Department of Counseling and Psychology

Faculty: E. de Oliveira, M. Phelps, L. Seifert

The faculty members in the Department of Counseling and Psychology are committed to a full and deep understanding of human beings. We believe that such an understanding can be gained by drawing upon the resources of the Christian faith and the academic discipline of psychology. Therefore, we are serious about our faith in Jesus Christ and our callings as academic psychologists.

The mission of the Department of Counseling and Psychology is to promote the development of students who understand a broad range of areas within psychology and make connections among Christian faith, learning and living. We are committed to our students’ growth in knowledge, wisdom, and compassion so that they will succeed and serve in their future educational, career, and personal endeavors.

The department offers the following undergraduate programs: a psychology major , an applied psychology major , a psychology minor , a chemical dependency counseling assistant (Phase I) minor (certificate) , and a liberal arts concentration in psychology. Students who are fascinated by human thought, emotion, and behavior are encouraged to take some of our courses and to sit down with us to discuss how the study of psychology may fit into their educational and vocational plans.

Psychology Program Goals

Develop students’ knowledge across a broad range of areas within psychology.
Foster students’ abilities to critique and apply psychological theories and findings.
Teach students to use procedures and ethical guidelines involved in psychological research.
Challenge students to contemplate the connections among Christian faith, learning, and living.
Prepare students to serve in their future educational, career, and personal endeavors.

Student Learning Outcomes

Students will evidence a satisfactory level of knowledge of key theories, findings, and methods across a broad range of the primary subdisciplines in psychology.
Students will demonstrate familiarity with the ethical guidelines and procedures involved in developing, performing, and reporting psychological research.
Students will demonstrate a satisfactory ability to comprehend, synthesize, and critique psychological knowledge presented in primary journal articles which are judged by the departmental faculty to be accessible to undergraduate students. Student writing intended to reflect these abilities should evidence quality, clarity, and mechanics consistent with the current Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association.
Students will articulate an informed position on the relations between Christianity and the discipline of psychology, including consideration of worldview, epistemic, and other key foundational issues.
Students will evidence reflection upon their reasons for studying psychology, their short- and long-term educational and career goals, and their intellectual, personal, and interpersonal strengths and weaknesses. They will also evidence the ability to reflect back on their undergraduate careers and describe continuity and change in these areas as well as plans for the future. Students’ reflections on these areas will exhibit an understanding of relations among faith, learning, and living.

Service Learning in Brazil and Poland

The department provides opportunity for students to serve and learn in trips to Brazil or Poland, led by department faculty. In either trip the option is available for students to complete the General Education Cross-Cultural Encounter component.

Programs

Undergraduate Major

Undergraduate Minor

Courses

Psychology