Executing searches with no text in the Search Terms entry field will render no results.
print page

Psychology and Communication Studies

Psychology (B.A. or B.S.)

Addictions Minor

Communication Studies Minor

Psychology Minor

Organizational Dynamics Academic Certificate

Psychology and Communication Studies Graduate Degree Program

Traci Craig, Dept. Chair (206 Student Health Ctr. 83844-3043; phone 208/885-6324). Faculty: Benajmin Barton, Rajal Cohen, Traci Craig, Brian P. Dyre, Annette Folwell, Russell Jackson, Kenneth D. Locke, Mikaela L. Marlow, Steven E. Meier, Jamie C. Nekich, Richard Reardon, Todd J. Thorsteinson, Steffen Werner, Alan Whitlock, Mark F. Yama. Affiliate Faculty: Martha A. Kitzrow, Charles R. Morrison, Diane L. Phillips-Miller, Joan Pulakos, Steve Saladin. Adjunct Faculty: Curt C. Braun, Susan G. Hill, Justin G. Hollands, Margaret Jelinek Lewis.

Psychology is the scientific study of thinking, emotion, and behavior. It is a diverse field, and can be applied to almost all aspects of everyday life: interpersonal relationships, school and lifelong learning, family, and the work environment. Psychology uses scientific research methods to develop and test theories, and to explain or predict behavior. Undergraduate study in psychology provides a broad coverage of the field; whereas graduate study focuses more narrowly on a particular discipline, preparing students for professional work as researchers and/or practitioners.

Communication Studies is a social science discipline that considers how people verbally and nonverbally communicate at the individual, societal, and cultural levels. It can be seen as the discipline that links other disciplines, a discipline that is vital if people, organizations, and governments are to cope with today's complex world. Students with degrees in Communication Studies pursue careers as communication specialists in the fields of communication education, business, government and politics, high technology industries, health, and social and human services. Graduates may also pursue advanced degrees in communication and other fields.

The Department of Psychology and Communication Studies offers a B.S. or B.A. in Psychology or Communications Studies. The psychology degree requires students to take a wide variety of courses in areas such as developmental processes, social psychology, learning and memory, personality, clinical psychology, biological processes, and sensation/perception. Depending on their interests, students also select from more specialized subjects such as human factors, industrial/organizational psychology, aging, and the psychology of emotion. The Communication Studies degree requires students to take courses in the fields of speech, interpersonal and organizational communication as well as research methods and statistics. Students choose additional coursework from the areas of conflict management, intercultural communication, persuasion, gender, and aging.

Currently, graduate training in the Department is available only in Psychology. The masters degree in psychology prepares students for careers in government and industry, teaching at the junior college level, or for continued study elsewhere at the doctoral level. The department offers an M.S. in psychology with an emphasis in either human factors psychology or industrial/organizational psychology. The intent of both emphases is to develop knowledge and skills germane to a professional position, and to provide appropriate preparation for those interested in further graduate study. Both human factors and industrial/organizational psychology emphases can be taken as thesis or non-thesis options. Occasionally, the department will accept applicants for the general experimental psychology M.S. Students interested in this option should contact the department for more information.

An applicant to the graduate program must possess an undergraduate degree in psychology or a related field, such as engineering, computer science, or business. In addition, applicants are required to have completed a course in introductory statistics, a course in experimental psychology or research methods, and a course in computer programming. Students wishing to emphasize human factors are encouraged to take upper-level courses in cognitive psychology and sensation/perception; students wishing to emphasize industrial/organizational psychology are encouraged to take upper-level courses in social psychology, I/O psychology, and tests and measurement. All applicants will be considered even if recommended coursework has not been taken.

Courses

See the course description section for courses in Psychology (Psyc) and Communication Studies (Comm).