Department of Psychology

Dr. Kevin J. Apple, Department Head
Phone: (540) 568-6114
Email: applekj@jmu.edu
Location: Miller Hall, Room 1120
Website: http://www.psyc.jmu.edu/undergraduate

Professors
J. Andre, K. Apple, S. Baker, K. Barron, D. Daniel, W. Evans, P. Gibson, M. Hall, C. Harris, N. Kerr Lawrence, S. Lovell, C. Lyons, M. Reis-Bergan, B. Saville, M. Stoloff, T. Zinn

Associate Professors
J. Dyche, D. Holt, J. Irons, K. Jakobsen, J. Kurtz, M. Lee

Assistant Professors
K. Fogler, K. Melchiori, M. Shoup-Knox, D. Szwedo, J. Taft-Young

Lecturer
K. DuVall

Mission Statement

The mission of the Department of Psychology is to educate students in, and contribute to, the science of psychology.

Goals

The vision of the Department of Psychology is to sustain and advance a nationally recognized department focused on promoting scientific proficiency within the cross disciplinary field of psychology. To that end, the curriculum is designed to provide students with a strong foundation in psychological science that reflects multiple perspectives within the discipline. The hallmarks of our program are learning opportunities that promote the skills necessary to conduct and evaluate research and to interpret findings. The department trains our students to be responsive to emerging trends and apply their knowledge of psychological science as responsible global citizens.

The Department of Psychology is a dynamic contributor to the General Education program and the university community through the delivery of high quality courses and other educational experiences emphasizing psychological science. We also contribute to the M.A. program in psychological science. Our faculty strive to create and implement creative and effective pedagogy, embracing the dual role of teacher/scholar. The department will foster a collegial and collaborative environment within which divergent opinions as well as cultural diversity are respected, valued and promoted.

Co-curricular Activities and Organizations

Active Minds. This organization promotes mental health, awareness and education and works to reduce the stigma of mental illness.
Psi Chi. The local chapter of the national honor society in psychology is open to students with a strong interest in psychology and an exceptional academic record.
Psychology Club. This club is open to all students with an interest in psychology.
Psychology Service Organization. This organization strives to meet the needs of the JMU and local communities by sponsoring and participating in service projects.

Special Admission Requirements

Students interested in completing the intermediate and advanced courses required for the psychology major must meet the department’s progression standards and be fully admitted to the major.

Students who meet all of the following criteria will be allowed to change their status from declared to fully admitted and will be permitted to make progress in the psychology major beyond a few preliminary courses. Equivalent courses completed at another university for which the student has earned JMU approved transfer credit are acceptable.

Complete PSYC 101. General Psychology , with a grade of “C-” or better. Equivalent courses completed at other institutions that transfer to JMU are acceptable.
Complete MATH 220 , MATH 205 , MATH 231 , MATH 235 or another acceptable math course (http://psyc.jmu.edu/ug/mathchart.html) with a grade of “C-” or better. Equivalent courses completed at other institutions that transfer to JMU are acceptable.
Complete any one of the following:
Complete any General Education Psychology course (PSYC 101 , PSYC 122 or PSYC 160 ) with a grade of “B” or higher. Earning a 4 on the AP Psychology exam meets this requirement. With departmental approval, grades from other institutions can fulfill this requirement.
Complete an online orientation and application, available from the Department of Psychology website.

Students should apply for full admission to the major when they make the decision to pursue a psychology degree. Admission decisions are made at the end of each semester and during the summer. Students not admitted to the major may reapply the following semester.

Retention

All psychology courses taken must carry a grade of “C-” or better to apply to the major. A psychology course completed with a grade of “D” may be credited toward graduation requirements but may not be included in courses credited toward the psychology major.

Prerequisites

Psychology majors must complete PSYC 101 and two statistics and research methodology courses (PSYC 210 -PSYC 211 or PSYC 212 -PSYC 213 ) before enrolling in courses numbered 330 and above. The prerequisites for PSYC 210 and PSYC 212 are any mathematics course numbered 205 or above and PSYC 101 . Most psychology courses numbered 330 and above have specific prerequisites. See course listings for details. Non-psychology students may enroll in the 300- and 400-level courses only if they have fulfilled course prerequisites.

Registration and Assessment

During registration, psychology majors will be given priority for course selection. Graduating majors must participate in assessment activities. Assessment information helps the faculty modify the curriculum to meet student needs.