Psychology Department

Douglas Peterson, Chairperson
South Dakota Union Building, Room 205
(605) 677-5351
Psychology@usd.edu
http://www.usd.edu/arts-and-sciences/psychology

FACULTY

Professors:

Jan Berkhout, Ergonomics and Safety
Elizabeth Boyd, Family Systems, Native American Mental Health
Frank Schieber, Aging and Human Performance, Vision, Transportation
Jeffrey Simons, Psychology of Alcohol and Substance Abuse
Raluca Simons, Stress, Military Personnel and Alcohol
Cindy Struckman-Johnson, Social Psychology, Sexual Coercion, Transportation Safety

Associate Professors:

S. Jean Caraway, Traumatic Victimization, Cross-Cultural Psychology
Michael Granaas, Quantitative Methods, Virtual Environments
Douglas Peterson, User Experience/Usability, Industrial/Organizational Psychology
Holly Straub, Cognitive Psychology, Evolutionary Psychology

Assistant Professors:

Christopher Berghoff, Acceptance, Mindfulness, Anxiety, Trauma
Sara Lowmaster, Psychological Assessment, Personality

Lecturer:

Gemma Skillman
Stephanie Fuller

Emeritus:

Gerard Jacobs
Randal Quevillon
Barbara Yutrzenka

MAJOR:

Psychology, B.A., B.S.

SPECIALIZATION

Disaster Response

MINORS:

Psychology
Disaster Response

Psychology is both a scientific discipline concerned with understanding, explaining and predicting behavior, and a profession dedicated to the application of this knowledge to the solution of practical human problems. The courses and independent study opportunities offered in the department are designed to expose our students to both aspects of the field. The Psychology Department at the University of South Dakota is the most comprehensive in the state and has won several national awards for excellence.

Our curriculum provides comprehensive coverage of the core areas of general and experimental psychology as well as exposure to psychological applications in several areas. Students may choose to emphasize coursework in the human factors/applied industrial area or in the human services (clinical/counseling) area and can work with their advisors to ensure optimal course selection. Department facilities include a computer laboratory, the Heimstra Human Factors Laboratory, the Disaster Mental Health Institute and the Psychological Services Center. The Disaster Mental Health Institute conducts cutting-edge work in the developing field of disaster psychology. Advanced undergraduate students in Psychology are encouraged to participate with faculty in research projects to earn academic credit and gain valuable experience. More information is available at website listed above.

SCHOLARSHIPS:

Please contact the department for additional information about available scholarships and awards. Also see College of Arts & Sciences for college/school level scholarships.

Harold O. Fossler Scholarship
Joseph M. Malters & Kathryn Kirk-Malters Psychology Scholarship
Norman Heimstra Memorial Scholarship
Psi Chi Prize Scholarship
Psychology Department Scholarship Fund
Royal D. & Helen B. Doner Scholarship