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Top tips for (potential) psychology students: getting the most out of your degree

No one-way: Photo by Brendan Church via Unsplash

By Jasmin H. Stevenson, PhD Student at Nottingham Trent University

Back in January, Jasmin – as a former NTU undergraduate – came to speak to final-year students on our Work-Based Psychology Practice module. Jasmin shared her experience and lessons learned in getting the most from her degree as well as advice for those crucial next steps. The session was incredibly well-received by students and Jasmin kindly agreed to share some of the key points with us, with some excellent advice whatever stage you might be at on your student journey. NTU Psychology team

Pursuing a career as a psychologist is about more than reading for a degree (or three). Find out some top tips for immersing yourself within the discipline, from accreditation, member networks and beyond, to get the most out of your journey, whether you are aiming for chartership or not.  Sometimes it can feel hard to see the wood for the trees. So, let’s start from the beginning…

Click on the headings below, for more details…

So, which path you choose depends on where you are in your academic life. Is this your first degree? Or are you a graduate?

In the UK, if this is going to be your first degree you are best to choose a psychology course that is accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS) , to give yourself maximum options from the outset. You can find out which courses are accredited via the BPS website  or look out for confirmation on university course pages.

Accreditation by the BPS is essentially about ensuring a high benchmark of provided psychology courses. It ensures that the courses meet requirements that support student achievement and learning outcomes (e.g. covering core modules), which offers a level of continuity across courses. It also signals to employers and further training providers that the course and the learning represents value and quality.

Completing an accredited programme enables you to apply for BPS Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC), which is an entry requirement for many Society accredited postgraduate training courses. It is a requirement for entry to all accredited Stage 2 and Doctoral programmes as part of the route to becoming a chartered psychologist. This is granted after successfully applying for graduate membership through the BPS website.

If you didn’t study an accredited programme, or your undergraduate degree was in a different subject area, do not fear! You can still become eligible for Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) by undertaking a relevant conversion course, such as a BPS-accredited MSc in Psychology .

Undergraduate degrees in Psychology usually last around 3 – 4 years (depending on whether the master’s is incorporated into the degree or not). A master’s course usually lasts around 1 year full time, or 2 years’ part time.

As an undergraduate you can apply to become a student member of the BPS (some universities will pay for your membership for the duration of your course, and most should provide you with the form to apply).

Becoming a member of the Society means you have access to the majority of the BPS website and you will receive the Society’s Psychologist magazine as well as the student magazine, PsychTalk (for free!). It will also get you discount on some textbooks, journals and events as well as some other bits and bobs. Additionally, becoming a graduate member allows you to get the GBC (mentioned above) which is essential when applying for assistant psychologist jobs for example.

Also – and what I consider to be one of the best parts of membership – is that you can join member networks for divisions and sections you are interested in (e.g. Forensic, Sexualities, Psychology of Women – there’s loads!). You do have to pay for membership to these, anywhere from £5 to around £20 annually, but it means you can get more specialised updates, research and event alerts. I would say the member networks are a great extra to join as an undergraduate, and a necessity when you are a graduate. As by that point you may have more of an idea of your area of focus and I feel it allows you to be more engaged with developments within fields of interest. If you’re not ready to commit to membership for those, it’s worth following them on social media such as Twitter, to get a feel for them anyway.

Yes, it’s expensive and yes it’s 3 (or four) years of your life submerged in statistics, biopsychology and interview techniques, but the truth of the matter is that nowadays it’s not going to be enough to stay afloat of the thousands of psychology graduates each year with an undergraduate degree alone. You need to be able to show you are competent, forward thinking and committed when applying to competitive job vacancies or postgraduate courses.

Now, I’m not trying to scare or put you off – but surely, you’d rather jump in fully prepared, arm bands and all – than get to the end of your degree and think you could have utilised some of those years a bit more productively? Especially when finishing your hard-earned degree is met with “when are you going to get a real job…in the real world?” Sigh.

