Department of Psychology
Location: Building 51, Room 3404
Phone: (904) 620-2807
Web Address: www.unf.edu/coas/psychology/
Dr. Lori Lange, Associate Professor & Chair
Mission
The mission of the Department of Psychology is to offer the highest quality academic experiences at the undergraduate and graduate levels through excellence in teaching, scholarship, and service to the professional and local communities. A major focus of the Department is to work toward equipping students with the critical skills and knowledge necessary for continued occupational, educational, and personal advancement in Psychology and related disciplines. In addition the Department strives to foster program relevance by creating an environment in which students are encouraged to assess their values and apply their knowledge to their increasingly complex world and thus promote the recognition of the importance of their roles in society as members of a vital citizenry.
The Program
Psychology is the scientific study of human and animal behavior. The Department of Psychology offers undergraduate (BA & BS) and graduate (MS) degree programs in psychology, and a BS program in behavioral neuroscience. Our full-time faculty are active researchers and offer opportunities for students to collaborate on research projects. UNF psychology faculty are highly qualified, caring and accessible individuals who are excellent teachers and researchers, committed to continued scholarship and service to the profession and to the local community.
Psychology at UNF offers many unique and engaging opportunities beyond the typical classroom setting, such as practicum, study abroad, research, student groups, and community-based learning. These distinctive experiences provide avenues for students to apply what they have learned and to broaden their knowledge, practical skills, and connections. Students in our program gain knowledge and skills that make them highly desirable candidates for employment in a wide variety of careers. Many opportunities exist for students to develop highly transferable skills in scientific research and statistics, critical thinking, problem solving, technical writing, teamwork, oral communication, and interpersonal skills and understanding.
Undergraduate Programs
Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
Psychology at UNF offers a substantive and dynamic curriculum where students have the option to earn a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree. All programs share a common core of courses in research methodology, scientific inquiry, and professional development. Students can focus their studies on children and adolescents in the Child Psychology Concentration.
For admission to the degree program, students must earn at least a C in introductory psychology, in elementary statistics, and in general biology. Psychology majors must earn at least a C in courses applied to the degree.
Psychology minors complete 18 credit hours in psychology. No more than 50% of courses required for the minor may be transferred from another institution. A grade of at least C is required for all minor courses, including prerequisites.
Bachelor of Science in Behavioral Neuroscience
Behavioral Neuroscience is offered as a major (BS) for students interested in studying the biological basis of human behavior. The interdisciplinary curriculum requires 39 credit hours and focuses on the brain circuitry and other biological factors underlying normal and abnormal human development, cognition, perception, social interaction, mental health, and drug use.
Students gain a broad understanding of biological and psychological principles and techniques, and acquire laboratory, research, technological and other practical skills required for further study and career opportunities in related fields. Specifically, students are trained in a variety of behavioral, cellular and molecular, neuroanatomical, and neurobiological techniques necessary to approach questions of interest using animal and human model systems.
Pursuing studies in Behavioral Neuroscience prepares students for a variety of careers and areas of continued education, including medicine, pharmacology, bioengineering, health bioinformatics, government service (e.g., NIH, CDC), marketing, physical therapy, artificial intelligence, science journalism, and research & development.
Graduate Program
The Masters of Science in the Psychological Sciences is a research-based program designed to equip students with critical skills and knowledge necessary for continued occupational and educational advancement in the psychological sciences. There is an accelerated track for the program where UNF students (who are accepted to the program) can complete their BS and MS in Psychology by having the first 10 hours of the MS program count towards their BS degree.
Students demonstrate knowledge, critical thinking, and scientific competency skills by completing a research-based thesis that contributes to the discipline of psychology. Students are paired with a faculty advisor based on faculty research interests and expertise. This mentor oversees the thesis process across four courses (Supervised Research, Thesis A, B, and C).
Our program is tailored to help students build their skill-set and resume for applied careers and to make students more competitive for PhD programs and careers in the psychological sciences.
Professional development is encouraged and fostered through such activities as scholarship, research conference presentations, teaching, departmental colloquia participation, and community engagement.
For additional queries, please contact Program Director Dr. Jody Nicholson.
Honors in Psychology
Outstanding undergraduate psychology majors can graduate with the designation "Honors in Psychology." To do this, they apply for admission to the Psychology Honors Program. Candidates should apply at least two semesters prior to graduation. The Accelerated BS/MS track, if a student is accepted, can be used to satisfy the honors in the major capstone requirement.
Admission to the program requires:
- Junior or senior standing and completion of at least three UNF psychology courses with a psychology GPA of at least 3.67 and no grade less than B
- A Department of Psychology faculty member to supervise the Honors Project.
Successful completion of the program also requires:
- Completion of 6 credit hours of PSY4904 Honors Research with a grade of B or better
- Deposit of an approved thesis in the Thomas G. Carpenter Library
As they plan for the "Honors in Psychology" designation, students should consult the Psychology Department Chair as soon as possible.
Research Opportunities
Involvement in research is an important part of the psychology major experience at UNF. Many opportunities exist for students to engage in behavioral science research while receiving excellent mentoring from faculty who care very much about their students.
Students can become involved in our research in two ways:
- As a participant in an experiment. Students sign up for a study in SONA.
- As a member of a professor's research team
Learn more about becoming a participant and about our faculty's research teams by visiting the COAS: Psychology Research webpage.
Community Connections
It is common for psychology students to work with community organizations through volunteerism, practicum experiences, and research. This provides great opportunities to engage in transformational experiences and to develop meaningful professional direction for life after graduation. We have many community partners that provide excellent networking and professional opportunities for students. As an Engaged Department, many of our courses include community-based learning. Practicum is required in the Child Concentration and is recommended for all psychology majors. Students interested in practicum should contact Dr. Paul Argott.
Academic and experiential opportunities through study abroad can foster international understanding in order to promote competent participation in the global community, and are especially in the development of important skills for the 21st century.
The UNF Department of Psychology has a student exchange relationship with the Psychology Division at Abertay University in Dundee, Scotland. Psychology students at UNF can apply for a semester study abroad at Abertay University in their junior or senior year. Faculty in the Psychology Department have led study abroad courses to China, Japan, and Jamaica.
Department of Psychology Faculty
Lori J. Lange, Associate Professor & Chair
Tracy P. Alloway, Professor
Paul Argott, Associate Instructor
Elizabeth Brown, Associate Professor
Lisa Byrge, Assistant Professor
Sara Davis, Assistant Professor
Anita Fuglestad, Assistant Professor
Paul Fuglestad, Associate Professor
Christoph D. Guess, Professor
Katherine Hooper, Associate Instructor
Iver H. Iversen, Professor Emeritus
Jurek Karylowski, Professor Emeritus
Gregory Kohn, Assistant Professor
Juliana Leding, Professor
Christopher T. Leone, Professor Emeritus
Angela Mann, Associate Professor
Rebecca A. Marcon, Professor Emeritus
Jody S. Nicholson, Associate Professor
Susan M. Perez, Associate Professor
Curtis Phills, Associate Professor
Dan Richard, Associate Professor
Michael Toglia, Professor Emeritus
Heather B. Truelove, Associate Professor
Susana Urbina, Professor Emeritus
Dong-Yuan Wang, Professor
Dawn Witherspoon, Assistant Professor
Gabriel J. Ybarra, Associate Professor