West Liberty UniversityPsychology Program Student Handbook

2018-2019

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Department of Health SciencesCollege of Sciences

Psychology Program Student Handbook

Table of Contents

WELCOME TO WLU PSYCHOLOGY PROGRAM...............................................3

About Our Program............................................................................................3

Psychology Club/ Psi Chi...................................................................................3

Practicum...........................................................................................................4

FACULTY MEMBER BIOGRAPHIES....................................................................5

PSYCHOLOGY PROGRAM GOALS....................................................................7

Knowledge Base in Psychology:........................................................................7

Scientific Inquiry & Critical Thinking:..................................................................7

Ethical and Social Responsibility in a Diverse World:........................................7

Communication:.................................................................................................7

Professional Development:................................................................................7

PSYCHOLOGY PROGRAM ASSESSMENTS......................................................7

Core I Exam.......................................................................................................7

Major Field Test.................................................................................................8

Portfolio..............................................................................................................8

Senior Capstone Project....................................................................................8

Critical Thinking Assessments...........................................................................8

Exit Interview......................................................................................................8

Additional Assessments.....................................................................................8

TIMELINE FOR MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR TIME AT WEST LIBERTY.......9

Freshman and Sophomore Years......................................................................9

Junior Year.........................................................................................................9

Senior Year......................................................................................................10

IMPORTANT FACTS ABOUT A DEGREE IN PSYCHOLOGY...........................12

Past performance predicts future behavior (track record)................................14

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Psychology Program Student Handbook

WELCOME TO WLU PSYCHOLOGY PROGRAM

Welcome to West Liberty University and the B.S. Psychology Program. We are happy you are here! You are joining a unique program that has a proven track record of preparing students for career placement, career advancement, and graduate training in several different programs in the area of Human Services. The program is focused on providing students with exposure to the breadth of domains within the field of psychology. Our faculty have backgrounds in Clinical, Social/Applied, Experimental, and Developmental Psychology, and have a wide range of experiences both in and out of the classroom. Our class sizes vary from 50 students in the lower level classes to 15-30 students in the upper level courses.  We have a very good relationship with our students and alumni, and our door is always open to help in any way that we can or just to chat.  Each professor serves as an academic advisor to help students choose classes that further their personal goals, a mentors to provide encouragement and support, and an advocate as they work toward graduation.

About Our Program

Students in the B.S. Psychology Program complete 61 credit hours of coursework in psychology, as well as 46-48 credit hours of general education courses and 11-13 credits in courses of their choosing. The program is designed to help students succeed and to provide them with the knowledge and experiences necessary to enter the workforce or to attend graduate school. Students begin their time in the psychology program as Declared Majors. These students complete Core I coursework which prepares them for more advanced work in the program. Students are required to complete all psychology courses with a grade of C or higher and to complete a Core I exam with a score of 70% or higher in all content areas in order to be accepted into the Psychology Program and to be permitted to enroll in Core II courses. Students will have two chances to complete each course with at least a C. Failure to do so will result in the student being denied acceptance into the Psychology Program and the Core II courses. In addition to the Core I and Core II courses, graduates will also need to complete twelve (12) additional credit hours of restricted electives in psychology or related fields.

Psychology Club/ Psi Chi

We have an active Psychology Club which is open to all psychology majors, minors, and interested students.  The club serves as a more informal opportunity to build relationships with faculty and peers, to learn more about psychology, and to apply the knowledge and skills learned in courses through service to the community. Our activities are centered on three themes: building relationship, strengthening knowledge base, and philanthropy. Our activities include movie nights, bonfires, ice skating,

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Psychology Program Student Handbook

chocolate rat and other candy making. Club members and faculty participate in field trips to the TransAllegheny Lunatic Asylum, History of Psychology Museum, Carnegie Science Center, Southeastern Psychological Association, Tri-State Undergraduate Psychology Research Conference, and other educational opportunities. Club members pay annual dues of $20 and participate in at least one fundraiser per year, which helps reduce the costs of these activities for students.

Psi Chi, the International Honor’s Society in Psychology, is open to all second semester sophomores who have completed three psychology courses and maintained a GPA of at least 3.0. Psychology Club and Psi Chi work closely together to enhance our student’s professional development..

