Psychology

Students will study and learn normal and abnormal behavior, learning, development and cognition, as well as how to conduct research in psychology. As a psychology major at Thomas More University, students will attend small classes, usually with less than 25 students, and become acquainted with both applied and scientific aspects of the field. Students will have the opportunity to intern at a hospital, social service agency, or in industry. Students also have the opportunity to conduct and present research at an undergraduate conference and to engage in service projects related to the major. Such experiences contribute to the student’s success in entering graduate school or the workforce.

The psychology curriculum at TMU provides a thorough grounding in the discipline of psychology, from both scientific and clinical/applied aspects.

The following courses are required of all majors:

• General Psychology
• Statistics
• Experimental Design
• Experimental Psychology
• Senior Seminar

Majors take four courses from each of the following groups, plus one elective course in psychology.

Clinical & Social Psychology

• Abnormal Psychology
• Clinical and Counseling Psychology
• Lifespan Development
• Psychological Testing
• Social Psychology
• Theories of Personality
• Advanced Abnormal & Clinical Psychology

Experimental Psychology

• Animal Behavior
• Biological Psychology
• Health Psychology
• Cognition
• Learning
• Motivation
• Sensation and Perception

As a psychology major, students can add a clinical concentration with only a few additional courses. This concentration may appeal to students whose interests lie in the clinical and mental health fields or for graduate training in this area.

Dr. Taryn Wise received her Doctorate of Clinical Psychology from Adler University in 2019. Sincethen, she has worked with child and adolescent populations with emphases in trauma, loss, Autism, and LGBTQ issues. Her areas of interest include child and adolescent psychology, early presentations    of personality disorders, and parent-child relationships. In her free time, she likes to hang out with her two dogs and cat, travel with her husband, and talk about all things Star Wars.

Dr. Eli J. White obtained his Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology from the University of Cincinnati in 2012. He has taught classes ranging from Introduction to Psychology, Research Methods and Statistics, Interpersonal Relations, Human Factors, Sensation and Perception, Cognition, and Developmental Psychology. Dr. White is a published researcher with a focus on perception’s impact on daily life and the implementation of innovative teaching methodologies. Presently, Dr. White’s research pursuits center around investigating the influence of physical effort on perception of affordances, particularly within adult and clinical populations. He likes to serve as a mentor for student research and also be a faculty advisor for student clubs on campus. Beyond academia, you can usually find Dr. White at home playing with his two daughters, running marathons, or you might also see him playing music with his friends in local bands around town.

Dr. Caitlin Powell graduated from the University of Kentucky with her Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology, with a concentration in Social/Personality Psychology. She has taught classes such as General Psychology, Social Psychology, Theories of Personality, Research Methods, and Statistics. Dr. Powell studies perceptions of morality, group identity, social comparisons, and social-emotional processes. She regularly presents with her students at local, national, and regional conferences.

Dr. Whitney Pugh graduated from Auburn University with her Ph.D. in Cognitive and Behavioral Psychology with a concentration in the Psychology of Learning and Behavior. She has taught classes such as General Psychology, Learning, Biological Psychology, Lifespan Development, Educational Psychology, Motivation, Animal Behavior, and History of Ideas within Psychology. She is interested in the processes underlying fear learning, as well as the successful prevention and attenuation of pathological fear through behavioral interventions. Some of her current research interests include the effects that first order and second order conditioning have on causality judgments in humans.

Lauren Kleitz graduated from the University of Louisville with her M.S. in Experimental Psychology with a concentration in Cognitive and Developmental Sciences. She also holds a second M.S. in Customer Analytics from Xavier University. Her current research interests include user experience design, technology integration, and pedagogical effectiveness in online learning and other applied topics related to student success. Lauren teaches statistics, research methods, general psychology, and adult development and aging, among others.

Thomas More psychology students pursue a variety of advanced degrees, such as Psy. D., Ph.D., M.S.W., or M.Ed, in order to pursue counseling and other types of professional endeavors.  Psychology graduates continue their students in programs across the United States, with many attending Xavier University, Spalding University, Wright State, and the University of Cincinnati.  Our graduates find careers at a variety of institutions, such as the University of Cincinnati,  Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, other local hospitals, mental health centers, and residential treatment centers.

Each year, psychology majors have the opportunity to do internships at local hospitals, businesses, and research facilities. The psychology internship program has had successful intern placements at regional and nationally ranked hospitals, employment service agencies, community mental health centers, substance abuse treatment centers, correctional facilities, inpatient and outpatient behavioral programs, chemical dependency programs, and specialized placements for eating disorders, forensic psychology, sports psychology, and treatment of children with autism and conduct disorders. Internships provide both clinical and research experience.

Students who plan to attend graduate school are strongly encouraged to engage in independent research. The department has a strong commitment to undergraduate research, as evidenced by sponsorship of the Mid-America Undergraduate Psychology Research Conference (MAUPRC) and student participation at undergraduate conferences. Each year at MAUPRC, psychology majors from throughout the Midwest present research papers and posters during a day long exchange of student research and guest speakers.

Students also have the opportunity to present their work at the Midwestern Psychological Association (MPA) and the Kentucky Psychological Association (KPA).

Upper level psychology students are eligible for the Ziegler and Baron Scholarships.