Psychology classes have been taught at the University since 1884. The first classes were in the Department of Psychology, Ethics, Sociology, and Evidence of Christianity. Psychology became an independent department in 1950 under the direction of Merrell Thompson, who began leading the department toward establishing a PhD program.

E. Phillip Trapp was born in 1925 in Akron, Ohio. After serving as a naval officer in WWII, he earned his doctorate in clinical psychology from Ohio State University in 1951. He was hired the same year to the U of A Department of Psychology. During his time at the U of A, he served as director of the psychology clinic, coordinator of the clinical doctoral program and chairman of the department. He also wrote the licensing law for psychologists in the state of Arkansas. He retired in 1991 from the U of A faculty but continued to practice as a clinical psychologist. He died December 25, 2021.