Psychology students at Canisius can supplement classroom learning through a variety of professionally directed experiences. Our majors have done research projects studying everything from killer whales to autistic children. Many present papers at conferences before they graduate.
Research Opportunities
Research is particularly important in facilitating your admission to graduate school. Our research facilities and equipment enhance your ability to gain valuable professional experience. The department has its own well-equipped studio with elaborate video-tape equipment (cameras, monitors, and playback units), which students are encouraged to use in their course work and independent study. The psychology laboratory also includes rooms separated by a one-way mirror for observational purposes, a suite of rooms for research in counseling and social psychology, and an animal laboratory for physiological demonstrations and learning studies. Behavioral research with larger land and aquatic mammals can be pursued through the cooperative use of the facilities at the Buffalo Zoo and the Niagara Falls Aquarium. Past students have worked with orangutans, dolphins, and a giraffe.
Through research seminars, research assistantships and laboratory work, there are many opportunities to gain experience doing psychological research, an important asset in impressing a graduate school or industrial selection committee. The results of our students' research, either independent or done in collaboration with one of our professors, have been published or presented at regional meetings. Thus making their credentials even more impressive.
Practicum
Our practicum or internship program provides an opportunity for "real world" experience in an area of interest to you. Local schools, businesses, hospitals, and agencies cooperate to provide senior students with an opportunity to gain hands-on training as part of their degree work. In the practicum, students with diverse interests obtain supervised experience in developing and applying such skills as testing, counseling, interviewing, and consulting in a cooperating agency. These agencies include school systems, hospitals, clinics, social service organizations, banks and courts.
Practicum experience helps students evaluate their job choice through engaging in the real and pertinent activities of that particular profession. Students also have the opportunity to make contacts and preliminary inquiries into future job and training opportunities after graduation. Canisius psychology graduates cite practicum experience as one of the more valuable aspects of their undergraduate training.
The department offers four distinct practicum areas, each supervised by a relevant staff member. These are clinical/counseling psychology, forensic psychology, industrial/organizational psychology, and school psychology. Additionally, there is practicum experience associated with the Gerontology certificate program. These practica are open to students who have completed prerequisite course work and who have obtained the permission of the supervising faculty member. Check out practicum logs on the psychology department wiki.
Individual Study and Research
In addition to practicum experience, there are two other opportunities for advanced students to gain non-classroom experience: independent study and independent research. The former allows a student to do intensive supervised reading in an area of his/her particular interest. It typically results in a formal paper or presentation. The latter, on the other hand, provides experience in performing a directed empirical investigation. It typically results in an empirical research paper written in approved journal (APA) form. Such research may also be done in conjunction with a staff member's current research.