Psychology, B.A.

Program Description

The Department of Psychology offers both the B.A. and B.S. degrees in psychology. Consistent with its mission, “to educate students in, and contribute to, the science of psychology,” these programs emphasize the scientific study of behavior and mental processes. Students are trained in core areas of psychology as a natural science (e.g., cognition, sensation and perception), psychology as a social science (e.g., abnormal psychlogy, social psychology), as well as courses in research design, statistical analysis and scientific reasoning.

The curriculum provides a rigorous foundation in the methods and principles of psychological science, preparing students to critically evaluate research. Students have opportunities to engage in empirical research through coursework and faculty-mentored projects, gaining experience with data collection, analysis and/or interpretation. The psychology major prepares students for graduate study in psychology and related disciplines, as well as for a wide range of future careers, including roles in research, data analysis, business and human service professions (e.g., applied behavior analysis, social services and healthcare).

Admission and Progression Requirements

Students who wish to pursue the psychology major must:

1. declare the major and
2. meet admissions requirements.

Declare Psychology B.A., B.S., or 2nd Major

Requests to declare the major after the deadline will be processed the following semester.

Requirements for Admission to the Major

Students interested in completing the psychology major must meet the department's progression standards and be fully admitted to the major. The number of semesters required to complete the program will depend on the timing of the student's admission to psychology and the number of summer courses completed.

Students who meet all of the following criteria will be fully admitted to the major and will be permitted to take psychology major courses. Equivalent courses completed at another university for which the student has earned JMU approved transfer credit are acceptable.

• Complete PSYC 101, with a minimum grade of "C." Equivalent courses completed at other institutions that transfer to JMU are acceptable.
• Complete MATH 205, MATH 220, MATH 231, MATH 235 or another acceptable math course with a minimum grade of "C." Equivalent courses completed at other institutions that transfer to JMU are acceptable.
• Complete any General Education Psychology course (PSYC 101, PSYC 122 or PSYC 160) with a minimum grade of "B." Earning a 4 on the AP Psychology exam meets this requirement. With departmental approval, grades from other institutions can fulfill this requirement.
• Declare the psychology major on MyMadison.

Declared psychology majors who meet the criteria for admission and register for PSYC 210 or PSYC 212 will be fully admitted to the major. Students not admitted to the major may be admitted in a later semester, once they meet admissions requirements.

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. Some psychology courses numbered 330 and above have specific prerequisites. See course listings for details.

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.

Degree Requirements

¹

The General Education program contains a set of requirements each student must fulfill. Some credits may be fulfilled by courses required within the major.

Major Requirements

The courses listed below are required of all students pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree, regardless of whether psychology is their first or second major.

¹

Repeatable. Additional credits in PSYC 402 or PSYC 403 could fulfill the three credit hour elective requirement. Any additional PSYC 402 or PSYC 403 hours could fulfill the 120 credit hours needed for graduation.

²

One sociocultural competency course is required. Credit for this course may be counted under one of the other major categories.

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 advisor 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) following full admission to the major is required to complete the psychology major.

¹

PSYC 210 is a prerequisite for PSYC 211.

²

PSYC 212 is a prerequisite for PSYC 213.