Psi Chi and the Psychology Club host PSYCfest in the fall and PSYCapalooza in the spring to celebrate our graduating seniors, new inductees in Psi Chi, the International Honor's Society in Psychology, and the accomplishments of our students, programs, and alumni.  

Each spring, we conduct exit interviews with our graduating seniors. The most consistent regret that we hear from these students is that they did not get involved in these activities sooner. Don’t wait! You can never get those opportunities back. To find out more about the psychology program, JOIN OUR WLU PSYCHOLOGY PROGRAM GROUP)

Practicum

In addition to traditional coursework, students are required to complete a practicum (work experience) at one of the local agencies, university departments, or in the research lab.  Students work with faculty to identify sites which meet their interests and provide an opportunity to apply their learning in a real-world setting. These positions can be paid or unpaid, and often opens doors for employment after graduation.  

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Psychology Program Student Handbook

FACULTY MEMBER BIOGRAPHIES

Michael J. Marshall, Ph.D. is a Professor of Psychology at West Liberty University and a licensed clinical psychologist in private practice.  He obtained his doctoral degree in psychology at Claremont Graduate University in California. Dr. Marshall is the author of four books and a dozen scholarly research articles in psychology. He has considerable clinical experience working with parolees, substance abusers, and patients with psychotic and emotional disorders. He has a part-time private practice and does community mental health contract work. His duties include assessment, forensic evaluations, and psychotherapy. He regularly testifies in court as an expert witness. In addition to lecturing and seeing patients, he provides continuing education workshops for mental health professionals and conducts research on addictions and family issues. 

Tammy McClain, Psy.D. is a Professor of Psychology at West Liberty University and serves as the Psychology Program Director.  She joined the faculty at West Liberty University in 2006, and has been teaching in the psychology program and serving in various capacities on campus and in the community.  Dr. McClain published Personality Psychology Case Analysis Workbook in 2014 and has presented numerous times at both regional and national professional psychology courses.  In addition to her work at the University, Dr.  McClain is a licensed clinical psychologist and provides contractual psychological services to United States military veterans.  She obtained her Doctor of Psychology degree from Wright State University School of Professional Psychology in Dayton, Ohio in 1994.  Dr. McClain has worked continuously in the field of clinical psychology since obtaining her doctoral degree.  She has worked in a variety of settings including community mental health, state and private hospitals, nursing homes, and in private practice.  She has clinical experience in psychological assessment and psychotherapy, as well as consultation, supervision, administration, and training.  Her specialty areas include psychological assessment for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and court-requested parental fitness evaluations.  She has periodically testified in court as an expert witness and has been called upon to provide psychological insights.

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Psychology Program Student Handbook

Rebecca Witt Stoffel, M.A. is an Assistant Professor of Psychology at West Liberty University. She joined the faculty of WLU in 2005. She earned her master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from Marshall University in 2002, and she is currently working on a Ph.D. in Applied Developmental Psychology from the University of Pittsburgh. Her research interests include issues related to gender identity, parenting, attachment, and developmental transition periods such as adolescence and leaving home.

Tifani Fletcher, Ph.D. is an Assistant Professor of Psychology. She joined the faculty at West Liberty University in the fall of 2014. She obtained her doctoral degree in psychology from East Tennessee State University, with a concentration in Experimental Psychology and specialized training in translational research. Dr. Fletcher is interested in, and teaches a wide variety of psychology courses. Previously she assisted with a multiyear smoking cessation program specifically created for pregnant women. She has presented research findings at both national and regional conferences, and has published in scholarly journals. Several of Dr. Fletcher’s research interests include intimate partner violence during pregnancy, the connection between religiosity and health, and insight problem solving.

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Psychology Program Student Handbook

PSYCHOLOGY PROGRAM GOALS

The psychology program has been engineered to ensure that students are able to meet five program goals by the time of graduation. All courses are designed to contribute to students’ attainment of these program goals, and the goals are assessed throughout their time in the program. These goals align with the guidelines set forth by the American Psychological Association for undergraduate psychology programs.

Knowledge Base in Psychology: Graduates will demonstrate fundamental knowledge and comprehension of the major concepts, theoretical perspectives, historical trends, and empirical finding to discuss how psychological principles apply to behavioral problems.

