Department of Psychological Science

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Location: Mathematics-Education-Psychology Center 337
Telephone: 859-572-5310
Fax: 859-572-6085
Email Address: psychology@nku.edu
Web Address: https://inside.nku.edu/artsci/departments/psychology.html
Department Chair: Justin Yates
Other Key Personnel:

Assistant Chair: Robin Bartlett
Advisors: Steven Donnally, Dana Lehrter, and Eli White
Department Coordinator:

Full-Time Faculty: Mark Bardgett, Robin Bartlett, Kimberly Breitenbecher, Kinsey Bryant-Lees, Kathleen Fuegen, Perilou Goddard, Allyson Graf, Douglas Krull, Cecile Marczinski, Philip J. Moberg, Kathleen O’Connor, Brittany Smith, Jeffrey Smith, Kalif Vaughn, Eli White, Justin Yates

Thinking about the discipline: A degree in psychological science opens the door to one of the most challenging and rewarding professional fields today. The psychological science major is designed to provide students with flexibility in the selection of courses to meet their individual interests and career goals. Psychological science graduates have the skills and tools they need to be successful in a variety of challenging careers in mental health, helping professions, business, and industry. Students will also be prepared for advanced graduate study.

Special opportunities for our students: Students may have the opportunity to conduct research with faculty and present it at international, national, or regional conferences. Honors in psychological science can be earned by students who conduct research with a faculty member and meet the academic qualifications. Students who meet the criteria can be admitted into the NKU chapter of Psi Chi, the International Honor Society in psychology. Any student at the university may join the Psychology Club. These organizations are for students who want to become more involved with the Department of Psychological Science and with the field of psychology, in general. They offer a mix of educational, service, and social activities to enhance the academic experience of the psychological science student. The department also facilitates student participation in practicum experiences.

Honors in Psychology

The Honors in Psychology (HIP) program is designed to provide an enhanced learning experience for outstanding psychological science undergraduates. Each HIP student will collaborate with a faculty mentor to design, conduct, analyze, document, and present an original empirical study in a two-semester sequence. In the process, students should develop or refine a variety of skills that will be useful in graduate school and their future careers.

To be eligible for the HIP program, students must have (a) a declared major in psychological science; (b) a minimum of 45 earned credit hours; (c) a minimum overall GPA of 3.5; (d) at least two semesters remaining prior to graduation; and (e) a minimum grade of B in PSY 100 , STA 205 , and PSY 210 . Students who are currently enrolled in PSY 210  at the time of application may be admitted provisionally to HIP, but they may not begin the HIP research project until these courses are completed with the required minimum grade in each. HIP students are not required to participate in the university honors program. However, HIP students who are enrolled in the honors program may, with the permission of the honors director, use the HIP project as an honors capstone experience. Final admission into HIP depends on students identifying a psychological science faculty mentor who agrees to work with them on their project. This agreement requires a written contract signed by the student, faculty mentor, HIP coordinator, and chair of the Department of Psychological Science, and registration for 3 credit hours in PSY 497  (Honors Project in Psychology) and HNR 490  (if the student plans to use the project in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the honors minor) for two semesters. Contact the Department of Psychological Science for more detailed information about Honors Psychology.

Special graduation requirements:

1. To graduate, students majoring in psychological science must have a grade of C- or better in all courses applied toward certification of the major or minor, or area of focus, as well as an overall 2.00 GPA in the discipline. This includes courses listed below for tracks A and B on each of the two degree programs.
2. Psychological science majors are required to participate in a standardized assessment test given by the department prior to graduating. This is in addition to the university’s graduation requirements.
3. Transfer students must complete at least half of their required coursework in psychological science at NKU.

MSIO Bridge Program

Undergraduate students who have completed 60 credit hours (30 at NKU) with a 3.50 GPA can reduce the 45 credit-hour requirement for the master’s degree in Industrial and Organizational Psychology (MSIO) up to 12 credit hours by enrolling in one to four, 500-level courses as undergraduate electives, provided they fulfill the following:

1. Complete PSY 501 , PSY 550 , PSY 570 , or PSY 580  with a grade of B or higher.
2. Subsequently enroll in the IP Psychology master’s degree program.

Programs

• Psychological Science, B.A.
• Psychological Science, B.S.

• Psychological Science Minor

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