Wheaton College continues to build upon their significant accomplishments, and now with the addition of the new School of Psychology, Counseling and Family Therapy, the college offers new study programs for both undergraduates and graduates.
The Dean of the new school, Terri Watson, remarks that, “We are vertically integrated in that faculty teach across programs in their areas of expertise, and we also offer an active collaborative research lab program where students across programs work with faculty on original research projects.”
After being asked about the reason for the change, Provost Margaret Diddams wrote to the Record, “the new schools do allow for the opportunity for more empowered leadership and the opportunity to pursue shared goals across departments within each school.”
Watson offers reasoning for this addition, saying “the designation of ‘School of Psychology, Counseling and Family Therapy’ (PCFT) more accurately reflects our identity, in that we have three nationally accredited graduate programs (Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology, MA in Marriage and Family Therapy and MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling), plus a thriving undergraduate program.” The school has a history of collaboration between its programs, including sharing of faculty and research opportunities, and Watson says this will not change. Since the transition, the school is taking this year to develop mission and vision statements as they reflect further on what they want the School of PCFT to look like.
New developments within the school include the faculty addition of Dr. Christin Fort, who is now teaching the Senior Capstone course for undergraduate psychology majors (previously taught by faculty emerita Dr. Cynthia Neal Kimball). The school is also in its third year of collaboration with the biology and applied health science departments to offer an undergraduate neuroscience certificate.
This year, graduate programs welcome International Forgiveness Expert Dr. Everett Worthington as a visiting distinguished professor. Worthington will be teaching, consulting on research and speaking at the school’s department chapel on Nov. 28.
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