Scientific Inquiry & Critical Thinking: Graduates will use scientific reasoning and problem solving, including effective research methods, to design and execute research plans and to draw conclusions about psychological phenomena.

Ethical and Social Responsibility in a Diverse World: Graduates will demonstrate ethically and socially responsible behaviors in professional and personal settings. Students will demonstrate adherence to personal and professional values and the APA Code of Ethics

Communication: Graduates will demonstrate competence in writing and in oral and interpersonal communication skills.

Professional Development: Graduates will apply psychology-specific content and skills, effective self-reflection, project-management skills, teamwork skills, and career preparation.

PSYCHOLOGY PROGRAM ASSESSMENTS

Core I Exam

Students must complete the Core I Exam with a score of at least 70% on each content area prior to being permitted to enroll in Core II courses and be accepted into the psychology program.

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Psychology Program Student Handbook

Major Field Test

The major field test is a national examination of psychology content which student complete at the completion of the psychology program. Students are expected to score in at least the Average range.

Portfolio

Students will develop a portfolio throughout their time in the psychology program in which they demonstrate competence in the five program goals by providing artifacts that support their progress. Students must present the final portfolio demonstrating competency in all program goals prior to graduation.

Senior Capstone Project

During their last semester at WLU, students are required to complete and present a significant project which demonstrates their competency in all areas of the program.

Critical Thinking Assessments

Students are expected to score in at least the Average range on assessments designed to measure critical thinking skills including objectivism, scientific literacy, and psychological critical thinking prior to program completion.

Exit Interview

Students are expected to complete a formal interview prior to completion of the psychology program.

Additional Assessments

Students will be assessed throughout the program on their competency in demonstrating ethically and social responsible behaviors in personal and professional interactions. Students will also be assessed on their skills in project-management, teamwork, career preparation, and self-reflection.

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Psychology Program Student Handbook

TIMELINE FOR MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR TIME AT WEST LIBERTY

Freshman and Sophomore Years

Take courses that will help you prepare for a career or graduate school Seek help early from the Learning and Student Development Center if you are

struggling in any subject area. Focus on GPA and meeting general studies and psychology program

requirements Get to know your professors. You will need their references, so behave in a

way that will help them write a good reference: Come to class on time every time Participate in class – ask questions, make comments, develop an interest in the

topic Participate in the Psychology Club Remember that grades are important, but what is more important is learning and

remembering the material. At the beginning of your 2nd semester sophomore year, apply for Psi Chi, if

you meet the qualifications If you are planning to attend graduate school after graduation, begin considering

what programs you may be interested in and what requirements you still need to meet.

If applicable, during the summer after your sophomore year, begin preparing to take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General or Psychology subject test (see www.ets.org/gre)

Junior Year

Continue to actively participate in Psychology Club and Psi Chi. Consider running for an office.

Continue studying for the GRE throughout your junior year. Seek help from the Learning and Student Development Center if you are struggling in any content area.

Begin saving money to help pay for the cost of applying and interviewing for graduate school positions

September – November: Get involved with research or continue your research from Design & Analysis. Consider taking Design & Analysis II, particularly if you

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Psychology Program Student Handbook

hope to earn a doctorate in psychology. Have a Plan B in case it does not work the way you want it to.

October: Begin talking to your advisor and planning for the completion of a practicum.

December – February: Participate in the Practicum Classo If you continue research, work toward being able to submit it for a poster

session at a local, regional, or national conferenceo Consider summer employment opportunities which will provide you with

experiences in your field of interest. March – April: Do a realistic self-assessment.

o Do you have what it takes to reasonably expect to go on to graduate school?

o GPAo Likelihood of success on the GREo Motivation to continueo Ability to learn more complex materialo Financial considerationso If so, make plans to take the GREo If not, begin thinking about what types of jobs you would be qualified to do

and take coursework to support that plan. May – August: Gather graduate school application materials (Organization is

the Key!)o Take GRE General and/or Psychology subject test if applicable (see

www.ets.org/gre)o Do not put all your eggs in one basket. Apply to several schools at both

the master’s and doctoral levels.o Prepare for your senior year.

Senior Year

Continue to actively participate in Psychology Club and Psi Chi. Consider running for an office.

