Education-Psychology 246
541-552-6206
Daniel DeNeui, Chair

The Department of Psychology program prepares students to:

1. achieve a broad understanding and appreciation of human behavior, which serves as the foundation for a liberal arts education;
2. enter paraprofessional work in applied behavioral sciences and social service fields; and
3. pursue graduate and professional study in psychology or related fields.

Nine goals are identified as desired outcomes of completing the psychology major. Students will acquire:

1. a knowledge base
2. critical-thinking skills
3. writing and speaking skills
4. information-gathering and synthesis skills
5. research methods and statistical skills
6. interpersonal skills
7. ethics and values clarification
8. culture and diversity sensitivity
9. application skills

Admission

1. Students who intend to be majors must register with the department and be assigned an advisor. For more details, contact the department or write the department chair at the Department of Psychology, Southern Oregon University, 1250 Siskiyou Boulevard, Ashland, Oregon 97520.
2. Immediately after deciding to transfer to Southern Oregon University, transfer students who are juniors or seniors should contact the Psychology Department about obtaining an advisor and becoming a psychology major.

Certificate in Management of Human Resources (CMHR)

The Certificate in Management of Human Resources is collaboratively offered by the School of Business, the Psychology Department, and the Communication Department. The program is open to current upper division undergraduate, graduate, and postbaccalaureate students, as well as professional development individuals with significant managerial experience. To be awarded the Certificate in Management of Human Resources, students must meet the 36-credit course requirements, which are listed in the Certificates section.

Interdisciplinary Studies

The objective of the interdisciplinary studies major with an emphasis in psychology or a related behavioral science is to prepare students for occupations requiring behavioral science backgrounds (e.g., welfare caseworker, probation/parole worker, psychometric aide, and research aide). The degree granted is a BA or BS in social science.

This program permits a broad major in the social sciences with a concentration in psychology for those whose educational goals are not met by any of the other psychology programs. The general requirements for this degree are found under Interdisciplinary Options. The specific requirements for social science majors with a concentration in psychology should reflect the needs of the individual student and must be planned with advisors in the Psychology Department. Required courses include BI 101  or 211 ; PSY 201 , 202 , 228 , 229 ; and MTH 243 . Students must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5.

The required psychology capstone courses (PSY 498 , 499 ) may not be taken until the student has: (1) been formally approved for an interdisciplinary studies major with a psychology emphasis and (2) registered with the Psychology Department and been assigned an advisor.

Additional Educational Offerings

Within the major and minor degree curricula, the Psychology Department presents or conducts a variety of additional practica, field studies, seminars, and research activities.

Field Practicum and Human Service Learning Opportunities

The human service, field practicum, and internship programs provide a sequence of progressively intensive experiences in human service agencies in the classroom or in the community. Students in these programs are exposed to a wide range of human service activities and acquire experience as human service providers. Students have been placed in the following organizations: Community Works; Mental Health Services; Welfare Department, Child Welfare; Vocational Rehabilitation Services; Veterans Domiciliary; animal shelters; preschools; Headstart; elementary and secondary school counseling programs; special education programs for the mentally disabled, emotionally disturbed, and physically disabled; private residential treatment centers; SOU’s Counseling Services; the Women’s Resource Center; juvenile justice programs; and public health programs.

Students interested in field experience programs must carefully plan with their advisor well in advance of any placement in such programs. Instructor consent and formal admission are required in all field service programs. Interested students should consult an advisor at their earliest convenience.

A maximum of 15 credits for field experience courses in psychology (e.g., practicum and teaching of psychology) may be applied toward the bachelor’s degree. These credits may be selected from any combination of PSY 209, 309, 409, and 416. Only 6 credits from these courses may be counted toward the minimum 53 psychology credits necessary for a psychology degree.

Research and Community Service

Students are encouraged to become involved in research and community activities. In addition to formal research courses, there are opportunities for involvement in the private research activities of various faculty members. Past projects have focused on such topics as competency examination development for professional groups, surveys of transportation facilities for the elderly and disabled, design and development of residential treatment facilities for the emotionally disturbed, creation of preschool education and Headstart projects, needs assessment surveys, and program evaluation research in a variety of areas.

Students should consult their advisors and faculty members to determine which research projects are currently ongoing or in the planning stages. Students are encouraged to initiate contact with faculty members for assistance with research activities, development of research proposals, and presentations of research findings at local and regional professional meetings.

Psi Chi

Qualified students may become members of the local chapter of Psi Chi, a national honorary society in psychology. The purposes of Psi Chi are to encourage, stimulate, and maintain the scholarship excellence of individual members in all fields, particularly in psychology, and to advance the science of psychology. To achieve these goals, Psi Chi offers a wide range of local, regional, and national programs.

Program Requirements