EIU Department of Psychology

About the Department

Housed within the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the Department of Psychology has an active and scholarly faculty with broad educational backgrounds and research interests. All full-time, tenure-track members of the department hold doctoral degrees from well-respected graduate programs across the country. There are approximately 400 undergraduate psychology majors and 50 graduate students. 

At Eastern, psychology is treated as a natural science, a social science, and a profession. The undergraduate curriculum in the Department of Psychology is designed to prepare students for graduate studies, careers, and lifelong learning. At the core of the curriculum is a set of carefully selected required courses that enable students to master basic psychological principles, theories, scientific methods, and application. Students fulfill their departmental graduation requirements by taking the required core courses, choosing courses within several content areas, and taking other electives.

The Department of Psychology offers two graduate programs: Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology and Specialist Degree in School Psychology. These programs offer training for entry level positions in professional psychology. The MA Clinical Psychology program is a two-year program and member of the Council of Applied Master’s Program in Psychology (CAMPP). The Specialist in School Psychology program is a three-year program, fully approved by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) and Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE), and Nationally Recognized by the National Council of Teacher Education (NCATE). Although primary responsibility for the Clinical Psychology and School Psychology programs resides with the respective core faculty, graduate students may take courses and conduct thesis research with any faculty member of the department.

Active chapters of Psi Chi and the Psychology Club provide undergraduate students opportunities for further development of learning and collegiality. Graduate students have the opportunity to develop leadership skills, professional relationships, and community outreach as members of the Graduate Association of Clinical Psychology (GACP) and Student Association of School Psychology at Eastern (SASPE).

Mission Statement

Department History

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