Psychology

To study psychology is to understand behavior, both what people actually do and the mental processes underlying their actions. The psychologist’s challenging job not only involves studying individuals and groups but also requires the researcher to take into account the environmental, physiological, and cultural factors that influence human behavior. Students of psychology employ a variety of clinical and scientific methods to discover how and why the human mind behaves as it does.

Psychology is a field that includes many vibrant areas of intellectual interest. Clinical psychology studies normal personality as well as mental disorders and their treatment. Social psychology investigates significant social issues, and community psychology explores how community organizations develop to meet the changing needs of our society. Health psychology studies how to prevent and treat illness using biological, psychological, and social perspectives. Physiological psychology examines the biological bases of behavior, especially those involving the nervous system. Experimental psychology focuses on the basic processes of sensation, perception, learning, memory, thinking, language, emotion, and motivation.

Human-computer interaction and computer simulation of psychological processes bring students into the advanced area of artificial intelligence. Developmental psychology looks at patterns of all psychological processes, including meta-cognition and insight, as they occur and change over the life span.

Lewis & Clark’s psychology department offers a well-rounded curriculum with faculty members whose expertise and research interests cover each of these academic areas. The psychology curriculum acquaints students with a wide range of psychological theories and methods that form the basis for contemporary psychology. The department also strives to develop the student’s competency in conducting and evaluating empirical research in the classroom and in faculty research labs. Many opportunities exist for students to gain internship experience and see the practical applications of psychological principles.

Students begin their studies with three foundation courses: Introduction to Psychology, Statistics, and Psychology Methodology. Seven other courses are selected, in conference with the student’s faculty adviser, based on department guidelines and student interest. Course sizes range from nine students (at the upper level) to 39 students (at the introductory level).

Requirements for the major ensure that students get a broad exposure to the subfields of psychology. Students interested in clinical or counseling psychology benefit from relevant practicum experiences as well as from courses in personality, abnormal psychology, social psychology, and psychology of women. Students interested in basic research in psychology gear their coursework toward experimental, developmental, social, health, community, human-computer interaction, and physiological psychology.

The department has an active practicum program, and most psychology majors pursue a practicum experience in an area of interest. The program provides supervised experience and training in psychological activities in a variety of local institutions and businesses. The practicum program is offered to junior and senior psychology majors as an important supplement to their academic and research development.

Perhaps the greatest strength of Lewis & Clark’s psychology department is the opportunity for students to do research in the major areas of psychology. Research conducted at Lewis & Clark is at the professional level. The department has a strong commitment to involving students in faculty research projects and providing guidance for students who wish to work on independent projects.

Students, in collaboration with faculty, may develop their own research and frequently present their papers at national psychology conferences. Students are also frequently credited as coauthors on articles in leading psychology journals. Psychology students may also tie in their overseas study experiences with their interest in psychology.

Based on an evaluation of academic performance and the quality of a research proposal prepared in cooperation with a faculty member, a select group of senior students is invited to participate in the psychology honors program. Students work closely with a thesis committee to undertake and defend their honors theses to the department. Exceptional senior projects are awarded honors on graduation.

Many career directions exist for those with a major in psychology. One might choose to pursue further studies in the field, go to medical or law school, or enter any field requiring the skills of critical thinking, research, and writing. Students who combine their studies in psychology with appropriate courses in Lewis & Clark’s graduate-level teacher education program may become licensed to teach. The field of clinical psychology is popular and many of our students head for graduate school in clinical counseling, while others choose to enter the fields of experimental, social, cognitive, health, and developmental psychology. Graduates find a need for professionals in applied industrial and organizational psychology and a growing interest in applied experimental psychology in the computer world. Skills in statistical analysis, research design, and program evaluation are also valued by potential employers. Generally, graduate study is a prerequisite if one wishes to pursue any field of psychology. Students coming out of Lewis & Clark’s psychology program do very well in terms of graduate school placement.

Examples of Collaborative Student-Faculty Research

• "Disclosure of Trauma Leads to Greater Association Between the Self and the Traumatic Event."
• "Exploring the Divide Between Two Unified Theories of Cognition: Modeling Visual Attention."
• "Successful Searching in Cyberspace: Influence of Experience, Gender, and Age."
• "The Effectiveness of Neurofeedback in Improving Attention and Memory Among College Students."
• "Individualism and Collectivism: A Comparison of Kenyan and American Self-Concepts."
• "Does Mood Influence Cognitive Dissonance?"
• "Contemporary Models of Intelligence."

Examples of student practica

• Volunteer staff member at a socialization program for people recovering from schizophrenia, bipolar mood disorders, and other psychological problems.
• Police investigator of patterns of gang activity.
• Counselor at a shelter home for battered women.
• Observer and participant in diagnostic assessments at the Child Development and Rehabilitation Center at Oregon Health Sciences University.
• Recreation and reminiscence group leader for elderly inpatients in a nursing home.
• Outreach team member offering resources and referrals to street kids.

Examples of positions obtained by psychology graduates

• Ph.D. candidates in psychology programs.
• Graduate students in social work programs.
• Program managers and staff at local social service agencies.
• English-language instructors in Japan, China, and Hungary.
• Assistant professor, Duke University, joint appointment in department of psychology and law school.
• Human factors consultant, New World Design, Newberg, Oregon.
• Students in top medical and law schools.