Teachers have to know not only the many subjects that they teach–history, science, mathematics, literature, art–but they also need to know how students learn and what social and psychological factors contribute to their learning.

 

In 1934 Harry Percival first offered General Education Psychology at Fitchburg Normal School. It was the first time any psychology course was offered at the Fitchburg Normal School and planted the seed of what would later become the Psychological Sciences departments on Fitchburg State University’s campus.

 

Between the 1930s and 1950s the psychology department was closely associated with and even housed under the education department. As Percival’s area of research was in child and adolescent psychology, the fit seemed natural. This connection between psychology and education likely stemmed from the John Thompson days of teaching “Child Study” as a pedagogical research methodology in the late 1890s and early 1900s. Now debunked as unethical, child studies of this era often read like child stalking.

 

In 1953 Percival moved away from his position as professor to become Director of Graduate Work and the psychology became a stand alone department under the guidance of Max M. Kostik and Josephine A Bolger.

 

Over the next 15 years, the psychology department came in and out of being a part of the Education Department. Departments were rather fluid and worked largely to service the teacher education programs on campus. However, as the population of students grew and with the general education program President Sanders introduced, course lists grew and discipline-specific departments and majors flourished. 

 

The Psychological Science Department now offers 3 separate major concentrations: General Psychology, Cognitive Science, and Applied Psychology, as well as two minors: Psychological Science and Neuroscience, Behaviour, and Cognition. The department employs 12 professors and has 5 student run clubs.

 

Psychology, like many other fields on campus, grew away from strictly serving the needs of student-teachers and towards creating all sorts of professionals who would benefit the Commonwealth.