Department of Psychology
Click here to take a survey The department of psychology offers many exciting opportunities. Students present research at conferences, listen to special speakers, participate in internships, and work closely with other psychology majors in a host of contexts.
Courses in psychology are divided into five main areas: general psychology, measurement and methodology, basic processes, the person, and applied processes. We also offer courses that cover special interest areas.
The program is structured to provide students with an understanding of the major content areas of the field and their historical foundations, the necessary research and quantitative skills to understand and conduct behavioral research, and opportunities to practice and extend their knowledge of psychology outside the classroom in research and applied settings. Our curriculum provides a strong foundation for students wishing to pursue additional education, whether in psychology or a related field. Participation in research and internships helps our students stand out against the competition.
Psychology beyond the classroom
TLU psychology students design their own original research studies and participate in ongoing faculty research. Students also have opportunities for hands-on training and education through various internships. Here are some examples of recent projects from our department:
- Place Preference and Aversion Learning in Rats Following Prenatal Exposure to Alcohol
- The Relationship Between Personality Traits and Religious Experience
- PTSD in Battered Women
- Self-Esteem and Body Image
- Mental Fatigue in Simple and Complex Tasks
- Effects of Visual Cues on Gaze Direction
- Risperidone Treatment in Dually-Diagnosed Persons
- ROPES Course and Play Therapy for Children
- Group Therapy for Drug Abusers and Emotionally Disturbed Adults
- Aerospace Human Factors Research
- Effects of Prenatal Alcohol Exposure on Latent Learning
- Palatability Hedonics as Related to Taste
Knaier and Hiner psychological research and travel awards
Psychology students at TLU may apply for the Gordon S. Knaier Award for Psychological Research and the Dr. Bob Hiner Student Travel Fund to finance research projects and to cover travel expenses. Students have used these funds to carry out and present their work at the national meetings of the American Psychological Association (APA), the Association for Psychological Science (APS), and the Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD), as well as regional conferences such as the Southwestern Psychological Association (SWPA), the regional Psi Chi conference, the Southwest Conference for Teachers of Psychology, and the Association for Research in Memory, Attention, Decision-making, Intelligence, Language Learning, and Organizational perception (ARMADILLO).
Special events
The psychology department holds special social and academic events for students, alumni, psychological professionals, and the community at large. Each year, the department sponsors PSYesta, an annual alumni dinner held during homecoming weekend as an opportunity for present and former students to meet and maintain contact. We also host events such as the 2003 TLU Psychology Symposium on Treating Survivors and Perpetrators of Sexual Abuse, the 2003, 2004 and 2005 Southwest Teachers of Psychology conferences, the 2001 Krost Symposium on the Evolution of Intelligence and the 2006 Krost Symposium on Hate, Tolerance, Forgiveness and Hope. During the spring 2007 semester, the department will host a southwest regional conference for students of psychology.
