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Psychology is the third most popular major at HPU and is typically the largest or second largest major in the School of Humanities and Behavioral Sciences.
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Array ( [0] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 97848 [post_author] => 53 [post_date] => 2021-06-03 16:19:11 [post_date_gmt] => 2021-06-03 20:19:11 [post_content] => Research Interests: Social Development in Children with Developmental Disabilities: Research has indicated that children and adolescents with developmental delay experience difficulties in their social interactions with others, particularly in the area of making and maintaining friendships. My research is aimed at understanding how aspects of the individual (intelligence, type of disability, language abilities) influence their acceptance by peers.   Read More [post_title] => Kirsten Li-Barber [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => closed [ping_status] => closed [post_password] => [post_name] => kirsten-li-barber [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2022-08-19 13:53:17 [post_modified_gmt] => 2022-08-19 17:53:17 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://www.highpoint.edu/?p=97848 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => faculty-staff [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [1] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 97578 [post_author] => 53 [post_date] => 2021-06-03 16:12:12 [post_date_gmt] => 2021-06-03 20:12:12 [post_content] => Dr. David Bergen is an expert in organizational behavior and leadership development, a passionate university professor, and a clinical counselor. Having graduated from Wake Forest University and the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, he is the Z. Smith Reynolds Professor of Management within the Phillips School of Business at High Point University.  He has published in numerous journals and led many juried presentations and workshops.  Professional roles have included chairing an academic department for almost twenty years, leading a nonprofit clinical practice with focus on at-risk youth for over ten years, directing a university counseling center, serving as a consultant in diverse contexts, and more than thirty years as a university professor. His professional interests focus on leadership development, personality assessment and application, assessment of leadership performance, and experiential education.  He has held numerous leadership positions in professional associations as well as community nonprofit organizations. [post_title] => David J. Bergen, Ph.D., LCMHC [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => closed [ping_status] => closed [post_password] => [post_name] => david-bergen [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2023-02-14 11:38:16 [post_modified_gmt] => 2023-02-14 16:38:16 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://www.highpoint.edu/?p=97578 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => faculty-staff [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [2] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 94356 [post_author] => 62 [post_date] => 2021-05-25 15:41:01 [post_date_gmt] => 2021-05-25 19:41:01 [post_content] => Research Interests: My main research interest focuses on identifying the psychosocial factors that contribute to a “failure to recover” after injury or illness. Specifically, I have focused on examining symptom exaggeration, performance validity, and malingering on measures of neuropsychological and psychological functioning in traumatic brain injury and chronic pain populations. Currently, my focus of research has moved toward looking at the specific psychological factors (e.g., somatization, anxiety, and depression) that contribute to persisting cognitive problems (e.g., working memory and processing speed) in these populations. In the future, I will continue to examine the relationship between psychosocial factors and chronic illness or disease.   Read More [post_title] => Kelly Curtis [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => closed [ping_status] => closed [post_password] => [post_name] => dr-kelly-curtis [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2022-08-22 10:21:31 [post_modified_gmt] => 2022-08-22 14:21:31 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://www.highpoint.edu/?post_type=faculty-staff&p=94356 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => faculty-staff [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [3] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 97587 [post_author] => 53 [post_date] => 2021-06-03 16:12:32 [post_date_gmt] => 2021-06-03 20:12:32 [post_content] => Research Interests: General research interests focus on the interaction between work and family roles, gender influences on work and life experiences, and social perception in work situations. Two current research projects include:   1. Work-Family Experiences Project:  This research examines a variety of factors and variables relating to working parenthood.  I am examining how personality, childcare, organizational practices, and job variables relate to parents’ psychological well-being, separation anxiety, stress, and handling of the parent/employee role conflict. 2. Weight Discrimination and Employee Selection: The effects of obesity, personality, and job characteristics are being examined to determine how these impact evaluations of job applicants and hiring decisions. 