Overview
Vertical Integration
The vertical integration of the undergraduate and graduate programs allows qualified psychology majors to perform research with graduate faculty and to earn an undergraduate track concentration in an area associated with one of the department’s three graduate areas (Industrial/Organizational Psychology, Clinical Psychology, Behavioral Neuroscience, and the Psychology of Addictions). Practica and co-curricular activities offer psychology majors a broad range of opportunities to practice their laboratory and classroom skills through collaboration with professionals in the community.
An Innovative Introductory Psychology Course
B104 Introduction to Psychology as a Social Science is a truly innovative course. It enrolls over 3000 students per year in classes of no more than 50 students. It stresses active and collaborative learning, a high level of student-faculty interaction, and the use of cutting-edge technology to facilitate and assess learning. It uses the computerized testing system that is described below.
Computerized Testing System
The department has made significant investments in technology for instructional purposes. Three of our highest-enrolling courses use a web-based testing program that evaluates students with a variety of items (including essays) and is available almost any time of the day, seven days a week. This program allows faculty to create, edit, deliver, grade, and analyze tests and frees up faculty time in class for more interactive and creative efforts. It gives students prompt feedback and multiple opportunities to demonstrate mastery learning. The department's software programmer also designs computerized laboratory simulations and interactive learning exercises available to students in the classroom and at home as well as an online grade book that allows students to review their performance and know their grades at any time during the semester.
Orientation and Capstone Career-Preparation Experiences
Most psychology majors begin their undergraduate experience with B103 Orientation to a Major in Psychology during which they explore the nature of psychology and investigate the professional options for which a degree in psychology can prepare them. They complete their undergraduate careers by choosing one of three capstone experiences: a research project, a practicum experience, or a scholarly seminar. The orientation course and capstone options respect the diversity of students’ career paths after they leave the university. Most alumni enter the job force immediately after graduation, while a smaller number are admitted to graduate school.
Sense of Community
The department is committed to fostering a sense of community among its students, which is a challenging task at a large, urban, commuter campus. Evidence of our commitment is the support of a staff-level position of Director of Student Development (DSD). The DSD teaches, advises, and supports our majors, and encourages them to take full advantage of opportunities at the university and in the community. The DSD coordinates a variety of academic/social functions (e.g., an annual open house, an alumni career day, and a brunch for graduating seniors and their families) and keeps in touch with our students through a department newsletter, an active listserv, and a comprehensive website.