Welcome
Does human behavior fascinate you? Are you curious about how the brain works and where our emotions come from? Do you want to help others overcome mental health disorders or further our scientific knowledge about the interaction of brain and behavior? Bring your curiosity to the McMurry University Department of Psychology and explore the complexities of the human mind.
Areas of Study
Psychology
The Bachelor of Arts in psychology, or Bachelor of Science in psychology, teaches the basics of human behavior and emotion. You’ll learn about cognition, personality, interpersonal dynamics, memory, communication, mental health disorders and more, along with how psychologists use the scientific method to study these subjects. A bachelor’s degree in psychology could lead to diverse career options, such as counseling, research in behavior and brain, social work, marketing or advertising. At McMurry, you can choose among five concentrations.General Psychology Concentration
In this concentration, you’ll study the core areas of psychology and choose from a variety of psychology electives to tailor your major. General psychology provides a solid foundation, whether you choose to work upon graduation or pursue graduate school. General PsychologyNeurocognitive Psychology Concentration
This area of study peers deeper into the workings of the human mind and the physiological processes that affect the brain. Neurotransmitters, hormones, genetics, sleep and pharmacology all play their part in brain science. This track emphasizes anatomy and physiology, sleep and dreams, psychopharmacology and research and testing methods. With a bachelor’s degree, graduates could be a research assistant or assist in the care of patients with neurological illness. This concentration is also a foundation for a master’s degree. Neurocognitive PsychologyCounseling and Human Development Concentration
Counseling and human development is the focus of this concentration. You’ll learn basic psychology, relational dynamics, and the ethical and legal issues of the counseling relationship, as well as examine your own interpersonal strengths and weaknesses. With this area of study, graduates can work as a career counselor, health educator, human resources specialist, community service manager, social worker or substance abuse counselor or be prepared to pursue an advanced degree. Counseling and Human DevelopmentHealth Psychology Concentration
Health Psychology is the application of scientific principles to the study of health-related behaviors and beliefs. Health psychologists work with diverse clientele in a wide variety of settings including hospitals, private practice, the military, and public health agencies. The Health Psychology Concentration is intended for psychology majors who want extra health-related coursework which would position them well for graduate studies in psychology or public health. The national outlook for psychologist job growth is above average and the outlook for public health professionals is much faster than average. Increased life span, amplified emphasis on preventative care, and the anticipated Alzheimer’s epidemic are several reasons that healthcare and public health fields have such a strong job outlook. CatalogSport & Performance Psychology Concentration
Psychological expectations, motivations, and mental biases play a large role in athletic accomplishment—as well as achievement in other performance-based activities (music, arts, etc.). The Sport and Performance Psychology Concentration is intended to help students explore the connection between physical performance and psychological functioning. On a national level, sport and performance psychology is experiencing a growing demand for sport psychology practitioners, with their skills also being applied in high-stress jobs such as military and medical professions. Catalog
Student Opportunities
Psychology Club
The mission of McMurry Psychology Club is to promote interest in psychology, provide psychology-related activities beyond the classroom, enhance contact between students and local mental health professionals, and encourage fellowship among psychology students. Psychology Club is open to all students with an interest in the science of psychology.Undergraduate Research
Students can take advantage of access to research opportunities throughout the year. You might assist a faculty member in ongoing research or plan and implement research of your own under faculty supervision.Internship Program
We encourage senior-level psychology majors to participate in our internship program, which connects students to preapproved and supervised work experiences designed to supplement academic training. In this program, students receive meaningful hands-on experience in a mental health setting to help connect the theoretical concepts of psychology with the real world. This program is intended as an upper-level elective for the major and requires students to work a total of 100-150 hours at a local agency, in addition to weekly supervisory meetings.Honors in Psychology
Completion of an honors thesis in psychology provides the opportunity to work one-on-one with a psychology faculty member to sharpen research and writing skills. It is excellent preparation for graduate school and a career in mental health or research. Admission to the honors program in psychology requires completion of at least 60 hours of college work, an overall and psychology GPA of 3.25, completion of 15 hours in psychology, and eligibility for membership in Psi Chi. Students will complete PSYC 4X96H: Honors Tutorial and PSYC 4X97H Senior Thesis. Honors ProgramPsi Chi
Psi Chi was founded in 1929 with the purpose of encouraging, stimulating and maintaining excellence in scholarship and advancing the science of psychology. Membership is open to students who have chosen psychology as a one of their major interests and who meet minimum qualifications. Psi Chi is a member of the Association of College Honor Societies and an affiliate of the American Psychological Association and American Psychological Society. Psi Chi chapters are in over 1,000 colleges and universities in the U.S. with over 325,000 members. To learn more, visit the website or contact Yelena Kosheleva. Psi ChiDepartmental Awards
Each spring, the department of psychology awards outstanding students at the sophomore, junior and senior levels. Outstanding sophomores receive the Evelyn Hennig Memorial Scholarship to be used their junior year; outstanding juniors receive the O.P. Clark Scholarship to be used their senior year; and outstanding seniors are eligible to compete for the Morris Baker Award in Psychology and Sociology.Senior Seminar in Psychology
This capstone psychology course is designed to stimulate critical thinking and initiate debate on a range of controversial issues in psychology. It allows students to examine different theoretical approaches to psychological issues and ask how they can be integrated into a conceptual whole. This course also prepares students for life beyond college with the development of a professional portfolio.Global Learning Endorsement
The Global Learning Endorsement provides an opportunity for students to highlight academic achievement in global/international studies on their transcript. This endorsement will provide helpful documentation of the student’s expertise for employment in an increasingly globalized world. Learn More
Beyond McMurry
Careers
Undergraduate study in psychology prepares students for graduate work in psychology, as well as numerous careers in the following fields:- Business
- Child Psychology
- Counseling
- Educational Psychology
- Forensic Psychology
- Human Resources Management
- Law and Law Enforcement
- Market Research
- Media and Advertising
- Ministry
- Neuropsychology
- Organizational Psychology
- Psychiatry
- Psychotherapy
- Public Health
- Survey Research
- Social Work
- Teaching
Join the Ranks of Accomplished Alumni
McMurry psychology majors have been admitted to accredited graduate programs, including Abilene Christian University, Angelo State University, George Fox University, Hardin-Simmons University, Oklahoma City University, Southern Methodist University, Syracuse University, Texas A&M University, Texas Tech University, University of Massachusetts Boston, University of Oklahoma – Tulsa and University of Texas. You’ll find our psychology alumni working in a variety of fields, including:- Adoption and Foster Care
- Autism Therapy
- Behavior Analysis
- Child Protective Services
- Counseling
- Homeland Security
- Human Resources
- Law Enforcement
- Marriage and Family Therapy
- Mental Health Clinic Administration
- Nursing
- Probation and Parole
- Rehabilitation Counseling
- School Counseling
- Social Work
- Veterans Affairs
Resources
- American Psychological Association
- American Psychological Society
- Christian Association for Psychological Studies
- Southwestern Psychological Association
- Southeastern Psychological Association
- Midwestern Psychological Association
- Psychology Online Resource Central
- Online Master’s in Social Work Programs