Frequently Asked Questions about Studying Psychology at McDaniel

You should officially declare your psychology major as soon as you have privately declared it to yourself. Some of the lab courses required for the major are only open to majors. To avoid problems registering for these courses, you should fill out the paperwork to declare your major as soon as you have made your decision. You can find the form to declare your major at the registrar's office or the psychology department. Upon declaring your major, you should also find a faculty member to serve as your adviser either by asking a faculty member of your choice or asking the department chair to assign you an adviser.

When should I meet with my psychology adviser and how should I prepare for advising meetings?

You are required to meet with your psychology adviser some time during the two weeks before you register for classes for the following semester. To prepare for your registration advising meeting, you should have already looked at your program evaluation on archway (see next point below) and course offerings for the following semester. You should have a preliminary schedule of classes written down with several alternative classes in case your first choices are full by the time you register. You will not be able to register for classes until you have met with your adviser.

Although you are only required to meet with your psychology adviser once each semester for registration purposes, you should feel free to make appointments with your adviser during other times to receive guidance throughout your undergraduate career.

How can I find out what courses I still need to take to graduate?

You should sign into the archway and click on your program evaluation. Your program evaluation is updated regularly and lists the classes you need to take to meet your general education requirements (BLARS or McDaniel Plan). If you have declared your major, it will also list the classes you still need to take to complete your major. If you have not declared your major yet, you can select any major from the pull down menu that asks "what if I changed my program of study?"

Does my AP (advanced placement) psychology exam score fulfill any credits or courses?

If you are a member of a graduating class that entered McDaniel during or after the Fall of 2007 and you received a 4 or 5 on your AP exam, you will receive 4 credits which will count as the course Introduction to Psychology. If you are a member of a graduating class that entered McDaniel before the Fall of 2007 and you received a 4 or 5 on your AP exam, you will received 8 credits (4 credits for Introduction to Psychology plus 4 credits for a psychology elective).

How do I sign up for a capstone course?

If you are a senior or a junior, you are eligible to enroll in a capstone course. You will NOT be able to enroll in this course via archway. During the spring semester, in the weeks before fall registration, you will receive a capstone preference form via email or from your adviser. This form will describe all of the capstone courses that will be offered in the fall and spring of the following year. You will be asked to rank order your course preferences and note any conflicts that would make any particular course impossible for you to attend. The Chair of the psychology department will use these preference forms to enroll students into the different capstone courses.

Which courses have required labs and how do I sign up for the labs?

As a psychology major, you are required to take either Psychology of Learning OR Cognitive Psychology and both of these classes have required laboratory components. When you sign up for the lecture section of either of these classes on archway, you must ALSO sign up for one of the multiple lab sections associated with that course. Each of these courses consists of 3 hours of lecture per week plus 4 hours of lab per week.

There is also a required lab associated with Psychological Methods and Statistics II, however you do not need to sign up for this lab separately. When you enroll in the lecture section of this course, you will automatically be enrolled in the corresponding lab. This course consists of 3 hours of lecture per week plus 2 hours of lab per week.

When should I take the math proficiency exams and how do I find out when they are offered?

If you are part of a graduating class that entered McDaniel before Fall of 2007, you are required to pass two math proficiency exams - algebra and arithmetic - before you graduate. Because passing these exams is a prerequisite to taking Psychological Methods and Statistics I, we strongly encourage you to pass these exams as early as you can. Find out when the exams are offered each semester and contact the registrar's office to register. If you do not pass the exams, you should consider enrolling yourself in Math 1001 (arithmetic) or 1002 (algebra), non-credit courses that prepare you to pass these exams. Do not put this off or it will interfere with your ability to take required psychology courses.

What is the Five-Year Counseling Program and when can I apply?

Through this program, students can obtain a B.A. in psychology or social work by the end of the fourth year, and a M.S. in mental health counseling by the end of the fifth year. Students may apply at the end of the sophomore year or beginning of the junior year. They will be required to complete all of the requirements for the B.A., as well as three graduate courses by the end of the fourth year. By taking courses during the summer after getting their B.A. and during year five, they will be able to receive their M.S. in Counseling at the end of the second semester of their fifth year. Interested students should contact: Dr. Mazeroff (psychology), Dr. Orzolek-Kronner (social work), or Dr. Schlossberg (graduate studies).

How do I find internships ?

There is no better way to figure out if a particular job is right for you than by gaining experience in that field. Consider doing an internship in any field that interests you (e.g., clinical work, forensic psychology, medicine, human resources, etc.). You can receive between 1 and 4 credits for an internship (37 hours = 1 credit). Every internship needs a faculty sponsor as well as an off-campus supervisor (internship registration forms are available from the psychology department secretary). You may find an internship opportunity on your own and then ask for a faculty sponsor or you can ask the office of career services and/or your psychology advisor about internship possibilities. The psychology department regularly offers clinical internships during January Term sponsored by Dr. Mazeroff.

