A major at the Mount for a little over 10 years, psychology is housed in the Department of Behavioral Sciences. The program has grown, and enrollment is good. “Things have changed in the field,” says Associate Professor of Psychology Jim Bodle, PhD. “The number of options is greater. At one time, if a student wanted to be a practitioner, a doctorate was required. Today, a master’s degree and license are enough. Students interested in research can concentrate on that – or they can do both.”

 

 

Today, one of his major challenges as a compensation manager is assessing the psychology of an organization. He finds answers to big questions. “I have to learn what motivates employees, what satisfies them, engages them. I do the research and put plans into action based on my findings.” Some of his work entails advanced statistics and data analysis, so he has some advice for students: “Pay attention in your Research Design and Senior Thesis classes, because out in the real world, you really do use what you learn.”

           

As for the clinical side of psychology – it’s what originally attracted Angelique Teeters ’06, as she explored various career paths. “I knew I wanted to work with at-risk children,” she says, “but I began to realize that I also wanted to go on with my studies at the graduate level.” To reach both destinations, the best vehicle for Angelique was a psychology degree.

 

“Now I’m in a doctoral program at Xavier University.” She’s also a research assistant at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital in the psychology department. As part of a collaborative program between the hospital and the University of Cincinnati, Angelique sees clients three to five years old with open cases of substantiated abuse.

           

And while her first love is clinical work, Angelique has developed an interest in research – a result, she says, of the comprehensive and thorough background she received as an undergraduate. She believes it made her competitive in the job market and graduate school selection.

 

Yet another career option was chosen by Angela Nichols ’98. She’s a school psychologist. “As I approached graduation, I realized I wanted to apply what I knew. As a school psychologist, I can do that.” She works with visually impaired and hearing impaired students – from preschool children to high school seniors. Some use Braille, while others require large print or a magnifier. The hearing impaired may be profoundly deaf and use sign language, and some have hearing aids or assistive listening devices. These children are in schools located all over the Cincinnati Public Schools district.

           

Angela also serves on evaluation teams, conducting psychological educational assessments of children, and consults with teachers and parents to design, implement and evaluate academic and behavioral interventions. Remembering her time at the Mount, she says: “My advisor, Dr. Mary Kay Fleming (assistant professor of psychology), always made sure I enrolled in the courses I needed for graduate school, and I credit Dr. Tim Lawson (department chair/psychology professor) in preparing me for the research requirements.”

           

The Psychology program encompasses courses from several disciplines, including the social sciences, natural sciences, mathematics, humanities, and religious studies. To help students sort it all out and put everything together, the department holds two dinners a year to which alumni, practitioners, professionals in the field, and professors from area graduate schools are invited.

 

Faculty take on cooking duties while guests talk to students about what they do and how they prepared. According to Dr. Bodle, “These semi-annual events not only strengthen the student/faculty relationship, but are key in helping each student set out on a single or several paths at once.”