Essentially, earning your degree is a high achievement you should be proud of, but also be open to new experiences and opportunities which can give you that extra sparkle (and trust me, you will be grateful for the life-experiences they afford). A few of these are: –

• Attend conferences:  Yes, they can be a bit expensive, but student members of the BPS usually get a discount. Perhaps talk to someone in your psychology department and see if there are any bursaries available there to cover the cost – or if multiple tickets are purchased it might be cheaper. All in all, though they’re worth going to, even if it’s just one. For general psychology and with a diversity of topics I’d recommend the Annual BPS Student Conference. Usually the speakers are so good and renowned that all of those pesky qualified psychologists attend the student stream too!
• Present at conferences: I know what you’re thinking, let’s not run before we can walk, and I’d advise at least attending a conference before you apply to present – but it is actively encouraged at the BPS Student conference, where you can create your scientific poster and talk to interested parties (or anyone who will listen…) about your work. This could be a dissertation project, or research you’ve worked on with lecturers for example. You do of course need to apply and be accepted, rather than just turning up with a megaphone, but it’s a process you should become familiar with.
• Write for the BPS student magazine, PsychTalk: This is a great opportunity to reach other students and write about something you’re interested in. PsychTalk accompanies the Psychologist magazine, quarterly, and is delivered free to your home if you’re a member of the BPS. The team behind it are the BPS student committee whose editorial team are super friendly, and can give you pointers if need be on your work. I’d say if you’re feeling nervous about submitting, that’s more reason! Practice makes perfect an it’s a great addition to your CV. Find out more here: https://www.bps.org.uk/publications/psych-talk
• Engage with the BPS: Become a course representative, a BPS rep for your course (you may have an academic liaison within your department but if not tweet @BPSStudent and see how you can get involved), join committees at your uni or the BPS Student Committee, join the European Federation of Psychology Students’ Association and attend their events – think a week abroad attending psychology talks and meeting students from all over Europe!
• Engage with your university, e ngage with your department: At NTU there are often lots of opportunities advertised to psychology students. Whether this is a Scholarship Project for Undergraduate Researchers (SPUR), work-experience through a module or placement year, or volunteering to help on an open day – there is plenty you can get stuck into. Also consider wider opportunities, such as those within other departments (particularly if you’re doing a joint degree).  Not only will you gain valuable experience, but you’ll also meet other students (who may one day become good contacts for you) as well as cultivating professional relationships with staff – so you might end up hearing about other opportunities in the future.
• Gain experience…↓

I cannot stress this point enough and when I was a first-year undergraduate this was without a doubt the best advice I got. This could be in the form of:

• Volunteering
• Paid internships / work experience
• Shadowing (e.g. clinical staff; lecturers)

If you can, I’d set about getting experience straight from the get go. This might sound overkill when you’re still recovering from fresher’s week, but honestly, the sooner you start this process the better – rather than waiting until your last year of university only to realise you have zero experience in the field (but don’t despair if you do, you can still look for opportunities, and good experience is always useful).

As much as this is about CV building, please don’t let that be the main reason you pursue experience, not only is it a passion killer, but it detracts from the most important point; gaining experience is about you finding out what you don’t like as much as finding out what you do.

Whilst this may seem counter-intuitive, you are potentially going to be in this career forever, you want to know the areas you’re not fond of and those you get excited about (and both of those come from being immersed in experiences that you might not have even considered before). I’ve come across both students and lecturers who thought clinical psychology was the route for them, love’s young dream, only to work in a clinical setting and realise it’s not for them. And that’s ok (more about dealing with shattered dreams a bit further down).

