McKendree University

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 15 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.

To major in psychology, a student must complete Introduction to Psychology, Abnormal Psychology, Experimental Psychology, Senior Survey, and Clinical and Counseling Psychology, SPSS, 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, Tests and Measurements, and  Industrial/Organizational Psychology. 

Senior Survey 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. 

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.