Psychology Programs

Majors:

Minor:

Specialization

Psychology Major/Minor Information:

The Psychology Department has organized its courses and experiences to develop student expertise in concepts, theories, and methods of psychology. Beginning students observe behavior scientifically and understand basic principles of psychology. Intermediate students are introduced to theoretical frameworks, research design, and scientific communication.  Advanced students learn to integrate theory and experience in sophisticated attempts to understand the complexity of human behavior, including the pursuit of independent inquiries.

Psychological subspecialities, such as developmental, cognitive, physiological, and social psychology, serve as foundations for individual courses. These courses become analytical tools in the study of complex psychological issues. Students learn to apply both scientific methodology and psychological theory in situations encountered in actual professional settings. The Alverno psychology graduate completes their program with a thorough understanding of human behavior as well as technical skill in measuring thoughts, emotions, and behaviors.

Psychology Pre-Counseling Major Information:

Undergraduate students focus on the scientific study of normal and abnormal human behavior across the diverse subdisciplines of psychology, including developmental, cognitive, physiological, social, and cultural psychology. When work is complete, students begin training in counseling psychology, engaging with issues of healing and social justice. The courses prepare students to be skilled counselors while they learn how to address the important social issues that affect communities daily.

Psychology Specialization Information:

The specialization is a 10-credit option where students complete either PSY 250 Abnormal Psychology or BSC 255 Behavioral Science Research Methods, plus three 2-credit electives from 300-level elective offerings.

Learning Outcomes:

  • Theoretical Reasoning: Construct plausible psychological explanations for complex human behavior relying on reasoning and evidence.
  • Methodological Proficiency: Solve problems of human experience, using and evaluating a variety of methods.
  • Professional Interaction: Interact and communicate with people in a variety of professional contexts.
  • Self-Reflection: Be self-directed in using the tools of meta-cognition to accurately discern the quality of performance.
  • Ethical Insight & Action: Respond to the needs of others with sensitivity to various perspectives.

Sister Bernardin Deutsch, PhD, Professor, Psychology, bernardin.deutsch@alverno.edu

In the early 1970s, Sister Bernardin, as an active member of the faculty, helped to develop what came to be known as the Alverno Abilities for learning and applying learning across the lifespan. Sister Bernardin chaired the faculty group that developed the social interaction ability, so necessary in teaching, nursing, and across the professional roles taken by graduates.  Sister Bernardin has taught courses in developmental psychology, educational psychology, and the psychology of learning.

Amy Hennings, PhD, LCPC, Associate Professor, Psychology, amy.hennings@alverno.edu

Taught at Alverno College since 2022. She has been teaching in higher education since 2004 and has worked in the field of psychology for almost thirty years. Her research has focused primarily on resiliency within high-risk college students and survivors of trauma.

Mikelene (Mikki) Ray, PhD, Professor, Psychology, mikelene.ray@alverno.edu

Been faculty since 2009. Her area of expertise is neuroscience, particularly how learning and memory occur in the brain. She earned her doctorate from Virginia Commonwealth University. Her areas of research have involved head injury, depression, Parkinson’s disease and Alzhiemer’s disease.

Paul C. Smith, PhD, Instructor and Professor Emeritus, Psychology, paul.smith@alverno.edu

Worked in the Psychology Department since 1987. His specialization is in Learning Sciences. He holds a doctorate in Urban Education and masters degrees in Educational Psychology and Philosophy.

Joyce Tang Boyland, PhD, Instructor and Professor Emeritus, Psychology, joyce.boyland@alverno.edu

Professor Emeritus of Psychology at Alverno College and affiliate faculty in linguistics at UW-Milwaukee.  Her academic research at Harvard and UC Berkeley focused on questions of how information outside your head ends up as ideas inside your head, and how all that relates to how societies and cultures change.

Kris Vasquez, PhD, Professor, Psychology, kris.vasquez@alverno.edu

Studies prejudice, morality, and behavioral economics. She holds a doctorate in Social Psychology with additional degrees in Economics, Business, and User Experience Design. The national Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues named her an outstanding teacher and mentor.

Psychology Major With General Education Requirements (PSY.D.BS)  25-26 Catalog1

GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS
AC-151Initial Social Interaction Assessment0
ADV-299Intermediate Level Event0
BSC-215Working in Diverse Groups2
Choose one Globally Effective Citizen Course: AHS-409, GEC-302, GEC-307, GEC-312, GEC-314, GEC-315, GEC-317, GEC-320, GEC-324, GEC-328, GEC-333, GEC-3983
CM-120Communication Seminar 14
CM-125Communication Seminar 23
CM-225Communication Seminar 33
FA-110Intro to the Arts4
HUM-150Express/Interpretn Human Experience4
HFA-210Humanities & Fine Arts Elective2
HFA-310Humanities & Fine Arts Elective2
FSS-125First Semester Seminar2
ILA-100Introduction to the Liberal Arts @ Alverno0
or ILA-200 Introduction to the Liberal Arts @ Alverno
PPS-229Career & Internship Planning1
PSY-110Life Span Development4
QL-122Quantitative Literacy in Modern World4
or BU-151 Personal Finance
QL-156Mathematical Connections3
BI, CH, PH Science Course With Lab4
BEHAVIORAL SCIENCE
BSC-255Behavioral Science Research Methods4
BSC-256Probability & Statistics4
PSYCHOLOGY COURSES
PSY-250Abnormal Psychology4
PSY-301Analytic Reading in Psychology4
PSY-302Classic & Contemporary Psychology Theory4
PSY-350Experimental Psychology4
PSY-491Senior Seminar2
PSYCHOLOGY ELECTIVES: Choose 10 Credits From Below10
PSY-321A
Neuroscience of Addiction
PSY-321C
Neuroscience of Concussion
PSY-323A
Conspiracy Theories
PSY-323C
Human Language
PSY-324A
Motivation and Persistence
PSY-325A
Self-Awareness & Multicultural Competency
PSY-325C
Child Psychopathology
PSY-326A
Forgiveness
PSY-326C
Music, Thought and Emotion
PSY-326E
Happiness, Stress, Resilience
PSY-497
Independent Study
INTERN-383Internship Seminar2
GENERAL & MINOR ELECTIVES37
Total Credits120
1

This Major requires a declared Minor. 

