My Psychology Department Activities

ADVISING

Prospective Psychology Majors and Minors

Are you thinking of majoring or minoring in psychology? See me to talk about what's happening in our department, about our degree requirements, about how our undergraduate program compares to others at Northwestern, or about what our psychology students do when they graduate. To set up an appointment, contact the Undergraduate Secretary, Ms. Ginger Gilmore, in the psychology department office, Swift 102, 847-491-5190. You can also learn more about our program by exploring the undergraduate section of our department website.

Declaring a Major or Minor in Psychology

Have you just decided that you would like to be a psychology major or minor? Officially declaring the major or minor is a three-step process:

• Fill out a Declaration of Major or Declaration of Minor form in the department office, Swift Hall 102, and pick up some useful handouts.
• Make an appointment to meet with me or another member of the department faculty to talk about course selections and to get a faculty adviser.
• Take one copy of the Declaration form to the Weinberg College Office of Undergraduate Studies and Advising, 1922 Sheridan Road.

Current Psychology Majors and Minors

Students majoring or minoring in psychology come to see me for lots of different reasons. Here are some of them:

• You've talked with your faculty adviser about course selections, career options, or whatever and would like a second source of advice.
• You want permission to fulfill some department requirements in an unusual way, e.g., with study abroad credits or with courses taken at other schools in the U.S. (The Weinberg College Office of Undergraduate Studies and Advising is involved in these decisions too.)
  • WCAS policy on counting courses taken abroad
  • WCAS policy on counting courses taken at other U.S. institutions
• You're planning to study abroad junior year and you need a department signature on your Northwestern Study Abroad application. We can also talk about what you should take before you go abroad to make sure that you'll graduate on time and about how courses you take abroad might fit into our department requirements.
• You're ready to complete and submit your Petition to Graduate.
• You have some other reason for wanting to come and see me.

How to Make an Appointment to See Me in the Psychology Department

Contact the psychology department's Undergraduate Secretary, Ms. Ginger Gilmore, in the department office, Swift 102, 847-491-5190.

TEACHING

I have taught several undergraduate psychology courses. The course I teach most frequently is Psych 205-Research Methods in Psychology. Other courses I've taught include Social Psychology, Developmental Psychology, Statistical Methods in Psychology, Experimental Social Psychology, and Freshman Seminars.

RESEARCH

Research Interests

My position at Northwestern is primarily an administrative one. However, I have also collaborated on research projects with colleagues, primarily in the areas of undergraduate education, interpersonal relationships, and sexual orientation.

Recent Publications

Rieger, G., Linsenmeier, J. A. W., Gygax, L., and Bailey, J. M. (2008). Sexual orientation and childhood gender nonconformity: Evidence from home videos. Developmental Psychology, 44, 46-58.

Skidmore, W. C., Linsenmeier, J. A. W., and Bailey, J. M. Gender nonconformity and psychological distress in lesbians and gay men. (2006). Archives of Sexual Behavior, 35, 685-697.

Hirsch, P. L., Linsenmeier, J. A. W., Smith, H. D., & Walker, J. M. T. (2005). Enhancing core competency learning in an integrated summer research experience for bioengineers. Journal of Engineering Education, 94, 391-401.

Linsenmeier, J. A. W., Bird, S.J., & Linsenmeier, R. A. (2003). A bibliography of ethics resources for bioengineering education. http://www.vanth.org/curriculum/taxonomies/ethics_bibliography.doc.

Li, N. P., Bailey, J. M., Kenrick, D. T., & Linsenmeier, J. A. W. (2002). The necessities and luxuries of mate preferences: Testing the tradeoffs. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 82, 947-955.