Hope's Department of Psychology is nationally recognized. The international honor society in psychology has awarded at least one of our students a regional research award fourteen of the last seventeen years (eight years with multiple winners); approximately 20 are awarded per year out of more than 250 applicants from the 11-state Midwest region.?

The department believes that the best preparation for the unpredictable future comes through acquiring the intellectual tools that enable students to be problem solvers, to change and grow as old ways become obsolete and new approaches become available.

The department offers students opportunities to experience psychology in action, thereby shaping their personal visions. Several of the department's courses offer the opportunity for research experience. The department also offers many internships with Holland area human-service agencies and businesses. Other internships and research opportunities are available on campus and through off-campus study programs at The Philadelphia Center and the Chicago Semester.

Those psychology majors intending to work in the human-service professions with a B.A. degree or intending to seek an advanced degree in this area (e.g., masters or doctorate) should consider courses aimed at developing both helping skills and research/evaluation skills.

The psychology major is composed of a minimum of 32 credits plus a statistics course. Only one psychology course may be transferred into the major (unless the student is a transfer student).