Learning Never Stops

"It's nice knowing that you may impact someone's life with what you are teaching them and help them better understand an important concept," declared Dr. Covill on why she is a Psychology Professor. Psychology as a whole is an eye opening opportunity and major, while using it in the classroom both the students and the professors can learn from each other. In addition, the knowledge acquired through these classes can help you through many different or difficult times in your life. 

Walking into a psychology lecture you will rarely find yourself in a massive lecture hall filled with row after row of chairs with tiny desks to write on. Instead a room for at most 40 students who happen to either be neurotic psych majors who write every word down, nursing majors or criminal of justice majors. However, this all depends on the lecture you are attending at the time. But for the most part you will be faced with four off white cinder block walls with old fashioned black chalk boards that you can never seem to erase all the chalk off of. In addition a screen that is tightly coiled that can be released upon a push of a button or a gentle yank of a string, which can be used to project lecture slides from the black desktop computer or the Professors shiny silver Mac book.   

In general you will find that the majority of professors with say that they prefer small class sizes, because that allows for a discussion operated class. Specifically, Dr. Covill's reasoned that, "I feel as though students learn better that way". Although at Bloomsburg, with their larger class sizes, there are not to many options too have that kind of opportunity. 

Psychology is a broad topic that has its fingers dipped in many different fields that continue to be picked apart until you are left with a specific and narrow topic choice that focuses on the study of mind, brain and/or behavior. While discussing psychology and educating others with a tall slender women who encases herself upon a black wheeled office chair looking as studious as ever. Draping her long arms on her legs ending with the joining of her laced hands positioned by her knees with her above the shoulder dirty blonde hair and compassionate eyes accounting for everything around her. Dr. Covill, the professor detailed above, has her masters in Human Learning and a PhD in Human Development and Cognition. She explained this choice by stating, "I want to determine how we can help to fix a problem, whether it be within a teachers approach or for someone to better understand the concept". And because of this she described herself as an applied person who does not care too much for theories. 

Whereas another Psychology Professor at Bloomsburg University, Dr. Cochran, a middle aged women with years of experience written in her facial features and a short body stature accompanied by her short brown hairstyle and glasses, not only around her neck but also resting on top of her head. Dr. Cochran has her focus in another area all together; Social Psychology with a specialty in social cognition. This particular professor has a minor within Anthropology. Anthropology as a whole is so closely related to the field of Psychology. Although she specifically preferred Cultural Anthropology because she was fascinated with how people act so closely related in different cultures.    

Even with the multitude of different fields you can enter into with a Psychology degree, it may also be beneficial to consider a minor. Dr. Covill has given criteria as to why she thought of each, "if going into social services Spanish may be a good idea, neurological then possibly biology and lastly just a philosophy minor". Whereas Dr. Cochran explained her choices would be, "anthropology and biology because they are so closely related to psychology and a language which would be helpful if you went into counseling". Although these are there suggestions, what you want as the end goal is key in determining your minor.

Dr. Covill and Dr. Cochran, the two Professors I interviewed both had different majors before they finally ended up becoming Psychology Professors. Dr. Cochran began her studies as a nursing major until she declared herself a Psychology major. In addition Dr. Covill was a Math and Econ Major before she went back to school to obtain her Psychology degree in her late twenties. "My General Psych professor my freshman year turned me off of psych," she admitted. Also, "letting go of my parents expectations of what I should do and choosing something that excites me," she confessed was why she finally went back to school for Psychology.

In addition to not always starting their education off as Psychology majors that also correlates to their job locations. Professors rarely stay at one college throughout their teaching careers. As well as Bloomsburg University she has also taught at the University of Washington in Seattle and Seattle University. While discussing and looking back at her past experience at these universities, she admitted that Bloomsburg University is her favorite atmosphere that her job has given her the opportunity to be in. "Bloom students appreciate professors better," she noted and, "we as Professors and advisers have more of a significance in helping the students figure things out and a greater ability to guide them".

For many Professors, but in this case Psychology Professors scarcely begin their careers with being a Professor. Dr. Covill began her psychology career off with being a research assistant and later down the road nearly took a position to be a researcher. She confessed however that she always wanted to be a teacher and even though she enjoyed research, it did not compare to her aspirations to become a teacher. Firmly stating, "I ended up as a college teacher because most high schools want teachers who are prepared to teach math, science, language arts, or social studies. Not much demand for high school Psych teachers". While also describing how she would not like the classroom management/behavior issues that you have to deal with. Especially having to deal with the 15-18 year-olds who are in school who aren't necessarily there by choice. 

"College is a rare and amazing opportunity that many people do not have the option of doing, therefore try to get everything out of it and take full advantage of all your opportunities," advised Dr. Covill. Although it is never truly on the forefront of anyone's mind when considering a career, Professors have a pretty decent job and an optimistic outlook on life. Also education can help you as a whole person and with this profession you are never truly done learning or going to school.