The post-World War I1 years have seen the development of the science of psychology and the applications of psychology, an increase in the number of psychologists with wide employment in other than academic settings. Indeed, this development has been coupled with the increased professionalization of psychology into the largest single group in the mental health area. There has been related growth in programs of graduate study as well as the large scale output of doctoral level psychologists. In opening the seminar in 1991 I indicated that psychology has at least five referents: (1) an academic discipline, (2) a science, (3) a profession, (4) a business, and (5) a union. The emphasis and concern here is on the third of these. This seminar was provided first in 1951 at the University of Maryland for doctoral students (Andrews, Ayers, Cofer, Hackman, Heintz, & Ross, 1954). It has been given regularly at Howard University, not as part of the graduate program in clinical psychology, but is suggested for students in biological, personality, developmental and other specializations as well as for students in counseling and school psychology from the School of Education. While an earlier version of the seminar was presented by Ross (19771, this note describes the latest and last version. The purpose of the seminar is to familiarize the students with the profession of psychology-ics problems, issues, status, controls, achievements, and trends. The goal is to consider the appropriate information on current emphases, pressures, and developments. The seminar inuoduces students to psychology as a profession and is responsive to their interests and expectations. The initial session involves a presentation and discussion of the University, the Department, the Faculty, the graduate program, specializations, facilities, and research programs. The sources are histories of the Univers~ty, the department, the handbook for graduate students, etc. Graduate Study in Psychology is examined for its description of educational programs, specializations, and other information. This review permits a placement and understanding of the Howard University program and provides a frame for the size, scope, and variation in graduate education in psychology as well as the purposes and outcomes of such study. Students are not greatly interested in other programs or in general ouccornes. They are interested mainly in the successful and rapid completion of their studies and experiences, departure from the University, and becoming psychologists. The analysis of the profession of psychology centers about the history, structure and operations of the APA, membership, divisions, as well as regional, state and other associations of psychologists, including the recent formation of the American Psychological SocieQ and the American Association of Applied and Preventive Psychology. The major sources used are the APA Monitor, the American Psychologist, and the Directory of the American Psychological Association, together with sources regarding issues in training and education, master's level and doctoral level psychol
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Dec 1, 1987
Deborah L Feltz 
Open Access