Psychology Student Opportunities

As a psychology student you will undertake a 2-semester research sequence that allows you to understand research methodology by designing and completing your own research project. There is even a live rat lab where you can learn to train your own rat. Recent projects have focused on: 

• personality type and school major
• gender, self-esteem, and facebook “likes”
• effect of socially awkward context on mobile phone reliance
• physical fitness and GPA
• parent-child fear connections
• the female athlete triad
• gender difference in online dating advertisements
• birth order and motivation
• personality type and Wii bowling performance
• Music and comprehension

Psychology majors are encouraged to conduct research or participate in ongoing research projects. Students may join a faculty-sponsored research team, or they may design their own project. Independently designed projects require faculty sponsors.

Other Recent Research

• Shoemaker, A., Bargielski, R., Nedrow, A., Maglet, B. & Yahner, T. (2016). Can rats learn to paint, fetch, or play basketball? The application of learning theories to the lab rat. 19th Annual Laurel Highlands Undergraduate Psychology Conference. Greensburg, Pa.
• Olek, L. & Flaisher-Grinberg, S. (2016). The behavioral effects of chronic exposure to stress in mice models of autism spectrum disorders. 19th Annual Laurel Highlands Undergraduate Psychology Conference. Greensburg, Pa.
• Herman, B., Hollen, M., Loper, K., Mennett, A., Reed, P., Townsend, G., Roos, K. & Banks, L. (2014). The Relationship between Most Common Stress Coping Strategies, Campus Attitudes Toward the SFU Alcohol Policy, and Efforts to Educate Students who Violate Policy. 4th Annual Saint Francis Research Day. Loretto, Pa.
• Lasinsky, E., Sepich, E., Baker, S.H., & Shaffer, B. A. (2010). An examination of Gender Difference in online dating advertisements. Eastern Psychological Association. New York, NY.
• Scheib, K., Gorlaski, A., Sandrick, C., Shaffer, B. A., & Baker, S. H. (2010). The effect of birth order on achievement motivation. Eastern Psychological Association. New York, NY.
• Esposito,A., Ganassi, J., & Moist, M. (2009) The Effect of Wii Playing Constraints and Personality Type on Total Bowling Points. 12th Annual Laurel Highlands Undergraduate Psychology Conference.
• Lasinsky, E., Sepich, E., Baker, S.H., & Shaffer, B. A. (2010). An examination of Gender Difference in online dating advertisements. Eastern Psychological Association. New York, NY.
• Scheib, K., Gorlaski, A., Sandrick, C., Shaffer, B. A., & Baker, S. H. (2010). The effect of birth order on achievement motivation. Eastern Psychological Association. New York, NY.
• Esposito, A., Briley, E., & Bargdill, R. W. (2009). A Phenomenological Inquiry into School Spirit. The Society for Humanistic Psychology Conference. Sponsored by APA Division 32,University of the Rockies, Colorado Springs, CO.
• Albanes, B., Kowalski, J., & Moist, M. (2009). Does Background Music influence Comprehension? 12th Annual Laurel Highlands Undergraduate Psychology Conference.
• Chappell, J. & Moist, M. (2009). Reiki Effects on Stress Relaxation and the Role of open-mindedness. 12th Annual Laurel ighlands Undergraduate Psychology Conference.
• Dice, A., West, J., Moist, M. (2009). Effect of Type of Seating Arrangement and Type of Recall on Recall . 12th Annual Laurel Highlands Undergraduate Psychology Conference.
• Bargdill, R.W. & Marcasco, B.A (2008). The Phenomenology of Meaningful Events in the Lives of Undergraduates. The Society for Humanistic Psychology Conference. Sponsored by APA Division32,Boston, MA.
• Sandu, A. & Moist, M. (2008) Effect of Gender on Recall of Overt vs. Relational Aggressive Acts. 11th 12th Annual Laurel Highlands Undergraduate Psychology Conference.
  
  

Psychology Club

We have an active psychology club were you can expand your academic experience through field trips and other out-of-the classroom activities: Here are some examples of past activities:  

• Pittsburgh Zoo trip to observe how operant conditioning is used with the animals
• volunteering and fundraising for the charity Autumn's Angels
• psychology movie nights
• discussions on topics such as the cancer experience and flash mobs with connections to current pop culture examples

Psi Chi

You may want to join an honor societies such as Psi Chi, International Honor Society in Psychology, founded in 1929 for the purposes of encouraging, stimulating, and maintaining excellence in scholarship, and advancing the science of psychology.

As a student you may participate in professional activities including attending and presenting in professional conferences as you learn new things and are ready to share your research. There are also many internship opportunities where you may apply and integrate the skills, knowledge, and values derived from coursework in psychology and in your general education.

Learn more about our Psychology Internship Guidelines.