Department of Psychological Sciences: Undergraduate Advising Guide GENERAL INFORMATION: Academic Advisor: Bryce A. Cain Phone: (330) 672-2912 E-mail: bcain9@kent.edu Office Location: Kent Hall 142 Appointment Information: By appointment only. Schedule an appointment online using the link below (Under the “Reasons To Seek Departmental Advising” section). Advising hours vary by semester with approximately 20 appointment slots available each week for Kent Campus students only. Revisit the link often as new appointment slots become available every day at midnight. Late Policy: If you are more than 10 minutes late to your appointment, you will be asked to reschedule. Like us on Facebook Kent State—Department of Psychological Sciences Follow us on Twitter @kentstatepsych REASONS TO SEEK DEPARTMENTAL ADVISING: If you are a Kent Campus psychology major, schedule an appointment to meet with the Department of Psychological Sciences Academic Advisor in Kent Hall 142 to: Become connected with a faculty advisor. Decide whether the Bachelor of Art (B.A.) or the Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree is right for you. Find a psychology internship/volunteer experience that will allow you to acquire real-world psychology-related experience while in school. (Internships can also count as credit for your major!) Learn the process for becoming a Research Assistant (RA) in a psychology lab and find research opportunities. Acquire information about psychology-related student organizations and events. Find psychology electives that align with your interests and future goals. Discuss career goals and post-graduation plans. Clarify major/minor requirements. Fulfill your required advising appointment each semester and have your Advising PIN removed. SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCES ACADEMIC ADVISOR HERE: http://www.kent.edu/psychology/advising *Note: You may also meet with your assigned Academic Advisor in Bowman Hall 105 to fulfill your required advising appointment if there are no appointment slots available to meet with the Department of Psychological Sciences Academic Advisor. Schedule your appointment here: http://www.kent.edu/cas/advising WHICH DEGREE IS RIGHT FOR ME? Key Differences: Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) Kent Core Math Any Kent Core Math Introductory Statistics recommended Kent Core Science Choice of any basic science courses Foreign Language Requirement Minimum GPA Requirements to Graduate Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Algebra Required Must choose from select biology and chemistry courses 4 Semesters 2 Semesters Overall GPA = 2.00 Major GPA = 2.00 Overall GPA = 2.00 Major GPA = 2.50 More major-specific classes required Fewer major-specific classes required A lot of flexibility in choosing majority of upper-division psychology courses and general electives Some flexibility in choosing upperdivision psychology courses and general electives Much stronger emphasis placed on methods, research, and science; two quantitative methods courses Pre-Medicine/Osteopathy concentration is available for students desiring to go to medical school Definitely possible, but the B.S. degree requires a greater number of specific psychology courses Better prepares students for advanced graduate training and Ph.D. programs related to clinical and psychological sciences by providing advanced coursework in research, statistics, and methodology. Curriculum Ability to Add a Minor? Graduate School Preparation Less math and science focused; one quantitative methods course Very manageable and encouraged to make oneself more marketable in the workforce Prepares students for graduate work in a variety of Master’s degree programs such as school, mental health, community, and career counseling, social work, higher education administration/student services, education, law and criminal justice, etc. Ph.D. programs in psychology are still a possibility, just like the B.S. Master’s degree programs are still a possibility, just like the B.A. CAN I GET A JOB WITH JUST MY BACHELOR’S DEGREE? Absolutely! A Bachelor’s degree in Psychology can prepare you for careers related to: Advertising/Event Planning Corrections & Probation General Business, Customer Relations, & Sales Human Resources, Personnel, Recruiting Human, Community, & Social Services Mental Health Services, Advocacy Public Relations Research, Data Management, Technical Writing Retail & General Management Teaching/Education (in some instances) Many other industries. A psychology degree is extremely transferable! Consider taking our 1-credit, upper-division, online