Psychology

Introduction

Most of the major problems facing the people of the world today — hunger, overpopulation, the continuing threat of war, prejudice, pollution, drug addiction — are people problems; people have created them, and it will be people who must and will find solutions to them. Psychology, as the scientific study of mind and behavior, will help provide the answers to many of these pressing problems.

Psychology’s attempt to understand the human condition takes many approaches. Some psychologists study brain chemistry and its relation to behavior, while others study the behavior of individuals in groups (for example, in a religious cult). Still others are engaged in providing counseling or psychotherapy to people who are mentally ill or who are having difficulty in coping with the demands of life. With a faculty of 28 men and women, all of whom hold doctoral degrees, the department is able to offer a program of study which provides a solid foundation in the general concepts and methods of psychology, as well as courses and programs for students in many of the more specialized areas of this large and exciting field.

The Department of Psychology has limited the number of credits required for a major in psychology so that students may develop minors or a second major in another department. The core program in general psychology is designed to ensure that all majors will develop a sound basic background in psychology which will provide effective preparation for advanced study as well as contribute significantly to a liberal education.

A very important kind of learning takes place when students become personally involved in psychological research. Students are encouraged to become active participants in their own research projects or to cooperate with a faculty member in his or her ongoing research. It also is recommended that students seek participation in one of the off-campus field experiences which are available.

In addition to its undergraduate offerings, the department also offers three graduate programs, an MS in experimental psychology with an optional specialization in measurement, evaluation, and statistical analysis (MESA); an MS in mental health counseling; and an MEd in school counseling. Complete descriptions of these programs may be found in the Graduate School section of this catalog.

Faculty

LAWRENCE A. SYMONS (2000) Chair and Associate Professor. BA, MA, University of British Columbia; PhD, University of Western Ontario.
ROBINDER P. BEDI (2008) Assistant Professor BA, MA, Simon Fraser University, PhD, University of British Columbia
CHRISTINA A. BYRNE (1997) Associate Professor. BS, Virginia Commonwealth University; MS, PhD, University of Georgia.
ALEXANDER M. CZOPP (2008) Assistant Professor BA, St. Mary’s College of Maryland, MS, PhD, University of Kentucky
JENNIFER DEVENPORT (2003) Associate Professor. BA, Boise State University; MS, PhD, Florida International University; MLS, University of Nebraska.
DALE L. DINNEL (1986) Professor. BS, MAT, MA, PhD, University of Nebraska.
JANET M. FINLAY (1999) Associate Professor. BS, University of Victoria; PhD, University of British Columbia.
DEBORAH C. FORGAYS (1994) Professor. BA, MEd, PhD, University of Vermont.
JAMES GRAHAM (2006) Associate Professor. BA, Purdue University; MA, Pepperdine University; PhD, Texas A&M University.
REBECCA GOODVIN (2007) Assistant Professor. BA, Gonzaga University; MA, PhD, University of Nebraska.
JEFFREY W. GRIMM (2001) Professor. BA, Whitman College; MS, PhD, Washington State University.
DIANA GRUMAN (2003) Associate Professor. BA, Whitman College; MEd, Western Washington University; PhD, University of Washington.
TODD HASKELL (2006) Assistant Professor. BA, Dartmouth College; PhD, University of Southern California.
IRA E. HYMAN, JR. (1991) Professor. BA, Duke University; MA, PhD, Emory University.
KELLY J. JANTZEN (2007) Assistant Professor. BA, PhD, Simon Fraser University.
MCNEEL GORDON JANTZEN (2009) Assistant Professor. BA, MA, PhD, Florida Atlantic University.
JEFF KING (2007) Associate Professor. BA, University of Oklahoma; MS, PhD, Pennsylvania State University.
BARBARA J. LEHMAN (2005) Assistant Professor. BA, Drew University; MA, PhD, Claremont Graduate University.
KRISTI M. LEMM (2000) Associate Professor. BA, Columbia University; MS, PhD, Yale University.
ARLEEN C. LEWIS (1987) Professor. BA, Utah State University; PhD, University of Nebraska.
MICHAEL J. MANA (1999) Associate Professor. BS, Washington State University; MA, PhD, University of British Columbia.
LESLIE C. McDONALD-MISZCZAK (1997) Associate Professor. BA, University of Alberta; MA, PhD, University of Victoria.
KATE C. McLEAN (2007) Associate Professor. BA, Mills College; PhD, University of California-Santa Cruz.
JACQUELINE ROSE (2008) Assistant Professor. BS, University of Calgary; MA, Queen’s University; PhD, University of British Columbia
TINA DU ROCHER SCHUDLICH (2006) Assistant Professor. BA, University of Michigan; MA, PhD, University of Notre Dame.
CRISTINA SAMPAIO (2006) Assistant Professor. PhD, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
DAVID N. SATTLER (2000) Professor. BA, San Diego State University; MA, PhD, Michigan State University.
JOSEPH E. TRIMBLE (1978) Professor. BA, Waynesburg College; MA, University of New Hampshire; PhD, University of Oklahoma; RF, Radcliffe Institute, Harvard University.

Declaration Process

Students wishing to declare a major in psychology must have:

completed at least 75 credits;
successfully completed or be currently enrolled in Psy 301;
achieved a Western GPA (based on at least 12 credits) of 2.70 or higher. A GPA of 3.0 in all psychology courses taken at Western, including PSY 301, may substitute for the overall 2.70 GPA.

Other Departmental Information

Mid-Program Checkpoint

Students seeking to complete a BA in psychology within four years should have completed an introductory psychology class (e.g., PSY 101 or a comparable course at another school) and 15 other credits in psychology by the start of their junior year.

Graduate Study

For concentrations leading to the Master of Education or the Master of Science degrees, see the Graduate School section of this catalog.