One of the most comforting things I heard from a speaker at a conference undertaking her PhD, is that her journey to that point wasn’t a straight one ( and this is something strongly echoed in a recent article on the career paths of our own academics ). It’s ok to go off on tangents, but the most relevant part is that there are almost no tangents (bear with me). What I’ve noticed is that when applying for jobs (that I consider relevant to my career path anyway) you are largely dictated by what’s available at the time. Ok so you want to become an assistant psychologist (AP) or a research assistant (RA), but had you considered in which area specifically? Is it an AP with children or in a high secure unit, or is the RA post in dementia research or how individuals engage with social media? The point is, and what I find, is that I’m interested in loads of areas, and whilst there are a few that I can say to a good level of certainty that I may pursue, your dream area could be out there, yet to be recognised by you. So why not just take a chance and see where that year’s contract takes you. You could end up hating it (but like the point above, finding out what you don’t want to pursue is just as valuable); what’s more, you could end up loving it.

“Approach experiences in terms of the skills you can practice and the knowledge you can gain”

Either way, take the time to learn from the experiences you are having and reflect. Don’t think that every job you take, or every voluntary opportunity you pursue has to be 100% directly relevant. I mean if your time and resources are limited perhaps don’t go wildly off tangent, but what I mean is, often our perceptions of what careers are available is rather limited to roles we’ve actually heard of – which can limit your view of what will actually be useful to you in the future. For example, I was employed as a mentor for school children, and whilst I’d never considered becoming a teacher, it was good to be able to know for sure if that was or wasn’t a route I wanted to take. But what I did gain was session planning, building rapport with young people, enabling them to build confidence and gain skills, time management and delivering person-centred sessions (and of course supporting a young person at a crucial time of their life) – all of which come in really handy in other areas of life and when applying for other jobs. .

Basically, a side note for points 4 and 5, and in the spirit of dealing with broken dreams, it’s ok to consider the possibility that the end-point you had in your mind for so long, doesn’t work for you. For example, if you were set on pursuing clinical psychology, but realised you weren’t comfortable with certain environments, that’s ok, and there are other options. An area you previously hadn’t thought you would have liked may equally surprise you, so follow your gut. Don’t feel as if you’ve failed because you weren’t cut out for a certain area or client population, because others may feel the same about your niche, and again that’s ok.

Oh, and if after all that you don’t want to pursue with psychology, that’s ok too! And of course, being a chartered psychologist isn’t the be all and end all, there are l-o-a-d-s of jobs where you can work in the same environments in different roles, and you may find that the job responsibilities are better suited to you.

Ultimately working and studying in this discipline is a lifelong progression and acquirement of knowledge. Of course, we all want that stability of a long-term job in the end, in an area we love, so that’s why it’s important to see each opportunity for the skills and experiences it affords, which can then allow you to get to the next thing on your journey to that elusive dream job – far from contradicting my earlier point of not seeing career progression as a tick box – the message here is to enjoy what you are doing. Some roles will be challenging, and they often are in this discipline, but don’t be stuck in a position you hate just for the sake of it, because chances are if you feel that way being in a position of more responsibility in the same area might not be any better! Be honest with yourself and persevere for as long as you can, but be mindful of your own well-being and preferences too.

About Jasmin Stevenson : Jasmin is an NTU alumni, having completed both her undergraduate degree in Psychology with Sociology and MSc Forensic Psychology here. Jasmin is also a long-standing volunteer for The Safer Living Foundation (a joint charity between NTU and HMP Whatton) which focuses on the prevention of sexual offences. Since graduating, Jasmin has gone on to work as a Senior Research Officer for consultancy company, Associate Development Solutions, specialising in child and adolescent mental health, before embarking on a PhD at NTU in 2020. 

Photo by Clemens van Lay on Unsplash

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8 Psychology courses Nanyang Technological University (NTU)

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Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Psychology

Bachelors Degrees

Full Time - 4 years

Start date - Expected August 2024

Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Psychology

Bachelor of arts in psychology / linguistics and multilingual studies, bachelor of arts in psychology and media analytics, doctor of philosophy (phd) in psychology.

Doctoral Degrees

Full Time - Minimum 2 years and maximum 5 years

SG$19,250.00 (US$ 14,313) per year

Double Major (Honours) in Biological Sciences and Psychology

M.a. in psychology (by research).

