Hanover Psychology Department
What I enjoyed most about the Hanover Psychology Department was that the faculty consistently challenged me. Each professor pushed me to think more deeply about the issues we studied and to think about those issues in the broader context of human experience, be it sensory systems or mood disorders. I am grateful that they required us to perform our own independent research, and the skills I acquired through that experience will be very useful in graduate school.
Elizabeth Tuck, Class of 2007
Why Study Psychology?
Deciding upon a major can be an intimidating task, and you may be wondering if psychology would be a good fit for you. If any of the following is true for you, then the psychology department at Hanover College may be just what you have been searching for.
You enjoy:
• Problem solving
• Understanding and listening to people
• Experimenting with ideas
You want to:
• Help others
• Go to medical school
• Build positive relationships
• Promote healthy lifestyles
• Travel abroad
• Research your interests
• Have a meaningful and fun academic and social experience
What Hanover Psychology Offers
Psychology is the scientific study of human behavior and the mind with a multitude of practical applications. It deals with every aspect of our lives. From applications of scientific methods to questions of human concern, it helps us better understand how and why people act, think, and feel the way they do.
The Hanover College psychology department prepares students for their future careers with personal attention from a skilled faculty, practical experience, and guidance to help students discover their full potential. The psychology program provides students with broad-based study and training in theory, research, and application, with significant opportunities for laboratory research and off-campus study and travel.
Introductory courses cover basic principles leading to more focused studies. Upper-level courses allow students to refine their understanding of more specific topics. Such courses include Neuropsychology, Psychology of the Film, Human Sexuality, and Counseling and Psychotherapy, to name a few. Studies culminate in a collaborative independent study sequence in which students work closely with faculty to develop and conduct their own research projects. A distinctive feature of Hanover's psychology program is that all seniors present their projects at an undergraduate research conference in Indianapolis.
By providing students with practical experience and a comprehensive education, the psychology department at Hanover prepares students for graduate school and fulfilling professional careers.
Highlights
First-rate facilities
The psychology department is housed in the new Science Center, a top-notch facility that includes:
• A four-room suite with one-way glass
• Fully-equipped laboratory classrooms
• Computer lab reserved for psychology students
• Extensive online resources
• State-of-the-art research analysis software
• Cubicle offices for seniors
Hands-on experience
Psychology students at Hanover get hands-on experience working in the community and through internships. Students have worked with individuals with behavioral disorders at a local psychiatric hospital, volunteered at the campus day-care facility, and engaged in low-level therapy in controlled situations. Interns gain real-world experience in corporate, non-profit, and other organizational environments to prepare them for life after graduation.
Highly specialized faculty
Students benefit from small classes and the personal attention they receive from faculty with a diverse array of specializations, ranging from developmental psychology to social psychology to experimental psychology. With a small student-faculty ratio, you can count on receiving the support you need in order to get the most out of your college years.
Travel opportunities
Studying abroad for a semester or a year can offer students life-changing experiences. As a student, you can study psychology of religion, industrial psychology, and cross-cultural psychology in places such as Leuven, Belgium, or Wollongong, Australia.
Opportunities for Research
Students have the opportunity to design and conduct several independent research projects in their psychology courses. Recent research projects have included:
Career Opportunities
Psychology within the context of a liberal arts education equips students with the knowledge, skills, and experiences necessary to continue on to a variety of careers and/or graduate school opportunities.
Previous graduates' career and professional placements have included:
• Assistant Professor, Psychology Department, Purdue University
• Clinical Psychologist, Virginia
• School Psychologist, Carmel School System
• Past-President, Rider University
• Naturalist, Indiana DNR
Graduate school placements have included:
• University of Michigan
• Indiana University
• University of Illinois
• Florida State University
• Northwestern University
• Oregon Health Science University
• Washington University