Department of Psychology
Experiences & Opportunities
Research with Faculty Members
At Westminster, psychology and neuroscience majors have the opportunity to work one-on-one with faculty in research groups. Students who pursue research gain valuable research skills, as well as time management skills. Ask any faculty member about opportunities to work in their research group.
Internships
Internships and other professional work experiences in your field of study provide a meaningful real-world component to your education and your resume. Internships can also lead to valuable networking opportunities and can even lead to full-time employment after graduation.
Psychology and Neuroscience students have completed internships with the Crisis Shelter of Lawrence County, Ohman Family Living at Briar (OH), The Hope Learning Center, and Ashburn (VA) Counseling Solutions.
Learn more about internships and the other opportunities available through our Office of Professional Development & Community Engagement .
Drinko Center for Undergraduate Research
The Drinko Center supports student research and creative work in all majors and at all academic levels. Drinko provides financial grants that support student projects or travel to national conferences.
The Center also organizes the Undergraduate Research and Arts Celebration (URAC), a day-long event showcasing the collaborative work between Westminster faculty and students.
Honors Program
Westminster College’s Honors Program believes that the life of the mind is best cultivated when students take what they have learned in the classroom and go out into the world. That’s why our program builds international travel into its sequence of interdisciplinary, global honors seminars with a trip to Greece.
The curriculum gives you the opportunity to learn about human history and nature from multiple perspectives, while also supporting the development of strong leadership, communication, and writing skills. It will also connect you to a vibrant community of students from across campus who are excited about learning.
Study Abroad
Studying abroad is a life-changing educational experience for many of our students. Our Office of Global Engagement developed different kinds of study abroad opportunities, designed to meet varying curricular and economic situations.
We offer traditional semester-long, individual study abroad opportunities in more than 30 countries. Also, students can elect to take short-term study abroad opportunities, such as a May travel course, or a Study Tour, which is a travel experience tied to a regular on-campus course or co-curricular program.
Research Professions Advisory Committee
ResPAC was founded at Westminster College in 2009 to serve the needs of students who have an interest in a career in scientific research. ResPAC membership includes students from Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science, Neuroscience, Physics, Math, and Computer Science.
The ResPAC faculty committee organizes regular workshops that provide students with information about career and internship opportunities, helps students find and apply for appropriate graduate programs, helps them prepare for standardized tests, and offers some professional services such as mock interviews and resume advice.
Center for the Environment
The mission of the Center for the Environment is to connect people with each other and the natural world. CfE strives to create an understanding of the dynamic relationships among society, our environment, and the economy. Students from all majors benefit from the Center’s programming and resources, which are designed to foster critical thinking, creative expression, data collection and analysis, ethical judgements, entrepreneurial endeavors, and human wellbeing.
CfE initiatives include the Westminster Bee Company, a student-led business that hand-bottles and sells the honey produced in the almost 30 beehives that make up the Westminster College apiary.
Professional Networking Symposium
Open to all majors, the Professional Networking Symposium is an annual event designed to help students and young alumni better understand potential paths after graduation, including career and graduate school options.
The Symposium includes a career fair, breakout sessions and the opportunity to learn to network. Sessions are designed to address specific topics and interests and are moderated by experienced professionals.
Westminster Entrepreneurship Center (WEC)
WEC offers students in any major the opportunity to be exposed to concept creation, innovation of ideas and business ownership strategies. These activities are nurtured through practiced entrepreneurial exposures, state-of-the-art facilities, leadership collaboration, dynamic entrepreneurial engagements, competitions and events designed to offer students an unparalleled exposure to real world practical experiences.
Student Organizations & Honor Societies
Active Minds
Active Minds is a national nonprofit organization supporting mental health awareness and education for young adults. Members are dedicated to saving lives by opening up the conversation about mental health and creating lasting change in the way mental health is talked about, cared for and valued in the United States.
Neuroscience Club
The Neuroscience Club provides opportunities for individuals interested in neuroscience and related areas to expand their knowledge of the field. The group provides opportunities for students to attend professional conferences, invites researchers to present their work, and holds discussions about current journal articles of interest to the membership.
Psychology Club
Psychology Club, formed in 2005, encourages participation in and contribution to psychology-related activities by building a network of peer support.
Psi Chi (Psychology)
Psi Chi is the National Honor Society in Psychology, founded in 1929 for the purposes of encouraging, stimulating, and maintaining excellence in scholarship, and advancing the science of psychology. Membership is open to graduate and undergraduate men and women who are making the study of psychology one of their major interests and who meet the minimum qualifications. Psi Chi is a member of the Association of College Honor Societies and is an affiliate of the American Psychological Association (APA) and the American Psychological Society (APS).