September – begin reviewing for the Major Field Test, which is a test of your cumulative knowledge in psychology

September – November: o Finalize applications for graduate school

Personal Statement – spend a lot of time on this and gear it toward the program to which you are applying

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Psychology Program Student Handbook

Curriculum Vita (like a résumé) – get help from the Learning and Student Development Center to make this a good representation of your accomplishments thus far.

Work & Research Experience Summary Request Letters of Recommendation Be prepared for interviews. Practice and review material on how

to present well at an interview.

December – January: Deadline for Applications (this varies so make sure you know when the applications are due)

January – March: Graduate School interviews (for some programs). This will cost money, so plan ahead. Identify employment opportunities and finalize your cover letter, resume, and psychology portfolio.

March – April: Take the Major Field Test (goal is to be at least at the 50% percentile nationally)

May: GRADUATION!!!

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Psychology Program Student Handbook

IMPORTANT FACTS ABOUT A DEGREE IN PSYCHOLOGY

You will not be a psychologist when you finish your Bachelor’s Degree (or a psychiatrist), but you will be able to work in psychology- and other human service -related fields.

You will have a good background for many other fields.o Psychology is the science of behavior & mental processes – how

humans/animals think, feel, and act. Most of us will work with people in our chosen careers.

o Employers want people with good problem-solving skills who can communicate effectively in both oral and written formats. The psychology program provides excellent training in those areas

o Most people go into psychology because they want to help people. There are many ways to help people & many jobs require good

people skills. You can use the skills you learn even if you are in a non-

psychology related job

Psychology does not equal Therapyo Psychology covers a WIDE VARIETY of fields:

Developmental Industrial & Organizational Social Educational Experimental Neuroscience Cognitive

Graduate School: To become a psychologist or therapist, you will have to complete a graduate degree. Graduate programs are competitive, especially doctoral programs, so start planning now to help you become successful.

Psychology is a good major for you if:o Want to demonstrate to employers that you are interested in people and

have good interpersonal skillso Want to continue in a psychology-related graduate programo Find psychology fascinating

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Psychology Program Student Handbook

o Plan to work in a career that requires people skills (human services, sales, working with kids)

Psychology is a bad major for you if:o You want specific training to prepare for a specific career (ex. education,

nursing, accounting…)

Most psychology majors are hired in health related activities, administrative jobs, clerical jobs, or social/professional services. While many start out in jobs that are entry-level and related to less job satisfaction, most report career potential and that their future employment opportunities built on skills acquired in these entry-level jobs (don’t be unrealistic about where you will start)

Research suggests that employers tend to look for global qualities as well as specific skills. You aren’t going to graduate and just be offered a job just because of your degree, but you can develop a set of skills/interests that make you more attractive to employers.

o Strong communication skills (written & verbal)o Excellent interpersonal skillso Teamwork o Flexibilityo Analytical skillso Technological skills

Psychology is also well-suited to “helping people”, but there are many ways to help people:

o Community & Social Services (Program Directors, Volunteer coordinators, Case managers)

o Human Resources (Employee development, Training coordinators, Recruiters)

o Residential Care (developmentally delayed, delinquency, trauma, elderly)o Management &Business (Banking, Sales, Public Relations, Restaurant &

Hotel, Service Jobs)o Student Affairs/Services (Admissions, Career services, Residential Life,

Student Activities, Alumni Development)o Probation/Parole/Law Enforcement (Parole/Probation officers,

Correction officers, Juvenile intake workers)o Education (Child care workers, Peace Corps, Teacher’s aide)

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Psychology Program Student Handbook

o Scientific Research (Opinion survey researchers, Marketing researchers, Data Analysts)

o Many end up working in one-to-one situations (Group homes, Halfway houses, Nursing homes, Mental Health Clinics, Hospitals, Public welfare agencies, Private agencies serving specific populations (ex. autism), Correctional facilities, Rehabilitation Services, Juvenile detention facilities, Preschools, Shelters, Local, state, national human services…

Past performance predicts future behavior (track record)

So… to be prepared, you need to build a track record of excellence, engagement, and commitment. Take personal responsibility for yourself in all areas of your life.

TO A LARGE EXTENT, YOUR FUTURE DEPENDS ON THE CHOICES YOU MAKE NOW.

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