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Psychology

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The Department of Psychology provides students with the opportunity to develop an understanding of behavior and experience from a variety of theoretical perspectives. The psychology faculty specialize in a wide variety of areas, including neuroscience, clinical/counseling, Â鶹´«Ã½, health, cognition and perception, social, developmental, and educational psychology. 

Students who major in psychology will develop an understanding of the theories and methods that guide the science and practice of psychology. Courses integrate readings from major theoretical perspectives and diverse methodological approaches, while engaging students in discussion of theoretical and applied issues. Psychology majors receive rigorous training in the research methods used by psychologists and can further enhance their research skills through participation in faculty-mentored research teams. The department also offers several courses of general interest to non-majors and students with interdisciplinary interests, including neuroscience, health equity, urban studies, gender and sexuality studies, and educational studies. 

The psychology major prepares students for post-baccalaureate employment, graduate or professional training in psychology, health professions, business, law, and education.

Faculty offices are housed in Clough Hall. Facilities include several laboratories, focusing on Computational and Applied Neuroscience, Cognition and Aging, Memory, Vision, Behavioral Neuroscience, Child and Community Narratives, Children’s Literacy, and Social Cognition.

 

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Internships

Psychology internships are offered for academic credit and are designed to provide students with the opportunity to gain practical experience in their particular area of interest.

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Faculty-Student Research

The Department of Psychology has a strong history of preparing undergraduate students to pursue psychology Ph.Ds, and the major reason for this success is our 30+ year history of involving students in faculty research.

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Psi Chi National

Both graduate and undergraduate students may become members of Psi Chi, the National Honor Society in Psychology.

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Faculty & Staff

Jason Haberman
Associate Professor of Psychology
Amanda Hasselle
Assistant Professor of Psychology
Kiren Khan
Associate Professor of Psychology
Rebecca Klatzkin
Professor of Psychology, Chair of Neuroscience
Kailey Lawson
Assistant Professor of Psychology
Geoffrey Maddox
Associate Professor of Psychology
Natalie Person
Professor of Psychology; Dean for Community Engagement/Executive Director of the Turley Memphis Center
Sierra Peters
Assistant Professor of Psychology
Laura Shanahan
Assistant Professor of Psychology
Elizabeth Thomas
Professor of Psychology
Marsha Walton
Professor Emeritus of Psychology
Matthew Weeks
Associate Professor of Psychology, Chair of Psychology
Julia Wefferling
Visiting Assistant Professor of Psychology
Katherine White
Professor of Psychology, Winton M. Blount Professor of Social Sciences

Departmental News and Events

Â鶹´«Ã½ College welcomes eight new full-time faculty to its ranks for the 2025-2026 academic year, bringing talent in a number of specialties, from chemistry to interdisciplinary humanities to computer science.
Each year, 70 percent of Â鶹´«Ã½ students complete at least one internship. This summer, Â鶹´«Ã½ psychology majors Sudiksha Polasa ’25 and Julia Schuetze ’26 are among 92 college students from across the nation serving as summer interns at Youth Villages.
Â鶹´«Ã½ students enrolled in the Psychology of Aging spring 2025 course are featured in Trezevant Living, a publication of the Trezevant Manor retirement Â鶹´«Ã½, about a project involving students interviewing residents about their lives.