McKendree College
Psychology Dept.
Psychology is the scientific study of behavior and mental processes. Psychology majors at McKendree have gone on to a variety of careers in the mental health field, including mental health clinics, crisis centers, substance abuse programs, social work, eldercare facilities, criminal justice facilities, and the education system. The degree has prepared students to enter graduate school in psychology, counseling, social work, law, divinity school, occupational therapy, and criminal justice studies. In the last 10 years, we have had excellent placement in careers and graduate schools. Our students report back that they are well prepared and ready for both careers and graduate school.
Students in experimental psychology get hands on experience with psychological tests and design their own research project.
To major in psychology, a student must complete Introduction to Psychology, Abnormal Psychology, Experimental Psychology, Experimental Psychology, and 16 elective hours that the student selects. We believe this choice in elective hours allows a student to select courses to meet their interests and aspirations some of the courses to chose from include: Child and Adolescent Psychology, Adult Development, Stress Management, Social Psychology, Personality, Death and Dying, Human Sexuality, and Industrial/Organizational Psychology.
Students in
social psychology engaged in a group dynamics project.
We also offer a course entitled, "Senior Survey" that helps students explore careers, graduate schools, and taking the GRE for admission into graduate programs. Moreover, many psychology majors take internships involving counseling, criminal justice, children, foster care, and special populations that allow students to take the theory that they learn in the classroom and gain some hands on experience. (For more information on internships, please see the Blackboard course PSY 490 on internships).
Students in Senior Survey attend a career fair at SIUE.
All of the psychology courses emphasize the importance of developing skills useful for the profession. An emphasis is placed on research skills and all psychology majors take a computer class that teaches them how to use SPSS for data entry and data analyses which is used in an independent research project in Experimental Psychology. In addition to quantitative methodology, students also gain experience with qualitative approaches.
Moreover we encourage students to share their research papers and many psychology majors had their papers published in the online journal Scholars.
The psychology department sponsors the psychology club which participates in community service projects, watching and discussing psychology-related videos, attending speakers, and other events.