Psychology

Note: Psychology is offered in-person at the main (Lacey) campus; it is offered via online at Saint Martin's-JBLM campus.

Psychology at Saint Martin's structures coursework, research experience, and field placements to integrate experiential learning with rigorous study of psychology, closely aligned with the Benedictine principle of service to others. The program's curriculum builds on common foundation courses with upper-division study across clinical/counseling, experimental, and cultural competency course clusters. This developmental curriculum allows students to specialize in an area of interest or diversify their study, while also giving students the skills and self-confidence to use a variety of perspectives in their work with people.

• Faculty exclusively staffed by clinical and experimental professionals. All faculty are trained as researchers; clinical faculty are also practitioners.
• One 15-week required internship (research track or applied track) for all majors.
• Empirical Research Concentration for students who complete a year of research with faculty or supervised independent research.
• Students have the opportunity to carry out independent research in the empirical senior thesis sequence. These research projects are generated and carried out by students as the primary investigators, with faculty supervision.
• Approximately 60 percent of graduates move directly into entry-level social service positions. Remaining graduates pursue advanced degrees in clinical/counseling psychology, social work, data analysis, and experimental psychology.
• Participation in Psi Chi, the psychology honor society for exceptional students.
• Student leadership opportunities through Saint Martin's Psychology Club.
• Students are encouraged to attend and present at conferences.

Research and internships

All majors complete a one-semester internship, and many students pursue internship work longer than one semester. Students can do applied internships in field settings, or research internships working on faculty research. Students in the applied internship select opportunities consistent with their own interests, and in a variety of settings. These include school counseling, youth outreach, parent and family support, juvenile and adult corrections, drug and alcohol counseling, youth recreation leadership, mental health counseling, case management, social welfare casework, elder services, halfway house and shelter work, vocational rehabilitation, and personnel work. 

Applied internship locations include:

• Community Mental Health Centers
• Correctional facilities
• Military/JBLM
• Thurston County prosecutor's office
• Crisis Clinics
• Haven House

Applied Internship Agreement

Students who are interested in pursuing graduate programs or who are generally interested in psychology research are encouraged to apply for PSY 394: Research Internship I. In the research internship, students work closely with a psychology faculty member on the faculty’s research projects. Research interns regularly attend and present their research at conferences, such as the Western Psychological Association annual conference and the Society for Research in Child Development biennial conference. To earn the research concentration for the psychology major, students can take two sections of PSY 394 taught by two different professors, or they can follow up PSY 394 with PSY 494: Research Internship II. Note that students can also complete the research concentration through the capstone sequence (see “What is the psychology senior capstone?” link below for more information).

Research internship opportunities include:

• The Big Beliefs Lab, where students work with Dr. Woodard to investigate belief systems in kids and adults.

What is the Psychology senior capstone?