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Master of Arts (Applied Psychology)

Full Time - Minimum 2 years; Maximum 3 years

Start date - Expected January 2025

PhD and Professional Doctorates

Make a difference with postgraduate research. Find out about our PhDs and Professional Doctorates and learn how to navigate your research journey.

At NTU, we provide a stimulating and supportive environment for you to thrive as a researcher. You can search our PhD projects, submit your own proposal, or undertake a Professional Doctorate in your field.

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Find your PhD

Search our current PhD projects by Academic School, and find out how to submit your own PhD research proposal. With a host of funded and self-funded opportunities — plus full-time, part-time, and at-distance delivery options — we accommodate innovative new researchers, busy and established professionals, and international students looking to complete a PhD in the UK.

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View our Professional Doctorates - research-based qualifications designed for working professionals.

Your postgraduate research journey

We’re here to help you navigate your research journey. Find out what a research degree is, how to find a supervisor, and how to construct a research proposal.

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At the start of your research journey? Explore what research is, how to become a researcher and how choose a research question.

How to write a research proposal

Your research proposal is the most important part of your doctoral application. Get our advice on how to write yours.

Find a PhD supervisor

Your supervisor will be a subject expert and able to provide support throughout your PhD. Look through our staff directory and find your new mentor.

How to apply for a postgraduate research course

Ready to begin? Follow our step-by-step application guide.

Funding your research

Wondering how you'll fund your PhD or Professional Doctorate? Find out about your finance options, including loans, studentships and the alumni discount for eligible NTU graduates.

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Find out how much a PhD or Professional Doctorate will cost and the funding options available, including PhD studentships, stipends, loans and doctoral awards.

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The AHRC-funded M4C scheme supports arts and humanities research students throughout their studies with funding, placements, training and more.

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We offer fully funded PhD opportunities across all our Academic Schools. Applications usually open in October.

Postgraduate study at NTU

NTU is one of the UK’s most ambitious universities, and we’re proud of our globally-renowned research and industry links. We offer a supportive learning environment and unrivalled student experience. Discover why you should study your research course with us.

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The NTU Doctoral School provides a multi-disciplinary home for all our researchers, here to support you throughout your entire doctoral degree. Explore our research community.

Thinking about postgraduate study?

Why should you study at postgraduate level? What are the benefits, and what are the key things to consider?

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Robert Emmons

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• Ph.D., Personality Psychology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
• M.A., Personality Psychology, Minor: Clinical Psychology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
• B.A., Psychology, University of Maine

Robert A. Emmons, Ph.D. is Professor of Psychology at the University of California, Davis where he has taught since 1988. He received his Ph.D. degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana‚ÄëChampaign. He is the author of over 200 original publications in peer‚Äëreviewed journals or chapters and has written or edited eight books, including The Psychology of Ultimate Concerns (Guilford Press), The Psychology of Gratitude (Oxford University Press), Thanks! How Practicing Gratitude Can Make You Happier (Houghton-Mifflin), Gratitude Works! A Twenty-One Day Program for Creating Emotional Prosperity (Jossey-Bass) and The Little Book of Gratitude (Hachette). A leader in the positive psychology movement, Dr. Emmons is founding editor and editor-in-chief of The Journal of Positive Psychology. His research focuses on the psychology of gratitude and joy as they relate to human flourishing. Professor Emmons speaks regularly at medical and psychological conferences and at public events. Dr. Emmons has received research funding from the National Institute of Mental Health, the John M. Templeton Foundation, and the National Institute for Disability Research and Rehabilitation. His research has been featured in dozens of popular media outlets including the New York Times, USA Today, U.S. News and World Report, Newsweek, Time, NPR, PBS, Consumer Reports, Wall Street Journal, Forbes, and the Today Show. He lives with his wife of 24 years, Yvonne and their two sons and two dogs in Davis, California.

Research Focus

Professor Emmons' research is at the interface of positive psychology and the psychology of religion. His research focuses on the psychology of gratitude, joy and grace and how they are related to human flourishing.