How can I gain research experience?: Independent studies

If you are considering graduate school, you are strongly advised to gain independent research experience while you are at McDaniel. Many graduate schools expect that applicants will have research experience outside of their coursework. You should find faculty members who are conducting research on topics that interest you and ask them if there are any opportunites for independent studies in their labs. You can receive between 1 and 4 credits for an independent study (37 hours = 1 credit). Independent studies registration forms are available from the psychology department secretary.

Is there a limit to the number of psychology classes, internships, or independent studies that I can do?

You may complete as many psychology classes, internships, or independent studies as you like. However, you can only count 52 credits from the psychology department towards your 128-credit graduate requirement. The psychology major is 40 credits, leaving 12 additional psychology credits that you could count toward graduation. If you take more than the 12 additional credits, they will not count toward graduation.

How do I become eligible for Psi Chi, the national honor society in psychology?

Twice a year, the faculty adviser of Psi Chi reviews student transcripts to induct eligible students into Psi Chi. Students are eligible for Psi Chi if they meet all of the following qualifications: 1) Students must be in the top third of their graduating class, 2) GPA in psychology courses must be at least a 3.2, and 3) Students must have completed three psychology courses at McDaniel College. One of those courses must be Psychology of Learning, Cognitive Psychology, Abnormality, Methods I, or the Capstone. You do not need to apply to Psi Chi. The faculty adviser will contact you if you become eligible to join.

What is the Psychology Club?

The Psychology Club is a student-run organization that serves as a resource for students interested in learning more about a broad range of topics and opportunities in psychology and in meeting fellow students who share their enthusiasm for psychological exploration. Membership is open to students of all class years and majors.

Can I study abroad and be a psychology major?

Yes. Consult with Rose Falkner from the International Programs Office and your psychology adviser to find a program that will meet your needs. (See the next point about transfering credits back to McDaniel.)

What do I need to know about transfering credit for courses taken at other institutions (abroad or nearby)?

If you plan to take courses abroad or nearby during the summer or the academic year, you should make sure that these courses will transfer back to McDaniel BEFORE YOU REGISTER. You will need to have any psychology courses approved by the Chair of the psychology department. It may be helpful to provide the Chair with the official catalog description of the course and/or a syllabus. The registrar's office will need to approve any general education classes that you intend to use to meet your BLARS or McDaniel Plan requirements. If you have already taken courses elsewhere, you will have to go through the same approval process after the fact.

What kinds of careers might a psychology major pursue?

Recent graduates have found a variety of interesting and well-paying jobs including work with Juvenile offenders, laboratory and research managers, human resources, and teaching. Many graduates have also continued their education in leading graduate programs in experimental psychology, developmental psychology, clinical psychology, and organizational psychology. See this helpful Careers in Psychology website from APA and a description of what our recent graduates are doing.

What kinds of things are graduate schools looking for in applicants (and how can I make myself a competitive applicant)?

See this helpful graduate school handout created by Dr. Holly Chalk.

Where can I find a time line to learn what things I need to do when in order to apply to graduate school?

See this helpful time line to explain the graduate school application process.

I want to go to graduate school in psychology. How should I begin looking for schools?

Once you have narrowed down the specific type of degree you would like to obtain (e.g., clinical, developmental, social, etc.), look at the APA (American Psychological Association) book entitled Graduate Study in Psychology. You can search for schools by degree and by location. Ask the Psychology Department Secretary, Ms. Sandra Waldman, to show you this book. After looking at this book, you should look at the websites of each school that interests you in order to learn more about their specific programs and application requirements and deadlines. If you are applying to a program that requires a significant research component (e.g., a Ph.D. program), you should look at the departmental websites to learn what research topics the faculty members are pursuing to make sure that their research programs interest you.

Where can I find information about taking the GRE (Graduate Record Exam)?

You can find information and sign up for the General GRE and/or the Psychology GRE by visiting the Educational Testing Service website.

What do I need to know about getting letters of recommendation for jobs or graduate school?

Most graduate schools and many employers will expect you to provide letters of recommendation to support your application. Here are a few tips:

1. Identify faculty, internship supervisors, and employers who know you well and can write knowledgeably about your work, activities, and strengths. Ask them if they will write letters when the time comes and give them plenty of advance notice.
2. Once you have identified the people who have agreed to write letters provide each of them with a packet that includes:
      a. a list of the letters to be written including names, addresses, and deadlines.
      b. a resume that highlights your work and activities during the past few years.
      c. a list of accomplishments and interests that might be highlighted in their letters.
      d. any required forms.
      e. envelopes with postage and mailing instructions (to you or directly to the addressee).
   3. Remind your recommenders a few weeks before the deadline.
   4. Check with schools or employers to verify that letters have arrived.
   5. Write thank you notes to your recommenders and keep them informed when you have been accepted or hired.

» Frequently Asked Questions about Studying Psychology at McDaniel

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