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Psychology Minor
As long as humans exist, so will human behavior. And understanding human behavior is a skill that will empower you to understand and help others. A psychology degree from Dordt can help you develop your professional skills, determine your career path, and discover a biblical and psychological understanding of the people around you.
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Program Overview
If you’re looking for a minor to supplement and even amplify almost any major, psychology can often be the perfect fit. A psychology minor can help you more effectively communicate with others. It can help you develop empathy for others. And it can give you insights into the way the human mind functions and reacts to situations and circumstances.
A minor in psychology helps you develop a toolset to use in whichever professional field you enter after graduating.
What You'll Learn
A psychology minor can help you more effectively communicate with others, develop empathy for others, and it can give you insights into the way the human mind functions and reacts to situations and circumstances.
What You Can Do With A Psychology Minor
Trying to list all the career paths available to those proficient in psychology would be nearly impossible. For some, careers in research and analysis provide challenging and fulfilling opportunities. For others, practical application in both clinical and non-clinical settings can be an exciting option.
Social Worker
A Social Worker is trained to assist vulnerable people and better their life conditions and environment around them.
Counselor
A Counselor provides clients with support and advice in order to help them overcome obstacles and problems they are dealing with.
Behavior Analyst
Behavior Analysts observe interactions between the individual and their environment.
Career Preparation
Dordt University's 2023 Career Outcome Rate was 99.4%! “This data point tells us that Dordt graduates are prepared for the careers of their choosing,” said Amy Westra, director of Career Development. “A Dordt education provides students with industry-relevant courses and connections that make a difference.”
To earn a psychology minor, students will need to complete three psychology courses and four psychology electives.
- Introduction to Psychology: Explaining human behavior is a wonderfully complex task, and this course introduces students to the scientific study of topics such as memory, personality, development, social influence, disorders, and others. Along the way, we will use a bio-psycho-social (spiritual) model to frame our study and will compare a biblical perspective on being human to several historical perspectives in psychology.
- Lifespan Development: This course studies the growth and maturation of persons throughout the entire lifespan, including examination of physical, cognitive, personality, social changes, faith development, and other developmental tasks. This course will also focus on evaluating the theoretical issues and descriptive information portraying the growth of an individual from conception through late adulthood. Students will develop a biblically informed vision of who we are as image-bearers of God and what it means to be humans living in God’s creation.
- Psychopathology: This course examines the development and symptoms of emotional and behavioral problems. Topics covered include the clinical assessment of affective disorders, schizophrenia, personality disorders, psychosomatic disorders, anxiety disorders, and the process of adjustment to stress. Attention will be given to personality, social, and religious factors, and their role in mental health.
- Four psychology electives (12 or more credits)
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Faculty
With experience in a variety of fields, our faculty members are equipped and ready to help you succeed.
Student Stories
Dordt students and alumni use their gifts to make a difference in the world. Check out their stories to see how Defender Nation lives out our mission to work effectively toward Christ-centered renewal in all aspects of contemporary life.
To Cherish Forever
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Matt BoltThe culture of Dordt allowed Matt to dive deeper into his faith and relationships which provided him with opportunities to go much further than classwork and college.
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Siennah StamnessDespite the many challenges Siennah faced in college, she was always supported by Dordt's community and was able to develop meaningful relationships, grow in confidence, and make Dordt her home away from home in her four years here.
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