Psychology

Dickinson College

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Psychology

The Department of Psychology seeks to teach knowledge and skills to investigate and engage the world through psychology, the scientific study of the mind and behavior.

Students in our classes engage in critical inquiry, research conceptualization, data analysis, scientific writing and thoughtful discussions as they explore the breadth of the discipline. Our introductory courses present nine subdisciplines of psychology, ranging from principles of learning to clinical psychology. The expertise of psychology faculty spans a wide range of subdisciplines, including social, cross-cultural, clinical/counseling, community, health, developmental, cognitive, behavioral neurobiology, neuroscience and the psychology of women, gender and sexuality.

Among psychology majors nationwide, Dickinson grads rank #7 for starting salaries at U.S. bachelor-degree-granting institutions (Texas Public Policy Foundation, 2020)

Dickinson psychology offers extraordinary training in research methodology. Our majors learn the fundamentals of research design and strategies for clear scientific communication in four semesterlong courses, and all majors are able to experience the process of psychology research firsthand. Students also have the opportunity to engage in independent projects and collaborative research with faculty and are able to participate in community-based programming.

Chair: Michele FordSenior Lecturer in Psychologyfordm@dickinson.edu
Department Coordinator: Erin SlatteryAcademic Department Coordinatorslattere@dickinson.edu

Phone: 717-245-1255
Fax: ---
Location: Kaufman Building Mailing Address

Department Features

Study Abroad

Current Courses

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Community Involvement

Student Outcomes

Where Our Students Go From Here

Jobs

Chicago School of Professional Psychology
Children’s Institute of Pittsburgh
Brain Balance Achievement Center of Wexford
Commission on Economic Opportunity
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Deloitte
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
National Foreign Language Center, University of Maryland
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Teach for America

Graduate Schools

Clemson University
Georgetown University
Johns Hopkins University
London Business School
New York University
Northwestern University
Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM)
University of California
University of Michigan
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
University of Southern California
University of Texas, Austin
Vanderbilt University
Yale University

Where Our Students Have Interned

Alzheimer's Association
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Children's National Health System
City of Philadelphia Office of Emergency Management
Columbia University
Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA)
Global Mental Health Program, Columbia University Medical Center
Johns Hopkins Hospital
Johns Hopkins University, Lieber Institute of Brain Development
University of Pennsylvania
University of California, Berkeley
LGBT Center of Central PA
National Eating Disorders Association
New York State Psychiatric Institute
Peloton Advantage
Premier Sports Psychology
YWCA Carlisle Sexual Assault and Rape Crisis Program

Student Perspective

“Community Psychology has been my favorite course I've taken at Dickinson! I am majoring in psychology but, sustainability is still very important to me, so I was thrilled when the class focused on sustainable behavior and how to change behaviors to be more sustainable on a personal and systemic level. I loved diving into various sustainable actions, such as reducing water use, changing transportation modes, reducing GHG emissions, etc., and putting a psychological/cognitive-behavioral spin on it. We reviewed various psychological studies surrounding each environmental behavior and discussed further how to implement what we’ve learned from studies about everyday society.”

— Jada Witkowski ’24

Psychology News

All News Department News

Scholarship Story: Celine Phan

Scholarship Story: Celine Phan '27

"Thanks to the Provost Scholarship, I’ve embraced a world brimming with new possibilities." Meet Celine Phan '27 (psychology, quant econ).

Healthy & Tuneful Pursuits

Healthy & Tuneful Pursuits

Blending a psychology major with a minor in music, Anna Choudary '25 explores behavioral health through research and campus leadership and nurtures a passion for vocal performance.

Jack Scantland ’28 Wins Dickinson’s Public Speaking Contest

Jack Scantland ’28 Wins Dickinson’s Public Speaking Contest

The first-year student takes the top prize with powerful reflection on linguistic diversity.

The Psychology of Belonging: Creating Community, Far From Home

The Psychology of Belonging: Creating Community, Far From Home

Hanoi native Celine Phan ’27 had never been abroad before arriving at Dickinson. She soon found a supportive community on campus and the tools it takes to succeed.

Positive Trajectories for All

Positive Trajectories for All

Assistant Professor of Psychology Paula Yust studies friendship and finds fertile ground in her home environment.

Total Recall

Total Recall

Assistant Professor of Psychology Azriel Grysman studies memory, and it's just as interesting and complex as you might think.