Overview

The Psychology Department seeks to develop understanding of principles of human behavior and thought, which are both broadly applicable and deeply explanatory, through such scientific methods as observation, measurement, experiment, and theory construction. and by examining great themes, great events, and great men and women just as a philosopher, historian, or student of literature would do.

As psychology majors, students will be prepared to benefit from a broad variety of experiences. Students will have a deeper understanding of the human condition as it applies to them and to their fellow humans. As liberal arts students, they will learn to organize and analyze information, to speak and write clearly, and to use numbers effectively to make a point. As psychology majors, students will learn to enrich their personal relationships with human understanding and sound social judgment. The Department of Psychology offers Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees. The department encourages its majors to enrich their understanding with one or two semesters in London at Regent's College.

Career opportunities

The Rockford College psychology program will prepare the student well for graduate training. Professional careers and opportunities continue to expand for holders of graduate degrees: counseling, medical psychology, clinical psychology, industrial psychology, school psychology, engineering psychology, academic and research psychology, and more.

Students also can choose course work to prepare for graduate programs outside psychology leading to professional specializations in business, social work, law, medicine, and education. Many students continue with graduate study in preparation for teaching or research careers.

Many enter career positions in areas such as mental health, educational services, social work, and personnel work. Others obtain positions in conventional business or social service settings not directly related to psychology, but in which psychological knowledge and skills may be applied.

Degree requirements

Depending on students' career interests, they may be encouraged to take courses in anthropology/sociology, biology, economics and business, education, mathematics, philosophy and religion.