The Department of Psychology promotes the discovery, communication, and application of the scientific principles of psychology within the university and the community. The department offers courses and programs suitable for majors, minors, and graduates interested in psychology and for students majoring in other areas needing or desiring psychological cognates and electives. These courses emphasize the research methodology and data of both human and lower animal behavior as well as theoretical and applied implications. All students are encouraged to actively participate in, rather than passively observe, the rigorous and creative search for the how and why of behavior and the identification and potential resolution of significant problems.
The major programs in psychology can lead either to the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree, as well as a Master's degree. Students desiring a major in psychology choose one of three areas of emphasis: general psychology, graduate school preparation, or behavior analysis. The department also offers minor programs in psychology and psychology education.
Psychology
The general psychology major is for students interested in a career outside the field of psychology. It can serve as
Psychology, Graduate School Preparation
Graduate school preparation is designed for students who wish to enter advanced degree programs in psychology with the goal of university teaching or research, or of becoming involved in human services delivery as clinical or counseling psychologists.
Behavior Analysis
Behavior analysis is for students who wish either to enter graduate school in behavioral psychology or to improve the probability of gaining employment in areas related to psychologically oriented human services: e.g., as a classroom consultant or a program director in a group home for delinquent adolescents, halfway home for persons with mental illnesses, or home for persons who are developmentally disabled. This option particularly stresses behavior modification techniques and behavior assessment. Students should file their option selection with the department and registrar as soon as possible and must do so before the second semester of their junior year.
Students may not use psychology as a teaching major, but the minor in psychology, available to any student, is approved as a teaching minor for students in the secondary education curriculum.
The Department of Psychology offers a Master of Science degree that provides students with a thorough grounding in experimental psychology, preparing the student for doctoral programs in experimental, clinical or counseling psychology or preparing the student for both applied and research psychology positions in Michigan which require the Master's degree. The MS degree in psychology at NMU (a) will provide intensive student-initiated research training in a variety of areas of experimental psychology, (b) will provide the statistical and methodological knowledge required to examine basic or applied issues and to function as a professional psychologist, and (c) will develop an appreciation of the scientific basis of all fields of psychology. In addition to the satisfaction of completing an advanced degree, many graduates of this program will pursue training at the doctoral level while others will be prepared to work in a wide variety of occupations in which an advanced understanding of psychology, research methodology or human research is of value.
The department maintains eight experimental laboratories, student research rooms, laboratory classrooms, computer labs, a small library for majors, and student study areas.