Psychology

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Chairperson: Dr. Virgil L. Sheets
Department Office: Root Hall, room B-205
Web site: http://www.indstate.edu/psychology/
E-mail: psychdept@indstate.edu

The Department of Psychology promotes a broad understanding of the social and individual bases of human behavior, and courses in the department contribute to Foundational Studies, Women’s studies, and the Honor’s Program. 

Study of psychology supports careers in social services, health, education, business, and government. Graduates of the department often enter human services, business, or government, or do graduate study in psychology, counseling, social work, human resources, or public health.

Degrees Offered

The Department of Psychology offers a major in psychology, minor in psychology, and a program for social studies education majors to become certified to teach psychology in secondary schools.

Candidates for a Bachelor of Science in psychology must successfully complete the University requirement of a minimum of 120 credits, including Foundational Studies course work, as well as major requirements. Students are encouraged to choose a minor that complements their career goals, although a minor is not required for a degree.

The psychology major and minor are designed to provide students with a broad background in core areas of psychology while permitting enough flexibility to allow students to tailor their course work in consultation with their advisor to support their professional goals. The psychology major requires supervised training in the conduct of psychological research or the application of psychology in community settings. Department faculty are happy to discuss the value of these programs in support of students’ career aspirations.

Experiential Learning

Psychology - Our learning experiences are tailored for the multiple directions an undergraduate degree in psychology might take students.  All students gain some experience in conducting psychological research in PSY 376.  Those attending graduate school are advised to fulfill their required culminating experience with a research lab experience (PSY 486) while those intending on immediate employment fulfill their experience working in a community-based placement.

Departmental Opportunities

The department is housed in three floors of Root Hall, which was built in 1989. The department includes research space, a psychology clinic, and classroom and office space. The department offers psychology students many opportunities to conduct research as part of their academic work, to assist in faculty-sponsored projects, and/or to conduct research of their own.

The department sponsors the Psychological Society, which is open to all students interested in psychology, and Psi Chi, a national psychology honorary society, which is open by invitation only to junior and senior psychology majors in good academic standing. The department also hosts a chapter of the National Alliance for Mental Illness, a group oriented towards understanding and advocating for the mentally ill.  All students are invited to attend a variety of lectures and symposia presented by faculty and visiting national and international scholars.

Each year, awards are presented to outstanding students in psychology, based on academic excellence and notable service to the community.

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