Affiliation: School of Social & Cultural Studies
There are three overall objectives of the Psychology program: to provide a broad-based education in the discipline, to instruct students in the scientific method, and to prepare students for success in graduate school and in the workplace.
Provide a broad-based education in the discipline: Psychology has long been recognized as a liberal arts and sciences discipline. This recognition is a consequence of Psychology’s study of human behavior (alone, in groups, interacting with the environment) and conscious experience (attitudes, emotions, and thoughts). The psychology curriculum at Truman State University reflects the American Psychological Association and the Association for Psychological Science’s recognition of the subject matter of the discipline.
Instruct students in the scientific method: In trying to understand the domains addressed by the discipline, Psychology employs the scientific method and statistical inference and analysis to gather and assess data. Upon graduation from Truman State University, students should understand and appreciate the rationale and methodology of scientific inquiry.
Prepare students for success in graduate school and in the workplace: Major courses are geared toward preparation for graduate school. The content areas in psychology reflect those sampled by the Graduate Record Exam Advanced Test in Psychology. Students are encouraged to become involved in psychological research and internship opportunities that are available. In addition, the variety of courses offered provides students with a broad perspective on human behavior and thought that may be applied across multiple workplace settings.
The psychology curriculum exposes students to courses in five domains: Developmental/Social, Biological, Cognitive/Behavioral, Clinical/Personality, and Advanced Topics as well as a research methods course, an upper-level statistics course, and a course in the history of the discipline. All Psychology majors will develop their skills as scientific speakers and writers. A Writing-Enhanced capstone course that includes both a scientific paper and a public presentation of research is required. Many other courses also involve writing and speaking experiences in a variety of settings, including longer and shorter forms, formal and informal styles, in-person and online delivery, and individual and group presentations.
An overall cumulative GPA of 2.00 and a cumulative GPA of 2.25 in the major, and a score at or above the 20th percentile on the nationally-normed senior exam (MFT-Psychology) is required to graduate with a degree in psychology.
DEPARTMENTAL HONORS IN PSYCHOLOGY
To graduate with Departmental Honors in Psychology, the student must:
- Meet any three of the following four criteria:
a. Overall GPA of 3.50 or better
b. Major GPA of 3.75 or better
c. “A” in Psychological Research (PSYC 466)
d. 80th Percentile or above on Major Field Test (MFT)
- Demonstrate research excellence beyond PSYC 466 in the form of at least one of the following:
a. Paper publication
b. Presentation at the Student Research Conference
c. Presentation at a conference outside the university
- Demonstrate excellence in serving the Psychology Department in the form of at least one activity such as:
a. Serving as an officer in Psi Chi or Psychology Club
b. Assisting at a Prospective Student Visit Day or Majors Day
c. Serving as a lab manager or grader for a psychology professor
- Receive the approval of a majority of non-abstaining Psychology faculty
Submitting an application guarantees consideration for this award. The application form is available at http://psychology.truman.edu. Psychology faculty can also nominate students.
DEGREE REQUIREMENTS:
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