Dec 14, 2024  
2018-2019 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2018-2019 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Psychology, B.S.


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Degree and Major Requirements

A student must complete a minimum of 44 PSYC credits and at least 60 non-PSYC credits.

Degree and Major Requirements


Degree Requirements


Required Courses


  • General Education  41 Credit Hours 1
  • Quantitative requirement (in addition to General Education ) 3 Credit Hours
  • Scientific Literacy requirement (in addition to General Education ) 3-4 Credit Hours
  • Major requirements (including cognate, listed below) 47-51 Credit Hours
  • Electives 18-32 Credit Hours
Total: 120 Credit Hours

Footnote

1 The General Education  program contains a set of requirements each student must fulfill. The number of credit hours necessary to fulfill these requirements may vary.

Major Requirements


The courses and cognate described below are required of all students pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree, regardless of whether psychology is their first or second major.

SS Content Core – Psychology as a Social Science: 9 Credit Hours


Choose at least three of the following:

Biopsychology: 3 Credit Hours


Psychology electives: 9 Credit Hours


At least three hours must be at the 400 level

Capstone course: 3 Credit Hours


Departmental approval is required for students to enroll in more than one capstone course.

Choose one of the following:

Total: 44 Credit Hours


Footnotes

The General Education  program contains a set of requirements each student must fulfill. The number of credit hours necessary to fulfill these requirements may vary.

2 Some sections of this course may meet the sociocultural awareness requirement depending on the content; when this course does meet the requirement, it will be listed in the notes section of the course listing in MyMadison.

Cognate Requirements


Quantitative Competency: 6-9 Credit Hours


(This may include credit hours that count toward General Education and degree requirements.)

Choose one of the following:

  • Two 200-level MATH courses
    or
  • One 200-level MATH course and six credits of additional MATH courses at any level

Scientific Literacy: 6 Credit Hours


(These courses are taken in addition to the General Education requirement. They may count toward the B.S. degree requirement, second major and/or minor requirements.)

  • Choose at least two courses from the list of courses meeting B.S. degree scientific literacy requirements.

Recommended Schedule for Majors


The following program sample is intended as a guide. Courses must be taken in the sequence outlined; however, the semester during which a particular course is taken depends on a number of factors, including readiness to take 200-level math, the semester the psychology major is started and other majors or minors the student is completing.

Students are encouraged to meet regularly with their psychology academic adviser to plan their personal course schedule. Because of course sequencing requirements, even with the most compressed program, a minimum of five semesters (or four semesters and summer school) is required to complete the psychology major.

First Year


Total: 15 Credit Hours

Second Semester


  • General Education , B.A./B.S. degree requirement, B.S. Psychology Cognate and/or minor program courses 15 Credit Hours
Total: 15 Credit Hours

Second Year


First Semester


Total: 15 Credit Hours

Second Semester


Total: 15 Credit Hours

Third Year


Courses


  • SS content core courses 9 Credit Hours
  • NS content core courses 9 Credit Hours
  • Minor program courses or electives 12 Credit Hours

Total: 30 Credit Hours


Fourth Year


Courses


  • Psychology Upper level Specialty Content Course 3 Credit Hours
  • Psychology 400 level elective 3 Credit Hours
  • Psychology capstone course 3 Credit Hours
  • Psychology, minor program or elective courses 21 Credit Hours

Total: 30 Credit Hours


Footnotes


1 A preliminary math course may be suggested after placement examinations. If suggested, the preliminary course should be taken first semester and MATH 220  second semester. Other 200-level mathematics courses may be substituted for MATH 220  . Any MATH course numbered 205 or above is an acceptable prerequisite for the psychology major.

2 Any MATH course numbered 205 or above is a prerequisite for PSYC 210  and PSYC 212 MATH 220  is recommended.

3 PSYC 210  is a prerequisite for PSYC 211  .

4 PSYC 212  is a prerequisite for PSYC 213 .

Recommended Courses


The following courses are recommended for all psychology majors especially those who plan to pursue advanced study at the graduate level after earning their bachelor’s degrees.

Additional Information


A minor or a selection of courses from other departments that complements the psychology major for the professional field you are pursuing might be helpful. Discuss your professional goals with your faculty adviser and ask for recommendations. Consider taking courses that emphasize writing skills, quantitative skills, critical thinking and analysis and/or oral communication.

Students should discuss their career aspirations with their academic adviser throughout their academic program. Students interested in applying to graduate school should discuss the necessary preparation with their adviser early in their academic program. Students are encouraged to visit the department’s Peer Advising Office in Miller Hall where materials are available about career and graduate school opportunities. 

Other Psychology Programs


Graduate Programs

The Department of Graduate Psychology at James Madison University offers the following graduate degree programs:

Master of Arts

  • Clinical Mental Health Counseling
  • Psychological Sciences
  • School Psychology

Master of Education

  • School Counseling
  • College Student Personnel Administration

Educational Specialist

  • Counseling Psychology
  • School Psychology

Doctor of Philosophy

  • Assessment and Measurement
  • Counseling and Supervision

Doctor of Psychology

  • Combined/Integrated Program in Clinical and School Psychology

Additional information about these programs, including admission requirements and procedures, is available at http://psyc.jmu.edu/gradpsyc.

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