3. Power and Interpersonal Behavior: This research investigates the effects of having decision-making power and control on how people interact with others, including the extent to which people are able to read and respond to interpersonal social cues.   Read More [post_title] => Deborah Danzis [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => closed [ping_status] => closed [post_password] => [post_name] => deborah-danzis [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2021-09-01 14:16:23 [post_modified_gmt] => 2021-09-01 18:16:23 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://www.highpoint.edu/?p=97587 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => faculty-staff [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [4] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 98127 [post_author] => 53 [post_date] => 2021-06-03 16:22:51 [post_date_gmt] => 2021-06-03 20:22:51 [post_content] => Research Interests: My research program focuses on the study of close relationships.  More specifically, I have centered my investigations on the conflict people experience between the goal to seek closeness and the goal to self-protect against rejection. My work builds from the idea that people have a fundamental need for connection.  To satisfy this need, people must ultimately risk rejection.  For instance, creating and maintaining satisfying relationships requires people to take a leap of faith or disclose private feelings.  In a perfect world, partners would always respond with acceptance and love.  Unfortunately, people sometimes find that making themselves vulnerable can lead to hurt, embarrassment, or rejection.  I am fascinated by how people negotiate the competing drives for connection and protection when navigating romantic life.   Read More [post_title] => Sadie Leder Elder [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => closed [ping_status] => closed [post_password] => [post_name] => sadie-leder-elder [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2021-09-01 14:27:03 [post_modified_gmt] => 2021-09-01 18:27:03 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://www.highpoint.edu/?p=98127 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => faculty-staff [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [5] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 98139 [post_author] => 53 [post_date] => 2021-06-03 16:23:34 [post_date_gmt] => 2021-06-03 20:23:34 [post_content] => Research Interests: The highest level goal of my program of research is to promote student learning. One way to improve student learning is to help children develop their ability to monitor what they know. It is important to understand when and how metacognitive monitoring develops. Previous research has shown that young children are overconfident when making predictions about their memory. This is problematic because students need to learn to distinguish between well-learned and less well-learned information to do well in school. Accurate monitoring of memory will help students allocate study time appropriately because they will know which items need to be studied further. I am interested in examining factors that may help young children monitor their memory and make good study decisions.   Read More [post_title] => Stacy Lipowski [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => closed [ping_status] => closed [post_password] => [post_name] => stacy-lipowski [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2021-09-01 14:29:21 [post_modified_gmt] => 2021-09-01 18:29:21 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://www.highpoint.edu/?p=98139 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => faculty-staff [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [6] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 99435 [post_author] => 53 [post_date] => 2021-06-04 13:24:19 [post_date_gmt] => 2021-06-04 17:24:19 [post_content] => Courses Taught
  • Introduction to Psychology
  • Abnormal Psychology
  • Counseling and Psychotherapy
  Research Interests My research focuses on borderline personality disorder and related phenomena such as self-criticism, rumination, and non-suicidal self-injury.  I also study how mindfulness and related constructs like self-compassion can serve as a protective factor against and as a treatment for mental health issues.   Selected Publications Nagy, L. M. & Baer, R. A. (2017). Mindfulness: What should teachers of psychology know? Teaching of Psychology, 44(4), 353-359.   Peters, J. R., Eisenlohr-Moul, T. A., & Smart, L. M. (2016). Mindfulness and rejection sensitivity: The critical role of nonjudgment. Personality and Individual Differences93, 125-129.   Smart, L. M., Peters, J. R., & Baer, R. A. (2016). Development and validation of a measure of self-critical rumination. Assessment23(3), 321-332.   Peters, J. R., Smart, L. M., Eisenlohr-Moul, T. A., Geiger, P. J., Smith, G.T., & Baer, R. A. (2015). Anger rumination as a mediator of the relationship between mindfulness and aggression: The utility of a multidimensional mindfulness model. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 71(9), 871-884.   Peters, J. R., Smart, L. M., & Baer, R. A. (2015). Difficulties in emotion regulation mediate the cross-sectional relationship between rejection sensitivity and borderline personality features. Journal of Personality Disorders, 29(2), 231-240.   Peters, J. R., Geiger, P. J., Smart, L. M., & Baer, R. A. (2014). Shame and borderline personality features: The potential mediating roles of anger and anger rumination. Personality Disorders: Theory, Research, and Treatment5(1), 1-9.   