Upcoming Events
News & Announcements
Information About Fulfilling the Senior Capstone Experience Requirement in Psychology:
The St. Mary’s Project and the Alternative Capstone Experience
March, 2008
The psychology department has changed its policies in regard to the senior capstone experience requirement. Until now, all psychology majors have been required to fulfill this requirement by completing a St. Mary’s Project (SMP) as part of the major. Under the new policy, which begins in the fall of 2008, students will be required to complete some form of senior capstone experience, but they will now have a choice: They can choose to complete an SMP, as before; or they can instead complete an alternative capstone experience (ACE). The purpose of this memo is to explain the nature of the ACE, and to give you information designed to help you in making the decision as to which of the two alternatives would be best for you.
You may already be familiar with the requirements of the SMP. It is an 8-credit, full-year, student-initiated project. It is designed by the student in consultation with a faculty mentor, and culminates in a public presentation of some kind. Further information about the SMP is available on the psychology department’s web page at http://www.smcm.edu/psyc/SMP/INDEX.HTM.
The ACE -- the new option -- consists of two parts. The first is a 4-credit course called Senior Seminar. Although the exact requirements for this course may differ somewhat from section to section, it will generally involve a major term paper (20-30 pages), an oral presentation, and some additional requirements (for example, providing a review and critique of one or more of the papers written by other students in the class). A section of Senior Seminar will be offered in the spring of 2009. The second part of the alternative capstone experience is an additional 4-credit course, chosen from among the following options:
- PSYC 305 (History and Systems of Psychology) (This course will be offered in the fall of 2008.)
- PSYC 402 (Advanced Research Methods and Statistics) (This course will also be offered in the fall of 2008.)
- PSYC 497 (Directed Research) (4 credits) (all four credits must be taken for graded credit during the same semester)
- An additional laboratory course in psychology
- PSYC 410 (Service Learning) (This is a new course being developed by the department that is designed to combine formal course work with practical experience in an approved human-services setting. However, it will probably not be offered in the 2008-2009 academic year.)
In making your decision between the SMP and ACE options, keep in mind a couple of points. First, although the ACE will involve a different set of activities than the SMP, it will not involve less work. The two courses that make up the alternative experience are designed to require as much effort and time commitment as an SMP.
Second, students sometimes mistakenly believe that all SMPs must conform to a specific model; for example, that every SMP must involve data-collection, hypothesis testing, and use of statistical methods to analyze the data. Although many SMPs fit this description, not all do. An SMP cannot simply consist of a literature review, but a variety of other approaches and methods can be and have been used in designing and completing SMPs.
If you would like more information about this change in policy, and about the new alternative capstone experience, you are encouraged to consult with your advisor, with other psychology faculty members, and with other students, especially those currently working on their SMPs.
The Psychology Department has moved to Goodpaster Hall! We had to leave some books behind in Anne Arundel so be sure to check out the Free Psyc Texts for Students shelf outside AA118 and give our old books a good home!
The Psychology Department is pleased to announce:
» Vanessa Medley, Jenalee Coster, Trevor Logan, Cassandra Marshall, Kim Dula, Marybeth Heather, Victoria Marshall, Margaret Edwards, Jennifer Enos, Jessica Staples, Paula Zweimiller, Jaie Perrizo, Christopher Hughes, Kaycee Mullins, Brian Mansky, Angela Natcher, Benjamin Patterson, Adam Nazari and Brittany Wilson presented their SMPs at the ARC Poster Session on April 29, 2008.
» Eastman Lewis, Kimbrey Pierce, Madeline Eberhardt, Halley Pack, Kathryn Buchanan, Sara Rubinstein, April Corrice, Justine Hoewing, Mary Lyle Jeanes, Caitlin Moore, Esther Adetunji, Ross Mark, Brendan Spealman, Shannon Kummer, Kaitlin Taylor, Amanda Collins, Ron Saul and Stephanie O'Brien presented their SMPs at the Psychology SMP Symposium on April 28, 2008.
» 6 students were honored at the Awards Convocation on April 26, 2008.
» Trevor Logan, Jenalee Coster and Robert Blackwell received Sigma Xi grants of $400, $700, & $1000 respectively. Awards will support students' SMP research; all involve animal research. Trevor and Jenalee are mentored by Dr. Aileen Bailey. Robert Backwell is mentored by Dr. Anne Marie Brady.
» Amechi Adamson, Liz Babalola, Nichole (Reynolds) Barker, Glenn Hanner, Dan Hawkins, Chris Kauffman Stacey Loftis and Molly Vogel completed their SMPs in Psychology in December 2007.
» 12 students were inducted into the Psi Chi Honor Society on December 3, 2007.
» Jennifer Connolly, Kimberly Abell, Christina Riedel, Diane Cordani, Hannah Kampmeyer, Amanda Ballute, Josh Lubben, Charles Emerson, Caitlin Ward, Chelsea Reid, Jacquelyn McGill, Brittney Zakielarz, Heather Wells, Allison Muehl, Jessica Hoehn, Kerry Buechler, Jessica Wood, David Ivy, Cassie Ruiz, Matthew Wiest and Megan Hickman presented their SMPs at the ARC Poster Session on May 1, 2007.
» Karin Jensvold, Katrice Pitts, Amanda Jones, Jaclyn Sumner, Lauren Wilson, Andrea Bancells, Ayse Ikizler, Kevin Connolly, John Havens-McColgan, Jeanne Sutton, Naomi Tranen and Megan Farley presented their SMPs at the Psychology SMP Symposium on April 30, 2007.
» 6 students were honored at the Awards Convocation on April 28, 2007.
» 22 students were inducted into the Psi Chi Honor Society on April 19, 2007.
» Jackie McGill received a Sigma Xi grant of $1,000, and a Psi Chi award for $1,431.95. Chelsea Reid received a Sigma Xi grant of $1,000. Cassie Ruiz received a Sigma Xi grant of $400. Awards will support students' SMP research; all 3 involve animal research and are under the mentorship of Dr. Anne Marie Brady.
Paid Internship/Job Opportunities:
» The Mental Health Authority of St. Mary's has full-time positions available in the Case Management Program for students that have just graduated or are due to graduate this Spring. For more information contact:
Julie A. Ohman, B.A.
Children's Services Coordinator
Office 301-475-4056
Fax 301-475-4290
johman@mhasm.com
» The Boys & Girls Club of Southern Maryland is seeking Part Time Program Assistants & Volunteers for after-school programs at Carver Elementary, Green Holly Elementary, Lexington Park Elementary, Park Hall Elementary & Spring Ridge Middle School.
Primary Function: Plans, implements, supervises and evaluates activities provided within a specific program area such as: Education & Career; Character & Leardership; Sports, Fitness, & Recreation; The Arts; and Health & Life Skills. Salary: $8-12 / Hr.
» New Hampshire Summer Program 8-week Paid Internship
» Alternatives for Youth & Families: Mentors, Casemanagers and Caregivers (appropriate for a graduate from the class of 2006 or a recent alum with a psychology or human studies major)
» Are you a hardworking, mature individual with a sincere interest in helping children with special needs? If so, Camp Ramapo (Rhinebeck, N.Y.) looks for conscientious individuals to work as camp counselors and health center staff each summer. No previous experience in this type of work or special course is necessary for counselor employment. What’s more, you can earn college credit for your work there.
Volunteer Internship Opportunities:
» Barstow Acres Children's Center offers an unpaid internship opportunities during yearlong programs and summer camp. Psychology, education, sociology, social work, creative arts, or recreation therapy majors would benefit from the program. All others may inquire. Additionally, positions are available to anyone interested in mentoring at-risk children.
|
