Our goal is to provide a balanced education in the study of human thought, emotion, and behavior while emphasizing applications of psychology to our students and society.

Department of Psychology

As a psychology student at Otterbein, you will be treated as an individual. You will have numerous opportunities for personal and professional development, working side-by-side with your professors. This is an excellent program for students who want to be involved and engaged in the classroom and beyond.

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Psychology

B.A.

Bachelor of Arts in Psychology

The B. A. in Psychology is a broad-based curriculum designed to develop your knowledge base in psychology, enhance your scientific reasoning skills, build your sense of ethically and socially responsible behavior, and strengthen your communication skills to help you gain the academic and practical preparation for a fulfilling career or graduate study.

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Bs In Psychology

B.S.

Bachelor of Science in Psychology

The B.S. in Psychology enhances the B.A. degree by incorporating additional seminar, capstone, and research courses to better prepare you for graduate coursework in Master’s and Doctoral level Psychology programs.

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Student, Faculty, & Alumni Spotlights

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

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It is important to maximize your opportunities to make connections and get engaged. Otterbein provides a good environment for that.

Logan Nelson ’23

Psychology
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Logan Nelson
Michele Acker
Otterbein students are almost twice as likely to be admitted to graduate school compared to the national average​.

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Otterbein Psychology graduates go on to successful careers in fields like Counseling, Education, Forensic Psychology, Business, and Sport Psychology.​

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Frandie Francique And Angel Banks

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

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At Otterbein, I was deeply engaged with research across several labs, which ultimately confirmed my passion for research. I worked closely with amazing faculty who pushed and encouraged me. In fact, I even co-authored two research publications!

Amanda Dakermanji ’14

Psychology Major
User Experience Analyst at Epic Games

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

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Due to smaller class sizes (at Otterbein), there was more individualized attention and it allowed for a richer discussion and more thorough understanding of class material. I benefited from this more personalized experience.

Drew Markley ’14

Psychology Major
Addiction Specialist on Medication Assisted Treatment team at MetroHealth

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

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Even though none of the faculty had a particular expertise in sport psychology, the flexibility and encouragement of the faculty to create interdisciplinary opportunities is the foundation for how I view the field of psychology … I was able to collaborate with other departments to create a unique experience that matched with my own career goals.

Liz Sanborn ’11

Psychology Major
Psy.D. in Combined-Integrated Clinical and School Psychology at James Madison University​

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

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The research experience I received at Otterbein University was simply amazing. … I took a research practicum class, participated in the Honors Program (in which one must conduct an experiment and write a thesis with the help of an advisor), and had a funded research assistantship, which is almost unheard of for undergraduate students.

Michelle Wang ’15

Psychology Major
Research Assistant at Applied Decision Science​

If you’re interested in… …try a class in:​​
How the mind works > Cognitive Psychology
How to promote mental health > Psychotherapy
How people relate to each other > Social Psychology
How infants and children develop > Child and Adolescent Development
How to conduct psychological tests > Psychological Assessment

FACULTY SPOTLIGHT

Dr. Acker is a social psychologist whose research interests include attitudes, stereotyping, and interpersonal relationships. She also does work in the area of conservation and environmental psychology. Dr. Acker teaches courses in general psychology, social psychology, industrial and organizational (I/O) psychology, psychology of women, research methods, and conservation psychology.

Dr. Michele Acker

Professor of Psychology

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FACULTY SPOTLIGHT

Dr. Frey is an experimental psychologist with research interests in human intelligence. Two basic questions guide her work: (1) (1) Why are some people more intelligent than others? (2) How can we fairly measure intelligence, without also measuring learned information? She received U. S. Army Research Institute grants for her work developing alternative assessments of intelligence and, with Dr. Laurie-Rose, maintains an active laboratory on the assessment of basic cognitive abilities.

Dr. Meredith Frey

Professor of Psychology

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FACULTY SPOTLIGHT

Dr. Hatter-Fisher is a licensed practicing counseling psychologist. Her interest areas include human stress, issues confronting people of color as they correlate to internalized racialism, the impact of psychosocial and personality factors on health, and biofeedback. She teaches psychology courses in general psychology, personality, diversity, abnormal, and stress and health.

