Studying Psychology at Houghton
Key Strengths of Psychology at Houghton
- Christian Perspective. Our purpose is to provide students with a strong grasp of the fundamental facts, concepts, theories, and research current in psychology, all from a Christian perspective.
- Flexible Curriculum. Students have freedom to select courses and specialty tracks that advance their specific interests and career direction.
- Psychology Club. Hosts informational seminars, discussions, guest lecturers, and social opportunities for all interested students.
- Computerized Research Laboratory. Equipped for studies in learning, perception, physiological psychology, social psychology, development, education, and personality.
- Graduate Preparation. Our program provides a solid foundation from which to pursue graduate work.
“Change the world—one person at a time.” That is a common goal for students who major in psychology at Houghton. We have other motives, too—understanding human beings, including ourselves; helping to alleviate suffering; improving the ways we learn; enhancing relationships with others; helping people reach their God-given potential.
The five faculty members who teach in the program all have earned doctorates in psychology, and are enthusiastically involved with their field and their students. Teaching undergraduate students is their first priority, and to enhance their teaching, they actively apply their areas of expertise as they research, counsel, consult, and administer programs.
The psychology major includes 10-11 upper-level courses. Students may follow a general psychology major, covering the breadth of the field, or they may choose a track specializing in an area of interest.
Specialty tracks include:
- Applied Psychology/Pre-Therapy
- Cognitive/Social Psychology
- Developmental Psychology
- Psychobiology
- Psycholinguistics
- Honors Research
Students in all tracks take four courses together: Brain and
Behavior, Statistics, Experimental Methods, and Senior Capstone
Seminar. Since psychology students typically have broad interests
and a variety of goals, the major prepares students to pursue a
career immediately after graduating, or to go on to graduate
training in psychology or in related fields such as social work,
business, or the ministry. Additional elective courses are part of
the major, and most tracks include additional coursework in other
academic fields.
Psychologists study normal and abnormal behavior, structured and
erratic thinking, stable and troubled emotion. We have a broad task.
Consequently, students of psychology read widely, investigate
problems scientifically, and think carefully and deeply. They
also share the knowledge they gain with others, through writing,
public presentation, and professional service. And at
Houghton, they wrestle with the ways that the Christian faith frames
and informs our studies and our understanding.
Our program offers several special features, including these:
- All interested students are part of the Psychology Club, which hosts informational seminars, discussions, guest lecturers, and social opportunities for all interested students.
- Outstanding students may be elected to Psi Chi, the National Honor Society in Psychology, established for the purposes of encouraging and maintaining excellence in scholarship and advancing the science of psychology. The Houghton chapter seeks to provide opportunities to meet and share with chapter members, explore extra research opportunities, meet and interact with scholars in the field, and meet members of other chapters.
- Practicum courses and semester- or year-long internship placements provide upper-level students with field experience in clinical settings, schools, substance abuse centers, forensic services, mental health agencies, industrial/personnel sites, or research organizations. These experiences may be customized to the interests of the student.
- Opportunities to collaborate in faculty research and conduct studies as part of classes enable psychology majors to develop skills that are highly valued in the workplace and essential in graduate school. Houghton faculty members have active research programs in social cognition, moral development, and faith formation, and invite students to join their research groups.
- Student research on a variety of topics is encouraged and supported through funding student research, including travel costs to present their findings at professional conferences.
- A dedicated student research laboratory is equipped for studies in cognitive psychology, biological psychology, social psychology, and developmental psychology.
