Prospective Students
Welcome to the Department of Psychology at Illinois State University! We are very proud of both our Undergraduate and Graduate Programs. At many large universities, courses are often taught by graduate students, and faculty spend most of their time working on research or teaching only graduate courses. But not at Illinois State. There are approximately 45 full-time faculty members who teach psychology courses, and all of the required psychology courses for the Major are only taught by full-time faculty. The department's faculty hold doctorate degrees from some of the finest universities in the country. The specialty areas for teaching and research of the faculty are as diverse as their educational experiences. Because of the emphasis on teaching and conducting research, psychology students are encouraged to work with faculty on research projects or teaching activities in order to enhance their academic experiences.
Undergraduate Program
What is Unique in the Department?
PSY 111 Introduction to Psychology is now reserved for freshman psychology majors. The classes are limited to only 30 students. This class size is comparable to virtually any course at a private college, which makes Illinois State's Undergraduate Program in Psychology unique in the state of Illinois. Even though Illinois State is a large university, PSY 111 gives students a greater opportunity to get to know each other and meet many of the psychology professors.
PSY 111 is four hours of credit rather than the standard three hours. During the fourth hour, all freshmen psychology majors meet as a group for special demonstrations, presentations by the PSY 111 faculty and by other faculty in the department, and group discussions. PSY 111 is also taught by full-time tenure-track faculty, not graduate students. Many public universities assign graduate students to teach some of its courses, especially introductory or 100-level courses. In the Department of Psychology, psychology courses required for the Major are taught by full-time faculty.
Opportunities for Out-of-Class Experiences
The Major in Psychology requires a capstone experience, which provides students with challenging opportunities to apply their knowledge of psychology to research, teaching, or practice endeavors. Students can work with faculty in the classroom or their research labs, or study specific topics of the student's interest. The department has also established an extensive internship program that gives students opportunities to apply their knowledge in a work setting in the local community. The Research Apprenticeship Program, the Undergraduate Teaching Assistantship Program, and the Internship Program are designed to give students real-world experiences beyond their academic coursework.
Faculty Teach and Conduct Research
Illinois State's Undergraduate Program gives students the opportunity to learn from full-time faculty who frequently publish in top-rated journals in diverse areas of psychology. In our upper division 300-level content courses, students study with psychologists who are experts in the specific area covered in the course. Thus, a course in psycholinguistics (PSY 369) is taught by a faculty member whose area is psycholinguistics. PSY 351 Clinical Applications of Psychology is taught by faculty members with experience in a variety of clinical settings. Our faculty supervise over 200 students working on research projects each year. To get an idea of the diversity of faculty interests, see our Out-of-Class Experiences with Faculty Web site. Faculty have also developed their own Web sites that illustrate the individual areas of interest and the depth of their research projects.
Graduate Programs
Our Graduate Programs in School Psychology (doctoral and specialist degrees) have all of the available accreditations and approvals recommended for higher quality training, comprehensive curricular content, and properly supervised field experiences. Our doctoral program is accredited by the Committee on Accreditation of the American Psychological Association. The doctoral program is also approved by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) and the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP). Our specialist program in School Psychology is approved by NCATE and NASP. Both graduate programs are approved by the Illinois State Board of Education.
One of the strengths of the Clinical-Counseling Psychology Program has been the presence of faculty who have been trained in Clinical Psychology and faculty who have been trained in Counseling Psychology. Several classes of students have now graduated and moved into professional practice. Many of our graduates have entered doctoral training programs. Students who complete the Clinical-Counseling Program are eligible to sit for both the Illinois Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and Licensed Professional Counselor examinations.
The Cognitive and Behavioral Sciences sequence is a two-year master's degree program that emphasizes study in basic research content areas (e.g., behavioral neuropsychology, conditioning, perception, learning, memory, psycholinguistics, and cognitive development) and the development of quantitative and methodological skills. Commensurate with faculty expertise, the sequence supports two emphases: one in Behavioral Neuroscience and one in Cognitive Science. The sequence provides critical foundation preparation for advanced graduate study and can facilitate entry into careers in community college teaching as well as a variety of careers in the business-industrial sector.
The Developmental Psychology sequence provides preparation in lifespan development using a distinctly ecological and interdisciplinary approach. The curriculum offers in-depth exposure to developmental theories, methodologies, and applications within each of the following age sectors: infancy, childhood, adolescence, adulthood, and aging. Students may also complete professional practice experiences in the community. This sequence offers course work to complete the Graduate Certificate in Women's Studies or the Graduate Certificate in Social Aspects of Aging.
The Industrial/Organizational-Social Psychology sequence can be completed in two years. Both the I/O emphasis and the Social emphasis are designed to meet the educational needs of two types of students; those students who plan to enter doctoral degree programs and for those seeking employment in such areas as human resources management, personnel administration, and organization development. Thesis research can be of an applied nature, combining fundamental research skills with practical skill development.
The Quantitative Psychology sequence is a two-year master's degree program that provides preparation in the use of quantitative methods in the solution of problems in theoretical and applied psychology. The sequence provides critical foundation preparation for advanced graduate study and can facilitate entry into careers in community college teaching as well as a variety of careers in the business-industrial sector.