He is co-project director with Dr. Peter Hill on a $4.1M initiative entitled Gratitude to God: Psychological, Philosophical, and Theological Perspectives. It includes a requests for proposals (RFP) . Learn more here: https://tinyurl.com/Gratitude-to-God

Publications

• Emmons, R.A. (2016). The Little Book of Gratitude: Create a Life of Happiness and Well-Being By Giving Thanks . London: Gaia.
• Emmons, R. A. (2013). Gratitude Works! A Twenty-One Day Program for Creating Emotional Prosperity. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
• Emmons, R. A. (2007). THANKS! How Practicing Gratitude Can Make You Happier . Boston, MA: Houghton-Mifflin.
• Emmons, R. A.,& McCullough, M. E. (Eds.) (2004). The Psychology of Gratitude. New York: Oxford University Press.
• Emmons, R. A., & Hill, J. (2001). Words of Gratitude . Radnor, PA: Templeton Foundation Press.
• Emmons, R. A. (1999). The Psychology of Ultimate Concerns . New York: The Guilford Press.
• Emmons, R.A. (2016). The Little Book of Gratitude . London: Gaia.

Professor Emmons teaches in the areas of social-personality, personality and religion, health psychology, and gratitude and well-being. Most recently he has taught courses in Psychology of Religion and Health Psychology.

Professor Emmons has won several awards and grants during his career. In 2010 he received the William James Award, APA Division 36, and in 2008 he received the Henry A. Murray Award, APA Division 8. He has also been awarded numerous grants from the John Templeton Foundation, The Institute for Research on Unlimited Love, National Institute for Disability Research and Rehabilitation and National Institute of Mental Health, among others. He is co project director with Pete Hill on a $4.1M initiative entitled Gratitude to God: Psychological, Philosophical, and Theological Perspectives: https://tinyurl.com/Gratitude-to-God

Psychology, MS (Sport Psychology Concentration)

Is this program right for me.

Master of Science in Psychology with a concentration in Sport Psychology is designed for students interested in the psychological aspects of sports and exercise. This program is ideal for students aiming to work with athletes to enhance performance, improve mental health, and promote overall well-being through psychological principles. The program integrates interdisciplinary coursework in psychology, health, and communication, offering flexibility through electives tailored to students' professional interests. Emphasizing theoretical and practical applications, the curriculum includes topics like sport fandom, performance consulting, and the media's role in sports. If you have a passion for sports, a strong foundation in psychology, and an interest in the mental aspects of athletic performance,  you will find this program aligns well with your career aspirations and academic goals. 

This program is not designed to prepare students for clinical practice. Opportunities to prepare for licensure exams are not available through this degree program.   

Campus Immersion Program at a Glance

Location:   West Valley Campus Credit Hours:  30 Flexible Schedule:  day and evening classes Time to Completion:  18 months - 24 months Admit Term:  Fall Application Deadlines  

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Pursuing a graduate degree represents a pivotal juncture in your academic and professional path. We are committed to ensuring that you are well-informed and well-prepared for this significant journey. To facilitate your exploration and understanding of the program, we encourage you to delve into our advising website. Here, you can access vital information regarding program prerequisites, course offerings, and the expertise of our esteemed faculty.

We particularly recommend a thorough review of the curriculum check sheet and the program handbook. These documents offer an insightful glimpse into what you can expect during your academic journey, helping you gain a comprehensive understanding of the program's requirements and guidelines. Your time spent exploring these resources will be invaluable as you embark on this next chapter of your education.

Program Details

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Application Deadlines

Application Components

Completed applications must be electronically submitted to ASU and include the following:

Letter of Recommendation

Letters of recommendation help support your graduate school application by providing a third-party view of your ability to perform well in graduate school. It is preferred that the letters of recommendation are from faculty members who know the applicant's work well; if these are not available, then recommendations should be from individuals in supervisory or professional roles. Two letters of recommendation are required. However, three letters of recommendation are strongly recommended.

Statement of Purpose

This is your opportunity to introduce yourself, share your goals and explain why you decided to pursue this particular program. Please provide a statement no longer than three pages double-spaced describing your research experience and interest overlap with the identified ASU program faculty.

