Behavioral Sciences
- Professor Nonneman, Chair
- Professors Adams, Cairns-Descoteaux, Descoteaux, Moore, Thornton
- Associate Professors Nesselroade, Seitz
- Assistant Professor Dawson, Holcomb
The Psychology Department presents psychology from a Christian perspective. The Department does not reject secular psychology outright but evaluates it, and whenever possible, integrates it with Christianity. We expect students to integrate psychology and their faith both professionally and personally.
1. A basic goal of the psychology program is to provide students with an overall knowledge of psychology and to prepare students for graduate study. Reflecting the institutional purpose to develop the whole person, the department provides students with an awareness of ethical problems in the application and acquisition of psychological knowledge and encourages them to act ethically. Recognizing the importance of the relationships between persons, all psychology majors are encouraged to grow in their personal-social development.
2. Students interested in a career in psychology should take PSY 372 Experimental Psychology to prepare for graduate school. In addition to the courses specified, they should take other psychology courses to prepare them for their chosen field, as well as courses in sociology, biology, and Bible. Math and computer skills also are important for effective performance at the graduate level in psychology. Those planning on graduate school in a secular university should take French, German, or perhaps Spanish, and those planning on a Christian psychology graduate program may consider Greek.
3. Students who are interested in psychology for their own personal development and for application of psychological principles, but do not plan to attend graduate school might select PSY 331 Introduction to Research Methods in place of PSY 372 Experimental Psychology. Such students should be aware that this does NOT prepare them for further work in psychology; consequently, job opportunities in psychology itself are limited for students electing this option.
SOCIAL WORK
The mission of the Asbury College Social Work Program is to prepare social work graduates who are rooted in the liberal arts, the Christian and Wesleyan perspectives, social work values and ethics, prepared for generalist social work practice, and as agents of change in a variety of settings. The Asbury College Social Work Program is accredited by the Commission of Accreditation, Council on Social Work Accreditation.
In order to provide a quality, generalist social work education, the program's faculty has established the following goals for beginning generalist practitioners through the curriculum's knowledge, ethics, and practice with diverse populations.
1. Provide the knowledge, values, skills, and ethics to serve diverse client systems of all sizes and types integrating knowledge about how individuals, families, groups, communities, and organizations grow, change, and function together within the context of their environment.
2. Develop generalist social work practitioners who are both knowledgeable and understanding of diverse client systems of all sizes including: minorities of color and ethnicity, social and economic status, women, mentally and/or physically disabled, gay and lesbian populations, whether individuals, families, groups, or communities.
3. Infuse throughout the curriculum social work values and ethics as stated in the NASW Code of Ethics to prepare graduates for professional practice.
4. Prepare graduates who can think critically about knowledge, and practice, integrating social work history, values, research, skills in practice, and who value continuing learning and professional development throughout their careers.
5. Develop practitioners who understand, integrate knowledge, and practice in evaluation of programs and client systems of all sizes.
6. Develop practitioners who will use their knowledge and practice base to work as advocates and agents of change at all levels of service and organizations and with diverse cultural groups.
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
1. Any student who wishes to enter the social work program will be impartially considered. Students interested in the social work major should declare their interest by Spring semester of their Sophomore year and no later than Fall semester of their Junior year and be assigned an advisor. The assigned Social Work faculty advisor will then guide the student through the admission process.
2. Application for admission to the Social Work program. To begin the formal admission process the student obtains and completes an application form packet from the Social Work Program Director's Office. The form is completed in consultation with the faculty advisor and application for admission is submitted to the program director's office. Completion of the following criteria is necessary for admission to the program.
a. Minimum GPA of 2.50 overall.
b. Completion of the program application form.
c. Applicants may be asked to obtain clearance from the Office of Student Development concerning moral, ethical, and social behavior acceptable to college community standards and the community at large.
d. Recommendations by three persons familiar with the applicant.
e. Recommendation from one non-social work faculty member.
f. Interview by a minimum of two social work faculty.
g. Recommendation by social work faculty.
3. Students will be considered to be admitted to the social work program when they have completed the application process and have received a formal letter of acceptance from the Social Work Program Director.
4. Continuance in the Social Work Program is not guaranteed. Students must maintain an acceptable level of performance according to community, academic, and professional social work standards. Reviews of student performance are held prior to SW 340 Field Practicum, prior to graduation, or other times as required. Students are responsible for completing forms and scheduling performance reviews through their individual faculty advisors. Probationary status may be assigned to students not meeting program criteria. A student who is on probation will not be allowed to do field practicum until student is off probation.
5. Continuance in the Social Work program, includes meeting the following criteria:
a. Maintain academic standing according to the academic progress scale of category two (2) under the academic progress scale listed under the policies section of the Asbury College Bulletin.
b. Demonstrate personal and professional qualities consistent with working with people. These qualities which will be assessed upon entry to the program, through references and interview, and prior to the first field practicum will include, but are not limited to:
i. value system consistent with the ethical standards of the social work profession.
ii. sensitivity to needs of people.
iii. self-awareness.
iv. responsibility in class work, contributions to college and community life.
SOCIOLOGY
Sociology is the study of human social relations in all kinds of populations ranging in size from two individuals to nations. Sociologists study the changing and stable patterns of social interaction, values, and attitudes as reflected in race relations, crime, urbanization, migration, organizations, and institutions such as religion, science, and the family.
1. A major in sociology contributes to a liberal arts education by orienting the student toward increased understanding of human social groups and of the methods and techniques for analyzing these social units. Sociology offers valuable background and preparation for careers in a variety of professions and service occupations.
2. Courses in sociology are designed to meet the needs of two general categories of students. First, are those students who have a general interest in sociology as a background for understanding human society and behavior. Second, are students interested in careers in professional sociology. This major, then, prepares the student for graduate work in the discipline, for advanced training in professional programs such as law, ministry, missionary service, and corrections, and for careers in community service, government, extension service, public relations, medically related fields, family, industry, teaching, and human resources.
PSYCHOLOGY (39 hour major + general education + electives)
PSY 110, 210, 275, 315, 341, 372 or SW 331, 360, 375, 475; plus 17 PSY hours including no more than 8 hours of Independent Study or Practicum.
(54 hour major + general education + electives)
SW 100, 211, 251, 252, 302, 310, 331, 340, 402, 410, 440, 475; plus 12 hours from MIS 201, 322, 330; PSY 210, 315, 360; PS 300; PHL 343; SOC 301, 312, 322, 323, 341, 352, 353, 411, 414, 421, 432, 472; SW 311, 351, 422.
SOCIOLOGY (45 hour major + general education + electives)
SOC 100, 472; SW 331; PSY 315; plus 24 hours from SOC 212 or SOC 300/400 courses; plus nine hours from: BM 381; COM 220; CSC 112 or higher; ECN 272, 273, 473; ENG 362; HIS 300 level (any course); JRN 352; PED 261; PHL 300 level (any course); PS 101, 300; PSY 300 level (any course); SW 351, 402.
PSYCHOLOGY (24 hour minor)
PSY 100, 110, 210, 341, and 12 additional hours at 300 or 400 level.
SOCIOLOGY (21 hour minor)
SOC 100, 472; SW 331; plus additional 12 hours of SOC 212 or SOC 300/400.