Psychology

🧭 Compass Roadmap

ACU’s Department of Psychology has carefully curated this roadmap which features unique opportunities for you as a student in their major. Take a look below and visit with your faculty mentor and academic advisor so you can explore the best path for you as you progress through your department. For more information about Compass and ACU Roadmaps, be sure to check out acu.edu/compass, or reach out to your Compass team at compass@acu.edu.

Department of Psychology
Home/ ACU Compass/ Compass Roadmaps/ Psychology Roadmap

ACU’s Department of Psychology has carefully curated this roadmap which features unique opportunities for you as a student in their major. Take a look below and visit with your faculty mentor and academic advisor so you can explore the best path for you as you progress through your department. For more information about Compass and ACU Roadmaps, be sure to check out acu.edu/compass, or reach out to your Compass team at compass@acu.edu.

Department of Psychology

Main Content

Compass Roadmap | Psychology


Begin Your Journey		First Year
Pursue Community		Second Year
Pursue Hospitality		Third Year
Pursue Calling		Fourth Year
Pursue Wisdom
Grow Intellectually
  • Meet the Department of Psychology faculty during Wildcat Week
  • Develop research skills in Cornerstone (CORE 110)
  • Explore the life of Jesus and the New Testament church in BIBL 101 and 102


  • Support your peers by attending ACU's URCI Festival
  • Explore the Old Testament in BIBL 211
  • Conduct research in PSYC 351 or 368

  • Engage in a faculty-mentored research or creative project
  • Submit research to the URCI Festival or SWPA
  • Participate in an information literacy workshop
  • Apply to the Accelerated Professional Psychology Degree Plan (APPDP)

  • Present at URCI Festival or other conference
  • Finish strong by completing your Capstone Course: PSYC 493
  • Complete graduate classes in the APPDP program
Grow Spiritually
  • Experience Candlelight Devo during Wildcat Week
  • Attend Psychology Chapel
  • Engage in practices of meal fellowship, testimony and breath prayer
  • Attend Psychology Chapel
  • Volunteer in the Abilene community
  • Participate in the life of a local church
  • Learn about service opportunities at the Local Missions Fair
  • Engage in practices of intercessory prayer, pilgrimage and journaling
  • Participate in Psychology Chapel
  • Participate in the life of a local church
  • Gain hands-on ministry experience on a Global Service Trip
  • Examine the psychology of Christianity in PSYC 348
  • Engage in practices of silence, spiritual listening and examen
  • Host Psychology Chapel
  • Participate in the life of a local church
  • Experience Candlelight Sendoff
  • Engage in practices of friendship, relinquishment and developing a rule of life
Grow Personally
  • Take StrengthsFinder assessment
  • Become involved in the ACU community by joining a student organization
  • Identify a potential faculty, staff, or older student mentor in the Department of Psychology
  • Grow as a leader through ACU LEADS: Emerging Leaders

  • Care for your whole person by taking advantage of recreation opportunities on campus (SRWC, intramurals, etc)
  • Actively engage in a student organization
  • Learn to navigate stress by completing stress management coaching sessions in PSYC 278

  • Develop your leadership skills while serving in a leadership role on campus
  • Lead in a church ministry or local service organization
  • Mentor a younger student in the Department of Psychology
  • Lead a student club or organization
  • Develop your leadership skills through ACU LEADS: Elected Leaders
Grow Culturally
  • Attend events hosted by the Office of Multicultural Affairs (OMA)
  • Explore the opportunities to study abroad at a Study Abroad interest meeting
  • Attend events hosted by the International Students Association (ISA
  • Study abroad for a semester in Oxford, Leipzig or Montevideo/li>
  • Attend events hosted by the Carl Spain Center on Race Studies and Spiritual Action
  • Participate in a World Wide Witness Summer Internship
  • Explore the social side of psychology in PSYC 370
  • Explore the Psychology of Ideology in Germany by taking PSYC 440 abroad
  • Help implement an OMA, ISA, or Carl Spain Center event
  • Apply to be a Fulbright Scholar, AmeriCorps, PeaceCorps, or other international service opportunities
Grow Professionally
  • Begin connecting with potential employers by activating your Handshake profile
  • Learn new creative possibilities through Creative U
  • Explore career possibilities by completing PathwayU
  • Develop a rĂ©sumĂ© and participate in a mock interview
  • Explore post-graduate options at the graduate school fair
  • Attend School Psychology interest meeting
  • Attend the Accelerated Professional Psychology Degree Plan (APPDP)
  • Interview a professional in psychology
  • Research graduate schools that interest you
  • Identify faculty members who could write recommendations
  • Create a LinkedIn profile
  • Gain hands on experience by participating in a psychology internship with PSYC 340
  • Begin to work toward post graduation by developing a graduate school plan in PSYC 241
  • Finalize a rĂ©sumĂ© in PSYC 498
  • Secure letters of recommendation
  • Apply for jobs and/or graduate school
  • Explore your career and calling in PSYC 401
  • Participate in APPDP mentoring

Exploring the Areas of Growth

Five Areas of Growth

  • Grow Intellectually – Sharpen your mind through critical thinking, problem solving and engaging in original research or creative projects. Build knowledge in your field and develop relevant skills through innovative and experiential assignments and activities.
  • Grow Spiritually – Grow in likeness of Christ, as the Spirit leads both individuals and communities into deeper love of God and others. Cultivate Christian community, hospitality, vocation and wisdom through reflective participation in community practices such as worship, study and service. 
  • Grow Personally – Mature as a whole person through mentorship, peer-to-peer relationships and cultivating habits that produce wellness. Discover your strengths, become a productive team member and grow as a leader.
  • Grow Culturally – Deepen intercultural knowledge and the ability to communicate with and relate to people of diverse backgrounds, beliefs and geographic areas. Foster a greater respect and empathy for all peoples through building dynamic and mutually rewarding relationships in local and global contexts. 
  • Grow Professionally – Prepare for a meaningful career by exploring options, participating in career development activities, gaining relevant experiences and making purposeful connections that launch your professional life.

Integrated Spiritual Formation Themes

NOTE: Transfer students and those that surpass traditional semester cadences can progress to the next phase when appropriate for their needs.

Year 1 – Pursue Community

Connecting students to cruciform relationships with peers and adults on campus and in Abilene through compelling opportunities to invest in a variety of Christian organizations, both discovering and experiencing the distinctive nature of Christian community.

Year 2 – Pursue Hospitality

Engaging students in encounters with diverse peoples, ideas, and cultures through both local and global opportunities to extend and receive hospitality and to serve others in Christ’s name.

Year 3 – Pursue Calling

Advancing students’ understanding of vocation in a manner that integrates each student’s particular identity, career goals and vision for life with the broad calling for Christians to participate in the ongoing mission of God revealed in the pattern of Christ’s life and death.

Year 4 – Pursue Wisdom

Launching students into cruciform and purposeful living beyond the university by equipping them with tools for and experiences seeking Christian wisdom as they prepare to transition into a new season of life and career.