Required Courses

Applicants must provide evidence of successful completion of an undergraduate, or graduate, social science statistics and research methods course. Typically, these pre-requisite courses should be in a social science field; however, applicants may apply with courses outside of a social science field.

GPA Requirement

Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last 60 hours of their first bachelor's degree program, or applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in applicable master's degree program. 

GRE Scores (Optional)

Applicants to the Master of Science in psychology (sport psychology concentration) program are not required to submit a GRE score. Applicants who feel that their GPA and academic record are not reflective of their current ability are strongly recommended to provide a GRE score.

English Proficiency

International applicants should review details online to determine if a TOEFL or IELTS score must be submitted. Information can be found by visiting  students.asu.edu/graduate/proficiency .

Review Process

Review of applications for admission are done on a rolling basis. Typically decisions are returned within 14 calendar days from the date the application is ‘in review’. The decision timeframe may increase during peak cycles.

Applicants can view the status of their application online via My ASU. The New College may reach out to request additional information or provide updates so it is important to check your email regularly.  

After submitting your application please contact  [email protected]  with any questions.

While you wait for a decision we recommend that you:

• explore resources available to all ASU Graduate Students available  here .
• submit your FAFSA, for more information visit:  https://tuition.asu.edu/financial-aid

Isabel Morales-Munoz, Ph.D.

Isabel Morales-Munoz, Ph.D., is Assistant Professor in Psychology, based at the Institute for Mental Health, School of Psychology, at the University of Birmingham. Originally from the Basque Country in Spain, she has conducted her research in different countries including Spain, USA, Finland and the UK. Since her Ph.D., her main research has focused on understanding mental health problems in young people, and ways to improve mental health. Currently, she focuses more specifically on understanding sleep problems in children and young people and how sleep problems can be a risk factor for developing mental health problems. In addition, and together with other colleagues at the University of Birmingham she is working on early detection and better treatments for mental health. In this blog, she will be writing primarily about sleep and mental health problems, and also about wider relevant topics of mental health.

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May 2024 On My Mind

Organizational psychology m.a. program newsletter.

Dear Students,

The end of the semester has arrived. It feels a little surreal given that it feels like winter one day and summer the next, but never really like Spring. It feels a little surreal given all we’ve experienced on our Columbia campus the past few weeks and in our shared world the past many months. It feels a little surreal given that the passage of time has not felt normal since 2019. It feels a little surreal given I’m not nearly ready to say goodbye to our graduating students. 

What does feel real is how hard you all have worked this semester and this year, how much you’ve learned, the bonds you’ve formed and the wisdom and friendships you will carry with you into the summer and really, forever. If you are feeling a little unsteady – excited but apprehensive, confident but unsure, thrilled but melancholy, energized but fatigued, hopeful but hesitant – you are in good company. This is a time of transition. It’s a wonderfully celebratory time of academic, professional and personal accomplishment and it’s also a time of moving, moving on, changing jobs, cities, countries, embracing new roles and eschewing old ones. You’re navigating many boundaries right now (yes, B.A.R.T. is relevant to pretty much everything.) It’s normal to feel at sea even as you are also feeling proud and happy. 

You all have worked extremely hard in challenging times and you have juggled myriad commitments, tasks, relationships, and contexts. You are resilient, whip smart, and kind. And, you are strong! Don’t even get me started on the fortitude it takes to deal with the rats in the NYC subway. (Thank you to those at the OHDCC end-of-year social event last week who gave me an enlightening tutorial on the relationship between NYC zip code and rat size. Interesting statistics!) Try to trust yourself and know that you have everything you need to manage what’s next in your education, career and life. And you have a lifelong network in our S-OP Community to help you do it. 

Be gentle with yourselves over the next few weeks. Try to be present in the good feelings as well as the hard ones and know that you are boundary-crossing and all of it is normal. As much as you can, do things that fill you up with joy. Reach out to one another. Celebrate. Make each other laugh. Listen. Know we are proud of all of you. 

