1. I have some general questions about the Psychology program. Who should I contact?
You are welcome to email general inquiries to me (Dr. Willoughby: lisa.willoughby@health.slu.edu) or Beth Masters (beth.masters@health.slu.edu).
2. What classes do I need to take to complete my major?
Briefly, all baccalaureate programs have required foundational courses, which include General Psychology (PSY 1010) and Foundations of Research Methods and Statistics (PSY 2050). Students must also take courses from each of our four clusters (Social/Organizational, Developmental, Cognitive/Neuroscience, and Mental Health in Applied Settings). Cluster courses typically are taught at the 3000-, where the 3000-level designation refers to courses that introduce students to specific areas in Psychology. In addition to these cluster courses, our programs have additional requirements, including opportunities to gain specialized knowledge through advanced learning environments with 4000-level courses, including a capstone course. A complete description of required coursework may be found in the SLU Catalog and at our undergraduate resource site (https://sites.google.com/slu.edu/slu-psych/home).
3. Where do I learn about upcoming courses so that I may plan out my course schedule for next semester?
You may review upcoming courses in CourseLeaf. You will also receive, by email, a pre-registration newsletter every semester before the registration period at the University (approximately mid-semester). This newsletter will contain a listing of undergraduate courses offered through the Department, including those meeting specific requirements.
3. How do I learn about events, opportunities, and updates from the Department?
Our program relies heavily on the SLU email system to deliver up-to-date information to our majors. Please be sure to regularly check your SLU email account for news, program updates, and other information we share that we feel might be of interest to our students.
4. There is a Psychology faculty member who I think would be an excellent mentor for me, but I have a different mentor. What can I do?
We understand that on occasion students shift interests or discover that a full-time faculty member in Psychology, who is not their assigned mentor, may be a best suited to support their scholarly pursuits. If this happens to you, then you may request a change in mentor by sending the Undergraduate Program Director a brief email message that includes the name of your desired mentor. If we are unable to fulfill your request, we can work together to find a reasonable solution.
5. I forgot the name of my Psychology Faculty Mentor!
If you happen to forget your Psychology Faculty Mentor’s name, please check EAB Navigate.
6. When should I contact my Psychology Faculty Mentor?
Psychology Faculty Mentors are often contacted when students have questions about their degree or Psychology-related careers. Students typically meet with their mentor by appointment or during the mentor’s weekly office hours. However, if you have questions about registration for the upcoming semester, it is recommended that you plan to meet with your mentor at least once a semester during the Psychology Mentoring Period. The Psychology Mentoring Period occurs around Fall Break and Spring Break before registration. During this time, students meet with their Psychology Faculty Mentors to discuss topics, such as course enrollment plans, academic progress, professional goals, and participation in Departmental and other activities. Your Psychology Faculty Mentor will reach out to you during the semester close to the registration period to let you know how to schedule an appointment.
7. What do I need to do to remain a major?
Program continuation standards may be accessed through the SLU Catalog.
8. How do I request review of transfer credits, including those earned during study-abroad semesters?
Saint Louis University has a process for handling transfer credits, including those earned during study-abroad semesters. That information can be found at the Registrar’s office website (https://www.slu.edu/registrar/academic-resources/). If you have general questions about transfer credits, please contact the Undergraduate Program Coordinator (Dr. Willoughby), NOT your Psychology Faculty Mentor. The transfer course review process requires students to complete forms with the registrar’s office and oftentimes will require students to submit the syllabus of the course to Dr. Willoughbyfor final approval. Please note that not all requests will be approved and to avoid problems, requests to review transfer credits should occur well in advance before enrolling in a course when possible.
9. What kind of research happens in SLU’s Department of Psychology?
Faculty members and students in the Department use a wide variety of research methodologies to address diverse research topics, such as identifying key factors that contribute to improved mental health, understanding what brain activities underlie memory functioning, describing how one’s self-identity may change during adolescence, discovering what contributes to positive workplace behaviors, and much more. A full list of faculty research labs can be found here: https://www.slu.edu/arts-and-sciences/psychology/research.php.
Additionally, many research studies in Psychology led by undergraduate students are presented at our Department’s annual Capstone Symposium, which is open to the public and held in late Spring. We hope to see you there!
10. How can I learn more about Psychology?
One reason why Psychology is a popular major is because the discipline is translatable to a broad range of contexts and career pathways. If you are interested in exploring psychology more, we recommend visiting our student resource page: https://sites.google.com/slu.edu/slu-psych/home.
A listing of our regular events can be found below.
What types of events and other co-curricular activities can I expect?
We have a number of events and co-curricular activities designed to promote scholarship among students and faculty, alike. Events and co-curricular activities will be advertised to you through email, so please check your messages regularly.
Mentoring Matters 1 and 2 in Psychology (required for all majors)
All first- and second-year majors are required to attend Mentoring Matters in Psychology. The main event typically occurs in the month of February and provides students with opportunities to socialize with Department faculty members to learn more about the advantages of being a Psychology major, the program offerings, and extracurricular/co-curricular options.
Annual Psychology Capstone Symposium
Every year our undergraduate students showcase their research, practicum, and critical thinking projects in professional poster form at this event. Student often enjoy visiting this event to learn more about possible co-curricular opportunities and what Psychology Capstone projects look like. Be sure to stop by and celebrate the display of academic excellence by your fellow Psychology majors!
Annual Speaker Series
Every year, the Department welcomes students, faculty, staff, and interested community members, alike, to join us, free of cost, to hear speakers at the Richey Lecture in the Fall, the Diversity & Inclusion Colloquium in early-to-mid Spring, and the Psi Chi Lecture toward the end of the Spring semester. Speakers selected for these series are well-known and celebrated in the field, many of whom produced research that you will learn about in your studies, so be sure to not miss these once-in-a-lifetime events!
Psi Chi Events
Saint Louis University has an active, student-led chapter of Psi Chi, a national honor society in Psychology. In addition to the speaker series noted above, Psi Chi hosts many events that are open to all Psychology majors. Examples of event themes include preparing for graduate studies in Psychology, tips on how to engage in research as a lab assistant, making the most out of scientific conferences, and social events that help students connect with faculty and each other.
Research and Community Engagement
We offer a number of different ways to develop and strengthen skills that will enhance your educational experiences in the major. We encourage you to explore faculty and graduate student research interests and engage in research early. In addition to research activities, students may earn course credit while applying their skills and knowledge they develop in Psychology while volunteering in the community. Please speak with your Psychology Faculty Mentor about research and community engagement opportunities.