Department of Psychology Messiah College

Department of Psychology

Messiah College

http://www.messiah.edu/departments/psychology

What is Psychology?

•Psychology is “the study of the behavior and mental processes of humans.”

•Draws students who want to work with people

Why Study Psychology?

“A human being is a microcosm of the universe, ‘a rare example of God’s power,

goodness, and wisdom, and contains within…enough miracles to occupy our

minds’.” – John Calvin

Distinctives of Psychology at Messiah College

•Students•Faculty•Facilities•Faith Integration•Enrollment has consistently been one of

the highest for all the departments at Messiah College.

Psychology Curriculum atMessiah College

•Comparable to Psychology programs at other schools

•Students will take courses that are theoretical, clinical, and experimental nature

•Many courses combine academic theory with hands on experience

Psychology at Messiah College: Degrees offered

•Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Psychology● with optional Counseling Concentration

•Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Psychology

•B.S. in Biopsychology

•Psychology Minors● Psychology● Counseling● Community Psychology

Psychology at Messiah College: B.A. vs. B.S.— What’s the Difference???

a B.A. in Psychology:

• Prepares students for placements in entry-level positions in the helping professions or for graduate school in many sub-fields of psychology.

a B.S. in Psychology:● Designed for students

who intend to work in a field that has a stronger emphasis on science or math or for those who wish to pursue graduate studies that lean more towards research and the sciences.

Psychology at Messiah College:

Division of Credits for the B.A. & B.S. in Psychology

41%

37%

22%

General Education Requirements (50) Psychology Major Requirements (46)Free Electives (27)

Psychology at Messiah College:B.S. in BIOPSYCHOLOGY

• Biopsychology is the scientific study of the biology of behavior and mental processes (such as learning, memory, perception, attention, motivation, emotion, and cognition).

• Our B.S. in Biopsychology is a collaborative effort with the Department of Biological Sciences.

• Prepares students who are interested in fields such as:● Medicine ● Psychopharmacology● Psychiatry ● Neuropsychology● Cognitive neuroscience ● Behavioral genetics● Occupational therapy ● Comparative

Psychology

Psychology at Messiah College:

Division of Credits for the B.S. in Biopsychology

38%

51%

11%

General Education Requirements (47)Biospychology Major (61-63)Free Electives (13-15)

Psychology at Messiah College: Concentrations and Minors

• Counseling Concentration – ideal for students who are interested in counseling or a counseling-related field. In this concentration, students take a specified 12 credits that provide a firm grounding in the basics of counseling.

• Psychology Minor – designed for non-majors who wish to develop a more sophisticated understanding of the person.

• Counseling Minor – prepares graduates for entry level positions which require basic people helping skills

• Community Psychology Minor– provides students with an understanding of 1) the individual in the context of his/her community, and 2) the theories of assessment and evaluation of community-based programs and agencies.

Lists of required courses for our minors can be found in the college catalog or on-line at www.messiah.edu

Psychology at Messiah College:State-of-the-Art Equipment

• An academic building that includes:▫ Interview rooms with recording capability▫ Group observation/counseling area with

recording capability

• Physiological recording equipment for Biopsychology:▫ Biopac Student Lab Equipment

EEG (electroencephalogram - brain waves) EOG (electrooculogram - eye movement) EMG (electromyogram - muscle contraction) EKG (electrocardiogram-- heart) Reaction time measurement.

Psychology at Messiah College: Opportunities in Psychology

• Join Active Minds, which educates students on mental illness by reaching out through service to the local community

• Become a member of Psi Chi, the national honor society for Psychology

• Connect faith and academics through the completion of service learning projects related to psychology

• Research, write, and present with faculty members

• Complete a Senior Major Honors Project

• Gain additional experience through an internship or practicum related to Psychology

Psychology at Messiah College:The Faculty

John Bechtold, Ph.D.

