The Psychology Major at EKU

About Psychology

Psychology is the science of behavior and mental processes and psychologists are engaged in service, research, and teaching in fields that relate to virtually every area of human activity. Psychologists are involved in everything from aircraft cockpit design to problems with learning in schools, from the assessment of behaviorally active drugs to consumer behavior, from counseling with troubled individuals to studying gorillas in Africa.

The Degree Program at Eastern

A Psychology major includes traditional content courses such as Theories of Personality, Developmental Psychology, Social Psychology, Industrial Psychology, and Abnormal Psychology as well as courses in Measurement and Statistics. Supporting course work in natural science and other behavioral sciences is recommended, but there are no specific requirements. Eastern's major program in psychology requires 37 credit hours (of the 128 required for graduation) and allows enough electives for the student to obtain a broad education. A second major is possible, or you may wish to select courses from various disciplines to strengthen particular career goals.

The Department's primary mission is teaching. Class sizes will rarely be above 40, and will usually be smaller. All classes above the introductory level, and indeed many of the introductory courses, are taught by full-time doctoral level faculty.

You will have opportunities to carry out independent research projects with faculty supervision, and may participate in a faculty member's personal research as a volunteer, for credit, or as a paid assistant. A number of students each year present papers at professional meetings.

The Department has an active chapter of Psi Chi, national honorary in psychology, and a Psychology Club which meets with Psi Chi. The two organizations jointly sponsor professional and social events and provide a sense of community and involvement for undergraduate majors.

Eastern's Psychology Faculty

Twenty of EKU's 21 full-time psychology faculty hold the doctorate (the 21st will be complete this year) and all major specialties within psychology are represented. While the faculty see teaching as their primary responsibility they are also active in scholarship and service. The department produces about 30 research publications and presentations per year, most with student co-authors. This serves to maintain both faculty vitality and the regional and national stature of the Department. The faculty are on the editorial boards of national journals and are active in a host of state and national organizations.

Graduate Education In Psychology

One choice that many of our majors make is to pursue graduate study in psychology. Graduate study at Eastern includes applied master's degree programs in clinical psychology and industrial/organizational psychology as well as a Specialist in Psychology degree in school psychology. These programs provide supervised practice in hospitals, clinics and schools and excellent employment prospects. Financial aid through assistantships is available to nearly all full time graduate students. Students wishing to go directly from the B.S. into doctoral programs will find ample support and advice. In addition, the department offers a masters degree in general psychology that provides students the opportunity to demonstrate the ability to do graduate level work.

Employment Opportunities for Psychology Students

We view the undergraduate major in psychology as a liberal arts major, rather than vocational. Psychology is an extremely adaptable major for those who do not wish to pursue graduate study. The major quantitative and interpersonal areas covered in the major qualify graduates for a wide variety of positions. A recent issue of "The Job Hunter" shows that the psychology undergraduate degree holder is a qualified candidate for 37% of all listings in business and industry, 21% of those in communications and media, 33% of those in government and public affairs, and 54% of all listings in human services.

The value of a liberal arts education has been rediscovered. Business, industry and government value the graduate who has good communication skills, is broadly educated, and is broadly educable. We feel that the psychology degree provides very rich and diverse opportunities. A large number of students apparently agree, as psychology is the most popular major of all the traditional liberal arts fields at Eastern.

For additional information about the psychology major at Eastern contact Dr. Robert Brubaker the chair of EKU's Department of Psychology at robert.brubaker@eku.edu or phone at (859) 622-1105