and practica that emphasize assessments and treatments in all major areas of child and adult psychopathology. Evaluations of each student’s clinical-professional development and scholarship-research skills are continuous.

Goals

The Clinical Training Committee (CTC), in conjunction with the Psychology Department, has evolved a finite set of aims for all graduate students in the clinical training program that are consistent with APA accreditation standards. Specific program activities designed to help students meet program aims are continuously scrutinized and modified.

  • Aim 1: To produce students who become competent clinical psychologists who recognize the reciprocal relationship between science and practice and integrate research and theory from diverse areas of psychology into their evidence-based practice.
  • Aim 2: To produce students who can comprehend and critically evaluate psychological science and plan, execute, and disseminate research relevant to the field of psychology.
  • Aim 3: To produce students who have knowledge of and embody the ethical standards of the profession of psychology and who demonstrate appropriate professional conduct and professional interpersonal relationships.
  • Aim 4: To produce students who are sensitive to cultural and individual differences and diverse value or belief systems and effectively integrate aspects of diversity into case conceptualization, assessment, and treatment delivery.

Doctor of Philosophy in Experimental Psychology

Doctoral training in Experimental Psychology provides students with education and research training in the core areas of psychological science, e.g., personality, social psychology, learning, cognition, developmental psychology, and behavioral neuroscience. Students who complete the doctoral program may pursue academic or non-academic careers. To prepare for their future careers, students need to (i) have a solid foundation in basic areas of psychology (breadth of knowledge) and also (ii) develop an expertise in their research areas (depth of knowledge). Our program offers a variety of courses to help students accomplish their career goals.

Goals

Six program goals have been defined:

  • Demonstrate area-specific research knowledge and expertise
  • Demonstrate breadth of knowledge and integration of core areas in psychology
  • Demonstrate general competencies in research methodology and analysis
  • Develop effective communication skills
  • Demonstrate professionalism
  • Demonstrate ethical research conduct
  • Develop respect for diversity

Each goal has associated objectives and competencies.

Master of Science in Psychology

Students enrolled in the Clinical and Experimental Psychology doctoral programs earn a Master's of Science in Psychology as they work towards their doctorate, for course work completed along the way. This is not a stand-alone Master of Science in Psychology program.

Goals

To ensure that students who receive a master’s degree in psychology will be prepared for further post-graduate study and for careers in related areas, the department has identified the following goals:

  • Understand core areas and the breadth of the field of psychology and its applications;
  • Be able to integrate knowledge and theories across, and to think critically about, topics within the domains of psychology;
  • Be competent in library information technology and computer applications related to the study of psychology;
  • Be competent in scientific methodology and analysis as they apply to the study of psychology;
  • Be able to communicate effectively, in both oral and written form, about issues within the field of psychology;
  • Actively participate in the research process; and
  • Understand and comply with the APA code of ethics pertaining to research conduct.

Each goal has associated objectives and competencies.