Illinois Schools
Northwestern University
Undergraduate Experience:
Program(s):
Psychology-Research geared program, focus on current studies and data. Excellent (required) classes on statistics and research methods. Classes do very well on encouraging reading current psych. research and interpreting it.
Human Development & Psychological Services-Program geared towards a career in therapy of some kind. Much lighter on current research in the introductory classes, more done in upper-level seminars. Borrows heavily from Psychology major program.
Research:
Many opportunities, and research for credit or pay was encouraged at the undergrad level. Opportunities in social, cognitive, and developmental labs. I felt confident about my ability to read and understand current research, and was expected to do so in most classes.
Woo, etc:
Experiences with adjunct (non-tenured) professors in both programs encouraging either non-scientific therapies or disparaging research as a means of getting to the truth. Had a TA explain that some psychologists/therapists prefer the research based therapies, while some prefer those that feel better to them, and that she fell into the latter camp.
Overall:
Professors advocating unscientific methods were not tenured, and usually new to teaching for the university, or teaching that class for the first time. I felt good overall about the programs, and would recommend both to prospective students. However, I encourage judicious choosing of classes, and waiting to buy books until after the first class (to avoid losing money if need to change classes).
Undergraduate Experience:
Program(s):
Psychology-Research geared program, focus on current studies and data. Excellent (required) classes on statistics and research methods. Classes do very well on encouraging reading current psych. research and interpreting it.
Human Development & Psychological Services-Program geared towards a career in therapy of some kind. Much lighter on current research in the introductory classes, more done in upper-level seminars. Borrows heavily from Psychology major program.
Research:
Many opportunities, and research for credit or pay was encouraged at the undergrad level. Opportunities in social, cognitive, and developmental labs. I felt confident about my ability to read and understand current research, and was expected to do so in most classes.
Woo, etc:
Experiences with adjunct (non-tenured) professors in both programs encouraging either non-scientific therapies or disparaging research as a means of getting to the truth. Had a TA explain that some psychologists/therapists prefer the research based therapies, while some prefer those that feel better to them, and that she fell into the latter camp.
Overall:
Professors advocating unscientific methods were not tenured, and usually new to teaching for the university, or teaching that class for the first time. I felt good overall about the programs, and would recommend both to prospective students. However, I encourage judicious choosing of classes, and waiting to buy books until after the first class (to avoid losing money if need to change classes).