Congratulations to all our graduating students. Warm wishes to all of our continuing students. Regardless, see you soon. 

Current Student Profile

Carol Jaksec  is a captain in the United States Army and is completing her final semester as a student in the S-OP M.A. Program. She is also a member of the Eisenhower Leader Development Program (ELDP) at the United States Military Academy at West Point. Carol is a 2016 Reserve Officer Training Corps graduate from the University of Maryland where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Arabic Studies. She is from Pittsburgh, PA and has enjoyed several assignments on the east coast in the last ten years.

Prior to coming to West Point, Carol was stationed in Fort Campbell, KY just outside of Nashville. There, she commanded a logistics distribution company and a logistics headquarters company. After her graduation from TC this May, she will serve as a Tactical Officer at West Point. In this role, she will act as the primary coach and mentor for 120 cadets. She will help them navigate the balance between academic, physical fitness, and military requirements while developing their character.

Carol has had a transformational experience in the S-OP Program at TC. She discovered a passion for research about leadership practices and coaching and a fascination with group dynamics and organizational development. She has chosen to pursue a certification in coaching with the Army Coaching Program to foster her cadets’ development. Carol is confident that her education has effectively prepared her for future leadership challenges.

When not at school or work, Carol enjoys running, making homemade pasta, and watching hockey. She is excited to continue exploring NY with her husband, Gregory, and their vivacious one-year-old daughter, Elizabeth.

Alumni Profile

Robert "RC" Whitehouse  started a journey of self-discovery and professional growth upon joining the S-OP M.A. Program in 2009. Moving from Vermont with his partner, now spouse, RC relocated to NYC to pursue his academic aspirations. Immersed in the program's rich learning environment, RC found himself drawn to the intricacies of group relations and dynamics, an interest that continues to shape his career to this day. RC credits the S-OP M.A. program for supercharging his career.

After graduating in 2011, RC continued his study of groups and systems through participating in over 20 group relations conferences (about half of them at TC) as a staff member, leveraging his experience to explore the complexities that arise when individuals come together to form a larger whole. Certified as an A.K. Rice consultant, he has committed himself to refining his understanding of the multifaceted factors influencing the groups and organizations to which we all belong.

Remaining rooted in vibrant NYC, RC's professional journey initially began in Learning and Development, gradually expanding to encompass a broader talent portfolio. Over the past seven years he has been employed by a tech firm, helping it to transform from a scrappy start up to a major player in the adtech space. Starting as Head of L&D, RC is currently the Senior Vice President of Talent Business Partnership for EMEA and NA.

A champion of people-centric leadership, RC strives to strike a balance between individual well-being and organizational objectives, recognizing that an imbalance can create challenges - no matter the setting. Drawing from his understanding of group dynamics theories, he helps individuals to understand the nuances of authority, unravel interpersonal conflicts, and foster a high performing team.

Beyond his work, RC is an avid runner. Though he is not the fastest, he finds focus in the rhythmic nature of running. He and his spouse have become proud New Yorkers after all these years, while maintaining a deep love of nature and the outdoors. RC cherishes moments spent with his family, friends, and the many nieces and nephews that have joined he and his spouse's lives by birth and by the blessings of friendship. RC loves to read, watch movies, and enjoy the playful sounds of pop music. Feel free to connect with RC on LinkedIn  here .

Recommended Readings

For those of you on the internship or job hunt, you may find  this AI exercise   from Professor Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic helpful to your search. In this exercise four steps are outlined to help you leverage AI technology to get hired.

These network maps  from Polinode visually represent all of this  year's SIOP Conference  presenters and topics.  These maps involved the details of about 200 events and 3,000 presenters, which included many current and alumni members of our larger S-OP community!

Published Wednesday, May 8, 2024

Teachers College, Columbia University Room 222 Zankel

Contact Person: Ometria Seebarran

Phone: (212) 678-8109

Email: oks2107@tc.columbia.edu