Psychology Major With General Education Map2  25-26 Catalog

Freshman
FallCreditsSpringCredits
AC-1510CM-1253
BSC-2152HUM-1504
CM-1204PSY-2504
FSS-1252QL-1563
ILA-100 or 2000 
PSY-1104 
QL-122 or BU 1514 
 16 14
Sophomore
FallCreditsSpringCredits
ADV-2990BSC-2564
BSC-2554HFA-21012
CM-2253PPS-2291
BI, CH, PH, SC Course with Lab4Minor Elective Course4
FA-1104General Electives 4
 15 15
Junior
FallCreditsSpringCredits
GEC-3003PSY-3014
HFA-31012PSY-3024
PSY Elective2PSY Elective2
PSY Elective2Minor Elective Course3
Minor Elective Course4General Electives 2
General Electives 2 
 15 15
Senior
FallCreditsSpringCredits
INTERN-3832PSY-4912
PSY-3504PSY Electives 2
PSY Elective2Minor Electives 4
Minor Elective Course4General Electives 7
General Electives 3 
 15 15
Total Credits 120
1

May choose HFA 210 (2 credits) and HFA 310 (2 credits) or HFA 250 (4 credits).

2

Academic maps are to be used as a guide and assume a Fall start.  Official course requirements for each student are housed in Self-Service/Student Planning.  Course sequences are subject to change – check with the Academic Advising Office for updated maps.

Psychology Pre-Counseling with General Education (PPC.D.BS) Major Requirements  25-26 Catalog

GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS
AC-151Initial Social Interaction Assessment0
ADV-299Intermediate Level Event0
BSC-215Working in Diverse Groups2
Choose one Globally Effective Citizen Course: AHS-409, GEC-307, GEC-312, GEC-314, GEC-315, GEC-317, GEC-320, GEC-324, GEC-328, GEC-333, GEC-3983
CM-120Communication Seminar 14
CM-125Communication Seminar 23
CM-225Communication Seminar 33
FA-110Intro to the Arts4
HUM-150Express/Interpretn Human Experience4
HFA-210Humanities & Fine Arts Elective 12
HFA-310Humanities & Fine Arts Elective 12
FSS-125First Semester Seminar2
ILA-100Introduction to the Liberal Arts @ Alverno0
or ILA-200 Introduction to the Liberal Arts @ Alverno
PPS-229Career & Internship Planning1
PSY-110Life Span Development ( )4
QL-122Quantitative Literacy in Modern World4
or BU-151 Personal Finance
QL-156Mathematical Connections3
SC-118
& 118L		Human Biology
and Human Biology Lab		4
BEHAVIORAL SCIENCE
BSC-255Behavioral Science Research Methods4
BSC-256Probability & Statistics4
PSYCHOLOGY COURSES
PSY-250Abnormal Psychology4
PSY-301Analytic Reading in Psychology4
PSY-302Classic & Contemporary Psychology Theory4
PSY-350Experimental Psychology4
PSY-491Senior Seminar2
PPC-501Orientation to PPC Program0
PSYCHOLOGY ELECTIVES: Choose 10 Credits From Below10
PSY-321ANeuroscience of Addiction2
or PSY-321C Neuroscience of Concussion
or PSY-323A Conspiracy Theories
or PSY-323C Human Language
or PSY-324A Motivation and Persistence
or PSY-325A Self-Awareness & Multicultural Competency
or PSY-326A Forgiveness
or PSY-326C Music, Thought and Emotion
or PSY-326E Happiness, Stress, Resilience
or PSY-497 Independent Study
PSYCHOLOGY PRE-COUNSELING
PPC-400Foundations/Comm Psy & Counseling4
PPC-401Orientation to the Pre-Counseling Prog.0
PPC-411Human Development in Community Contexts Human Dev in Community Contxts4
PPC-420Helping Rel: Preention, Intervention & Systems4
PPC-425Clinical Mental Health Counseling: Diagnosis & Treatment4
PPC-427Culturally Engaged Counseling4
PPC-480Counseling Theory: Independent, Group, Family4
PPC-485Lifestyle & Career Development4
INTERN-383Internship Seminar2
Total Credits113
1

Choose HFA 210 (2 credits) and AFA 310 (2 credits) or HFA 250 (4 credits)

Psychology (PSY.D.SUP.2022) Minor Requirements 25-26 Catalog

BSC-255Behavioral Science Research Methods4
PSY-110Life Span Development4
PSY-250Abnormal Psychology4
Psychology Electives8
Total Credits20


Psychology (PSY.D.SPEC 2022) Specialization Requirements  25-26 Catalog

PSY-250Abnormal Psychology4
or BSC-255 Behavioral Science Research Methods
Psychology Electives, Choose 6 Credits6
Total Credits10