Psychology for the Public Good
Our Department’s theme of Psychology for the Public Good empowers our students & faculty to use their psychological knowledge to contribute to the common good and a more equitable society.
What factors shape the way we develop, think, and act? What defines our relationships with ourselves and with others? Psychology uses scientific approaches to investigate & understand the human condition. At Sewanee, we aspire to translate that work to a more equitable world.
Our students and faculty pursue a more complex and nuanced understanding of thought and behavior, both in its own right and with an earnest commitment to our departmental theme of Psychology for the Public Good.
Our dedicated faculty equip students with a rigorous foundational understanding of psychological principles and methods that inform our scientific understanding of the human condition. Students then apply their knowledge and skills to a range of timely and significant disciplinary, interdisciplinary, and societal issues. This orientation does more than urge us toward application—it shapes the very nature of the questions we ask, the methods we use, and who we involve in that process.
Our Psychology Department offers students the opportunity to conduct leading edge research alongside faculty dedicated to nurturing students’ intellectual and personal growth. Our majors develop knowledge, skills, and ways of thinking essential to a wide range of possible professional pursuits, a rewarding and fulfilling personal life, and a more just and equitable world.
Our Department’s theme of Psychology for the Public Good empowers our students & faculty to use their psychological knowledge to contribute to the common good and a more equitable society.
Sewanee’s Psychology curriculum is designed to cultivate core competencies in psychology. Students explore core subdisciplines in psychology and engage in hands-on laboratory courses that allow them to develop and conduct inquiry-driven research projects in psychology. Our current course offerings reflect the breath of psychology and emphasize modern and integrative approaches to understanding the human condition.
Sewanee students conduct research alongside our Psychology faculty during the academic year and summer. These co-curricular opportunities build core competencies in undergraduate psychology education and career readiness, including analytic and scientific thinking, an understanding of rigorous and responsible conduct of research, communication skills, professionalism, and leadership.
Our award-winning faculty are dedicated to our students’ intellectual development and personal growth. As the field of psychology has expanded, so have we – our department covers both foundational and interdisciplinary subdisciplines, to help prepare our students for the opportunities and challenges of our complex world.
Sewanee’s Psychology community welcomes all members, from the psych-curious to the newly declared major to the graduating senior. Discover the many ways to connect with other students, interact with faculty, engage with social and professional networks, and contribute to your local and global communities.
A diverse and developing collection of innovative collaborations between Sewanee and Yale School of Medicine combining the unique strengths these two institutions offer tremendous possibilities for students, faculty, and community partners both on the Mountain and in New Haven. Our cross-institutional collaborations range from courses to research projects to community engagement efforts. The partnership between these two institutions continues to grow and evolve and the opportunities are many.
kmcammac@sewanee.edu
Woods Lab 335, Ext. 3165
Sewanee’s undergraduate research program gives students the opportunity to explore new ideas, sharpen their research skills, and get a head start on a career or graduate school. Almost a quarter of students here were involved in mentored research projects last year, in the sciences (of course)—but also in the arts, English, politics, and more. Students have the chance to wow their peers by giving talks and presenting posters during Scholarship Sewanee, the annual celebration of student scholarship and creativity.
The Sewanee-at-Yale summer internship is an eight-week mentored research experience at the Yale Child Study Center in the Yale School of Medicine. Students are immersed in the day-to-day workings of a research laboratory, gain experience in clinical settings, and participate in regular discussions and workshops. The summer + semester directed research program offers an extended experience.
Need help with a paper? The Writing Center provides you with objective peer support and instruction for writing projects. The student tutors represent a wide range of majors, and they can help you at any stage in the writing process—topic development, rough drafts, final drafts, revisions, etc. They’re basically your cheerleader from brainstorming to final draft.