Undergraduate Programs

The science of psychology is a rapidly evolving field that influences all aspects of society. Psychologists work in traditional and nontraditional settings, including schools, hospitals, businesses, government, mental health organizations, laboratories, and nonprofit organizations. We offer a wide array of courses that provide contemporary instruction in the major areas of the field. You may choose to focus your program, or may sample more broadly among a wide variety of courses. Whichever approach you take, you will graduate with a firm grasp of the field and a solid foundation for further education or fulfilling career.

Fields of Study

With over 30 full-time, Ph.D. faculty in the department and courses offered in a variety of concentrations, our psychology program is of the highest quality. There are seven areas of concentration:

Child/Developmental Psychology

Child/developmental psychology explores all aspects of children’s and adolescent’s development and adjustment. For example, developmental psychologists are interested in how children grow cognitively, emotionally, interact with others and the ways that such growth is influenced by both biological and environmental factors. Developmental psychology forms the basis for many professions related to children. Some of the primary child-oriented fields within psychology employ child-clinical psychologists, school psychologists and educational psychologists. Studying child/developmental psychology, however, is also excellent preparation for work in the fields of social work, teaching and child welfare. At NIU, we offer several courses that provide a strong background in child/developmental psychology and we have several faculty who specialize in developmental issues.

Core Courses:

  • PSYC 225: Lifespan Development
  • PSYC 315: Behavior Disturbances in Children
  • PSYC 324: Developmental Child Psychology
  • PSYC 424: Adolescent Development
  • PSYC 464: Developmental Psychology Laboratory
  • PSYC 465: Advanced Developmental Psychology
Clinical Psychology

Clinical psychology specializes in the classification, assessment and treatment of behavioral and emotional disorders. Emphasis is placed on using science to inform clinical practice in a wide variety of settings. For example, clinical psychologists are interested in studying what treatments work best for certain individuals and applying this knowledge to the development of innovative methods to prevent and treat mental-health difficulties. Clinical psychologists work in a range of settings including private practice, medical centers, non-profit organizations, schools and government agencies. Undergraduate training in clinical psychology can also help prepare students for future careers in social work, psychiatry, counseling and school psychology. NIU has several clinical psychology faculty and offers coursework providing a strong clinical psychology foundation.

Core Courses:

  • PSYC 315: Behavior Disturbances in Children
  • PSYC 316: Introduction to Psychopathology
  • PSYC 351: Introduction to Psychological Tests
  • PSYC 413: Clinical Psychology Laboratory
  • PSYC 417: Principles of Behavior Modification
  • PSYC 418: Introduction to Clinical Psychology
Cognitive Psychology

Cognitive psychologists try to understand how we think - cognitions. Understanding cognitions is critical to the study of such topics as memory, concepts, language, decision making, problem solving, attention and perception. For several decades, cognitive psychology has played a major role in virtually all areas of psychology. For example, memory is related to questions and issues relevant to clinical psychologists (the development of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder), developmental psychology (how does memory change as we grow older), social psychology (how stereotypes are stored in memory) and neuroscience (how memory is encoded in the brain). Cognitive psychology is also related to many other fields, such as advertising, human – computer interactions, human development, education and political science. At NIU we offer classes that provide an overview of the field, ways to apply cognitive psychology to improve critical thinking skills, as well as classes on specialized topics associated with field.

Core Courses:
  • PSYC 245: Thinking
  • PSYC 345: Cognitive Psychology
  • PSYC 400: Psychology of Language
  • PSYC 410: Perception Laboratory
  • PSYC 412: Learning and Memory Laboratory
Industrial-Organizational Psychology

Industrial-organizational psychology contributes to the success of organizations by helping to improve the performance and well-being of employees. For example, an I-O psychologist may examine how behaviors and attitudes can be improved through fair and valid hiring practices, training and development programs and performance feedback systems. Some I-O psychologists enter academia as professors and researchers, while others join public or private corporations in such roles as human resource specialists, leadership development directors and talent management leaders. Others join consulting firms that are hired by organizations to helpaddress their individual needs. Most people working in I-O psychology receive Masters or PhD degrees. Studying I-O psychology at the undergraduate level is excellent preparation for these programs, as well as for other positions in human resources and business. At NIU, we offer courses that provide training in the key topics that comprise I-O psychology and we have several faculty who do research and consult in this field.

