Mission Statement

The psychology department of St. Olaf College is committed to maintaining a rigorous academic curriculum together with a supportive community structure for faculty and students. In addition, the psychology department seeks to address both broad questions posed by a liberal education and specific concerns of individual students. All of this is carried out within St. Olaf College's mission statement and standards of a quality psychology program as articulated by the American Psychological Association (APA).

St. Olaf's mission statement provides a framework for both structuring courses and establishing departmental goals. Thus, in our curriculum, student and faculty development, and community relations we pay careful attention to "what is ultimately worthwhile." Because life is more than facts and theories present in disciplinary knowledge, the psychology department encourages students to be "responsible citizens dedicated to service of others," as well as scientific "seekers of truth."

The psychology department accepts APA's daunting challenge of "synthesizing the natural and social science aspects of the discipline, in part, by requiring students to take courses in both knowledge bases." In accordance with APA standards, both interpersonal and investigative skills are enhanced in the department's dual emphasis on natural and social science foundations of psychology. Through its course structure and faculty diversity, the department challenges students to think critically and creatively in examining ways in which we adapt to our environment through biological, social, emotional, spiritual, perceptual, behavioral, linguistic, and cognitive processes.

Psychology majors are prepared for graduate or professional programs in psychology, medicine, law, physical therapy, social work, nursing, ministry, or for entering positions in business, government and industry.

As you can see, the Department of Psychology prepares students for meaningful work in many different careers. As a psychology major, you will have a chance to gain experience in many of these different areas.

Special Opportunities
In addition to the courses you may take, you can gain experience in the field and pursue special areas of interest in several ways. Full-time internships are generally arranged during the Interim, though some are done in the summer. In recent years, St. Olaf students have been placed in a variety of social service institutions, hospitals, schools, research laboratories, and businesses in a number of different cities in the U.S. and Europe. Internships are valuable for confirming one's academic interests in psychology, learning new skills and gaining paraprofessional field experience (a real asset on the job market). Independent study and research projects, usually completed during the junior or senior year, allow students to take an idea through the entire research process. Students in some psychology classes are asked to participate in one or more of these studies, giving student researchers a ready pool of participants. Sophomores have the opportunity to participate in research as assistants to juniors and seniors. Many students present the results of their research at local, regional, national, and international professional conferences. Conferences at which students have recently presented their research include:

Endowment Fund
Thanks to the generosity of psychology faculty, alums and families, there is now an Endowment Fund of over $71,000 that is used to support the research of junior and senior psychology majors. Each year, those needing research support fill out grant request forms to receive support from the approximately $4,200 a year the Endowment Fund supplies.