Selected Presentations (*Denotes undergraduate mentee) Nagy, L.M. (2017, October). The Timeline Project: An activity for teaching personality theories in an historical context. Poster presented at the Society for Teaching Psychology’s 16th Annual Conference on Teaching, San Antonio, TX.   *Hall, K., *Armstrong, C., *Hudson, R., *Wakefield, J., Nagy, L.M., Baer, R. A. (2017, April). Investigating the role of rumination in borderline personality disorder and self-injury: A moderated mediation analysis. Poster presented at the Kentucky Psychological Foundation Spring Academic Conference, Louisville, KY.   Nagy, L. M., *Shanahan, M. L., Caldera, L. A., & Baer, R. A. (2016, November). Examining the Self-Injury Implicit Association Test in an undergraduate population. Poster presented at the 50th Association of Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies Convention, New York City, NY.   Caldera, C. A., Nagy, L. M., & Baer, R. A. (2016, November). Comparing the effects of mindfulness meditation to relaxation in a brief laboratory induction. Poster presented at the 50th Association of Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies Convention, New York City, NY.   Caldera, C. A., Smart, L. M., & Baer, R. A. (2015, November). Deficits in mindfulness facets partially mediate the relationship between features of borderline personality disorder and self-injury. Poster presented at the 49th Association of Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies Convention, Chicago, IL.   *DeMuth, M. L., Smart, L. M., Kniffin, T. C., & Baer, R. A. (2015, May). An examination of the relationship between perfectionism and non-suicidal self-injury. Poster presented at the 87th Midwestern Psychological Association’s Annual Convention, Chicago, IL.   Smart, L. M. & Baer, R. A. (2014, November). The role of self-critical rumination in borderline personality disorder and non-suicidal self-injury. Poster presented at the 48th Association of Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies Convention, Philadelphia, PA.   Peters, J. R., Smart, L. M., & Baer, R. A. (2013, November). Difficulties in emotion regulation mediate the cross-sectional relationship between rejection sensitivity and borderline personality features. Poster presented at the 47th Association of Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies Convention, Nashville, TN.   Smart, L. M., Peters, J. R., & Baer, R. A. (2012, November). Mindfulness and aggression: Anger rumination as a potential mediator. Poster presented at the 46th Association of Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies Convention, National Harbor, MD.   Peters, J. R., Geiger, P. J., Smart, L. M., & Baer, R. A. (2012, November). The roles of experiential avoidance and anger rumination in responses to shame in borderline personality disorder.  Poster presented at the 46th Association of Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies Convention, National Harbor, MD.   Flowers, K., Smart, L. M., Salami, T., Carter, S., & Walker, R. (2012, April). Gender differences in impulsivity and emotion regulation among college students with and without a history of deliberate self-harm. Poster presented at the 45th Annual Conference of the American Association of Suicidology, Baltimore, MD.   Selected Awards & Recognitions University of Kentucky Provost’s Outstanding Teaching Award   University of Kentucky Arts & Sciences Certificate for Outstanding Teaching   Kentucky Psychological Foundation Outstanding Undergraduate Mentor Nominee   Midwestern Association of Graduate Schools Excellence in Teaching Award Institutional Nominee   University of Kentucky Award for Exceptional Clinical Performance   Jesse G. Harris Scientist-Practitioner Award [post_title] => Laura Nagy [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => closed [ping_status] => closed [post_password] => [post_name] => laura-nagy [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2021-07-30 11:19:43 [post_modified_gmt] => 2021-07-30 15:19:43 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://www.highpoint.edu/?post_type=faculty-staff&p=99435 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => faculty-staff [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [7] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 97803 [post_author] => 53 [post_date] => 2021-06-03 16:15:31 [post_date_gmt] => 2021-06-03 20:15:31 [post_content] => Research Interests: Personality Judgments:  Involves studying the content of social judgments, determining the accuracy of personality judgments, and identifying moderators of judgmental accuracy. Personality and Daily Life Experience:  Using experience sampling methods, focuses on identifying the coherent links between personality and everyday behavior and emotion.  Emphasis is placed on determining the role of personality in the selection and enjoyment of everyday activities. Personality and Interpersonal Relationships:  Identifying the personality traits that underlie the ability to develop and maintain interpersonal relationships and commitments.   Read More [post_title] => Jana Spain [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => closed [ping_status] => closed [post_password] => [post_name] => jana-spain [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2021-09-01 14:15:23 [post_modified_gmt] => 2021-09-01 18:15:23 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://www.highpoint.edu/?p=97803 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => faculty-staff [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) )
Chair & Associate Professor of Psychology
Assistant Professor of Psychology
Professor of Psychology and Director of High Point Washington Program

