Maryville College

About Behavioral Sciences:

Psychology, Child Development, ASL & Deaf Studies, and Sign Language Interpreting comprise the Behavioral Sciences at Maryville College.  All require a working knowledge of human behavior and the application of that study to a variety of situations or special populations, whether working in the classroom as an elementary school teacher, contributing to mental health or community organizations, or interpreting for the Deaf. 

The Division emphasizes a ‘hands-on’ approach to learning, so most classes incorporate opportunities to be actively engaged with the subject matter.  Psychology students will do laboratory and field experiments, Child Development students will observe and interact with children, and ASL and Interpreting students will interact with members of the Deaf community. 

Class Favorites

Social Psychology (PSY/SOC 221) –One of the most popular psychology electives taught by Dr. Crystal Colter. "Because social psychology includes topics such as persuasion, romantic attraction, prejudice, and conformity," says Colter, "part of the joy of learning for students in this course is that they can take what they learn and apply it directly to their own lives."

Comparative Interpreting (SLI 321) - Students and the teacher enjoy the diverse settings practice and information in this course. Students experience everything from interpreting on stage with whole body movement, to practicing interpreting in the College health clinic, to the local General Sessions Court during actual court proceedings, such as traffic court, divorces, and criminal and civil cases.  Beth Willhoit ‘04 said, “Interpreting in court is hard, but it is cool!”

Child Development (Psy 211) – As one of the foundation courses of the Child Development & Learning major and a popular psychology elective, students create and engage in children's programs designed to apply classroom learning and enhance the emotional lives of children. “Understanding development comes through playing, talking, and listening to children. Students rarely forget the theories they have seen in action,” according to Dr. Ariane Schratter.

Quick Fact:

In the past 17 years, all Maryville College interpreting majors who have pursued interpreting jobs have obtained them.

Behavioral Sciences Divisioin at MC

News

  • Dr. Andrew Irvine co-edited the recent publication Postcolonial Philosophy of Religion with Purushottama Bilimoria and contributed the essay "Cultural Participation and Postcoloniality: A U.S. Case Study" to the book.
  • Dr. Peggy Cowan recently completed a sabbatical, resulting in the publication of the article “Teaching an Introductory Hebrew Bible Course Without a Textbook” in Teaching Theology and Religion and acceptance of a paper for presentation at the annual meeting of the Society of Biblical Literature in November 2009.

  • Dr. Doug Sofer presented "Ethno-Symbolism and the Search for an Inclusive Nationalism in Colombia, 1946-1958" at the Congreso de Colombianistas (Conference of Colombianists) in Charlottesville, Virginia.

    In the summer of 2009, Dr. Doug Sofer presented "From Anti-American Fascists to Pro-American Anti-Communists: The Transformation of the Religious Right in Colombia, 1930s-1950s." at the Latin American Studies Association's annual meeting, held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

    According to Dr. Sofer, “In both cases, it was great to touch base with a large international group of scholars who work in the same area as I do.”

  • Dr. Aaron Astor is developing a digital history website that examines the Civil War and Reconstruction experience in East Tennessee. This state-of-the-art, GIS-based project will involve both MC students and members of the community.