Participant Idea Exchange 3

Connecting Students to Psychology Through Programmatic Themes and Professional Experience

Nick Dominello, PhD
Barb Lesniak, PsyD
Tom MacCarty, PhD
Southern New Hampshire University

Students seek connections between psychological concepts and the real world. They want to apply what they learn in school to their careers and personal endeavors. Southern New Hampshire University undergraduate psychology students tell us that one of the most meaningful parts of their experience is hearing about their instructors’ real-world work. When we redeveloped the program, we incorporated five themes that serve as a lens through which students view and apply psychological concepts:

• Emotional intelligence
• Social justice
• Ethics
• Career
• Self-care

Learn how these themes empower our faculty to share their professional experiences and make real-world connections for their students.