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Department of Behavioral Sciences

About the Psychology Program

Students who pursue a psychology degree have the opportunity to enroll in courses that critically explore each sub-field. For example, some courses offered in our department include:

  • abnormal psychology
  • biopsychology
  • human sexuality
  • the psychology of law
  • social psychology

Psychology Major (Research Track)         Psychology Major (Applied Track)    

Psychology Minor

NSFThe Scientific Core

Students pursuing a degree in psychology (research track only) also complete a series of classes endorsed by the National Science Foundation and referred to as the Scientific Core. In these courses students will:

  • use science as a problem-solving and critical thinking tool
  • work in a team-based research project under the supervision of a faculty mentor
  • present research findings at regional or national conference

Real World Experience

All students are required to do one professional internship, but many of our students elect to complete two. Student completing the psychology major (applied track) are required to participate in two internship experiences. Most recently, our students have interned at:

  • Burrell Behavioral Health
  • C.A.R.E. Animal Rescue
  • Cox Health Psychiatric Unit
  • Family Violence Center
  • Federal Public Defender’s Office
  • Juvenile Justice Center
  • Mercy Marian Center
  • Missouri Board of Probation and Parole
  • Planned Parenthood
  • U.S. Marshals Service

Where students have most recently interned

Our Students & Alumni

  • Zora Mulligan '98

    Psychology and political science alumna Zora Mulligan was appointed Missouri Commissioner of Higher Education. Mulligan, chief of staff for the University of Missouri system, has also been an assistant commissioner for the department, as well as general counsel and legislative liaison.

  • Brittany Allen '02

    Psychology alumna Brittany Allen '02 is Chief of Neuropsychology at CoxHealth and is one of only three board-certified clinical psychologists practicing in the Springfield Area.

  • Daniel Hopfinger ‘16

    Daniel Hopfinger (‘16) is attending George Washington University to pursue a master’s degree in forensic psychology. He plans to intern at the National Center for Analysis of Violent Crime. During his undergraduate years at Drury, Daniel was a double major in psychology and criminology. He completed an internship at the Stone County Adult Drug Court.

  • Melanie Messick & Paige Nichols

    As a result of their oral presentation on the Joplin Impact Project, which was a study designed to examine the effect of the catastrophic tornado on residents’ psychological, social and physical well-being, Melanie Messick and Paige Nichols earned first place at the Missouri Academy of Sciences conference in 2013.

  • Rachel Ryan ’16, Alexa Robinson ’16 and Charles Woods ’16

    Psychology majors, Charles Woods (’16), Rachel Ryan (’16), and Alexa Robinson (’16) had their manuscript, “Sex and God #Blessed,” published in the latest issue of Modern Psychological Studies as the lead article. Dr. Jennifer Silva Brown served as faculty mentor and co-author.

  • Katelynn Slade '16

    Katelynn Slade ’16 is attending King’s College in London, England to pursue a master’s degree in War and Psychiatry. She is studying the psychological effects of combat and violence in military families.

  • Andrea Bazzoli

    Current student Andrea Bazzoli is majoring in psychology and sociology. He came to Drury after spending two years at University of Verona and is involved in research on how employees appraise job insecurity. In summer of 2016, he returned briefly to the University of Verona as a visiting scholar to conduct research on environmental psychology and psychometrics. Bazzoli plans to become a Drury graduate in 2018.

  • Becca Steins

    Becca Steins is double majoring in psychology, exercise-sport science and minoring in behavioral neuroscience. She has completed two clinical neuropsychology summer internships and works part-time as a clinical research technician at a pharmaceutical testing company. Becca plans to pursue graduate study in sport psychology with an emphasis in neuroscience. She intends to graduate in 2017.

  • Shelby Hatz '15

    Shelby Hatz '15 majored in psychology and minored in behavioral neuroscience. Shelby is currently attending Washington University in St. Louis-School of Medicine Program in Occupational Therapy, where she is earning her master’s degree.

Study Abroad

Drury has many outstanding study abroad opportunities. In recent years, BHSC professors have taken students to England to study “Methods, Madness, and Murder” as well as to South Africa to study global health issues, the biological bases of clinical disorders, and infectious diseases. 

View Current Study Abroad Opportunities

What happens after graduation?

Upon graduation, nearly 100% of our students who apply are accepted to attend graduate, law, or medical school Recently, our students have chosen to study at such places as:

Schools where students have recently chosen to study

  • American University
  • George Washington University
  • King’s College in London
  • Purdue University
  • Sam Houston State
  • Suffolk University
  • University of California-Davis
  • University of Missouri-St. Louis School of Medicine
  • Washington University