Psychology

MORE INFORMATION
Barbara Beaver, chair
Psychology Department
Winther 5033
(262) 472-1026
beaverb@uww.edu
Web site

Admissions Office
UW-Whitewater
Whitewater, WI 53190
(262) 472-1440
Fax:
(262) 472-1515
uwwadmit@uww.edu
Web site

The Psychology Department in the College of Letters and Sciences offers undergraduates a comprehensive exposure to the prominent theories and concepts of modern psychology, the techniques and results of psychological research and the applications of psychological knowledge to everyday situations. The program offers field and research experiences that allow students to apply acquired skills and knowledge.

Psychology students are prepared for employment in a variety of areas relevant to human services and for graduate training in psychology and related areas. The specialized bachelor of science in education major trains students to teach psychology in secondary schools. The Psychology DepartmentÕs graduate program prepares students for employment as school psychologists. Upon completion of a postcertification internship, education specialist degree graduates may obtain Nationally Certified School Psychologist status.

The graduate program in school psychology is accredited by the National Association of School Psychologists. The College of Letters and Sciences is also fully accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools. This accreditation applies to both undergraduate and graduate programs. Psychologists are interested in questions ranging from understanding how a single nerve cell works to understanding the behavior of people in groups.

Psychologists are interested in questions ranging from understanding how a single nerve cell works to understanding the behavior of people in groups. Psychologists engage in a wide range of careers, such as:

• Providing services: Psychologists help people overcome physical, cognitive and emotional problems and counsel individuals, families and clients of social welfare offices.
• Teaching: From elementary schools to post-graduate institutions, psychologists teach their discipline, train others to become psychologists and help students to understand behavior.
• Research: In universities, businesses and government agencies, psychologists engage in basic or applied research, seeking to understand behavioral phenomena of all kinds.
• Consulting: Public and private organizations seek the advice of psychologists to improve systems designs, organize personnel management procedures, develop new policies and design client services.

While a bachelor's degree in psychology is extremely useful in securing employment in human services-related fields, a career as a practicing professional psychologist requires specialized graduate training beyond the bachelor's degree. Faculty advisors assist students in preparing for graduate study.

All faculty in the Psychology Department hold doctoral degrees from a variety of prestigious institutions. While the faculty's primary commitment is to teaching, most are also active in research and community service, and they welcome student partners in these endeavors. Faculty areas of specialization include behavior disorders of childhood and adulthood, cognitive development, violence prevention in the schools, physiological bases of motivation and perception, the use of computers in psychological research, the social basis of gender differences and research methodology and design.

As a social science, psychology relies on the principles and methods common to other sciences. Therefore, students interested in studying psychology should have a strong background in basic scientific methods and approaches. Because psychology relies heavily on the collection, analysis and interpretation of data, preparation in mathematics is essential. Courses in English composition and computer skills are also very important. Many high schools offer an introductory psychology course that may help students decide if they want to pursue a career in psychology; advanced placement credit may be available.

Two Psychology Department members are winners of the university-wide W.P. Roseman Excellence in Teaching Award and another member received the award for outstanding research. Many of the faculty are routinely recognized by graduating seniors as having had significant, lasting influence on students.

The Psychology Department is developing supervised field placements for majors interested in applying their knowledge of psychology to real-world situations for course credit. Currently, the department's most active field work program is the Kids First initiative, which places students with a variety of child-oriented human service programs in our area. These experiences provide insight into the types of employment students may achieve with a bachelorÕs degree in psychology.

Most psychology majors take jobs at local businesses; however, some go on to masters and doctoral degree programs in psychology. Others continue their education at postgraduate professional schools such as law school.

The Psychology Department boasts two active student organizations, a chapter of Psi Chi, the national honors organization in psychology, and a chapter of the American Psychological Society's Student Caucus (APSSC). These organizations provide a means for majors to get to know each other outside the classroom and to learn more about careers in psychology and how to prepare for those careers at UWWhitewater. Both Psi Chi and the APSSC sponsor member outings and studentfaculty get-togethers as well as regular business meetings.

Psychology majors should complete introductory psychology and any mathematics prerequisites for the basic statistics course in the freshman year. Required basic skills courses in statistics and research methods should be completed in the sophomore year, followed by completion of distribution requirements in the several major sub-areas of psychology (e.g. abnormal psychology, cognition and learning, development, physiological bases of behavior, social bases of behavior). Majors intending to pursue graduate training should plan to spend the senior year gaining research experience, preferably by working on an independent project with faculty guidance. Majors who plan on a career in human services related to psychology are encouraged to engage in field experience in the senior year.