About the Department

Welcome to the Department of Psychology at Western Kentucky University. Psychology has a long and rich tradition at Western with the first psychology classes, taught by Andrew J. Kinnaman, beginning in 1907. Kinnaman received his Ph.D. in experimental psychology in 1902 from Clark University, one of the premier psychology doctoral programs at that time. Kinnaman also served as Dean of the College, a position comparable to academic vice-president today.

Western’s Department of Psychology was organized in 1931 by Dr. Marion L Billings who received his Ph.D. in experimental psychology from the University of Michigan. Billings served as department head from 1931 to 1950. To learn more about the history of psychology at Western, see the departmental history.

Today, psychology is among the largest undergraduate majors at Western, with approximately 500 students, and the largest full-time graduate program. Undergraduate students can select either the traditional 36-hour major with a minor area of study or the extended 51-hour major which does not require a minor. The Department also offers an undergraduate minor in psychology. Graduate students can select from M.A. options in clinical psychology, experimental psychology, or industrial and organizational psychology, or an Ed.S. program in school psychology. The Department has 33 full-time and 20 regular part-time and adjunct faculty. The faculty is committed to providing students with a strong education in the theoretical, scientific, and applied study of psychology, to advancing psychology and psychological knowledge through basic and applied research, and to improving the lives of others through the practice of psychology. Please contact us to learn more about the Department of Psychology at Western Kentucky University.