Department of Psychology Texas State University Psychology majors

Department of Psychology Texas State University

Psychology majors should ask and receive answers to seven crucial questions during a campus visit. The following seven slides identify these questions.

Question #1: Graduate School Where do the alumni of your program attend graduate school, and in what areas of specialization do they earn graduate degrees?

Question #2: Career Preparation What types of careers do your graduates enter, and what kinds of job-related skills can they list on resumes and describe during job interviews?

Question #3: Research What kind of research is performed by the faculty in your department, and how well are your students mentored by the faculty in the research process.

Question #4: Classes What psychology classes are offered in your department?

Question #5: Academic Advising Will I be able to obtain high quality academic advising when I need it?

Question #6: Community-Based Learning Will there be opportunities for me to earn academic credit by engaging in practica, internships, or service learning projects in the community?

Question #7: Student Organizations Does your department have an active Psychology Club, and is it possible for me to become a member of Psi Chi (the national honor society in psychology)?

The following slides will provide you with the answers to these seven questions about the Psychology Department at Texas State.

Graduate School

What are examples of graduate schools attended by Texas State Psychology Graduates?

Graduate Schools Attended University of Texas at Texas State – Austin Health Psychology University of Houston – Clear Lake Our Lady of the Lake University Texas State – Social Work St. Mary’s University of Texas – San Antonio Texas State – University of Colorado – School Psychology Denver Texas A & M – Corpus Christi University of Utah Tulane University Texas Woman’s University of Minnesota University of San Diego Univ. of Calif. Riverside Univ. of Calif. – Santa Barbara University of New Orleans

What areas of specialization in which Texas State Psychology Majors have earned graduate degrees?

Areas of Specialization Clinical Psychology Occupational Therapy Cognitive Neuroscience Business Administration School Psychology Student Affairs Addiction Studies Special Education Mental Health Counseling Psychology Student Personnel Social Psychology Optometry Gerontology Social Work Family Therapy Clinical Rehabilitation Psychology Marriage and Family Therapy Industrial. Organizational Psychology Cognitive and Social Psychology Law Psychometry Human Factors Medicine Higher Education Counseling Education Child and Family Studies Account Executive

Career Preparation

What are some sample job titles of Texas State Psychology Majors with bachelor’s degrees?

Examples of Careers Family Care Manager Associate Toxicologist Training Coordinator Substance Abuse Counselor Process Scientist Director of Personnel Instructor and Case Manager Senior Account Agent Program Director Account Manager Physician Contact Consultant Crisis Intervention RN Operations Branch Manager Data Management Associate Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor Pharmaceutical Sales Representative Case Manager Crisis Clinician Child Advocate Free Lance Writer Information Specialist Behavioral Clinician Processing Trainer Human Resources Analyst Conference Manager Newspaper Columnist Employment Data Manager Vice President of Personnel

What are some of the specific job skills that Texas State Psychology Majors can acquire and include in their resumes?

• • • To write clearly and logically To speak articulately and persuasively To listen carefully and accurately To comprehend complex written material To plan and carry out projects successfully To work productively as a member of a team To deal effectively with a wide variety of peopl To display computer and technological literacy To demonstrate initiative and persistence To hold and demonstrate high ethical standards To acquire, organize, interpret, and evaluate information from a variety of sources

Research

What are questions Texas State Psychology Faculty answer with their research?

• What factors influence people’s perceptions of the causes of hate? • What is moral sadism & how does it develop? • Would women of men rather be considered “sexy” or smart? • What is the relationship between teaching evaluations and student performance? • What is the nature of compassion, jealousy and love? • How are male and female trainers portrayed in Pokemon cartoons? • What is the relationship between spatial reasoning and social/cultural attitudes?

• How can chronic pain be quantified and assessed? • How can computer interface literacy be measured? • What is the relationship between selfconsciousness theory and HIV risk behavior? • Does sexual abuse affect the language of abuse survivors? • Can the Japanese “way of tea” be used to positively affect physical and mental health? • Can people learn without conscious awareness? • Can we understand cross-cultural differences by comparing how people describe their experiences? • What is the role of implicit learning in the development of social biases?

What are the titles of a sample of the research papers published and/or presented last year by Texas State Psychology Majors and their Faculty Mentors?

• Where in the world is San Diego? Using transatlantic regional alignment to correct distortions in mental maps. • Measuring and dispelling misconceptions about our next door neighbors. • The psychology of self-deception as illustrated in literary characters • Are friends in need really friends? For Allocentric individuals they are. • Cursing and catharsis. • Concern for others as a primary motivator in young children • Perceptions of two television cartoon characters: “Powerpuff Girls” and “Johnny Bravo”

Classes

What classes are offered by the Texas State Psychology Department?

• • • Introduction to Psychology Developmental Psychology Statistics Experimental & Research Methods Adolescent Psychology of Human Sexuality Brain & Behavior Group Processes Cognitive Processes Personality Psychology

• • • Sensation & Perception Learning & Memory Health Psychology Industrial Psychology Psychological Adjustment Psychology of Adulthood & Aging Social Psychology of Consciousness The Psychology of Women Psychology of Human Diversity

• Computer Applications in the Social & Behavioral Sciences and Education • Abnormal Psychology • Psychological Measurement • Introduction to Clinical Psychology • Evolution & Behavior • Interviewing • History & Theory • Practicum in Psychology • Individual Study in Psychology • Selected Topics in Psychology

Community. Based Learning

Where have Texas State Psychology Majors performed practica, internships, and service learning?

• Lifeworks – an umbrella organization for atrisk youth in Austin. • Travis County Domestic Violence Court – Austin. • Rescare – a facility for brain-injured persons – San Marcos. • San Marcos High School – mentoring and tutoring programs. • Youth Service Bureau – an organization for helping at-risk youth in San Marcos.

Academic Advising

What academic advising opportunities are available in the Texas State Psychology Department?

• • • The Psychology Office Dedicated and experienced Faculty Advisors Participation in “Bobcat Days” Advising sessions for transfer students Accurate referrals to other campus resources – Student Support Services – The Writing Center – The Math Center – Career Services – Counseling Center

Clubs and Organizations

The Psychology Assoc. & Psi Chi • The Psychology Association is an organization open to all Texas State students with an interest in psychology. • Psi Chi is the National Honor Society in Psychology, which is open to all Psychology Majors and Minors who meet the appropriate grade-point-average criteria. • The purpose of these organizations is to build community and connect students with one another, with the faculty and staff, and with psychology-related activities and opportunities in both the Psychology Department and the entire Texas State campus. Our Psi Chapter won 1 of only 6 national chapter awards in 2000.

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