Core Courses:

  • PSYC 471: Industrial/Organizational Psychology
  • PSYC 472:  Group Processes
  • PSYC 434: Laboratory in Industrial and Organizational Psychology
  • PSYC 433: Social and Personality Laboratory
Neuroscience and Behavioral Psychology

Behavioral neuroscience explores the regulation of behavior through processes within the brain. For example, neuroscientists are interested in how different chemicals and structures within the brain contribute to human emotions, social behavior, memory and development. Psychologists in this area study both normal brain functioning and when brain processes go wrong, as with many types of mental illness. Behavioral neuroscience forms the basis for many professions related to the brain, such as pharmacology and neuropsychology and it influences the way we think about virtually all areas of psychology today. Studying behavioral neuroscience is excellent preparation for work in the fields of pharmaceutical science, nursing or medical science and veterinarian science. At NIU, we offer several courses that provide a strong background in behavioral neuroscience and we have several faculty who specialize in this area.

Core Courses:

  • PSYC 300: Introduction to Brain and Behavior
  • PSYC 431: Physiological Laboratory
  • PSYC 481: Drugs and Behavior
Social Psychology

Social psychology examines the fundamental processes that underlie how individuals think, feel and behave in situations that involve other people. This includes studying topics such as why individuals behave differently alone than in groups, how stereotyping and prejudice change over time, what makes a political speech persuasive, what are the factors that promote life satisfaction and how people make inferences about others’ personalities. Training in the area of social psychology is applicable to real-world contexts and can help prepare students to enter careers in a broad range of areas including business, education, community service and the media. Several faculty in the psychology department at NIU specialize in social psychology and offer courses related to their areas of expertise.

Core Courses:

  • PSYC 332: Personality
  • PSYC 372: Social Psychology
  • PSYC 426: Theories of Personality
  • PSYC 433: Social and Personality Laboratory
  • PSYC 473: Social Judgment 

All students majoring in psychology participate in a sequential set of learning experiences designed specifically to provide them with practice in conducting psychological research. Students collaborate in groups to design a research study, conduct data analyses, write research report and present their findings.

Independent Study

Students enrolled in independent study receive course credit for working in a research lab or working with a faculty member on a research project.

Internships

An internship experience gives you a competitive edge by providing real-world experiences that complement your in-class work.

Conference on Undergraduate Research and Engagement

Conference on Undergraduate Research and Engagement (formally known as Undergraduate Research and Artistry Day (URAD)) offers financial and scholarly support for undergraduates to work with senior faculty on research projects. Faculty serve as mentors and research guides, offering exciting and engaging ways to enhance the educational experience.

Join Our Student Psychological Association

The Student Psychological Association (SPA) is a student-run organization that provides skills and experience to students who share an interest in psychology. Join us to get to know our faculty, learn more about research experiences and find great volunteer opportunities. Membership in the SPA is open to all majors, freshman through senior.

Certificate of Undergraduate Study in Adolescence

Are you interested in learning more about adolescents? The Certificate of Undergraduate Study in Adolescence might be for you! This interdisciplinary certificate is intended to provide broad background in the area of adolescence. The certificate is designed to complement undergraduate coursework in a variety of majors, including the psychology major. 

Contact Us

Department of Psychology
Psychology-Computer Science Building, room 400
815-753-0372
askpsyc@niu.edu 

Director of Undergraduate Studies
Katja Wiemer, Ph.D.
katja@niu.edu