Psychology
Department | Program | Courses
Program
Psychology is the study of behavior and mental experience. Psychologists
may conduct research on the causes of behavior in humans and animals, teach
at colleges and universities, help individuals grow in psychological health,
or use psychological principles to solve problems in applied settings, such
as schools, businesses, and other organizations. The Psychology major provides
a firm foundation for students who seek graduate training leading to a professional
career in psychology and other fields, as well as for students who wish
to work upon graduation in psychology-related areas of business and social
service.
Psychology is one of the most misunderstood disciplines. Popular portrayals
of psychologists in mass media, along with a preponderance of popular self-help
books, contribute to a misunderstanding of what students of Psychology actually
study. One of the first things a prospective student of Psychology should
do is to make sure that he or she really wants to study Psychology. Here
are some facts that may help students decide:
- Psychology is a science. As such, it requires a thorough understanding
of the methods of science and how those methods are applied to topics
of psychological interest. Students of Psychology are required to take
courses in statistics and research methods and to use their knowledge
of these methods in other courses in the major.
- Clinical and Counseling Psychology reflect just one dimension of the
breadth of psychological inquiry and work. The other major areas of psychology
are Experimental Psychology and Applied Psychology. Experimental Psychology
consists of fundamental research on the nature and causes of human and
animal behavior (including, but not limited to, abnormal behavior). Applied
Psychology includes subdisciplines, such as Industrial Organizational
and School Psychology, in which principles of Experimental Psychology
are applied to solve real-world problems in organizational settings. Clinical
and Counseling Psychology also draw on techniques, data, and information
gleaned from Experimental Psychology and the many subdisciplines of psychology.
For example, a counseling psychologist may use behavioral methods that
originally were studied with rats in Skinner boxes. The academic pursuit
of knowledge in psychology includes course work in areas as diverse as
neuroscience, ethology, cognition, and social psychology, as well as course
work in personality theory and clinical methods. Students interested in
majoring in Psychology should be prepared to take a variety of courses.
- Nearly all people who are able to refer to themselves as “psychologists” have
gone to graduate school. At Berea, almost 70 percent of our Psychology
majors have pursued graduate study either in psychology, law, or other
areas. Because so many of our students pursue graduate study and because
the professional practice of psychology demands graduate training, the
Psychology major at Berea emphasizes preparation for graduate study. One
does not learn to be a clinician or counselor at Berea. The graduate schools
will teach that. But Berea will prepare students well so that they can
succeed as graduate students. If a student is not interested in going
to graduate school, a major in psychology still can serve as an excellent
preparation for other career pursuits such as business, law, and sales,
to name just a few. These careers draw not only on a Psychology major’s “people
skills,” but also on his or her understanding of statistics and
research methodology.
- Over the years, many students who have expressed an interest in psychology
have indicated that they want to get a doctoral degree in clinical psychology
and work with children. There are several points that should be brought
to a student’s attention. First of all, a doctoral degree in clinical
psychology usually includes a substantial research component, as well
as clinical training. Second, because these programs have so many applicants,
they are extremely competitive, often admitting only 1 percent to 2 percent
of applicants (who are typically highly qualified). Third, students often
have misconceptions about what a clinical psychologist does. There are
the alternative routes that require only a Master’s degree such
as a Masters in Clinical Psychology, Educational Counseling, School Psychology,
Marriage and Family Counseling, and even Psychiatric Social Work (with
an emphasis in working with children). A student’s interest in children
may also be served by careers in education, social work, or social services.
A major in Psychology is excellent preparation for any of these pursuits.
However, students with an interest in working with children may want to
consider majors in other areas in addition to or instead of a major in
Psychology.
Major Requirements
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