Dr. Denise Hatter-Fisher

Professor of Psychology

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FACULTY SPOTLIGHT

Dr. Laurie-Rose is an experimental psychologist with research interests in the influence of cognitive factors in perception and attention. She maintains an active research laboratory including studies in developmental psychology, neuropsychology, school psychology, and human factors. She teaches courses in general psychology, research methods, physiological psychology, perception, and history & systems.

Dr. Cynthia Laurie-Rose

Professor of Psychology

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FACULTY SPOTLIGHT

Dr. Meyer is a developmental psychologist, with a focus on cognitive development in the early childhood years. She researches the ways typically-developing children categorize the social- and non-social world, and how these categorizations influence other cognitive processes. Dr. Meyer teaches classes in Child and Adolescent Development, Lifespan Development, and Research Methods.

Dr. Meredith Meyer

Associate Professor of Psychology

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FACULTY SPOTLIGHT

Dr. Shpancer is a licensed practicing clinical psychologist specializing in anxiety disorders. His research interests are the various dimensions of the home-daycare relationship. He is an award-winning novelist (The Good Psychologist) and screenwriter (The Other Story) and an official blogger for Psychology Today [insert link to Insight Therapy]. He teaches child and adolescent development, lifespan development, personality, abnormal, human sexuality, and psychotherapy.

Dr. Noam Shpancer

Professor of Psychology

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Department Features & Student Opportunities

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Careers & Graduate Studies

Our graduates have had excellent success finding appropriate positions immediately following graduation.

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Student Involvement & Awards

We view our students as part of a scholarly community.

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Psychology Facilities

Our facilities are designed to drive your personal and professional development and to help you work side-by-side with your professors.

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Universityteachingawardwinners2023

Otterbein Full- and Part-Time Faculty Members Honored for Teaching Excellence


News - November 22, 2023
Each year, Otterbein honors outstanding teachers for their impact on their students, colleagues, and the University. This year’s awards ceremony was held Nov. 17, 2023. Congratulations to these dynamic and dedicated full- and part-time faculty who contribute so much to the Otterbein community both in and outside the classroom: Amy Karns, Psychology, Excellence in Part-Time Teaching Bennett Grooms, Biology, New Teacher of the Year David Sheridan, Biology, Teacher of the Year Cindy Laurie-Rose, Department of Psychology, was given the Exemplary…

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Photograph of Towers Hall at Otterbein University.

National Media Recognize Otterbein University for Programs and Values


News - September 18, 2023
Otterbein University has been collecting honors this fall, as it is recognized in national publications for its programs and values, including U.S. News & World Report, Colleges of Distinction, and Washington Monthly. US News & World Report Otterbein University has been recognized by U.S. News & World Report for its academic excellence, commitment to undergraduate teaching, and focus on affordability, student success outcomes, and experiential learning. In the 2024 Best Colleges rankings by U.S. News & World Report, Otterbein has…

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Fast Track Innovation Fund Lets Community Shape Otterbein’s Growth


News - July 31, 2023
Otterbein University is using an innovative approach to grow enrollment and revenue by “crowd sourcing” ideas from its own community and investing in the best ideas with $1 million approved by the Board of Trustees. Under the Fast Track Innovation Fund initiative, seven projects proposed by Otterbein faculty and staff in May have been funded and are already being implemented on campus. “This investment in Otterbein’s future demonstrates our trustees’ commitment to allowing every member of our community to be heard…

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Programs of Study in Psychology

Psychology Major Outside

B.A./B.S.

Psychology

Psychology Minor

Minor

Psychology Minor

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Contact Us

30 South Grove St
Westerville, OH 43081

Administrative Assistant

Kelly Miller
614-823-1615
kmiller@otterbein.edu

Faculty members in Otterbein University’s Psychology Department are fully committed to teaching excellence and providing a personal education experience both in and out of the classroom. High on their list of priorities is the deep desire and feeling of responsibility for maintaining a close connection with students.

External program reviewer Brian Cusato, Ph.D., Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs, and Special Assistant to the President Professor of Psychology and Behavioral Neuroscience, Centre College, Danville, KY