Psychology is the third most popular major at HPU, and is typically the largest or second largest major in the School of Humanities and Behavioral Sciences. With more than 250 students in the major and 100 in the minor, it is estimated that our majors constitute approximately 5% of the HPU student body. Close to 90% of all HPU students take Introduction to Psychology as one of their social sciences.

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Course Requirements 2022/2023
Bachelor of Science in Psychology
Bachelor of Science in Psychology
Degree Requirements Credits
Major Requirements 44
University Core Requirements 36-44
Electives 40-48
Total 128
Minor in Psychology
Minor in Psychology
Minor Requirements Credits
Course Requirements 20
Total 20
Requirements for the B.S. in Psychology
Requirements for the B.S. in Psychology
Course Course Title Credits
PSY 2000 Introduction to Psychology 4
PSY 2100 Statistics for Psychology 4
PSY 3100 Research Methods in Psychology 4
PSY 4100 Advanced Research Methods in Psychology 4
A. Survey of Psychology

Choose 3 of the following courses:
PSY 2200 Personality Psychology 4
PSY 2250 Abnormal Psychology 4
PSY 2300 Lifespan Development 4
PSY 2400 Social Psychology 4
PSY 2500 Cognitive Psychology 4
PSY/NEU 2600 Biopsychology 4
PSY 2880 Special Topics 4
B. Psychological Processes

Choose 2 of the following courses:
PSY 3210 Person Perception 4
PSY 3250 Child Psychopathology 4
PSY 3310 Child Development 4
PSY 3320 Adolescent Development 4
PSY 3410 Social Cognition 4
PSY 3420 Close Relationships 4
PSY 3450 Industrial/Organizational Psychology 4
PSY/GBS 3470 Cross-Cultural Psychology 4
PSY 3510 Language and Thought 4
PSY 3520 Sensation and Perception 4
PSY 3610 Health Psychology 4
PSY 3620 Human Sexuality 4
PSY 3710 Career Development & Psychology 4
PSY 3880 Special Topics 4
PSY 3910 Forensic Psychology 4
C. Applications of Psychology

Choose 8 credits from the following courses:
PSY 4110 Undergraduate Research *
PSY 4120-4130 Independent Study 4
PSY 4190 Psychological Testing 4
PSY 4200 Counseling and Psychotherapy 4
PSY 4210 Personality and Psychopathology 4
PSY 4301 Family Dynamics 4
PSY 4311 Cognitive Development 4
PSY 4342 Cognitive Aging 4
PSY 4430 Social Influence 4
PSY 4450 Organizational Behavior 4
PSY 4510 Learning and Memory 4
PSY 4610 Drugs and Human Behavior 4
PSY 4620 Clinical Neuropsycholgy 4
PSY 4710-4750 Student Internship Program *
PSY 4880 Special Topics 4
Required Supporting Courses:
BIO 1100, BIO 1500, or BIO/PHS 2060/2061 Biology: A Human Perspective, Principles of Cell Biology, or Human Physiology 4
Course Descriptions
* No more than 4 credits will count toward the Psychology major.

Note: PSY 2100 has a prerequisite of MTH 1130 or higher.

