What makes the College's Psychology Department distinct?
Asbury College presents psychology from a Christian perspective, believing that all truth is God's truth. The College's Psychology Department affirms secular psychology when it is compatible with the Bible. When possible, secular psychology is integrated with a Christian world view. In the same way, you will be expected to integrate your faith and psychology both personally and professionally.
What can I expect to achieve from psychology studies at the College?
This major provides an excellent basis for those who want to enrich their understanding of themselves and others. The Psychology Department seeks to provide you with an overall knowledge of psychology and to prepare you for graduate study in psychology or related fields.
You'll be made aware of ethical problems in the acquisition and application of psychological knowledge. At Asbury College, you?ll be encouraged to make ethical choices.
Because psychology professions usually involve relationships with other persons, you'll also be urged to expand your personal social development through mission trips, student leadership positions or cross-cultural experiences.
How do psychology alumni perform?
Many of our psychology graduates go on to do graduate work. Asbury College psychology graduates have a graduate-school acceptance rate of approximately 90 percent. Once in the graduate school setting, they report their Asbury College experience has prepared them well.
Following their undergraduate and/or graduate studies, Asbury College psychology graduates work in the fields of academics, business, counseling, social work, education, ministry, medicine and others.
Specifically, psychology students can become counselors, ministers, psychiatrists, professors, researchers, clinical psychologists, sports psychologists and human resource managers.
Who are the faculty members?
All full-time psychology professors hold earned doctorates. You?ll be taught in small class settings by these experienced Christian scholars. They represent expertise in many areas of psychology, including experimental, social, general theoretical, physiological, behavioral neuroscience, counseling and clinical psychology.
Asbury College's psychology professors have earned degrees from Northwestern University, the University of Michigan, Auburn, the University of Florida, Georgia State University, the University of Kentucky and Wayne State University.
Beyond their academic credentials, you?ll find real people you can talk to—in and out of the classroom. Your professors will know you by name and care about your development as a student, as a person and as a Christian.
What does the psychology program emphasize?
The department attempts to present all aspects of psychology. The approach is varied and the training of our faculty is broad. You'll study how people develop, from infancy to maturity. You'll learn how to conduct research and perform experiments. You'll read the latest literature and study the history of and different schools of thought in psychology. Counseling is a major emphasis of the Asbury College psychology program. Many of our faculty members are trained counselors. Two are licensed counseling psychologists. A majority of our students are interested in counseling-related occupations or using counseling skills in their professions.
Will I have opportunity for practical experience?
You?ll have opportunities for practicum experience in counseling, research and/or teaching. Asbury College psychology students have written and presented papers at state and regional psychology conferences. You'll also have the opportunity to visit local mental health care facilities.
Asbury College also sponsors a chapter of Psi Chi, the national student-directed psychology honor society. Members of the College's psychology club often participate in field trips to conventions and conferences.
Quick Facts
- One hundred percent of Psychology Department full-time faculty members hold earned doctorates.
- About 90 percent of Asbury College psychology graduates are accepted into graduate programs.