Department Chair

Research & Professional Interests: Fathering Divorce Cross-Cultural Psychology Technology & Its Psych. Effects

Frequently Taught Courses: Opportunities in Psychology Cognition Experimental Psychology Cross-cultural Psychology Statistical Methods in Psychology

Psychology at Messiah College:The Faculty

Research & Professional Interests:

• Impact of Beliefs on Behavior• Impact of Technology on Families• Impact of Work on Adolescent

Development

Frequently Taught Courses:• Counseling Theories• Abnormal Psychology• History and Systems of

Psychology• Adolescent Development• Graduate Courses

Charles D. Jantzi, Psy.D.

Psychology at Messiah College:The Faculty

Henry A. Danso, Ph.D.

Research & Professional Interests:

• Immigration Attitudes• Intelligence Test Performance• Reconciliation

Frequently Taught Courses: Social Psychology Lifespan Development Topics: Research

Psychology at Messiah College:The Faculty

Research & Professional Interests:

Integration of Psych & Theology Christian Higher Education Faculty Development in

Classroom

Frequently Taught Courses: Psychology Seminar Women and Men in American

SocietyRhonda Jacobsen, Ed.D.

Psychology at Messiah CollegeThe Faculty

Research & Professional Interests:• Posttraumatic Stress Disorder• Developmental Disabilities• Psychological and

Neuropsychological Evaluation• Mood Disorders• Body Image and Spirituality

Frequently Taught Courses:• Psychological Testing• Group Dynamics• Life Span Development• Graduate Courses

Valerie Lemmon, Psy.D

Psychology at Messiah College:Alumni Profiles

Eric Allen, Class of 2006Graduated with a B.S. in Psychology and a B.S. in Philosophy

Education plans: Eric is currently attaining his MA in psychology, after which he hopes to pursue his MSW, LSW, LCSW, and eventually his Ph.D. in psychology

Career plans: • Own his own practice• Teach in an undergraduate setting• Guide students on their way to licensure

Current Positions• Outpatient therapist doing individual psychotherapy as

well as family therapy and group therapy. • Student Assistance Programs (SAP) Agency Representative

for two different school districts running support groups and doing pre-consultations for students who are possibly in need of further assistance.

Psychology at Messiah College:Alumni Profiles

Kelly Sherman, Class of 2007Graduated with a B.S. in Psychology and a Counseling Minor

Current Program: Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology at Immaculata University

Current Employment: -Therapeutic Support Staff (TSS) with CCRES/CCIU in Lancaster, PA (1 yr: 9/07-present)

-Graduate Assistantship; Learning Support Specialist at Immaculata University

(2 months; 9/07-present)Messiah Experience:

“I started my current program feeling like I was miles ahead of my peers in terms of my experiences and knowledge. At Messiah, I was able to be involved in a multitude of activities that has given me the depth of experience necessary to be marketable in nearly any experience I desire; from children to adults, from making behavior plans for persons with special needs to doing therapy with adults with serious mental illness; from working in a school environment to inpatient hospitals to rehabs to higher education.”

Psychology at Messiah College:Alumni Profiles

Melanie and the special needs 2nd graders at Cunningham Park Elementary in Vienna, VA.

Melanie Huber, Class of 2006Graduated with a B.A. in Psychology

Current Education Program: Masters of Special Education at George Mason University• Melanie will graduate with a teaching license

to work with children who have learning disabilities, mental retardation, autism, as well as kids with emotional disabilities. She plans to pursue a career as a special education teacher.

Experiences since Graduation:• Melanie worked as a camp counselor with special needs children at summer camp

• She also worked for a year at The Center for autism in Springfield, VA

Current Employment:Special Education Instructional Assistant at an elementary school in Virginia

Psychology at Messiah College Alumni Profile

J.R. Nissley, Psy.D. – Class of 1999Current Employment: Forensic Psychology

▫ Employer: Hugh S. Smith, Ph.D., & Associates, P.C.▫ Psychological Associate – performs forensic assessments

in areas such as fire-setting, sexual offense, predatory behavior, personality concerns, and more!