Note: All psychology majors are expected to complete the Psychology Department Assessment Packet, including the Major Field Test, during their final semester before graduation. Please see your advisor for details.
Requirements for Minor in Psychology
Requirements for Minor in Psychology
Course Course Title Credits
PSY 2000 Introduction to Psychology 4
8 credits at the PSY 2000 level (excluding PSY 2000)
PSY 2100 Statistics for Psychology 4
PSY 2200 Personality Psychology 4
PSY 2250 Abnormal Psychology 4
PSY 2300 Lifespan Development 4
PSY 2400 Social Psychology 4
PSY 2500 Cognitive Psychology 4
PSY 2600 Biopsychology 4
PSY 2880 Special Topics Variable Credit. May be repeated.
8 credits at the PSY 3000/4000 level
PSY 3100 Research Methods in Psychology 4
PSY 3210 Person Perception 4
PSY 3250 Child Psychopathology 4
PSY 3310 Child Development 4
PSY 3320 Adolescent Development 4
PSY 3410 Social Cognition 4
PSY 3420 Close Relationships 4
PSY 3450 Industrial/Organizational Psychology 4
PSY 3460 The Global Workplace: Cross-Cultural Psychology at Work 4
PSY/GBS 3470 Cross-Cultural Psychology 4
PSY 3510 Language and Thought 4
PSY 3520 Sensation and Perception 4
PSY 3610 Health Psychology 4
PSY 3620 Human Sexuality 4
PSY 3710 Career Development and Psychology 4
PSY 3910 Forensic Psychology 4
PSY 4100 Advanced Research Methods in Psychology 4
PSY/URCW 4110 Undergraduate Research 1-4
PSY 4120-4130 Independent Study 4
PSY 4190 Psychological Testing 4
PSY 4200 Counseling and Psychotherapy 4
PSY 4210 Personality and Psychopathology 4
PSY 4301 Family Dynamics 4
PSY 4311 Cognitive Development 4
PSY 4342 Cognitive Aging 4
PSY 4430 Social Influence 4
PSY 4450 Organizational Behavior 4
PSY 4460 Group and Team Dynamics 4
PSY 4510 Learning and Memory 4
PSY 4610 Drugs and Human Behavior 4
PSY 4620 Clinical Neuropsychology 4
PSY 4710-4750 Student Intern Program 3-12
PSY 3881, 4881 Special Topics Variable Credit. May be repeated.
Course Descriptions
Career Opportunities
Psychology majors at High Point University receive more than just a solid education. They also receive practical training through their research, internships and participation in professional meetings. Some graduates go on to work as Mental Health Support Specialists or to provide care and mental health services for those in residential and group homes. Other graduates are employed by school systems or are pursuing management in national organizations.

Psychology courses provide students with training in critical thinking and analytic skills. Our program provides students with a range of skills and abilities including, a broad knowledge base in psychology, research methods and statistical skills, thinking and problem solving skills, information acquisition and synthesis skills, computer literacy, communication and intrapersonal skills, and adaptability. Many of our graduates are currently pursuing masters and/or doctoral degrees in:
Student Outcomes

HPU graduates are leading prestigious career paths around the world at Fortune 500 companies, international service programs, public school systems, top-tier law, medical and graduate school programs, and many other…

HPU graduates are leading prestigious career paths around the world at Fortune 500 companies, international service programs, public school systems, top-tier law, medical and graduate school programs, and many other…

Olivia Lender
Fidelity Investments

HPU graduates are leading prestigious career paths around the world at Fortune 500 companies, international service programs, public school systems, top-tier law, medical and graduate school programs, and many other…

Anthony Sauchelli

HPU graduates are leading prestigious career paths around the world at Fortune 500 companies, international service programs, public school systems, top-tier law, medical and graduate school programs, and many other…

Amy Fos

HPU graduates are leading prestigious career paths around the world at Fortune 500 companies, international service programs, public school systems, top-tier law, medical and graduate school programs, and many other…

Name: Taylor Gray Hometown: Alexandria, Virginia Year: Class of 2023 Major: Political science with a minor in psychology and on a pre-medicine track Internship: Gray works as a victim advocate at…

Tom Bermel
Randox

HPU graduates are leading prestigious career paths around the world at Fortune 500 companies, international service programs, public school systems, top-tier law, medical and graduate school programs, and many other…

Claire Cartrette

HPU graduates are leading prestigious career paths around the world at Fortune 500 companies, international service programs, public school systems, top-tier law, medical and graduate school programs, and many other…

Malcolm MacLean

HPU graduates are leading prestigious career paths around the world at Fortune 500 companies, international service programs, public school systems, top-tier law, medical and graduate school programs, and many other…

Name: Julia Velasquez Hometown: Northbrook, Illinois Year: Class of 2023 Major: Neuroscience with a minor in psychology Internship: Velasquez is building model simulations of neurons at the University of Missouri…

Study Abroad
At High Point University, our emphasis on global perspectives is designed to provide students with opportunities to enhance their international awareness and to develop their cross-cultural communication skills. Study abroad is strongly encouraged as a part of this emphasis on global studies. With a variety of extraordinary options at some of the most prestigious universities in the world, students at High Point University are encouraged to study abroad as early as the summer after their freshman year. Employers are looking for more than just a degree; they want well-rounded individuals who have familiarity with diverse cultures, special skills, and knowledge of the world around them.
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