Faculty/Staff Directory
Dr. James Collins
478.934.3059
Professor
| Office Hours: | Spring Semester 2026 M 8:00am - 9:30am T 8:00am - 9:30am W 8:00am - 9:30am R 8:00am - 9:30am |
| Locations: (Campus & Office) |
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| Biography: | Dr. James Collins graduated from Denbigh High School with the class of 1982, receiving BS degrees in both Biology and Psychology from Virginia Tech in 1987. He was the first member of his family to graduate either! He began his post-graduate education at the University of Georgia immediately thereafter, receiving his MS in 1989 and PhD in Biopsychology in 1993. Education, specifically the quest for knowledge and understanding, is very important to him. While in graduate school, Dr. Collins received an exchange fellowship to the Friedrich-Alexander University (Erlangen, Germany) for 1988-1989, conducting human taste psychophysiology studies. He was also awarded a research associateship with the Air Force Office of Scientific Research in 1992 to study animal bioacoustics. Dr. Collins has been at Middle Georgia State since 1995 and is a tenured full professor in the Department of Psychology, Sociology, and Criminal Justice. He has been a member of Sigma Xi (the scientific research society) since graduate school and Psi Chi (psychology’s national honor society) since his time at Virginia Tech. He has presented his original research findings at regional, national, and international conferences sometimes with student collaborators. In addition, Dr. Collins has presented and published in the scholarship of teaching and learning. Dr. Collins’ teaching experiences have been varied, taking place at large universities, small liberal arts colleges, two-year colleges, and small state colleges. He has taught students of different abilities and backgrounds, from freshmen to seniors since 1989. He was elected by his students to Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers three times. Dr. Collins has taught using traditional, teleconference, videoconference, hybrid, and online methods. |
| Syllabi: | |
| Courses: | PSYC1101 Introduction to Psychology PSYCH1101H HONORS Introduction to Psychology PSYC2101 Psychology of Adjustment PSYC2103 Human Growth & Development PSYC3401 Biopsychology PSYC3411 Sensation & Perception PSYC3421 Motivation & Emotion PSYC4100 Capstone in Psychological Science PSYC4411 Animal Behavior OTMS5140 Evidence-Based Practice and Research I OTMS5210 Evidence-Based Practice and Research II OTMS5340 Evidence-Based Practice and Research III |
| Education: (All institutions attended and degrees or credentials earned) | BS Biology Virginia Tech 1987 BS Psychology Virginia Tech 1987 MS Biopsychology UGA 1989 PhD Biopsychology UGA 1993 |
| CV: | James W. Collins Middle Georgia State University Department of Psychology, Sociology & Criminal Justice 1100 Second Street, S.E. Cochran, GA 31014 (478) 934-3059 james.collins1@mga.edu ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT Post-tenure Review, Middle Georgia State University, 2021. Post-tenure Review, Middle Georgia College, 2016. Conflict Resolution Training, Consortium on Negotiation and Conflict Resolution, 2013. Post-tenure Review, Middle Georgia College, 2011. Counseling with Choice Therapy: The New Reality Therapy, Troy University, 2010. Professor of Psychology, Middle Georgia College, 2006. Tenure, Middle Georgia College, 2001. Associate Professor, Middle Georgia College, 1999. Ph.D. (Biopsychology), University of Georgia, 1993. Research Associateship, Air Force Office of Scientific Research, 1992. Graduate Exchange Fellowship, Friedrich-Alexander Universitat, Erlangen Germany, 1988-1989. M.S. (Biopsychology), University of Georgia, 1989. B.S. (Psychology), Virginia Tech, 1987. B.S. (Biology), Virginia Tech, 1987. TEACHING EXPERIENCE Middle Georgia State University: EBP and Research I (OTMS5140) EBP and Research II (OTMS5210) EBP and Research III (OTMS5340) Conflict Resolution and Negotiation (PBSV3040) Introduction to General Psychology (PSYC 1101) HONORS Introduction to Psychology (PSYC1101H) Human Growth & Development (PSYC2103) Abnormal Psychology (PSYC3265) Biopsychology (PSYC3401) Sensation & Perception (PSYC3411) Motivation & Emotion (PSYC3421) Senior Capstone (PSYC4100) Animal Behavior (PSYC4411) Introduction to the Exceptional Child (EDUC2202) Exploring Teaching & Learning (EDUC2130) Fort Valley State University: Educational Psychology (EPSY2433) SUNY-Geneseo: General Psychology (PSYC 100) Introduction to Behavioral Statistics (PSYC250) Introduction to Behavioral Research Methods (PSYC251) Directed Study (PSYC299) Physiological Psychology with Lab (PSYC330) Washington & Lee University: Brain & Behavior (PSY111) Introductory Neuroscience (NSC 120) Drugs & Behavior (PSY220) Physiological Psychology with Lab (PSY253; PSY253L) Directed Research in Psychology (PSY353) Directed Individual Study and Research (PSY403; PSY423) University of Georgia: Introductory Psychology (PSY101) Experimental Psychology with Lab (PSY301) Sensation & Perception (PSY321) Biological Bases of Behavior (PSY 480/680) Athens Area Technical Introductory Psychology (PSY191) |
| Professional Experience: | Graduate Teaching Assistant UGA 1987 - 1993 Lecturer Athens Area Technical Institute 1991 Assistant Professor Washington & Lee University 1993 - 1994 Assistant Professor SUNY - Geneseo 1994-1995 Professor Middle Georgia College 1995 - present |
| Publications and Scholarships: (Last 5 Years) | J. Collins (in progress). “Executive Function Development in College Students”. J. Collins and R. Nees. (2025). “The Power of No: Teaching Adaptability”, Georgia Sociological Association 2025 Annual Conference, 11/6/2025. J. Collins and R. Nees. (2024). “Teaching in a VUCA (Volatile Uncertain Complex Ambiguous) World”, Georgia Sociological Association 2024 Annual Conference, 10/10/2024. J. Collins. (2023). “Education as Therapeutic Intervention”, 2023 USG Teaching & Learning Conference, 3/28/2023. L. Camara, J. Collins, and N. Gilbert. (2023). |
| Professional Affiliations: | Sigma Xi Psi Chi |
| Awards and Honors: | Excellence in Teaching Award, Sigma Alpha Pi, 2016 Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers, 2006. Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers, 2005. Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers, 2000. Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society, University of Georgia, 1991. Psi Chi, The National Honor Society in Psychology, Virginia Tech, 1987. J.P. Guilford Research Award from Psi Chi, 1987. |
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