Welcome
Welcome to the Appalachian State University Dr. Wiley F. Smith Department of Psychology. The University is a member institution of the seventeen-campus University of North Carolina. Boone is located in the beautiful western mountains of North Carolina. With mild summers and winter skiing, the area is quite attractive to visitors with interest in outdoor activities.
The university enrolls more than 21,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and 80 graduate majors at its Boone and Hickory campuses and through App State Online. Appalachian State University has been ranked by US News and World Report as one of the top 15 universities among southern public and private institutions since 1986. Most recently, it was ranked #3 out of 136 Regional Universities in the South and #2 out of 58 Public Regional Universities in the South.
The Department has 33 full-time doctoral-level faculty members, approximately 1400 undergraduate majors, 500 undergraduate minors, and 80 full-time graduate students in the the clinical psychology (Psy.D.) doctoral program and three master's degree programs including Psychology (with a clinical psychology concentration or psychological science concentration), Industrial Organizational/Human Resource Management, and School Psychology (which also provides a specialist degree in addition to the MA). The Department provides a clinic for training, research, and service to the community. The faculty are dedicated to the mentoring of students and to offering opportunities for experiential learning.
Department of Psychology Mission Statement
The mission of the Dr. Wiley F. Smith Department of Psychology is to engage in teaching, scholarship, and service, in order to promote and advance understanding of the science of psychology, its application, and its utility to our students, fellow scholars, the University, and the public.
Department of Psychology Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Statement
The faculty and staff of the Department of Psychology reject injustice and inequity, and we are committed to creating and nurturing an inclusive community that welcomes, respects, and supports everyone, including those from underrepresented and marginalized groups. Diversity, equity, and inclusion are integral to building and maintaining an environment that fosters academic excellence, professional development, and personal growth. We recognize the inherent value and dignity of each person, and we value the diversity of human behavior and experience and how individual and group differences shape attitudes, perceptions, and behaviors.
Our commitment to inclusion and equity enhances the missions of the Department of Psychology and the University by fostering engaging and enlightened teaching, encouraging rigorous and impactful research and service, and promoting collegial and equitable relationships. To these ends, we commit to:
- Cultivating an inclusive departmental community that values diverse perspectives and nurtures people with varied identities and experiences
- Recruiting and retaining faculty and staff with a range of identities and experiences, particularly those from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups
- Recruiting and retaining, supporting and advocating for students with a range of identities and experiences, particularly those from underrepresented and marginalized groups
- Promoting teaching, research, scholarship, and practice that recognize and highlight the centrality of diversity in our understanding of human behavior
- Using psychological research to proactively address issues related to diversity, inclusion, and equity, through partnerships across our campus and the broader community
- Creating and enacting Departmental policies, structures, and practices to ensure representation, inclusion, and equity
News
Psychology Graduate Students Participate in the Three Minute Thesis Competition
Jan 29, 2025
Following a delay caused by Hurricane Helene, Appalachian State University’s Cratis D. Williams School of Graduate Studies held the 13th annual Thre...
CAS students participate in 13th annual Three Minute Thesis competition
Jan 27, 2025
BOONE, N.C. — Following a delay caused by Hurricane Helene, Appalachian State University’s Cratis D. Williams School of Graduate Studies ...
2025 Best Cities for Jobs [faculty featured]
Jan 27, 2025
Dr. Yalçın Açıkgöz, associate professor in the Department of Psychology at Appalachian State University, is interviewed about the job-hunting pro...
Dr. Will Canu featured on Appalachian Excellence podcast
Jan 13, 2025
On this episode, we explore the research and initiatives of Dr. Will Canu, a clinical psychologist and professor at Appalachian State University, focu...
SAFE Student Spotlight: Oliver Sullivan
Dec 17, 2024
Oliver Sullivan, a graduate student in the Master of Arts in Industrial-Organizational Psychology and Human Resource Management (IOHRM) program, recei...