Psychology and Educational Studies
Department Contact
Dr. Eric Rogers
Department Chair
Email: [email protected]
Office Phone: 803-705-4750 or 803-705-4496
Ms. Cassandra Williams
Data Specialist
Email: [email protected]
Office Phone: 803-705-4496
The mission of the Educational Studies and Psychology Department is to prepare students for careers in psychology and child and family development fields as educators and practitioners. Through the major, minor, and concentration programs, our students develop knowledge and skills that promote empowering, justice-driven, and inclusive experiences for a diverse and global society.
Majors Offered
The Educational Studies and Psychology Department offers two majors. A major in Educational Studies with a concentration in Child and Family Development and a major in Psychology. The Child and Family Development concentration prepares graduates to work in non-public school settings that serve the educational needs of children and families. The psychology major provides specialized training for students planning professional careers in psychology, mental health, and child & adult protective services.
Learning Opportunities
Through the majors and minors, students develop knowledge and skills that promote empowering, justice-driven, and inclusive experiences for a diverse and global society. Students enrolled in the Educational Studies and Psychology Department are required to complete an internship that closely correlates with their specific major and program of study during the final semester of the senior year. Students who major in Child and Family Development must complete a minimum twelve-week, full-time internship in an approved site. The Educational Studies and Psychology Department also offers minors in child and family development and psychology. Â
Additional Opportunities
Field Experiences
Service Learning
Aspiring Black Psychologists Organization
Field Experiences
All students in the Educational Studies and Psychology Department engage in field experiences as required components of designated courses. These experiences begin in the freshman year and extend through succeeding semesters. Students enrolled in the department are required to complete a period of internship that closely correlates with their specific major and program of study during the final semester of the senior year.
Service Learning
Benedict College is committed to ensuring that all students are among the best in their chosen fields and that students are prepared to be of service to the community. Each student is required to complete a minimum of 120 hours of approved course-based service-learning activities for graduation.Â
Aspiring Black Psychologists Organization
The mission of the Aspiring Black Psychologists Organization is to educate, empower and inspire students with an interest in understanding the impact of their prolific history on today’s behavior and its control of our thoughts. Special emphasis is placed on understanding and improving the Black experience. We promote growth through networking, community service and engagement in the overall Benedict College community. Our organization strives to develop student involvement and civic engagement through discussion, implementation, and practice of psychological ideologies as they relate to the Black community. This organization is the voice of students in and affiliated with Benedict College’s Psychology Program; it offers student support, workshops, graduate preparation and social activities for majors. Through active participation in the Aspiring Black Psychologists Organization and the larger community, it is our hope that each student will become more capable and aware of their impact for shaping social change. As an organization, we propose to do the following:
- To explore the overall well-being with a focus on mental health to inspire and enlighten the collegiate minds of Benedict College’s students.
- To ensure a safe environment for those willing to share their perspectives and ideas while promoting representation of all included.
- To collectively define and acknowledge what it means to be an aspiring Black Psychologist within an Afrocentric worldview.
Minor: Child and Family Development
Faculty AdvisorÂ
Staff Advisor
Blood Drive
A few of our December 2018 graduating seniors, Dajae Brown, Precious Gray, and Angel Harrison, planned and led a blood drive sponsored by the American Red. The event was held on Thursday, September 25, 2018 inside of the Benedict College Swinton Center. The students did this event as a part of their Field Practicum at the American Red Cross where they are responsible for 400 hours of internship experience this semester. From creating the proposal, to hosting the event, to making decisions on the entertainment, food, and incentives, these scholars were involved in every step of the process. Their targeted goal was to have at least 50 people in participate in the blood drive. On the day of the event they arrived, bright and early, to set up and sign in participants. Their hard work paid off as well over 100 students, faculty, and staff donated blood to the American Red Cross.
Emergency Shelter
In addition to the blood drive the students also participated in disaster preparedness activities as Hurricane Florence approached the state. Specifically, the interns traveled to Branchville, SC, a small town located in Orangeburg County, to spend three days and two nights at Branchville high school to assist in preparation efforts. In preparation for the storm, they unloaded and set up an emergency shelter for the first time, giving them a hands on learning experience of what it is like to be in a critical situation. They all agree, it was not easy to adapt to an environment with such a lack of resources. It was challenging for them to cope and remain calm throughout the process, but above all, they gained so much knowledge and feel they will be better prepared in the future. Another asset they obtained from this experience is networking, they were able to meet a lot of people who work in DSS, have been social workers for years, in different organizations, and this gave them a great platform to promote the blood drive. All and all they learned the importance of patience, and now they have a better idea of what they will face in the future as professional social workers. Â
Department Chair
Dr. Eric Rogers
803.705.4750
803.705.4496
Eric Rogers, Ph.D. is currently the Department Chair and Assistant Professor of Psychology and Educational Studies at Benedict College.
In addition, Dr. Rogers is the author of 9 books (with 3 more in the works ( Rogers and Kings: The Story of African American Family from 1834 till the Present; Late To the Game; and I Have To Go It Alone) and he consistently presents research at national and international events (Dubai, United Emirates, Berlin, Germany, Vancouver, British Columbia (Canada), etc.
He has taught over 25,000 students (high school, community college, junior college, state university at 4 year research institutions of higher learning) in his life time and his background expands 40 plus years of a comprehensive track record and experiences as a Professor of Psychology, Education and as an Administrator in higher education.
A Harvard graduate and 6x “Teacher of the Year” recipient, Dr. Rogers’ is a former Psychotherapist and specializes in in Grief/Trauma, Race, Religion and Morality, Death/Dying; the Black Family and the Black Church. He is certified in the areas of Grief Counseling for Death/Dying; Clients of Color, Clients With Disabilities; Trauma Victims and Children and Loss.
Dr. Rogers is also a world traveler (over 100 countries) and a former Federal Office in Law Enforcement with the U.S. Department Justice, an avid reader and storyteller. A 4th generation college, graduate, he has served on the faculty at several PWIs and 5 HBCUs (private and state).