Undergraduate

The psychology department is committed to the education of students in understanding and appreciating the science of behavior and mental processes at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. The undergraduate program in psychology endorses the educational mission of Loyola, to challenge students to “learn, lead, and serve in a diverse and changing world.” As such, students majoring in psychology are exposed to fundamental concepts that provide them with a solid foundation in the discipline. Development of critical thinking skills, an understanding of research methodology, and an appreciation of diversity are core to the mission of the undergraduate program.

Masters

The Master of Science in Counseling and Clinical Psychology at Loyola University Maryland provides training to individuals who wish to promote mental health in individuals, families, organizations, and communities through careers in direct service, leadership, research, and education. We strive to provide a learning environment that facilitates the development of skills in critical thinking, assessment, and intervention and that is grounded in an appreciation for both psychological science and human diversity.

Doctorate

The psychology department is committed to the professional training and development of doctoral level psychologists in the Ignatian tradition of cura personalis, which challenges students to serve and lead others in service.

The goals and objectives of the Psy.D. program exist within the larger context of professional psychology, the principles of the American Psychological Association and the mission of Loyola University Maryland. The development of these goals and objectives was guided by the six original competencies adopted by the National Council of Schools and Programs in Professional Psychology (NCSPP, 1986-87 Mission Bay Conference); the recently adopted diversity competency (NCSPP, 2002 Chicago Conference); the Jesuit tradition of leadership and service; and the department's own mission and philosophy of training. The NCSPP competencies of relationship, assessment, and intervention form the basis for the first three goals. The NCSPP competency of research, the "scholar" dimension of the "scholar-professional" model of training, and the department's own commitment to scholarly inquiry across all activities in professional psychology form the basis for the fourth goal. Finally, the NCSPP competencies of diversity, management/education, and consultation/supervision guided the development of the last goal. This goal is also based on the department's commitment to training students to adapt to the diverse and changing needs in professional psychology, its recognition that psychologists will increasingly function outside of their traditional roles, and its model of training in which students are encouraged to develop unique professional identities.

The program's philosophy, educational model, and curriculum plan are consistent with the mission of Loyola University Maryland and the graduate division. They are also consistent with the following principles of the discipline:

• Psychological practice is based on the science of psychology which, in turn, is influenced by the practice of professional psychology.
• Training is sequential, cumulative, graded in complexity, and designed to prepare students for further organized training.