The Cedar Crest College Advantage

Every faculty member in the psychology department holds a Ph.D. degree, and each has expertise in a different area of psychology. This means we can offer you many unique and diverse perspectives on the field.

Unique course offerings and learning opportunities
We offer a number of courses that other colleges do not make available at the undergraduate level, such as Counseling Children, Positive Psychology, Women in the Workplace, Criminal Behavior and Profiling, Mind-Body Medicine, The Psychology of Dreams, Principles of Behavior Modification, and The Psychology of Stereotypes and Prejudice.

We also have multiple lab spaces that are accessible to students. You will receive training on equipment and with software that will allow you to observe and document the behavior of humans and animals in response to an array of  stimuli. In the classroom, or in the lab, students will have the opportunity to explore many fascinating topics.

• Explore principles that govern how humans and other animal species, including humans, learn new behaviors or change existing ones. How is learning similar and different across different species? How can we use animal learning to understand human learning? What role does learning play in obesity and addiction? How can using rewards for specific behaviors help people overcome maladaptive behaviors at home, in the classroom, at work, and at play?
• Explore the extraordinary capabilities and limitations of human sensation and perception, as well as other cognitive processes. How is it that we recognize the objects and people we see on a moment-by-moment basis? Under what circumstances do our eyes ‘play tricks on us’ such that we experience visual illusions? Are people capable of multitasking, or can we only pay attention to one thing at a time? Is a memory we are confident in necessarily an accurate one?
• Explore the situational forces that impact our behaviors in social situations. What are the circumstances that can lead a person to perform heroic vs. evil acts? What are the factors that lead us to like, or love, another individual? What are the most effective ways to influence another person…to change their hearts, minds, and behaviors? How can we translate what we know about social behavior and mental processes to bring about solutions to societal problems such as prejudice and discrimination, or to address the climate changes that will impact future generations?
• Explore the dynamics of psychophysiological processes, and how thoughts and emotions can have a direct effect on our heartrate, brain wave activity, blood pressure, and tension in our muscles. Can a simple image displayed on the computer screen activate a fight or flight response? Or conversely, can such an image bring out a significant reduction in blood pressure? Our psychophysiology laboratory is equipped with state-of-the-art equipment to help you investigate such question, design your own experiments, collect date, and interpret your findings. 
• Explore the interdisciplinary nature of psychology as it intersects with so many other disciplines, and apply it to real-world situations. How can we utilize psychology principles to solve problems within human behavior such as health issues, workplace issues, or criminal justice issues? What lab and field research can be done to understand why some people are good managers or leaders and some are not? Under what circumstances will individuals cooperate with team members and be productive in stressful situations? What factors may cause a person to commit a crime or injure another? How can psychologists contribute to improving the legal system to promote the prevention and control of crime?

A strong liberal arts base
Our curriculum is designed to encourage students to pursue interdisciplinary studies in areas such as criminal justice, education, business, art and more. It also emphasizes the development of valuable skills such as communication and leadership.

Multiple presentation opportunities
Students have the opportunity to present their research to large audiences at psychology conferences the College attends each year.

Professional development
Our faculty and staff are available to help you find an internship, improve your resume, apply to graduate schools, connect to alumnae in the field, and anything else that will assist your overall career and educational goals.

Community service and outreach
Here, you may choose to participate in health and wellness related community service and women’s leadership activities through the Psychology Club. Students who excel academically may apply to join the Psi Chi International Honor Society and participate in their many outreach programs and on-campus activities.