Faculty-Student Mentoring & Careers

Professional academic advisors are specialized staff members responsible for guiding students through the administrative and academic landscape of the university. They assist with course selection, degree planning, understanding academic policies, connecting students to resources, and navigating the requirements and opportunities necessary to achieve academic success. Their role is crucial in helping students make informed decisions about their academic journey, ensuring they meet all necessary academic milestones and adhere to institutional guidelines.

Professional Advisors for the Department of Psychology:

Faculty mentors are faculty members who provide personalized guidance and support beyond the traditional classroom setting, whether on campus or online. They engage with students by focusing on career development, research opportunities, professional skill enhancement through possible internships, and personal growth. Faculty mentors leverage their academic expertise and industry experience to offer insights into career paths, mentor students in their professional endeavors, and support their holistic development as individuals ready to make an impact in their professional fields. Faculty mentors also assist students with referrals and connections to other resources at FHSU.

Faculty mentors are matched with undergraduate students by the department chair. To create the best possible mentor match, students should complete the faculty mentor request form linked below.

Please complete this form in its entirety and provide as much detail as possible relevant to your interests, career goals, and mentor needs. This information will be used to match students with a mentor who can provide guidance and valuable insights relevant to their needs. 

Faculty Mentor Request Form

• Group mentoring opportunities will occur throughout the academic year. Students are encouraged to regularly check the FHSU Department of Psychology social media pages (Facebook and Instagram) and FHSU student email for specific dates, times, and locations for upcoming mentoring events.
• Get involved with our student organizations Psychology Club and Psi Chi. 

Students share their experiences majoring in psychology and interacting with department staff and faculty. 

• APA resources for careers in Psychology
• Careers in Counseling/Psychology
• Explore Psychology Jobs
• Primary source of occupational information - O*NET OnLine
• CareersInPsychology.org
• Psychology Career Center
• Bureau of Labor Statistics: Psychology Career Outlook

• Kansas Works
• Jobs for Tigers
• FHSU On Campus Employment
• Academic Advising and Career Exploration Center
• Career Services at FHSU Employment Links
• What Can I Do With a Career in Psychology?

• Find more information on our departmental Careers in Psychology page.

The Psychology Department offers flexibility by allowing students to choose either the Bachelor of Arts (BA) or the Bachelor of Science (BS) in Psychology. Both degrees require 120 credit hours that can be completed with 34 credit hours of general education classes, 36 credit hours of psychology major requirements, and 40 credit hours of free electives. Although the psychology core coursework is the same for both, there are some slight differences. The BA in Psychology program requires completion of 10 hours of a single foreign language. The BS program requires 13 additional hours of course work in the Natural Science and/or Mathematics.

Our undergraduate psychology curriculum for both the BA and BS emphasizes scientific and theoretical knowledge as well as hands-on experiences. Students complete core courses that provide a framework for the foundations of psychology as a science as well as a broad introduction to the various sub-disciplines (e.g., General Psychology; Science of Psychology; Psychology as a Discipline and Profession). Our elective classes are designed around three content emphasis areas (Social Cognitive, Developmental Cultural, and Applied Mental Health).

Our programs are flexible and convenient for students who want to study online or on campus. Students can complete their degree at their own pace and schedule, while still receiving high-quality instruction and support from our dedicated and award-winning faculty.

• Social - Cognitive: This emphasis area focuses on environmental factors that influence the way we think, feel, behave, and make decisions. Within this area, students will study individuals in social interactions and social influence situations. This includes integrating studies about information processing and how human cognition is applied in everyday life. 
  • Courses offered: Social Psychology, I/O Psychology, Elements of Learning, Cognitive Psychology, Psychology of Intimate Relationships, Psychology of Leadership, Personality, Perception, and Judgement & Decision Making.
  • Possible careers: Academia, human resources, marketing director, business consultant, industrial-organizational manager, advocate for social justice, public relations, researcher. 
    
    
• Developmental - Cultural: This emphasis area connects the developmental process of an individual to their culture in order to identify how social, emotional, and neurological development is shaped. Within this area, students will study how individuals grow and change across their life span and how culture plays a role in the developmental process. 
  
  • Courses offered: Introduction to School Psychology, Human Sexuality, Child & Developmental Psychology, Social & Emotional Development, Adolescence, Psychology of Aging, and Cross-Cultural Psychology.
  • Possible careers: Academia, researcher, early education, geriatric, life skills coach, social work, school counseling, school psychologist. 
    
    
• Applied Mental Health: This emphasis area focuses on psychology within the fields of clinical psychology (mental health), sports psychology, and forensic psychology. Within this area, students will apply psychological concepts, research, and theory to understand and promote mental health and wellness.
  • Courses offered: Abnormal Psychology, Introduction to Therapeutic Skills, Sports Psychology, Criminal and Forensic Psychology, Drugs & Behavior, Case Management, Behavioral Addictions, Eating Disorders, and Behavior Therapy.
  • Possible careers: Academia, case management, behavioral specialist, community health worker, clinical psychologist, forensic psychologist, sport psychologist.

Adding a psychology minor to your major at FHSU can significantly enhance your educational experience and career prospects. Psychology offers invaluable insights into human behavior, critical thinking, and communication skills that are applicable in virtually every profession. By understanding the fundamentals of psychology, you can improve your ability to work with others, increase your empathy, and gain a competitive edge in the job market. With flexible requirements and the option to complete the minor on-campus or online, FHSU makes it convenient for students to integrate this program into their academic plan.

The Department of Psychology offers specialized certificate programs that are designed to provide students with the opportunity to further develop their skills and knowledge in a particular area. Our certificate programs add additional value to your undergraduate degree and can provide valuable experiences to prepare students for a future career in psychology. The certificate programs are available on campus and online to FHSU undergraduate students.

The Psychology Department offers 6 certificate options including: Case Management, Foundations of Public Mental Health, Juvenile Justice Youth Development, Psychology of Effective Leadership, Criminal Psychology, and Sports Psychology.

There are a variety of ways that we incorporate experiential, high-impact learning. Two notable ways include research and internship/apprenticeship opportunities.

• Undergraduate & Graduate Internships
• Research in Psychology

If you are interested in going to graduate school, check out this video with resources and information relevant to selecting programs and applying. 

• Health and Wellness Center
• Food and Hunger Initiatives
• Forsyth Library
• Writing Center
• Technical Support
• Finding your Academic Advisor
• Academic Programs for Psychology Majors
• Financial Aid
• GPA calculator
• Building connections in Hays

• Resume writing center at FHSU
• Mock Interview at FHSU
• Professional clothing closet at FHSU
• Study Abroad program at FHSU
• Psychology Club and Psi Chi
• Internships
• Psychology Scholarships Guide

• John Heinrichs Scholarly and Creative Activities Day (SACAD) at FHSU
• Great Plains Student Psychology Convention
• Southwestern Psychological Association
• Midwestern Psychological Association
• Rocky Mountain Psychological Association