J.R. also…▫ Has taught Child Development here at Messiah College▫ Has taught classes at Harrisburg Area Community College▫ Is doing a post-doctoral fellowship in Texas focusing on

rural psychology

Psychology at Messiah College: Alumni Experiences and Reflections

“My experience in the Psychology Department helped prepare me

for graduate school. I have more knowledge in a variety of areas

of psychology than most of my classmates.”●

“My experience as a Psychology major gave me a solid foundation of how to interact and begin to understand other

human beings. Learning about cognitive development, abnormal behavior, theories/skills of counseling, and about

groups has enriched my understanding of human behavior and has been especially applicable in my work with

college students as a residence hall director.”●

“Messiah College is invested in their students – the Psychology Department staff is a great reflection of the

principles of Messiah College.”

Psychology at Messiah College Post-Graduation Assessment

Year Professional Employment

Advanced Degree Other *

2009 - Psychology 26% 61% 13%

2008 - Psychology 52% 43% 5%

2007- Psychology 36% 55% 9%

2006- Psychology 60% 29% 11%

2005- Psychology 40% 37% 23%

From the program’s start to date, all of our biopsychology graduates have become professionally employed in the first year after graduation.

* “Other” includes volunteer opportunities, missions work, and employment unrelated to the degree earned.

Psychology at Messiah College:Examples of Student Entry-Level Positions

• Case Manager▫ Organizes and coordinates services and supports for patients,

such as children with mental health problems and their families; oversees the overall medical, personal, and social service needs of the patients

• Counselor▫ Provides professional help in coping with life issues such as

emotional and relationship difficulties; helps clients and families evaluate their patterns of problem solving and develop more effective ones

• Psychiatric Assistant▫ Assists counselors in non-therapeutic therapy. Monitors and

assesses patient progress to ensure that patient treatment objectives are met. Records and reports patient information. Implements patient treatment plans and selects patient activities

Psychology at Messiah College:Examples of Student Entry-Level Positions

• Crime Victim Advocate▫ Counsels victims and their families; accompanies and supports

victims through the criminal justice process; provides community education, training and consultation

• Social Worker▫ Provides social services and assistance to improve the social

and psychological functioning of children and their families and to maximize the family well-being and academic functioning of children

• Therapeutic Staff Support ▫ Provides one-to-one behavioral health interventions to a  child

or adolescent with a serious emotional disturbance in order to prevent more restrictive services or out-of-home placement and to promote age-appropriate psychosocial growth 

Psychology at Messiah College:Examples of Student Entry-Level Positions

• Rehab Specialist▫ Manage the components important in the rehabilitation

process of individuals with physical and mental disabilities. They help prevent fragmentation and gaps in services to people seeking to move from psychological and economic dependence to independence

• Residential Counselors▫ In charge of group homes. The residents of these homes

include emotionally disturbed, developmentally disabled, and mentally ill youth and adults. People in homes supervised by residential counselors may also have physical problems, but the problems that keep them from being self-sufficient are primarily mental or emotional

• Home Care Aide▫ Helps elderly, disabled, and ill persons live in their own

homes or in residential care facilities instead of in a health facility

Psychology at Messiah College:Graduate Schools of Recent Grads

• Messiah College Masters of Arts in Counseling

• American University• Biola University, Rosemead School of

Psychology• Evangelical Theological Seminary• MCP Hahneman University• Indiana University of Pennsylvania• Jerusalem University College• Millersville University• New York University• Regent University• Shippensburg University• Wheaton College Graduate School

Psychology at Messiah College:Graduate Schools of Recent Grads

State University of NY at Albany and Brockport

Temple UniversityTowson UniversityMount St. Mary’s CollegeUniversity of ConnecticutUniversity of MarylandUniversity of WisconsinSt. Joseph’s UniversityVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State

UniversityWilliam and Mary School of Law

Department of PsychologyMessiah College

http://www.messiah.edu/departments/psychology