workshop called “Career Pathways in Psychology” (PSYC 41993) to learn more about psychology career and graduate school opportunities! WHICH PSYCHOLOGY ELECTIVES SHOULD I TAKE? Most psychology courses can be electives. However, it is best to take electives that align with your interests and future goals. Interest Area Suggested Elective Courses Introduction to Clinical Psychology (PSYC 40383) Abnormal Psychology (PSYC 40111) Health Psychology (PSYC 41581) Adolescent Psychology (PSYC 30651) Drugs and Behavior (PSYC 41364) Child Psychology Child Psychology (PSYC 20651) Adolescent Psychology (PSYC 30651) Social and Personality Development (PSYC 30652) Children’s Thinking (PSYC 30655) Psychological Disorders of Childhood and Adolescence (PSYC 40112) Forensic Psychology Forensic Psychology (PSYC 30111) Abnormal Psychology (PSYC 40111) Drugs and Behavior (PSYC 41364) Neuro/ Biopsychology Perception (PSYC 31141) Animal Cognition (PSYC 31634) Cognitive Psychology (PSYC 40445) Cognitive Neuroscience (PSYC 40446) Basic Learning Processes (PSYC 41043) Biopsychology (PSYC 41363) Laboratory Experience in Psychological Research: Cognitive/Learning (PSYC 41574) Health Psychology Psychology of Adjustment (PSYC 21211) Psychology of Aging (PSYC 30656) Psychology of Motivation (PSYC 30821) Drugs and Behavior (PSYC 41364) Health Psychology (PSYC 41581) Clinical/ Counseling Psychological Disorders of Childhood and Adolescence (PSYC 40112) Psychology of Adjustment (PSYC 21211) Children’s Thinking (PSYC 30655) Psychological Assessment (PSYC 40231) Forensic Psychology (PSYC 30111) POPULAR MINORS FOR PSYCHOLOGY MAJORS: Advertising/Marketing Anthropology Applied Conflict Management Biological Sciences Business Chemistry Communications Community Health Education Criminology and Justice Studies Economics Event Planning Foreign Language Gerontology Health Care Ethics Healthcare Systems Management Hospitality Management Human Development and Family Studies Human Resources Management Human Sexuality Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Studies Non-Profit Studies Pan-African Studies Paralegal Studies Political Science Pre-Law Public Health Public Relations Sociology Sport Administration Urban Studies and Planning Women’s Studies *Among many others! Check out all of KSU’s minors here: http://solutions.kent.edu/gps/ INTERNSHIPS & RESEARCH EXPERIENCE It is highly recommended that psychology majors complete at least one internship and/or acquire formal research experience to become more qualified for a competitive workforce and graduate school programs. For more information about internships, including a categorized list and contact information for sites and organizations where previous undergraduate psychology students have interned, visit: http://www.kent.edu/psychology/internships-and-volunteer-opportunities - This webpage also contains links to instructions and process for obtaining a psychology internship. Note: Internships can be completed for course credit or non-course credit. For more information about acquiring research/lab experience, including a list of available Research Assistant (RA) positions and the process for applying for RA positions, visit: http://www.kent.edu/psychology/research-experience - Note: RA positions can be completed for course credit or non-course credit. This is up to the student and supervising faculty member. Every lab has a different application process. GET INVOLVED! PSYCHOLOGY ORGANIZATIONS Participating, and possibly even one day taking on a leadership role, within a student organization is another way to make psychology majors more marketable and well-rounded after they graduate. There are five psychology-related student organizations for students to become involved with: 1. Psi Chi - The International Honor Society in Psychology - Must be psychology major or minor, 3.0 GPA, already completed 9 credits of psychology, and be at least a second semester sophomore to join; One time lifetime membership fee 2. Psychology Club - Open to any student interested in psychology; weekly meetings focus on different psychology topics such as topics currently gaining attention in the media, graduate school options, etc. 3. Peer Mentor Program - Junior/Senior psychology majors mentor Freshman/Sophomore psychology majors - Join if you have interest in becoming a mentor or a mentee 4. Phi Delta Epsilon, Ohio Beta Co-ed Medical Fraternity - Requires pre-med concentration, 3.0 GPA, application, interview, and fee 5. American Medical Students Association Visit the following link for more information: http://www.kent.edu/psychology/student-organizations